Holy Ghost; and they spake || price, his wife also being privy the word of God with bold ness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed, were of one heart, and of one soul: neither said any of them, that aught of the things which he possessed, was his own: but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands, or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. CHAP. V. ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA. BUT a certain man, named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in : 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me, whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch : doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people, all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but the people magnified them: 22 But when the officers came, 14 And believers were the and found them not in the primore added to the Lord, multi-son, they returned and told, tudes both of men and wo- 23 Saying, The prison truly men :) found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without, before the doors; but, when we had opened, we found no man within. 15 Insomuch, that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, at the least, the shadow of Peter passing by, might overshadow some of them : 24 Now, when the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these 16 There came also a multi-things, they doubted of them tude out of the cities round whereunto this would grow. about, unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison 25 Then came one, and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: (for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned:) 27 And, when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly || dred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. command you, that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with doctrine, and intend your to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter, and the other apostles, answered and said, We ought to obey God, rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree : 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgive. ness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do, as touching these men. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him; he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now, I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel, or this work, be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it: lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. CHAP. VI. SEVEN DEACONS CHOSEN. 36 For before these days rose AND in those days, when up Theudas, boasting himself the number of the disciples was to be somebody; to whom a multiplied, there arose a murnumber of men, about four hun-muring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their || the synagogue of the Libertines, widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this busi ness. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch; 6 Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth. not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, That this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. CHAP. VII. STEPHEN STONED. THEN said the high priest, Are these things so? 2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran; and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 6 And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, will I judge, said God: and after that, shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt, and all his house. 11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt, and Chanaan, and great affliction ; and our fathers found no suste nance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time, Joseph was made known to his brethren, and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 14 Then sent Joseph and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers. 16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor, the father of Sychem. 17 But when the time of the 8 And he gave him the cove-promise drew nigh, which God nant of circumcision: and so had sworn to Abraham, the Abraham begat Isaac, and cir-people grew, and multiplied in cumcised him the eighth day; Egypt, and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 9 And the patriarchs moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, VOL. IV. 18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil-entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. F f |