IX
THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEYS
How the Disciples at Last Began to Understand the Meaning of the Command of Jesus, "Go Ye into All the World."
Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, the Jews contended with him, saying, "Thou wentest in to the Gentiles, and didst eat with them."
But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying: 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 which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven. And I heard also a voice saying unto me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But I said, 'Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.' But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, 'What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.' And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent [{358}] from Caesarea 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 man's house: and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, 'Send to Joppa, and bring Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave unto them the same gift that he gave unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could 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."
They therefore that were scattered abroad after the trouble that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking 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, spoke unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.
X
PETER IN PRISON
How Peter Was Cast into Prison, and How He Escaped the Hatred of Herod.
Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly by the church unto God for him. And when Herod was about to bring him 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 angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, "Rise up quickly."
And his chains fell from his hands. And the angel said unto him, "Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals." And he did so.