secutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the goads." And he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord! what wilt thou have me to do?" And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the city; and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

And the men who travelled with him, stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no man. Then Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.

Now there was at Damascus a certain disciple named Ananias, and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias!" And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord!" And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus; for

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behold he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand upon him, that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name." But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name to the Gentiles, and to kings, and to the children of Israel. And I will shew him what things he must suffer for my sake."

Then Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hand on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jesus, who appeared to thee in the way as thou camest) hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes, as it were, scales; and he received

his sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Then Saul continued some days with the disciples who were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. And all that heard him were amazed, and said, "Is not this he that destroyed them who called on this name in Jerusalem; and who came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound to the high priest ?" But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that Jesus is the very Christ.

THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS:
(Acts x.)

THERE was a certain man in Cæsarea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band-a devout man, and one that feared God with all his

house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision clearly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming to him, and saying unto him, "Cornelius!" And when he had steadfastly looked on the angel, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, Lord?" And the angel answered,

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Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and send for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea-side; he will tell thee what thou oughtest to do." And when the angel who spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those that waited on him continually; and when he had told them all these things, he sent them to Joppa.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city,

Peter went up on the house-top to pray,* about the sixth hour; and he became very hungry, and would have eaten; but while they were making ready the meal, he fell into a trance, and saw the heavens opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, like a great sheet, tied at the four corners, and let down to the earth. In it were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, saying, "Arise, Peter, kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! for I have never eaten any thing common or unclean." And the voice

It was the custom of the Jews to pray three times a day-at nine in the morning, at noon, and at three in the afternoon. Daniel prayed three times a day (ch. vi. 10); and in Psalm lv. 17, David says, "Evening and morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud." The roofs of the houses in Judæa (as has been already mentioned, p. 125) were flat, and the Jews were wont to retire thither, to meditate and to pray.

†There were certain kinds of animals which