in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER VI.

1 The apostles, desirous to have the poor regarded for their bodily sustenance, as also careful themselves to dispense the word of God, the food of the soul, 3 appoint the office of deaconship to seven chosen men. 5 Of whom Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, is one. 12 Who is taken of those, whom he confounded in disputing, 13 and after falsely accused of blasphemy against the law and the temple.

A

ND in those days, a when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, dIt is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

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 f 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, ga man full of faith and Of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and i Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch;

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and kwhen they had prayed, 1 they laid their hands on them.

7 And m the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great reat 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 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue 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 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,

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.

CHAPTER VII.

1 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: 37 that Moses himself my witnessed of Christ: 44 and that all outward ceremonies were ordained according to the heavenly pattern, to last but for a time: 51 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

HEN said the high priest, Are

2 And he said, "Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

A. D. 33.

q ch. 25. 8.

r Dan. 9. 26. Or, rites,

a ch. 22, 1.

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.

4 Then came he out of the land of Gen. 11. 31.

the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

& 12, 4, 5.

5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: dyet he promised that he d Gen. 12. 7. would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

e

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 f four 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: iand so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; kand Isaac begat Jacob; and 1 Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

m

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: " but God was with him,

0

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his

& 13. 15. & 15.3, 18. & 17. 8. & 20.3.

e Gen, 15, 13, 16,

f Ex, 12. 40. Gal, 3, 17

gEx. 3. 12.

Gen. 17.9,

10, 11.

i Gen. 21. 2,3, 4.

k Gen. 25. 26.

1 Gen. 29. 31,

&c. & 30. 5,

&c. & 35. 18, 23.

m Gen. 37. 4, 11, 28.

Ps. 105. 17,

Stephen's apology.

A. D. 33.

q Gen. 42. 1.

r Gen. 45. 4,

16.

a Gen. 45. 9.

27.

t Gen. 46. 27.

Deut. 10, 22,

u Gen. 46. 5.

x Gen. 49. 33.

Ex. 1.6.

y Ex. 13. 19.

Josh, 24.38.

z Gen. 23. 16.

& 35. 19.

n Gen, 15. 13.

ver. 6.

b Ex. 1.7.8.9.

15.105.21.25.

c Ex. 1. 22.

d Ex. 2. 2.

and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

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 made known unto Pharaoh.

14 Then_sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and tall his 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.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, bthe people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

19 The same dealt subtilely with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

20 d In which time Moses was born,

• Heb. 11. 23. and was || exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:

Or, fair to God.

f Ex. 2.3-10.

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. 5 mighty in words and in deeds.

h Ex. 2. 11, 12.

| Or, Now,

{ Ex. 2, 13,

kSee Luke

12. 14.

ch. 4. 7.

1 Ex. 2. 15, 22.

23 h 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

to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,

32 Saying, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

33 ° Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

34 PI have seen, I have seen the 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 4 by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

37 T This is that Moses, which tEx.14.21,27, said unto the children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, || like unto me; him shall ye hear.

38 "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 d Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this

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 i 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, k Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?

291 Then fled Moses at this saying, &4.20. & 18. | and was a stranger in the land of

26.

Or, who
spake.

i Ex. 25. 40. &
26. 30.
Heb. 8. 5.

k Josh. 3. 14. || Or, having

Stephen is stoned.

A. D. 33.

m 1 Sam. 16.1.

2 Sam. 7. 1.

Pa. 89. 19.

ch. 13. 22,

n 1 Kin. 8. 17,

1 Chr. 22, 7.

Ps. 132. 4, 5,

ol Kin. 6. 1.

& 8. 20.

Chr. 17. 12.

2 Chr. 3. 1.

pl Kin. 8.27.

2 Chr. 2.6.&

6. 18.

ch. 17. 24.

q Is. 66. 1, 2.

Matt. 5. 34,

35. & 23, 22.

r. Ex. 32. 9. &

33. 3.

Is. 48. 4.

God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

46 m Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

0

47 But Solomon built him a house.

48 Howbeit Pthe Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

as saith the prophet,

49 4 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

51 Yestiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and cars, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as

Lev. 26. 41. your fathers did, so do ye.

Deut. 10. 16.

Jer.4. 4. & 6.

10. & 9. 26.

Ez. 44. 9.

t 2 Chr. 36. 16.

52t 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

Simon the sorcerer baptized.

AND "Saul was consenting unte

death.

A. D. 34.

ach. 7.58. & 22. 20.

there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad beh. 11. 19. throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation 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.

5 Then Philip went down to the 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.

& 23, 34, 37. 1 Thess, 2.15.

u ch. 3, 14.

x Ex. 20. 1. Gal. 3. 19. Heb. 2. 2.

y ch. 5. 33.

ach. 6. 5.

a Ez. 1. 1.

Matt. 3. 16. ch. 10. 11.

b Dan. 7. 13.

c1 Kin.21 13.

Luke 4. 29.

Hob. 13. 12.

d Lev. 24. 16.

10. & 17. 7.

trayers and murderers:

53x Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

541 When 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 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,

e

58 And cast him out of the city, e Deut. 13. 9, dand stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

ch.8. 1. & 22.

20.

f ch. 9. 14.

g Ps. 31. 5.

Luke 23. 46.

hch. 9. 40. &

20. 36. & 21.

5.

i Matt. 5. 44.

Luke 8. 28,

& 23. 31.

59 And they stoned Stephen, fcalling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he hkneeled 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 sendeth Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian eunuch.

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 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.

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 10. 2. 38. might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (Formas yet he was fallen upon none of them: n: 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,

mch. 19.2.

n Matt. 28.19. ch. 2. 38.

o ch. 10. 48. & 19.5.

pch. 6. 6. & 19.6.

Пер. 6, 2.

:

His hypocrisy reproved.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because 4 thou hast thought that the gift 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.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if per2 Tim. 2. 25. haps the thought of thine heart may

Dan. 4. 27.

be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in t Heb. 12. 15. the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

u Gen. 20. 7,

17.

Ex. 8. 8.

Num. 21. 7.

1 Kin. 13. 6. Job 42. 8

James 5. 16.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, u Pray y 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 toward the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, x 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 treasthe che y John 12. 20. ure, and had come to Jerusalem

x In, 53, 7, 8.

a Luke 24. 27.

ch. 18.28.

beh. 10, 47.

c Matt. 28.19. Mark 16, 16.

for to worship,

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 he 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 a 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, a and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; bwhat doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, "If thou be

A. D. 34.

mayest. And he answered and said, dI believe that Jesus Christ is d Matt. 16.16. the Son of God.

38 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.

39 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.

John 6. C9.

& 9. 35. 38.

& 11. 27.

ch. 9. 20.

1 John 4. 15.

& 5.5, 13.

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any fof this way, whether Gr. of the they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And bas he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from

heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, • why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: dit is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

bch. 22. 6. & 26. 12.

1 Cor. 15. 8.

c Matt. 25.40, &c.

dch. 5, 39,

ch. 2. 37. & 16.30.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me e Luke 3. 10, 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

:

The Jews seek to kill Saul.

A. D. 35.

i ver. 1.

k ver. 21.

ch. 7. 59. &

22. 16.

1 Cor. 1. 2.

lch. 13. 2. & 22. 21. & 26.

named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, i how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

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 the is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before mthe Gentiles, and "kings, and the children of Israel:

17.

Rom. 1. 1.

1 Cor. 15. 10.

Gal. 1. 15.

Eph. 3. 7. 8.

1 Tim. 2. 7.

2 Tim. 1. 11.

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17 P And Ananias went his way, m Rom. 1. 5. and entered into the house; and

& 11. 13. Gal. 2. 7, 8.

n ch. 25, 22,

23. & 26. 1,

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 o ch. 20. 23. & thou mightest receive thy sight, and 'be filled with the Holy Ghost.

&c.

21. 11.

2 Cor. 11. 23.

p ch. 22,12,13.

4 ch. 8. 17,

rch. 2. 4. & 4.

31. & 8.17.&

13.52.

8 ch. 26. 20.

tch, 8.37.

u ch. 8. 3. ver, 1.

Gal. 1.13,23.

x ch. 18. 28,

A. D. 37.

y ch. 23. 12.&

25. 3.

2 Cor. 11. 26.

#2 Cor. 11.32.

a So Josh. 2. 15.

1 Sam.19.12.

bch, 22.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. * Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; "Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

2311 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

242 But their laying wait was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 And when Saul was come to

Gi. 1.17,is. Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

against the f Grecians: went about to slay him.

Peter healeth Eneas.

but they

30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 h Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33 And there he found a certain man named Eneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

A. D. 37.

fch. 6. 1. & 11, 20,

g ver. 23.

2 Cor. 11. 26.

h Seo ch. 8. 1.

A. D. 38.

i ch. 8. 14.

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 Or, be to them.

39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

HERE was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a cen

& 12. 11,

t ch. 10.6.

A. D. 41.