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.

as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and prostrated himself at his feet,

then Cornelius said, it is now four days ago that I was fasting, and while I was at prayers in my house, about the ninth hour, a man in bright attire presented himself before me,

this was what he communicated to the children of Israel, proclaiming salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all mankind.

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.

and he commanded us to publish, and to testify to the people, that he was the person whom God had constituted to be the judge of the living, and of the dead.

Peter was yet speaking, when the holy spirit descended on all that heard him.

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.

and when Peter was return'd to Jerusalem, the Jewish converts objected to his conduct,

saying, as I was at prayers in Joppa, I saw something like a great sheet, tied at the four corners, which descended from heaven, and came just to me.

as I was considering it very attentively, I saw several quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles and birds.

this was done three times, and then the whole scene was mounted to heaven.

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

and while I was speaking to them, the holy spirit descended upon them, as it did on us, at the beginning.

who upon his arrival there, was glad to see such effects of the divine grace, and exhorted them all to remain firmly attach'd to the christian profession:

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

thus Peter was kept in prison, but the Church prayed to God, without ceasing, for him,

now the very night preceding the day which Herod design'd for his execution, Peter bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the other guards secured the prison door; when an angel of

so he went out after the angel without knowing that what the angel had done, was real; but thinking it was all a vision.

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.

when he had knock'd at the door of the gate, a servant named Rhoda came to ask who was there.

upon hearing Peter tell his name, instead of opening the gate, she ran, out of joy, to tell them, that Peter was there.

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 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.

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:

he was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of prudence: who sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to hear the word of God.

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

and after the lesson out of the law and the prophets was finish'd, the heads of the synagogue sent this message to them; Men and brethren, if you have any instruction to offer to the people, deliver it.

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:

after they had accomplished all that was written concerning him, he was taken down from the cross, and laid in a sepulchre:

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.

for David, after he had serv'd in his time the designs of providence, died and was buryed with his fathers, and was subject to corruption.

but he, whom God hath raised, was not subject to corruption.

when the assembly was separated, many Jews and religious proselytes followed after, to whom the apostles address'd themselves, and exhorted them to persevere in the divine dispensation.

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:

Now at Lystra there was a man, who could not stand upon his feet, he was born a cripple, and had never walked about.

Barnabas, they stiled Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.

even the priest of Jupiter, whose statue was at the city-gates, brought oxen and garlands there, and together with the people, would have offer'd sacrifice to the apostles.

but whatever they could say, it was with difficulty that they restrain'd the people from sacrificing to them.

upon which Paul and Barnabas having warmly contested the point with them, it was resolved, that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go to Jerusalem to consult the apostles upon this question.

and the contention was so sharp between them, that they separated: so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

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.

so he took him and had him circumcised, out of regard to the Jews of that country, who all knew his father was a Greek.

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.

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.

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.

at the same time of night he washed their stripes, and immediately he was baptized, he, and all that belong'd to him.

When it was day the officers sent their serjeants to bid the jayler let the men go.

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,

explaining them, and setting it to view, that the Messiah was to suffer and rise again from the dead: and that Jesus, whom he denounc'd to them, was that very Messiah.

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.

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

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

When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a general insurrection against Paul, and carry'd him to his tribunal.

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.

but the Greeks in a body fell upon Sosthenes the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the tribunal: whilst Gallio was unconcern'd about the matter.

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.

for he strenuously disputed with the Jews in publick, proving from the scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

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,

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.

the man who was possess'd immediately leapt upon them, got the better, and used them so roughly, they were forc'd to fly out of the house, cover'd with nothing but their wounds.

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.

It was then a tumult happen'd at Ephesus upon account of the christian sect.

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.

upon this Paul was bent upon going. to the populace,

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.

but when they knew he was a Jew, they cry'd out one and all for the space of two hours, "great is Diana of the Ephesians."

there he stay'd three months; and then the Jews conspiring to surprize him at his embarkation for Syria, it was thought adviseable he should return thro' Macedonia. Sopater of Berea,

on the first day of the week we assembled to break bread, when Paul, who was to depart on the morrow, gave them a sermon, which lasted till midnight.

and as Paul continued his discourse a great while, a young man, named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was seiz'd with a deep sleep, which quite o'er-came him; so that he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.

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,

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

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.

you yourselves can witness, that what was necessary for myself and those who were with me, these very hands have supply'd.

having made Cyprus, leaving it to the North, we took our course to Syria, and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unlade her cargo.

he was one of the seven deacons, and had four daughters all virgins, prophetesses.

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.

the whole city was in an uproar, the people crouded together: they seized Paul, dragg'd him out of the temple, and then shut the gates.

as they were busy upon his execution, news came to the commander of the cohort, that the whole city was in an uproar.

the commander advanc'd, seiz'd him, and order'd to load him with two chains: then demanded who he was, and what he had done.

as he was mounting the stairs, the soldiers bore him up thro' the violence of the people, who were all pressing after,

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.

as I was upon the road, advanc'd near Damascus, about mid-day, all of a sudden a great light from heaven broke all around me.

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.

at length being return'd to Jerusalem, one day as I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance.

that I was present, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, that I abetted the slaughter, and watch'd the clothes of those who slew him.

as he was resolv'd to know for certain, the next day, what the Jews laid to his charge, he took off his chains, and summon'd the chief priests, and the council to appear, when Paul was brought, and presented before them.

Paul replied, I did not consider, brethren, that he was the high priest. it is indeed written, "thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

for the Sadducees maintain, there is neither resurrection, nor angel, or spirit, whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both: the clamour was great,

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.

having been informed he was a Roman, I had him brought before their Sanhedrim, to hear what crime they laid to his charge.

but I found their accusation turned upon certain topics of their law, and contain'd nothing that was capital, or that deserv'd imprisonment:

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,

so Paul was call'd, and Tertullus thus open'd the charge.