The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 735

16:18. And this she did many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit: I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go from her. And he went out the same hour.

16:19. But her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, apprehending Paul and Silas, brought them into the market place to the rulers.

16:20. And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: These men disturb our city, being Jews:

16:21. And preach a fas.h.i.+on which it is not lawful for us to receive nor observe, being Romans.

16:22. And the people ran together against them: and the magistrates, rending off their clothes, commanded them to be beaten with rods.

16:23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the gaoler to keep them diligently.

16:24. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.

16:25. And at midnight, Paul and Silas, praying, praised G.o.d. And they that were in prison heard them.

16:26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and the bands of all were loosed.

16:27. And the keeper of the prison, awakening out of his sleep and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

16:28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm, for we all are here.

16:29. Then calling for a light, he went in: and trembling, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas.

16:30. And bringing them out, he said: Masters, what must I do, that I may be saved?

16:31. But they said: believe in the Lord Jesus: and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

16:32. And they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house.

16:33. And he, taking them the same hour of the night, washed their stripes: and himself was baptized, and all his house immediately.

16:34. And when he had brought them into his own house, he laid the table for them: and rejoiced with all his house, believing G.o.d.

16:35. And when the day was come, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying: Let those men go.

16:36. And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart. And go in peace.

16:37. But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison. And now do they thrust us out privately? Not so: but let them come.

16:38. And let us out themselves. And the serjeants told these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid: hearing that they were Romans.

16:39. And coming, they besought them: and bringing them out, they desired them to depart out of the city.

16:40. And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia: and having seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed.

Acts Chapter 17

Paul preaches to the Thessalonians and Bereans. His discourse to the Athenians.

17:1. And when they had pa.s.sed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

17:2. And Paul, according to his custom, went in unto them. And for three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures:

17:3. Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer and to rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach to you.

17:4. And some of them believed and were a.s.sociated to Paul and Silas: and of those that served G.o.d and of the Gentiles a great mult.i.tude: and of n.o.ble women not a few.

17:5. But the Jews, moved with envy and taking unto them some wicked men of the vulgar sort and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar: and besetting Jason's house, sought to bring them out unto the people.

17:6. And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar are come hither also:

City. Urbem... In the Greek, the world.

17:7. Whom Jason hath received. And these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.

17:8. And they stirred up the people: and the rulers of the city, hearing these things,

17:9. And having taken satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they let them go.

17:10. But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea. Who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews.

17:11. Now these were more n.o.ble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures, whether these things were so.

More n.o.ble... The Jews of Berea are justly commended, for their eagerly embracing the truth, and searching the scriptures, to find out the texts alleged by the apostle: which was a far more generous proceeding than that of their countrymen at Thessalonica, who persecuted the preachers of the gospel, without examining the grounds they alleged for what they taught.

17:12. And many indeed of them believed: and of honourable women that were Gentiles and of men, not a few.

17:13. And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of G.o.d was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the mult.i.tude.

17:14. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the sea: but Silas and Timothy remained there.

17:15. And they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and receiving a commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.

17:16. Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.

17:17. He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews and with them that served G.o.d: and in the market place, every day, with them that were there.

17:18. And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him. And some said: What is it that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new G.o.ds. Because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

17:19. And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?

17:20. For thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean.

17:21. (Now all the Athenians and strangers that were there employed themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.)

17:22. But Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superst.i.tious.

17:23. For pa.s.sing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written: To the Unknown G.o.d. What therefore you wors.h.i.+p without knowing it, that I preach to you: