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Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerufalem: and they fent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch: 23 Who when he came, and had feen the grace of God (g), was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost,

and of faith and much people was added unto the 25 Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarfus, for to 26 feek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought

him unto Antioch (h). And it came to pass, that a whole year they aflembled themselves with the church, and taught much people; and the difciples were called Chriftians firft in Antioch.

27 And in thefe days came prophets from Jerufalem 28 unto Antioch. And there ftood up one of them named Agabus, and fignified by the Spirit, that there fhould be great dearth throughout all the world (i) : which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cefar. 29 Then the difciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which 30 dwelt in Judea. Which alfo they did, and fent it the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul (k).

(g) How gracious God had been to them.

(h) Hence it appears that the church of Antioch was not founded by St. Peter, for he remained at Jerufalem, but by Paul and Barnabas.

(i) See Luke ii. 1.

(k) This was St. Paul's fecond journey to Jerufalem, about eight years after his conversion.

CHAP

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CHA P. XII.

Now about that time, Herod (a) the king ftretch

ed forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John (b) with the 3 fword. And because he faw it pleafed the Jews, he

proceeded further, to take Peter alfo. (Then were 4 the days of unleavened bread) (c). And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions (d) of foldiers to keep him, intending after Eafter to bring him forth to the 5 people. Peter therefore was kept in prifon (e), but prayer was made without ceafing of the church un6 to God for him. And when Herod would have - brought him forth, the fame night Peter was fleeping between two foldiers, bound with two chains (ƒ), and the keepers before the door kept the prifon. Änd behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light fhined in the prifon : and he fmote Peter on the fide, and raised him up, faying, Arife up quickly. 8 And his chains fell from his hands. And the angel faid unto him, Gird thyfelf, and bind on thy fandals: And fo he did. And he faith unto him, Caft 9 thy garment about thee (g), and follow me.

(a) Herod Agrippa, grandfon of Herod the Great

And he

(b) He was one of the fons of Zebedee, and, thus did he drink of the bitter cup of martyrdom, as our blessed Lord foretold. Matt. xx22. Mark x. 38.

(c) The days of unleavened bread were the Paffover. Luke xxii. 1. The feafon which we now call Eafler.

(d) A quaternion is a band of four; fo that the prifon guard confifted of fixteen foldiers.

(c) Peter was kept in-prifon till after the Passover, left the people might have then begged for his releafe, according to their ufual privilege. Matt. xxvii. 15.

(f) Fastened by a chain to a foldier on each fide.

(g) The loofe upper garment, or cloak, which they wore when they went out, but not within doors..

went

went out and followed him, and wift not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he 10 faw a vision. When they were past the first and the fecond ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them of his own accord and they went out, and paffed on through one ftreet, and forthwith the angel departed from 11 him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a furety, that the Lord hath fent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the 12 Jews. And when he had confidered the thing, he came to the houfe of Mary the mother of John, whofe furname was Mark, where many were gather13 ed together, praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damfel came to hearken, named And when he knew Peter's voice, fhe opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter ftood before the gate. And they faid unto her, Thou art mad. But she conftantly affirmed that it was even fo. Then faid they, It is his angel (b). 16 But Peter continued knocking and when they had

14 Rhoda.

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opened the door, and faw him, they were aftonished. 17 But he beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he faid, Go fhew thefe things unto James (i), and to the brethren. And 18 he departed, and went into another place. Now as foon as it was day, there was no fmall fir among the foldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had fought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they fhould be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cefarea, and there abode.

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(h) His apparition; concluding Peter to have been put to death in the prifon.

(i) This James was the fon of Alpheus, and bishop of Jerufalem.

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And Herod was highly difpleafed with them of Tyre and Sidon but they came with one accord to him, and having made Blaitus the king's chamberlain their friend, defired peace; because their country 21 was nourished by the king's country. And upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, fat upon his 22 throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, faying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord fmote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghoft.

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But the word of God grew and multiplied. And 25 Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerufalem, when they had fulfilled their miniftry, and took with them John, whofe furname was Mark.

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Now

OW there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon, that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up 2 with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they miniftred to the Lord, and fafted (a), the holy Ghost faid, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereI have called them. And when they had fafted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they fent them away!

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unto

So they being fent forth by the holy Ghoft, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they failed 5 to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the fynagogues of the

(a) Whilft they were engaged in a course of devotion and falling.

Jews:

Jews and they had alfo John (b) to their minifter. 6 And when they had gone through the ifle unto Paphos, they found a certain forcerer, a falfe prophet, a 7 Jew, whofe name was Barjefus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and defired 8 to hear the word of God. But Elymas the forcerer (for fo is his name by interpretation) withstood them, feeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9. Then Saul (c) (who alfo is called Paul) filled with 10 the holy Ghoft, fet his eyes on him, And faid, O full of all fubtilty and all mifchief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteoufnefs, wilt thou not II ceafe to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not feeing the fun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darknefs; and he went about feeking fome to lead him 12 by the hand. Then the deputy, when he faw what was done, believed, being aftonished at the doctrine of the Lord. Now when Paul and his company loofed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John departing from them, returned to Jerufalem (d).

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But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pifidia, and went into the fynagogue 15 on the fabbath-day, and fat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of

(b) That John, whofe furname was Mark (Chap. xii. 12, 25.) viz. the Evangelift, was chofen by St. Paul and Barnabas, to affift them in their miniftry.

(c) Saul was from this time called Paul, having taken that name either at his baptifm, according to a cuftom which then prevailed or in honour of the governor of Cyprus, who was his first confidera ble convert.

(d) Mark chofe rather to be with St. Peter at Jerufalem; an the affection between them was reciprocal; for St. Peter calls hie in the conclufion of his firft epiftle his fon, which means his faithful and beloved difciple.

the

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