called Simon, using magic*, and amazing the people of 10 Samaria, saying that he himself was some great one. To whom all attended, from the least to the greatest, saying, 11" This man is the great power of Godt." And they attended to him, because for a long time he had amazed 12 them by magical arts. But, when they believed Philip

preaching the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, 13 both men and women. Then even Simon himself believed: and when he was baptized, he continued stedfastly with Philip, and was amazed, beholding the signs and great miracles which were done.

14

Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to 15 them Peter and John: who when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the holy spirit: 16 for as yet it had fallen on none of them; but they had 17 only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus††. Then

the apostles put their hands on them, and they received 18 the holy spirit. And when Simon saw that by the put

ting on of the apostles' hands the holy spirit was given, 19 he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power,

that, on whomsoever I put my hands, he may receive 20 the holy spirit." But Peter said unto him, "Thy money perish with thee; because thou hast thought to purchase 21 the gift of God with money . Thou hast no part or lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness; and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven

"Probably by a superior acquaintance with the powers of nature and the efficacy of medicines." Newcome.

+ Gr. the power of God, which is called great. MSS. N. m.

14, 15, 16. "Hence a good argument may be drawn, that the apostles alone could confer the spirit. See Grot. on ver. 5, 15." Newcome.

++ Compare ch. ii. 38; x. 48; XIX. 5: where this shorter form of baptizing seems to be implied." Newcome.

Or, with thee. Because-money, thou hast, etc. Dr. Owen. N. m.

23 thee: for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitter24 ness, and in the bond of iniquity." Then Simon answer

ed, and said, "Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of 25 these things which ye have spoken come upon me." So these, when they had borne witness to and declared the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many towns of the Samaritans.

26

Now an angel of the Lord spake to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south, to the way which goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza; which is a desert way." 27 And he arose and went and behold, there was an Ethiopian, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and who had come to Jerusalem that he might worship: 28 and he was returning, and sitting in his chariot; and he 29 read the prophet Isaiah. Then the spirit said to Philip, 30 "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." And Philip

ran thither, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" 31 And the eunuch said, "How can I, unless some man guide me?" And he desired that Philip would come up, 32 and sit with him. Now the place of the scripture which

he read was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and, as the lamb is dumb before his shearer, so he openeth 33 not his mouth. In his humiliation, his condemnation was extorted*; and who can describe the wickedness of his generationt? for his life is taken from the earth." 34 And the eunuch spake to Philip, and said, "I pray thee,

of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of 35 some other man?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and began from this part of scripture, and preached to him 36 the glad tidings of Jesus. And as they were going on their way, they came to some water: and the eunuch

* See Dodson's Isaiah in loc. The just judgement of him was taken away, N. +"SO YEYEά, ch, xiii, 36, is used for the race of men with whom David lived.” Newcome.

saith, "See, here is water; what hindereth my being 38 baptized?" *Then he commanded that the chariot should

stand still and they two went down into the water, both 39 Philip and the eunuch; and Philip baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water,† the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him 40 no more: for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and, passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea. CH. IX. Now Saul, still breathing out threats and slaughter

against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high-priest, 2 and desired of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus ; that if he found any of this religion, whether they were men 3 or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And, as he journeyed, he came near Damascus : and suddenly 4 a light from heaven shone round about him: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, 5 Saul, why persecutest thou me?" And he said, "Who art thou, Sir?" And [the Lord] said, "I am Jesus 6 whom thou persecutest. But rise up, and go into the 7 city; and it shall be told thee what thou must do." And the men who journeyed with him remained mute, hearing 8 a sound, but seeing no one. And Saul arose from the ground; and, when his eyes were opened, he saw no one but some led him by the hand¶, and brought him

* The received text adds ver. 37. “And Philip said, 'If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God."" This verse is wanting in the Alex. Ephr. and many other manuscripts and versions; and is probably a marginal note, inserted by mistake into the text. See Newcome and Griesbach.

+ The Alex. and some other copies read, " the holy spirit fell on the eunuch, and an angel of the Lord," etc.

R. T. adds, "It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.' But he trembling and astonished said, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him-" These words are not found in any Greek manuscript of note, and are wanting in the Syriae, Coptic, and other ancient versions. They were probably added in the Vulgate and other versions from the parallel places, as has been often done in the gospels. See Griesbach and Newcome's note.

[ earth, N.

Or, but he was led and brought into, N. m.

9 into Damascus. And he was three days without sight; and neither ate nor drank.

10

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ana11 nias." 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 named Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he 12 prayeth; and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias ; who came in, and put his hand on him, that he might 13 recover his sight." Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I

have heard from many of this man, how much evil he 14 hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath

authority from the chief-priests to bind all who are call15 ed by thy name t." But the Lord said unto him, "Go: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before 16 the gentiles, and kings, and the sons of Israel; for I

will shew him what things he must suffer because of my 17 name." Then Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and when he had put his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared to thee on the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest recover thy sight, and be filled with the holy 18 spirit." And immediately there fell from his eyes as it

were scales; and he recovered his sight forthwith, and 19 arose, and was baptized. And when he had taken food, he was strengthened.

Then Saul continued some days with the disciples that

"Strabo, who lived under Augustus and Tiberius, says of the inhabitants of Tarsus, that they so studied philosophy, and the whole circle of knowledge, as to exceed Athens, Alexandria, and any other place in which philosophy and letters were cultivated. L. xiv. p. 673, marg. ed. Casaub." Newcome.

+ Or, "who appeal to thy name." See Lindsey's Second Address, p. 107. "Who call on thy name." Newcome. But in his note, he refers to Dr. Hammond on 1 Cor, i. 2. who renders the phrase in the former sense.

"Here one, who is not an apostle, is the instrument of communicating the spirit But this is an extraordinary case." Newcome.

20 were at Damascus. And immediately he preached Jesus* 21 in the synagogues, that he was the son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said, "Is not this he who destroyed those who call themselves after † this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for this purpose, that he 22 might bring them bound to the chief-priests?" But Saul increased more in strength, and perplexed the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this man is the Christ.

23

And after many days were fulfilled, the Jews took 24 counsel to kill him: (but their lying in wait was known by Saul) and they watched the gates day and night, 25 that they might kill him. Then the disciples took him

by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26 And when Saul came to Jerusalem, he attempted to join

himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, 27 not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas

took him and brought him to the apostles; and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, who had spoken to him; and how he had spoken freely at Damas28 cus in the name of Jesus. And Saul consorted || with 29 them at Jerusalem; and he spake freely in the name of

the Lord Jesus. And he talked and disputed with the 30 Hellenists; but they tried to kill him which when the

brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and 31 sent him away to Tarsus. Then the churches had quiet throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, being edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord; and they were filled with the comfort of the holy spirit.

32

AND it came to pass that, as Peter went through all parts, he came down to the saints also who dwelt at 33 Lydda. And there he met with a certain man named Eneas, that had kept his bed eight years, and was sick 34 of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, "Eneas, Jesus

Christ, R. T.

+ N. m. called on, N. See ver. 14.

this was the Christ, N. See bishop Pearce.

Gr. was with them coming in and going out. Symonds, 131. N. m.