after he had given the apostles he had chosen, the orders they were to execute by the holy spirit.

to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, of which they had many proofs, during the forty days he appear'd to them, and inform'd them about the reign of the Messias:

being with them when they were assembled, he order'd they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what the father had promis'd, which, said he, I mention'd.

Being therefore in his presence, they asked him, saying, Lord, is this the time when you will restore again the kingdom to Israel?

After this discourse, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.

and as they were looking stedfastly toward heaven, as he mounted up, on a sudden, two men appear'd before them robed in white, who said,

then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mountain of olives, which is a sabbath-day's journey from it.

When they were arrived there, they went up into an upper room, where Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zelot, and Judas the brother of James used to resort,

a fact so generally known to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that they called the field in their tongue, Aceldema, that is to say, the field of blood.

accordingly they presented two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was sirnamed Justus, and Matthias. and they prayed,

When the day of pentecost was come, they all met together with one accord.

when all of a sudden there came a sound from heaven, like that of an impetuous wind, which filled all the house where they were.

and they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak in different languages, as the spirit gave them utterance.

struck with astonishment and admiration, they said to one another, are not these men who are speaking, all Galileans?

and they were all amazed, and perplex'd, saying one to another, what can the meaning of this be?

and on my servants, and on my handmaidens I will pour out of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy:

Now when they heard this, their hearts were struck with remorse, and they said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?

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

they continued stedfastly in the apostolical doctrine of a community, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

so that they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed the money to every one as his occasions required.

and continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they did eat their meals with gladness, and simplicity of heart,

they were carrying a man who had been lame from his birth, one whom they daily laid at the gate of the temple called, Beauty-gate, to ask alms of those that pass'd into the temple.

and knowing it was he who us'd to sit begging at the Beauty-gate of the temple, they were filled with wonder and amazement at such an event.

As the lame man who was cured, held Peter and John, the people all in surprize ran to Solomon's porch, where they were.

While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadduces came upon them,

being displeas'd that they taught the people, and maintain'd the resurrection from the dead in the person of Jesus.

and they laid hands on them, and put them in prison, till the next day: for it was now evening.

and having caused Peter and John to appear, they asked, by what influence, or by what authority have you done this?

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were illiterate, and of the lower rank of men, they were surpriz'd; but tho' they knew that they had been Jesus's disciples,

yet seeing the man who was cured standing with them, they could not tell what to reply.

having therefore order'd them to withdraw from the council, they conferred among themselves,

so they called them in, and commanded them not to speak or teach upon any account, in the name of Jesus.

so when they had further threatned them, they let them go, not finding it practicable to punish them, because of the people, who all glorified God for that which was done.

As soon as they were discharg'd, they went to their brethren, and reported all that the chief priests and senators had said to them:

at the relation of which they unanimously lift up their voice to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God who hast made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is therein:

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled, trembled; they were all filled with the holy spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Great was the power by which the apostles attested the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and they were all greatly favoured by the people.

which they laid down at the apostles feet: and they distributed it to every man as his occasions required.

then Peter said to her, how comes it that you have conspir'd together, to tempt the spirit of the Lord? see there at the door the men that are come from burying thy husband, and they shall carry thee out likewise.

insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least, the shadow of Peter might cover some of them, as he pass'd by.

when they heard that, they entred into the temple early in the morning, and taught. in the mean time, the high priest, and those of his party, being arrived at the council-chamber, summon'd all the Jewish senate to meet, and sent to the prison to bring the apostles before them.

when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

When they heard that, they were so enraged, they consulted to take away their lives.

you cannot defeat it; perhaps you may be found warring against heaven." To him they agreed: and

after the apostles were called in, and scourged, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then releas'd them. out they went from the council,

full of joy, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

and every day either in the temple or in private houses they continued to preach and proclaim Jesus to be the Christ.

this proposition pleased the whole assembly: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

these they presented to the apostles: who after prayer gave them imposition of hands.

but as they were not able to withstand the force of that sublime knowledge which appeared in his discourse,

they suborned men, who said, we have heard him speak irreverently of Moses, and of God.

and they stirred up the people, the senators, and the doctors of law, who came and seiz'd him, and brought him to the council,

where they produc'd false witnesses, who said, this man is continually inveighing against the holy place, and against the law.

God declar'd likewise, "that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, where they should be enslaved and abused four hundred years.

and the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place."

for he supposed his brethren would have perceiv'd by this, that God design'd to make him the instrument of their deliverance; but they did not perceive it.

this Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the very same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hands of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.

him our fathers would not obey, but rejected him, and they return'd to their Egyptian disposition.

"make us gods, said they to Aaron, to be our guides: for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him."

'twas then they made a calf, and offered sacrifice to the idol, triumphing in the works of their own hands.

which our fathers and Joshua having receiv'd, they carry'd it into the territory of those nations whom God drove out upon their arrival: where it staid to the time of David, who was favoured by God,

was there ever any prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? have they not slain those who predicted the coming of that just person whom you have so lately betrayed and murder'd?

When they heard these things, they were transported with rage, and gnashed their teeth against him.

then they broke out into a loud cry, and stopping their ears, fell upon him all at once.

then they dragg'd him out of the city, and stoned him: the false witnesses having laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Thus they stoned Stephen, while he was calling upon God, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

and Saul was accessory to his death. At that time the persecution was so violent against the church at Jerusalem, they were all dispers'd through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles,

but they that were dispers'd, preach'd the gospel wherever they went.

that they all followed him, both old and young. this man, said they, is the plenipotentiary of God.

no wonder they were so attach'd to one, who had for a long time infatuated them with his arts.

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.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem, heard that the Samaritans had embraced the word of God, they sent Peter and John,

who upon their arrival, prayed for them that they might receive the holy spirit.

(for as yet he had not descended on any of them: they having only been baptized in the name of the Lord

Jesus) the apostles therefore gave them imposition of hands, and they received the holy spirit.

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?

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.

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,

but Saul was appriz'd of their plot. and as they were night and day upon the watch at the gates, in order to kill him,

when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he try'd to associate himself with the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and could not be persuaded that he was a disciple.

which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

she happen'd to fall sick at that time, and died: after they had bath'd her body, they laid her out in an upper chamber.

as Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples having heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him to desire he would come to them without delay.

Peter immediately went with them, and when he was come, they conducted him to the upper chamber: and all the widows advanc'd to him weeping, and shew'd the robes and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.

On the morrow as they were on their journey, and drew nigh the city, Peter went upon the leads to pray, about the sixth hour.

and being seiz'd with hunger, he would have had something to eat: but while they were making it ready, he fell into a trance,

they answered, Cornelius the centurion, a man of probity and piety, one that has an universal good character among the Jews, was divinely admonish'd by an holy angel to send for you to his house, to hear what you had to say to him.

then he invited them in, and they lodged there. On the morrow, Peter departed with them, and some of his brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

the next day they arriv'd at Cesarea: where Cornelius expected them, having invited his kinsmen and intimate friends, to his house.

we are witnesses of all his transactions, both in Judea, and at Jerusalem. however, they put him to death, even that of the cross.

for they heard them express their praises to God in divers languages.

so he directed they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. after which they desired him to stay some time with them.

Having heard this, they were appeas'd, and glorified God, saying, God has then granted salvation likewise to the gentiles, on the terms of their repentance.

In the mean time they who were dispers'd upon the persecution that arose after Stephen's time, had travell'd as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, without preaching the gospel to any, but Jews only.

some of them were of Cyprus and Cyrene, and upon their arrival at Antioch they address'd themselves to the Greeks, and preach'd to them the Lord Jesus.

Of this the church at Jerusalem being appriz'd, they order'd Barnabas to go to Antioch;

where they resided a whole year with that church, and instructed abundance of disciples, and these disciples were the first that were denominated Christians.

then the disciples determin'd to send, each of them answerably to his abilities, some relief to the brethren residing in Judea: which they actually perform'd,

when they had pass'd the first and second guard, they came to the iron-gate that leads to the city, which open'd to them of itself: so they went out and pass'd together thro' one street: when all of a sudden the angel quitted Peter. Then coming to himself; now,