tian practice, for even where these Proselytes of the Gentiles are, the books of Moses are continued among them, being read in the synagogue every sabbath-day, to signify their respect to the law."

The business being thus determined by the consent of the whole assembly, the next thing was to choose some messengers from Judea, who were present at this council, to go along with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, and they fixed upon Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, men of eminent account among the brethren. These, therefore, they dispatched to Antioch with letters to the fol lowing purport: "The apostles, elders, and the whole society of christians in Jerusalem, salute the brethren which are of the Gentiles, in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. We having received an account, that some which went from hence, endeavoured to subvert you, and to lead you to a groundless doctrine of the necessity for all christians being circumcised, they having no instructions from us so to do. We being assembled together, have determined to send two chosen men of our own body, with our belov. ed Barnabas and Paul; persons, that have in preaching the gospel, behaved themselves with all sincerity, and hazarded their lives for the service of Christ. With these we have sent Judas and Silas, that they may tell you in person and more at large what we write in brief. For we having prayed to God to send his Holy Spirit to abide among us, and lead us into all truth, have determined that the Gentile christians shall not be obliged to circumcision or other judaical observances, or to any more than those few things that have among the Jews been required of all Proselytes* of the gate; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: which things, if ye shall observe, there will be no more of the Mosaical law required of you; and so we bid you heartily, farewell."

The council having dismissed them, they hastened to

• Proselytes. That is of all Gentiles who were in any sort permitted to come into their temple to worship God.

Antioch; where calling the church together, they present'ed the epistle to them in the presence of the whole congregation which when they had read, they rejoiced at the approbation expressed by the apostles. And these two brethren, Judas and Silas, being endued with a prophetic spirit, able to expound and interpret the Scriptures, exhorted and confirmed the believers in the faith! And after some stay at Antioch they took their leave, receiving the prayers and thanks of the brethren. But Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, instructing them that had received the faith, and declaring it to them that had not.

Some time after this, Paul desired Barnabas to accom pany him in visiting those cities where they had before preached, to see how they advanced in the knowledge of Christ. To which Barnabas consented, but would have John Mark go with them; which Paul did not approve of, because John Mark had left them, when he went from Pamphylia, and had not accompanied them constantly in preaching the gospel. Upon which Paul and Barnabas parted; Barnabas taking Mark with him, took shipping for Cyprus, and Paul chusing Silas, went to Syria and Cilicia. And while they sojourned at Derbe and Lystra, they met with a certain disciple named Timothy, whose father was a Greek, but his mother an Hebrew. He was in great esteem among the Christians of Lystra and Iconium, and when Paul had conversed with him, he found him to be one that would be highly useful in propagating the gospel. Paul, therefore, chose Timothy to accompany and assist him in preaching, and causing him to be circumcised for the satisfaction of the Jewish converts,

* Circumcised. St. Paul wished Timothy to be circumcised to gratify the Jewish Christians, who would not permit him to preach: the reason of which was, because the proselytes of the gate, or uncircumcised, were not permitted to come into the same court of the temple with the Jews; and if Timothy had gone into that court with them, the Jews would not hearken to him, or benefit by his preaching, having a special aversion to such. And therefore Paul had him circumcised. His father being a Greek, and consequently his not being circumcised in his childhood was well known. It may be added, that if Timothy had been known not to have been circumcised, he would not have had permission to preach in any of the synagogues on his travels.

who knew his father to be a Greek, he took him along with him. And as they travelled from place to place, they delivered the decrees of the council of Jerusalem, to be kept as a sacred record; by which they established the churches, and every day converted many to the faith of Christ.

After they had gone through Phrygia and Galatia, they were by revelation forbid to preach the gospel in Asia; and coming over against Mysia, intending to pass by Bithynia, the Spirit again by revelation forbade them and therefore passing by Mysia, they came to Troas, where, in the night, there appeared to Paul, in a vision, a man of Macedonia, that stood and prayed, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." From which, Paul . concluding it to be the immediate call of God to him, to go and preach the gospel there, he parted from Troas, and with his companion sailed directly to Samothracia ; the next day to Neapolis, and from thence to Philippi, the metropolis of one part of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. Here they staid some days; and going out of the city, by a river's side they found an oratory, to which certain religious resorted to pray, and going into it, they found many women assembled, to whom Paul preached the gospel. Of the number of these was Lydia, an inhabitant of Thyatira, and proselyte of the Jews, whose heart the Lord, by the gentle influence of his grace, opened and disposed so to attend upon and regard the gospel message, that she was truly converted to God. And when she was baptized, with her family, she importuned Paul and Silas to take up their abode in her house, to which they consented. As they were going to prayer, there met them a young maid, who had been for some time under the influence of what the Greeks call a pythonic spirit, or spirit of divination, which they supposed to be from Apollo; and though she was but a slave, she obtained much gain for her owners, by her pretended prophesying. This girl followed Paul and Silas for several days, crying out, "These are the servants of the most high God, which shew us the way of salvation.” The apostle being grieved lest the people should apprehend that he acted in confederacy with an evil spirit,

turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ 1 command thee to come out of her." And the same instant he left her. But when her masters saw that by this miracle all prospect of further gain by her divination was gone, they apprehended Paul and Silas, and brought them before the magistrates, complaining, that these Jews occasioned a great disturbance in the city, teaching a religion contrary to theirs, and prohibited by the Roman laws, which allowed of no worship, but what was approved by the Senate. Upon this a great tumult arose, and the magistrates ordered them to be scourged, first rending off their clothes; which having done, they committed them to prison, strictly charging the jailor to keep them safely; who immediately put them in irons, and secured them in the strongest apartment of the prison. But notwithstanding this cruel treatment and close confinement, these blessed confessors, full of heavenly tranquillity and inward peace, spent their midnight-hours in prayers and praises to him that thought them worthy of suffering these cruel indignities for his name, and the word of his testimony.

Whilst they thus enjoyed this holy serenity and cheerfulness, there was suddenly a great earthquake, so that the very foundation of the prison shook, the prisondoors flew open, and the chains of all the prisoners were miraculously loosened. The jailor, awaking with the noise, and seeing the prison-doors open, concluded that all the prisoners had escaped; and thinking that this would be imputed to his neglect, and be of fatal consequence to him, in despair drew his sword with design to kill himself. But Paul, aware of the horrid act which his rashness intended, and anxious to prevent it, cried aloud, saying, Stay thy desperate hand, and do thyself no harm; for we are all here, and none shall take the

Scourged, &c. In scourging, rending or tearing off the garments was used. Both hands were tied to a pillar on each side, then the lictor, or officer of the synagogue, took hold of the garments, not caring whether he tore or stripped them off, till the criminal's breast was quite uncovered. And this was agreeable to the Roman custom.

opportunity of escaping. Then calling for lights, the jailor sprang in, and being in a great tremor, fell prostrate at the feet of Paul and Silas in silent consternation. Recovering himself a little, and leading them in the most respectful manner out of the inner prison, he said, with the utmost earnestness, "O sirs, what must I do that I may be saved?" They, gladly seizing this opportunity of preaching Christ to him, answered, "Believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom we preach as the only Saviour, and thou shalt be saved." The word came with such power to his heart, that he was melted with the gracious tidings, and his tenderness soon manifested itself by his immediate care of them, in washing their stripes, and treating them with all possible kindness. And having brought them into his dwelling-house, he and all his family were immediately baptized. He then spread his table for their refreshment, and believing in God, with all his house, he was transported with unutterable joy at the happy transition he had so suddenly made, from the darkness and danger of a heathen state, into the glorious privileges of the people of God.

The magistrates, having scourged, and committed Paul and Silas in an unwarrantable manner, began afterwards to consider what they had done; and, to prevent being called to an account for this rash proceeding, they sent to the jailor to discharge the prisoners, thinking their joy for their liberty might stifle their resentment. The converted jailor thought this would be welcome news to his prisoners, and told them they were at liberty to go where they pleased, and wished them well. But Paul would not pass over the abuse thus, telling the jailor," They have shamefully and in public abused us, who are Roman citizens, without trial or shewing cause, and after this com mitted us to prison; and do they think this private discharge will satisfy us? No, let them come themselves and discharge us openly." The officers acquainted the magistrates with Paul's resolution; who hearing that they were Romans, knew they could not answer it to the governor, and therefore were glad to come in person to the prison, where, giving them fair words, they desired them to depart, and leave the city. And from the prison they