The Bible Story Part 265

And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being afraid, said, "What is it, Lord?"

And he said unto him, "Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before G.o.d. And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side."

And when the angel that spoke unto him was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of his body guard, and having told all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour: and he became hungry, {354} and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance; and he beheld the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. And there came a voice to him, saying, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."

But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean."

And a voice came unto him again the second time, "What G.o.d hath cleansed, make not thou common."

And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.

Now while Peter was much perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there. And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, "Behold, three men seek thee. But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them."

And Peter went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom ye seek: why are ye come?"

And they said, "Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth G.o.d, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of G.o.d by a holy angel to send for thee to come to his house, and to hear words from thee." So he called them in and lodged them.

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And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends. And when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and wors.h.i.+ped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man."

And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many come together: and he said unto them, "Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath G.o.d showed that I should not call any man common or unclean: wherefore also I came without doubting, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me."

And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, and said, 'Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of G.o.d. Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.' Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of G.o.d, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord."

And Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive that G.o.d is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is {356} acceptable to him. The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)--that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; about Jesus of Nazareth, how G.o.d anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: how he went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for G.o.d was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which be did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.

Him G.o.d raised up the third day, and showed him, not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of G.o.d, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of G.o.d to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name everyone that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins."

While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. And the Jews who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify G.o.d.

Then answered Peter, "Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?"

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

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IX

THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

_How the Disciples at Last Began to Understand the Meaning of the Command of Jesus, "Go Ye into All the World_."

Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of G.o.d. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, the Jews contended with him, saying, "Thou wentest in to the Gentiles, and didst eat with them."

But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me: upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven. And I heard also a voice saying unto me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But I said, 'Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.' But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, 'What G.o.d hath cleansed, make not thou common.' And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent {358} from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man's house: and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, 'Send to Joppa, and bring Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then G.o.d gave unto them the same gift that he gave unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand G.o.d?"

And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified G.o.d, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also hath G.o.d granted repentance unto life."

They therefore that were scattered abroad after the trouble that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spoke unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.

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X

PETER IN PRISON

_How Peter Was Cast into Prison, and How He Escaped the Hatred of Herod_.

Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Pa.s.sover to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly by the church unto G.o.d for him. And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, "Rise up quickly."

And his chains fell from his hands. And the angel said unto him, "Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals." And he did so.

And he said unto him, "Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me."

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And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.

And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and pa.s.sed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, "Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews."

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid come to answer, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, "Thou art mad." But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, "It is his angel."

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren."

And he departed, and went to another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the {361} soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And Peter went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and tarried there.

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Missionary Journeys and Adventures of Paul.

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PERSONS OF THE STORY.

_PAUL_.

_Ananias, a disciple_.

_Sergius Paulus, a Roman governor_.

_Elymas, a sorcerer_.

_Barnabas_.