in a vision, a large sheet, or table-cloth, let | very readily attended their pleasure, and down, as it were, by the four corners from desired to know the occasion of their sendheaven, wherein were creatures of all kinds, ing for him." clean and unclean, and, at the same time, a voice said to him, "Arise, Peter, kill and eat." But the apostle, being tenacious of the rites and institutions of the Mosaic law, declared his aversion to such a proceeding; upon which the voice rejoined, that what God had pronounced clean, he ought by no means to account common or unclean. This representation was made to him three several times, after which the sheet was taken up, and the vision disappeared.

The reply Cornelius made in answer to 66 Four this was to the following effect: days ago, being fervently employed in the duties of fasting and prayer, an angel from heaven appeared to me, declaring that my come up as а prayers and alms were memorial before the throne of the Most High; and at the same time ordered me to send to Joppa for one Simon Peter, who lodged in the house of a tanner near the seaside, and who would give me further information in the mysteries of salvation. Accordingly I made no hesitation to obey the heavenly messenger; I sent immediately for thee, and now thou art come, and we are met together, I desire to hear what instructions thou hast to communicate.”

When Peter awoke he could not help seriously reflecting on the vision he had beheld; and while he was wondering within himself what might be the event, he was interrupted by three messengers, who, knocking at the gate, desired to speak with him. They were accordingly admitted, and From this relation of the Roman officer, as soon as they saw Peter they acquainted Peter delivered a discourse to the assembly, him with their business, which was to the fol- which he began by declaring that he perlowing purport: that "Cornelius, a Roman,ceived plainly God had made no distinction captain of a company in the Italian legion,* of persons and people, but that the pious then at Cæsarea, a person of eminent virtue, and godly of all nations were to meet with piety, and charity, had, by an immediate acceptance. He told them that peace and command from God, sent to him, begging that he would return with them to give him some instructions on so important and singular an occasion." Peter detained the messengers that night; but the next day he set out with them accompanied by some of his brethren, and the day following arrived at Cæsarea.

Cornelius, being in expectation of his coming, had invited his friends and relations to his house, and as soon as Peter entered, he fell down at his feet to worship him, but the apostle, rejecting that honor as being due to God alone, raised him up, and then told the company that, "though they must know it was not lawful for a Jew to converse (more especially on the duties of religion) with those of another nation; yet since God had taught him to make no distinction, he *The cohort of the Romans, which we call band, was a body of infantry, consisting of five hundred men, ten of which bands made a legion; and the manner in which the Romans distinguished and denominated their bands and legions was very various. Sometimes it was from the order of places, and so they were called the first or second band, according to their rank and precedency; sometimes from the commanders they were under, as the Augustan and Claudian band, &c., because persons of that name did lead them; sometimes from their own behavior, as the Vic

reconciliation between God and man was a doctrine published by the prophets of old, and of late, since the time of John the Baptist, preached through Galilee and Judæa; that of this peace Jesus of Nazareth was the only Mediator between God and man, as appeared by the divine powers and graces wherewith he was invested, and which he constantly exercised in doing good to mankind; that of his life and actions, more especially of his crucifixion by the Jews, and resurrection from the dead, of his appearing to his disciples, and even eating and drinking with them after his resurrection, he and the rest of the apostles were chosen witnesses; that from him they had received, before his ascension, a command and commission to publish to all nations, that he was the person, whom God had ordained to trix, the Ferrea, the conquering, the iron band, &c, by reason of the great valor, which, in some sharp engagements, these had shown; sometimes from the countries they were chiefly quartered in. as the German and Pannonian band, &c., and sometimes from the parts whence they were gath ered, as this of Cornelius is called the Italian band, because it was raised out of that country, and was a body of forces well known for their gallantry and great exploits, among the writers of the Roman history.

be the great Judge of the world; that all the prophets, with one consent, bore witness of him; and that whoever believed in his name would certainly receive the remission of sins.

While Peter was thus speaking, the Holy Ghost came down upon the whole audience, and inspired them with gifts and graces, fitting them for several conditions in the church. The Jews who accompanied Peter, were greatly astonished to see that the gifts of the Holy Ghost were poured upon the Gentiles; which being observed by Peter, he told them he knew no reason why those persons should not be baptized (having received the Holy Ghost) as well as they. He accordingly gave orders that they should be baptized, which being done, he staid with them several days, in order to confirm them in the holy faith they had so happily and earnestly embraced.

The conduct of Peter on this occasion was considered in various lights by the brethren at Jerusalem, who being but lately converted to the Christian faith, were zealously attached to the religious ceremonies of the Mosaic institution, and therefore most of them severely charged Peter, on his return to Jerusalem, as being too familiar with the Gentiles. How powerful is the prejudice of education! The Jews had, for many ages, conceived an inveterate hatred to the Gentiles, considering them as persons not approved of by the Almighty, who had chosen the Jews for his peculiar people. The law of Moses, indeed, enjoined them to be kind to their own nation, in preference to all others; and the rites and institutions of their religion,

and the peculiar form of their commonwealth, rendered them very different from the inhab itants of other countries; a separation which in after ages they contracted into a much narrower compass. They were also tenaciously proud of their external privileges in being the descendants of Abraham; and therefore looked upon the rest of the world as reprobates, refusing to hold any conversation with them, or even to treat them with common civility.

It is therefore no wonder that they were highly displeased with Peter; nor would he, in all probability, have been able to defend his conduct in a satisfactory manner, had he not been charged with a peculiar commission from God for extending the privileges of the gospel to the Gentile world. To satisfy them, however, of the propriety of his conduct, he first gave them a plain and minute narrative of the whole affair, together with the occasion of it; and then took occasion from the whole, to draw this inference: that,

since God had been pleased to bestow on these Gentiles the same privileges, and marks of conversion, that he had done on his select disciples, it would have been direct disobedience in him to the divine will, had he denied them admission into the church, or refused them his instructions and conversation.'

From this representation the whole audience were perfectly satisfied, and their displeasure against Peter was turned into praise and thanksgiving to God, for having communicated the same mercy to the Gentiles as he had done to the Jews; namely, "repentance unto life eternal. "

CHAPTER VII.

PERSECUTION BY HEROD.

LABORS OF BARNABAS AND SAUL.

AFTER the general dispersion which took place in consequence of the martydom of Stephen, and the persecutions that followed,

*This was a city of great note, and once of such power as to contend with Carthage for some pre-eminences. It stood on the western parts of

some disciples, who were born in Cyprus and Cyrene,* having travelled through several countries, and hitherto preached to the Lybia (properly so called), and, as it was the principal city, it sometimes gave the name of Cyrenaica to the whole country, which by the sacred

Jews only, at length came to Antioch,* where, | Antioch determined to make a collection for hearing of the conversion of Cornelius their brethren in Judæa, which, on the apand others, they applied themselves to the proach of the dearth, they accordingly did, Greeks who lived in that city, and, by the and sent it to the elders at Jerusalem by the blessing of God, daily made great numbers hands of Barnabas and Saul. of converts. Intimation of this being given to the apostles at Jerusalem, they despatched one Barnabas, a pious man, and endued with many excellent gifts, to assist the disciples, and confirm the believers in that city. The success of the gospel in so large a place as Antioch, gave great satisfaction to Barnabas, who, after continuing there some time, and exhorting the people to hold fast the possession of that faith they had newly embraced, departed thence to Tarsus, in order to find out Saul, whom he considered, from the fame he had heard of him, as a necessary person to assist him in facilitating the further promulgation of the gospel. Having found out Saul, he returned with him, in a short time, to Antioch, where, for the space of a whole year, they daily resorted in the most public places, preaching and expounding the doctrine of their great Master; by means of which they soon gained over such a prodigious number of converts, that in this city the disciples of Jesus were first distinguished by the honorable name of Christians.†

The extensive circulation of the gospel at Antioch opened an intercourse between the Christians of that city and those of Jerusalem. Many people resorted from the latter place to the former, and among them was one person named Agabus, who foretold, that there would shortly be a great famine in many parts of the Roman empire, which accordingly happened in the fourth year of the reign of the emperor Claudius. In consequence of this prophecy, the Christians of writer is paraphrastically called Lybia about Cyrene (Acts ii. 10). The city itself is famous in Holy Writ for being the birthplace of that Simon, whom the Jews compelled to bear our Saviour's Cross.

* This Antioch (to distinguish it from sixteen other cities, which, in Syria and other countries, bore that name) was frequently called Antiochia Epidaphne, from its neighborhood to Daphne, a village where the temple of Daphne stood. It was built, as some say, by Antiochus Epiphanes; as others, by Seleucus Nicanor, the first king of Syria after Alexander the Great, in memory of his father Antiochus, and was, after that, the royal seat of the kings of Syria.

† Before this they were called among themselves brethren, saints, disciples, believers, and those that called on the name of Christ; and among their

About this time Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, in order to ingratiate himself with the heads of the obstinate Jews, raised a most violent persecution against the Christians, in the commencement of which he ordered James, the son of Zebedee, and brother of John, commonly called "the Great," to be put to death. Finding this cruel act was acceptable to the chief-priests and rulers, he resolved to extend his cruelty to Peter. He accordingly caused him to be apprehended and put into prison, designing, immediately after the feast of the passover, to bring him forth to the Jews, and, if they desired it, to have him executed. But the Christians were incessant in their prayers to God for his safety; nor were their prayers and solicitations in vain. Herod was persuaded in his own mind, that he should soon accomplish his design, and sacrifice Peter to the insatiable cruelty of the Jews. But the night before this intended execution, a messenger from the courts of Heaven visited the gloomy horrors of the dungeon, where he found Peter asleep between two of his keepers. The angel raised him up, and taking off his chains, ordered him to gird on his garments, and follow him. Peter obeyed, and having passed through the first and second watch, they came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened to them of its own accord. The angel also accompanied him through one of the streets, and then departed. On this Peter, who had hitherto been confused, thinking all that had passed was no more than a dream, came to enemies, Galileans, Nazarenes, and men of the sect : but now by the conversion of so many heathens, both in Cæsarea and Antioch, the believing Jews and Gentiles, being all made one church, this new name was given them, as being more expressive of their common relation to Christ, their great Lord and Master.

He is commonly called the Great to distinguish him from another of the same name, who was bishop of Jerusalem, and called the Less. He had his first instruction, together with John, from the Baptist; but how he disposed of himself after our Lord's ascension does not appear. That he was very zealous and industrious in propagatting the gospel, appears evident from Herod's making choice of him for the first sacrifice (after the death of Stephen) to the fury of the people.

to bring about an accommodation. Though Herod was highly displeased with them, yet he so far listened to his chamberlain as to appoint a day for holding a public conference with the ambassadors; at which time, being dressed in his royal robes, and seated on a throne, he made a long harangue on the occasion. The fawning multitude, thinking

himself, and perceived that it was no vision, but that his great and beloved Master had really sent a messenger from above, and released him from prison. He therefore repaired to the house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where several disciples were met together, and sending up their prayers to Heaven for his deliverance. As he stood knocking without, a maid-ser- to ingratiate themselves in his favor, and vant of the house, named Rhoda, knowing his voice, ran in, and acquainted the company that Peter was at the door. At first they would not pay any attention to what she said; but on her persisting in the truth of what she asserted, they concluded that it must have been his angel. Their doubts, however, were soon removed by the entrance of Peter, at the sight of whom they were all greatly astonished. Peter beckoning them to hold their peace, related the whole particulars of his miraculous escape from prison, and, after ordering them to acquaint James, and the other brethren, with this good news, withdrew himself to a place of more retirement and security.

Early the next morning the officers went from Herod to the prison, with orders to bring Peter out to the people, who were gathered together to behold his execution. But when they came to the prison, they were informed by the keepers that Peter had made his escape. The officers immediately returned with this intelligence to Herod, who was so irritated at his being disappointed in his wicked design, that he commanded the keepers to be put to death, as supposing them accessory to his escape; after which he left Jerusalem, and retired to Cæsarea.

While Herod was in Cæsarea, a misunderstanding took place between him and the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, against whom he was about to declare war. But they, dreading his power (and knowing that in this time of scarcity their country was in a great measure dependent on Herod's dominions for its support), sent ambassadors to Blastus, Herod's chamberlain, requesting him to intercede in their behalf, and, if possible,

* This person, who is sometimes called JohnMark, and at other times simply Mark, or John, is very frequently confounded with the Evangelist St. Mark. He was a cousin and disciple of Barnabas, and the son of a Christian woman called Mary, at whose house in Jerusalem the apostles and disciples often assembled.

†This city lay on the west, or rather a little north-west of the city of Antioch, upon the Med

please the tyrant's pride with flattering applause, shouted out," It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. This gratified the pride of Herod, who, assuming to himself that praise which belonged only to God, was instantly struck by an angel with a mortification in his bowels, which, in a short time, put a period to his existence.

The tyrant Herod being thus removed, the gospel greatly flourished and increased, new converts daily thronging to be admitted to the faith.

About this time Barnabas and Saul, haying discharged their trust in disposing of the contributions raised in Antioch for the benefit of the Christians in Jerusalem and Judæa, returned to that city, taking with them John, surnamed Mark,* a person well calculated to assist them in the propagation of the gospel.

Barnabas and Saul had not been long returned to Antioch, when God, by some particular inspiration, gave them to understand, that he had appointed them to carry his word into other places. This was likewise revealed to the meinbers of the church then at Antioch, who, in consequence thereof, betook themselves to fasting and prayer, and Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen (all of whom were endued with the spirit of prophecy), having laid their hands on them, sent them away to preach the gospel wherever they might be directed by divine inspiration.

On their departure from Antioch they went first to Seleucia,† whence they took shipping for Cyprus, and began their ministerial office in the city of Salamis, where they preached in the synagogues, and employed Mark, who was of their com

iterranean Sea, and was so called from Seleucus its founder.

This was once a famous city in the Isle of Cyprus, opposite to Seleucia, on the Syrian coast; and, as it was the first place in these parts where the gospel was preached, it was, in the primitive times, made the see of the primate, or metropolitan of the whole island. In the reign of the emperor Trajan, it was destroyed by the

pany, in several offices of the church which that Saul changed his name to that of they could not conveniently attend them- Paul,† which he ever after retained. selves.

From Salamis they proceeded to Paphos,* the residence of Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, or governor of the island, a man of great wisdom and prudence, but unhappily seduced by the wicked artifices of Bar-Jesus, an impostor, who styled himself Elymas, or the magician. The governor being informed of the doctrine preached by Saul and Barnabas, was desirous of hearing it, and therefore sent to them for that purpose. They accordingly attended, but while Saul was delivering a discourse to him and the company present, the sorcerer (who stood by the pro-consul) used all the arguments he could to prevent his being converted to the faith. This being observed by Saul, he turned himself to the sorcerer, and severely chastised him in words to this effect: "O thou vile sorcerer! Like the devil, by whom thou workest, thou art an enemy to all goodness. Wilt thou persist in sorcery, in defiance of the faith of Christ, which comes armed with a much greater power of miracles than those to which thou falsely pretendest? Thou shalt soon feel the vengeance of Heaven; for thou that perversely holdest out against the light of the gospel, shalt lose thy sight, which, by the power of God, shall for a time be taken from thee." No sooner had Saul uttered these words than the sorcerer was struck blind, and implored some of the company to conduct him to his habitation. This miracle convinced the pro-consul of the truth of the doctrine he had heard, and he immediately became a convert to the faith. And from this event it is supposed by some

Jews, and rebuilt, but, after that, being in the time of Herodius, sacked, and razed to the ground by the Saracens, it never recovered its former splendor, though out of its ruins is said to have arisen Famagusta, which was the chief place of the isle, when the Turks took it from the Venetians, in the year 1570.

* Paphos was another city of Cyprus, lying on the western (as Salamis did on the eastern) track of the island. It was once famous for having in it a celebrated temple dedicated to Venus, who, thence, is called, by ancient writers, the Paphian Queen.

† It is very observable, that all along, before this circumstance of the apostle's life, St. Luke calls him by the name of Saul, but ever after by that of Paul. Hence some imagine, that he assumed that name to himself, in memory of his converting Sergius Paulus; just as the ancient Roman generals were accustomed to adopt the

After staying some time in the Island of Cyprus, Paul and his companions went to Perga in Pamphylia, where Mark (not choosing any longer to prosecute so wandering a course of life) took his leave, and returned to Jerusalem

From Perga they went to Antioch in Pisidia, || where, going into the synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat themselves down to hear the performance of divine worship. After the lessons, one out of the law, and the other out of the prophets (it being the custom for the Jewish doctors to expound some part of the scripture for the instruction of the people), the chief persons of the assembly sent to Paul and his companions, to know whether either of them would preach a sermon of exhortation to the audience. This was an offer highly satisfactory to Paul, who, after intimating his acceptance of it, arose, and delivered a discourse to the people in words to this effect :

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Hearken, all ye descendants of Jacob, and ye that fear the Almighty, to the words of my mouth. The God of Israel made choice of our fathers, and loved them, when they had no city of their own to dwell in, but were strangers and slaves in Egypt, bringing them thence with a mighty hand, and a stretched-out arm; fed them in the wilderness forty years, and would not suffer his anger to rise against them, though they often provoked him in the desert. On their arrival in the land he promised their fathers, he destroyed the nations that inhabited it, and placed them in that fruitful country, dividing it to them by lot.

names of the provinces which they conquered. St. Austin more than once asserts, that he took it from a principle of humility, by a small variation changing his former name (whereby a proud haughty king of Israel was called) into that of Paulus, which signifies little; and that, in conformity to this, he calls himself "less than the least of the apostles." But the most rational account of the matter seems to be that of Origen, namely, that he, being of Jewish parentage, and born in Tarsus, a Roman city, had, at his circumcision, two names given him, Saul, a Jewish, and Paul, a Roman name, and that when he preached to the Jews, he was called by his Jewish, and when to the Gentiles (as he did chiefly after this time) by his Roman name.