The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 51: Acts
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Unknown >> The Bible, Douay Rheims, Book 51: Acts
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15:12. And all the multitude held their peace: and they heard Barnabas
and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the
Gentiles by them.
15:13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men,
brethren, hear me.
15:14. Simon hath related how God first visited to take to the Gentiles,
a people to his name.
15:15. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:
15:16. After these things I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle
of David, which is fallen down: and the ruins thereof I will rebuild.
And I will set it up:
15:17. That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations
upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.
15:18. To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the
world.
15:19. For which cause, judge that they who from among the Gentiles are
converted to God are not to be disquieted:
15:20. But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from
the pollutions of idols and from fornication and from things strangled
and from blood.
15:21. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in
the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.
15:22. Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church,
to choose men of their own company and to send to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men
among the brethren.
15:23. Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to
the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch and in Syria and
Cilicia, greeting.
15:24. Forasmuch as we have heard that some going out from us have
troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no
commandment:
15:25. It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose
out men and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and
Paul:
15:26. Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
15:27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will,
by word of mouth, tell you the same things.
15:28. For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay no
further burden upon you than these necessary things:
15:29. That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood
and from things strangled and from fornication: from which things
keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.
From blood, and from things strangled... The use of these things, though
of their own nature indifferent, was here prohibited, to bring the Jews
more easily to admit of the society of the Gentiles; and to exercise the
latter in obedience. But this prohibition was but temporary, and has
long since ceased to oblige; more especially in the western churches.
15:30. They therefore, being dismissed, went down to Antioch and,
gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.
15:31. Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
15:32. But Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, with many
words comforted the brethren and confirmed them.
15:33. And after they had spent some time there, they were let go with
peace by the brethren unto them that had sent them.
15:34. But it seemed good unto Silas to remain there: and Judas alone
departed to Jerusalem.
15:35. And Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and
preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord.
15:36. And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and
visit our brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word
of the Lord, to see how they do.
15:37. And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was
surnamed Mark.
15:38. But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of
Pamphylia and not gone with them to the work) might not be received.
15:39. And there arose a dissension so that they departed one from
another. And Barnabas indeed, taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.
15:40. But Paul, choosing Silas, departed, being delivered by the
brethren to the grace of God.
15:41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches,
commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.
Acts Chapter 16
Paul visits the churches. He is called to preach in Macedonia. He is
scourged at Philippi.
16:1. And he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain
disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman that believed:
but his father was a Gentile.
16:2. To this man the brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium gave a
good testimony.
16:3. Him Paul would have to go along with him: and taking him, he
circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they
all knew that his father was a Gentile.
16:4. And as they passed through the cities, they delivered unto them
the decrees for to keep, that were decreed by the apostles and ancients
who were at Jerusalem.
16:5. And the churches were confirmed in faith and increased in number
daily.
16:6. And when they had passed through Phrygia and the country of
Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in
Asia.
16:7. And when they were come into Mysia, they attempted to go into
Bithynia: and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not.
16:8. And when they had passed through Mysia, they went down to Troas.
16:9. And a vision was shewed to Paul in the night, which was a man of
Macedonia standing and beseeching him and saying: Pass over into
Macedonia and help us.
16:10. And as soon as he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to
go into Macedonia: being assured that God had called us to preach the
gospel to them.
16:11. And sailing from Troas, we came with a straight course to
Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis.
16:12. And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of part of
Macedonia, a colony. And we were in this city some days conferring
together.
16:13. And upon the Sabbath day, we went forth without the gate by a
river side, where it seemed that there was prayer: and sitting down, we
spoke to the women that were assembled.
16:14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city
of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, did hear: whose heart the Lord
opened to attend to those things which were said by Paul.
16:15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us,
saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my
house and abide there. And she constrained us.
16:16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain girl having
a pythonical spirit met us, who brought to her masters much gain by
divining.
A pythonical spirit... That is, a spirit pretending to divine, and tell
fortunes.
16:17. This same following Paul and us, cried out, saying: These men are
the servants of the Most High God, who preach unto you the way of
salvation.
16:18. And this she did many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and
said to the spirit: I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go
from her. And he went out the same hour.
16:19. But her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain was gone,
apprehending Paul and Silas, brought them into the market place to the
rulers.
16:20. And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: These men
disturb our city, being Jews:
16:21. And preach a fashion which it is not lawful for us to receive nor
observe, being Romans.
16:22. And the people ran together against them: and the magistrates,
rending off their clothes, commanded them to be beaten with rods.
16:23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them
into prison, charging the gaoler to keep them diligently.
16:24. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner
prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.
16:25. And at midnight, Paul and Silas, praying, praised God. And they
that were in prison heard them.
16:26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors
were opened and the bands of all were loosed.
16:27. And the keeper of the prison, awakening out of his sleep and
seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have
killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
16:28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm, for
we all are here.
16:29. Then calling for a light, he went in: and trembling, fell down at
the feet of Paul and Silas.
16:30. And bringing them out, he said: Masters, what must I do, that I
may be saved?
16:31. But they said: believe in the Lord Jesus: and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house.
16:32. And they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all that
were in his house.
16:33. And he, taking them the same hour of the night, washed their
stripes: and himself was baptized, and all his house immediately.
16:34. And when he had brought them into his own house, he laid the
table for them: and rejoiced with all his house, believing God.
16:35. And when the day was come, the magistrates sent the serjeants,
saying: Let those men go.
16:36. And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul: The
magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart. And go in
peace.
16:37. But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned,
men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison. And now do they
thrust us out privately? Not so: but let them come.
16:38. And let us out themselves. And the serjeants told these words to
the magistrates. And they were afraid: hearing that they were Romans.
16:39. And coming, they besought them: and bringing them out, they
desired them to depart out of the city.
16:40. And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of
Lydia: and having seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed.
Acts Chapter 17
Paul preaches to the Thessalonians and Bereans. His discourse to the
Athenians.
17:1. And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
17:2. And Paul, according to his custom, went in unto them. And for
three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures:
17:3. Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer and to
rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach
to you.
17:4. And some of them believed and were associated to Paul and Silas:
and of those that served God and of the Gentiles a great multitude: and
of noble women not a few.
17:5. But the Jews, moved with envy and taking unto them some wicked men
of the vulgar sort and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar: and
besetting Jason's house, sought to bring them out unto the people.
17:6. And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the
rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar are come
hither also:
City. Urbem... In the Greek, the world.
17:7. Whom Jason hath received. And these all do contrary to the decrees
of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
17:8. And they stirred up the people: and the rulers of the city,
hearing these things,
17:9. And having taken satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they let
them go.
17:10. But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night
unto Berea. Who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of
the Jews.
17:11. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who
received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures,
whether these things were so.
More noble... The Jews of Berea are justly commended, for their eagerly
embracing the truth, and searching the scriptures, to find out the texts
alleged by the apostle: which was a far more generous proceeding than
that of their countrymen at Thessalonica, who persecuted the preachers
of the gospel, without examining the grounds they alleged for what they
taught.
17:12. And many indeed of them believed: and of honourable women that
were Gentiles and of men, not a few.
17:13. And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of
God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, stirring
up and troubling the multitude.
17:14. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the
sea: but Silas and Timothy remained there.
17:15. And they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and
receiving a commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should
come to him with all speed, they departed.
17:16. Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred
within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.
17:17. He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews and with
them that served God: and in the market place, every day, with them that
were there.
17:18. And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics
disputed with him. And some said: What is it that this word sower would
say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods. Because he
preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
17:19. And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we
know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?
17:20. For thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We would
know therefore what these things mean.
17:21. (Now all the Athenians and strangers that were there employed
themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new
thing.)
17:22. But Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of
Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.
17:23. For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on
which was written: To the Unknown God. What therefore you worship
without knowing it, that I preach to you:
17:24. God, who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
Dwelleth not in temples... God is not contained in temples; so as to
need them for his dwelling, or any other uses, as the heathens imagined.
Yet by his omnipresence, he is both there and everywhere.
17:25. Neither is he served with men's hands, as though he needed any
thing: seeing it is he who giveth to all life and breath and all things:
17:26. And hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face
of the earth, determining appointed times and the limits of their
habitation.
17:27. That they should seek God, if haply they may feel after him or
find him, although he be not far from every one of us.
17:28. For in him we live and move and are: as some also of your own
poets said: For we are also his offspring.
17:29. Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the
divinity to be like unto gold or silver or stone, the graving of art and
device of man.
17:30. And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now
declareth unto men that all should every where do penance.
17:31. Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world
in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed: giving faith to all, by
raising him up from the dead.
17:32. And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
indeed mocked. But others said: We will hear thee again concerning this
matter.
17:33. So Paul went out from among them.
17:34. But certain men, adhering to him, did believe: among whom was
also Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with
them.
Acts Chapter 18
Paul founds the church of Corinth and preaches at Ephesus and in other
places. Apollo goes to Corinth.
18:1. After these things, departing from Athens, he came to Corinth.
18:2. And finding a certain Jew, named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately
come from Italy, with Priscilla his wife (because that Claudius had
commanded all Jews to depart from Rome), he came to them.
18:3. And because he was of the same trade, he remained with them and
wrought. (Now they were tentmakers by trade.)
18:4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, bringing in the
name of the Lord Jesus. And he persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
18:5. And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was
earnest in preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
18:6. But they gainsaying and blaspheming, he shook his garments and
said to them: Your blood be upon your own heads: I am clean. From
henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
18:7. And departing thence, he entered into the house of a certain man,
named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house was adjoining
to the synagogue.
18:8. And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord,
with all his house. And many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and
were baptized.
18:9. And the Lord said to Paul in the night, by a vision: Do not fear,
but speak. And hold not thy peace,
18:10. Because I am with thee and no man shall set upon thee, to hurt
thee. For I have much people in this city.
18:11. And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching among them
the word of God.
18:12. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord
rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,
18:13. Saying: This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the
law.
18:14. And when Paul was beginning to open his mouth, Gallio said to the
Jews: If it were some matter of injustice or an heinous deed, O Jews, I
should with reason bear with you.
18:15. But if they be questions of word and names and of your law, look
you to it. I will not be judge of such things.
18:16. And he drove them from the judgment seat.
18:17. And all laying hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue,
beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those
things.
18:18. But Paul, when he had stayed yet many days, taking his leave of
the brethren, sailed thence into Syria (and with him Priscilla and
Aquila), having shorn his head in Cenchrae. For he had a vow.
18:19. And he came to Ephesus and left them there. But he himself,
entering into the synagogue, disputed with the Jews.
18:20. And when they desired him that he would tarry a longer time, he
consented not:
18:21. But taking his leave and saying: I will return to you again, God
willing, he departed from Ephesus.
18:22. And going down to Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and saluted
the church: and so came down to Antioch.
18:23. And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went
through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, confirming all the
disciples.
18:24. Now a certain Jew, named Apollo, born at Alexandria, an eloquent
man, came to Ephesus, one mighty in the scriptures.
18:25. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord: and being fervent
in spirit, spoke and taught diligently the things that are of Jesus,
knowing only the baptism of John.
18:26. This man therefore began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Whom
when Priscilla and Aquila had heard, they took him to them and expounded
to him the way of the Lord more diligently.
18:27. And whereas he was desirous to go to Achaia, the brethren
exhorting wrote to the disciples to receive him. Who, when he was come,
helped them much who had believed.
18:28. For with much vigour he convinced the Jews openly, shewing by the
scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts Chapter 19
Paul establishes the church at Ephesus. The tumult of the silversmiths.
19:1. And it came to pass, while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul,
having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus and found
certain disciples.
19:2. And he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye
believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether
there be a Holy Ghost.
19:3. And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John's
baptism.
19:4. Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of
penance saying: That they should believe in him, who was to come after
him, that is to say, in Jesus.
19:5. Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.
19:6. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came
upon them: and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
19:7. And all the men were about twelve.
19:8. And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of
three months, disputing and exhorting concerning the kingdom of God.
19:9. But when some were hardened and believed not, speaking evil of the
way of the Lord before the multitude, departing from them, he separated
the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
19:10. And this continued for the space of two years, so that all who
dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Gentiles.
19:11. And God wrought by the hand of Paul more than common miracles.
19:12. So that even there were brought from his body to the sick,
handkerchiefs and aprons: and the diseases departed from them: and the
wicked spirits went out of them.
19:13. Now some also of the Jewish exorcists, who went about, attempted
to invoke over them that had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus,
saying: I conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth.
19:14. And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief
priest, that did this.
19:15. But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know: and
Paul I know. But who are you?
19:16. And the man in whom the wicked spirit was, leaping upon them and
mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of
that house naked and wounded.
19:17. And this became known to all the Jews and the Gentiles that dwelt
a Ephesus. And fear fell on them all: and the name of the Lord Jesus was
magnified.
19:18. And many of them that believed came, confessing and declaring
their deeds.
19:19. And many of them who had followed curious arts brought together
their books and burnt them before all. And, counting the price of them,
they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
19:20. So mightily grew the word of God and was confirmed.
19:21. And when these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit,
when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem,
saying: After I have been there, I must see Rome also.
19:22. And sending into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him,
Timothy and Erastus, he himself remained for a time in Asia.
19:23. Now at that time there arose no small disturbance about the way
of the Lord.
19:24. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver
temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen.
19:25. Whom he calling together with the workmen of like occupation,
said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade.
19:26. And you see and hear that this Paul, by persuasion hath drawn
away a great multitude, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia,
saying: they are not gods which are made by hands.
19:27. So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought,
but also the temple of great Diana shall be reputed for nothing! Yea,
and her majesty shall begin to be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world
worshippeth.
19:28. Having heard these things, they were full of anger and cried out,
saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians!
19:29. And the whole city was filled with confusion. And having caught
Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions, they rushed
with one accord into the theatre.
19:30. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the
disciples suffered him not.
19:31. And some also of the rulers of Asia, who were his friends, sent
unto him, desiring that he would not venture himself into the theatre.
19:32. Now some cried one thing, some another. For the assembly was
confused: and the greater part knew not for what cause they were come
together.
19:33. And they drew forth Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews
thrusting him forward. And Alexander, beckoning with his hand for
silence, would have given the people satisfaction,
19:34. But as soon as they perceived him to be a Jew, all with one
voice, for the space of about two, hours, cried out: Great is Diana of
the Ephesians!
19:35. And when the town clerk had appeased the multitudes, he said: Ye
men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not that the city of the
Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Diana and of Jupiter's offspring?
19:36. For as much therefore as these things cannot be contradicted, you
ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly.
19:37. For you have brought hither these men, who are neither guilty of
sacrilege nor of blasphemy against your goddess.
19:38. But if Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a
matter against any man, the courts of justice are open: and there are
proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.
19:39. And if you inquire after any other matter, it may be decided in a
lawful assembly.
19:40. For we are even in danger to be called in question for this day's
uproar, there being no man guilty (of whom we may give account) of this
concourse. And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts Chapter 20
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