heaven, giving rains, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And speaking these things, they scarce restrained the people from sacrificing to them.

Now there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium; and having persuaded the multitude, and having stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking him to be dead. But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and entered into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the Gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch; confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith for that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained for them priests in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed. And passing through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia. And having spoken the word of the Lord in Perge, they went down to Attalia: and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been delivered to the grace of God, unto the work which they accomplished. And when they were arrived, and had assembled the Church, they related what great things God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

CHAP. IX. Paul and Silas at Philippi.

MANY of the Jewish converts were still not convinced that the ceremonial portion of the Mosaic law was not binding upon Christians; and they attempted to force the Gentile converts to obey its regulations. While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch, some of these Jewish Christians came down from Jerusalem, and caused no small dissension, by declaring that unless the Gentile converts were circumcised, they could not be saved. At length, as they persisted in opposing the judgment

of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas themselves, with some of the other side, went to lay the dispute before the Apostles and priests at Jerusalem.

A council was accordingly held, and after much discussion, Peter rose and gave his judgment against those who maintained the perpetual obligation of the law of Moses; and a letter conveying the decree was sent to Antioch by the hands of Barnabas and Paul, together with Judas, surnamed Barsabas, and Silas. Its delivery caused great joy and peace among the brethren; and, after some stay, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and visit the brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they do. And Barnabas had a mind to take along with him John also, who was surnamed Mark. But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of Pamphylia, and not gone with them to the work) might not be received. And there was a dissension, so that they departed one from another, and Barnabas indeed having taken with him Mark, sailed to Cyprus. But Paul choosing Silas departed, being delivered by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches; commanding them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the ancients.

At Lystra Paul found Timothy, a young disciple, the son of a Jewish woman, who was a Christian, and of a Gentile father. This young man, being well known for his rare piety and divine knowledge, Paul took with him; but, as he knew that the Jews would be prejudiced against him, as the son of a Gentile father, he circumcised him before departing. For, as he made himself all things to all men, so he was ready either to observe or to lay aside the ceremonial regulations of the Jewish law, as best might further the spread of the Gospel.

With Timothy he then went through Phrygia and the neighbouring countries to Troas, where a man of Macedonia appeared to him in a vision by night, saying: Pass over into Macedonia, and help us. Thence he went immediately to Philippi, a chief city of Macedonia,

where he lodged in the house of Lydia, a seller of purple, who, with her household, was baptised. There also he cast out an evil spirit from a girl, who made great gain for her masters by divination. And her masters seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, having apprehended Paul and Silas, they brought them into the market-place to the rulers; and presenting them to the magistrates, said: These men disturb our city, being Jews; and preach a fashion which it is not lawful for us to receive, nor observe, being Romans. And the people ran together against them: and their garments being torn off, the magistrates commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them securely. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and praised God: and they who were in prison heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened: and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison being awakened, and seeing the doors of the prison open, having drawn his sword, would have killed himself, imagining that the prisoners had fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm, for we are all here. Then calling for a light, he went in, and trembling fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas: and bringing them out, he said: Masters, what must I do that I may be saved? And they said: Believe in the Lord Jesus: and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he taking them the same hour of the night, washed their wounds: and he was baptised, and presently all his family. And w'aen he had brought them into his own house, he laid the table for them, and rejoiced with all his family, believing God. The next day the magistrates sent to let them go.

But Paul said to the messengers: After having

whipped us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, they sent us to prison: and now do they thrust us out privately? Not so: but let them come, and they themselves send us out. And the sergeants told these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid, having heard they were Romans; and they came and besought them to depart in peace. And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia: and having seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

CHAP. X. Paul preaches at Athens.

PASSING through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas, with Timothy, came to Thessalonica and Berea, where they preached, till the Jews of the place, inflamed with anger, stirred up a riot, as they were accustomed in other places, to drive them away. Silas and Timothy, however, remained at Berea, while Paul went on to Athens. There his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry. And he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them that served God, and in the market-place, every day with those that were present. And some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him, and some said: What is it that this babbler would say? But others: He seemeth to be a publisher of new gods: because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is which thou speakest of? For thou bringest certain new things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (Now all the Athenians, and strangers that were there, employed themselves in nothing else but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.)

And Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, I perceive that you are in all things as it were too superstitious. For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was

written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore you worship without knowing it, this I preach to you. God who made the world and all things that are in it, He being the Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Nor is He served by the hands of men as though He needed any thing, seeing it is He who giveth to all life, and breath, and all things: and hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times, and the limits of their habitation, that they should seek God, if haply they may feel after Him or find Him: although He be not far from every one of us: for in Him we live, and we move, and we are, as some also of your own poets said: for we are also His offspring. Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the Divinity to be like unto gold or silver, or stone, the graving of art and device of man. And God indeed, having overlooked the times of this ignorance, now declareth to men, that all should everywhere do penance. Because He hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world in equity, by the Man whom He hath appointed, giving faith to all, by raising Him up from the dead. And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked: but others said: We will hear thee again concerning this matter. So Paul went out from among them. But certain men adhered to him, and believed: among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

CHAP. XI. Paul confirms the Church at Ephesus. The tumult of the Silversmiths.

FROM Athens Paul journeyed to Corinth, where, notwithstanding the violent opposition of the Jews, he converted many; and being strengthened by God in a vision, remained in the city, teaching the word of God, for a year and six months. At length the Jews carried him before the Roman governor Gallio, and accused him