and he was mighty in his words groaning, and am come down to deand in his deeds. liver them. And now come, and I will send thee into Egypt. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of 1srael. 24 And when he had seen one of them suffer wrong, he defended him: and striking the Egyptian, he avenged him who suffered the injury. 25 And he thought that his brethren understood that God by his hand would save them: but they understood it not. 26 And the day following he shewed himself to them when they were at strife; and would have reconciled them in peace, saying: Men, ye are brethren, why hurt you one another? 27 But he that did the injury to his neighbour, thrust him away, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us? 28 What, wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyp tian? 29 And Moses fled upon this word and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begot two sons. 30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sina an angel in a flame of fire in a bush. 35 This Moses, whom they refused, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge? him God sent to be prince and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the desert forty years. 37 This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel: A prophet shall God raise up to you of your own brethren, as myself: him shall you hear. 38 This is he that was in the church in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the words of life to give unto us. 39 Whom our fathers would not obey; but thrust him away, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt, 40 Saying to Aaron: Make us gods to go before us. For as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 31 And Moses seeing it, wondered at the sight. And as he drew 42 And God turned, and gave near to view it, the voice of the them up to serve the host of heaven, Lord came unto him, saying: as it is written in the book of the 32 I am the God of thy fathers; prophets: Did you offer victims the God of Abraham, the God of and sacrifices to me for forty years Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And in the desert, O house of Israel? Moses being terrified, durst not be- 43 And you took unto you the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star 33 And the Lord said to him: of your god Rempham, figures Loose the shoes from thy feet: for which you made to adore them. And the place wherein thou standest, is I will carry you away beyond Baholy ground. hold. bylon. 34 Seeing I have seen the aflic-44 The tabernacle of the testimotion of my people which is in ny was with our fathers in the deEgypt, and I have heard their sert, as God ordained for them, speaking to Moses that he should 50 And they crying out with a make it according to the form which loud voice, stopped their ears, and he had seen. with one accord ran violently upon him. 45 Which also our fathers receiving,brought in with Jesus,into the possession of the gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers; unto the days of David. 46 Who found grace before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 Yet the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hand, as the prophet saith: 49 Heaven is my throne: and the earth my foot-stool. What house will you build me, saith the Lord, or what is the place of my resting? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things? 51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Philip converts the Samaritans AND at that time there was rais ed a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 52 Which of the prophets have 2 And devout men took order not your fathers persecuted? And for Stephen's funeral, and made they have slain them who foretold great mourning over him. of the coming of the Just One; of 3 But Saul made havock of the whom you have been now the be-church: entering in from house to trayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 Now hearing these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. house, and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison. 4 They therefore that were dispersed, went about preaching the word of God, 5 And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached CHRIST unto them. 6 And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he 55 But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looking upsteadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and JEsus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold I see did. the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 7 For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out. Ver. 45. Jesus. That is Josue, so called in Greek. Ver. 48. Dwelleth not in houses, &c. That is, so as to stand in need of earthly dwellings, or to be contained, or circumscribed by them. Though, by his immense divinity, he is in our houses and every where else; and Christ in his humanity dwelt in houses: and is now pn our altars.* 20 Keep thy money to thyself to perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 8 And many taken with the pal-lay my hands, he may receive the sy and that were lame, were healed. Holy Ghost. But Peter said to him. 9 There was therefore great joy in that city. Now there was a certain man named Simon, who before had been a magician in that city, seducing the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave ear from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the power of God, which is called great. 11 And they were attentive to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his magical practices. 12 But when they had believed Philip preaching of the kingdom of God, in the name of JESUS CHRIST they were baptized both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and being baptized he stuck close to Philip. And being astonished wondered to see the signs and exceeding great miracles which were done. 14 Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God: They sent unto them Peter and John. 15 Who when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16 For he was not as yet come upon any of them but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord JESUS. 17 Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that by the imposition of the hands of the apostles the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall 21 Thou hast no part, nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Do penance therefore from this thy wickedness: and pray to God, if perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity. 24 Then Simon answering said: Pray you for me to the Lord, that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me. 25 And they indeed having testified and preached the word of the Lord: returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many countries of the Samaritans. 26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is desert. 27 And rising up he went, and behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore. 28 And he was returning sitting in his chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias, and he said: Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest? 31 Who said: And how can I, Ver. 17. They laid their hands upon them, &c. See here how the apostles administered the sacrament of confirmation, by imposition of hands and prayer: and how the faithful thereby received the Holy Ghost, unless some man shew me? and he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 And the place of the scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter: and like a lamb without voice before his shearer, so openeth he not his mouth. 33 In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth? 34 And the eunuch answering Philip, said: 1 beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man ? 35 Then Philip opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him JESUS. 36 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water and the eunuch said: See here is water, what doth hinder me from being baptized? 37 And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering said: I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the Son of God. this way he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus and suddenly a light from heaven shined round abouthim. 4 And falling on the ground he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? 5 Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am JESUS whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. 6 And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord what wilt thou have me to do? 7 And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus,named Ananias: and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord. 9 And he was there three days without sight, and he did neither 38 And he commanded the cha-eat nor drink. riot to stand still and they went down into the water,both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found in Azotus, and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities till he came to Cesarea. CHAP. IX. Paul's conversion and zeal. ΑΝ ND Saul as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 11 And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Strait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth. 12 (And he saw a man named Ananias, coming in and putting his hands upon him that he might receive his sight.) 13 But Ananias answered: Lord, have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy I saints in Jerusalem: 2 And asked of him letters to Da- 14 And here he hath authority mascus, to the synagogues, that if from the chief priests to bind all he found any men or women of that invoke thy name. 15 And the Lord said to him: Go thy way, for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house, and laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord JESUS hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest: that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up he was baptized. 19 And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days. 20 And immediately he preached JESUS in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 And all that heard him were astonished, and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name; and came hither for that intent that he might carry them bound to the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the CHRIST. 23 And when many days were passed, the Jews consulted together to kill him. 24 But their laying in wait was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night, that they might kill him. 25 But the disciples taking him in the night, conveyed him away by the wall, letting him down in a basket. 26 And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples, and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of JESUS. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord. 29 He spoke also to the gentiles, and disputed with the Greeks: but they sought to kill him. 30 Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus. 31 Now the church had peace throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and was edified,walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost, 32 And it came to pass, that Peter, as he passed through visiting all, came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. 33 And he found there a certain man named Eneas, who had kept his bed for eight years, who was ill of the palsy. 34 And Peter said to him: Eneas, the Lord JESUS CHRIST healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And immediately he arose. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him: who were converted to the Lord. 36 And in Joppe there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did. 37. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick and died. Whom when they had washed,they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppe,the disciples hewa. |