receive from among the Gentiles a people* for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After these things I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins of it, and I will set it up; That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, who are called after my name, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my decision is, that we trouble not those who, from among the Gentiles, turn to God; but that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has from ancient times in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day.

Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with the whole Church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas, surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they wrote letters by them after this manner : The apostles, and elders, and brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, saluting them. Seeing we have heard, that certain persons who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, directing you to be circumcised, and to keep the law; to whom we gave no such command; it has appeared good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul; who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas,

* A people.—i. e. a people of God as distinguished from the nations, or heathen which they formerly had been.

who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which, if ye keep yourselves, ye will do well. Fare ye well.

So, having been dismissed, they went to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Šilas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and strengthened them. And after they had tarried for some time, they were let go in peace by the brethren to those who had sent them. But it seemed good to Silas to abide there still. And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

WORDS, &C. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON XIII.

What measures were adopted to decide it?

Who opposed the Apostles in Jerusalem?

Who came together to consider the matter?

Who first addressed the assembly?

What argument did he use?

Who spoke after Peter; and what did they say?
Who spoke after them?

What judgment did he pronounce?

Was this agreed to?

What measures were taken to make it known?
Who were sent with the letters?

Where did they go to?

What was the effect produced by the letters?
Where did Paul and Barnabas remain ?
How were they employed?

LESSON XIV.

Paul's second missionary journey-Barnabas and Paul separate from one another-Paul comes to Lystra, and there finds Timothy, whom he takes with him—a vision appears to him, which determines him to go to Macedonia-he comes to Philippi, where he meets with Lydia-expels a demon from a young woman-is cast into prison-the prison opened by an earthquake-the jailer is terrified, but afterwards converted to the faith-Paul is released from the prison, and proceeds to Thessalonica.

FROM ACTS XV. AND XVI.

AND after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they go on. And Barnabas proposed to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought it good not to take with them him who had departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. Then arose a dissension,*

* Then arose a dissension. Paul was intent only on the service of God; Barnabas was too partial to his relation John Mark. We here lose sight of Barnabas, having no further intimation in this book of his movements. It is interesting to observe, however, that Paul retained no displeasure against John Mark. Thus in writing to the Church at Colosse, he directs the brethren, that if Mark came to them they should receive him, Col. iv. 10. And in writing to

so that they departed one from the other; and Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; but Paul, having chosen Silas, went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. And he came to Derbe and Lystra ;* and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a Jewish woman, who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. This man was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium, and him Paul wished to go forth with him, and took and circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places: for they all knew that his father was a Greek. And, as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to observe, that were ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. Thus the churches were settled in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Now, when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the spirit of Jesus suffered them not. And they, passing by Mysia,† came down to Troas.

Timothy, a short time before his death, he directs him to bring Mark to him, "for," adds he, " he is profitable to me for the ministry." There may be differences of opinion among true Christians, which, through the infirmity of human nature, may give rise to dissensions and separations; but there can be no inveterate, implacable animosities.

*Derbe and Lystra.-See Lesson xii.

+ Phrygia, Galatia, Asia, Mysia, and Bithynia, were all districts in Asia Minor. Asia here mentioned, was a small province on the shores of the Archipelago, peopled by Greeks, the capital of which was Ephesus. Troas was a town on the sea coast, said to be situated a few miles from the celebrated city Troy, and gave its name to a small district, of which it was the capital.

And a vision during the night appeared to Paul: a man of Macedonia was standing and praying him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we* endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel unto them. Therefore sailing from Troas, we came direct to Samothracia,+ and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi,§ which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony: and we were in that city tarrying certain days.

And on the Sabbath, we went out of the city by a river-side, where a place of prayer was appointed; || and we sat down, and spoke to the women who were assembled.

And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, was hearing. And the Lord opened her heart to attend to the things which were spoken

*We, us.- -These words shew that Luke, the writer of this book, here accompanied the apostle on his journey. +Samothracia.-An Island of the Archipelago, lying in

the direction from Troas to Macedonia.

Neapolis. A city of Macedonia.

$ Philippi.-A large city further inland than Neapolis. It was built by Philip, the father of Alexander, usually called the Great; but afterwards, when the Romans took possession of Macedonia, it became a Roman colony.

A place of prayer was appointed. It was the practice of the Jews, in whatever city a sufficient number of them resided to erect a synagogue; but when the number in the city was not sufficient to warrant the erection of a synagogue, they appointed a place of prayer, usually out of the city a little way. These places of prayer were small buildings, as chapels or oratories; sometimes they were merely places sheltered by trees. They were always near water, which the Jews required for their purifications. The apostle seems to have waited till the Sabbath, that he might have an opportunity of meeting with those Jews, who were accustomed to assemble for prayer.

¶ i. e. A devout Gentile, a proselyte of the gate.