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Stephen stoned to death. Chap. viii. The church in Samaria.

these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the

city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he feel asleep.

CHAP. VIII. 1 The church planted in Samaria by Philip: 26 he baptizeth the Ethiopian eunuch. AND Saul a was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Jua Saul, the same who is hereafter called Paul.

dea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, & made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling b men and women, committed them to prison.

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,c and preached Christ unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things, which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the iniracles which he did.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many, that were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

b Haling, seizing and dragging.
c Samaria, capital city of the coun-

try of the same name, which was of the ten tribes. After the king of Assyria had conquered and removed the Israelites into captivity, he repeopled the country from Babylon & other places; & sent a Jewish priest to teach them. Their religion there

the residence of the Ephraimites, or

fore became a compound of Judaism and idolatry, and the people at length pretended to deduce their origin from the patriarchs. Hence the saying of the Samaritan woman, John iv, 20, on which see note d.

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9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery,d and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out, that himself was some great

one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles, which were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

d Sorcery, magic or enchantment.

Of Philip and

18 And when Simon saw, that through laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee; because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things, which ye have spoken,

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the eunuch.

Chap. ix.

pia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and, sitting in his chariot, read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, exeept some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this; He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;e and, like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth :

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away; and who shall declare his generation ? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

e He was led, &c. See Isaiah, liii.

8.

The eunuch baptized.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered, and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus; and, passing through, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.ƒ

CHAP. IX.

1 Saul, going toward Damascus, is called to the apostleship; 18 is baptized by Ananias, 20 and boldly preacheth Christ.

AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the

f Casarea (of Palæstine) one of the principal cities of Samaria, situated

on the coast of the Mediterranean sea; about 52 miles and a little to the west of north from Jerusalem, Here Herod Agrippa was smitten with a fatal disease; here Cornelius and Philip resided, and here Paul was confined two years before he was sent to Rome,

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Lord,went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters a to Damascus b to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.c 6 And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which jour

a Letters of license or permission. b Damascus. A very ancient and noted city, the metropolis of Syria. It was situated in a pleasant plain between mount Lebanon on the west, and mount Hermon on the south,

about 160 miles north east of Jerusa

lem. It is remarkable for its numerous revolutions, and for being the place, whither St. Paul was going, when miraculously converted.

c It is hard for thee to kick against the sharp points or goads, or in other words, to fight against me and my religion, when without injuring my cause you endanger your own soul.

Damascus.

neyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananías; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath anthority from the chief priests, to bind all that call on thy

name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vesseld unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles,e

d Vessel, servant or minister.
e Gentiles, heathen nations.

Saul is baptized :

Chap. ix.

and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and, putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way, as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them, which called on this name f in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests ?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.g

f This name, the name of Jesus. g That Jesus is the very Christ, the Messiah.

he preacheth Christ. 23¶And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 But their laying await was known of Saul; and they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem h he assayed to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them, how he had seen the Lord in the way, & that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians; but they went about to slay him.

30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.i

b From Paul's conversion till the

time he here visits Jerusalem, it was more than three years.

17, 18.

See Gal. i.

i Tarsus, one of the principal cities in Cilicia. It was rich and populous, and noted for its schools of literature and philosophy. Here Paul was born of Jewish parents, but was at the same time a Roman citizen from

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