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But Paul stood up boldly for Christ, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving out of the Scriptures that Jesus was really the Christ.

The Jews then took counsel to kill him, and watched the

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gates day and night lest he should escape. But Paul knew of the plot that was laid against him, and the disciples took him by night and let him down in a basket from the window of the house that was over the wall, and he escaped to Jerusalem unharmed.

At Jerusalem he wanted to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe him to be a true disciple.

But a man named Barnabas told them the story of his miraculous conversion, and how he had seen the Lord and preached the gospel boldly at Damascus. Then they received him, and he preached boldly at Jerusalem also.

But some of the Jews became enraged, and determined to kill him; and when the disciples heard this they sent him to Tarsus.

After this the churches had rest throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.

No one troubled the disciples, and they preached the word in peace and comfort, and multitudes believed.

Peter at this time left Jerusalem to visit the converts in different parts of the country. And he came to Lydda, where he found a man named Æneas, who had been in his bed eight years sick of the palsy. Peter said, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole. Arise and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And many of those living at Lydda and Sharon saw that he was cured and turned to the Lord.

At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Dorcas, who was zealous in good deeds and very kind to the poor. At this time she fell sick and died; and they washed her dead body and laid it in an upper room ready for burial.

And because Lydda was near to Joppa, and the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to bid him make haste and come to them. Peter arose and went with them; and when he was come to the house they brought him into the upper chamber where the body of Dorcas was. And all the poor widows stood by him showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

But Peter put them all out of the room, and kneeled down and prayed, and, turning to the dead body, he said, Dorcas, arise! And she that had been dead opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up; and he took her by the hand; and when he had called those who were in the house he gave her to them alive and well.

This miracle became known throughout all Joppa, and many

believed in Jesus.

And Peter tarried many days in that town

with one Simon the tanner.

CHAPTER XLVI.

CORNELIUS THE CENTURION-PETER'S VISION ON THE HOUSETOP AT JOPPA-HEBREW CHRISTIANS FIND FAULT WITH PETER-BARNABAS AT ANTIOCH-HEROD PERSECUTES THE CHRISTIANS, KILLS JAMES, AND IMPRISONS PETER — THE ANGEL DELIVERS PETER FROM PRISON-DEATH OF HEROD -PAUL HEALS THE CRIPPLE AT LYSTRA-PAUL AND BARNABAS ARE MISTAKEN FOR GODS-PAUL IS STONED, AND LEFT FOR DEAD.

THERE was a beautiful city on the seacoast about thirty miles from Joppa. Cornelius, who was a centurion of the Italian Band in the Roman army, lived here. He was a Gentile and uncircumcised, yet was a devout man and feared God with all his house, gave much alms to the poor, and prayed to God always.

God heard his prayers. And about the ninth hour of the day, or three o'clock, the hour of the evening sacrifice, as he was seeking God by fasting and prayer, he had a vision. An angel of God came to him and said, Cornelius. And when he looked upon him earnestly, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? The angel answered, God has remembered thy prayers and thine alms. Now send men to Joppa for a man named Peter, who is staying with Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside. He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

When the angel was gone Cornelius called two servants of the household and a devout soldier whom he kept near to wait on him. And when he had told him what to do he sent them

to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their journey and drew near to the city, Peter went up to the housetop to pray. It was the sixth hour, which was noon. And while Peter was

engaged in prayer he became very hungry and wanted to eat. But while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and as it were a great sheet knit at the four corners let down to the earth. In it were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things. And there came a voice saying, Rise, Peter, kill and eat.

Now Moses had commanded the Jews to eat only the flesh of certain kinds of animals, and it gave Peter a great shock to be told to eat swine's flesh and foul reptiles. Therefore he said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that was common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done three times, and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

The reason God sent this vision to Peter was to correct some erroneous Jewish notions which he had. One was that the Jewish people were better than any other class of people. They thought they were because God had chosen them to be his people, and they called other nations unclean, and would not have given them the blessings of the gospel.

But God taught Peter by the vision which he had seen that such ideas were utterly wrong. The sheet, with all that was in it, was drawn up to heaven after Peter had seen the vision. Peter was thinking earnestly on the vision when the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. The three men whom Cornelius sent were at the door of Simon's house, and asked if a man named Peter was staying there. And the Spirit said to Peter, Arise, therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, fearing nothing, for I have sent them.

Peter therefore went down to the men and said, Behold, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come? They said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was commanded by a holy angel to send for thee to come to his house that he might be taught the way of God.

Then Peter invited them into the house, and they stayed there all night. And on the morrow he went away with them, and disciples from Joppa accompanied him.

Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited a number of

his relations and intimate friends to be with him when Peter

came.

It was the custom among both Jews and Gentiles to call their friends together if any unusual event was to take place, and Cornelius showed by this act that he was in earnest, and not at all afraid to confess Christ before men. He had been brought up to worship many gods; but as he grew to manhood the light of faith shone in upon him; he cut loose from old ties, saw which was false and which true, and daily sought to live nearer to Him who has said: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Cornelius was in sympathy with the Jews, and adopted some of their customs, and formed the habit of having an hour of prayer. It was while thus engaged that the angel of God spoke to him.

was in constant

We are told that Cornelius feared God. This does not mean that he shrank from him in terror, or dread lest he should provoke him to wrath. The word fear is frequently made use of in the Bible, and from Genesis to Revelation we are taught to fear God and give glory to Him. In many places it should be translated Love. Perfect love casteth out fear; yet where we love most we are most careful not to offend.

It was the wish of Cornelius to be baptized, and to have all his friends share in the blessing he was to receive. And it is said of him that he was the first Pagan-or heathen-baptized by an apostle.

As Peter entered the house Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man like thyself.

Then Peter went in with him and found many persons gathered together; and he said unto them, You know that it is wrong for a Jew to keep company with a man of another nation. But God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean; therefore came I as soon as I was sent for, and would ask for what reason you have sent for me.

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this

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