are you mad? said they. but she persisting that it was even so, they reply'd, it is then his angel.

but he made a sign to them with his hand, to be silent: and related to them, how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. go, said he, and acquaint James and the other brethren with this affair. after which he departed and went to another place.

as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them.

and said, "thou heap of imposture and mischief, offspring of the devil, and enemy to all justice, wilt thou not cease to pervers men from the right ways of the Lord?

thereupon Paul stood up, and having made sign with his hand for their attention, he said, men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

and in the discharge of his mission, he said, "who do you think I am? I am not the Messias. but there comes another after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to untie."

and to show that he rais'd him from the dead, never more to return to corruption, he said thus, "I will faithfully perform the promises, which I made to David."

he said to him aloud, rise and stand right upon your feet: upon which he leap'd up and walk'd.

and after the question had been much canvass'd, Peter rose up, and said, my brethren, you know that a considerable time since God chose me from among you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and bring them to the faith.

After they had done speaking, James assum'd the discourse, and said, my brethren, give me your attention.

he that does all these things, is the Lord himself that has said it." for the works of God are all known to him from the beginning of the world.

Some time after, Paul said to Barnabas, let us return to visit all those cities, where we have preach'd the word of the Lord, to see what condition the brethren are in.

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.

this she did for several days, till Paul tir'd with it turn'd about, and said to the spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to quit her; and instantly he came out.

having presented them to the Officers, they said, these men, who are Jews, raise great disorders in our city, and preach such maxims,

but Paul call'd to him aloud, and said, do thy self no harm, for we are all here.

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.

so the jayler told Paul, the magistrates had order'd them to be discharg'd. depart then, said he, and go in peace.

the serjeants having reported what he said, to their officers, they began to be apprehensive upon hearing they were Romans.

there certain Epicurean and Stoick philosophers encountred him: "what does this mountebank mean?" said some: "he seems to proclaim some strange deitys," said others: because he talk'd to them of Jesus and the resurrection.

One day they conducted him to the Areopagus, and said to him, may we know what this new doctrine is, which you publish?

Then Paul being plac'd in the middle of the Areopagus, said thus, "I observe, O Athenians, that you are in a manner too devout.

are moved, and do exist: even as some of your own poets have said, WE ARE EVEN HIS OFFSPRING.

When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some made it a matter of ridicule: others said, we will hear you again upon this subject;

but as they oppos'd him with invectives, he shook his garment, and said, "you your selves be answerable for your own destruction, I am clear: and for the future I shall address my self to the Gentiles."

then the Lord said to Paul in a vision by night, "be not afraid, but speak, and be not silenc'd:

this fellow, said they, would persuade us to set up a way of worship inconsistent with our law.

and when Paul was going to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "if it were a matter of some injustice or something immoral, O Jews, it would be reasonable to hear you out.

said he, in taking his leave, I must necessarily keep the approaching feast at Jerusalem: after which I will return to you if God permit.

Whilst Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having pass'd through the upper provinces of Asia, arrived at Ephesus, where finding some disciples, he said to them,

what baptism then, said he, did you receive? they replied, the baptism of John.

upon which Paul said, John indeed administer'd the baptism of repentance, but with this admonition, that they should believe in him, who was to come after, that is, in Jesus the Messias.

but the evil spirit said to them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"

so Paul went down, and stooping over him, he embraced him, and said, don't trouble your selves; for his life is in him.

my constant example has shown you that the disabled should be assisted by your labours, remembring the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, "it is a greater happiness to give than to receive."

being more particularly afflicted at his having said, "they should see his face no more." and then they conducted him to the ship.

when taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, "thus saith the holy spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man, that owns this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."

just as he was entring into the castle, Paul said to the officer, may I be favour'd with a word? you can speak Greek then, said he?

then he said, I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but had my education in this city: at the feet of Gamaliel I was instructed in the law, and in the exact decisions of our fathers, and was as religiously zealous as you are at this time.

then I said, Lord, what must I do? and the Lord answer'd, arise, go to Damascus; there you will be inform'd what you are to do.

and being introduc'd, he said, brother Saul, receive thy sight. and instantly I saw him.

then he said, the God of our fathers has singled you out to be acquainted with his will, to see the just one, and to hear the words of his mouth:

then I saw JESUS, who said to me, "make haste, and go out of Jerusalem immediately: for they will not receive the attestations you would give of me." Lord,

said I, they know it is I that imprison'd those who believed on thee, and caus'd them to be scourg'd in the assemblies:

but the Lord said to me, "be gone, for I will send you far hence, even to the Gentiles."

as they were tying him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion, does the law allow to scourge a Roman citizen, and without any trial?

upon hearing that, the centurion went to acquaint the head officer, take care, said he, what you do; for this man is a Roman.

then the head officer came to him, and said, tell me, are you a Roman?

he answer'd, yes. the officer rejoin'd, my freedom cost me a considerable sum. but I had it, said Paul, by right of birth.

Then Paul directing himself to the council, thus said, "hitherto I have liv'd strictly conscientious, as God knows."

what, said the standers-by, do you revile the high priest of God?

and the Scribes taking part with the Pharisees, grew warm in the debate, and said, "we find no harm in this man; perhaps a spirit or an angel has spoke to him."

The night following, the Lord appear'd to him, and said, Paul, take courage; for the same remonstrances that you have made concerning me at Jerusalem, you must likewise make at Rome.

went to the chief priests and senators, and said, "we have bound our selves by oath not to eat till we have slain Paul.

who having sent for one of the centurions, said, introduce this young man to the tribune, for he has something to communicate to him.

accordingly he went along with him, and having introduc'd him to the tribune, he said, Paul, who is in custody sent for me, and desired me to introduce this young man, who has something to tell you.

the Jews, said he, have agreed to desire you would send Paul down to-morrow to the council, under the pretext of examining him more strictly.

then calling two of his centurions, draw out, said he, two hundred foot, seventy horse, and two hundred archers, ready to march to Cesarea by the third hour of the night:

said he, when your accusers are come: and then order'd him to the guard-room at Herod's palace.

Then the governour sign'd to Paul to reply; who said, I enter upon my defence with the greater confidence, by considering you have govern'd this nation several years:

but as he was treating of justice, temperance, and a future judgment, Felix greatly alarm'd, said, "withdraw for the present; and when I am at leisure, I will send for you."

the most considerable, said he, among you may go with me, and if he has committed any crime, let 'em begin the process.

"I stand, said Paul, to the tribunal of Cesar, where I ought to be judged. to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself very well know.

as they continued there for some time, Festus represented Paul's case to the king: Felix, said he, had left here a certain prisoner:

thereupon Agrippa told Festus, he himself should be glad to hear the man. to-morrow, said Festus, you shall hear him.

then Festus said, "King Agrippa, and you that are here present, you see the man, against whom a numerous body of the Jews have been practising with me both at Jerusalem, and in this city, urging with vehemence, that he should not be suffer'd to live.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, you are at liberty to make your defence. upon which Paul disengaging his hand from his cloak, thus made his plea.

I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.

I am not mad, said he, most noble Festus, but what I say, is very sound truth.

I pray God, said Paul, that not only you, but all that now hear me, were both almost and altogether such as I am, the circumstance of my bonds excepted.

When he had said this, the king, the governour, Bernice, and all that were seated near them, rose up: and being retired,

nay, Agrippa said to Festus, "this man might have been discharg'd if he had not appeal'd to Cesar."

"my friends, said he, I foresee our voyage will be attended with great difficulties, and no small risk of losing not only the ship and cargo, but our lives too."

and our spirits droop with fasting: when Paul presented himself, and said, "well, my friends, it had been, if I could have prevail'd upon you, to have sav'd your selves all this perplexity and loss by staying at Crete.

for an angel of that God, whose minister I am, and whom I serve, this night appear'd to me, and said, Paul, be not afraid:

upon this Paul said to the centurion and his men, "except the crew stay aboard, you can't be safe:"

while they were waiting for day, Paul advis'd the whole company to take some refreshment: "these fourteen days, said he, you have been very abstemious, and not made a meal:

having said this, he took bread, and gave thanks to God, the whole company present: then he broke it and began to eat,

the barbarians seeing the venomous creature hang fast to his hand, said to one another, this man is a murderer, no doubt; for, escaped from the wreck, the divine justice still pursues him to death.

however, they expected to have seen him swell, or suddenly die away. but when they had waited a good while, and saw no harm come to him, they were of another opinion, and said he was a God.

three days after, Paul sent for the chief of the Jews: and when they were assembled, he said to them, "my brethren, tho' I have done nothing against the Jews, or against the customs of our fathers, I was made a prisoner at Jerusalem, and put into the hands of the Romans:

they reply'd, we have receiv'd no letter from Judea concerning you; nor have any of our brethren that are arrived, said any harm of you.

some believed what he had said, but others did not believe:

so not being able to agree, they retir'd, upon Paul's having told them, that the holy spirit had very justly said to our fathers by the prophet Esaias,

[ having said this, the Jews went out, warmly debating it among themselves.]

Do we then conclude, that the law is the cause of sin? by no means; but I should not have had such a notion of sin, had it not been for the law: for I should not have known concupiscence was a sin, unless the law had said, "thou shalt not covet."

neither are they who are the race of Abraham, all children: but 'tis said, "in Isaac shall thy posterity be called."

it was said to her, "the elder shall serve the younger."

for 'tis said in scripture to Pharaoh, "even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth."

and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there shall they be called, the children of the living God."

and as Esaias said before, "except the God of heaven had left us a remnant, we had been as Sodoma, and brought to the state of Gomorrha."

but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

or is it said, no doubt, for our sakes? for our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he who plows should plow in hope; and that he who thresheth should expect the advantage.

and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, "take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

in the same manner he took the cup, after supper, and said, "this cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."

for instance, brethren, if I deliver myself to you in an unknown tongue, what good shall I do you, except I deliver to you the meaning of what is said, whether it relate to revelation, to mystical knowledge, to prophecy, or to doctrine.

for he hath subjected all things to him. but when it is said all things are subjected, it is plain that he is to be excepted, who did subject all things to him.

Having by the same spirit the same faith as David had when he said, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken:" I also believe, and therefore I speak;

and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said, "I will dwell with, and walk among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.