Seven chosen men ordained deacons. THE ACTS. A. D. 83. u ch.4.20,29, ach. 2. 41. & & ver. 7. bch. 9. 29. & in every house, "they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. CHAPTER VI. Stephen's apology. 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall * destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. 1 The apostles, desirous to have the poor 41&6.11 AND in those days, when the dEx. 18, 17. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and h Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and i Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch; 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, Ithey laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company "of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 T Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the symagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11 P Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: CHAPTER VII. Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy, 2 sheweth that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers 20 before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built: 87 that Moses himself witnessed of Christ: 44 and that all outward ceremonies were ordained according to the heavenly pattern, to last but for a time: 61 reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, the Just One, whom the prophets foretold should come into the world. 54 Whereupon they stone him to death, who commendeth his soul to Jesus, and humbly prayeth for them. THEN said the high priest, Are these things so? A. D. 33. ch. 25. & r Dan. 9. 25. Or, rites, 2 And he said, " Men, brethren, and ach. 22. 1. fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, b Get thee out Gen. 12. 1. of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. с 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: dyet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil ffour hundred years. 7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 8 h And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: innd so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; kand Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 9 m And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: " but God was with him, Gen. 11. 31. 412 45 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour Ges. 2. 2. and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Cien. 41. 37. 11 P Now there came a dearth over Gen. 41. 66. Stephen's apology. THE ACTS. Stephen's apology. A. D. 3. all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, | ed at the sight: and as he drew near 9 Goo. 42. L. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred Was inade known unto Pharaoh. 14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his Gem kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor, the father of Sychem. Deut. 19. 22 u Cen, 40 S z Gen. 19. n Ea. 1. 6. JE. 12 19 Jush. 24. 32. Gen. 23, 16. 23. 19. Gen. 15, 13. vor. 6. 17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and P.106.24.25 multiplied in Egypt, b Ex. 1.7.8.9. •Ex. L. 22 dEx. 2. 2 Heb. 11. 23. Or, fair to God. fz.2.3-10. Is Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. A. D. 31. 32 Saying, "I am the God of thy fa- Math 22.52. thers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 35 Then said the Lord to him, Put - 3.5 off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. I have seen, I have seen the Ex. 2.7 affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand. 11. 19. of the angel which appeared to him Num.2016 in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, "and in the wilderness forty years. Ex. 12 41. & 19 The same dealt subtilely with 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was Luke 24. 19. mighty in words and in deeds. Ex. 2. 11.12. 1 Or, Now, 4 Ex. 2. 13. k See Luke 12. 11. ch. & 7. 1 Ex. 2 15. 22. &4. 20. & 13. 3. 4. m Ex. 3. 2. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and aveng ed him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them; but they understood not. 26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge 42 Then God turned, and gave fra 81. 12. them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, hO ye house of Is-g Deut. 4. 19, rael, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Amos 5. 25, Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. 50 Hath not my hand made all these things? 51 T Ye stiffnecked and uncirEx. 32. 9. & cumcised in heart and cars, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do yc. IA. 48. 4. t2 Chr. 36. 16. Matt. 21. 35. & 23. 31, 37. Thess.2.15. u ch. 3. 14. x Ex. 20. 1. Gal. 3, 19. Heb. 2. 2. ych. 5. 33. sch. 6. 5. a Es. 1. 1. Matt. 3. 16. ch. 10. 11. b Dan, 7. 13. el Kin.21.13. Luke 4. 29, Heb. 13. 12. d Lev. 24. 16. 52 t Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of "the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 TWhen they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, "I see the heavens opened, and the b Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, Dent. 13. 9. d and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 10. & 17. 7. ch.8.1 & 22. 20. fch. 9. 14. g Ps. 31. 5. Luke 23. 46. h ch. 9. 40. & 20. 36. & 21. 5. i Matt. 5. 41. Luke 6. 28, & 23. 31. 59 And they stoned Stephen, fcalling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he bkneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, i Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. CHAPTER VIII. 1 By occasion of the persecution in Jeru salem, the church being planted in Samaria, 5 by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many, among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people: 14 Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church: where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Ghost, 18 when Simon would have bought the like power of them, 20 Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy, and covetousness, and exhorting him to repentance, together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem. 26 But the angel aendeth Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian eunuch. Simon the sorcerer baptized. AND "Saul was consenting unte death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. A. D. 34. ch. 7. 58. & 22 20. beh. 11. 19. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lam-e Gen 23. 2.& entation over him. 3 As for Saul, dhe made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 50. 10. Sam. 3. 31. dch. 7. 58. & 9. 1,13, 21. & 22. 4. & 20. 10, 11. 1 Cor. 15. 9. 5 Then Philip went down to the Matt. 10. 21 city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ch. 11. 19. fch. 6. 5. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with Mark 16. 17. loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city bused sorcery, and heh. 13. & bewitched the people of Samaria, igiving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of! God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning kek. 1. & the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the t miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then Plaid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, Gr. siges and great mirades. 1eb. 2. 38. meh. 19. 2 a Matt, 28.19 ch. 2. 3. och. 10. 48. & 19. 5. 18. 6. Heb. 6. 2 His hypocrisy reproved. that on whomsoever I lay hands, believest with all thine heart, thou may receive the Holy Ghost. mavest. And he answered and 20 But Peter said unto him. Thy said, 41 believe that Jesus Christ is money perish with thee, because the Son of God. thou hast thought that the gitt of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart inay be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in Heb. 12. 15. the gull of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24 Then answered Simon, and said, "Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying. Arise, and go And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea. CHAPTER IX. 1 Sul, going towards Damascus, 4 is stricken down to the earth, 10 is called to the apostleship, 18 and is baptized by Anania. He preacheth Chriat bold. ly. 23 The Jown lay wait to kill him: to do the directing, but he escapeth both. 31 The church having reat, Peter healeth Eneas of the paley, 36 and restoreth Tabitha to life. toward the south, unto the way that AND Saul, yet breathing ont threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, Zeph 3, 10. behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasy John 12 20. ure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Ia, 53. 7, 8. 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And be desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as n sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, Tak-24. 27. and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. ch. 18. 28. bel, 10, 47. e Matt. 28, 19. Mark 16. 16. 26 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, Sec, here is water; bwhat doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou be Luke 3. 10. ch. 7 37.& 16. 30. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed Dan. 10. 7. with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Da mascus. Bee ch. 22.9 &26. 13. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did cat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; geh 22 12 and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, hof Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man h ch. 21, 39.4 22.3. The Jews seek to kill Saul. i ver. 1. k ver. 21. 1 Cor. 1. 2. THE ACTS. named Ananias coming in, and put- 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all k that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go 2 Tim. 2. 22. thy way: for he is a chosen vessel 1 ch. 13. 2. & unto me, to bear my name before 22. 21. & 26. the Gentiles, and "kings, and the 17. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Cor. 15. 10. Gal. 1. 15. children of Israel: 16 For "I will shew him how great Eph. 3. 7. 8. things he must suffer for my name's 1 Tim. 2. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 11. m Rom. 1. 5. sake. 17 P And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and 9 putting his hands on him_said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that och. 20. 23. & thou mightest receive thy sight, and rbe filled with the Holy Ghost. & 11. 13. Gal. 2. 7, 8. n ch. 25, 22, 23. & 20. 1, &c. 21. 11. 2 Cor. 11. 23. pch. 22. 12, 13. q eh. 8. 17, reh. 2. 4. & 4. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, 31. & 8. 17, and was baptized. 13. 62. ach. 26. 20. tch, 8, 37. u ch. 8. 3. x ch. 18. 28. A. D. 37. 19 And when he had received meat, 21 But all that heard him were 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23 T And after that many days were 7 ch. 23.12.& fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 25. 3. 2 Cor. 11. 20, 2 Cor. 11. 32. a So Josh, 2. 15. 1 Sam.19.12 beh, 22. 17. Peter healeth Eneas. but they against the Grecians: A. D. 37. feh 6. 1. & 11. 20. ver. 23. 2 Cor. 11. D. & See ch. 8. L. A. D. 38. 32 T And it came to pass, as Peter 33 And there he found a certain 34 And Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: keh. 3. 6, IR arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. & 4, 10. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Lord. mch. 11. 21. 36 T Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called | Dorcas: 10r, Doe, this woman was full of good works or. Roe. and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come 40 But Peter Pput them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabi-Mark 5. 41, tha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and 25 Then the disciples took him by lifted her up; and when he had callnight, and let him down by the walled the saints and widows, he prein a basket. sented her alive. 242 But their laying wait was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 26 And when Saul was come to Gal 1.17.18. Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. e eh. 4. 36. & 13. 2. d ver. 20, 22, .Gal. 1. 18. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 20 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed 42 And it was known throughout 43 And it came to pass, that he 1 Cornelius, a devout man, 5 being com |