Peter, seeing this, spoke to the people. "Israelites," he said, "why do you wonder at this man? Or why gaze at us, as though by any power or piety of our own we had enabled him to walk?

But to prevent the matter spreading any further among the people, let us stop them by threats from speaking in the future in this name to any one whatever."

The Court added further threats and then let them go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people, because all gave God the glory for the thing that had happened.

Among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart and soul, so that none of them claimed any of his possessions as his own, but everything they had was common property;

for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.

Rise, go down, and go with them without any misgivings; for it is I who have sent them to you."

So for this reason, when sent for, I came without raising any objection. I therefore ask why you sent for me."

"Can any one forbid the use of water, and object to these persons being baptized--men who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

And the Spirit told me to accompany them without any misgivings. There also went with me these six brethren who are now present, and we reached the Centurion's house.

Without having found Him guilty of any capital offence they urged Pilate to have Him put to death;

As we have been informed that certain persons who have gone out from among us have disturbed you by their teaching and have unsettled your minds, without having received any such instructions from us;

that they might seek God, if perhaps they could grope for Him and find Him. Yes, though He is not far from any one of us.

If, however, Demetrius and the mechanics who support his contention have a grievance against any one, there are Assize-days and there are Proconsuls: let the persons interested accuse one another.

"And now, I know that none of you among whom I have gone in and out proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom will any longer see my face.

Therefore I protest to you to-day that I am not responsible for the ruin of any one of you.

So the Tribune sent the youth home, cautioning him. "Do not let any one know that you have given me this information," he said.

and that neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues, nor anywhere in the city, did they find me disputing with any opponent or collecting a crowd about me.

They ought to have been here before you, and to have been my prosecutors, if they have any charge to bring against me.

But, in reply, Paul said, "Neither against the Jewish Law, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar, have I committed any offence whatever."

If, however, I have done wrong and have committed any offence for which I deserve to die, I do not ask to be excused that penalty. But if there is no truth in what these men allege against me, no one has the right to give me up to them as a favour. I appeal to Caesar."

My reply was that it is not the custom among the Romans to give up any one for punishment before the accused has had his accusers face to face, and has had an opportunity of defending himself against the charge which has been brought against him.

"When, therefore, a number of them came here, the next day I took my seat on the tribunal, without any loss of time, and ordered the man to be brought in.

Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see here the man about whom the whole nation of the Jews made suit to me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

For the King, to whom I speak freely, knows about these matters. I am not to be persuaded that any detail of them has escaped his notice; for these things have not been done in a corner.

I therefore strongly advise you to take some food. This is essential for your safety. For not a hair will perish from the head of any one of you."

But, at last, the opposition of the Jews compelled me to appeal to Caesar; not however that I had any charge to bring against my nation.

"For our part," they replied, "we have not received any letters from Judaea about you, nor have any of our countrymen come here and reported or stated anything to your disadvantage.

"Be fully assured, therefore, that this salvation--God's salvation--has now been sent to the Gentiles, and that they, at any rate, will give heed."