Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, arise, and go toward the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, in the desart. accordingly he departed: and met a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, and was her high-treasurer: he had been at Jerusalem, to perform the duties of a proselyte, read more. but was now upon his return, and sat in his chariot, reading the prophet Esaias. then the spirit said unto Philip, go near, and advance to his chariot. Philip ran to him, and hearing him read the prophet Esaias, said, do you understand what you read? how can I, answer'd he, without some expositor? and he desired Philip to mount, and sit with him. the passage of the scripture which he read, was this, "he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before his shearer, was dumb, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation he was judged, he was taken off: and who shall describe the men of his time? for the land has taken away his life." and the eunuch answered Philip, and said, pray, of whom does the prophet say this? of himself, or of some other? then Philip enter'd upon the subject, and show'd how the whole passage was applicable to Jesus. as they pursued their journey, they came to a place of water: and the eunuch said, see, here is water; what should hinder my being baptized? [and Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may. and he answered, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.] so he order'd the charioteer to stop: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. when they were come out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he pursued his way with joy. but Philip was found at Azotus: and passing on, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.

Saul still breathing out nothing but threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and demanded letters for the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any of this sect, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. read more. As he was on his journey, and near Damascus, on a sudden, a light from heaven surrounded him, and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? and he said, who art thou, Lord? and the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is hard for thee to kick against the goad. Then trembling with the fright Saul said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? and the Lord said to him,] but rise, and go into the city, and you shall be told what you must do. the mean while the men who accompany'd him, remain'd astonish'd, hearing a voice, but seeing no one. at length Saul rose from the ground; and when he opened his eyes, he could not see: so that they led him by the hand, and brought him to Damascus, where he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. Now there was a disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, to whom the Lord said in a vision, Ananias! and he said, Lord, here I am. and the Lord said unto him, arise, and go to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus: for he is there at prayer. (at that very instant Saul saw in a vision the said Ananias come in, and put his hand on him, to restore his sight.) then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many that this man has done a world of mischief to thy saints at Jerusalem: he is now here, and is impower'd by the chief priests, to imprison all that make profession of thy name. go, said the Lord to him: for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel. for I will make him see how much he must suffer for my name. Ananias therefore departed, and being arrived at the house, he put his hands on Saul, and said, brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared to you on your journey hither, hath sent me, that you might obtain your sight, and be filled with the holy spirit. immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he recover'd his sight; upon which he instantly arose, and was baptized. and when he had taken some food, he was refresh'd. after which Saul staid some time with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he maintained in the synagogues, that Jesus was the son of God. the audience were all amazed, and said, is not this he that persecuted the professors of this doctrine at Jerusalem, and came here on purpose to carry them prisoners to the chief priests? however Saul still gain'd ground, and confounded the Jews of Damascus, proving that Jesus was the Messias.

so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren.

we went out of town on the sabbath towards the river, where the Jews were allowed to have an oratory. so we took our places, and convers'd with the women, that came there. one of them was nam'd Lydia of Thyatira, a trader in purple, and a Jewish proselyte. she heard us: and the Lord inclin'd her heart to attend to what Paul said. read more. so that having been baptized with her family, she made us this request, if you think me sincere in my profession, pray come and lodge at my house; and she prevail'd upon us.

her masters finding they had lost such a prospect of gain, seized upon Paul and Silas, and hawl'd them to the publick place before the magistrates. having presented them to the Officers, they said, these men, who are Jews, raise great disorders in our city, and preach such maxims, read more. as it is not lawful for Romans, as we are, to admit or practise. upon this the populace rose upon them, and the Officers order'd them to be stript and scourg'd. after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe. in consequence of this order he thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas went to prayers, and sang praises to God, which the other prisoners heard: when all of a sudden there was such a great earthquake, that the foundations of the prison were shaken: immediately all the doors opened, and the setters dropp'd from the prisoners. the jayler waking, and seeing the prison-doors open, drew his sword, designing to dispatch himself from the apprehension that the prisoners had escaped. but Paul call'd to him aloud, and said, do thy self no harm, for we are all here. then having called for a light, he ran in, and with trembling fell down before Paul and Silas; and bringing them out, he said, sirs, what must I do to be saved? believe, said they, on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you, and your family. then they declared the word of the Lord to him, and to all his family. at the same time of night he washed their stripes, and immediately he was baptized, he, and all that belong'd to him. then he conducted them to his house, and gave them an entertainment; and he and his family were affected with joy, for having believed in God.

and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and partake of the inheritance of the saints, by believing on me."

for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

and said, I declare to you, except ye lay aside your ambition, and become as children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of the Messias.

and said, I declare to you, except ye lay aside your ambition, and become as children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of the Messias.

tho' they see, they will not perceive, and tho' they hear they will not understand: as if they were afraid of parting with their vices, in order to be pardoned.

wherefore, I tell you, her sins, which are numerous, are forgiven; and that is the reason of all this love: but his love is less, to whom less is forgiven.

at length coming to himself, how many, said he, does my father keep in pay, who have bread in abundance, whilst I am dying here with hunger?

but Zaccheus address'd himself to Jesus, and said, Lord, half my estate I give to the poor; and if I have wrong'd any man, I will give him four times the value.

but as for thee, I have pray'd that you faith may not fail. do you in return establish thy brethren.

but as for thee, I have pray'd that you faith may not fail. do you in return establish thy brethren.

then said he to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you enter into your kingdom. Jesus answer'd, verily I tell you, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

and hardned their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."

then they that embraced his doctrine, were baptized: and there were about three thousand converts made that very day.

praising God, and showing benevolence to all the people. and the Lord encreased the church daily with new converts.

repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, who shall send Jesus Christ,

repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, who shall send Jesus Christ,

repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, who shall send Jesus Christ,

Philip being arrived at Samaria, preached Christ to them. the people attended with great unanimity, hearing his discourses, and observing the miracles he wrought.

but when they had embraced the doctrine of Philip, concerning the kingdom of the Messias, and the authority of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

As he was on his journey, and near Damascus, on a sudden, a light from heaven surrounded him,

and all that dwelt at Lydda, and Saron, saw him, and became converts to the Lord.

and as the divine assistance accompany'd them, a great number of persons believed and became converts.

and as the divine assistance accompany'd them, a great number of persons believed and became converts.

cry'd out, "sirs, what are you going to do? we are but men as well as you, and we exhort you to renounce these vanities, and turn to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth and the sea, and all that they contain:

so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren.

so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren.

and bringing them out, he said, sirs, what must I do to be saved?

remonstrating both to Jews and Gentiles the advantages of a sincere repentance, and of believing

first I warn'd the people of Damascus, of Jerusalem, of all Judea, and then the Gentiles, to repent, and turn to God, by acting suitably to their repentance.

for the heart of this people is become gross, their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and I should heal them."

but when their mind shall turn to the Lord, that veil too shall be taken away.

and said, I declare to you, except ye lay aside your ambition, and become as children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of the Messias.

repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, who shall send Jesus Christ,

so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren.

how successful our arrival was among you, and how you renounc'd your idols to serve the living and true God,

and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and partake of the inheritance of the saints, by believing on me."