The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 51: Acts

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5:37. After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the
enrolling, and drew away the people after him. He also perished: and
all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed.

5:38. And now, therefore, I say to you: Refrain from these men and let
them alone. For if this council or this work be of men, it will come to
nought:

5:39. But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be
found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.

5:40. And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they
charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus. And
they dismissed them.

5:41. And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing
that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of
Jesus.

5:42. And every day they ceased not, in the temple and from house to
house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.

Acts Chapter 6

The ordination of the seven deacons. The zeal of Stephen.

6:1. And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there
arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their
widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Greeks... So they called the Jews that were born and brought up in
Greece.

6:2. Then the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples,
said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve
tables.

6:3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good
reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business.

6:4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the
ministry of the word.

6:5. And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip and
Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte
of Antioch.

6:6. These they set before the apostles: and they praying, imposed hands
upon them.

6:7. And the word of the Lord increased: and the number of the disciples
was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great multitude also of the
priests obeyed the faith.

6:8. And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and
signs among the people.

6:9. Now there arose some, of that which is called the synagogue of the
Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of them that
were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

6:10. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that
spoke.

6:11. Then they suborned men to say they had heard him speak words of
blasphemy against Moses and against God.

6:12. And they stirred up the people and the ancients and the scribes.
And running together, they took him and brought him to the council.

6:13. And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to
speak words against the holy place and the law.

6:14. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall
destroy this place and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered
unto us.

6:15. And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as
if it had been the face of an angel.

Acts Chapter 7

Stephen's speech before the council. His martyrdom.

7:1. Then the high priest said: Are these things so?

7:2. Who said: Ye men, brethren and fathers, hear. The God of glory
appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he
dwelt in Charan.

7:3. And said to him: Go forth out of thy country and from thy kindred:
and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

7:4. Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Charan.
And from thence, after his father was dead, he removed him into this
land, wherein you now dwell.

7:5. And he gave him no inheritance in it: no, not the pace of a foot.
But he promised to give it him in possession, and to his seed after him,
when as yet he had no child.

7:6. And God said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange
country, and that they should bring them under bondage and treat them
evil four hundred years.

7:7. And the nation which they shall serve will I judge (said the Lord):
and after these things they shall go out and shall serve me in this
place.

7:8. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so he begot Isaac
and circumcised him the eighth day: and Isaac begot Jacob: and Jacob,
the twelve patriarchs.

7:9. And the patriarchs, through envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. And God
was with him,

7:10. And delivered him out of all his tribulations: and he gave him
favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao, the king of Egypt. And he
appointed him governor over Egypt and over all his house.

7:11. Now there came a famine upon all Egypt and Chanaan, and great
tribulation: and our fathers found no food.

7:12. But when Jacob had heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our
fathers first.

7:13. And at the second time, Joseph was known by his brethren: and his
kindred was made known to Pharao.

7:14. And Joseph sending, called thither Jacob, his father, and all his
kindred, seventy-five souls.

7:15. So Jacob went down into Egypt. And he died, and our fathers.

7:16. And they were translated into Sichem and were laid in the
sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Hemor,
the son of Sichem.

7:17. And when the time of the promise drew near, which God had promised
to Abraham, the people increased and were multiplied in Egypt.

7:18. Till another king arose in Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

7:19. This same, dealing craftily with our race, afflicted our fathers,
that they should expose their children, to the end they might not be
kept alive.

7:20. At the same time was Moses born: and he was acceptable to God. Who
was nourished three months in his father's house.

7:21. And when he was exposed, Pharao's daughter took him up and
nourished him for her own son.

7:22. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians: and
he was mighty in his words and in his deeds.

7:23. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to
visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

7:24. And when he had seen one of them suffer wrong, he defended him:
and striking the Egyptian, he avenged him who suffered the injury.

7:25. And he thought that his brethren understood that God by his hand
would save them. But they understood it not.

7:26. And the day following, he shewed himself to them when they were at
strife and would have reconciled them in peace, saying: Men, ye are
brethren. Why hurt you one another?

7:27. But he that did the injury to his neighbour thrust him away,
saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us:

7:28. What! Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the
Egyptian?

7:29. And Moses fled upon this word: and was a stranger in the land of
Madian, where he begot two sons.

7:30. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him, in the
desert of mount Sina, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.

7:31. And Moses seeing it wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to
view it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

7:32. I am the God of thy fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac
and the God of Jacob. And Moses being terrified durst not behold.

7:33. And the Lord said to him: Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the
place wherein thou standest is holy ground.

7:34. Seeing, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt:
and I have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. And
now come: and I will send thee into Egypt.

7:35. This Moses, whom they refused, saying: Who hath appointed thee
prince and judge? Him God sent to be prince and redeemer, by the hand of
the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush.

7:36. He brought them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt
and in the Red Sea and in the desert, forty years.

7:37. This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel: A prophet
shall God raise up to you of your own brethren, as myself. Him shall you
hear.

7:38. This is he that was in the church in the wilderness, with the
angel who spoke to him on Mount Sina and with our fathers. Who received
the words of life to give unto us.

7:39. Whom our fathers would not obey: but thrust him away and in their
hearts turned back into Egypt,

7:40. Saying to Aaron: Make us gods to go before us. For as for this
Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is
become of him.

7:41. And they made a calf in those days and offered sacrifices to the
idol and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

7:42. And God turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven, as it
is written in the books of the prophets: Did you offer victims and
sacrifices to me for forty years, in the desert, O house of Israel?

7:43. And you took unto you the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of
your god Rempham, figures which you made to adore them. And I will carry
you away beyond Babylon.

7:44. The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the
desert, as God ordained for them, speaking to Moses, that he should make
it according to the form which he had seen.

7:45. Which also our fathers receiving, brought in with Jesus, into the
possession of the Gentiles: whom God drove out before the face of our
fathers, unto the days of David,

Jesus... That is Josue, so called in Greek.

7:46. Who found grace before God and desired to find a tabernacle for
the God of Jacob.

7:47. But Solomon built him a house,

7:48. Yet the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands, as the
prophet saith:

Dwelleth not in houses, etc... That is, so as to stand in need of
earthly dwellings, or to be contained, or circumscribed by them. Though,
otherwise by his immense divinity, he is in our houses; and every where
else; and Christ in his humanity dwelt in houses; and is now on our
altars.

7:49. Heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool. What house will
you build me (saith the Lord)? Or what is the place of my resting?

7:50. Hath not my hand made all these things?

7:51. You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always
resist the Holy Ghost. As your fathers did, so do you also.

7:52. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they
have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One: of whom you
have been now the betrayers and murderers.

7:53. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have
not kept it.

7:54. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart: and they
gnashed with their teeth at him.

7:55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to
heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of
God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man
standing on the right hand of God.

7:56. And they, crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears and
with one accord ran violently upon him.

7:57. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him. And the
witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose
name was Saul.

7:58. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive
my spirit.

7:59. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying:
Lord, lay not his sin to their charge: And when he had said this, he
fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.

Acts Chapter 8

Philip converts the Samaritans and baptizes the eunuch.

8:1. And at that time, there was raised a great persecution against the
church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed through the
countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles.

8:2. And devout men took order for Stephen's funeral and made great
mourning over him.

8:3. But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to
house: and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.

8:4. They therefore that were dispersed went about preaching the word of
God.

8:5. And Philip, going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto
them.

8:6. And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which
were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did.

8:7. For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice,
went out.

8:8. And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed.

8:9. There was therefore great joy in that city. Now there was a certain
man named Simon who before had been a magician in that city, seducing
the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great one:

8:10. To whom they all gave ear, from the least to the greatest, saying:
This man is the power of God, which is called great.

8:11. And they were attentive to him, because, for a long time, he had
bewitched them with his magical practices.

8:12. But when they had believed Philip preaching of the kingdom of God,
in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

8:13. Then Simon himself believed also and, being baptized, he adhered
to Philip. And being astonished, wondered to see the signs and exceeding
great miracles which were done.

8:14. Now, when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that
Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and
John.

8:15. Who, when they were come, prayed for them that they might receive
the Holy Ghost.

8:16. For he was not as yet come upon any of them: but they were only
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

8:17. Then they laid their hands upon them: and they received the Holy
Ghost.

They laid their hands upon them, etc... The apostles administered the
sacrament of confirmation, by imposition of hands, and prayer; and the
faithful thereby received the Holy Ghost. Not but they had received the
grace of the Holy Ghost at their baptism: yet not that plenitude of
grace and those spiritual gifts which they afterwards received from
bishops in the sacrament of confirmation, which strengthened them to
profess their faith publicly.

8:18. And when Simon saw that, by the imposition of the hands of the
apostles, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

8:19. Saying: Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I shall lay my
hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said to him:

8:20. Keep thy money to thyself, to perish with thee: because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

8:21. Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter. For thy heart is not
right in the sight of God.

8:22. Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness: and pray to God,
that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

8:23. For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of
iniquity.

8:24. Then Simon answering, said: Pray you for me to the Lord that none
of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.

8:25. And they indeed, having testified and preached the word of the
Lord, returned to Jerusalem: and preached the gospel to many countries
of the Samaritans.

8:26. Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go
towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza:
this is desert.

8:27. And rising up, he went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch,
of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had
charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore.

8:28. And he was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading Isaias
the prophet.

8:29. And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near and join thyself to this
chariot.

8:30. And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias.
And he said: Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest?

8:31. Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired
Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

8:32. And the place of the scripture which he was reading was this: He
was led as a sheep to the slaughter: and like a lamb without voice
before his shearer, so openeth he not his mouth.

8:33. In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall
declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth?

8:34. And the eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom
doth the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of some other man?

8:35. Then Philip, opening his mouth and beginning at this scripture,
preached unto him Jesus.

8:36. And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water. And
the eunuch said: See, here is water: What doth hinder me from being
baptized?

8:37. And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou
mayest. And he answering, said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God.

If thou believest with all thy heart... The scripture many times
mentions only one disposition, as here belief, when others equally
necessary are not expressed, viz., a sorrow for sins, a firm hope, and
the love of God. Moreover, believing with the whole heart signifies a
belief of every thing necessary for salvation.

8:38. And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they went down
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch. And he baptized him.

8:39. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the
Lord took away Philip: and the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on
his way rejoicing.

8:40. But Philip was found in Azotus: and passing through, he preached
the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Acts Chapter 9

Paul's conversion and zeal. Peter heals Eneas and raises up Tabitha to
life.

9:1. And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against
the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

9:2. And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he
found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to
Jerusalem.

9:3. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to
Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.

9:4. And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me?

9:5. Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

9:6. And he, trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do?

9:7. And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and there it
shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company
with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice but seeing no man.

9:8. And Saul arose from the ground: and when his eyes were opened, he
saw nothing. But they, leading him by the hands, brought him to
Damascus.

9:9. And he was there three days without sight: and he did neither eat
nor drink.

9:10. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And
the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias, And he said: Behold I am
here, Lord.

9:11. And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the street that is
called Strait and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus.
For behold he prayeth.

9:12. (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands
upon him, that he might receive his sight.)

9:13. But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how
much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem.

9:14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that
invoke thy name.

9:15. And the Lord said to him: Go thy way: for this man is to me a
vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and
the children of Israel.

9:16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's
sake.

9:17. And Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And laying
his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me,
he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest
receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

9:18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he
received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized.

9:19. And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with
the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.

9:20. And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is
the son of God.

9:21. And all that heard him were astonished and said: Is not this he
who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name and came
hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief
priests?

9:22. But Saul increased much more in strength and confounded the Jews
who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.

9:23. And when many days were passed, the Jews consulted together to
kill him.

9:24. But their lying in wait was made known to Saul. And they watched
the gates also day and night, that they might kill him.

9:25. But the disciples, taking him in the night, conveyed him away by
the wall, letting him down in a basket.

9:26. And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to
the disciples: and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he
was a disciple.

9:27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and told
them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him: and how in
Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus.

9:28. And he was with them, coming in and going out in Jerusalem and
dealing confidently in the name of the Lord.

9:29. He spoke also to the Gentiles and disputed with the Greeks. But
they sought to kill him.

9:30. Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to
Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

9:31. Now, the church had peace throughout all Judea and Galilee and
Samaria: and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord: and was
filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.

9:32. And it came to pass that Peter, as he passed through, visiting
all, came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.

9:33. And he found there a certain man named Eneas, who had kept his bed
for eight years, who was ill of the palsy.

9:34. And Peter said to him: Eneas, the Lord Jesus Christ healeth thee.
Arise and make thy bed. And immediately he arose.

9:35. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him: who were converted
to the Lord.

9:36. And in Joppe there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by
interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and
almsdeeds which she did.

9:37. And it came to pass in those days that she was sick and died. Whom
when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

9:38. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppe, the disciples, hearing
that Peter was there, sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would
not be slack to come unto them.

9:39. And Peter rising up went with them. And when he was come, they
brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood about him,
weeping and shewing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made them.

9:40. And they all being put forth, Peter, kneeling down, prayed. And
turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes
and, seeing Peter, sat up.

9:41. And giving her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called
the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.

9:42. And it was made known throughout all Joppe. And many believed in
the Lord.

9:43. And it cane to pass that he abode many days in Joppe, with one
Simon a tanner.

Acts Chapter 10

Cornelius is received into the church. Peter's vision.

10:1. And there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a
centurion of that which is called the Italian band:

10:2. A religious man, and fearing God with all his house, giving much
alms to the people and always praying to God.

10:3. This man saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of the
day, an angel of God coming in unto him and saying to him: Cornelius.

10:4. And he, beholding him, being seized with fear, said: What is it,
Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy alms are ascended for a
memorial in the sight of God.

10:5. And now send men to Joppe: and call hither one Simon, who is
surnamed Peter.

10:6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea
side. He will tell thee what thou must do.

10:7. And when the angel who spoke to him was departed, he called two of
his household servants and a soldier who feared the Lord, of them that
were under him.

10:8. To whom when he had related all, he sent them to Joppe.

10:9. And on the next day, whilst they were going on their journey and
drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the house
to pray, about the sixth hour.

10:10. And being hungry, he was desirous to taste somewhat. And as they
were preparing, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind.

10:11. And he saw the heaven opened and a certain vessel descending, as
it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to
the earth:

10:12. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things
of the earth and fowls of the air.

10:13. And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter. Kill and eat.

10:14. But Peter said: Far be it from me. For I never did eat any thing
that is common and unclean.

10:15. And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God
hath cleansed, do not thou call common.

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