NOW the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision disputed with him, 3saying, Thou hast gone in to men holding uncircumcision, and hast eaten with them.
4Then Peter taking up the matter from the beginning, explained it to them regularly, saying, 5I was in the city of Joppa praying and I saw in a trance a vision, a certain vessel descending as a vast sheet let down from heaven by its four corners; and it came close to me: 6on which looking attentively, I perceived, and saw the quadrupeds of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the air. 7Then I heard a voice saying to me, Rise, Peter; slay and eat. 8But I said, By no means, Lord: for never yet hath any thing common or unclean entered into my mouth. 9But the voice replied the second time from heaven, What God hath cleansed, call not thou common. 10Now this was repeated thrice: and the whole withdrawn again into heaven. 11And, lo! immediately three men stood before the house where I was, sent from Cæsarea unto me. 12And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no hesitation. But with me went also these six brethren, and we entered into the man’s house: 13and he informed us how he had seen an angel in his house, standing and saying to him, Send men to Joppa, and invite Simon, who is surnamed Peter; 14who will speak words to thee, by which thou mayest be saved, and thy house. 15So when I had begun to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, just as on us at the beginning. 16Then I recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said, John indeed baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost. 17If God then gave an equal gift to them even as to us, on believing on the Lord Jesus Christ; I, indeed, who was I, that I should be able to restrain God?
18So when they heard these things they were satisfied, and glorified God, saying, Well! then hath God even to the Gentiles given repentance unto life.
19Now those also who were dispersed by the persecution which arose on account of Stephen passed on as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no man except the Jews only. 20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they arrived at Antioch, spake to the Grecian proselytes, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a vast multitude believing, turned to the Lord. 22And the report concerning them was heard in the ears of the church which was at Jerusalem: and they dispatched Barnabas, to go as far as Antioch. 23Who, when he arrived there, and beheld the grace of God, rejoiced, and exhorted them all, with full purpose of heart to adhere to the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and a great multitude was added to the Lord.
25Then went forth Barnabas to Tarsus, in search of Saul: 26and having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that during a whole year they were jointly employed in that church, and taught a vast multitude, and they called for the first time in Antioch the disciples Christians. 27Now there came down in those days prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the spirit that a great famine was coming upon the whole habitable globe: which also came in the reign of Claudius Cæsar. 29Then the disciples, as everyman had ability, determined every individual of them to send a sum to be distributed among the brethren who dwelt in Judea: 30which also they did, sending it off to the presbyters by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
[CHAP. XII.]
NOW at that time Herod the king stretched forth his hand to treat cruelly certain persons belonging to the church. 2And he slew James the brother of John with a sword. 3And seeing how agreeable this was to the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4Whom having apprehended, he put him in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep guard over him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people for execution. 5So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him. 6Now when Herod was going to bring him forth, the same night was Peter fast asleep between the two soldiers, fastened to them with two chains: and the guards before the door kept the prison. 7And, lo! an angel of the Lord stood there, and light glared through the apartment: then with a stroke on Peter’s side, he roused him up, and said, Arise quickly. And his chains fell from his hands. 8And the angel said to him, Gird thyself up, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said unto him, Wrap thyself in thy mantle, and follow me. 9And going out, he followed him; and knew not that it was a reality which was done by the angel; but he supposed he saw a vision. 10So passing through the first ward and the second, they came to the iron door which leads into the city, which opened to them spontaneously: and being come out, they walked forward through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him. 11And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know assuredly, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me from the hand of Herod, and all the eager expectation of the people of the Jews. 12And after considering with himself, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark; where many were thronged together, and praying. 13Peter then knocking at the door of the gateway, there came a damsel to ask who was there, named Rhoda. 14And well knowing Peter’s voice, she opened not the door for joy; but running in, told that Peter was standing before the door. 15But they said, Thou art raving. But she confidently persisted that it was so. Then they said, It is his angel. 16But Peter continued knocking: and they opened the door and saw him, and were astonished. 17Then beckoning with the hand that they should be silent, he informed them in what manner the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Tell James and the brethren these things. And departing thence he went into another place.
18Now when the day broke, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what could possibly become of Peter. 19And Herod sought him out earnestly, but not being able to find him, after having examined the guards strictly, he commanded them to be executed. And going down from Jerusalem to Cæsarea, took up his abode there.
20Now Herod was fiercely bent on war against the Tyrians and Sidonians: but they presented themselves unanimously before him, and ingratiating themselves with Blastus who was over the king’s bedchamber, they begged for peace; because their country received all their supply of provisions from the king’s territories. 21Then on a day appointed, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, and seated on his throne, made an harangue unto them. 22And the populace shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not a man. 23But instantly the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not the glory to God: and being devoured with worms, he expired.
24But the word of the Lord increased, and was widely diffused. 25Then Barnabas and Saul departed from Jerusalem, having completed the distribution of the sum entrusted with them; and they took with them John, whose surname was Mark.