for about four hundred and fifty years, until the prophet 21 Samuel. And afterward they desired a king: and God

appointed unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the 22 tribe of Benjamin, during forty years. And when God had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king to whom he gave his testimony also, and said, I have found David, the son of Jessè, a man according to mine own heart, who will perform all my pleasure.'

23

"Of this man's race, God, according to his promise, 24 hath given unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus; when John had first preached, before his appearance, the baptism 25 of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John

26

was fulfilling his course, he said, 'Who† think ye that I am? I am not the Christ. But, behold, one cometh after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.?

"Brethren, sons of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever of the gentiles among you fear‡ God; to you the 27 doctrine of this salvation hath been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers, when they knew not Christ, nor the words of the prophets, which are read on every sabbath, have fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found no just cause of death in him, yet they besought Pilate that he might be put to death. 29 And when they had fulfilled all which was written of

him, they took him down from the cross, and laid him in 30 a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: and 31 he was seen many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem; who are his witnesses to the 32 people. And we declare to you glad tidings concerning 33 the promise which was made to the fathers; that God hath fulfilled it to us their children, in that he hath rais

* Gr. hath brought. MSS.

+ Whom, N.

I feareth, N.

ed up Jesus; as it is written also in the second psalm* ; 34 Thou art my son, this day I have begotten thee.' And, that God raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he speaketh thus, I will give you 35 the sure mercies promised to David.' Wherefore it is said in another psalm also, Thou shalt not suffer thy holy 36 one to see corruption.' For after David had served his own generation according to the counsel of God, he fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers, and saw corrup37 tion but he whom God raised, did not see corruption. 38 "Be it therefore known unto you, brethren, that

through him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed unto you. 39 And by him all who believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore lest that come upon you which is spoken 41 of in the prophets, Behold, ye scorners, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye will in no wise believe, though it be declared unto you.""

42

6

And as Paul and Barnabas were going out of the synagogue, the people desired† that [these words] might be 43 spoken to them on the next sabbath. And when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews, and of the proselytes who worshipped God, followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking [to them,] persuaded them to continue in the favour of God.

44 And on the following sabbath almost the whole city 45 came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with indignation, and contradicted those things which were spoken 46 by Paul, contradicting and speaking evil. Then Paul and Barnabas spake freely, and said, "It was necessary

"The first psalm is a reading better supported. The two first psalms, as they stand in our editions, were anciently joined together. See Wetstein. Or, the first psalm was originally a kind of preface. Michaelis by Marsh, i. 515." Newcome.

And, when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the gentiles desired, etc. R. T.

that the word of God should have been spoken first to you; but since ye put it from you, and do not judge yourselves worthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to 47 the gentiles. For so the Lord hath commanded us, saying, I have set thee for a light to the gentiles, that thou 48 shouldest be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" And when the gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were dis49 posed to everlasting life, believed*. And the word of the 50 Lord was published throughout all the country. But the

Jews stirred up the gentile women of rank who worshipped God, and the chief men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them 51 out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their 52 feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the holy spirit. CH. XIV. And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went, both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks be2 lieved. (But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the minds of the gentiles, and made them evil-affected against the 3 brethren.) The apostles abode therefore for a long time, speaking freely concerning the Lord, who gave testimony to his gracious word, and granted that signs and wonders 4 should be done by their hands. But the multitude of the

city was divided and part held with the Jews, and part 5 with the apostles. And when there was a design, both of 6 the gentiles, and of the Jews and their rulers, to insult

them, and to stone them, having considered the matter, they fled into Lystra, and Derbè, cities of Lycaonia. 7 and to the country round about: and there they preached the gospel.

"Another import of the words is, As many of the gentiles believed, as were inwardly disposed to receive the doctrine of everlasting life; as had an orderly and wellprepared mind for that purpose; as had disposed themselves to it.' Or, 'as many as were disposed, believed to everlasting life.' See 1 Tim. i. 16," Newcome.

† to treat them contemptuously, N.

8

And a certain man sat at Lystra, infirm in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, and who never had walk9 ed this man heard Paul speaking: who, when he had stedfastly looked on him, and perceived that he had faith 10 so as to be restored, said with a loud voice, "Stand up11 right on thy feet." And he leaped and walked. And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." 12 And they called Barnabas Jupiter; and Paul Mercury, 13 because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, whose temple was before their city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates, and, together with the 14 multitudes, would have offered sacrifice. But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their clothes, and rushed in among the multitudes, crying out, 15 and saying, "Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like infirmities with yourselves, and proclaim to you glad tidings, that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God; who made heaven, and earth, 16 and the sea, and all things in them who, in the past generations, suffered all the gentiles to walk in their own 17 ways. Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness; doing good, giving yout rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling your hearts with food and gladness." 18 And by saying this they scarcely restrained the multitudes from offering sacrifice to them.

19

But certain Jews came thither from Antioch and Iconium; who, having persuaded the multitudes, and stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, and supposed that he 20 had been dead. However, when the disciples had surrounded him, he rose up, and entered into the city.

And on the morrow he and Barnabas departed to 21 Derbè. And when they had preached the gospel to that

of Jupiter's temple, that, N.

tus, and our, R. T.

city, and had made many disciples, they returned to 22 Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch; strengthening the minds of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue

in the faith; and saying that through many afflictions we 23 must enter into the kingdom of God. And when they

had appointed to them elders in every church, and had prayed and fasted, they commended them to the Lord, 24 on whom they had believed. And after they had passed 25 through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when

they had preached the word at Perga, they went down 26 into Attalia: and thence they sailed to Antioch, whence

they had been recommended to the favour of God for the 27 work which they had fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they related what things God had done by them; and how he 28 had opened the door of faith to the gentiles. And [there]

they abode no short time with the disciples.

CH. XV. Now certain men came down from Judea, and taught the brethrent, saying, “Unless ye be circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, ye cannot be 2 saved." When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention [and dispute] with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and 3 elders, about this question. And, having been conducted on their way by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the gentiles; 4 and caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles, and the elders; and they related all things 5 which God had done through them. "But," said they, "some of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, have risen up, saying, 'that it was necessary to circumcise the gentiles, and to command that they should keep the law of Moses."

* appointed elders over them, N. Symonds, p. 57.

+ Or, certain persons who had come down from Judea were teaching, etc.