1 Or, cohort

Now there was a certain man in Cæsarea, Corne-10 lius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian 'band, a devout man, and one that feared 2 God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a 3 vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius. And he, fastening his 4 eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, 5 who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon 6 a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. And when 7 the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; and 8 having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Now on the morrow, as they were on their jour- 9 ney, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour: and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while 10 they made ready, he fell into a trance; and he be- 11 holdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: wherein were all manner 12 of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls of the heaven. And there came a voice 13 to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But Peter said, 14 Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common and unclean. And a voice came unto 15 him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. And this was done thrice: 16 and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.

Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself 17 what the vision which he had seen might mean, behoid, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, which 18 was surnamed Peter, were lodging there. And while 19 Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. But arise, and 20 get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them. And Peter went down to 21 the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And 22

they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to 23 hear words from thee. So he called them in and lodged them.

1 Some ancient au

And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa ac24 companied him. And on the morrow 'they entered thorities read he. into Cæsarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near 25 friends. And when it came to pass that Peter en

tered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, 26 and worshipped him. But Peter raised him up, 27 saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And

&c.

as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth 28 many come together: and he said unto them, Ye 2 Or, how unlawful yourselves know how that it is an unlawful thing it is for a man for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God shewed that I should not call any man com29 mon or unclean: wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore 30 with what intent ye sent for me. And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, 31 a man stood before me in bright apparel, and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are 32 had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Si33 mon a tanner, by the sea side. Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been 34 commanded thee of the Lord. And Peter opened his mouth, and said,

thorities read He sent the word unto. 4 Or, the gospel

Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of 35 persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. 3 Many ancient nu36 "The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ, 37 (he is Lord of all)—that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judæa, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John 38 preached; even Jesus of Nazareth, how that God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that

were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did 39 both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree. Him 40 God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, not to all the people, but unto wit- 41 nesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he charged us to preach unto the 42 people, and to testify that this is he which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him bear all the prophets witness, that through 43 his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost 44 fell on all them which heard the word. And they 45 of the circumcision which believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and mag- 46 nify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man for- 47 bid the water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the 48 name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Now the apostles and the brethren that were in11 Judæa heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Je- 2 rusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men 3 uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Pe- 4 ter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: 5 and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me: upon the which when I had fastened mine 6 eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the heaven. And I heard also a voice say- 7 ing unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But I said, 8 Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth. But a voice answered 9 the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. And this was 10 done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heav

en,

And behold, forthwith three men stood before 11

the house in which we were, having been sent from 12 Cæsarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the 13 man's house: and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14 who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou 15 shalt be saved, thou and all thy house. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, even 16 as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized 'with 1 or, in 17 the Holy Ghost. If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could 18 withstand God? And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.

19

2 Many

ancient Grecian Jews.

They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking 20 the word to none save only to Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the 21 2Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the authorities read hand of the Lord was with them: and a great num22 ber that believed turned unto the Lord. And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth 23 Barnabas as far as Antioch: who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart 24 they would cleave unto the Lord: for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and 25 much people was added unto the Lord. And he 26 went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul: and when he

3

Some ancient authorities

read

that they would

cleave unto the purpose of their

heart in the Lord.

had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And
it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were
gathered together with the church, and taught 4 Gr. in.
much people; and that the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.

27 Now in these days there came down prophets
28 from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up
one of them named Agabus, and signified by the
Spirit that there should be a great famine over all
"the world: which came to pass in the days of earth."

5 Gr. the inhabited

Claudius. And the disciples, every man according 29 1 Gr. for ministry. to his ability, determined to send 'relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judæa: which also they did, 30 sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

2 Or, through

Now about that time Herod the king put forth12
his hands to afflict certain of the church. And he 2
killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he pro- 3
ceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days
of unleavened bread. And when he had taken him, 4
he put him in prison, and delivered him to four
quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending af-
ter the Passover to bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer 5
was made earnestly of the church unto God for
him. And when Herod was about to bring him 6
forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between
two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards
before the door kept the prison. And behold, an 7
angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined
in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and
awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his
chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said 8
unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.
And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy
garment about thee, and follow me. And he went 9

out, and followed; and he wist not that it was true
which was done by the angel, but thought he saw
a vision. And when they were past the first and the 10
second ward, they came unto the iron gate that lead-
eth into the city; which opened to them of its own
accord: and they went out, and passed on through
one street; and straightway the angel departed from
him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, 11
Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth
his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod,
and from all the expectation of the people of the
Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he 12
came to the house of Mary the mother of John
whose surname was Mark; where many were gath-
ered together and were praying. And when he 13
knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to an-
swer, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's 14
voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but ran in,
and told that Peter stood before the gate. And 15
they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she confi-
dently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, 16