Then he propos'd this parable, concerning those who had a great opinion of their own justice, and look'd with contempt upon others.

but Zaccheus address'd himself to Jesus, and said, Lord, half my estate I give to the poor; and if I have wrong'd any man, I will give him four times the value.

Their attention being raised by this, Jesus pursued his discourse with a parable, occasion'd by their thinking, that, because he was advanc'd so nigh to Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would immediately commence.

upon his return, being confirm'd king, he order'd the servants, he had trusted with the money, to appear, and inform him, what improvement each of them had made.

when he was advanc'd near Bethphage, and Bethany, to the mountain call'd the Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

saying to them, go to the village opposite to you: at your entrance there, you will find a colt ty'd, that was never yet back'd: untie it and bring it here.

in these words, "O that thou hadst consider'd, at least in this very day, the opportunity you had of being happy! but now alas! it is vanish'd from your eyes."

they watch'd then, and suborn'd spies, who under pretence of their tender consciences, might ensnare him in his discourse, and so betray him to the civil power and jurisdiction of the governor.

they address'd him therefore in this manner; master, we know that what you say and teach is all right. you are not influenc'd by the quality of men, but explain the divine law with sincerity:

Now the feast of unleaven'd bread, which is call'd the passover,

The day of unleaven'd bread being come, when the paschal-lamb was to be sacrific'd,

but Jesus oppos'd, and said, forbear, stop there. and having touch'd his ear, he healed him.

then Pilate ask'd him, art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answer'd him, 'tis as you say.

Barabbas had been imprison'd for murder in a riot he had rais'd in the city.

however he urg'd it a third time, why, what crime has he done? I don't find he has done any thing that deserves death: I will therefore order him to be whipp'd, and so dismiss him.

accordingly he discharg'd the prisoner they desired, him that was committed for riot and murder; but he abandon'd Jesus to their discretion.

As they were conducting him to execution, they seiz'd upon one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming to town, and oblig'd him to carry the cross after Jesus,

now while they were conferring and debating together, Jesus himself join'd them and walk'd along with them.

one of them, Cleopas by name, reply'd, are you such a stranger in Jerusalem as not to know what has so lately happen'd there?

and of his being deliver'd up by our chief priests and magistrates to be condemn'd to die, whom they actually crucified:

when looking upon him more intently, they perceiv'd that it was Jesus. but he vanish'd out of sight.

and they worship'd him, and with great joy return'd to Jerusalem,

art thou then Elias? said they; and he answer'd, I am not. art thou a prophet? and he answer'd, no.

The day following, the people who stay'd on the other side of the sea, perceiving that there had been only that single vessel in which his disciples were embark'd, that Jesus did not embark with his disciples, but that his disciples were gone away alone: (however,

(the Pharisees being inform'd what the people rumour'd concerning him, they and the chief priests sent their officers to seize him.)

then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus was conceal'd by the crowd which he pass'd thro', and so got out of the temple.

Thereupon they again endeavour'd to seize him: but he escaped out of their hands, and retir'd beyond Jordan,

while ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. after having said these things, Jesus retir'd, and conceal'd himself from them.

if I had not appear'd, and inform'd them, they would have been innocent: but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Pilate therefore hearing them talk at this rate, order'd Jesus to be brought forth, and then sat down in a place of Mosaic work on his tribunal, in Syriac call'd Gabbatha.

after this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but for fear of the Jews a conceal'd one, pray'd Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave: so he went and took the body of Jesus.

Jesus said to her, woman, why do you weep? who do you look for? she supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, sir, if it be you that have convey'd him away; tell me where you have laid him, and I will take care to have him remov'd.

then he ask'd him the second time, Simon son of Jonas do you love me? yes, Lord, said he; you know that I love you. Jesus reply'd, feed my sheep.

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

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,

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

upon which Barnabas propos'd to take John surnam'd Mark, with them.

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."

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.

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

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

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

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

Paul, as was his custom, us'd to go there, and for three sabbath-days discours'd to the Jews from the scriptures,

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.

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.

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 being of the same trade, he liv'd with them, and follow'd the business of tent-making. every sabbath he disputed in the synagogue,

or aprons that had touch'd his skin, to the distemper'd, they were cured, and the evil spirits came out of the possessed.

this was known to all the Jews and Greeks, that liv'd at Ephesus, who were all seiz'd with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was exalted.

thus the christian doctrine flourish'd and prevail'd.

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.

at these words, they were fir'd with indignation, and cry'd out, "great is Diana of the Ephesians."

and the whole city was fill'd with confusion: all crouded in a body to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, both of Macedonia, who had travell'd with Paul.

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.

for the men you have brought here, have neither plunder'd your temples, nor inveigh'd against your goddess.

but the young man was brought in alive and well, to the joy of the whole assembly. As for us, we embark'd, and sail'd to Assos,

after this man, Judas of Galilee appear'd, at the time of the registry, and seduc'd many people: he also perished, and all his followers were dispersed.

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.

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,

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

then Philip enter'd upon the subject, and show'd how the whole passage was applicable to Jesus.

thereupon Barnabas took him with him to the apostles, and related to them how the Lord had appear'd to him on his journey, and had spoken to him, and how publickly Saul had preach'd at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

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.

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.

and when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? and he said to him, thy prayers and thine alms have been observ'd and approv'd by God.

While Peter was perplexed about the signification of this vision, the messengers from Cornelius having enquir'd out Simon's house, arriv'd at the gate,

and calling somebody, ask'd, whether Simon Peter lodg'd there.

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;

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,

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.

and Saul had executed their commission, they return'd to Jerusalem, and took with them John who was surnam'd Mark.

Having travers'd the isle as far as to Paphos, they found a Jew there nam'd Barjesus, who was a false prophet and magician:

then Saul, who was nam'd likewise Paul, full of the holy spirit, look'd fixedly upon him,

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:

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.

but the disbelieving Jews practis'd upon the Gentiles, and inflam'd their minds against the brethren.

however the apostles stay'd there a considerable time, being inspir'd with great resolution by the Lord, who gave his attestation to the evangelical doctrine, by the prodigys and miracles, which he did by their hands.

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.

the law was introduc'd, that the greatness of the fall might fully appear; but the more sin display'd its enormity, the divine favour was so much the more transcendent.

for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother;

but whom he predispos'd, he calls: and whom he has call'd, he justifies: and whom he has justified, he glorifies.

God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd. don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel,

You will say then, "were they suffer'd to stumble meerly for their ruin?" no: but that thro' their fall, salvation might be offer'd to the Gentiles, in order to provoke their emulation.

and when they were arriv'd he told them, you know how I have always behav'd towards you from the first day of my arrival in Asia:

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:

on the morrow we set out, and arriv'd at Cesarea, and went to the house of Philip the evangelist, with whom we lodg'd:

When we were arriv'd at Jerusalem, the brethren receiv'd us with joy.

The seven days being almost expir'd, the Asiatic Jews seeing him in the temple, rais'd a tumult, and fell upon him,

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.

Paul then standing upon the stairs made a sign with his hand to the people, who being very silent, he rais'd his voice, and thus address'd them in the Hebrew tongue:

when they perceiv'd he talk'd Hebrew, they were the more silent.