| | Saul, breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, sets out for [[Damascus]] to apprehend any Christians whom he may find there. As he drew near to Damascus, the Lord Jesus spoke to him out of the heavens and converted him. [[Paul]] was baptized by Ananias at Damascus, and straightway for some days abided there, preaching in the [[synagogue]]s that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He withdrew into Arabia; again returned to Damascus. It was only after three years that he went up to Jerusalem. At Jerusalem Paul was at first distrusted by the disciples of Jesus; but after [[Barnabas]] narrated to them Paul's marvellous conversion, they received Paul, and he preached boldly in the name of Jesus. | | Saul, breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, sets out for [[Damascus]] to apprehend any Christians whom he may find there. As he drew near to Damascus, the Lord Jesus spoke to him out of the heavens and converted him. [[Paul]] was baptized by Ananias at Damascus, and straightway for some days abided there, preaching in the [[synagogue]]s that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He withdrew into Arabia; again returned to Damascus. It was only after three years that he went up to Jerusalem. At Jerusalem Paul was at first distrusted by the disciples of Jesus; but after [[Barnabas]] narrated to them Paul's marvellous conversion, they received Paul, and he preached boldly in the name of Jesus. |
| − | ==Judea, Samaria and Galilee==Acts then goes on to describe the Church in [[Judea]], [[Samaria]] and [[Galilee]] as "at peace, being builded up, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and by the strength of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied." Peter now goes throughout all parts, comforting the faithful. At Lydda he heals the palsied Aeneas; and at Joppa he raises the pious widow Tabitha (Greek, Dorcas) from the dead. These miracles still more confirm the faith in Jesus Christ. At Joppa Peter has the great vision of the sheet let down from Heaven containing all manner of animals, of which he, being in a trance, is commanded to kill and eat. Peter refuses, on the ground that he cannot eat that which is common and unclean. It is then made known to him by God, that God has cleansed what was before to the Jew unclean. This great vision, revealed three times, was the manifestation of the will of Heaven that the ritual law of the Jews should cease. Henceforth salvation should be offered without distinction to [[Jew]] and [[Goyim|Gentile]]. The meaning of the vision is unfolded to Peter, when he is commanded by an angel to go to Caesarea, to the Gentile centurion Cornelius, whose messengers had even then come to fetch him. He goes, and hears from Cornelius also the centurion's own vision. He preaches to him and to all assembled; the Holy Spirit descends upon them, and Peter commands that they be baptized. Returning to Jerusalem, the Jews contend with Peter that he has gone in to men uncircumcised, and eaten with them. He expounds to them his vision at Joppa, and also the vision of Cornelius, wherein the latter was commanded by an angel to send and fetch Peter from Joppa, that he might receive from Peter the Gospel. The Jews acquiesce, glorifying God, and declaring that "unto the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life." Those who had been scattered abroad from Jerusalem at the time of Stephen's martyrdom had travailed as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch preaching Christ; but they preached to none save the Jews. The calling of the Gentiles was not yet understood by them. But now some converts from Cyprus and Cyrene come up to Antioch, and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. A great number believe, and turn to the Lord. The report of the work at Antioch comes to the ears of the Church in [[Jerusalem]], which sends Barnabas, "a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith," to them. He takes Paul from Tarsus, and they both dwell at Antioch a whole year, and teach many people. The disciples of Christ are called Christians first at Antioch. | + | ==Judea, Samaria and Galilee== |
| | + | Acts then goes on to describe the Church in [[Judea]], [[Samaria]] and [[Galilee]] as "at peace, being builded up, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and by the strength of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied." Peter now goes throughout all parts, comforting the faithful. At Lydda he heals the palsied Aeneas; and at Joppa he raises the pious widow Tabitha (Greek, Dorcas) from the dead. These miracles still more confirm the faith in Jesus Christ. At Joppa Peter has the great vision of the sheet let down from Heaven containing all manner of animals, of which he, being in a trance, is commanded to kill and eat. Peter refuses, on the ground that he cannot eat that which is common and unclean. It is then made known to him by God, that God has cleansed what was before to the Jew unclean. This great vision, revealed three times, was the manifestation of the will of Heaven that the ritual law of the Jews should cease. Henceforth salvation should be offered without distinction to [[Jew]] and [[Goyim|Gentile]]. The meaning of the vision is unfolded to Peter, when he is commanded by an angel to go to Caesarea, to the Gentile centurion Cornelius, whose messengers had even then come to fetch him. He goes, and hears from Cornelius also the centurion's own vision. He preaches to him and to all assembled; the Holy Spirit descends upon them, and Peter commands that they be baptized. Returning to Jerusalem, the Jews contend with Peter that he has gone in to men uncircumcised, and eaten with them. He expounds to them his vision at Joppa, and also the vision of Cornelius, wherein the latter was commanded by an angel to send and fetch Peter from Joppa, that he might receive from Peter the Gospel. The Jews acquiesce, glorifying God, and declaring that "unto the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life." Those who had been scattered abroad from Jerusalem at the time of Stephen's martyrdom had travailed as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch preaching Christ; but they preached to none save the Jews. The calling of the Gentiles was not yet understood by them. But now some converts from Cyprus and Cyrene come up to Antioch, and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. A great number believe, and turn to the Lord. The report of the work at Antioch comes to the ears of the Church in [[Jerusalem]], which sends Barnabas, "a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith," to them. He takes Paul from Tarsus, and they both dwell at Antioch a whole year, and teach many people. The disciples of Christ are called Christians first at Antioch. |
| | The rest of Acts narrates the persecution of the Christians by Herod Agrippa; the mission of Paul and Barnabas from Antioch by the Holy Spirit, to preach to the Gentile nations. The labors of Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus and in Asia Minor and their return to Antioch are described. The journey of Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem and the decision of the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem are told. | | The rest of Acts narrates the persecution of the Christians by Herod Agrippa; the mission of Paul and Barnabas from Antioch by the Holy Spirit, to preach to the Gentile nations. The labors of Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus and in Asia Minor and their return to Antioch are described. The journey of Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem and the decision of the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem are told. |