Peter's exhortation.

in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18 But those things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 T Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21 Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of a restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began.

/ Lu.23.34. John 16. 3. ch. 13. 27. 1 Co. 2. 8. 1 Ti. 1. 13.

≈ Ps.22.Is. 50.6. & 53. 5, &c. Da. 9.26. 1 Pe.

1. 10, 11.

y ch. 2. 38.

ch. 1. 11.

a Mat. 17. 11.

b Lu. 1.70.

c De.18.15,

37.

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, c A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, 18,19.ch.7. of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul which will not hear that Prophet, shall be de-. stroyed from among the people.

24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

25 d Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

e Ex. 2. 14. Mat.21.23. ch. 7. 27.

Lu. 12.

11, 12.

The rulers offended at it.

3 And they laid hands on them. and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

4 Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5 T And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusa

lem.

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, c By what power, or by what name have ye done this?

8 d 'Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day he examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, e ch. 3. 6, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, fch. 2.21.f whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

16.

g Ps. 118. 22. Is. 28. 16. Mat.21. 42.

e Ge. 12. 3. & 18.18. & 22.18.&26. 4. & 28.14. Ga. 3. 8.

26 f Unto you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus, & sent him to bless you, in turning f Mat. 10. away every one of you from his iniquities.

CHAP. IV.

1 The rulers of the Jews offended with Peter's sermon, 4 (though thousands of the people were converted that heard the word,) imprison him and John. 5 After, upon examination Peter boldly avouching the lame man to be healed by the name of Jesus, and that by the same Jesus only we must be eternally saved, 13 they command him and John to preach no more in that name, adding also threatening, 23 whereupon the church fleeth to prayer. 31 And God, by moving the place where they were assembled, testified that he heard their prayer: confirming the church with the gift of the Holy Ghost, and with mutual love and charity.

AND as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

5. & 15.24.

Lu. 24. 47.

Mat. 11. 25. 1 Co. 1.

27.

11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 h Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, 1 and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done m ch. 3. 9, by them is m manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

10.

n Again, ch. 5. 40.

8.

17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this

name.

18 n And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to

21 So, when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, r because of the people for all men glorified 26. Lu. 20 God for that which was done.

22 For the man was above forty years old on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

r Mat. 21.

6, 19. & 22. 2. ch.5.26.

$ ch. 3.7,8.

23 And being let go, theyt ch.12.12. went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, u thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is;

u 2 Ki. 19. 15.

Why Ps 2. 1.

25 Who, by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For y of a truth against thyy Mat. 26. holy child Jesus, a whom thou 3. Lu.22.2. hast anointed, both Herod, and & 23. 1, 8. Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord. behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

2.

a ch. 4. 37.

Nu. 30.2. De. 23. 21. Ec. 5. 4.

Lu. 1.35. c Lu. 22. 3.

a Lu.4.18. Or, John10.36. to deceive. b ch. 2. 23. ver. 9. & 3. 18.

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 i at the apostles' feet.

CHAP. V.

1 After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife for their hypocrisy at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead, 12 and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles, 14 to the increase of the faith: 17 the apostles are again imprisoned, 19 but deliver ed by an angel bidding them to preach openly to all: 21 when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple, 29 and before the council, 33 they are in danger to be killed, through the advice of Gamaliel, a great counsellor among the Jews, they be kept alive, 40 and are but beaten: for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching.

BUT a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, (his wife also being privy to it,) a and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles'

feet.

c ver. 13,

& 13.46. & 14. 3. & 19. 8. & 26.26. & 28. 31. Ep. 6. 19.

11.

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name off thine holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had pray-dch. 2. 43. John 19. ed, the place was shaken where & 5. 12. they were assembled together; ch. 3. 6, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32 And the multitude of them that believed i 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 m witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and "great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among m ch. 1.22. ver. 5. 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 P And laid them down at the apostles' feet: 9 and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

7 ch. 1. 8.

n ch. 2. 47. o ch. 2. 46.

hver.5.ch. 2.43. & 19. 17.

i ch. 2. 43. p ver. 37. 19. 11. Ro. & 14. 3. & ch. 5. 2. 15.19.2Co. q ch. 2. 45. 12. 12. He. & 6. 1. 12. 4.

6 And the young men arose, e 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 togetherfto 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

CHAP. VI.

The apostles imprisoned. apostles were many signs and A. D. 33. wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man

k ch. 3. 11. & 4. 32.

1 John9.22.

A. D. 33.

z ch. 2. 23, 36. & 3.15.

& 7.52

a Mat. 23.

join himself to them: m but the & 12.42. & 35.&27.25. people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;)

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.

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one.

19.38.

m ch.2 47. & 4. 21.

Or, in every street.

n Mat. 9. 21.&14.36.

ch. 19. 12.

o Ma. 16.

17,18.John

14. 12.

6.

bch. 4. 19.

Gamaliel's counsel.

doctrine, and intend to bring this man's a blood upon us.

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than

men.

30

d ch.10.39. & 13. 29. Ga. 3. 13. 1 Pe. 2. 24. ch. 2. 33, 36. Phi. 2.

9. He.2.10. & 12. 2. fch. 3. 15. Mat. 1.

21.

λ Lu. 24.

p ch. 4. 1,2, 47.ch.3.26. & 13. 38. Ep. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14.

17 TP Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with in- Or, dignation,

187 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

envy. Lu.21.12.

i John 15. 26, 27.

* ch.2.4.& 10. 44.

r ch. 12. 7. ch. 2. 37. & 7.54.

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison-doors, & 16. 26. and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

The Third Year beJohn 6. fore the 68. & 17.3. Account

21 And when they heard that, 1 Jo. 5. 11. called 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.

22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

Or, believed.

n Pr.21.30. Is. 8. 10. Mat.15.13.

Jo Lu 21.15. 1 Co. 1. 25. p ch. 7. 51. &9.5.& 23.

23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest, and the captain of the temple, Lu. 22.4. 9. and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

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

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be fa Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness 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 m 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:

36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as I obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

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: n 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.

1 The apostles, desirous to have the poor regarded for their bodily sustenance, as also careful themselves to dispense the word of God, the food of the soul, 3 appoint the office of deaconship to seven chosen men. 5 of whom Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, is one. 12 Who is taken

a ch. 2. 41.

& 4.4.& 5. 14.& ver.7.

AND in those days, a when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily c ch. 4. 35. ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, dIt 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 business.

b ch. 9. 29. & 11. 20.

dEx.18.17.

e De. 1. 13. ch. 1.21. & 16. 2. 1 Ti. 3.7

4 But we will give ourselves fch. 2. 42. continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

g ch.11.24.

a ch. 22.1.

bGc. 12. 1.

26. & 21. 8. c Ge.11.31. & 12. 4, 5.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, h ch. 8. 5, 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 the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

11 P 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:

i Re. 2. 6, 15.

k ch. 1. 24. 7 ch. 8. 17. & 9. 17. & 13.3.1Ti.4.

14. & 5.22. d Ge. 12.7. 2 Ti. 1. 6. & 13.15. & m ch. 12. 15. 3, 18. & 21.& 19.20. 17. 8. & 26.

Col. 1. 6. 3.
n John 12.
42.

e Ge.15.13, 16.

f Ex. 12. 40.Ga.3.17.

Ex.3. 12.

o Lu. 21. 15.ch.5.39. h Ge. 17. 9,

See Ex. 4. 12. Is. 54. 17. p 1 Ki. 21. 10,13. Mat. 25. 59, Co.

7 ch. 25. 8.

14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall r Da. 9.26. change the customs which Moses delivered us.

15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Or, riles.

Ge. 42. 1.

Ge. 45. 4, 116.

Stephen falsely accused.

CHAP. VII. 1 Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy, 2 sheweth that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers 20 before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built: 37 that Moses himself witnessed of Christ: 44 and that all outward ceremonies were ordained according to the heavenly pattern, to last but for a time: 51 reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, the Just One, whom the prophets foretold should come into the world. 54 Whereupon they stone him to death, who commendeth his soul to Jesus, and humbly prayeth for them.

THEN said the high priest, Are these things so?

2 And he said, a 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, b 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: d 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, e That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evilf 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.

8h And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; kand Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 9 m And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: " but God was with him, 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 p Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction; and our fathers found no suste

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

y Ge.23.16. & 35. 19. Ge.15.13. ver. 6.

a Ex. 1. 7, 8,9. Ps. 105. 24, 25.

ò Ex. 1.22.

c Ex. 2. 2. d He. 11. 23.

Or, fair to God,

m Mat. 22. 32. He. 11. 16.

n Ex. 3. 5. Jos. 5. 15.

o Ex. 3. 7.

p Ex.14.19. Nu. 20. 16.

9 Ex. 12. 41. & 33.1. r Ex 7, & 8, & 9,& 10, & 11,& 14. Ps. 105. 27. Ex.14.21, 27, 25, 29. Ex. 16. 1, $5.

12.

5.

17.

answereth the accusation.

32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

36 He brought them out, after that he had r shewed wonders

and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sen, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel,

A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; 'him shall ye hear.

38 y This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers who received the lively

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood

not.

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

23 Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then fed Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat

Or, Now.

λ Ex. 2.13.

Is. 63. 9. Ga. 3. 19.

He. 2. 2.

a Ex. 21.1.

De. 5. 27,

Joha 1. 17.

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as 31.& 33. 4. for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 41 d And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Ro. 3. 2.

c Ex. 32. 1.

d De. 9. 16. Ps. 106.19. e Ps.81.12. Ez. 20. 25, 39. Ro. 1. 24. 2 Th.2. 11.

ƒ De. 4.19.

& 17.3. 2 Ki. 17. 16.

* Ex. 2.15, 22. & 4.20. & 18. 3, 4.

g Am.5.25, 26.

Or, who spake.

h Ex. 25. 40.& 26.30.

42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship f the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 50 ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and 1 will carry you away beyond Babylon.

44 Our fathers had the taberna. cle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, h that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

45 Which also our fathers, that came after, brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave