A   In þe; former treatyse (Deare Theophyl&us;) we haue spoken of all that Iesus beg&abar;ne to do and teache, vntyll the daye &ibar; which he was tak&ebar; vp, after that he, thorow the holy goost, had geu&ebar; c&obar;maundem&ebar;tes vnto the Apostles, whom he had chosen: to whom also he ^note shewed hym selfe alyue after hys passion (and that by many tokens) appearynge vnto them fourtye dayes, and speakynge of the kyngdome of God, and gathered them together, ^note and c&obar;maunded them, that they shulde not departe from Ierusal&ebar;: but to wayte for the promys of the father ^note wherof (sayeth he) ye haue hearde of me. For ^note Iohn truly baptysed with water, but ye shalbe baptysed with the holy goost after these feawe dayes. Wh&ebar; they therfore were come together, they asked of him, sayinge: Lorde, wilt thou at this tyme, restore agayne the kyngdome to Israel? And he sayde vnto them: ^note It is not for you to knowe the tymes, or the seasons, which the father hath put &ibar; his awne power: but ^note ye shal receaue power after that the holy goost is come vpon you. And ^note ye shalbe witnesses vnto me not onely in Ierusalem, but also in all Iewry and in Samary, and euen vnto the worldes ende.

B   And when he had spoken these thynges, whyle they beheld, ^note he was tak&ebar; vp an hye, ∧ a cloude receaued him vp out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly vp towarde heau&ebar;, as he went, beholde, two men stode by them in whyte apparell, which also sayd: ye men of Galile, why stande ye gasynge vp into heauen? This same Iesus which is taken vp from you into heau&ebar;, ^note shall so come, euen as ye haue sene h&ibar; go into heau&ebar;. &cross3; Then returned they vnto Ierusalem from þe; mount (that is called Olyuete) which is fr&obar; Ierusal&ebar;, a Saboth dayes iorney. And wh&ebar; they were come in, they went vp into a parler, where aboade both ^note Peter and Iames, and Iohn and Andrew, Philip ∧ Thomas, Barthelemew &abar;d Mathew, Iames þe; sonne of Alpheus, and Sim&obar; Zelotes, and Iudas the brother of Iames. These all contynued with one accorde in prayer and supplicacyon with the wemen ∧ Mary þe; mother of Iesu, and with hys brethren.

C   &cross2; And in those dayes Peter stode vp in the myddes of the discyples, and sayde (the

nombre of names that were together, were aboute an hundred and twentye.) Ye men ∧ brethren, thys scripture must haue nedes b&ebar; fulfylled, which the holy goost thorowe the mouth of Dauid spake before of Iudas, ^note which was gyde to them that toke Iesus. ^noteFor he was no&ubar;bred with vs, and had obtayned felowshypp in thys mynystracyon. And the same hath now possessed a plat of grounde with the rewarde of iniquite: and when he was ^note hanged, he burst a sondre in the myddes, and all his bowels gusshed out. And it is knowen vnto all the inhabiters of Ierusalem: in so moch that the same felde is called in their mother t&obar;ge, Acheldama, that is to saye, the bloude felde.

For it is wrytten in þe; boke of Psalmes: ^note hys habitacyon be voyde, and no man be dwellynge therin: ^note and his Bysshoprycke let another take. D   Wherfore of these m&ebar; which haue companyed with vs (all the tyme that the Lorde Iesus had all hys conuersacyon amonge vs, begynnynge at the baptyme of Iohn, vnto that same daye that he was tak&ebar; vp from vs) must one be ordeyned, to be a witnes with vs of hys resurreccyon.

And they apoynted two, Ioseph which is called Barsabas (whose syr name was Iustus) and Mathias, And whan they prayed they sayde: thou Lorde, which ^note knowest the hertes of all m&ebar;, shewe whether of these two thou hast chosen: that he maye take the roume of thys ministracyon and Apostleshypp, from which Iudas by transgressyon fell, that he myght go to hys awne place. And they gaue forth their lottes, and the lot fel on Mathias, and he was counted with the eleuen Apostles. ¶ The .ij. Chapter. &cross2; ¶ The c&obar;myng of the holy goost. The sermon of Peter before the congregacyon at Ierusalem, and the increace of the faythfull.

A   When ^note the fyftye dayes were come to an ende, they were all with one accorde together in one place. And sodenly ther came a sounde from heau&ebar;, as it had bene the commynge of a myghty wynde, and it fylled all the house where they sate. And there appered vnto them clouen tonges, lyke as they had bene of fyer, and it sate vpon eache one of them: ^note and they were all fylled with the holy goost, and beganne to speake with other tonges, euen as the same sprete gaue them vtteraunce.

Ther were dwellyng at Ierusal&ebar;, Iewes, deuoute men, out of euery nacyon of th&ebar; that are vnder heauen. When thys was noysed aboute, the multitude came together, ∧ were ast&obar;nyed, because that euery man hearde th&ebar; speake with his awne langage. They wondred all, and marueyled, sayinge among th&ebar; selues: beholde, are not all these which speake, of Galile? B   And how heare we euery man his awne tong, wherin we were borne? Parthi&abar;s, and Medes and Elamytes, and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, and of Iury, and of Capadocia, of Ponthus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, of Egypte, and of the partyes of Lybia which is besyd? Syren, &abar;d straungers of Rome, Iewes ∧ &rhand; ^note Proselites. Grekes and Arabians: we haue herd them speake in oure awne tonges the greate worckes of God. &cross3; They were all amased, and wondred sayinge one to another: what meaneth this? Other mocked, sayinge: these men are full of new wyne.

C   &cross2; But Peter stepped forth with þe; eleu&ebar;, and lyft vp his voyce, and sayde vnto them: Ye men of Iewrye, and all ye that dwell at Ierusalem: be this know&ebar; vnto you, ∧ with youre eares heare my wordes. For these are not droncken, as ye suppose, seynge it is but þe; thyrde houre of the daye. But this it that which was spoken by the Prophete Iohel: And it shalbe in the last dayes, sayth God: of my sprete I wyll poore out vpon all flesshe. ^noteAnd youre sonnes ∧ youre daughters shall prophesy, and youre yonge men shall se vysyons, and youre olde men shall dreame dreames. And on my seruauntes, ∧ on my hande maydens I wyll poore out of my sprete in those dayes, and they shall prophesye. And ^note I wyll shewe wonders in heauen aboue, and tokens in the erth beneth, bloud and fyre and the vapour of smoke. The sunne shalbe turned into darcknes, ∧ the moone into bloude, before that great and notable daye of the Lorde come. And it shall come to passe, that ^note whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lorde, shalbe saued. &cross3;

D   &cross2; Ye men of Israel, heare these wordes: Iesus of Nazareth a man aproued of God amonge you with myracles, wonders and sygnes, which God dyd by hym in the myddes of you (as ye youre selues knowe) hym haue ye taken by the h&abar;des of vnryghtewes persones, after he was delyuered by the determinat counsell ∧ foreknowledge of God, ∧ haue crucifyed and slayne him: whom God hath raysed vp, ∧ loosed þe; sorowes of deeth, because it was vnpossible, þt; he shulde be hold&ebar; of it. For Dauid speaketh of him. ^noteA fore hande I sawe God alwayes before me: for he is on my ryght hande, that I shulde not be moued. Therfore dyd my hert reioyce, ∧ my tonge was glad. Moreouer also my flesshe shall rest in hope, because thou wilt not leaue my soule in hell, nether wilt thou suffre thine holye to se corrupcion. Thou hast shewed me the wayes of lyfe, thou shalt make me full of ioye with thy countenaunce. &cross3;

E   Ye men and brethren, let me frely speake vnto you of the patriarke Dauid: ^note For he

is both deed and buryed, &abar;d hys sepulchre remayneth with vs vnto this daye. Therfore, seinge he was a Prophet, and knewe þt; God had sworne with an othe to him, that Christ (as concerninge the flessh) shulde come of the frute of his loynes, and on hys seat, he knowyng this before, spake of the resurreccyon of Chryst, that his soule shulde not be left in hell: nether hys flesshe shulde se corrupcyon. This Iesus hath God raysed vp, ^note wherof we all are witnesses.

Sence now that he by the ryght hande of God exalted is, and hath receaued of the father the promyse of the holy Goost, F   he hath sheed forth thys (gyfte) which ye now se &abar;d heare. For Dauid is not ascendyd into heu&ebar;: but he sayeth: ^note The Lord sayde to my Lorde: syt thou on my ryght hand, vntyll I make thy fooes thy fote stole. So therfore, let all the house of Israel knowe for a suerty, þt; God hath made that same Iesus (whom ye haue crucified) Lorde and Chryst.

When they hearde this, they were pricked in their hertes, and sayd vnto Peter, ∧ vnto the other Apostles: Ye m&ebar; ∧ brethr&ebar; ^note what shall we do? Peter sayde vnto them: repent of youre synnes, and be baptysed euery one of you in the name of Iesus Chryst for the remission of synnes, and ye shall receaue the gyfte of þe; holy goost. For the promyse was made vnto you &abar;d to youre chyldren, and to all that are a farre of, euen as many as the Lorde oure God shall call. And with many other wordes bare he witnes, and exhorted them, sayinge: Saue youre selues from this vntowarde generacion. Then they þt; gladly receaued his preachinge, were baptised: and the same daye, ther were added vnto them aboute thre thousande soules.

G   And they c&obar;tinued in the Apostles doctrine and felowshyp, ∧ in breakynge of bread, &abar;d in prayers. And feare came ouer euery soule. And many w&obar;dres ∧ signes were shewed by þe; Apostles. (at Ierusalem. And great feare came vpon all men) And all that beleued, kept them selues together, ∧ had all thynges c&obar;men, and solde their possessions and goodes, &abar;d parted them to all men, as euery man had nede. And they continued dayly with one accorde in þe; t&ebar;ple, ∧ brake bread fr&obar; house to house, ∧ dyd eate their meate together, &wt; gladnes ∧ singlenes of hert, praysinge God, &abar;d had fauour with all the people. And the Lorde added to þe; c&obar;gregacion dayly, soch as shulde be saued. ¶ The .iij. Chapter. &cross2; ¶ The halt is restored to hys fete. Peter preacheth Chryst vnto the people.

A   Peter and Iohn went vp together into the temple at the nynth houre of prayer. And a certayne man that was halt from hys mothers w&obar;be, was brought, whom they layde daylie at the gate of the temple (which is called bewtyfull) to aske almes of them that entred into the t&ebar;ple. When he sawe Peter and Iohn, that they wolde into the t&ebar;ple, he desyred to receaue an almes. And Peter fastened his eyes on him with Iohn, ∧ sayd: loke on vs. And he gaue hede vnto th&ebar;, trustynge, to receaue some thynge of them. Th&ebar; sayde Peter: Syluer and golde haue I none such as I haue, geue I the. B   In the name of Iesus Chryst of Nazareth, ^note ryse vp and walke. And he toke hym by the ryght hand, and lyfte hym vp. And immediatly hys fete and anclebones receaued strength. And he sprange, stode, and walked, and entred with them into the temple, walkynge, and leapynge, and praysynge God.

And all the people sawe hym walke and prayse God. And they knewe hym, þt; it was he, which sate and begged at the beutyfull gate of the temple. And they wondred and were sore astonyed at that which had happened vnto hym. And as the halt which was healed, helde Peter and Iohn, all the people ranne amased vnto th&ebar; in ^note the porche that is called Salomons.

C   When Peter sawe that, he answered vnto the people. &cross2; Ye men of Isral, why maruayle ye at this, or why loke ye so on vs, as though by oure awne power or strength we had made thys man go? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac and of Iacob, the God of oure fathers hath glorified hys sonne Iesus, whom ye delyuered, ^note and denyed in þe; presence of Pylate, when he had iudged hym to be loosed. But ye denyed the holy and iust, ^note and desyred a mortherar to be geuen you, and kylled ^note the Lorde of lyfe, whom God hath raysed from deeth, of the which we are witnesses. And hys name thorowe the fayth of his name, hath made this m&abar; sound, wh&obar; ye se and knowe. And the fayth which is by hym, hath geuen to hym thys health in the presence of you all.

And now brethr&ebar;, I wote þt; thorow ignoraunce ye dyd it, as dyd also youre rulers. But God (which before had shewed, by the mouth of all hys Prophetes, howe þt; Chryst shuld suffre) hath thus wyse fulfylled. D   Let it ^note repente you therfore, and c&obar;uerte, þt; youre synnes maye be done awaye &cross2; when þe; tyme of refresshynge commeth, which we shall haue of the presence of the Lorde, and when God shal sende him, which before was preached vnto you, that is to with Iesus Christ, which must receaue heauen vntyll the tyme that all thynges, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all hys holy Prophetes sence þe; worlde began, be restored agayne.

Moses trulye sayde vnto the fathers: ^note a Prophet shall the Lorde youre God rayse vp vnto you, eu&ebar; of youre brethr&ebar; lyke vnto

me: him shall ye heare, in all thynges whatsoeuer he shall saye vnto you. For the tyme wyll come, that euery soule which wyll not heare that same Prophet, shalbe destroyed from amonge the people. All the Prophetes also from Samuel and thence forth (as many as haue spok&ebar;) haue in lyke wyse tolde of these dayes.

Ye are the chyldren of the Prophetes, and of the couenaunt, which God made vnto oure fathers, sayinge to Abraham: ^note Euen in thy seede shal all the kynredes of the earth be blessed. Fyrst whan God had raysed vp hys sonne Iesus vnto you, he sent h&ibar; to blesse you, that euery one of you shulde turne from his wyckednes. &cross3; ¶ The .iiij. Chapter. ¶ The Apostles are taken and brought before the councell. They are forbydden to preache, but they turne them vnto prayer, and are more obedient vnto God then vnto men.

A   As they spake vnto the people, the prestes and the rulars of the temple, and the Saduces, came vpon th&ebar;, takyng it greuously, that they taught the people, and preached in Iesus the resurreccyon from deeth. And they layde h&abar;des on them, and put them in holde vntyll þe; nexte daye: for it was now euentyde. Howbeit many of them which hearde the wordes beleued, and the nombre of the men was aboute fyue thousande.

And it chaunsed on the morow, that their rulars and elders and Scribes, (and Annas the chefe Prest, and Cayphas, and Iohn, &abar;d Alex&abar;der, ∧ as many as were of þe; kynred of þe; hye Prestes) gathered together at Ierusalem. B   And wh&abar; they had set them before them they asked ^note by what power, or in what name haue ye done this? &cross2;

Then Peter full of þe; holy goost sayde vnto th&ebar; ye rulars of the people, and elders of Israel, yf we this daye be examined of the good dede that we haue done to the sycke m&abar; by what meanes he is made whoale: be it knowen vnto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of ^note Iesus Chryst of Nazareth, whom ye crucyfyed, whom God raysed agayne from deeth: euen by him doth this m&abar; stande here present before you whoale. ^noteThis is the stone which was cast asyde of you buylders, which is become the chefe of the corner. Nether is there saluacyon in eny other. ^note C   For amonge men vnder heauen there is geuen none other name, wherin we must be saued. &cross3;

When they sawe the boldnes of Peter &abar;d Iohn, and vnderstode that they were vnlerned and laye men, they marueyled, and they knewe them, that they had bene with Iesu: and beholdynge also the man (which was healed) standynge with th&ebar;, they coulde not saye agaynst it: but commaunded them to go asyde out of þe; counsell, and counceled am&obar;ge them selues, sayinge: ^note what shall we do to these men? For a manifest sygne is done by them, and is openly knowen to all them that dwell in Ierusalem, and we cannot denye it. But that it be noysed no farther amonge the people, let vs threaten and charge th&ebar;, þt; they speake hence forth to no man in thys name.

D   And they called them, ^note and comma&ubar;ded them, that in no wyse they shulde speake ner teach in þe; name of Iesu. But Peter ∧ Iohn answered and sayde vnto them: whether it be ryght in þe; sight of God, to herk&ebar; vnto you more then to God, iudge ye. For we cannot but speake, that which we haue sene ∧ heard. So threatened they them, and let them go, and founde nothynge howe to punysshe th&ebar;, because of the people. For all men praysed God because of ^note þt; which was done: for the man was aboue fourty yeare olde, on whom thys myracle of healynge was shewed.

E   Assone as they were let go, they came to theyr felowes, and shewed all that the hye Prestes &abar;d elders had sayde. And when they hearde þt;, they lyfte vp their voyces to God with one accorde, and sayde: Lorde, thou art God, which hast made heauen and erth, the see, ∧ all that in th&ebar; is, which (in the holy goost) by þe; mouth of thy serua&ubar;t Dauid (oure father) hast sayd: ^note Why dyd the heth&ebar; rage, and the people ymagen vayne thynges? The kynges of the erth stode vp, and the rulars came together, agaynst the Lorde and agaynst hys anoynted.

For of a trueth, agaynst thy holy chylde Iesus (whom þu; hast anoynted) both Herode and also Poncius Pylate, which the G&ebar;tyls and the people of Israel, gathered them selues together (in thys cyte) for to do whatsoeuer F    thy hande and thy counsell determyned before to be done. And now Lorde, beholde their threatenynges, and graunte vnto thy seruauntes, that with all confydence they maye speake thy worde. So that thou stretche forth thyne hande, that healynge &abar;d sygnes and wonders be done by the name of thy holy chylde Iesus. And assone as they had prayed ^note þe; place moued where they were assembled together ^note and they were all fylled with the holy Goost, and they spake the worde of God boldely.

G   &cross2; And the multitude of them that beleued, ^note were of one hert, ∧ of one soule. Neyther sayde anye of them, that ought of the thynges which he possessed, was hys awne: but they had all thinges commen. And with greate power gaue the Apostles wytnes of the resurrecyon of the Lord Iesu. And great grace was with them all. Nether was ther eny among them, that lacked. For as many as were possessers of landes or houses, solde them, and brought þe; pryce of þe; thinges that

were solde, &abar;d layed it downe at þe; Apostles fete: And distribucion was made vnto euery man accordynge as he had nede. &cross3;

And ^note Ioses, which was also called of þe; Apostles, Barnabas (that is to saye, þe; sonne of consolacyon) beynge a Leuite, and of the countre of Cypers whan he had lande, solde it, and layde the pryce downe at the Apostles fete. ¶ The .v. Chapter. ¶ The dyssemblyinge of Ananias and Saphyra is punyshed. Myracles are done by the Apostles, which are taken, but the angell of God bryngeth them out of preson. They are brought before the councell. The sentence of Gamaliel. The Apostles are bet&ebar;, they reioyse in trouble.

A   A certayne man named Ananias with Saphyra his wyfe solde a possession, &abar;d kepte awaye parte of the pryce (hys wyfe also beynge of counsell) and brought a certayne parte, and layde it downe at the Apostles fete. But Peter sayde: Ananias, how is it, that Sathan hath fylled thyne hert, that thou shuldest lye vnto the holy goost, and kepe awaye parte of the pryce of the lande? Pertayned it not vnto the onely? ∧ after it was solde, was it not in thyne awne power? Why hast thou conceaued this thinge in thyne herte? Thou hast not lyed vnto m&ebar;, but vnto God. Wh&ebar; Ananias herde these wordes, he fell downe, and gaue vp the goost. And great feare came on all them that hearde these thinges. And the yonge men rose vp, and put hym a parte, &abar;d caryed hym out, and buried hym.

B   And it fortuned, that (as it were aboute the space of thre houres after) his wyfe came in, ignoraunt of that which was done. And Peter sayde vnto her: Tell me, Solde ye not þe; l&abar;de for so moch? And she sayd: yee, for so moch. Then Peter sayde vnto her: why haue ye agreed together, to t&ebar;pt the sprete of þe; Lorde? Beholde, the fete of them which haue buried thy husband, are at the dore, and shall cary the out. Then fell she downe strayght waye at his fete, and yelded vp þe; goost. And the yonge men came in, and founde her deed, ∧ caryed her out, ∧ buryed her by her husbande. And great feare came on all the congregacyon, and on as many as hearde it.

C   By þe; handes of the Apostles ^note were many sygnes and wondres shewed among the people. And they were all together with one accorde in ^note Salomons porche. And of other durst no m&abar; ioyne him self to th&ebar;: neuertheles the people magnified them. The nombred of them that beleued in the Lorde both of men and wemen, grewe more ∧ moare: in so moch þt; they brought the sycke into the stretes, and layde them on beddes and couches, that at the least waye the shadowe of Peter when he came by, myght shadowe some of them, (and that they myght all be delyuered fr&obar; their infirmytyes) There came also a multitude out of the cyties rounde aboute, D   vnto Ierusalem, bryngynge sycke folkes, and them which were vexed with vnclene spretes. And they were healed euery one.

^noteThen the chefe Preste rose vp, and all they that were with him (which is the secte of the Saduces) &abar;d were full of indignaci&obar;, and layde handes on the Apostles, and put them in the comm&ebar; preson. ^noteBut the angell of the Lorde by nyght opened the preson dores, and brought them forth, and sayde: go, and stande, and speake in the temple to the people all þe; wordes of this lyfe. When they hearde that, they entred into the t&ebar;ple early in the mornynge: and taught. But the chefe preste came and they that were with him, &abar;d called a counsell together, and all the elders of the chyldren of Israel, and sent men to the preson, to fet them. When the mynysters came, and founde them not in the preson, they returned and tolde, sayinge: the preson truly founde we shut with all dilig&ebar;ce, and the kepers standynge without before the dores. But wh&ebar; we had opened, we founde no m&abar; with in. E   When the chefe Prest and the ruler of the t&ebar;ple, and the hye Prestes hearde these thynges, they douted of th&ebar;, wher vnto thys wolde growe.

Then came one and shewed them: beholde, the men that ye put in preson, stande in the temple, and teach the people: Then went the ruler of the temple, with ministres, and brought them without vyolence. For they feared the people, lest they shulde haue bene stoned. And when they had brought them, they set th&ebar; before the counsell. And the chefe Preste asked them, sayinge: ^note dyd not we straytely commaunde you: that ye shuld not teach in this name? And behold, ye haue fylled Ierusalem with youre doctryne, and intende to brynge ^note this mans bloud vp&obar; vs.

F   Peter and the other Apostles answered, ∧ sayde: ^note We ought more to obey God then m&ebar;. The God of oure fathers raysed vp Iesus, whom ye slewe, and hanged on tre. Hym hath God lyft vp with his ryght hand, to be a ruler and a sauiour, for to geue repenta&ubar;ce to Israel, and forgeuenes of synnes. And we are recordes of these thinges which we saye, and so is also þe; holy goost, whom God hath geuen to them þt; obey him. Wh&ebar; they hearde that, they claue asunder, and sought meanes to slee them. Then stode ther vp one in the counsell, a Pharysey, named ^note Gamaliel, a doctoure of lawe (had in reputacyon among all the people) and commaunded þe; Apostles to go asyde a lytell space, and sayd vnto th&ebar;: ye men of Israel, take hede to youre selues, what ye entende to do, as touchynge these m&ebar;. For before these dayes rose vp one Thudas, boastynge hym selfe, G   to wh&obar; resorted a

nombre of men, about a foure h&obar;dred, which was slayn: and they all which beleued hym. were scatred abrode, and brought to nought After this m&abar;, was ther one Iudas of ^note Galile in the dayes of the tribute, and drewe awaye moche people after hym. He also perisshed and all, euen (as many as harkened to him) were scatered abrode.

And now I saye vnto you: refraine your selues from these men, and lett them alone. For yf this councel or this worke be of men, it wyll come to naught. But and yf it be of God, ye cannot destroye it, lest haply ye be founde to stryue agaynst God. And to hym agreed the other: and whan they had called the apostles, they bet them, ^note and comma&ubar;ded that they shulde not speake in the name of Iesu, and let them go.

And they departed from the co&ubar;sell, I reioysinge, that they were counted worthy, to suffre rebuke for his name. ^note And dayly in the temple and in euery house they ceased not, to teach and preach Iesus Christ. ¶ The .vj. Chapter. ¶ Minysters (or deacons) are ordeyned in the congregacion to do seruyce in necessary thynges of the body, that the apostles maye wayte onely vp&obar; the worde of God. Steuen is accused.

A   In those dayes (wh&abar; the nomber of the discyples grewe) there arose a grudge amonge the Grekes aga&ibar;st the Hebrues, because their weddowes were despysed &rhand; in the dayly ministracyon. Then the twelue called the multitude of the disciples together and sayde, it is not mete, that we shuld leaue the worde of God: and serue tables. Wherfore brethren, loke ye out amonge you seuen men ^note of honeste report, and full of the holy ghost and wisdom, to whom we maye committe this busynes. B   But we wyll geue oure selues c&obar;tinually to prayer, and to the ministracy&obar; of the worde. And the sayinge pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Steuen a m&abar; full of faith and of the holy ghost, and Philip, and Procorus, and Nichanor, and Timon, and Permenas, and ^note Nicolas a c&obar;uert of Antioche. These they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they ^note layde theyr handes on them.

And the word of God encreased, and the nomber of the disciples multiplyed in Ierusalem greatly, and a greate companye of the prestes were obedient to the fayth.

C   &cross2; And Steuen, full of fayth and power, dyd great wondres and miracles am&obar;ge the people. Then ther arose certen of the Synagoges, which is called the Synagoge of the Libertynes and Sirenytes, and of Alexandria, and of Celicia, and of Asia, disputynge with Steuen. ^noteAnd they coulde not resyste the wisdome, ∧ the sprete, ^note which spake. &cross3;

Then sent they in men, which sayde: we haue hearde hym speake blasphemous wordes against Moses, and agaynst God. And they moued the people &abar;d the elders and the scribes: and came vp&obar; him and caught hym, and brought him to the co&ubar;cell, D   and brought forth false witnesse, which sayde: Thys man ceaseth not to speake blasphemous wordes against this holy place and the lawe: for we heard him saye: this Iesus of Nazareth shal destroye this place, and shal chaunge the ordinaunces, which Moses gaue vs. And all that sate in the counsell, loked stedfastly on him, and sawe his face as it had bene the face of an aungell. ¶ The .vij. Chapter. ¶ Steuen maketh answere to hys accusacyon, rebuketh the hardnecked Iewes, and is stoned vnto death.

A   Then sayd the chefe preste: is it eu&ebar; so? And he sayd: ye men, brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared vnto our father Abraham, whan he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and sayd vnto hym: ^note Get the out of thy countre, and from thy kynred, and come into þe; land, which I shall shewe þe;. Then came he out of the l&abar;de of Chalde, and dwelt in Charran. And from thence, whan hys father was deed, he brought him into this l&abar;de in which ye now dwel, and he gaue hym none inheritaunce in it, no not the bredeth of a fote: ^note and promysed that he wold geue it to him to possesse ∧ to his seed after hym, when as yet he had no chylde.

God verely spake on thys wise ^note that his seade shulde sogeourne in a straunge lande, ∧ that they shulde kepe them in bondage, and ^note entreate them euell .iiij.C. yeares. And the nacyon (to whom they shalbe in bondage) will I iudge, sayd God. B   And after that shal they come forth and serue me in thys place. ^noteAnd he gaue him the couenaunt of circuncisyon. ^noteAnd he begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eight daye, &abar;d ^note Isaac begat Iacob, and ^note Iacob begat the twelue patriarckes. ^noteAnd the patriarkes hauing indygnacyon solde Ioseph into Egypte. And God was with hym, and delyuered hym out of al his aduersities, and gaue him fauour ∧ wysdome in the syght of Pharao kynge of Egypte. And he ^note made hym gouernoure ouer Egypte, and ouer all hys housholde.

^noteBut ther came a derth ouer all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great afflyccion that our fathers fo&ubar;de no sustenaunce. But when Iacob hearde that there was corne in Egypt he sent our fathers first. ^noteAnd at the second tyme, Ioseph was know&ebar; of his brethren, ∧ Iosephs kynred was made knowne vnto Pharao. Then sent Ioseph a message, and caused hys father to be brought, and all his kynne .lxxv. &rhand; soules. ^noteAnd Iacob descended into Egypte ^note and dyed both he and

oure fathers, and were caryed ouer into Sichem, and layde in the sepulchre, ^note that Abraham bought for money of þe; s&obar;nes of Emor, &rhand; the sonne of Sichem.

C   But when the tyme of the promesse drue nye (which God had sworne to Abrah&abar;) ^note þe; people grewe ∧ multiplyed in Egipt, tyll another kyng arose which knewe not of Ioseph. The same dealt suttely with oure kinred, and euyll intreated our fathers, and made them cast out their yonge chyldren, that they shulde not remayne alyue. ^noteThe same tyme was Moses borne, and was acceptable vnto God, and nourysshed vp in hys fathers house thre monethes. Wh&ebar; he was cast out, Pharoes daughter toke him vp, ∧ nourysshed hym vp for her awne sonne. And Moses was learned in all maner wysdome of the Egypcians, and was mighty in dedes and in wordes.

And whan he was full fourty yere old, it came into his hert, to vyset hys brethren the chyldren of Israell. And wh&ebar; he sawe one of them suffre wrong, he defended him, ∧ auenged hys quarell that had the harme done to him, and smote the Egypcian. For he supposed hys brethren wolde haue vnderstande, how that God by hys hande shulde delyuer them. But they vnderstode not.

D   And the next daye he shewed him self vnto them as they stroue, and wolde haue sett them at one agayne, sayinge: Syrs, ye are brethr&ebar;, why hurte ye one another? But he þt; dyd hys neyghboure wronge, thrust hym awaye, sayinge: ^note who made the a ruler and a iudge ouer vs? wilt thou kyll me, as thou dydest the Egypci&abar; yesterdaye? ^noteThen fleed Moses at that saying, and was a straunger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sonnes.

^noteAnd whan fourty yeares were expired, there appeared to hym in the wildernesse of mount Sina an angell of the Lord in a fl&abar;me of fyre in a busshe. When Moses sawe it, he wondred at the syght. And as he drue neare to beholde, the voyce of the Lord came vnto hym. ^noteI am the God of thy fathers, þe; God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. Moses trembled, and durst not beholde. Th&ebar; sayd þe; Lorde to him: ^note Put of thy shoes fr&obar; thy fete, for the place where thou standest, is holy grounde. I haue perfectlye sene the affliccyon of my people, which is in Egypte, and I haue heard theyr gronyng, &abar;d am come downe to delyuer th&ebar;. And nowe come, and I wyll sende the into Egypte.

E   This Moses wh&obar; they forsoke (saying: ^note who made the a ruler and a iudge?) the same dyd God sende to be a ruler and a delyuerer, by the handes of the aungell which appeared to hym in the busshe. And the same brought them out, shewynge wondres and signes in Egypt, and in the red see, and in the wyldernes fourty yeres. Thys is that Moses, which sayde vnto the children of Israel: ^note A prophete shall the Lord your God rayse vp vnto you of your brethren, like vnto me, him shall ye heare.

This is he ^note that was in the congregaci&obar;, in the wildernes with the angel (which spake to hym in the mount Sina) and with our fathers. This man receaued the word of life to geue vnto vs, to whom our fathers wold not obey, but cast it from them, and in theyr hertes turned backe agayne into Egypt, sayinge vnto Aaron: ^note make vs goddes to go before vs. For as for thys Moses þt; brought vs out of the lande of Egypte, we wote not what is become of hym. And they made a calfe in those dayes, and offered sacrifyce vnto the ymage, and reioysed ouer the workes of theyr awne handes.

F   Then God turned hym selfe, and ^note gaue them vp, that they shulde worshyp the hoost of the skye, as it is writt&ebar; in the booke of the prophetes. ^noteO ye of the house of Israel, gaue ye to me sacrifyces and meate offerynges by the space of fourty yeares in the wyldernes? And ye toke vnto you the tabernacle of &rhand; Moloch, and the starre of youre God Rempham, fygures which ye made to worshyp them. And I will translate you bey&obar;de Babylon.

Oure fathers had the tabernacle of witnes in the wyldernesse, as he had appoynted them speakyng vnto Moses: ^note that he shulde make it, according to the fassyon that he had sene. Which tabernacle also oure fathers that cam after, ^note brought in with Iosue into the possession of the Gentyls, whom God draue out before the face of oure fathers, vnto the tyme of Dauid: ^note which founde fauoure before God, and wold fayne haue founde a tabernacle for the God of Iacob. ^noteBut Salomon bylt him an house.

^noteHowbeit he that is hyest of al, dwelleth not in t&ebar;ples made with handes, as sayth the prophete: ^note heauen is my seate, and earth is my fote stole. What house wyll ye bylde for me, sayth þe; Lorde? or which is þe; place of my rest: hath not my h&abar;d made al these thinges?

G   Ye stiffenecked and of vncircumcised hertes and eares: &rhand; ye haue allwayes resysted the holy ghost: ^note as youre fathers dyd, so do ye. Which of the prophetes haue not your fathers persecuted? And they haue slaine them which shewed before of the comming of that Iust, whom ye haue nowe betrayd, &abar;d murdred. And ye also haue receaued þe; lawe ^note by the minystracyon of aungels, and ^note haue not kept it.

&cross2; When they heard these thinges, theyr hertes claue asunder, and they gnasshed on

him with theyr teth. But he beyng ful of the holy ghost, loked vp stedfastlye &wt; hys eyes into heau&ebar;, and sawe the glorye of God, and Iesus standyng on the ryght hande of God, and sayd: beholde, I se the heauens open, and the sonne of man standyng on the right hand of God. Then they gaue a shout with a loud voyce, and ^note stopped theyr eares, and ranne vpon him all at once, and cast hym out of the cytie, and ^note stoned him. And the witnes layd downe theyr clothes at a yong mannes fete, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Steu&ebar; callynge on and sayinge: Lorde Iesu, ^note receaue my sprete. And he kneled downe ∧ cryed with a loude voyce: Lorde, ^note laye not thys synne to theyr charge. And wh&ebar; he had thus spoken, he fell a slepe. &cross3; ¶ The .viij. Chapter. ¶ Saul persecuteth the Chrysten. The apostles are scatred abrode. Philip commeth into Samaria. Simon Magus is baptysed, he dyssembleth. Philip baptyseth the chamberlayn.

A   Saul ^note consented vnto hys death. And at þt; tyme there was a greate persecucyon agaynst the congregacyon which was at Ierusalem, &abar;d they were all ^note scatered abrode thorowout þe; regyons of Iewry and Samaria, except the apostles. But deuout men dressed Steuen, and made great lamentacyon ouer hym. As for Saul he ^note made hauocke of the c&obar;gregacyon, and entred into euery house, and drew out both men and women, and thrust them into preson. Therfore, they that were scatered abrode, went euery where preachyng the worde of God.

&cross2; Then came Philip into a cytie of Samaria, ∧ preached Christ vnto them. And the people gaue hede vnto those thynges which B    Philip spake &wt; one accord, hearyng ∧ seyng the myracles whych he dyd. For ^note vncleane spretes cryinge with loude voyce, came out of many þt; were possessed of th&ebar;. And many taken &wt; palsyes, ∧ many þt; halted, were healed. And ther was great ioye in that cyte. &cross3;

But ther was a certen m&abar; called Symo, which before tyme in þe; same cytye vsed witchecrafte, and bewitched the people of Samary, saying that he was a man that coulde do great thynges. Whom they regarded, fr&obar; the lest to þe; greatest, sayinge: this man is the power of God, which is called greate. And him they sett moche by, C   because that of longe tyme he had bewitched them with sorceries. But assone as they gaue credence to Philippes preachyng of the kyngdome of God, ∧ of the name of Iesu Christ, they were baptysed both men ∧ wemen. Then Simon hym selfe beleued also. And whan he was baptised, he c&obar;tinued &wt; Philip, and wondred, beholding the miracles ∧ sygnes, which were shewed.

&cross2; When the apostles which were at Ierusal&ebar; herd saye, that Samary had receaued the word of God, they sent vnto th&ebar; Peter ∧ Iohn. Which whan they were come downe, prayed for th&ebar;, þt; they might receaue the holy ghost. For as yet he was come on no one of th&ebar;: but they were baptysed onely in þe; name of Christ Iesu. ^noteThen layd they their h&abar;des on them, ∧ they receaued the holy ghost &cross3;

Wh&ebar; Sim&obar; sawe that thorow laying on of the apostles h&abar;des, the holy ghost was geuen, he offered them money, saying: geue me also this power, D   that on whomsoeuer I put the handes, he maye receaue the holy ghost. But Peter sayd vnto him: thy money perisshe with the, because thou hast thought ^note þt; the gift of God maye be obteyned with money. Thou hast nether parte, nor felowshyp in thys busynes. For thy hert is not ryght in the syght of God. Repente therfore of thys thy wyckednes, ∧ praye God, þt; the thought of thyne herte maye be forgeuen the. For I perceaue that thou art full of bitter gall, and wrapped in iniquite.

Then answered Simon ∧ sayde: ^note praye ye to the Lorde for me, þt; none of these thynges which ye haue spoken, fall on me. And they when they had testifyed and preached þe; worde of God, returned towarde Ierusal&ebar;, and preached the gospell in many cyties of the Samaritans.

&cross2; The aungell of the Lorde spake vnto Philip, E   saying: aryse, ∧ go toward the south vnto the waye that goeth downe from Ierusalem vnto the cyte of Gaza, which is in the desert. And he arose, ∧ went on. And behold, a man of Ethiopia (a ch&abar;berlene, ∧ of greate auctorite with C&abar;dace quene of the Ethiopians, ∧ had the rule of al her treasure ^note came to Ierusalem for to worshyp. And as he returned home agayne syttinge in hys charet, he red Esay the prophete.

Then the sprete sayd vnto Philip: go neare, and ioyne thy self to yonder charet. And Philip ran to hym, and heard him reade the prophete Esay, and sayd: Underst&abar;dest thou what thou readest? F   And he said: How can I, except I had a gyde? And he desyred Philip, that he wolde come vp, and sytt with hym. The tenoure of the scripture which he read, was this: ^note He was led as a shepe to be slayne: and lyke a lambe domme before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. &rhand; Because of hys humblenes, he was not estemed. But who shal declare hys generaci&obar;? for his lyfe is taken fr&obar; the earth. The chamberlayn answered Philip, and sayd: I praye the of wh&obar; speaketh the prophete thys? of hym selfe, or of some other mam?

Philip opened hys mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached vnto hym Iesus. And as they w&ebar;t on theyr waye, they cam vnto a cert&ebar; water, and the ch&abar;berlayne

said: Se, here is water ^note what doth let me to be baptysed? G   Philip sayde vnto him: If þu; beleue with all thyne hert, thou mayest. And he answered, and sayde: I beleue that Iesus Christ is the sonne of God. And he comma&ubar;ded the charet to stande styll. And they went downe both into the water: both Philip and also the chamberlayn, and he baptysed hym. And assone as they were come out of þe; water, the sprete of þe; Lord caught awaye Philip, and the chamberlayn sawe him nomore. And he went on hys waye reioysinge: but Philip was founde at Azotus. And he walked thorowout the countre, preaching in all the cyties, tyll he came to Cesarea. &cross3; ¶ The .ix. Chapter. &cross2; ¶ Paul is conuerted, and confoundeth the Iewes. Peter rayseth Tabytha.

A   And Saul yet brethyng out threatnynges and slaughter agaynst the disciples of the Lorde, wente vnto the hye preste, and desyred of hym letters, to cary to Damasco, to the synagoges. ^note that yf he founde any of thys waye, (whyther they were m&ebar; or wem&ebar;) he myght brynge them bounde vnto Ierusalem. And when he iornyed, it fortuned that as he was nye to Damasco, sodenly their shyned round about hym a lyght from heauen, and he fell to the earth and hearde a voyce, sayinge to h&ibar;: ^note Saul Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he sayde: what art thou Lorde? And the Lorde sayd: I am Iesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for the to kycke against the pryckes. And he both tr&ebar;blynge, ∧ astonyed sayde: Lorde, ^note what wylt thou haue me to do? And the Lord sayd vnto hym: aryse, and go into the cytie, and it shalbe told the, what thou must do.

B   The men which iorneyed with hym, stode amased, hearynge a voyce, but seynge no man. And Saul arose from the earth, ∧ wh&ebar; he opened his eyes, he sawe no m&abar;. But they led him by the hande, and brought hym into Damasco. And he was thre dayes without syght, and nether dyd eate nor dryncke. And ther was a certen disciple at Damasco, named Ananias, and to him sayd the Lord in a visyon: Ananias? And he sayd: behold, I am here Lorde. And the Lorde sayde vnto hym: aryse, and go into the strete (whych is called strayght) and seke in the house of Iudas after one called Saul ^note of Tharsus. For beholde, he prayeth, and hath sene in a vision a man named Ananias comyng into him, and puttyng hys handes on hym, that he myght receaue his syght.

Then Ananias answered: Lorde, I haue heard by many of this m&abar; ^note how moch euyll he hath done to thy sayntes at Ierusalem: ∧ here he hath auctoryte of the hye prestes, to bynde all that call on thy name. C   The Lorde vnto him: go thy waye, for he is a chosen vessel vnto me, to beare my name before þe; G&ebar;tyls, and kynges, and the chyldren of Israel. For I wyll shewe hym, how greate thinges ^note he must suffre for my names sake.

^noteAnd Ananias w&ebar;t his waye, and entred into the house, and put hys handes on hym, and sayd: brother Saul, the Lord that apperyd vnto the in þe; waye as thou camest, hath sent me, þt; thou myghtest receaue thy syght, and be fylled with the holy ghost. And immediatly ther fell fr&obar; hys eyes as it had bene scales and he receaued syght: and arose, and was baptised, and receaued meate and was comforted. D   Then was Saul a certen dayes with the disciples which were at Damasco. And straight waye he preached Christ in the Sinagoges, howe that he was the sonne of God, but all that heard him, were amased, ∧ sayd: is not this he, that spoyled them which called on this name in Ierusalem, and came hyther for that entent, that he myght bring th&ebar; bounde vnto the hye prestes? But Saul encreased the more in strength, ∧ confo&ubar;ded the Iewes which dwelt at Damasco, affyrminge that this was very Christ. &cross3;

And after a good whyle, the Iewes toke councell together, to kill him. But their layinge awayte was knowen of Saul. And they watched the gates daye and nyght to kyll h&ibar;. ^noteThen þe; disciples toke him by night and put hym thorowe the wall, and let hym downe in a basket.

E   And when Saul was come to Ierusal&ebar;, he assaide to couple him selfe to the disciples: but they were all afrayde of hym, ∧ beleued not þt; he was a disciple. But Barnabas toke hym, ∧ brought hym to the apostles, ∧ declared to th&ebar;, howe he had sene the Lorde in the waye, and that he had spoken to him, ∧ how he had done boldely at Damasco &ibar; the name of Iesu. And he had hys conuersacyon with them at Ierusalem, speakynge boldly in the name of the Lorde Iesu. And he spake ∧ disputed agaynst the Grekes: but they wente about to slee hym. Which when the brethren knewe, ^note they brought hym to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tharsus. Then had the c&obar;gregacyons rest thorowout all Iewry, and Galile, and Samary, and were edifyed, and walked in the feare of the Lord, and multyplied by the comfort of the holy ghost.

And it cha&ubar;sed as Peter walked through out all quarters, he cam also to the saynctes, which dwelt at Lydda. And there he founde a certen man name Eneas, which had kepte his beed eyght yeares, and was sycke of the palsye. And Peter sayde vnto hym: Eneas? The Lord Iesu Christ make the whole: aryse, and make thy beed. ^noteAnd he arose immediatly. And all that dwelt at Lidda and Assaron sawe him, and tourned to the Lorde.

There was at Ioppa a certen woman, a disciple named Tabitha (which by interpretacyon is called Dorcas) the same was full of good workes and almes dedes, which she dyd. And it chaunsed in those dayes that she was sycke, ∧ dyed. Wh&obar; when they had wesshed, they layd her in a chamber. But for as moch as Lydda was nye to Ioppa, and the disciples had heard þt; Peter was there, they sent vnto him, desyringe him, that he wolde not be greued to come vnto them.

G   Peter arose, ∧ came with them. And wh&ebar; he was come, they brought him into the ch&abar;ber. And all the widdowes stode ro&ubar;d about him, wepynge, and shewyng the coates and garmentes, which Dorcas made, whyle she was with th&ebar;. And Peter put th&ebar; all forth, and kneled downe, and prayde. and turned him to the body, and sayd: Tabitha, ^note aryse. And she opened her eyes, and when she sawe Peter, she sat vp. And he gaue her the hand. and lyft her vp. And whan he had called the saynctes and widdowes, he shewed her alyue. And it was knowne thorowout al Ioppa, ∧ many beleued on the Lorde. And it fortuned, that he taryed many dayes in Ioppa, with one Simon a tanner. ¶ The .x. Chapter. &cross2; ¶ The vysyon that Peter sawe. How he was sent to Cornelius. The heathen also receaue the sprete, and are baptysed.

A   There was a certen man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captayn of the soudyers of Italy, a deuote m&abar;, ∧ one that feared God with all hys housholde, which gaue moch almes to the people, and prayde God all waye. The same sawe by a vision euid&ebar;tly (about the ninth houre of the daye) an angel of God commynge into him, and sayinge vnto him: Cornelius? When he loked on hym, he was afrayde, &abar;d sayd: what is it Lorde? He sayde vnto him: Thy prayers ∧ ^note thy almeses are come vp into rem&ebar;braunce before God. And now sende men to Ioppa, ∧ call for one Symon, whose syrname is Peter. He lodgeth &wt; one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the see syde. He shall tell þe;, what thou oughtest to do. And when the angell which spake vnto hym, was departed, he called two of hys housholde seruauntes, and a deuoute soudier of them that wayted on him, and tolde them all the matter, and sent them to Ioppa.

B   On þe; morowe as they went on their iorney, and drewe ny vnto the cytie, Peter w&ebar;t vp ^note vpon the toppe of the house to praye, about the syxt houre. And wh&ebar; he wexed an h&obar;gred, he wolde haue eat&ebar;. But whyle they made ready, he fell into a traunce, and sawe, heauen opened, and a certen vessell come downe vnto hym, as it had bene a great shete, knyt at the foure corners, and was let downe to the earth, wherin were ^note all maner of fourfoted beastes of the earth,∧ vermen and wormes ∧ foules of the ayer. And ther came a voyce to h&ibar;, rise Peter, kyl ∧ eate. But Peter sayd: not so Lorde, for I haue neuer eaten eny thinge that is c&obar;men or vncleane. And þe; voyce spake vnto him agayne the second tyme: ^note what God hath clensed, that call not þu; c&obar;men. This was done threse, and the vessell was receaued vp agayne into heauen.

C   Whyle Peter also mused in him self what thys visyon (which he had sene) meant: beholde, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquirance for Sim&obar;s house, and stode before the dore: and called out one, and asked whether Simon which was syrnamed Peter were lodged there. Whyle Peter thought on the visyon, þe; sprete sayd vnto him: behold, men seke the: aryse therfore, and get the downe, ∧ go with them, ∧ dowte not for I haue sent them. Peter went downe to the men which were sent vnto hym fr&obar; Cornelius and sayd: Behold, I am he wh&obar; ye seke, what is the cause wherfore ye are come? They sayd: Cornelius þe; captayne a iust m&abar;, and one that feareth God, ∧ of good reporte amonge all the people of the Iewes, was warned by an holy angell to sende for the into his house, ∧ to heare wordes of the. Then called he them in, ^note and lodged them.

D   And on the morowe, Peter went awaye with them, and ^note certayn brethren fr&obar; Ioppa accompanyed hym. And the thyrde daye entred they into Cesarea. And Cornelius wayted for them, and had called togeather hys kynsmen, and speciall frendes. And as it chaunsed Peter to come in, Cornelius mete hym, and fell downe at hys fete, ∧ worshypped hym. But Peter toke hym vp, sayinge: stande vp, ^note I my selfe also am a man. And as he talked with him, he came in, and founde many that were come together. And he sayde vnto them: Ye knowe how that ^note it is a vnlawful thinge for a m&abar; that is a Iewe, to company or come vnto an alient: but God hath shewed me, that I shulde not call any man commen or vncleane: therfore came I vnto you without delaye, assone as I was sent for. I aske therfore, for what intent haue ye sent for me.

E   And Cornelius sayd: This daye now .iiij. dayes about this houre, I sat fasting, and at the nynthe houre I prayde in my house: and behold, a man stode before me in bryght clothynge, and sayde: Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thyne almes dedes are had in remembraunce in the syght of God. S&ebar;de men therfore to go to Ioppa, and call for Sym&obar;, whose syrname is Peter. He is lodged in the house of one Symon a t&abar;ner by the see syde: which assone as he is come, shall speake vnto the. Then sent I for the immediatly, ∧ thou

hast well downe, that thou art come. Nowe therfore are we all here present before God, to heare all thinges that are c&obar;maunded vnto the of God.

Then Peter opened his mouth, &abar;d sayde: Of a treuth I perceaue that ^note there is no respect of persones with God, ^note but in all people, he that feareth hym, and worketh ryghtewesnes, is accepted with him.

F   Ye knowe the preachynge that God sent vnto the children of Israel, preachyng peace by Iesu Christ, which is Lord ouer all thynges. &cross2; Which preachynge was publisshed thorowout all Iewry (and ^note began in Galile, after the baptyme which Iohn preached) how ^note God anoynted Iesus of Nazareth &wt; the holy ghost, and with power. Which Ies&us; went about doynge good, and healynge all þt; were oppressed of the deuyll, for God was with him. And we are witnes of all thinges which he dyd in the lande of the Iewes and at Ierusalem: whom they slewe, and h&abar;ged on tre. Him God raysed vp the thyrd daye, ∧ shewed him openly, not to all the people, but vnto vs witnesses (chosen before of God for the same intent) which dyd eate ∧ dryncke &wt; him, after he arose ^note fr&obar; deeth. &cross2; And ^note he c&obar;maunded vs to preach vnto the people, and to testify that it is he, which was ordened of God to be the iudge of quycke and deed. To hym geue ^note all the prophetes witnes, þt; thorowe hys name whosoeuer beleueth in him, shall receaue remissyon of synnes. &cross3;

Whyle Peter yet spake these wordes, ^note þe; holy ghost fell on all th&ebar; which heard þe; preachyng. And they of the circ&ubar;cisyon which beleued, were ast&obar;nied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentils also was shed out the gyft of the holy ghost. For they hearde them speake with tonges, ∧ magnify God. Then answered Peter: ^note can eny man forbyd water, þt; these shuld not be baptysed, which haue receaued the holy ghost as well as we? And he c&obar;maunded th&ebar; to be baptysed in the name of the Lord. &cross3; Then prayd they him, to tary a few dayes. ¶ The .xj. Chapter. ¶ Peter sheweth the cause wherfore he went to the heath&ebar;. Barnabas and Paul preach vnto the heathen. Agabus prophecieth derth for to come.

A   And the Apostles and brethr&ebar; that were in Iewry, heard þt; the heath&ebar; had also receaued þe; word of God. And wh&ebar; Peter was come vp to Ierusalem. they that were of the circumcisi&obar; contended against hym, sayng: ^note Thou w&ebar;test into men vncircumcised, and dydest eate with them.

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the begynning, and expounded it by order vnto them, sayinge: ^note I was in þe; cytie of Ioppa, praying: and in a traunce, I sawe a visyon, a certen vessel descende, as it had bene a great shete, let downe fr&obar; heauen by the foure corners, ∧ it came to me. Into the which wh&ebar; I had fastened myne eyes, I considred, ∧ sawe ^note fourfoted beastes of the earth, and verm&ebar; and wormes, and foules of the ayer. B   And I heard a voyce saying vnto me: aryse Peter, sley, and eate. But I sayde: not so Lorde, for nothynge comen or vncleane hath at eny tyme entred into my mouth. But þe; voyce answered me agayne from heauen: count not þu; those thinges comen, which God hath cl&ebar;sed And this was done thre tymes. And all were taken vp agayne into heauen.

And beholde, immediatly ther were thre men all ready come vnto the house where I was, sent fr&obar; Cesarea vnto me. And the spyrite sayd vnto me, that I shuld go with th&ebar;, without doutynge. Moreouer, ^note these syxe brethren acc&obar;panyed me, and we entred into the mans house. And he shewed vs, howe he had sene an aungel in his house, which stode and sayd to him: send men to Ioppa, and call for Sim&obar;, whose syrname is Peter: he shall tell the wordes, wherby both thou and all thyne house shalbe saued. And as I beganne to preach, þe; holy ghost fell on them, ^note as he dyd on vs at the begynninge. C   Then came it to my remembraunce, howe that the Lorde sayd: ^note Iohn baptised &wt; water, but ye shalbe baptised with the holy ghost. For asmoch then as God gaue th&ebar; lyke gyftes, as he dyd vnto vs, when we beleued on the Lord Ies&us; Chryst: what was I, þt; I shulde haue withstande God? When they heard this, they helde theyr peace, and glorifyed God, sayinge: then hath God also to the Gentyls gra&ubar;ted repentaunce vnto lyfe.

^noteThey also which were scattred abrode thorow the affliccy&obar; that arose about Steuen, walked thorowout vnto Phenices and Cypers, and Antioche, preachinge the worde to no m&abar;, but vnto the Iewes onely some of them were men of Cypers ∧ Siren: which wh&ebar; they were come to Antioche, spake vnto the Grekes, and preached the Lorde Ies&us;. And the hande of the Lorde was with them, ∧ a greate nombre beleued and turned vnto the Lorde.

D   Tydinges of these thinges came vnto the eares of the congregacy&obar;, which was in Ierusal&ebar;. And they sent forth Barnabas, þt; he shulde go vnto Antioche. Which when he came, ∧ had sene the grace of God, was glad, ∧ ^note exhorted them all, þt; with purpose of hert, they wold c&obar;tynually cleaue vnto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the holy ghost ∧ of faith: and moch people was added vnto þe; Lorde. Then departed Barnabas to Tharsus, for to seke Saul. And wh&ebar; he had founde him, he brought him vnto Antioche.

And it chaunsed that a whole yeare they had their conuersacion with the congregaci&obar; there, and taught moch people: in so moch, þt; the discyples of Antioche were the fyrst that were called Christen.

^noteIn those dayes came prophetes fr&obar; the cytie of Ierusalem vnto Antioche. And there stode vp one of th&ebar; named Agabus, and sygnifyed by the sprete, þt; there shuld be greate derth thorow out all the world, which came to passe in the Emperoure Claudius dayes. Then the disciples euery man accordynge to his abylyte, purposed to sende ^note socour vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iewry. Which thinge they also dyd, and sent it to the elders by the handes of Barnabas and Saul. ¶ The .xij. Chapter. &cross2; ¶ Herode persecuteth the Chrysten. Kylleth Iames, and putteth Peter in preson, whom the Lorde delyuereth by an aungell. The shamefull death of Herode.

A   At the same tyme Herode the kyng stretched forth hys handes to vexe certen of the congregacyon. And he kylled ^note Iames þe; brother of Iohn with the swerd. And because he sawe that it pleased the Iewes, he proceded farther, and toke Peter also. Then were þe; dayes of swet bread. And when he had caught hym, he put h&ibar; in preson also, ∧ delyuered him to .iiij. quaternions of soudiers to be kepte, entendynge after Ester to bringe him forth to the people. And Peter was kepte in preson. But prayer was made without ceasynge of the congregacyon, vnto God for hym. And when Herode wolde haue brought him oute vnto the people, the same nyght slepte Peter betwene two soudiers, bounde with two chaynes, &abar;d the kepers before the dore kepte the preson.

And behold, ^note the angel of the Lord was ther present, and a lyght shyned in the habytacyon. And he smote Peter on the syde, and steryd him vp, say&ibar;ge: aryse vp quickly. And his cheynes fel of fr&obar; his handes. And the angel sayd vnto hym: gyrde thy selfe, &abar;d bynde on thy &rhand; sandales. And so he dyd. And he sayth vnto him: cast thy garment about the, ∧ folowe me. And he came out ∧ folowed h&ibar;, and wyst not that it was trueth which was done by the angell, but thought he had sene a visyon. B   When they were past þe; fyrst and the sec&obar;de watch, they came vnto the yron gate, that leadeth vnto the cytie, ^note whych opened to them by the awne accorde. And they w&ebar;t oute, and passed thorow one strete, and forth with, the angell departed from him.

And whan Peter was come to him selfe, he sayd: nowe I knowe of a surety, that the Lorde hath sent his angell, and hath delyuered me out of the hande of Herode, C   and from all the wayting for, of the people of the Iewes. &cross3; &cross2; Aud as he c&obar;sydred the thynge, he came to þe; house of Mary þe; mother of one Iohn, whose syrname was Marke, where many were gathered togeather ^note in prayer. As Peter knocked at the entry dore, a damsell came forth to herk&ebar;, named Rhoda. And wh&ebar; she knew Peters voyce, she opened not the entry for gladnes, but ran in, ∧ told how Peter stode before the entry. And they sayde vnto her: thou art mad: But she affirmed þt; it was euen so. Then sayd they: it is hys angel. But Peter c&obar;tynued knockinge: ∧ when they had opened the dore, &abar;d sawe him, they were astonyed. ^noteAnd whan he had beckned vnto them with the hande, that they myght holde theyr peace, he tolde th&ebar; by what meanes the Lorde had brought h&ibar; out of the preson. &cross3; And he sayde: go shewe these thinges vnto Iames and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Assone as it was daye, ther was no littel ado among the soudiers, what was become of Peter. When Herode had sought for him, and fo&ubar;de hym not, he examined the kepers, and commaunded them to be caryed awaye. D   And he descended from Iewry to Cesarea, ∧ ther aboode. Herode was displeased &wt; them of Tyre and Sid&obar;. But they came all with one accorde, ∧ made intercession vnto Blastus the kynges chamberlayne, and desyred peace, because their co&ubar;tre was norysshed by the kynges prouysyon. And vp&obar; a daye appoynted, Herode arayed him in royall apparell, and sett hym in hys seate, and made an oracion vnto th&ebar;. And the people gaue a showte, sayinge: it is the voyce of a God ∧ not of a man. And immediatly the angell of the Lorde smote hym, because he gaue not God the honour, and he was eaten of wormes &abar;d gaue vp the ghost. And the worde of God grewe and multiplyed. And Barnabas and Paul returned to Ierusalem, when they had fulfylled their offyce, and toke &wt; th&ebar; ^note Iohn whose syrname was Marke. ¶ The .xiij. Chapter. ¶ Paul and Barnabas are called to preach amonge the heathen. Of Sergius Paulus and Elymas the sorcerer. Paul preacheth at Antioche

A   There were in the congregacyon that is at Antioche, certayn &rhand; prophtes, and teachers: as Barnabas and Simon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cerene and Manahen, Herode the Tetrarkes norsfelow, and Saul. As they ministred to the Lorde and fasted, the holy ghost saide: separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worcke wherunto I haue called them. And wh&abar; they had fasted and prayed, and ^note layde their handes on them, they let them go. And they after they were sent forth of the holy ghost, departed vnto Seleutia, ∧ fr&obar; thence they sayled to Ciprus. And when they were at Salamine, they shewed the word of God &ibar; the sinagoges of the Iewes. And they had ^note Iohn to theyr minyster.

When they had gone thorow the yle vnto Paphos, they founde a certayne sorcerer, (a false prophet, B   a Iewe) whose name was Bariesu, which was with the ruler of the countre one Sergius Paulus a prud&ebar;t m&abar;. The same ruler called vnto hym Barnabas and Saul, and desyred to heare the worde of God. But Elymas ^note the sorcerar (for so is hys name by interpretacion) with stode th&ebar;, and sought to turne awaye the ruler fr&obar; the faith. Th&ebar; Saul (which also is called Paul) beynge full of the holy ghost, set hys eyes on him, and sayde. O full of all suttelty and disseytfulnesse, thou chylde of the deuyll, thou enemy of all righteousnes: wilt þu; not cease to peruerte the strayght wayes of the Lorde? And now beholde, the hande of the Lorde is vpon the, and thou shalt be blynde, and not se the sunne for a ceason. And immediatly, there fell on hym a myste and a darcknes, &abar;d he went about, sekynge th&ebar; that shuld leade hym by the hande. Then the rular when he sawe what had happened ^note beleued, ∧ wondred at the doctryne of the Lorde.

C   When Paul departed from Paphos, they that were with him, came to Perga in Pamphilia: and ^note Iohn departed from them, and returned to Ierusalem. But they wandred thorow the countres, and came from Perga to Antioche in Pisidia, and wente into the synagoge on the saboth daye, and sate downe. And after the lecture of the lawe and the prophetes, the rulers of the synagoge sente vnto them, sayinge: Ye men and brethren, yf ye haue eny sermon to exhorte the people, saye on.

Then Paul stode vp, and ^note beckened with the hande for sylence, and sayde: Men of Israell, and ye that feare God, geue audience. The God of this people chose oure fathers, and exalted the people, when they dwelt as straungers in the land of Egipt, and ^note with a hye arme brought he them oute of it, and about the tyme of fourtye yeares, suffred he theyr maners in the wyldernes. And he destroyed seuen nacyons in the lande of Canaan, ^note and deuyded theyr land to them by lot. And afterwarde, ^note he gaue vnto them iudges about the space of foure h&ubar;dred and fyftye yeares, vnto the tyme of Samuell the prophete. And afterwarde, they ^note desyred a kynge, and God haue vnto them ^note Saul the sonne of Cis, a man of the trybe of Beniamin, by the space of fourty yeares. D   And wh&abar; he was put downe, he sett vp Dauid to be theyr kynge, of whom he repported saying: ^note I haue founde Dauid the sonne of Iesse, a man after myne awne hert, which shall fulfyll all my wyll.

^noteOf this mannes seed hath God (accordynge as he had promysed) brought forth to Israell, a sauioure, one Iesus, when Iohn had fyrst preached before his c&obar;mynge ^note the baptyme of repentaunce to Israel. And wh&ebar; Iohn had fulfilled his course, he sayd: ^note wh&obar; ye thynke þt; I am, the same am I not. But behold, ther cometh one after me, whose shoes of his fete I am not worthy to loose.

&cross2; Ye men and brethren, chyldren of the generacy&obar; of Abrah&abar;, and whosoeuer am&obar;g you feareth God, ^note to you is thys worde of saluacyon sent. For the inabiters of Ierusalem and theyr rulers, because ^note they knew him not, nor yet the voyces of the prophetes which are redde euery Saboth daye, E   they haue fulfylled them, in condempnynge him. ^noteAnd when they founde no cause of deeth in hym, yet desyred they Pylate to kyll hym. And whan they had fulfylled all that were wryten of him, they toke him downe fr&obar; the tree, and put hym in a sepulchre. But God raysed him agayne from death, (the ther daye) and ^note he was sene many dayes of th&ebar; whych came vp with hym from Galile to Ierusalem: Which ^note are hys wytnesses vnto the people.

And we declare vnto you, how þt; the promesse (whych was made vnto the fathers) God hath fulfilled vnto their children (euen vnto vs) &ibar; þt; he raysed vp Iesus agayne. &cross3; eu&ebar; as it is writen in þe; fyrst psalme: ^note Thou art my sonne, this daye haue I begoten the. As concernynge that he raysed him vp from death, now nomore to returne to corrupcion he sayd on thys wyse: ^note The holy promyses made to Dauid, wyl I geue faythfully to you. Wherfore, he sayeth also &ibar; another place. ^noteThou shalt not suffre thyne holy to se corrupcyon. For Dauid (after he had in hys tyme fulfylled the wyll of God) ^note fell on slepe, and was layde vnto hys fathers, and sawe corrupcyon. But he wh&obar; God raysed agayn sawe no corrupcyon.

F   Be it knowne vnto you therfore (ye men and brethren) that ^note thorowe thys man is preached vnto you the forgeuenes of sinnes, and that by hym, all that beleue, are iustyfyed from all thynges, from which ye coulde not be iustifyed by the lawe of Moses. Beware therfore, lest that fall on you, which is spoken of in the prophetes: ^note Behold, ye despysers, and wonder, and peryssh ye: for I do a worke in youre dayes, which ye shall not beleue, though a man declare it you.

Wh&ebar; the Iewes were gone out of þe; c&obar;gregacyon, the Gentyls besought þt; they wolde preache the word to them the next Saboth. When the c&obar;gregacyon was broken vp, many of þe; Iewes and verteous proselytes folowed Paul and Barnabas, which spake to th&ebar;: ∧ ^note exhorted them to c&obar;tinue in the grace of God. &cross2; And þe; next Saboth daye cam almost the whole cytie together, to heare the worde of God. But wh&ebar; the Iewes sawe þe;

people, they were full of indignacion ∧ spake agaynst those thynges, which were spok&ebar; of Paul, spekynge agaynst it, ∧ raylinge on it: Then Paul and Barnabas wexed bolde, G   ∧ sayde: it was mete ^note that the worde of God shulde fyrst haue bene preached to you. But seynge ye put it from you, and thynke youre selues vnworthy of euerlastynge lyfe: lo, we turne to the Gentyls: For so hath the Lorde commaunded vs. ^noteI haue made the a lyght of þe; Gentyls, that thou be the saluacy&obar; vnto the ende of the worlde.

Whan the gentyls hearde thys, they were glad and glorifyed the worde of the Lorde, ∧ beleued: eu&ebar; as many as were ordeyned vnto eternal lyfe. And the worde of the Lorde was publisshed thorowe out all the regyon. But the Iewes moued the deuoute and honest wemen, and the chefe men of the cytie, ∧ reysed persecucyon agaynst Paul and Barnabas, and expelled th&ebar; out of theyr coastes ^note But they shouke of the duste of theyr fete agaynst them, &abar;d came vnto Iconium. And the discyples were fylled with ioye and with the holy ghost. &cross3; ¶ The .xiiij. Chapter. ¶ Paul and Barnabas preach at Iconium, some beleue, some stere vp sedicyon. At Lystra they wolde do sacryfice to Barnabas and Paul, which refuse it and exhorte the people to worshypp the true God, Paul is stoned: after to it commeth he to Derba, Lystra, Iconium and to Antioche.

A   And it fortuned in Iconi&ubar;, that they went both together into þe; synagoge of the Iewes, and so spake, that a greate multytude both of the Iewes and also of þe; Grekes beleued. But þe; vnbeleuyng Iewes, steryd vp, and vnquieted the myndes of the gentyls agaynste the brethren. Longe tyme abode they there, and quyt th&ebar; selues boldly with the helpe of the Lord, which gaue testimony vnto the worde of his grace, ∧ ^note gra&ubar;ted sygnes and wondres to be done by their handes. But the multitude of the cytie was deuyded: and parte helde with the Iewes, ∧ parte with the Apostles.

When ther was an assaute made both of the Gentyles ∧ also of the Iewes with their rulers, to do them violence, and to stone them they were ware of it, &abar;d ^note fled vnto Lystra and Derba, cyties of Lycaonia, &abar;d vnto the regyon that lyeth ronnde aboute, and there preached the Gospell. (and all the multitude was moued at theyr doctryne, but Paul and Barnabas taryed styll at Lystra.) And ther sate a certayne man at Lystra weake in hys fete, beynge ^note creple from his mothers wombe, &abar;d neuer had walked. The same hearde Paul preache. Which beholdynge hym, and perceauynge that he had fayth to be whole, sayd with a loude voyce: st&abar;de vpryght on thy fete: And ^note he stert vp, and walked. And wh&ebar; the people sawe what Paul had done, they lyfte vp their voyces, sayinge in the speache of Lycaonia: ^note Goddes are come downe to vs in the lyknes of men. And they called Barnabas Iupiter, &abar;d Paul Mercurius, because he was the preacher, Then Iupiters preste, which dwelt before their cytie, brought oxen and garlandes vnto the porche, and wolde haue done sacryfice with the people.

C   Which when the Apostles, Barnabas &abar;d Paul herde of, they rent their clothes, and r&abar; in amonge the people, cryinge and sayinge: syrs why do ye this? ^noteWe are mortall men like vnto you, and preache vnto you, that ye shulde turne from these vanyties vnto the lyuinge God, ^note which made heauen and erth and the see and all thynges that are ther in: the which in tymes past suffred all nacyons to walcke in theyr awne wayes. ^noteNeuerthelesse, he left not hym selfe withoute wytnes, in that he shewed hys beuefytes fr&obar; heauen, in geuynge vs rayne and frutefull ceasons, fyllyng oure hertes with fode &abar;d gladnes. And with these sayinges, sease refrayned they the people, that they had not done sacryfyce vnto them.

Thyther came certayne Iewes from Antioche and Iconium: which (whan they had obtayned the peoples consent ^note and had stoned Paul) drew him out of the cytie, suppoge he had bene deed. D   Howbeit as þe; disciples stode rounde about him, he arose vp, and came into the cytie. And the nexte daye he departed with Barnabas to Derba. And wh&abar; they had preached to that cytie, ∧ had taught many, they returned agayne to Lystra, and to Iconium and Antioche, and strengthed þe; discyples soules agayne, and ^note exhorted th&ebar; to contynue in the fayth affirmynge that we must ^note thorowe moche tribulacyon &ebar;ntre into the kyngdome of God. And wh&abar; they had ordened them elders by eleccyon in euery c&obar;gregacyon, and had prayde and fasted, they commended them to the Lorde on wh&obar; they beleued. And whan they had gone thorowe out Pisidia, they came to Pamphilia, ∧ wh&abar; they had preached the worde in Perga, they desc&ebar;ded into the cyte Attalia, and thence departed by shyppe to Antioche from whence they were committed vnto the grace of God to þe; worcke which they fulfylled. When they were come, and had gathered the congregacion together, they rehersed all that God had doue by them &abar;d how he had opened the dore of fayth vnto the Gentyls. And there they abode longe tyme with the discyples. ¶ The .xv. Chapter. ¶ Uariaunce aboute circumcysy&obar;n. The Apostles pacifye the mater at Ierusalem. Paul and Barnabas preache at Antioche.

A   And certayne men which came downe taught the brethr&ebar; ^note excepte ye be circumcysed after the maner of Moses, ye cannot be saued. So when ther was rysen dissenci&obar; ∧ disputyng not a lyttel vnto Paul and Barnabas agaynst them, they determined that Paule and ^note Barnabas, and certayne other of them, shulde go vp to Ierusalem vnto the Apostles &abar;d elders about thys questyon. And after they were brought on their waye by the congregacion, they passed ouer Phenices and Samaria, declaryng the conuersi&obar; of the Gentyls, and they brought greate ioye vnto all the brethren. And when they were come to Ierusalem, they were receaued of the congregacion ∧ of the Apostles and elders. And they declared all thynges þt; God had done by th&ebar;. Th&ebar; rose vp certayne of the secte of the Pharyses, B   which dyd beleue, saying, that it was nedfull to circumcyse them, and to comma&ubar;de them to kepe the lawe of Moses. And the Apostles ∧ elders came together, to reason of thys matter.

And wh&ebar; ther was moche disputyng, Peter rose vp, ∧ sayde vnto them: Ye men ∧ brethren, ye knowe how þe; a good whyle agoo, God dyd chose amonge vs, þt; the Gentyls by my mouth shuld heare the worde of the Gospell, and beleue. And God which ^note knoweth the hertes, bare them wytnes, and gaue vnto them the holy goost, euen as he dyd vnto vs, and put no differ&ebar;ce betwene vs and th&ebar; seynge þt; with fayth he ^note purified theyr hertes. Now therfore, why tempte ye God, to put on þe; disciples neckes þe; yoke ^note &rhand; which nether our fathers nor we were able to beare, But we beleue, that thorow the grace of the Lorde Iesu Christ, we shalbe saued, as they do. Then all the multitude was peased ∧ gaue audi&ebar;ce to Barnabas ∧ Paul, which tolde what sygnes ∧ wondres God had shewed C    amonge the Gentyls by them.

And wh&ebar; they helde their peace, Iames answered, sayng: Men ∧ brethren, herken vnto me. Simeon tolde, how God at þe; beginning dyd visit þe; gentyls, to receaue of them a people in his name. And to this agree þe; wordes of the prophetes, as it is writt&ebar;: ^note After this I wyll returne, and wyll buylde agayne the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe and that which is fallen in decaye of it, wyll I buylde agayne, and I wyll set it vp, that the resydue of m&ebar; myght seke after the Lord ∧ also the Gentyls vpon whom my name is named sayth the Lorde, which doth all these thynges: know&ebar; vnto God are all hys workes fr&obar; the begynning of þe; world. Wherfore my sent&ebar;ce is, that we trouble not th&ebar;: which fr&obar; amonge the Gentyls, are turned to God: but that we wryte vnto them, that they absteyne them selues ^note from filthynes of ymages, and from fornicacyon, and from stra&ubar;glyd, and ^note from bloude. For Moses of olde tyme hath in euery cytie th&ebar; þt; preache hym, in the synagoges, D   when he is redd euery Saboth daye.

Then pleased it the Apostles and elders with the whole c&obar;gregacion, to sende chosen men of theyr awne company to Antioche &wt; Paul and Barnabas, They sent ^note Iudas (whose syrname was Barsabas) and Sylas, which were chefe men amonge the brethren, and gaue them leters in theyr handes after thys maner.

The Apostles, and elders and brethren send gretynges vnto the brethren which are of the Gentyls in Antioche, Syria and Cylicia. E   For as moche as we haue hearde, that certayne which departed fr&obar; vs, haue troubled you with wordes, and combred youre myndes saying: Ye must be circumcysed, and kepe the lawe, to whom we gaue no soch c&obar;maundem&ebar;t. It semed therfore to vs a good thynge, when we were come together with one accorde, to sende chosen men vnto you, with oure beloued Barnabas and Paul, m&ebar; that haue ieoparded their lyues for the name of oure Lorde Iesus Christ. We haue sent therfore Iudas and Sylas, which shall also tell you the same thinges by mouth. For it semed good to the holy ghost and to vs, to charge you with no more th&ebar; these necessary thynges: that is to saye, that ye abstayne fr&obar; thynges offered to ymages, and from bloud, and from straungled and from fornicacyon. From which yf ye kepe youre selues, ye shall do well. So fare ye well.

F   Wh&ebar; they therfore were departed, they c&abar; to Antioche and gathered the multytude together, ∧ deliuered þe; pistle. Which wh&ebar; they had red, they reioysed of þe; consolacyon. And Iudas ∧ Sylas being Prophetes, exhorted the brethren with moch preachynge, ∧ strengthed th&ebar;. And after they had taryed there a space, they were let go in peace of the brethr&ebar; vnto the Apostles. Not withst&abar;dyng it pleased Sylas, to abyde there styll (but Iudas departed alone to Ierusalem) Paul and Barnabas c&obar;tinued in Antioche, teachynge ∧ preachynge the worde of the Lorde with other many.

But after a certayne space, Paul sayd vnto Barnabas: G   Let vs go agayne, and visite oure brethren in euery cytie where we haue shewed þe; word of þe; Lord, ∧ se how they do. And Barnabas gaue counsell to take with them Iohn, whose syrname was Marcke. But Paul wold not take h&ibar; vnto their c&obar;pany ^note which departed from them at Pamphilia, ∧ went not with th&ebar; to the worcke. And the contencion was so sharpe betwene th&ebar;: that they departed asunder one fr&obar; the other ∧ so Barnabas toke Marcke, &abar;d sayled vnto Cypers. And Paul chose Sylas, ∧ departed,

beynge commytted of the brethren vnto the grace of God. And he went thorow Cyria and Cylicia, stablisshinge the congregaci&obar;s: (c&obar;maunding to kepe the preceptes of the Apostles and elders) ¶ The .xvj. Chapter. ¶ Timothy is circumcysed Paul preacheth at Phylyppos, and ther is he put in preson.

A   Then c&abar; he to Derba and to Lystra, And beholde, a certayne dyscyple was there named Timothe&us; a womans sonne, which was a Iewesse and beleued: but hys father was a Greke. Of whom reported well the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconi&ubar; Hym wold Paul that he shulde go forth with him, ∧ toke and circ&ubar;cised hym, because of the Iewes which were in those quarters: for they knewe all, that hys father was a Greke. As they went thorowe the cyties, they deliuered them the decrees for to kepe, that were ^note ordeyned of the Apostles and elders, which were at Ierusalem. And so were the congregacy&obar;s stablyshed in the fayth, and encreased in nombre dayly.

B   When they had gone thorow out Phrigia. and the region of Galacia, and ^note were forbydden of the holy ghost to preach the word in Asia, they came to Mysya, and sought to go into Bethynia. But the sprete soffred th&ebar; not But wh&abar; they had gone thorow Mysia they came downe to ^note Troada. And a visy&obar; appered to Paul in the nyght. There stode a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying: come into Macedonia, &abar;d helpe vs. After he had sene the vision, immediatly we prepared to go into Macedonia, C   beinge certifyed that the Lorde had called vs, for to preach þe; gospell vnto th&ebar;. Whan we losed forth then fr&obar; Troada, we came &wt; a strayte course to Samothracia, and þe; nexte daye to Neapolin, ∧ from thence to Philippos, which is the chefe cytie in þe; partes of Macedonia, ∧ a fre cytie.

We were in that cytie abydinge certayne dayes. And on þe; Saboth dayes we w&ebar;t out of the citie besydes a ryuer, where men were wont to praye. And we sate downe, ∧ spake vnto the wem&ebar; which resorted thyther. And a certayne woman (named Lydia) a seller of purple, of þe; cytie of Thyatira, which worshypped God, gaue vs audience. Whose hert the Lorde opened, that she att&ebar;ded vnto the thynges, which Paul spake. D   When she was baptised, &abar;d her housholde, she besought vs, sayinge: If ye thyncke that I beleue on the Lorde, come into my house, and abyde there. And she ^note constrayned vs.

And it fortuned as we went to prayer, a certayn damsell possessed with a sprete that prophesyed, met vs, which brought her master: ∧ mastres moche vauntage &wt; Prophesyinge. ^note The same folowed Paul and vs, and cryed, sayinge: ^note these men are the seruauntes of the most hye God, which shew vnto vs the waye of saluacyon. And thys dyd she many dayes. But Paul not content, turned aboute, and sayde to the sprete. I commaunde the ^note in the name of Iesu Christ, that thou come out of her. And he came out the same houre

And when her master and mastres sawe that ^note þe; hope of their gaynes was gone, they caught Paul and Sylas, E   and drue th&ebar; into the market place vnto the rulars, ∧ brought th&ebar; to the officers, sayinge: These men trouble oure cytie seing they are Iewes, ∧ preach ordinaunces, which are not laufull for vs to receaue, nether to obserue, seynge we are Romanys. And the people ranne agaynst them, and the officers rent their clothes, ∧ c&obar;maunded th&ebar; to ^note be beat&ebar; with roddes. And wh&ebar; they had beaten them sore, they cast th&ebar; into preson, commaundynge the iayler of the preson to kepe them diligently. Which when he had receaued such c&obar;maundement, thrust th&ebar; into the ynner preson, ∧ made theyr fete fast in the stockes.

F   At mydnyght Paul ∧ Sylas prayed, and lauded God. And the presoners hearde them. And sodenly ther was a greate erthquake, so that the fo&ubar;dacion of the preson was shaken, and ^note immediatly all the dores opened and euery mannes bandes were loosed. Wh&ebar; þe; keper of the preson waked out of his slepe and sawe the preson dores open, he drue out his swearde and wolde haue kylled him selfe supposyng that the presoners had bene fledd. But Paul cryed with a loude voyce, saying: do thy selfe no harme, for we are all heare. Then he called for a lyght and sprange in &abar;d r&abar; tremblynge vnto Paul, and fell downe at the fete of Paul ∧ Sylas, and brought them out, ∧ sayde: Syrs ^note what must I do to be saued? And they sayde: ^note beleue on the Lorde Iesus, ∧ thou shalt be saued ∧ thy housholde. G   And they preached vnto him the worde of þe; Lord, ∧ to all that were in hys house. And he toke them þe; same houre of the nyght, ∧ wasshed their woundes, and was baptised &abar;d all they of hys housholde strayght waye. And when he had brought them into hys house, he set meate before them, and ^note ioyed that he with all his housholde, beleued on God.

And when it was daye, the officers sent þe; ministers, saying: let those men go. The keper of the preson tolde this sayinge to Paul: the officers haue sent word to lose you. Now therfore, get you hence and go in peace. Th&ebar; sayde Paul vnto them: they haue beaten vs openly vncond&ebar;ned, for all that we are Romayns, and haue cast vs into preson: ∧ now wolde they sende vs awaye preuely? Naye Uerely, but let th&ebar; come th&ebar; selues, ∧ fet vs out. When the ministers tolde these wordes

vnto the officers, they feared when they hearde, that they were Romaynes ^note they cam and besought them: and brought them out, and desyred them, to departe out of the cytie. And they went out of the preson, and entred into the house of Lidia, and when they had sene the brethren, they conforted them, and departed ¶ The .xvij. Chapter. ¶ Paul commeth to Thessalonica, wher the Iewes set the cytie on a rore. Paul escapeth, ∧ c&obar;meth to At&ebar;s where he preacheth the true and vnknowne God.

A   As they made their iourney thorowe Amphipolis: and Appolonia, they cam to Thessalonica, where was a Synagoge of the Iewes. And Paul (as hys maner was) went in vnto them, and thre Saboth dayes declared out of the scrypture vnto them, openynge ∧ allegyng, that ^note Christ must nedes haue suffred, and ryse agayne from deeth, and that thys Iesus was Christ, whom (sayde he) I preach to you. And ^note some of them beleued, &abar;d cam and companyed with Paul ∧ Sylas, and of the deuote. Grekes a greate multitude, and of the chefe wemen, not a feawe.

But the Iewes which beleued not, had indignacion and toke vnto them euyll men, which were vagab&ubar;des, B   and gathered a c&obar;pany, and set all the cytie on a roare, ∧ made assaute vnto the house of Iason, ∧ sought to brynge them out to þe; people. And when they founde th&ebar; not they drue Iason, ∧ certayne brethr&ebar; vnto the heades of the cytie, cryinge: these that trouble the worlde, are come hyther also, whom Iason hath receaued preuely. ^noteAnd these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, affirmynge another kynge, one Iesus. And they troubled the people, ∧ the officers of the cytie, wh&ebar; they hearde these thinges. And when they were suffici&ebar;tly answered of Iason, &abar;d of the other, they let th&ebar; go.

And the brethren immediatly sent awaye Paul and Sylas by nyghte vnto Berrea. Which when they were come thyther, they entred into þe; Synagoge of the Iewes. C   These were the noblest of byrth amonge them of Thessalonia, which receaued the word with all dilygence of mynde, and searched ^note the scryptures dayly, whether those thynges were euen so. And many of them beleued: also of worshypfull wem&ebar; which were Grekes, and of men not a feawe. When the Iewes of Thessalonia had knowledge, that þe; word of God was preached of Paul at Berrea: they came, and moued the people there. And then immediatly the brethren sent awaye Paul, to go as it were to the see: but ^note Sylas and Timotheus abode there styll And they that gyded Paul, D   brought h&ibar; vnto Athens, ∧ receaued a c&obar;maundement vnto Sylas ∧ Timotheus, for to come to hym &wt; spede, ∧ came their waye. Whil Paul wayted for them at Athens, his sprete was moued in him, wham he sawe the cytie geuen to worshippynge of ymages. Then disputed he in the synagoge with the Iewes, and with the deuoute personnes: and in þe; market dayly with them that came vnto him by chaunce. Certayne Philosophers of the Epicures and of the Stoyckes, disputed with hym. And some ther were which sayde: what will thys babler saye? Other sayde: he semeth to be a tydynges brynger of newe deuyls, E   because he preacheth vnto th&ebar; Iesus ∧ the resurrecci&obar;. And they toke him, ∧ brought him into Marce strete, saying: maye we not knowe what thys newe doctryne wherof thou speakest, is? For thou bryngest straunge tydynges to oure eares. We wold knowe therfore, what these thinges meane. For all the Athenians and straugers which were there, gaue them selues to nothing els, but ether to tell, or to heare some newe thynge.

Paul stode in the myddes of Marce strete, ∧ sayde: ye men of Athens, I perceaue that in all thinges ye are to supersticyous. For as I passed by, and behelde the maner how ye worshyp youre goddes, F   I founde an aulter wher&ibar; was writ&ebar;: vnto the vnknow&ebar; God. Whom ye then ignorantly worshyppe, hym shew I vnto you. ^noteGod that made þe; worlde and all that are in it (seing that he is Lorde of heauen and earth) ^note dwelleth not in t&ebar;pels made with handes, nether is worshipped with mennes handes, as though he neded of eny thynge, seinge he hym selfe ^note geueth lyfe and breth to all men euery where, ∧ hath made of one bloude all nacions of m&ebar;, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath assigned before, how longe tyme, ∧ also the endes of their inhabitacyon, þt; they shuld seke God, yf they myght fele and fynde him, though he be not farre from euery one of vs. For in hym we lyue, moue, and haue oure beinge, as certayne of youre awne Poetes sayde: For we are also his generaci&obar;, For as moch then as &rhand; we are the generacyon of God, we ought not to thinke that the Godhead is lyke vnto golde, G   syluer or stone, grauen by crafte and ymaginacyon of man.

^noteAnd the tyme of this ignora&ubar;ce God regarded not. ^noteBut now biddeth all men euery where rep&ebar;t because he hath appoynted a daye, in the which he will iudge the world &wt; ryghte wesnes, by that man by wh&obar; he hath appoynted, ∧ hath offered fayth to all m&ebar;, after that he had raysed him from deeth.

When they hearde of the resurreccion from deeth, some mocked, and other sayd: we wyll heare the agayne of thys matter. So Paul departed from amonge them. Howbeit certayne men claue vnto hym and beleued: amonge

the which was Dyonysyus a senatour, and a woman named Damaris, and other with them. ¶ The .xviij. Chapter. ¶ Paul preacheth at Corinthum, contynuing there a yere and a halfe, goeth agayne into Syria, commeth to Ephesus, Cesarea and Antioche. Of Apollos Aquila and Priscilla.

A   After thys, Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corynth&ubar;, and fo&ubar;de a certayne Iewe named ^note Aquila, borne in P&obar;thus, lately come from Italie with his wyfe Priscilla (because that þe; Emperour Claudius had commaunded all Iewes to departe from Rome) &abar;d he drew vnto them, because he was of the same crafte, he abode with them, ∧ wrought: theyr crafte was to make tentes. And he preached in the synagoge euery Sabboth daye (settyng forth in the meane whyle the name of the Lorde Iesus) and exhorted the Iewes and the gentyls.

When ^note Silas, and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was c&obar;strayned by the sprete, to testyfye to the Iewes þt; Iesus was very Chryst. And when they sayde contrary ∧ blasphemed ^note he shoke hys rayment and sayde vnto them: youre bloude be vpon youre awne heedes: from hence forth wyll I go blamelesse vnto the gentyls. And he departed th&ebar;ce, and entred into a certayne m&abar;nes house, named Iustus, a worshypper of God, whose house ioyned hard to the synagoge. Howbeit, one Crispus the chefe ruler of the synagoge ^note beleued on the Lorde with all his housholde, and many of the Corinthians whan they gaue audi&ebar;ce, beleued, and were baptised.

B   Then spake the Lorde to Paul in þe; nyght ^note by a visyon: be not afrayde, but speake, &abar;d holde not thy peace: for I am with the, ∧ nom&abar; shall inuade the that shall hurte the. For I haue moch people in this cytie. And he c&obar;tinued there a yeare and syxe monethes, and taught them the worde of God.

When Gallio was ruler of the countre of Acaia, the Iewes made insurreccyon with one accorde agaynst Paul, and brought hym to the iudgement seate, sayinge: this felowe counceleth men to worship God contrary to þe; lawe. And wh&abar; Paul nowe was about to op&ebar; his mouth, Gallio sayd vnto þe; Iewes: yf it were a matter of wronge, or an euyll dede (O ye Iewes) reason wolde þt; I shulde heare you: but yf it be a question of wordes or of names, or of youre lawe, loke ye to it youre selues, For I will be no iudge of soche matters, and he draue them from the seate. Th&ebar; all the Grekes toke Softenes the chefe ruler of the Synagoge, and smote hym before the iudges seate, And Gallio cared for none of those thynges.

C   Paul after thys, taryed there yet a good whyle, and then toke his leaue of the brethr&ebar; and sayled thence into Ciria, Priscilla and Aquila accompanyinge hym. And &rhand; ^note he shore his heed in C&ebar;chrea, for he had a vowe: And he cam to Ephesus &abar;d lefte them there: but he hym selfe entred into the Synagoge, and reasoned with the Iewes. Wh&ebar; they desyred him to tary l&obar;ger tyme with them, he consented not, but bad them fare well sayinge. I must nedes (at thys feast that cometh) be in Ierusalem: but I wyll returne agayne vnto you ^note yf God will. And he departed from Ephesus: and whan he was come vnto Cesarea: and ascended vp and saluted the c&obar;gregacyon, he departed vnto Antioche: and when he had taryed there a whyle, he departed: and went ouer all the countre of Galacia and Phrygia by order, strengthynge all the discyples.

D   And a certayne Iew named ^note Apollos, borne at Alexandria, came to Ephesus, an eloquent man, and myghty in the scryptures The same was informed in the waye of the Lorde, and spake feruently in the sprete, and taught diligently the thinges of the Lord, ∧ knewe but the baptyme of Iohn onely. And the same began to speake boldely in the Synagoge. Wh&obar; when Priscilla ∧ Aquila had hearde they toke him vnto th&ebar;, ∧ expounded vnto hym the waye of God more perfectly.

And when he was disposed to go into Acaia, the brethren wrote, exhortyng the discyples to receaue him. Which whan he was come helped them moche which had beleued thorow grace. For he ouercame the Iewes myghtely, and that openly, shewynge by the scryptures, that Iesus was Chryst. ¶ The .xix. Chapter. &cross2; ¶ Of the twelue m&ebar; that were baptysed at Ephesus and what myracles were done by Paul. Demetrius moued sedycion in the cytie.

A   It fortuned þt; whyll Apollo was at Corinthum, Paul passed thorowe the vpper coastes, and came to Ephesus, and founde certayne dysciples, and sayde vnto them haue ye receaued the holy ghost, sence ye beleued? And they sayde vnto hym: no, we haue not hearde whether ther be eny holy ghost or no. And he sayde vnto them. wherwith were ye then baptysed? And they sayde: with &rhand; Iohns baptyme. Then sayde Paul: ^note Iohn verely baptysed with the baptim of repentaunce, sayinge vnto the people that they shulde beleue on hym, which shuld come after h&ibar;: that is on Christ Iesus. When they hearde thys, they were baptysed in the name of the Lorde Iesu. And whan Paul ^note layde hys handes vpon them. ^note the holy ghost came on th&ebar;, &abar;d they ^note spake with tonges, and prophesyed, and all the men were aboute twelue.

And he w&ebar;t into the synagoge, and behaued hym selfe boldely for þe; space of thre monethes, disputinge and geuinge them exhortacions of the kyngdome of God. &cross3; When dyuers wexed hard herted and beleued not, but spake euyll of the waye (and that before the multitude) he departed from th&ebar;, and seperated the disciples. And he disputed dayly in the scole of one called Tyr&abar;us. And this c&obar;tynued by the space of two yeares: so that all they which dwelt in Asia, heard the worde of the Lorde Iesu, both Iewes and Grekes. C   And God ^note wrought speciall myracles by the h&abar;des of Paul: so that from his body, were brought vnto the sicke, napkins ∧ partelettes, ∧ the diseases departed from them, and ^note the euyll spretes went out of them.

Then certayne of the vagabunde Iewes exorcistes, toke vpon them to call ouer them (which had euyll spretes) þe; name of þe; Lorde Iesus, sayinge: We adiure you by ^note Iesu, whom Paul preacheth. And ther were seuen sonnes of one Sceua a Iew and chefe of the prestes which dyd so. And the euyll sprete answered and sayd: Iesus I knowe, ∧ Paul I knowe: but who are ye? D   And the man in whom the euyll sprete was, ranne on them, and ouercame them, and preuayled agaynst th&ebar; so that they fledd out of that house naked and wounded. And this was knowen to all the Iewes and Grekes also, which dwelt at Ephesus, ∧ feare came on th&ebar; all, ∧ the name of the Lorde Iesus was magnyfyed.

And many that beleued, cam, and ^note confessed and shewed their worckes. Many of them which vsed curious craftes, brought their bokes, and burned them before all men, and they counted the pryce of them, and fo&ubar;de it fyfty thousand syluerlynges. So mightely grewe the word of God, and preuayled. After these thynges were ended, Paul purposed in the sprete (whan he had passed ouer Macedonia &abar;d Achaia) to go to Ierusalem, saying: After I haue bene there, I must also se Rome. So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministred vnto hym, euen Timotheus ∧ Erastus: but he hym selfe remayned in Asia for a season.

E   The same tyme ther arose no lytell a do aboute that waye. For a certayne man named Demetrius, a syluersmyth (which made syluer shrynes for Diana) was not a lytell beneficiall vnto þe; craftesmen. Whom he called together with the workemen of lyke occupacion, and sayd: Syrs, ye knowe that by this crafte ^note we haue aduauntage. Moreouer, ye se ∧ heare that not alone at Ephesus, but allmost thorowe out all Asia, thys Paul hath persuaded ∧ turned awaye moche people sayinge, that ^note they be not goddes which are made with handes. So that not only this oure crafte cometh into parell to be set at nought: but also that the temple of the greate Goddesse Diana shulde be despysed, ∧ her magnificence shulde be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshyppeth.

Wh&ebar; they hearde these sayinges, they were full of wrathe, ∧ cryed out, sayinge. Greate is Diana of the Ephesians. And al the cytie was on a rore, and they russhed into the comen hall with one assent, ∧ caught Gaius and Aristarcus, men of Macedonia, Pauls compani&obar;s. When Paul wolde haue entred in vnto the people, the dysciples suffred hym not. F   But certayne of þe; chefe of Asia (which were his frendes) sent vnto him, desyrynge him, that he wolde not preace into the com&ebar; hall. Some therfore cryed one thyng and some another, ∧ the congregacion was all out of quiete, ∧ the moare parte knewe not wherfore they were come together.

Some of the company drue forth Alex&abar;der, the Iewes thrustynge hym forwardes. Alexander: ^note beckened with the hande, and wolde haue geuen þe; people an answer. Wh&ebar; they knewe that he was a Iewe, ther arose a shoute almost for the space of two houres, of all men, cryinge: greate is Diana of the Ephesyans.

When the towne clarcke had ceased þe; people, he sayde: ye men of Ephesus, what man is it that knoweth not how that the cytie of the Ephesyans is a worshypper of the great G    goddesse Diana, &rhand; of the ymage which c&abar; from heauen. Seinge then that no man sayth here agaynst, ye ought to be content, and to do nothynge rashly: for ye haue brought hyther these men: which are nether robbers of churches, not yet despisers of youre goddesse Wherfore, yf Demetrius and the craftes m&ebar; which are with hym, haue a matter agaynst eny man, the lawe is open, and ther are rulers, let them accuse one another. But yf ye goo aboute eny other thynge, it shall be determined in a lawfull congregacyon. For we are in ieopardy to be accused of thys dayes vproure, for as moche as ther is no cause, wherby we maye geue a rekenynge of thys concourse of people. And when he had thus spoken, he let the congregacion departe. ¶ The .xx. Chapter. ¶ Paul goeth into Macedonya and into Grece. At Troas he rayseth vp a ded body. At Ephesus he calleth the elders of the congregacyon together, commytteth the kepynge of Gods flocke vnto them, warneth them of false teachers, maketh hys prayer with them, and departeth to shyppe.

A   After that the rage was ceased, Paul called the dyscyples vnto hym, and toke hys leaue of th&ebar;, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone ouer those partyes, and had geuen them a longe exhortacyon, he cam into

Grece ∧ there abode .iij. monethes. And wh&ebar; þe; Iewes layde wayt for h&ibar; as he was about to sayle into Syria, he purposed to returne thorow Macedonia. Ther acc&obar;panied h&ibar; into Asia, Sopater of Berrea, and of Thessalonia, Aristarcus and Sec&ubar;dus, and Gayus of Derba, ∧ Timotheus, ∧ out of Asia Tychicus and ^note Trophimus. B   These goynge before, taryed vs at Troas. And we sayled awaye fr&obar; Philippos after the dayes of swete bread, and cam vnto them to Troas in fyue dayes, where we abode seuen dayes.

And vp&obar; one of the Saboth dayes, wh&abar; þe; disciples came together for to breake breed Paul preached vnto them (ready to departe on þe; morowe) ∧ c&obar;tinued the preaching vnto mydnyght. And there were many lyghtes in the chamber, where we were gathered together, ∧ ther sate in a wyndowe a certayne yonge man (named Euticus) beinge fall&ebar; into a depe sleepe. And as Paul was preachinge, he was the more ouercome with slepe, &abar;d fell downe from the thyrde lofte, ∧ was tak&ebar; vp deed. C   But whan Paul went doune, he fell on him ^note ∧ embrased him and sayde: make nothynge a do, for his lyfe is in hym. So when he was come vp agayne, ∧ had brok&ebar; the bread ∧ eaten, and talcked a longe whyle (euen tyll the mornyng) at the last he departed. And they brought þe; yonge man alyue, ∧ were not a lytell conforted.

And we went afore to shyppe, ∧ lowsed vnto Asson there to receaue Paul. For so had he appoynted, and wolde hym selfe goo a fote. When we were come together at Asson, we toke him in, ∧ came to Mytilenes. And we sayled thence, and cam the nexte daye ouer agaynst Chios. And the nexte daye we ariued at Samos, ∧ taried at Trogylon. D   The nexte daye we came to Myleton: for Paul had determined to sayle ouer by Ephesus, because he wolde not spende þe; tyme in Asia. For he hasted (yf it were possible for him) to kepe at Ierusal&ebar; þe; daye of Pentecoste. And fr&obar; Mylet&obar; he sent messa&ubar;gers to Ephesus, ∧ called þe; elders of þe; c&obar;gregaci&obar;. Which wh&ebar; they were come to him, he layd vnto th&ebar;: Ye knowe from the fyrst daye that I cam into Asia, after what maner I haue bene &wt; you at all ceasons, seruynge the Lorde with all h&ubar;blenes of mynde, and with many teares ∧ temptacions which happened vnto me by the layinges awayte of the Iewes, because I wolde kepe backe nothynge þt; was profitable vnto you: but to shewe you and teache you openly, ∧ thorowe out euery house, witnessynge both to þe; Iewes, ∧ also to the Grekes, þe; ^note repentaunce, that is toward God, ∧ þe; fayth which is toward oure Lorde Iesus. And now beholde I go bounde in the sprete vnto Ierusalem, not knowing the thinges þt; shal come on me there, E   but þe; ^note the holy goost witnesseth in euery cytie, saying. that b&abar;des and trouble abyde me. But none of these thinges moue me ^note nether is my lyfe deare vnto my selfe, that I might fulfyll my course with ioye, &abar;d the ministracy&obar; (of the worde) which I haue receaued of the Lorde Iesu, to testifye the Gospell of the grace of God.

And now beholde, I am sure, þt; henceforth ye all (thorow wh&obar; I haue gone preachynge the kyngd&obar; of God) shall se my face no more. Wherfore, I take you to recorde this daye that I am pure from the bloude of all men. F   For I haue spared no laboure, but haue shewed you all the counsell of God. Take hede therfore vnto youre selues ∧ to all the flocke amonge wh&obar; the holy ghost hath made you ouersears, to rule the congregacyon of God which he hath purchased with his bloude. ^noteFor I am sure of thys, þt; after my departynge shall greueous wolues entre in am&obar;ge you, not sparyng the flocke. Moreouer, of youre awne selues shall men arise, speaking peruerse th&ibar;ges to drawe disciples after th&ebar;. Therfore awake, ∧ rem&ebar;ber, that by the space of .iij. yeres: I ceased not to warne euery one of you nyght and daye with teares.

G   And now brethr&ebar;, I comm&ebar;de you to God and to the worde of his grace, which is able to build farther, ∧ to geue you an in herita&ubar;ce amonge all them which are sanctifyed ^note I haue desyred no mans syluer, golde, or vesture. Yee, ye your selues knowe that ^note these h&abar;des haue ministred vnto my necessyties, ∧ to them that were with me. I haue shewed you all thinges, how þt; so laboring ye ought to receaue the weake, ∧ to rem&ebar;ber the wordes of þe; Lorde Iesu, how þt; he sayd: it is more blessed to geue then to receaue.

And when he had thus spoken, he kneled downe ^note and prayed with th&ebar; all. And they all wepte sore and fell on Pauls necke, and kyssed hym, sorowynge, most of all for the wordes which he spake, that they shulde se hys face nomore. And they conuayed hym vnto the shyppe. ¶ The .xxj. Chapter. &cross2; ¶ Pauls Iorney by shyppe. Of Philippe the Eu&abar;geliste, ∧ Agabus the Prophet, which warned Dauid not to go to Ierusalem. He remayned stedfast in hys purpose, and is taken in the temple.

A   And whan it chaunced that we had launched forth, and were departed from them, we came with a strayght course vnto Choon and the daye folowynge vnto the Rhodes, and from thence vnto Patara. And whan we had gotten a shyppe that wolde sayle vnto Phenyces, we went aborde into it, and set forth. But whan Ciprus beganne to appeare vnto vs, we lefte it on the lefte hande, and sayled vnto Siria, and c&abar; vnto Tyre. For there the shyppe vnladed the burthen. And

when we had founde brethren, we taryed there .vij. dayes. And they tolde Paul thorowe the sprete ^note that he shuld not go vp to Ierusalem. And when the dayes were ended we departed and went oure waye, and they all brought vs on oure waye, with wyues and chyldren, tyll we were come out of the cytie. And we kneled downe in the shore ^note &abar;d prayde. B   And when we had taken oure leaue one of another, we toke shippe, ∧ they returned home agayne:

When we had full ended the course from Tyre, we went downe to Ptolomaida, ∧ saluted the brethr&ebar;, ∧ abode with th&ebar; one daye The nexte daye, we that were of Pauls c&obar;pany departed, and came vnto Cesarea. And we entred into the house of ^note Philip þe; Eu&abar;gelist, which was one of the seu&ebar;, ∧ abode &wt; hym. C   The same man had fower daughters virgens, which dyd ^note prophesy. And as we taryed there a good mayny of dayes, there c&abar; a certaine prophet fr&obar; Iurie, named Agabus. When he was come vnto vs, he toke Pauls gerdell, ∧ bounde his fete ∧ handes, ∧ sayd: Thus sayth the holy ghost ^note so shal the Iewes at Ierusal&ebar; bynde þe; man that oweth this gerdell, and shall delyuer hym into the handes of the Gentyls.

When we hearde this, both we and other which were of the same place, besought him that he wolde not go vp to Ierusalem. Th&ebar; Paul answered, ∧ sayde: what do ye wepynge ∧ veryng myne herte? I am ready, not to be bounde onely, but also to dye at Ierusal&ebar; for the name of the Lorde Iesu. Wh&ebar; we coulde not turne hys mynde, we ceased, sayinge ^note the wyll of the Lord be fulfylled. After those dayes we toke vp oure burth&ebar;s, ∧ went vp to Ierusalem. ^noteTher went with vs also certayne of the discyples of Cesarea, D   and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus an olde discyple, with wh&obar; we shulde lodge. And when we were come to Ierusalem, the brethr&ebar; receaued vs gladly. And on the morow, Paul went in with vs vnto Iames. And all the elders came together. And wh&ebar; he had saluted th&ebar;, he tolde by order all thynges, that God had wrought am&obar;ge þe; g&ebar;tyls by his ministracyon. And when they hearde it, they glorifyed the Lorde, and sayde vnto him: Thou seest brother, how many thous&abar;de Iewes ther are which beleue, and they are all ernest folowers ouer the lawe. And they are informed of the, that thou teachest all the Iewes which are am&obar;ge the gentyls, to forsake Moses: and sayst, that they ought not to circuncise theyr chyldren, nether to lyue after the customes. What is it therfore? The multytude must nedes come together: For they shall heare that thou arte come. Do therfore this, that we saye to the.

^noteWe haue .iiij. men, which haue a vowe on them. Them take, ∧ purifie thy selfe with th&ebar;, and do cost on th&ebar;, that they maye shaue their heades: E   and all shall knowe, that those thynges which they haue hearde c&obar;cernyng the, are nothyng: but that thou thy selfe also walkest and kepest the lawe. But as touchynge the gentyls which beleue ^note we haue written and concluded, that they obserue no soche thyng: saue onely that they kepe them selues from thynges offred to ydoles, and from bloude, and from strangled, and from fornicacyon. Then the nexte daye Paul toke the m&ebar;, and ^note puryfyed hym selfe with them and entred into the temple, declarynge that he obserued the dayes of the purificacyon, vntyll that an offeryng shuld be offered for euery one of them.

And whan the seuen dayes were nowe almost &ebar;ded, þt; Ieues which were of Asia (wh&ebar; they sawe hym in the temple) moued all the people, and layde handes on him, crying: m&ebar; of Israell, helpe. F   This is the m&abar;, þt; teacheth all m&ebar; euery where agaynst the people and þe; lawe, and thys place. He hath also brought Grekes into þe; temple, &abar;d hath polluted thys holy place. For they had sene with hym one in the cytie. ^noteTrophinus an Ephesi&abar;, wh&obar; they supposed that Paul had brought into þe; temple. And all the cytie was moued, and the people swarmed together. And they toke Paul and drue him out of the temple, and forth with, the dores were shut.

As they went about to kyll him, tidinges came vnto the hye captayne of the soudyers, that all Ierusalem was moued. Which immediatly toke soudiers &abar;d vndercaptaynes, and ranne downe vnto them. When they sawe þe; vpper captayne and the soudiers: they lefte smytinge of Paul. G   Then the captayne cam neare and toke hym, and commaunded hym to be bo&ubar;de with two chaynes, and dema&ubar;ded what he was, &abar;d what he had done. And some cryed one thinge, some another amonge the people. And when he coulde not knowe the certayntie for the rage, he c&obar;ma&ubar;ded him to be caryed into the castle. And wh&ebar; he c&abar; vnto a stayre, it fortuned that he was borne of the soudiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people folowed after, cryinge: awaye with hym.

And whan Paul beganne to be caryed into the castle, he sayde vnto þe; hye Captayne: maye I speake vnto the? Which sayde: C&abar;st thou speake Greke? Art not thou that Egypcyan, which before these dayes madest an vproure, and leddest out into the wildernes: iiij. thousande men that were motherers? But Paul sayde: I am a m&abar; which am a Iewe of ^note Tharsus a cytie in Cycill, a Cytesin of no vyle citie, I beseche þe soffre me to speake vnto the people. And when he had geuen him lycence, Paul stode on the steppes, ^note and

beckened with the hande vnto the people: and whan there was made a greate sylence he spake vnto them in the Hebrue tonge, sayinge. ¶ The .xxij. Chapter. ¶ Paul answereth the Iewes. He is scourged, and layde in preson agayne.

A   Men, brethren, and fathers, heare ye myne &abar;swere which I make nowe vnto you. When they hearde, that he spake in the Hebrue tonge to them, they kept the more sylence. And he sayeth: I am verely a m&abar; which am a Iewe borne &ibar; ^note Tarsus a cytie &ibar; Cycile: neuertheles, yet brought vp in thys cytie, at the fete of ^note Gamaliell, and informed dilygently in the lawe of the fathers, and was seruent mynded to God warde, as ye all are thys same daye, and ^note I persecuted thys waye vnto the death byndynge and delyueryng into preson both men and wem&ebar;, as the chefe preste doth beare me wytnesse, and all the estate of the elders: of whom also I receaued lettres vnto the brethren, and went to Damasco to bring them, (which were there bounde) vnto Ierusalem for to be punysshed.

B   And it fortuned (that as I made my iorney and was come nye vnto Damasco aboute none) sodenly there shone from heauen a greate lyght ronnde aboute me, and I fell vnto the earthe, and hearde a voyce sayinge vnto me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ^note And I answered: what arte thou Lorde? And he sayde vnto me: I am Iesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were wyth me, sawe verely a lyghte, and were afrayde: but they hearde not the voyce of hym that spake with me. And I sayde: what shall I do Lorde? And the Lorde sayde vnto me: Aryse, and go into Damasco, and there it shall be tolde the of all thynges, whych are appoynted for the to do. And whan I sawe nothynge for the bryghtnes of that lyght, I was leade by the hande of them that were wyth me, and came into Damasco.

C    ^noteAnd one Ananias a parfecte man, (and as pertaynynge to the lawe hauynge good reporte of all the Iewes, whych there dwelt) cam vnto me, and stode, and sayde vnto me: Brother Saul, receaue thy lyght. And the same houre I receaued my syghte, and sawe hym. And he sayde: the God of our fathers hath ordeyned the before, that thou shuldest knowe hys wyll, and shuldest heare the voyce of hys mouth: for thou shalt be hys wytnes vnto all men of those thinges, which thou hast sene and heard. And nowe, why taryest thou? Aryse, and be baptysed, and wasshe awaye thy synnes ^note in callyng on the name name of the Lorde. And it fortuned, that whan I was come agayne to Ierusalem, and prayde in the temple, I was in a traunce, D   and sawe hym, sayinge vnto me: Make haste, and get the quyckly oute of Ierusalem: for they wyll not receaue thy wytnesse, that thou bearest of me

And I sayde: Lorde, they knowe that I presoned, and bett in euery Synagoge them that beleued on the. ^noteAnd wh&abar; the bloude of thy wytnes Steuen was shed, I also stode by, and consented vnto hys death, and kept the rayment of them that slewe hym. And he sayd vnto me departe, for ^note I wyll sende the a farre hence vnto the Gentyls.

They gaue hym audience vnto thys worde, and then lyft vp theyr voyces and sayde: awaye with soche a felowe from the earth: for it is not reason that he shuld lyue. And as they cryed, and cast of thir clothes, and thrue dust into the ayer, the captayne commaunded hym to be brought into the castle, and bad that he shulde be scourged, and to be examined, that he might knowe, wherfore they cryed so on hym. And whan they bounde hym wyth thonges, Paul sayde vnto the Centurion, that stode by him: Is it lauful for you to scourge a man that is a Romayn and vncondempned? When the Centurion hearde that, he went and tolde the vpper captayne, saying: What intendest thou to do? For thys man is (a cytezen) of Rome.

Then the vpper captayne cam, and sayd vnto him: tell me, art thou a Romayne? He sayd: Yee. And the captayne answered, with a great some obtayned I thys fredom. E   And Paul sayd: I was fre borne. Then strayght waye departed from hym they which shulde haue examyned hym. And the hye captayne also was afrayde, after he knewe that he was a Romayne, and because he had bounde hym.

On the morowe (because he wolde haue knowen the certentye wherfore he was accused of the Iewes (he losed hym from hys bondes, and commaunded the hye prestes and all the counsell to come together and ^note brought Paul forth, ∧ set hym before th&ebar;.

¶ The.xxiij. Chapter. ¶ Paul commeth before the councell. Debate aryseth amonge the people, the captayne delyuereth hym, God com&ubar;nteth hym.

A   Paul behelde the councel, and sayde: men, and brethren ^note I haue lyued in all good conscyence before God vntyll this daye. And the hye preste Ananias comma&ubar;ded them that stode by, to smyte hym on the mouth.

Then sayde Paul vnto hym: God shall smyte the thou paynted wall. ^noteSyttest þu; and iudgest me after the lawe: and comma&ubar;dest me to be smytten contrary to the lawe? And they that stode by, sayde ^note reuylest thou Goddes hye preste? Then sayd Paul: I wist not brethren, that he was the hye preste. For it is wrytten: ^note thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.

B   When Paul perceaued that the one parte were Saduces, and the other Pharises, he cryed out in the councell: Men and brethren, ^note I am a Pharisey, the sonne of a Pharisey. ^noteOf the hope and resurreccyon from death, I am iudged.

And whan he had so sayde, there arose a debate betwene the Phariseyes and the Saduces &abar;d the multitude was deuyded. ^noteFor the Saduces saye, that there is no resurreccyon, nether angel, nor sprete: But the Phariseyes graunt both.

And there arose a greate crye: and whan the Scrybes which were of the Phariseyes parte arose, they stroue saying: we fynde none euyll in thys man. Though a sprete or an angell hath apeared to hym, let vs not stryue agaynst God.

C   And when there arose greate debate, the captayne (fearyng, lest Paul shulde haue bene pluckte a sondre of them) commaunded the soudyers to go downe, and to take hym from amonge them, and to brynge hym into the castell.

^noteThe nyght folowynge, God stode by hym, and sayde: be of good cheare Paul: for as thou hast testifyed of me in Ierusalem ^note so must thou beare wytnesse also at Rome. And whan it was daye, certayne of the Iewes gathered them selues togeather, and made a vowe, sayinge: that they wolde nether eate nor dryncke, tyll they had kylled Paul. They were moo then fourtye men, which had made thys conspiracyon. And they came to the chefe prestes and elders, &abar;d sayde: we haue bounde oure selues with a vowe, that we wyll eate nothynge, vntyll we haue slayne Paul.

D   Nowe therfore geue ye knowledge to the vpper captayne and to the councell, that he brynge hym forth vnto vs to morowe, as though we wold knowe some thyng more perfectly of him. But we (or euer he come neare) are redy to kyll hym.

Whan Pauls systers sonne hearde of theyr layinge awayte, he went, and entred into the castell, and tolde Paul. And Paul called one of the vnder captaynes vnto him and sayde: brynge thys younge man vnto the hye captayne: for he hath a certayne thynge to shewe hym. And he toke hym and brought hym to the hye captayne, and sayd: Paul the presoner called me vnto hym, and prayed me to brynge thys younge man vnto the, whych hath a certayne matter to shewe the.

E   The hye captayne toke hym by the hand, and went with him out of the waye, and asked h&ibar;: what is yt that thou hast to tell me? And he sayde: the Iewes are determyned to desyre the, that thou woldest brynge forth Paul to morow into the counsell, as though they wolde enquyre somwhat of hym more perfectly. But folowe not thou theyr myndes: for there lye in wayte for hym of them, moo then fourtye men, which haue bounde them selues with a vowe, that they will nether eate nor dryncke, tyll they haue kylled hym. And now are they redy, and loke that thou shuldest promes.

F   The vpper captayne then let the younge man departe, and charged hym, sayinge: se thou, tell it oute to no man, that thou hast shewed these thynges to me:And he called vnto hym two vnder captaynes sayinge: make ready two hundred soudiers to go to Cesarea, and horssmen threscore, and ten: and speare men two hundred, at the thyrde houre of the nyghte. And delyuer them beastes, that they maye sett Paul on, and brynge hym safe vnto Felix the hye debyte (For he dyd feare lest happlye the Iewes shulde take hym awaye and kyll hym, and he hym selfe shulde be afterwarde blamed, as though he wolde take money,) and he wrote a letter after thys maner.

Claudius Lysias vnto the most myghty rular Felix, sendeth, gretynges. ^noteThys man was taken of the Iewes, and shuld haue bene kylled of them. Then came I with soudyers, and reskued hym, and perceaued that he was a Romayn. And when I wold haue knowen the cause, wherfore they accused hym, ^note I broughte hym forth into theyr councell. There perceaued I that he was accused of questions of their lawe. ^noteBut was not gyltye of eny thynge worthy of death or of bondes. And when it was shewed me, how that Iewes layde wayte ther for him, I sent hym strayght waye to the, and gaue commaundement to hys accusars, that

the thynges, which they haue agaynst hym, they shulde tell before the: fare well. Then the soudyers (as it was commaunded them) toke Paul, &abar;d brought hym by night to Antipatras. On the morow they left the horssmen to go with hym, and returned vnto the castle. Whych when they came to Cesarea, (and delyuered the epistle to the debyte) presented Paul also before him. When the debite had redde the lettre, he asked of what co&ubar;tre he was. And when he vnderstode that he was of Cilicia ^note I wyll heare the (sayde he) when thyne accusars are come also: and he commaunded hym to be kepte in Herodes iudgement hall. ¶ The .xxiiij. Chapter. ¶ Paul ys accused before Felix, be answereth for hym selfe.

A   After fyue dayes, Ananias ^note the hye preste descended with the elders, and with a certayne oratour named Tartullus, which enformed the debite against Paul. And when Paul was called forth, Tartullus beganne to accuse hym, saying: Seyinge that we lyue in greate quietnes by the meanes of the, and that many good thynges are done vnto thys nacion thorowe thy prouidence. that alowe we euer and in all places moost noble Felix with all th&abar;kes. Notwithstandynge, þt; I be not tedious vnto the, I praye the, that thou woldest heare vs of thy curtesy a feaw wordes:

B   For we haue founde this man a pestilent felowe, and a mouer of debate vnto all the Iewes in the whole world, and a maynteyner (of sedicyon) of the secte of the Nazarites which hath also enforsed to pollute the temple. ^noteWhom we toke, and wolde haue iudged accordinge to our lawe: but the hye captayne Lisias came vpon vs, and with great violence toke hym awaye oute of oure handes, commaundynge hys accusars to come vnto the. Of whom thou mayest (yf thou wilt enquyre) knowe the certenty of all these thinges, wherof we accuse h&ibar;: The Iewes lykewyse affermed, sayinge, that these thinges were euen so.

C   Then Paul (after that the debite hym selfe had beckened vnto hym that he shulde speake) answered: With a moare quiet minde do I answere for my selfe, for as moche as I vnderst&abar;de, that thou hast bene of many yeares a iudge vnto thys people, because that thou mayest knowe, þt; ther are yet, but twelue dayes sence I went vp to Ierusalem for to worshyppe, and ^note they nether founde me in the temple disputynge with eny man, ether raysinge vp the people, nether in the Synagoges, nor in the cytie. Nether can they proue the thynges wherof they accuse me

D   But thys I confesse vnto the, that after the waye (which they call heresye) so worship I the God of my fathers, beleuynge all thinges which are wrytten in the lawe ∧ the prophetes, and haue hope towardes God, that ^note the same resurrecci&obar; of the deed) which they them selues loke for also) shalbe, both of iust and vniust. And therfore ^note study I to haue allwaye a cleare conscience toward God, and towarde men.

But after many yeares, I came ^note and brought almes to my people and offerynges (and bowes) in the which they founde me purifyed in the temple, nether with multitude, nor yet with vnquyetnesse (and they toke me, and cryed, sayinge, awaye wyth oure enemye.) Howbeit there were certen Iewes out of Asia, which ought to be here present before the, and accuse me, yf they had ought agaynst me: or elles lett these same here saye, E   yf they haue found any euyll doynge in me, whyle I stande here in the councell: except it be for this one voyce, that I cryed standynge among them. ^note of the resurreccyon from death am I iudged of you thys daye.

Wh&ebar; Felix heard these thinges, he deferde th&ebar;, for he knew very well of that waye, and sayde: when Lysias the captayne is come downe. E   I will knowe the vtmost of your matter. And ^note he commaunded an vndercaptayne to kepe Paul, and to let hym haue rest, and that he shuld forbyd none of hys acquayntaunce to minister vnto him, or to come vnto hym.

And after a certayne dayes, whan Felix came with his wyfe Drusilla (which was a Iewesse) he called forth Paul, and hearde hym of the fayth, F   which is towarde Christ And as he preached of ryghtewesnes temperaunce, and iudgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered: Go thy waye for thys tyme: whan I haue a conuenient season, I wyll sende for the. He hoped also, that money shulde haue bene geuen hym of Paul, that he myght loose him: wherfore, he called hym the oftenner and comened with hym. But after two yeare, Festus Porcius came into Felix rowme. And Felix ^note wyllynge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure, lefte Paul in preson bounde. ¶ The .xxv. Chapter. ¶ The Iewes accuse Paul defore Festus, he appealeth vnto the Emperour, and is sent vnto Rome.

A   When Festus had receaued the offyce, after thre dayes, he asc&ebar;ded from Cesarea vnto Ierusalem. Then enformed h&ibar; the hye prestes and the chefe of the Iewes, of Paul. And they besought hym, and desyred fauour agaynst hym, that he wolde sende for hym to Ierusalem: and they layde

awayte for hym in the waye, to kyll hym. Festus answered, that Paul shulde be kept. at Cesarea, but that he hym selfe wold shorly departe thyther. Let them therfore (sayde he) which among you are able, come downe with vs, and accuse hym, yf there be any fawte in the man.

B   When he had taryed there amonge them more then ten dayes, he wente downe vnto Cesarea and the nexte daye sat downe in the iudgement seate, and commaunded Paul to be brought. Which when he was come, the Iewes which were come from Ierusalem, stode aboute hym, and layde many and greueous complayntes agaynst Paul, whych they coulde not proue, as l&obar;ge as he answered for hym self ^note that he had nether agaynst the lawe of the Iewes, nether agaynst the temple, nor yet agaynst Cesar offended any thynge at all.

C   Festus ^note wyllynge to do the Iewes a pleasure, answered Paul, and sayde: wylt thou go vp to Ierusalem, and there be iudged of these thynges before me? Then sayde Paul: I stande at Cesares iudgement seate, where I ought to be iudged. To the Iewes haue I no harme done, as thou very well knowest. If I haue hurte them, or commytted any thyng worthy of death, I refuse not to dye. If no one of these thynges are, where of they accuse me, no man maye delyuer me to them, I appeale vnto Cesar. Then spake Festus with deliberacyon, and answered: Thou hast appealed vnto Cesar: vnto Cesar shalt thou go.

D   And after a certayne dayes, kinge Agripa and Bernice came vnto Cesarea to salute Festus. And whan they had bene there a good ceason, Festus rehearsed Paules cause vnto the kynge, sayinge: ^note there is a certayne man lefte in preson of Felix, aboute whom whan I came to Ierusalem, ^note the hye prestes and elders of the Iewes enfourmed me, and desyred to haue iudgement agaynst hym. E   To whom I answered: It is not the maner of the Romaynes, for fauoure to delyuer any man, that he shulde perysshe, before that he which is accused, haue the accusars before hym, and haue lycence to answere for hym selfe, concernynge the cryme layde agaynst hym. Therfore, whan they were come hyther, withoute any delaye, on the morowe I sate to geue iudgment, and commaunded the man to be brought forth.

Agaynst whom, whan the accusars stode vp, ^note they brought noone accusacion of soch thynges as I supposed: but had certen questious agaynst hym of theyr awne supersticion, and of one Iesus which was deed, wh&obar; Paul affyrmed to be alyue. And because I douted of soche maner of questions, I asked hym, whether he wolde go to Ierusalem, and there be iudged of these matters. F   But whan Paul had appealed to be kepte vnto the knowledge of Cesar, I commaunded hym to be kepte, tyll I myght sende hym to Cesar. Agripa sayde vnto Festus: I wolde also heare the man my selfe. Tomorowe, (sayde he) thou shalt heare hym. And on the morowe whan Agripa was come and Bernice, with greate pompe, and were entred into the councell house, G   with the captaynes &abar;d chefe men of the cytie, at Festus commaundement was Paul brought forth. And Festus sayde: kyng Agripa, ∧ all ye men which are heare present with vs, ye se thys man, about whom all the multitude of the Iewes haue intreated me, both at Ierusalem and also here cryinge, that he ought not to lyue any lenger. Yet founde I nothyng worthy of death, that he had committed. Neuertheles, seying that he hath appealed to Cesar, I haue determined to send hym. Of whom I haue no certayne thyng to write vnto my lord. Wherfore, I haue brought hym vnto you, and specially vnto the: O kynge Agripa, that after examinacyon had, I myght haue sumwhat to wryte. For me thincketh it vnreasonable, for to sende a presoner, and not to shewe the causes which are layde agaynst hym ¶ The .xxvj. Chapter. ¶ Kynge Agryppa heareth Paul, whych telleth hym hys callynge from the begynnynge.

A   Agrippa sayde vnto Paul: þu; art permytted to speake for thy selfe. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for hym selfe. I thinke my self happy k&ibar;g Agrippa, because I shall answere this daye before the, of all the thinges wherof, I am accused of þe; Iewes: namely, because thou arte experte in all customes and questions, which are among the Iewes. Wherfore I beseche the, to heare me paciently.

B   My lyuynge that I haue lead of a chylde (which was at the fyrst among myne awne nacion at Ierusalem) knowe all the Iewes, which knewe me from the begynnynge, yf they wolde testyfye. For ^note after the moost straytest secte of our religion, I lyued a pharisey. And now I stande and ^note am iudged for the hope of the promes made of God vnto oure father: vnto which promes our twelue tribes (instantly seruyng God daye ∧ night) hope to come. C   For which hopes sake, kynge Agrippa, I am accused of the Iewes. Why shulde it be thought a thynge incredyble vnto you, þt; God shulde rayse agayne the deed? I also verely thought in my selfe, that I ought to do many contrary thynges, cleane agaynst the name of Iesus of Nazareth: ^note which thynge I also dyd in Ierusalem. And

many of the saynctes dyd I shut vp in preson, and had receaued auctorite of the hye Prestes. And when they were put to deeth. I gaue the sentence. And I punisshed them ofte in euery synagoge, and compelled them to blaspheme: and was yet more mad vpon them, and persecuted them, euen vnto straunge cyties. About which thinges as I w&ebar;t to Damasco wyth auctorite and licence of the hye Prestes, eu&ebar; at myddaye. (O kyng) I sawe in the waye a lyght from heauen aboue the bryghtnes of the sonne shyne rounde about me, and them whych iorneyed wyth me.

D   When we were all fallen to the erthe, I heard a voyce speakynge vnto me, ∧ saying in the Hebrue tonge: ^note Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is harde for the to kicke agaynst the prickes. And I sayd: Who art thou Lorde? And he sayde: I am Iesus whom thou persecutest, but ryse and stand vp on thy fete. For I haue appeared vnto þe; for thys purpose, to make þe; a minister and a witnes both of those thynges whych þu; hast sene, ∧ of those thynges in the which I will appeare vnto the, delyueringe the from the people, and from the gentyls, vnto whom now I sende the, to op&ebar; their eyes, that they maye be turned from darckness to light, and from the power of Satan vnto God, that they maye receaue forgeuenes of synnes, and inheritaunce am&obar;ge them whych are sanctified by fayth that is toward me.

E   Wherfore (O kynge Agryppa) I was not disobedient vnto the heauenly visyon: but shewed fyrst vnto them of Damasco, &abar;d at Ierusalem, and thorow out all the coastes of Iewry, and then to the gentyls, that they shuld repent, and turne to God, and do soch workes as become them that repent. For thys cause the Iewes caught me in the temple, and went about to kyll me. Seyng therfore that I haue obtained helpe of God: I contynew vnto thys daye, wytnessinge bothe to small ∧ to great, saying none other thynges, then those whych the prophetes &abar;d Moses dyd saye shuld come: that Christ shulde soffer, and that he shulde be the fyrst that shuld ryse from deth, and shuld shew lyght vnto the people, and to the gentyls. As he thus spake for hym selfe: F   Festus sayde with a loude voyce: Paul, þu; art besyde thy selfe. Moch learnynge doth make the madd. And Paul sayde: I am not mad (most deare Festus) but speake forth the wordes of trueth and sobernes. For þe; kynge knoweth of these thynges, before wh&obar; also I speake frely: nether thynke I that eny of these thynges are hydden from him. For thys thynge was not done in a corner. Kynge Agrippa beleuest thou the Prophetes? I wote well that thou beleuest. Agrippa sayde vnto Paul: Sumwhat thou bryngest me in mynde for to become Chrysten. And Paul sayde? I wolde to God that not onely thou: but also all that heare me to daye were, not somwhat onely, but all together, soch as I am, except these bondes. And when he had thus spoken, the kynge rose vp, and the debite, and Bernice, and they that sate with th&ebar;, And when they were gone aparte, they talked betwene th&ebar; selues, sayinge. Thys man doeth nothyng worthy of deeth, or of bondes. Then sayde Agrippa vnto Festus. Thys man myght haue bene let loose, yf he had not appealed vnto Cesar. ¶ The .xxvij. Chapter. ¶ Paul shyppeth towarde Rome. Iulius the Captayne intreateth hym curteously, &abar;d at the last they suffre shypwrake.

A   When it was concluded, þt; we shuld sayle into Italy they delyuered both Paul ∧ certayne other presoners, vnto one named Iulius, an vndercaptayne of Cesars soudiars. And we entred into a shyp of Adramicium, and loosed from land, apoynted to sayle by the coastes of Asia, one ^note Aristarcus out of Macedonia, of the contre of Thessalonia taryinge styll with vs. And þe; nexte daye we came to Sid&obar;. And Iulius ^note courteously entreated Paul, and gaue him lyberte, to go vnto his fr&ebar;des, ∧ to refresshe hym selfe. And whan we had launched from thence, we sayled harde by Cypers, because the wyndes were c&obar;trarye. And whan we had sayled ouer þe; see of Cylicia, ∧ Pamphilia, we cam to Myra whych is in Lycia.

B   And there the vndercaptayne founde a shyppe of Alexandria ready, that sayled into Italy, and he put vs therin. And when we had sayled slowly many dayes, and scace were come ouer agaynst Guydon (because the wynde wyth stode vs) we sayled harde by the coaste of Candy, ouer agaynst Salmo, and wyth moche worke sayled beyonde it, ∧ came vnto a place which is called the fayre hau&ebar;s. Nye wher vnto was the cytie of Lasea when moche tyme was spent, and whan sayling was now ieoperdous, because also that they had ouerlonge fasted, Paul put th&ebar; in remembraunce, and sayd vnto th&ebar;: Syrs I perceaue, C   that thys viage wilbe wyth hurte and moche damage, not of the ladynge &abar;d shyp onely, but also of your lyues: Neuerthelesse þe; vnder captayne beleued þe; gouerner ∧ þe; master of þe; shyp more then those thynges whych were spok&ebar; of Paul. And because the hau&ebar; was not c&obar;modio&us; to wynter in, many toke co&ubar;sell to departe th&ebar;ce, yf by eny meanes they myght attayne to Phenices ∧ there

to wynter, whych is an hauen of Candy, and lyeth toward the southwest and north west wynde. When the south wynde blewe, they supposynge to obtayne their purpose, loosed vnto Asson, and sayled past all Candy.

But not long after, ther arose agaynst theyr purpose, a flawe of wynde out of the northeast. D   And when the shyp was caught ∧ could not resyst þe; wynde, we let her go, and draue with þe; wether. But we were caryed &ibar; to an yle whych is named Clauda, and had moche worke to come by a bote, whych they toke vp, and vsed helpe, ∧ made fast þe; shyppe, fearinge, lest they shuld fall &rhand; into the Syrtes. And so they let downe a vessell, &abar;d were caryed. The nexte daye) wh&ebar; we were tossed wyth an exceadinge t&ebar;pest) they lyghttened the shyp, and the thyrde daye we cast out wyth oure awne handes the taklynge of the shippe. Wh&ebar; at the last, nether the sunne nor starres in many dayes appeared, and no small tempest laye vp&obar; vs, all hope that we shuld escape, was then tak&ebar; awaye. But after longe abstynence, Paul stode forth in the myddes of them, ∧ sayde: Syrs, ye shulde haue harkened to me, and not haue loosed from C&abar;dy, nether to haue brought vnto vs thys harme ∧ losse. And now I exhorte you to be of good chere. For ther shalbe no losse of eny m&abar;s lyfe amonge you, saue of the ship onely. For ther stode by me thys nyght þe; angell of God, whose I am, and who I serue, saying: feare not Paul ^note þu; must be brought before Cesar, And lo, God hath geuen the all them that sayle wyth the. Wherfore syrs be of good chere: for I beleue God, that it shalbe euen as it was tolde me. E   How be it we must be cast into ^note a certayne ylonde:

But when the fourtenth nyght was come) as we were sayling &ibar; Adria about mydnyght (the shypm&ebar; demed, that ther appeared some countre vnto them: and sounded, ∧ fo&ubar;de it .xx. feddoms. And wh&ebar; they had gone a lytell further, they sounded agayne, and fo&ubar;de .xv. feddoms. Then fearynge lest they shuld haue fall&ebar; on some rocke, they cast .iiij. ancres out of the sterne, and wysshed for the daye. As the shypmen were about to flee out of the shyp (whan they had let downe þe; bote &ibar;to the see, vnder a couloure, as though they wolde haue cast ancres out of the forshippe) Paul sayde vnto the vndercaptayne and to the soudyers: excepte these abyde in the shypye cannot be safe. Then the soudyers cut of þe; rope of the bote, and let it fall awaye.

F   And whan the daye beganne to appeare, Paul besought them all to take meate, sayinge: thys is the fourtenth daye, that ye haue taryed and contynued fastynge, receauynge noth&ibar;g at all. Wherfore, I praye you to take meate: for this no dout is for youre helth: for ^note ther shall not an heer fall from the heed of eny of you. And when he had thus spoken, he toke breed and ^note gaue thankes to God in presence of them all: and whan he had brok&ebar; it, he beganne to eate. Then were they all of good cheare, and they also toke meate. We were all together in the shyp, two hundred threscore and syxtene soules. And wh&ebar; they had eaten ynough, they lyghtened the shyp, and cast out the wheate in to the see.

G   When it was daye, they knew not the lande, but they spyed a certayne hauen with a bancke, into the whych they were mynded (if it were possyble) to thrust in þe; shyp. And when they had taken vp the ancres, they c&obar;mitted them selues vnto the see, and lowsed the rudder bondes and hoysed vp the mayne sayle to the wynde, and drue to lande. And whan they chaunced on a place, whych had the see on both the sydes, they thrust in the shyp. And the foreparte stucke fast and moued not, but the hynder parte brake wyth þe; violence of the waues.

The Soudyars councell was to kyll the presoners, lest eny of them, when he had swome out, shulde ronne awaye. But the vndercaptayne wyllinge to saue Paul, kept them from theyr purpose, and commaunded that they whych coulde swymme, shulde cast th&ebar; selues fyrst into the see, and scape to lande. And the other he commaunded to go, some on bordes, and some on broken peces of the shyp. And so it came to passe, that they escaped all safe to lande. ¶ The .xxviij. Chapter. ¶ The vyper hurteth not Pauls hande, he healeth Publyus father, and preacheth Chryst at Rome.

A   And when they were scaped, then they knewe, that: ^note the yle was called Milete. And the straungers shewed vs no lytell kyndnes: for they kyndled a fyre, and receaued vs euery one, because of the present rayne, ∧ because of þe; colde. And wh&ebar; Paul had gathered a bondell of styckes, and layde th&ebar; on the fyre, ther came a vyper out of the heat, ∧ caught hym by the h&abar;de. When the straungers sawe the beast hange on hys hande, they sayde amonge them selues: no doute thys m&abar; is a mortherer: Wh&obar; (though he haue escaped the see) yet vengeaunce suffreth not to lyue. B   And he shouke of the vyper into the fyre, and ^note felt no harme. Howbeit they wayted wh&ebar; he shulde haue swolne, or fallen downe deed sodenly. But after they had loked a greate whyle, and sawe no harme come to hym, they chaunged theyr myndes, and sayde ^note that he was a God.

C   In the same quarters were londes of the chefe man of the yle (whose name was Publius) whych receaued vs, ∧ lodged vs thre dayes courteously. And it fortuned that the father of Publius laye sycke of a feuer, and of a bloudy flixe. To whom paul entred in and prayde, and layde hys handes on hym ∧ healeth him. So, when this was done, other also whych had dyseases in the yle, cam and were healed: whych also dyd vs great honoure. And when we departed, they laded vs &wt; soch thynges as were necessary.

After thre monethes we departed in a ship of Alex&abar;dry, whych had wyntred in the yle, whose badge was &rhand; Castor ∧ Pollux. And wh&ebar; we came to Cyracusa, we taryed there thre dayes. And fr&obar; thence we fet a c&obar;passe, and came to Regium. And after one daye þe; south wynde blewe, and we came the nexte daye to Putiolus: where we founde brethr&ebar;, and were desyred to tary wyth them seuen dayes, and so came we to Rome. And from thence, when the brethren hearde of vs, they came to mete vs at Apiphorum, and at the thre tauernes. When Paul sawe them, he thancked God, and wexed bolde. D   And when we came to Rome, the vndercaptayne delyuered the presoners to the chefe captayne of the host: but Paul was suffred to dwell by hym selfe wyth a soudyer that kept hym.

And after thre dayes, Paul called the chefe of the Iewes together. And when they were come, he sayde vnto them: Men and brethr&ebar;, though, ^note I haue c&obar;mitted nothing agaynst the people or lawes of þe; Elders ^note yet was I delyuered presoner from Ierusalem into the handes of the Romayns. Whych when they had examined me, wolde haue let me go, because ther was no cause of death in me. But when the Iewes spake contrary, I was constrayned to appeale vnto cesar: not þt; I had ought to accuse my people of. For thys cause then haue I called for you, eu&ebar; to se you, and to speake wyth you: ^note because that for the hope of Israel I am bounde &wt; this cheyne.

And they sayde vnto hym: we nether receaued lettres out of Iewry pertayninge vnto the nether eny of the brethren þt; came shewed or spake eny harme of þe;. But we wyll heare of the what thou thynckest. For as c&obar;cernyng thys secte, we knowe that ^note euery where it is spoken agaynst. And when they had appoynted him a daye, ther came many to hym into hys lodgyng. To whom he expounded and testifyed the kyngdom of God F    and preached vnto them of Iesus: both out of the lawe of Moses and out of the Prophetes, euen from morninge to nyght. And ^note some beleued the thynges whych were spok&ebar;, and some beleued not.

And when they agreed not amonge them selues, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one worde: well spake the holy ghost by Esay the prophet vnto oure fathers, saying: ^note Go vnto thys people, and saye: wyth youre eares shall ye heare, and shall not vnderstande: and wyth youre eyes shall ye se, ∧ not perceaue.

For the hert of thys people is wexed grosse, &abar;d wyth their eares haue they had no lust to heare, and their eyes haue they closed: lest they shulde se wyth their eyes, ∧ heare wyth their eares, and vnderstande with their hertes, and shuld be conuerted, and I shuld heale them. Be it knowen therfore vnto you, that thys saluacyon of God is sent to the g&ebar;tyls, and they shall heare it. And wh&ebar; he had sayde these wordes, G   the Iewes departed fr&obar; him and had greate despycions am&obar;ge them selues.

And Paul dwelt two yeares full in hys lodgynge, and receaued all that cam in vnto, hym, preachinge the kyngdome of God, and teachynge those thynges whych concerne the Lorde Iesus wyth all confydence, no man forbyddyng hym. ¶ Here endeth the Actes of the Apostles. &cross2;

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