now the servants and officers that were there, had made a coal-fire, for it was cold, to warm themselves: and Peter stood warming himself among them.

Pilate then said to them, take him your selves, and judge him according to your law. but the Jews said to him, it is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

upon this Pilate said to him, you are then a king? Jesus answered, you say right, for I am a king. to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, to persuade mankind of the truth. every one that loves truth is observant of my directions.

as soon as the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, "crucify him, crucify him." Pilate said to them, take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

upon this, Pilate propos'd to release him: but the Jews cried out, if you let this man go, you are not Cesar's friend: he that sets up for king, opposes Cesar.

now this inscription was read by many of the Jews: for Jesus was crucified nigh the city: and it was written in Syriac, Greek, and Latin.

The soldiers, after they had crucified Jesus, took his garments (and made four parts, to every soldier a part) and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

they said therefore among themselves, let us not rent it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: so that the scripture was fulfilled, which said, "they parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots." this was what the soldiers actually did.

Now for fear the bodies should remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day, for it was then the eve of the pascal-sabbath, a day of high solemnity, the Jews desired Pilate that their legs might be broke, and that they might be taken away.

for these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, "a bone of him shall not be broken."

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.

as for the napkin that had been put about his head, it was not in the same place as the linen clothes, but lay folded up by it self.

for as yet they did not understand from the scripture, that he was to rise again from the dead.

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.

that is to say, master! Jesus said to her, touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my father: but go to my brethren, and say to them, "I ascend unto my father and your father, even my God and your God."

The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, the doors of the house where the disciples were, being shut, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, peace be with you.

thereupon the favourite disciple of Jesus said to Peter, "it is the Lord." as soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt on his coat, (for he was stript) and threw himself into the sea.

as for the other disciples, they came in the bark dragging the net full of fish, for they were but about two hundred cubits distant from land.

assoon as they were come to land, they saw fish frying upon a fire of coals there, and bread.

come, said Jesus, let us dine. but none of the disciples offer'd to ask him, who he was; for they saw well enough that it was the Lord.

I tell you for certain, tho' when you was a youth you girded your self, and rambled where you had a mind: yet when you are old, your hands shall be stretch'd out, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee where you will be unwilling to go.

being with them when they were assembled, he order'd they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what the father had promis'd, which, said he, I mention'd.

" for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the holy ghost, not many days hence."

and he said to them, it is not for you, to know the times or the seasons, which the father hath reserv'd in his own disposal.

but ye shall receive the influence of the holy spirit, which will descend upon you: and ye shall be witnesses for me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth.

for it is written in the book of psalms, "let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein:" and "let another take possession of his charge."

and I will shew prodigies in the heavens, and signs on the earth; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke.

for David says concerning him, "I had the Lord always present before me, he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

for David is not ascended to heaven: yet he saith himself, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand,

Peter replied, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy spirit.

for the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

but ye renounced him that was holy and just; you interceeded for the life of a murderer,

for Moses said to the fathers, "a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; observe whatever he shall say to you.

and they laid hands on them, and put them in prison, till the next day: for it was now evening.

salvation is not to be had by any other: for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we can be saved.

saying, what shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

but to prevent its spreading any further among the people, let us charge them with threats not to speak for the future to any man in that name.

for we cannot avoid publishing what we have seen and heard.

so when they had further threatned them, they let them go, not finding it practicable to punish them, because of the people, who all glorified God for that which was done.

for the man who was so miraculously cured, was above forty years old.

for it was truly against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, that Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, united themselves in this city,

for there was no poor among them, because as many as bad lands or houses, sold them, and brought the value,

was not the estate your own estate? and was not the price for which it was sold, all in your own hands? how came such a design as this in your heart? thou hast not lyed unto men, but unto God.

when Peter addressing himself to her, tell me, said he, have you sold the land for such a price? yes, said she, for so much.

upon which the captain went with his officers, and brought them, without offering any violence, for fear of being stoned, he and his men by the people.

saying, did not we strictly command you, not to teach in this name? and yet you have spread your doctrine through Jerusalem, and you endeavour to make us responsible for this man's blood.

when a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of law, who was respected by all the people, rose up in the council, and moved the apostles might withdraw for some time.

for some time ago one Theudas started up, pretending to be something extraordinary, who was join'd indeed by about four hundred men: but he was no sooner put to death, than his followers all dispers'd, and were reduc'd to nothing.

my opinion therefore is, not to meddle with these men, but to let them go on: for if the design be a human project, it will fall of it self. but if it be from God,

full of joy, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

for we have heard him say, that Jesus the Nazarene shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered us.

he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of land: yet he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his posterity after him, tho' he had then no child.

God declar'd likewise, "that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, where they should be enslaved and abused four hundred years.

he delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him wisdom to become acceptable to Pharaoh king of Egypt; who made him governor of Egypt, and all his houshold.

at the second voyage Joseph discover'd himself to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred were made known to Pharaoh.

and were transported to Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

in which time Moses was born, who was exceeding fair, and nourished in his father's house three months:

and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter caused him to be taken up, and maintain'd for her adopted son.

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.

then said the Lord to him, "put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

he it was, who delivered them by doing prodigies and miracles in the land of Egypt, in the red sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

'twas he that was in the assembly with our fathers in the wilderness, and with the angel that spoke to him on mount Sina: and delivered the oracles to him by word of mouth for our use.

"make us gods, said they to Aaron, to be our guides: for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him."

then God left them, and abandon'd them to the worship of the celestial army; as it is written in the book of the prophets, "O ye house of Israel, is it to me that ye have offered victims, and sacrifices, for the space of forty years in the wilderness?

and desired to have a settled tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

as for Saul, he made havock of the Church, entring into their houses, whence he dragg'd away both men and women, to throw them into prison.

for the impure spirits, with great outcries, came out of many that were possessed: many paralytic, and lame people were cured.

no wonder they were so attach'd to one, who had for a long time infatuated them with his arts.

who upon their arrival, prayed for them that they might receive the holy spirit.

(for as yet he had not descended on any of them: they having only been baptized in the name of the Lord

but Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, for thinking that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

thou hast no manner of share in this gift: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

for I perceive you are upon the brink of misery, led captive by your sin.

Simon answered, do you pray to the Lord for me, that nothing like what you mention may befall me.

in his humiliation he was judged, he was taken off: and who shall describe the men of his time? for the land has taken away his life."

went to the high priest, and demanded letters for the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any of this sect, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

and he said, who art thou, Lord? and the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is hard for thee to kick against the goad. Then trembling with the fright Saul said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? and the Lord said to him,]

and the Lord said unto him, arise, and go to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus: for he is there at prayer.

go, said the Lord to him: for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel.

for I will make him see how much he must suffer for my name.

send messengers immediately to Joppa, for one Simon, whose sirname is Peter:

when he saw the heaven open, and something descending in the form of a great sheet, ty'd at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

but Peter said, not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

As Peter was still pondering upon the vision, the spirit said to him, there are people below, who enquire for you.

rise therefore, get thee down, and go with them, without hesitating: for I have sent them.

then Peter went down to the messengers; and said, I am the person you look for: what occasion brought you hither?

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.

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?

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,

send therefore to Joppa, for one Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner, by the sea-side, who, when he is arriv'd, will give you information."

for they heard them express their praises to God in divers languages.

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.

but I said, Lord, by no means: for I never did eat any thing impure, and defiled.

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.

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

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.

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.