The New Testament Part 24

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL, PETER CURING AENEAS, AND RAISING DORCAS FROM THE DEAD.

1 [9:1]BUT Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest [9:2]and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of that way, he might bring them bound, men and women, to Jerusalem. [9:3]And he was going and had come nigh to Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven, [9:4]and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me? [9:5]And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. [9:6]But arise and enter into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. [9:7]And the men travelling with him stood amazed, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. [9:8]And Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand they conducted him to Damascus. [9:9]And he was three days without sight, and neither eat nor drank.

2 [9:10]And there was a certain disciple at Damascus by the name of Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. [9:11]And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for [a man] by the name of Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays, [9:12]and has seen a man by the name of Ananias coming and putting a hand on him, that he might receive his sight. [9:13]And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem; [9:14]and here he has power from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. [9:15]But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name both before nations and kings, and the children of Israel; [9:16]for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name.

3 [9:17]And Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way which you came, that you may receive sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. [9:18]And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and rising up was baptized, [9:19]and having received food was strengthened.

4 And he was with the disciples at Damascus some days; [9:20]and immediately in the synagogues he preached Jesus, that this is the Son of G.o.d. [9:21]And all that heard him were astonished and said, Is not this he that destroyed those who called on this name at Jerusalem, and has come here for this purpose, that he might lead them bound to the chief priests? [9:22]But Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

5 [9:23]And when some days had pa.s.sed, the Jews took counsel to kill him; [9:24]and their design was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him; [9:25]but the disciples took him by night and sent him away by the wall, letting him down in a store-basket.

6 [9:26]And going to Jerusalem he endeavored to join the disciples; and they all feared him, not believing that he was a disciple. [9:27]But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had spoken boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus. [9:28]And he was with them, entering in and going out at Jerusalem, [9:29]and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord; and he spoke and disputed with the h.e.l.lenists; and they undertook to kill him; [9:30]but the brothers knowing it led him away to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.

7 [9:31]Then had the church peace in all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and being built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. [9:32]And Peter pa.s.sing through all places, went down also to the saints living at Lydda. [9:33]And he found there a certain man by the name of AEneas, who had lain on a bed for eight years, and was a paralytic. [9:34]And Peter said to him, AEneas, Jesus Christ cures you; arise and make your bed for yourself. And he immediately arose; [9:35]and all those who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord.

8 [9:36]And there was at Joppa a certain female disciple called Tabitha, which being interpreted is called, Dorcas; she was full of good works and charities which she bestowed. [9:37]And in those days she was sick and died; and having washed they put her in an upper room.

[9:38]But Lydda being nigh to Joppa, the disciples hearing that Peter was there sent two men to him requesting, Do not delay to come to us.

[9:39]And Peter arose and came with them; and when he had come they led him into the upper room, and all the widows stood by weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. [9:40] And Peter putting them all out knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter sat up. [9:41] And giving her his hand he raised her up, and calling the saints and widows presented her living. [9:42]And this was known in all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. [9:43]And Peter continued many days at Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS, AND OTHER GENTILES.

1 [10:1]AND a certain man at Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort which was called the Italian, [10:2]a pious man, and one fearing G.o.d with all his house, and bestowing many charities on the people, and praying to G.o.d always, [10:3]saw clearly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of G.o.d coming to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. [10:4]And looking steadily at him and being afraid, he said, What is wanted, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and charities have come up as a memorial before G.o.d. [10:5] And now send men to Joppa and call for a certain Simon who is called Peter; [10:6]he lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea. [10:7]And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of the house servants, and a pious soldier of those that attended constantly on him, [10:8] and having related all things to them sent them to Joppa.

2 [10:9]And on the next day, as they were pursuing their journey and had come nigh to the city, Peter went upon the house to pray, about the sixth hour. [10:10]And he was hungry and wished to eat; and while they were preparing a trance came upon him, [10:11]and he beheld heaven opened, and a certain vessel like a great sheet descending, let down by four corners to the earth, [10:12]in which were all the quadrupeds and reptiles of the earth, and birds of heaven. [10:13]And a voice came to him, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. [10:14]But Peter said, By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten any thing common and impure. [10:15]And a voice came to him again, a second time, What G.o.d has purified, regard not common. [10:16]And this was done thrice, and immediately the vessel was taken up to heaven.

3 [10:17]And while Peter doubted with himself what the vision which he had seen meant, behold, even [then] the men sent by Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate, [10:18]and calling aloud asked if Simon who was called Peter lodged there. [10:19]And while Peter was considering of the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men seek you; [10:20]arise and go down and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them. [10:21]And Peter went down to the men and said, Behold, I am the man whom you seek; what is the cause for which you have come? [10:22]And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man, and one that fears G.o.d, and esteemed by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house and hear words from you. [10:23]Then he called them in and entertained them.

4 And the next day he arose and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. [10:24]And on the day following they came to Caesarea; and Cornelius was expecting them, and had called together his relations and particular friends. [10:25]And when Peter came in Cornelius met him, and falling down at his feet worshipped him.

[10:26]But Peter raised him up saying, Arise, I also am a man.

[10:27]And conversing with him he went in, and found many come together; [10:28]and he said to them, You know that it is not lawful for a Jew to a.s.sociate with a man of another nation, or come into his house; and G.o.d has taught me not to call any man common or impure; [10:29]wherefore, being sent for I also came without objecting. I ask therefore for what reason you have sent for me? [10:30]And Cornelius said, From the fourth hour of the day I fasted till this hour, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in splendid clothing, [10:31]and said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your charities are remembered before G.o.d. [10:32]Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon who is called Peter; he lodges at the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who when he has come will speak to you. [10:33] Immediately therefore I sent to you, and you have done well to come. Now therefore we are all present before G.o.d to hear all things which G.o.d has commanded you.

5 [10:34]And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that G.o.d is not a respecter of persons, [10:35]but in every nation he that fears him and does righteousness is acceptable to him. [10:36]The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching the good news of peace by Jesus Christ,--he is Lord of all,-- [10:37]you know; the word which was [preached] through all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John preached, [10:38]Jesus from Nazareth, how G.o.d anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and curing all that were subjugated by the devil, for G.o.d was with him; [10:39]and we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of Judea, and at Jerusalem, whom also they killed, hanging him on a cross. [10:40]This [man] did G.o.d raise up on the third day, and permitted him to be made manifest, [10:41]not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by G.o.d, to us, who eat and drank with him after he rose from the dead; [10:42]and he commanded us to preach to the people and testify fully that he is appointed by G.o.d the judge of living and dead. [10:43]To him all the prophets bear witness, that every one who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name.

6 [10:44]While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [10:45]And those of the circ.u.mcision who came with Peter were astonished, that on the gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out; [10:46]for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying G.o.d. Then Peter answered, [10:47]Can any forbid water that these should be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also have? [10:48]And he commanded that they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they desired him to remain some days.

CHAPTER IX.

PETER CALLED TO ACCOUNT FOR a.s.sOCIATING WITH GENTILES, AND JUSTIFIED; PREACHING TO THE GENTILES CONTINUED.

1 [11:1]AND the apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles received the word of G.o.d. [11:2]And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circ.u.mcision contended with him, [11:3]saying, You went in to men that were uncirc.u.mcised, and eat with them.

[11:4]And Peter began and related to them in order, saying, [11:5]I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw a vision in a trance, a vessel like a great sheet descending, let down by the four corners from heaven, and it came to me; [11:6]and looking into it attentively I perceived and saw the quadrupeds of the earth and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of heaven. [11:7]And I heard a voice saying to me, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. [11:8]And I said, By no means, Lord, for nothing common or impure has ever entered into my mouth. [11:9]And a voice answered from heaven a second time, What G.o.d has purified do not you regard common. [11:10]And this was done thrice, and again all were taken up to heaven.

2 [11:11]And behold, immediately three men came to the house in which I was, being sent for me from Caesarea. [11:12]And the Spirit told me to go with them. And these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the house of the man. [11:13]And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house standing and saying to him, Send to Joppa and call Simon who is called Peter, [11:14]who will speak words to you by which you shall be saved and all your house. [11:15] And when I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them as also on us in the beginning.

[11:16]And I remembered the word of the Lord how he said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

[11:17]If therefore G.o.d gave the gift equally to them and to us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to forbid G.o.d? [11:18] And hearing these things they were silent, and glorified G.o.d, saying, Then to the gentiles also has G.o.d indeed given the change of mind to life.

3 [11:19]And those scattered abroad by the affliction which commenced with Stephen, went even to Phenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one but Jews only. [11:20]But some of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who came to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus. [11:21] And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. [11:22]And a report concerning them was brought to the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch; [11:23]who having come and seen the grace of G.o.d rejoiced, and exhorted all to adhere to the Lord with the purpose of the heart; [11:24]for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great mult.i.tude were added to the Lord.

4 [11:25]And he went to Tarsus to seek for Saul, [11:26]and found and brought him to Antioch. And he was with them, and they met a whole year with the church and taught a great mult.i.tude; and the disciples first took the name of Christians at Antioch.

5 [11:27]And in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch; [11:28]and one of them, by the name of Agabus, standing up signified by the spirit that a great famine was about to come on all the world; which also came under Claudius Caesar. [11:29]And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea; [11:30]which they also did, sending to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

CHAPTER X.

PERSECUTION BY HEROD AGRIPPA, HIS DEATH.--A.D. 44.

1 [12:1]AND at that time Herod the king put forth his hands to injure some of the church. [12:2]And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. [12:3]And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also,--and it was during the days of unleavened bread,-- [12:4]and having seized he put him in prison, committing him to four companies of four soldiers each to guard him, wishing after the pa.s.sover to bring him before the people. [12:5]Peter therefore was kept by the guard; but prayer was made incessantly by the church to G.o.d for him. [12:6]And when Herod was about to bring him forward, on that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards kept watch before the door. [12:7]And behold, an angel of the Lord came, and a light shone in the building; and striking Peter on the side he awoke him saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. [12:8]And the angel said to him, Gird yourself, and tie on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Put your cloak about you, and follow me. [12:9]And going out he followed him, and knew not that it was real which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. [12:10]And pa.s.sing through the first guard, and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of itself, and going out they went forward one street, and immediately the angel left him. [12:11]And Peter coming to himself said, Now I know that the Lord has really sent his angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and all the expectation of the Jews.

2 [12:12]And considering within himself he came to the house of Mary the mother of John called Mark, where a great number were a.s.sembled together and praying. [12:13]And knocking at the door of the gate, a female servant, called Rhoda, came to listen, [12:14]and knowing the voice of Peter she did not open the gate from joy, but ran in and told that Peter stood before the gate. [12:15]But they said to her, You are mad. But she a.s.serted strongly that it was so. And they said, It is his angel. [12:16]But Peter continued knocking; and having opened they saw him, and were astonished. [12:17]And making signs to them with his hand to be silent, he related how the Lord had conducted him out of the prison, and said, Tell these things to James and the brothers. And going out he departed to another place.

3 [12:18]And when it was day there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. [12:19]And Herod seeking and not finding him, examined the guards, and commanded them to be put to death, and going down from Judea to Caesarea remained [there].

4 [12:20]And he was displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they came with one accord to him, and having persuaded Blastus who was over the king's bedchamber, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king's. [12:21]And on an appointed day Herod having put on his royal apparel, and sitting on the tribunal, made a speech to them; [12:22]and the people shouted, It is the voice of a G.o.d, and not of a man. [12:23]And an angel of the Lord instantly smote him because he gave not glory to G.o.d, and being eaten with worms he expired.

[12:24]And the word of G.o.d grew and was increased.

CHAPTER XI.

THE FIRST MISSION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS TO CYPRUS AND ASIA MINOR.--A.D.

46-49.

1 [12:25]AND Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having performed the service, taking with them also John who was called Mark.

[13:1]And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas and Simeon called Niger [the black], and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen the foster brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.

[13:2]And while they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

[13:3]Then having fasted and prayed and imposed hands on them, they sent them forth. [13:4]They, therefore, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit went down to Seleucia, and thence sailed to Cyprus; [13:5]and coming to Salamis, they preached the word of G.o.d in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John for a servant.

2 [13:6]And having gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain magian, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus, [13:7]who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man.

This man having called for Barnabas and Saul desired to hear the word of G.o.d; [13:8]but Elymas the magian, for so his name is interpreted, opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.

[13:9]But Saul, [called] also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looking steadily at him [13:10]said, O full of all deceit and all craft, son of a devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? [13:11]And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness, and going about he sought guides. [13:12]Then the proconsul seeing what was done believed, and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

3 [13:13]And those with Paul, sailing from Paphos, went to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. [13:14]And pa.s.sing on from Perga, they went to Antioch in Pisidia, and going into the synagogue on the Sabbath they sat down. [13:15]And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue rulers sent to them, saying, Men and brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.

4 [13:16]And Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and you that fear G.o.d, hear. [13:17]The G.o.d of this people chose our fathers, and raised up the people in the exile in the land of Egypt, and brought them out of it with a high arm. [13:18]And when he had borne with their conduct forty years in the wilderness, [13:19]and had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he distributed their land to them by lot. [13:20]And after this he gave judges four hundred and fifty years till Samuel the prophet. [13:21]And then they asked for a king, and G.o.d gave them Saul the son Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years; [13:22]and removing him, he raised up for them David for a king, of whom also he said and testified, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.

5 [13:23]Of the posterity of this man, according to his promise, has G.o.d raised up to Israel a Saviour, Jesus; [13:24]John having preached before his coming the baptism of a change of mind to all the people of Israel. [13:25]And when John completed his course, he said, Who do you suppose I am? I am not [the Christ]; but behold, there comes after me one the sandal of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.

6 [13:26]Men and brothers, children of the race of Abraham, and you that fear G.o.d, the word of this salvation is sent to you. [13:27]For those living at Jerusalem, and their rulers, not knowing him and the words of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning [him]; [13:28]and [although] they found no cause of death [in him], they requested of Pilate that he might be destroyed; [13:29]and when they had performed all things written of him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. [13:30]But G.o.d raised him from the dead, [13:31]and he appeared many days to those who went up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. [13:32]And we declare to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, [13:33]that G.o.d has fulfilled this to us their children in raising up Jesus, as it is written also in the first psalm, You are my son, to-day have I begotten you. [13:34]And that he raised him from the dead never more to return to destruction, he said thus; I will give you the sure promises of David. [13:35] Wherefore also in another place he says, Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see destruction.

[13:36]For David, having in his generation served the will of G.o.d, fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers and saw destruction; [13:37]

but he whom G.o.d raised up saw not destruction. [13:38]Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, [13:39]and every one who believes is justified by him from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. [13:40] See then that what is said by the prophets does not come upon you; [13:41] Behold, despisers, and wonder and perish, for I perform a work in your days, a work which you shall by no means believe even if one declares it to you.