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bring him forth to the people. Peter, therefore, was kept in prison, but prayer to God was made for him without ceasing by the church.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened to them by two chains; and guards also kept watch before the door of the prison. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly;" and his chains fell off from his hands. Then said the angel to him, "Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals;" and so he did. And he said unto him, "Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." Then he went out and followed him; yet he knew not that it was real which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. And when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate, leading to the city, which

opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and passed on through one street, and forthwith the angel departed from him.

When Peter was come to himself, he said, "Now I know for a certainty, that the Lord hath sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." And when he had considered the matter he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose sirname was Mark; where many were gathered together, praying. And when he had knocked at the door of the porch, a damsel named Rhoda, came hearkening. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the door for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the door. And they said

That is, "from that death which all the people of the Jews expected would be inflicted on me."

unto her, "Thou art mad;" but she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, "It is his angel." But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go and shew these things to James and to the brethren." And he departed and went into another place.

Now, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, to know what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and abode there.

T

PAUL AND BARNABAS AT LYSTRA.

(Acts xiv. 1-22.)

Now Saul (who is also called Paul*) and Barnabas, being persecuted both by the Jews and the Gentiles, fled to Lystra, in Lycaonia, and there they preached the gospel.

And there sat a certain man in Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his birth, and who had never walked. The same heard Paul speak; who, steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on thy feet;" and he leaped up and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices,

* Saul took the name of Paul, most probably out of compliment to Sergius Paulus, whom he had brought over from the heathen religion to Christianity. See Acts xiii. 4-12.

saying, in the speech of Lycaonia, “The Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.

Then the priest of Jupiter, whose statue was before their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, "Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with yourselves, and we preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things which are therein; who, in times past, suffered all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, he left not himself without a witness, in that he did good, and gave you rain from heaven

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