said he, how unlawful it is for a Jew, to frequent a stranger, or even to go to his house: but God hath shewed me, that I should not look upon any man as common and unclean.

for which reason I came without demur, as soon as I knew your message: I ask therefore upon what account you sent for me?

immediately I sent to you; and you have done well to come. now here we are all in the presence of God, to hear whatever he has given you in charge.

how Jesus of Nazareth divinely inspired by the holy spirit, and with miraculous power, went about doing good, and healing all that were under the oppression of the devil: because God was with him.

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

all the Jewish converts, who came with Paul, were astonished to see that the gift of the holy spirit was diffused likewise among the Gentiles.

In the mean time, the apostles, and the brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had likewise receiv'd the word of God.

at that very instant three men, dispatch'd from Cesarea to me, were just arrived at the house, where I was.

who will give you such instructions, as will be the means of saving both you and all your family.

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.

for he was a good man, and full of the holy spirit and of faith: so that many converts were added to the church.

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

and perceiving that the Jews were pleas'd with this, he proceeded to secure Peter during the feast of unleavened bread:

put on your girdle, continu'd the angel, and bind on your sandals: which he did. throw your cloak over you, said the angel, and follow me.

said he, I know for certain, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has deliver'd me from the hands of Herod, and from what the Jews were in expectation of.

then recollecting where he was, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnam'd Mark, where many were assembled at prayers.

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

as Peter still continued knocking, they let him in, and seeing it was he, they were extremely surpriz'd:

As soon as it was day, the soldiers were in a world of confusion to know what was become of Peter.

Herod having caus'd diligent search to be made, without being able to find him, after examining the guards, he order'd them to execution. after which he departed from Judea, and went to Cesarea, where he resided.

Herod was then making warlike preparations against the Tyrians, and Sidonians: but they unanimously sent a deputation to court: where having gain'd Blastus the king's chamberlain, they brought matters to an accommodation: for their country was subsisted by the king's territorys.

one court-day, Herod array'd in his robes of state, and seated upon the throne, made a publick oration:

Now there were several prophets and teachers in the church of Antioch, as Barnabas, Simeon surnam'd Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

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.

being thus appointed missionarys by the holy spirit, they went to Seleucia, where they embark'd for Cyprus.

when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.

his hand is falling upon thee, thou shalt be blind, and not see the sun for some time." immediately his eyes were covered with obscurity and darkness; so that he grop'd about for somebody to lead him by the hand.

after which Paul and his company set out from Paphos to Perga in Pamphilia, where John quitted them in order to return to Jerusalem.

the God of Israel made choice of our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourn'd in Egypt, from whence he conducted them by the terror of his arm.

It is to you, my brethren, who are the children of Abraham, and to all who fear God among you, that this salutary news is sent.

as for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and their senators, by their not knowing who he was, and by condemning him, they have accomplished the declarations of the prophets, which are read every sabbath-day:

and for many days he was seen by those, who had accompany'd him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and they are now his witnesses to the people.

to you therefore we declare, that the promise which God had made to the fathers, he has now perform'd to us, who are their children, by his having raised up Jesus again.

"consider you despisers, be surpriz'd and turn pale, for I shall perform a work in your days, which you will not believe, whoever shall declare it unto you."

When Paul and Barnabas were gone out of the Jewish synagogue, the Gentiles desired them to entertain them on the same subject, the following sabbath.

when the Jews saw such a crowd, they were fill'd with resentment, and oppos'd what Paul had advanc'd, even to blasphemy.

but Paul and Barnabas told them boldly, you indeed were the first, to whom the word of God was to be preach'd: but since you reject it, and judge your own selves unworthy of eternal life, be assur'd, we shall make the same offer to the Gentiles:

when the Gentiles heard this, they received the word with joy, glorifying the Lord: and as many as were dispos'd to eternal life, believed.

and the disciples were filled with joy, and with the holy spirit.

Being arriv'd at Iconium, they went both together to the Jewish synagogue, where they discours'd in such a manner, that a great number both of Jews and of Greeks believed.

so that the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews, and others with the apostles.

of which they were appriz'd, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, citys of Lycaonia, and to the adjacent country,

where they preach'd the gospel.

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

When the people saw what Paul had done, they cry'd out in the Lycaonian tongue, the Gods have assum'd a human form, and are descended among us.

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:

nevertheless he sufficiently display'd himself by his beneficence to mankind, in giving us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, replenishing our hearts with food and gladness."

from thence they sailed to Antioch, where they had been recommended to the favour of God, for the commission, which they had now discharg'd.

when they were arrived, and had assembled the Church, they related what great things God had wrought by them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles:

However some that arrived from Judea, told the Gentile converts, unless you are circumcised agreeably to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.

and being arrived at Jerusalem, they were receiv'd by the church, by the apostles, and presbyters, to whom they related all that God had done by them.

why therefore do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear?

but we believe that it is by the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are to be sav'd, as well as they.

The whole assembly were very silent, whilst Barnabas and Paul related what miracles and prodigies God had wrought among the Gentiles by their ministry.

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.

that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from animals that are strangled, and from their blood.

Whereas we have been appriz'd, that some who went from us, have embarass'd you with their discourse, and unsettled your minds, maintaining, that you ought to be circumcised, and to observe the law, though we gave them no such injunction: after having been assembled,

we unanimously judg'd it proper to send particular deputies to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

men that have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices. farewel.

Being thus dispatch'd, they went to Antioch; where having assembled all the faithful, they deliver'd the letter: from the reading of which,

they were affected with joy at the comfortable contents, as for Judas and Silas,

where Paul and Barnabas continued, teaching and preaching the doctrine of the Lord, with many others.

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.

Paul arrived then at Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewish convert, but his father a Greek.

thus were the churches established in the faith, and daily grew more numerous.

but after they had travers'd Phrygia and Galatia, they were order'd by the holy spirit not to preach the gospel in Asia:

there Paul had a vision in the night. a Macedonian appear'd to him, and thus address'd him, "pass on to Macedonia, and come to our relief."

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.

as she followed Paul and the rest of us, she cried out, these men are the servants of the most high God, who show you the way to salvation.

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

as it is not lawful for Romans, as we are, to admit or practise.

after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe.

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.

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

believe, said they, on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you, and your family.

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.

but Paul replied, they have publickly scourg'd us, who are Romans, without any trial, they have thrown us into jayl, and now do they give us a private discharge? no, let them come themselves and release us.

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

then they quitted the prison, and went to Lydia's house, where finding the brethren, they gave them an exhortation, and departed.

Having pass'd thro' Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arriv'd at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue.

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.

the people, and the magistrates upon hearing this were alarm'd:

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

the Jews there were of a more generous temper than those of Thessalonica: for they very readily embrac'd their doctrine, and daily examin'd, whether it was conformable to the scriptures.

so that many of them believed, besides a considerable number of women of distinction, and of men, that were Greeks.

but when the Jews of Thessalonica were inform'd that Paul had preached the word of God at Berea, they went thither to stir up the populace.

however Paul's guides attended him to Athens: where they left him, after having received his orders for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed.

While Paul was expecting them at Athens, he was grieved to the soul to see the whole city o'er-spread with idols.

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.

since then we are the offspring of God, we should not imagine that the Deity bears any resemblance to the form which Gold, or Silver, or Stone has receiv'd from human art and industry.

God has been pleas'd to over-look this state of ignorance: but now he enjoins all men every where to repent:

however, there were some who adher'd to him, as Denis the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

where having found a Jew nam'd Aquila, a native of Pontus, who lately came from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had order'd all the Jews to quit Rome; he went to them:

and when Silas and Timothy were arriv'd from Macedonia, Paul with great concern remonstrated to the Jews, that Jesus was the Messiah: