being therefore arrived in Mysia, they essayed to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus would not allow it: so they pass'd by Mysia,

One day as we went to the oratory, we happen'd to meet a slave, who had the spirit Python, and was very gainful to her masters by telling of fortunes.

upon this the populace rose upon them, and the Officers order'd them to be stript and scourg'd.

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.

so they came, and by persuasions brought them out, and desired them to leave the city.

but the unbelieving Jews thro' envy, by the assistance of some loose strolers, rais'd a mob, set the whole city in an uproar, and attack'd Jason's house, thinking to find them there, and deliver them up to the populace.

but not finding them, they dragg'd Jason and some of the brethren to the magistrates, crying out, these that have been every where the disturbers of the publick peace, are come hither also, and have been entertain'd by Jason.

Immediately the brethren sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea, where being arriv'd, they went into the synagogue.

for what you say sounds so very strange, we should be glad to know what it means.

the GOD who made the world and every thing therein, and is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples erected by men:

by which they might enquire, and by due reflection investigate the supreme being, although he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live,

because he has fix'd the day, when he will judge in equity, by that man, whom he has appointed thereto: of which he has given full proof to all the world, by having raised him from the dead."

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:

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.

and being determin'd to pass into Achaia, the brethren who advis'd him to it, writ to the disciples to receive him. when he was arrived, he was, by the divine favour, very useful to those, who had receiv'd the faith.

when they heard this, they were initiated by baptism into the christian profession.

the miracles which God wrought by the ministry of Paul being of such an extraordinary nature, that by applying the handkerchiefs,

Upon this, certain vagabond Jews, who were exorcists, pretended to cure demoniacs by pronouncing the name of the Lord Jesus: their form being this, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."

many that had practis'd magical arts, brought the books and publickly threw them into the fire: the value by computation amounting to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

summon'd the company, and thus address'd them, "tho' you know, sirs, it is by this craft that we are in such plight,

yet your own eyes and ears have inform'd you, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul by his persuasions has turn'd the heads of a world of people, asserting, that these are Gods of our own making, and not really such.

so that not only our profession runs the risk of being vilified; but the temple of the great goddess Diana will be depreciated, and her majesty, so rever'd thro' all Asia, and the whole world, will be discarded."

but was prevented by his disciples, and by the primates of Asia, who were his friends, and sent to desire he would not venture to the theatre:

at last Alexander was disengag'd from the croud, and accus'd by the Jews. then he waved his hand, desiring to make his defence before them all.

since this is incontestible, it behoves you to be easy, and free from any rash conduct:

but if the contest be about other matters, it may be decided in a regular assembly.

where by appointment Paul was to be taken aboard, designing himself to go thither by land.

from thence we bore away: the next day we came off Chios, and the day after we pass'd by Samos, landing at Trogyllium, and arrived at Miletus the next day.

for Paul had determined not to go ashore at Ephesus, to avoid losing time in Asia: because he was eager to get to Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of pentecost.

how I have serv'd the Lord with all resignation, with tears, and trials occasion'd by the insidious practices of the Jews:

that I have conceal'd nothing that might be useful to you, but have inform'd you of it, and instructed you therein, both in publick and in private:

be therefore upon your guard to secure your selves, and the whole flock over which the holy spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

for I know when I am gone, you will be oppress'd by wolves, that will not spare the flock.

be then upon the watch, and remember, that for three years I have not ceased by night, or by day to warn every soul of you, even with tears.

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."

that time being ended, we departed, being conducted by them in a body with the women and children quite out of the city, where we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

but Paul replied, what do you mean by afflicting me thus with your tears? I am not only ready to meet my chains, but even to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.

he being then inflexible, we desisted, saying, the will of the Lord be done.

after having saluted them, he gave a particular account of what God had wrought by his ministry among the Gentiles.

now they have heard that you instruct the Jews that are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them they must not circumcise their children, nor observe the establish'd rites.

what then is to be done? they will necessarily be all assembled, for they can't but hear, you are come.

as for the believing Gentiles, we have given them by letter this decision, "they need only take care to abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from the flesh of animals strangled, and from fornication."

accordingly Paul went to the men, and the next day was purified with them; then entring into the temple, he declar'd how long the time of the purification was to last, and when the offering was to be made for each of them.

in the hubbub some cry'd one thing, some another: so that not being able to get any information for the tumult, he order'd him to be carried to the castle.

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?

this the high-priest and the senate know too well: from them I receiv'd my warrant directed to the Jews of Damascus, where I went, to bring the converts there in chains to Jerusalem, in order to be punished.

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.

but as I had lost the use of my eyes by the splendor of that light, I was led by the hand to Damascus, by those who were with me.

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:

why should you now delay? arise, be baptized, and cleansed from your sins, by invoking the name of the 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."

when the commanding officer order'd him to be brought into the castle, and put to the question by the lash, in order to find out the reason of their exclamations against him.

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.

immediately those who were going to put him to the question, withdrew: the commander himself being under some apprehension for having order'd him to be bound.

which made Paul say, "may God strike thee, thou plaister'd wall: you sit to judge me according to law, and in defiance of the law you order me to be struck!"

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

but the tumult growing worse, the tribune apprehensive that Paul might be torn to pieces among them, order'd detachment to secure him by force of arms, and bring him to the castle.

when it was day, some Jews, that had form'd a conspiracy, engag'd themselves by an oath, not to eat, or drink, till they had kill'd Paul.

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

then the tribune taking him by the hand, retir'd with him in private, and ask'd, what he had to say.

but don't believe them: for above forty of them lie in ambush, having bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink till they have kill'd him: they are already prepar'd, and only wait your answer.

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:

The soldiers pursuant to order took Paul, and conducted him by night to Antipatris.

The governour having read the letter, ask'd Paul of what province he was, and being inform'd he was of Cilicia, you shall be heard,

"The happiness our nation enjoys, most noble Felix, by the wisdom of your administration, affects us too sensibly not to be acknowledg'd every where, and upon all occasions, with the utmost gratitude.

but not to trespass upon you too far, be pleas'd to hear what I have to say in brief, with your usual indulgence.

this man is known to be a pernicious fellow that goes about the world to raise seditions among the Jews: he is the ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

and has attempted to prophane the temple: we secur'd him, and would have try'd him by our law:

ordering his accusers to appear before you. if you please to interrogate him yourself, you will find the whole charge to be truly laid."

this the Jews confirm'd by declaring it was all fact.

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:

unless it be, that I did indeed break out into this expression, it "is for the resurrection of the dead, that I am now call'd into question."

offer'd him mony in order to obtain his discharge. but two years after he was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who to oblige the Jews left Paul under confinement.

"desiring the favour he might be sent for to Jerusalem." they having prepar'd measures to assassinate him upon the road.

Festus answer'd, that Paul was in custody at Cesarea, where he design'd to be himself e'er long:

Having staid above eight, nay ten days, he went to Cesarea, and on the morrow mounting the tribunal, he order'd Paul to be brought before him.

"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.

if I am guilty of any capital crime, I am contented to die. but since their accusations are all groundless, that I may not be sacrificed to their humour, I appeal to Cesar."

I told them, it was not the custom of the Romans to deliver up any man, till he was accus'd and confronted by his accusers, and had an opportunity of pleading to the charge.

the next day after they were come, to avoid delay, I mounted the tribunal, and order'd the man to be brought.

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

On the morrow Agrippa and Bernice came in great state, and being introduc'd into the court attended by the officers and the principal men of the city, Festus gave the word, and Paul was brought to the Bar.

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.

which our twelve tribes by their continual services, night and day, hope themselves to obtain: yet for that hope, king Agrippa, do the Jews now accuse me.

where numbers of converts I threw into jail, by warrant from the high priests: and when they were put to death, I myself was an accomplice.

with such views, authorized by commission from the high priests, I was on the road to Damascus:

by delivering you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes,

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."

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.

but by the divine favour I am still preserv'd alive, testifying to the small and to the great nothing but what Moses and the prophets have predicted should happen: "that Christ should suffer:

that he should be the first that was to rise from the dead: and that he should enlighten both the Jews and the Gentiles."

but Agrippa reply'd to Paul, you almost persuade me I shall be a christian!

"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."

for as that haven could not cover us from the storm, most were of opinion to bear away, and try to put in at Phenice, where we could ride safe, the port lying by south-west, and north-west.

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.