Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Actus Apoſtolorum

Prolog to Actus Apoſtolorum

Luk of Sirye by nacioun, whos preiſinge in þe euangelye is writun, at Antioche noble of craft of medicyne, and þe diſciple of þe apoſtlis of Criſt; aftir folowinge Poul anoon to confeſcioun, oþer þe deeþ, wiþoute blame dwellinge in maydenhod, chees to ſerue God; þe which goynge foure ſkore ȝeer of age, in Biþyniye deiede ful of þe Hooly Goſt. Þis þorw þe Hooly Goſt ſtiringe, in þe cuntrees of Achaye wrytynge þe goſpel to Grekis bileuyde, þe incarnacioun of þe Lord wiþ trewe tale ſchewide; and þe ſame Criſt he ſchewide to haue deſſendid of þe ſtok and progeny of Dauiþ. To whom not wiþoute deſert power of wrytinge þe dedis of þe apoſtlis was ȝyue in myniſtre, þat God in God ful, and þe ſone of loſt aquent, preier of þe apoſtlis ymaad, þorw lott of Goddis eleccioun þe noumbre ſchulde be fulfillid; and ſo Poul ſchulde ȝyue fulfillinge to þe apoſtlis dedis, whom long kykynge to aȝens, þe goode God hadde choſe. Þe which þing to men redynge and ſechinge God he wolde raþir ſchewe in ſchort word, þan to haue ſchewid ony þing lengir to men alooþinge; whom Goddis grace ſo folowyde, þat not oonly to bodyes, but alſo to ſoulis his medicyne ſchulde profyte.

Here endiþ þe prolog, and bigynneþ þe leſſoun.

Capitulum I.

Forſoþe, þou Theophile, firſt I made a ſermoun, or word, of alle þe þingis, þat Jheſus bygan for to do and teche, til into þe day, in which he comaundinge to apoſtlis bi þe Hooly Goſt, whom he chees, was takyn vp; to which and he ȝaf hym ſilf alyue, or quyke, aftir his paſſioun, in manye argumentis, or prouyngis, by fourty dayes apperinge to hem, and ſpekinge of þe rewme of God. And he etinge to gidere, comaundide to hem, þat þei ſchulden not departe fro Jeruſalem, but ſchulden abyde þe biheeſte of þe fadir, þe which ȝe herden, he ſeiþ, by my mouþ; for ſoþeli John baptiſide in watir, but ȝe ſchulen be baptyſid in þe Hooly Goſt, not aftir þeſe manye dayes. Þerfore þei þat camen to gidere, axiden him, ſeyinge, Lord, if in þis tyme ſchalt þou reſtore þe kyngdom of Iſrael? Forſoþ he ſeide to hem, It is not ȝoure for to haue knowe tymes or momentis, þe whiche þe fadir haþ put in his power; but ȝe ſchulen take þe vertu of þe Hooli Goſt comynge fro a boue into ȝou, and ȝe ſchulen be witneſſis to me in Jeruſalem, and in al Judee, and Samarye, and til to þe vtmeſte of erþe. And whanne he hadde ſeid þes þingis, hem ſeynge, he was lift vp, and a cloud receyuede hym fro þe yȝen of hem. And whanne þei bihelden into heuene him goynge, lo! twey men ſtoodyn nyȝ biſydis hem in white cloþis, þe whiche and ſeiden, Men of Galilee, what ſtonde ȝe biholdinge into heuene? Þis Jheſus, þat is takyn vp fro ȝou into heuene, ſo ſchal come, as ȝe ſyȝen him goynge into heuene. Þanne þei turneden aȝen to Jeruſalem, fro þe hil þat is clepid Olyuete, þe which is biſydis Jeruſalem, hauynge þe iurney of a ſaboþ. And whanne þei hadden entride into þe ſoupyng place, þei wenten vp in to þe hiȝere þingis, where þei dwelten, Petre and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartelmew and Maþew, James of Alfey, and Symound Zelotes, and Judas of James. Alle þes weren dwellinge, or laſtinge, to gidere in preier, wiþ wymmen, and Marie, þe modir of Jheſu, and wiþ his breþeren. In þo dayes Petre ryſynge vp in þe myddel of breþeren, ſeide; forſoþ þer was a cumpeny of men to gidere, almeſt an hundrid and twenty; Men breþeren, it bihoueþ þe ſcripture for to be fulfillid, which þe Hooly Goſt bifore ſeyde by þe mouþ of Dauiþ, of Judas þat was leder of hem þat tooken Jheſu; þe which was noumbrid in vs, and gat þe ſort of þis mynyſterie. And forſoþ þis weeldide a feeld of þe hyre of wickidneſſe, and he hangid, to-barſt þe myddel, and alle his entrailis ben ſched a brood. And it is maad knowun to alle men dwellinge in Jeruſalem, ſo þat þilke feeld was clepid Achildemak in þe langage of hem, þat is, þe feeld of blood. Forſoþ it is writun in þe book of Salmes, Þe habitacioun of him be maad deſert, and be þere not þat dwelliþ in it, and anoþer take þe biſſhopryche of him. Þerfore it bihoueþ of þeſe men, þat ben gederid to gidere wiþ vs in al tyme, in which þe Lord Jheſu entride yn, and wente out among vs, bigynnynge fro baptym of John til into þe day in which he was takyn vp fro vs, oon of þeſe for to be maad a witneſſe of his reſurexcioun wiþ vs. And þei ordeyneden tweyne, Joſeph, þat is clepid Barſabas, þat is namyd Juſtus, and Maþi. And þei preiynge ſeiden, Þou, Lord, þat haſt knowe þe hertis of men, ſchewe whom þou haſt choſun of þes tweyne, oon for to take þe place of þis myniſterie and apoſtilhed, of þe which Judas treſpaſſide, þat he ſchulde go into his place. And þei ȝauen lottis to hem, and þe lot felde to Maþi; and he was noumbrid to gidere wiþ enleuene apoſtlis.

Capitulum II.

And whanne þe dayes Pentecoſtes, þat is, fyfti, weren fulfillid, alle diſciplis weren to gidere in þe ſame place. And ſudenly þer was maad a ſown fro heuene, as of a greet ſpirit comynge to, and it fulfillide al þe hous where þei weren ſittinge. And tungis dyuerſly partid as fyer apperiden to hem, and it ſaat vpon ech of hem. And alle ben fulfillid wiþ þe Hooli Goſt, and þei bigunnen for to ſpeke wiþ dyuerſe langagis, as þe Hooli Goſt ȝaf to hem for to ſpeke. Forſoþ þer weren in Jeruſalem dwellinge Jewis, religiouſe men, of ech nacioun þat is vndir heuene. Soþli, þis vois maad, þe multitude cam to gidere, and in ſoule, or vndirſtondyng, was confoundid, or ſtoneyd, for ech man herde hem ſpekynge in his langage. Forſoþ alle men weren a ſtoneyd in witt, and wondriden, ſeyinge to gidere, Wher not alle þeſe þat ſpeken ben Galilees, and how we herden ech man his langage in which we ben born? Party, and Medy, and Elamyte, and þei þat dwellen in Meſopotamye, Judee, and Capadocie, Ponte, and Aſie, Frigie, and Pamphilie, Egipt, and þe parties of Libie, þat is aboute Sirenen, and cumelingis Romayns, and Jewis, and proſelitis, men of Crete and Arabye, we han herd hem ſpekynge in oure langagis þe greete þingis of God. Forſoþe alle weren ſtoneyd in witt, and wondriden, ſeyinge, What wole þis þing be? Forſoþ oþere ſcornyden, ſeyinge, For þei ben ful of muſt. Forſoþ Petre ſtondinge wiþ enleuene, reyſide his vois, and ſpak to hem, Men Jewis, and alle þat dwellen in Jeruſalem, be þis þing knowun to ȝou, and wiþ eeris perſeyue my wordis. Soþely not as ȝe demen, or geſſen, þeſe be drunkun, whanne it is þe þridde our of þe day, or vndirne; but þis þing it is, þat was ſeid by þe prophete Johel, And it ſchal be in þe laſte dayes, þe Lord ſeiþ, I ſchal heelde out of my ſpirit on al fleiſch; and ȝoure ſones and ȝoure douȝtris ſchulen prophecie, and ȝoure ȝonge ſchulen ſe viſyouns, and ȝoure eldris ſchulen dreme meetels, or ſweuens. And ſoþeli on my ſeruauntis men and myne handmaydens in þo dayes I ſchal ſchede out of my ſpirit, and þei ſchulen prophecie. And I ſchal ȝyue greete wondris in heuene aboue, and ſignes in erþe byneþe, blood, and fyer, and vapour of ſmoke. Þe ſunne ſchal be turned into derkneſſis, and þe mone into blood, bifore þat þe gret and opyn day of þe Lord ſchal come. And ech man which euere ſchal inclepe þe name of þe Lord, ſchal be ſaf. Ȝe men of Iſrael, heeriþ þes wordis. Jheſu of Nazareþ, a man prouyd of God in ȝou by vertues, or myraclis, and wondris, and tokenes, þe whiche God dide by him in þe myddel of ȝou, as ȝe witen, hym, þe counceil determyned, or endid, and by þe preſcience, or bifore knowynge, of God, bitakun, or trayed, by þe hondis of wickid ȝe turmentinge ſlowen. Whom God reyſide, þe ſorwis of helle vnboundun, vp þat it was inpoſſible him for to be holdyn of it. Soþli Dauiþ ſeiþ into him, I purueyde þe Lord bifore me euermore, for he is on my riȝþalf, þat I be not moued. For þis þing myn herte ioyede, and my tunge gladide, more ouer and my fleiſch ſchal reſte in hope. For þou ſchalt not forſake my ſoule in helle, neþir þou ſchalt ȝyue þin hooli for to ſe corupcioun. Þou haſt maad knowun to me þe weies of lyf, þou ſchalt fulfille me in myrþe wiþ þi face. Men breþeren, be it leefful boldly for to ſeye to ȝou of þe patriark Dauiþ, for he is deed and biried, and his ſepulcre is at vs til into þis day. Þerfore whanne he was a prophete, and wiſte, for wiþ an ooþ God hadde ſworn to him, of þe fruyt of his leende for to ſitte on his ſeete, he purueyinge ſpak of þe reſurexcioun of Criſt, for neþir he is left in helle, neþir his fleiſch ſiȝ corupcioun. God reiſide þis Jheſu, to whom we alle ben witneſſis. Þerfore he enhaunſid by þe riȝt hond of God, and þe biheeſte of þe Hooli Goſt takyn of þe fadir, he ſchedde out þis, þat ȝe ſeen and heeren. Forſoþ Dauiþ aſſendide not into heuene; forſoþ he ſeiþ, Þe Lord ſeide to my Lord, Sitt on my riȝþalf, til I ſchal putte þin enemyes þe ſtool of þi feet. Þerfore mooſt certeynly wite al þe hous of Iſrael, for God reyſide and hym þe Lord and Criſt, þis Jheſu, whom ȝe crucifieden. Þeſe þingis herd, þei weren compunct in herte; and þei ſeiden to Petre and to oþere apoſtlis, Men breþeren, what ſchulen we do? Petre forſoþ ſeiþ to hem, Penaunce, he ſeiþ, do ȝe, and ech of ȝou be criſtened in þe name of Jheſu Criſt, into remiſcioun of ȝoure ſynnes; and ȝe ſchulen take þe ȝifte of þe Hooly Goſt. Forſoþ repromiſcioun, or eft biheeſte, is to ȝou, and to ȝoure ſones, and to alle þat ben ferr, whom euere þe Lord oure God haþ clepid to. Soþli wiþ oþere wordis ful manye he witneſſide to hem, and moneſtide hem, ſeyinge, Be ȝe ſaued fro þis wickid, or ſchrewid, generacioun. Þerfore þei þat receyueden his wordis, weren baptyſid, and in þat day ſoulis ben putt to, aboute þre þouſynd. Forſoþ þei weren laſtynge in techinge of apoſtlis, and in comunynge of brekinge of breed, and in preieris. Forſoþ drede was maad to ech ſoule. And many wondris and ſygnes weren don by apoſtlis in Jeruſalem, and greet drede was in alle. Alſo alle men þat bileuyden weren to gidere, and hadden alle þingis comyn. Þei ſelden poſſeſciouns and ſubſtaunces, or goodis, and departiden alle þingis to alle men, as it was nede to ech. Forſoþ day bi day þei laſtinge to gidere in þe temple, and brekinge breed aboute houſis, token mete wiþ gladyng and ſympleneſſe of herte, heriynge to gidere God, and hauynge grace to al þe peple. Forſoþ þe Lord encreſide hem þat weren maad ſaaf, ech day into þe ſame þing.

Capitulum III.

Forſoþe Petre and John ſtiȝeden into þe temple, at þe nynþe our of preiyng. And ſum man þat was lame fro þe wombe of his modir, was borun, whom þei puttiden ech day at þe ȝate of þe temple, þat is ſeid fair, þat he ſchulde axe almes of men entrynge into þe temple. Þis, whanne he ſyȝ Petre and John bigynnynge for to entre into þe temple, preiede þat he ſchulde take almes. Forſoþ Petre wiþ John biholdinge him, ſeide, Bihold into vs. And he biheeld into hem, hopinge him to take ſum þing of hem. Forſoþ Petre ſeide, Siluer and gold is not to me; forſoþ þat þat I haue, I ȝyue to þee. In þe name of Jheſu Criſt of Nazareþ, ryſe þou, and go. And his riȝþond takun, he lifte him vp; and anoon þe groundis and plauntis, or ſolis, of him ben ſaddid to gidere; and he lippinge ſtood, and wandride. And he entride wiþ hem into þe temple, wandrynge, and lippinge, and heriynge God. And al þe peple ſyȝ him walkinge, and heriynge God. Forſoþ þei knewyn him, for he it was þat ſat at almes at þe fair gate of þe temple. And þei weren fulfillid wiþ wondryng, and exſtaſie, þat is, leeſyng of mynde of reſoun and lettyng of tunge, in þat þing þat bifel to him. Soþli whanne þei ſyȝen Petre and John, al þe peple ran to hem at þe porche þat was clepid of Salomon, wondringe greetly. Forſoþ Petre ſeynge anſweride to þe peple, Men of Iſrael, what wondren ȝe in þis þing? or what biholden ȝe vs, as by oure vertu or power we maden þis for to walke? God of Abraham, and God of Iſaac, and God of Jacob, God of oure fadris, haþ glorified his ſone Jheſu, whom ȝe ſoþli bitraieden, and denyeden bifore þe face of Pilate, him demynge for to be diſmyttid, or left. Ȝe forſoþe denyeden þe hooly and iuſt, and axiden a man homeſide, or manſleer, for to be ȝouun to ȝou. Forſoþ ȝe ſlowen þe maker of lyf, whom God reiſide fro deed men, of whom we ben witneſſis. And in þe feiþ of his name he haþ confermyd þis, whom ȝe ſeen and han knowe; þe name of him, and þe feiþ þat is by him, ȝaf þis ful heelþe in þe ſiȝt of alle ȝou. And now, breþeren, I woot þat by vnwittinge ȝe diden, as and ȝoure princes. God forſoþ þat bifore toolde bi þe mouþ of alle prophetis his Criſt for to ſuffre, fulfillide ſo. Þerfore be ȝe repentaunt, and be ȝe conuertid, þat ȝoure ſynnes be do awey, whanne þe tymes of kelynge, or refreiſchinge, fro þe ſiȝt of þe Lord ſchulen come, and he ſchal ſende him þat is now prechid to ȝou, Jheſu Criſt. Whom ſoþeli it bihoueþ heuene for to reſceyue, til into þe tyme of reſtitucioun of alle þingis, þe whiche þe Lord ſpak by þe mouþ of his hooli prophetis fro þe world. Forſoþe Moyſes ſeide, For þe Lord ȝoure God ſchal reyſe to ȝou a prophete, of ȝoure briþeren; as me, ȝe ſchulen heere him vp alle þe þingis, what euere he ſchal ſpeke to ȝou. Forſoþ it ſchal be, euery ſoule þat ſchal not heere þe ilke prophete, ſchal be diſtryed of þe peple. And alle prophetis fro Samuel and aftirward, þat ſpaken, tolden þes dayes. Ȝe forſoþe ben þe ſones of prophetis, and of þe teſtament, þat God ordeynede to oure fadris, ſeiynge to Abraham, In þi ſeed alle þe meynees of erþe ſchulen be bleſſid. God reyſinge his ſone firſt to ȝou, ſente him bleſſinge ȝou, þat ech man conuert him fro his wickydneſſe.

Capitulum IIII.

Forſoþe hem ſpekinge to þe peple, preſtis and magiſtratis of þe temple camen vpon, and Sadducees, ſorwynge þat þei ſchulden teche þe peple, and toolden into Jheſu aȝen ryſinge fro deed men. And þei leyden hondis into hem, and puttiden hem into kepinge til into þe morwe; ſoþli it was now euen. Forſoþ manye of hem þat hadden herd þe word, bileuyden; and þe noumbre of hem is maad fyue þouſendis. Forſoþe in þe morwe it is don, þat þe princes of hem, and eldere men and ſcribes ſchulden be gederid in Jeruſalem; and Annas, prince of preſtis, and Cayphas, and Joon, and Aliſaundre, and how manye euere weren of þe kynde of preeſtis. And þei ordeynynge hem in þe myddel axiden, In what vertu, or what name, han ȝe don þis þing? Þanne Petre fulfillid wiþ þe Hooly Goſt, ſeide to hem, Ȝe princes of þe peple, and eldre men, heere, If we to day ben demyd in þe good dedis of a ſyke man, in þe which þis is maad ſaaf, be it knowun to ȝou alle, and to al þe peple of Iſrael, for in þe name of oure Lord Jheſu Criſt of Nazareþ, whom ȝe crucifieden, whom God reyſide fro deed men, in þis þis man ſtondiþ hool bifore ȝou. Þis is þe ſtoon, which was reproued of ȝou bildinge, þe which is maad into þe heed of þe corner; and heelþe is not in ony oþir. Forſoþ neþir oþir name is vndir heuene ȝouun to men, in þe which it bihoueþ vs to be maad ſaf. Forſoþ þei ſeynge þe ſtedfaſtneſſe of Petre and John, founden þat þei weren men wiþ oute lettris, and idiotis, wondriden, and knewen for þei weren wiþ Jheſu. And ſeynge þe man ſtondinge wiþ hem, þat was heelid, þei myȝten no þing wiþſeye. Forſoþ þei comaundiden hem for to go forþ wiþoute þe counceil. And þei ſpaken to gidere, ſeyinge, What ſchulen we do to þes men? for ſoþli þe ſygne is maad knowun by hem to alle men, dwellinge at Jeruſalem; it is opyn, and we mown not denye. But þat it be no more puppliſchid into þe peple, manaſe we to hem, þat þei ſpeke no more in þis name to ony of men. And þei clepinge hem denounſiden, þat on no maner þei ſchulden ſpeke, ne teche, in þe name of Jheſu. Forſoþe Petre and John anſweringe, ſeiden to hem, If it be riȝtful in þe ſiȝt of God for to heere ȝou raþere þan God, deme ȝe. Forſoþ we mown not not ſpeke þe þingis þat we han ſeyn and herd. And þei manaſinge leften hem, not fyndynge how þei ſchulden ponyſche hem, for þe peple; for alle men clarifieden þat þing þat was don in þat þing þat bifel. Forſoþe þe man was more þan of fourty ȝeeris, in þe which þis ſygne of heelþe was maad. Forſoþ þei left, camen to hern, and toolden to hem, how manye þingis þe princes and eldere men ſeiden to hem. Þe whiche whanne þei herden, wiþ oon herte reyſiden voys to þe Lord, and ſeiden, Lord, þou þat madiſt heuene and erþe, ſee, and alle þingis þat ben in hem, þe which by þe Hooly Goſt, by þe mouþ of oure fadir Dauiþ, þi child, ſeidiſt, Whi heþene men wraþþiden, or beten wiþ teeþ to gidere, and peplis þouȝten veyn þingis? Kyngis of þe erþe ſtooden nyȝ, and princes camen to gidere into oon, aȝens þe Lord, and aȝens his Criſt. For þei camen to gidere verily in þis citee aȝens þi hooly child Jheſu, whom þou anoyntideſt, Heroude and Pounce Pilat, wiþ heþene men, and peplis of Iſrael, for to do þe þingis, þat þin hond and þi counceil demiden for to be don. And now, Lord, bihold into þe þretingis of hem, and ȝyue to þi ſeruauntis wiþ al triſt for to ſpeke þi word, in þat þing þat þou holde forþ þin hond, heelþis and ſignes and wondris for to be maad by þe name of þin hooly ſone Jheſu. And whanne þei hadden preied, þe place was moued, in which þei weren gederid; and alle ben fulfillid wiþ þe Hooli Goſt, and ſpaken þe word of God wiþ triſt. Forſoþ of þe multitude of men bileuynge þer was oon herte and oon ſoule, or wille; neþir ony man ſeide ony þing of þo þingis þat he weeldide for to be his owne, but alle þingis weren comune to hem. And wiþ greet vertu apoſtlis ȝoldun witneſſyng of þe aȝen ryſynge of Jheſu Criſt oure Lord, and greet grace was in alle hem. Forſoþ neþir ony nedy man was among hem, for how many euere weren poſſeſcioners, or weelders, of feeldis or howſis, þei ſellynge brouȝten to þe prices of þo þingis þat þei ſolden, and puttiden bifore þe feet of apoſtlis. Forſoþ þei departiden to ech, as it was nede to ech. Forſoþ Joſeph, þat is named Barnabas of apoſtlis, þat is interpretid, þe ſone of coumfort, a dekene, of þe kynde of Cypre, whanne he hadde a feeld, ſolde it, and brouȝte to þe prijs, and puttide bifore þe feet of apoſtlis.

Capitulum V.

Forſoþ ſum man, Ananye by name, wiþ Safyra, his wife, ſeelden a feeld, and defraudide of þe priys, his wyf gilty, or witinge. And he bryngynge ſum part, puttide bifore þe feet of apoſtlis. Forſoþ Petre ſeide, Anany, why haþ Saþanas temtid þin herte, þee for to lye to þe Hooly Goſt, and for to defraude of þe prijs of þe feeld? Wher it dwellinge dwelte not to þee; and it ſold was in þi power? Whi haſt þou put þis þing in þin herte? Þou haſt not lyed to men, but to God. Forſoþ Ananye heerynge þes wordis felde doun, and deiede. And greet drede was maad into alle þat herden. Forſoþ ȝonge men ryſinge mouedyn hym awey, and berynge out birieden. Forſoþe þer was maad as þe ſpace of þre houris, and þe wyf of him not knowynge þat þing þat was don, entride yn. Forſoþe Petre anſweride to hir, Womman, ſeye to me, if ȝe ſolden þe feeld for ſo moche? And ſhe ſeide, Ȝhe, ſo moche. Forſoþ Petre ſeide to hir, What ſoþli cam to gidere to ȝou, or acordide, for to tempte þe ſpirit of þe Lord? Lo! þe feet of hem þat han biried þin hoſebonde at þe dore, and þei ſchulen bere þee out. Anoon ſhe felde down at his feet, and deiede. Forſoþ þe ȝonge men entrynge founden hir deed, and þei baren out, and birieden to hir hoſebonde. And greet drede is maad in al þe chirche, and into alle þat herden þes þingis. Forſoþe by þe hondis of apoſtlis ſignes and many wondris ben maad in þe peple. And alle weren to gidere in þe porche of Salomon. Forſoþ no man of oþere durſte ioyne him ſilf wiþ hem, but þe peple magnyfiede hem. Forſoþ þe multitude of men and wymmen bileuynge in þe Lord was more encreſid, ſo þat into ſtreetis þei brouȝten out ſike men, and puttiden in litle beddis and cowchis, þat Petre comynge, namely þe ſchadowe of him ſchulde ſchadowe ech of hem, and þei weren dilyuered fro al ſykneſſe. Forſoþ þe multitude of citees nyȝ to Jeruſalem ran, brynginge to ſyk men, and trauelid of vnclene ſpiritis, þe whiche weren heelid alle. Forſoþ þe prince of preſtis ryſinge, and alle þat weren wiþ him, þat is þe hereſye of Saducees, ben fulfillid wiþ enuye; and leiden hondis into apoſtlis, and puttiden hem in comun kepyng. Forſoþ þe aungel of þe Lord by nyȝte openynge þe ȝate of þe priſoun, and ledinge hem out, ſeyde, Go ȝe, and ȝe ſtondinge ſpeke in þe temple to þe peple alle þe wordis of þis lyf. Þe whiche whanne þei hadden herd, entriden erly into þe temple, and tauȝten. Forſoþ þe prince of preſtis comynge, and þei þat weren wiþ him, clepiden togidere þe counceil, and alle þe eldere men of þe ſones of Iſrael; and ſenten to þe priſoun, þat þei ſchulden be brouȝt forþ. Soþli whanne þe myniſtris camen, and, þe priſoun openyd, founden hem not, þei turned aȝen telden, ſeiyng, Forſoþ we founden þe priſoun ſchit wiþ al diligence, and þe keperis ſtondinge at þe ȝatis; forſoþ we openynge founden no man þer ynne. Soþli as þe mageſtratis of þe temple, and þe princes of preſtis herden þeſe wordis, þei doutiden of hem, what ſchulde be don. Forſoþe ſum man comynge to, tolde to hem, For lo! þo men whom ȝe han put into priſoun, ben in þe temple, ſtondinge, and techinge þe peple. Þanne þe mageſtrat wente wiþ myniſtris, and brouȝten hem to wiþ outen ſtrengþe; forſoþ þei dredden þe peple, leſt þei ſchulden be ſtooned to deeþ. And whanne þei hadden brouȝt hem to, þei ordeyneden in þe counceil; and þe princes of preſtis axiden hem, ſeyinge, In comaundinge we comaundiden ȝou, þat ȝe ſchulden not teche in þis name, and lo! ȝe han fulfillid Jeruſalem wiþ ȝoure teching, and ȝe wolen brynge yn on vs þe blood of þis man. Forſoþ Petre anſweringe, and apoſtlis, ſeiden, It bihoueþ for to obeye to God, more þan to men. Þe God of oure fadris reyſide Jheſu, whom ȝe ſlowen, hangynge in a tree. God enhaunſide wiþ his riȝþond þis prince and ſauyour, for to ȝyue penaunce to Iſrael, and remyſcioun of ſynnes. And we ben witneſſis of þes wordis, and þe Hooly Goſt, whom God ȝaf to alle obeiſchinge to him. Whanne þei herden þes þingis, þei weren turmentid, and þouȝten for to ſle hem. Forſoþ ſum man ryſinge in þe counceil, a Phariſe, Gamaliel by name, a doctour of þe lawe, a worſchipful man to al þe peple, comaundide men for to be maad wiþouteforþ to a ſchort tyme. And he ſeide to hem, Ȝe men of Iſrael, take tent to ȝou ſilf on þes men, what ȝe be to doynge. Forſoþ bifore þes dayes Theodas was, ſeyinge him ſilf for to be ſum man, to whom a noumbre of men conſentide, aboute foure hundrid; þe which is ſlayn, and alle whiche euere bileueden to him, ben diſparplid, and brouȝt to nouȝt. Aftir þis, Judas Galilee was in þo dayes of profeſcioun, and turnede awey þe peple aftir him; and alle how manye euere conſentiden to him, ben ſcaterid, and he periſchide. And now ſoþli I ſeie to ȝou, departe ȝe fro þes men, and ſuffre ȝe hem; for if it is of men þis counceil or werk, it ſchal be vndon; forſoþe if it is of God, ȝe mown not vndo hem. But ſuffre ȝe hem, leſt perauenture and ȝe be foundun for to repugne God. Forſoþ þei conſentiden to him; and þei clepinge to gidere apoſtlis, denounciden to hem betun, þat þei ſchulde no more ſpeke in þe name of Jheſu, and leften hem. And ſoþli þei wenten ioyinge fro þe ſiȝt of þe counceil, for þei ben had worþi for to ſuffre diſpyſing, or wrong, for þe name of Jheſu. Forſoþ ech day þei ceeſſiden not in þe temple, and aboute houſis, techinge and euangeliſynge Jheſu Criſt.

Capitulum VI.

Forſoþ in þo dayes, þe noumbre of diſciplis wexynge, grucchinge of Greekis is maad aȝens Ebrews, for þat þe widewis of hem weren diſpiſid in euery daies myniſtring. Forſoþ þe twelue clepinge to gidere þe multitude of diſciplis, ſeiden, It is not euene þing, vs to forſake þe word of God, and for to myniſtre to bordis. Þerfore, breþeren, biholde ȝe men of ȝou, of good witneſſing, or fame, ſeuene, ful of þe Hooly Goſt and wyſdom, whom we ſchulen ordeyne on þis werk; forſoþ we ſchulen be biſy to preier and myniſterie, or preching, of þe word. And þe word pleſide to al þe multitude; and þei cheeſiden Sþeuene, a man ful of feiþ and þe Hooly Goſt, and Philip, and Protore, and Nichanore, and Tymon, and Permanam, and Nichol, a geſt, or comelyng, Antiochene. Þei ordeyneden þeſe bifore þe ſiȝt of apoſtlis, and þei preiynge puttiden þe hondis to hem. And þe word of þe Lord wexide, and þe noumbre of diſciplis in Jeruſalem was multiplied moche; alſo moche cumpanye of preſtis obeieden to þe feiþ. Sþeuene, ful of grace and ſtrengþe, made wondris and grete ſignes in þe peple. Forſoþe ſumme riſen of þe ſynagoge, þat was clepid of Libertyns, and Cirenenſis, and of men of Aliſaundre, and of hem þat weren of Cilice and Aſye, diſputynge wiþ Sþeuene. And þei myȝten not wiþſtonde to þe wyſdom and ſpirit, þat ſpak. Þanne þei priuely ſenten men, þat ſchulden ſeye, hem haue herd him ſeyinge wordis of blaſphemye into Moyſes and God. And ſo þei moueden to gidere þe peple, and eldere men, and ſcribis; and þei rennynge to gidere rauyſcheden him, and brouȝten to into þe counceil. And þei ordeyneden falſe witneſſis, ſeyinge, Þis man ceeſſiþ not for to ſpeke wordis aȝens þe hooly place, and lawe. Forſoþ we herden hym ſeyinge, For þis Jheſus of Nazareþ ſchal diſtroye þis place, and ſchal chaunge tradiciouns, þe whiche Moyſes bytook to vs. And alle men þat ſaten in þe counceil biholdinge him, ſyȝen þe face of him as þe face of an aungel.

Capitulum VII.

Forſoþ þe prince of preſtis ſeide to Sþeuene, If þes þingis han hem ſo? Þe which ſeiþ, Men breþeren, and fadris, heere ȝe. God of glorie apperide to oure fadir Abraham, whanne he was in Meſopotanye, bifore he dwelte in Carram, and ſeide to him, Go out of þi lond, and of þi cognacioun, or kynrede, and come into þe lond, þe which I ſchal ſchewe to þee. Þanne he wente out of þe lond of Caldeys, and dwelte in Carram. And þennis aftir þat his fadir was deed, he tranſlatide hym into þis lond, in which ȝe dwellen now. And he ȝaf not to him heritage in it, noþer a paas of foot, but he aȝenbihiȝte for to ȝyue to him it into poſſeſcioun, and to his ſeed aftir him, whanne he hadde not a ſone. Forſoþ God ſpak to him, For his ſeed ſchal be cumelyng, or geſt, in an alien lond, and þei ſchulen ſugette hem to ſeruage, and ſchulen yuele trete hem, foure hundrid ȝeeris and þritty; and I ſchal iuge þe folk, to which þei ſchulen ſerue, ſeiþ þe Lord. And aftir þeſe þingis þei ſchulen go out, and þei ſchulen ſerue to me in þis place. And he ȝaf to him þe teſtament of circumciſioun; and ſo he gendride Yſaac, and circumcidide him in þe eiȝtiþ day. And Yſaac gendride Jacob, and Jacob þe twelue patriarkis. And þe patriarkis hauynge enuye to Joſeph, ſolden hym into Egipt. And God was wiþ hym, and delyuerede him of alle his tribulaciouns, and ȝaf to him grace and wyſdom in þe ſiȝt of Pharao, kyng of Egipt. And he ordeynede him prepoſt, or ſouereyn, on Egipt, and on al his hous. Forſoþ hungir cam into al Egipt, and Canaan, and greet tribulacioun; and oure fadris founden not metis. Forſoþ whanne Jacob herde, whete for to be in Egipt, he ſente oure fadris firſt. And in þe ſecunde tyme Joſep was knowyn of his briþeren, and his kyn is maad knowun to Pharao. Forſoþe Joſep ſendynge clepide to Jacob, his fadir, and al his cognacioun, in ſoulis ſeuenty and fyue. And Jacob deſſendide into Egipt, and is deed, he and oure fadris; and þei ben tranſlatid into Sichen, and ben putt in þe ſepulcre, þat Abraham bouȝte by priys of ſiluer of þe ſones of Emor, þe ſone of Sichen. Forſoþ whanne þe tyme of biheeſte cam nyȝ, þe which God hadde knowlechid to Abraham, þe peple waxe, and was multiplied in Egipt, til anoþer kyng roos in Egipt, þe which knew not Joſeph. Þis bigylinge oure peple, turmentide oure fadris, þat þei ſchulden putte out her ȝonge children, leſt þei were quykened. In þe ſame tyme Moyſes was born, and he was acceptid, or louyd, of God; and he was noriſchid þre moneþis in þe hous of his fadir. Forſoþ him putt out, þe douȝtir of Pharao took him vp, and noriſchide him into a ſone to hir. And Moyſes was lernd in al þe wyſdom of Egipcians, and he was myȝty in his wordis and werkis. Forſoþ whanne þe tyme of twenti ȝeer was fulfillid to him, it ſtiȝede vp into his herte, þat he ſchulde viſite his breþeren, þe ſones of Iſrael. And whanne he ſyȝ ſum man ſuffringe wrong, he vengide him, and dide veniaunce to him þat ſuffride wrong; þe Egipcian ſlayn. Forſoþ he geſſide breþeren for to vndirſtonde, for God by þe hond of hym ſchulde ȝyue to hem heelþe; but þei vndirſtoden not. Forſoþ in þe day ſuynge he apperide to hem chidinge, and recounſilide hem in pees, ſeyinge, Men, ȝe ben breþeren; wherto noyen ȝe ech oþir? Forſoþ he þat dide wrong to his neiȝebore, puttide him awey, ſeyinge, Who ordeynede þee prince and domeſman vpon vs? Wher þou wolt ſle me, as ȝiſtirday þou killidiſt þe Egipcian? Forſoþe in þis word Moyſes flyȝ, and was maad a comeling in þe lond of Madian, where he gendride twey ſones. And fourty ȝeer fulfillid, an aungel apperide to him in fyer of flame of a boiſch, in deſert of þe mount of Syna. Forſoþe Moyſes ſeynge wondride þe ſiȝt. And him comynge to þat he ſchulde biholde, þe vois of þe Lord is maad to him, ſeyinge, I am God of ȝoure fadris, God of Abraham, God of Yſaac, God of Jacob. Moyſes maad tremeling, durſte not biholde. Forſoþe God ſeide to him, Vnbynd þe ſchon of þi feet, for þe place in which þou ſtondiſt is hooli erþe. I ſeyng ſyȝ þe affliccioun, or turmentyng, of my peple þat is in Egipt, and I herde þe mornyng of hem, and I caam down for to delyuere hem. And now come þou, and I ſchal ſende þee into Egipt. Þis Moyſes, whom þei denyeden, ſeyinge, Who ordeyned þee prince and domeſman on vs? God ſente þis prince and aȝenbyer, wiþ þe hond of þe aungel, þat apperide to hym in þe boiſch. Þis ledde hem out, doynge wondris and ſygnes in þe lond of Egipt, and in þe reede ſee, in deſert fourty ȝeeris. Þis is Moyſes, þat ſeide to þe ſones of Iſrael, God ſchal reiſe to ȝou a prophete of ȝoure breþeren, as me ȝe ſchulen heere him. Þis is, þat was in þe chirche in wildirneſſe, wiþ þe aungel þat ſpak to him in þe mount Syna, and wiþ oure fadris; þe which took wordis of lyf for to ȝyue to vs. To whom oure fadris wolden not obeye, but puttiden him awei, and ben turned awei in her hertis into Egipt, ſeiynge to Aaron, Make þou to vs goddis, þat ſchulen go bifore vs; forſoþe to þis Moyſes, þat ledde vs out of þe lond of Egipt, we witen not, what is don to him. And þei maden a calf in þo dayes, and offriden an ooſt to þe ſymylacre; and þei gladiden in þe werkis of her hondis. Forſoþ God turnyde, and bitook hem for to ſerue to þe knyȝþod of heuene, as it is writun in þe book of prophetis, Where ȝe offriden to me ſlayn ſacrificis, or ooſtis, fourty ȝeeris in deſert, ȝe hous of Iſrael? And ȝe han takun þe tabernacle of Moloc, and þe ſterre of ȝoure god Rempham, figuris þat ȝe han maad for to worſhipe hem; and I ſchal tranſlate ȝou into Babiloyne. Þe tabernacle of witneſſing was wiþ oure fadris in deſert, as God diſpoſide to hem, ſpekinge to Moyſes, þat he ſchulde make it vp þe foorme þat he ſyȝ. Þe which and oure fadris takinge wiþ Jheſu, brouȝten into poſſeſcioun of heþen men, þe which God puttide awey fro þe face of oure fadris, til in þe dayes of Dauiþ, þat fond grace anentis God, and axide þat he ſchulde fynde a tabernacle to God of Jacob. Salomon forſoþe bildide an hows to him. But þe hiȝe dwelliþ not in maade þingis by hond, as he ſeiþ by þe prophete, Heuene is a ſeete to me, þe erþe forſoþ þe ſtool of my feet; what hous ſchulen ȝe bylde to me, ſeiþ þe Lord, or what place of my reſting? Wher myn hond made not alle þes þingis? Wiþ hard nol, and vncircumſidid hertis and eeris ȝe wiþſtonden euermore þe Hooly Gooſt; as and ȝoure fadris, ſo and ȝe. Whom of þe prophetis han not ȝoure fadris purſued, and han ſlayn hem þat bifore teelden of þe comynge of þe iuſt, whos traitours and manſleeris ȝe weren now? Þe whiche token þe lawe in ordynaunce of aungels, and han not kept. Forſoþe þei heeringe þes þingis, weren dyuerſly turmentid in her hertis, and gnaſtiden, or grennyden, into him. Forſoþe whanne Sþeuene was ful of þe Hooly Goſt, he biholdinge into heuene, ſyȝ þe glorie of God, and Jheſu ſtondinge on þe riȝþalf of þe vertu of God. And he ſeiþ, Lo! I ſee heuenes openyd, and þe ſone of man ſtondinge on þe riȝt half of þe vertu of God. Forſoþ þei criynge wiþ grete voiſes, heelden to gidere her eeris, and maden to gidere aſauȝt, or feerſneſſe, in to him. And þei caſtinge him out of þe cytee ſtoonyden. And witneſſis diden of her cloþis, biſydis þe feet of a ȝong man, þat was clepid Saul. And þei ſtoonyden Steuene ynclepinge, and ſeyinge, Lord Jheſu, receyue my ſpirit. Forſoþ þe knees putt, he criede wiþ greet vois, ſeyinge, Lord, ſette not to hem þis ſynne; for þei witen not what þei don. And whanne he hadde ſeid þis þing, he ſlepte in þe Lord.

Capitulum VIII.

Forſoþ Saul was conſentynge to his deeþ. Forſoþ greet perſecucioun was maad in þat day in þe chirche, þat was in Jeruſalem. And alle men weren ſcaterid by þe cuntrees of Judee and Samarie, out takun apoſtlis. Forſoþ men dredeful curiden, or birieden, Sþeuene, and maden greet moornyng on him. Forſoþ Saul greetli diſtroyede þe chirche, entringe by howſis, drawynge men and wymmen, bitook into kepyng, or priſoun. Þerfore þei þat weren ſcaterid, paſſyden forþ, euangeliſynge þe word of God. Forſoþ Philip comynge down into a citee of Samarie, prechide to hem Criſt. Forſoþ þe cumpanyes ȝauen tent to þes þingis þat weren ſeid of Philip, to gidere heeringe and ſeynge þe ſignes þat he dide. Forſoþe manye of hem þat hadden vnclene ſpiritis, cryinge wiþ greet vois, wenten out. Forſoþe manye ſyke in palaſye, and crokid, ben heelid. Þerfore gret ioye is maad in þat citee. Forſoþ þer was ſum man, Symound by name, þe which bifore was in þe citee a wicche, diſſeyuynge þe folk of Samarie, ſeiynge him ſilf for to be ſum greet man. To whom alle herkenyden, fro þe leeſte til to þe mooſte, ſeiynge, Þis is þe vertu of God, þe which is clepid greet. Forſoþe alle bihelden him, for þis þing, þat moche tyme he hadde maad hem mad, or wood, wiþ his wicchingis. Soþli whanne þei hadden bileuyde to Philip, euangelyſinge of þe kyngdom of God, in þe name of Jheſu Criſt, men and wymmen weren baptiſide. Þanne Symound and he bileuyde; and whanne he was baptyſid, he clyuede to Philip; he ſeynge ſignes and mooſt vertues for to be maad, dredinge wondride. Forſoþ whanne apoſtlis þat weren at Jeruſalem, hadden herd for Samarie receyuede þe word of God, þei ſenten to hem Petre and John. Þe whiche whanne þei camen, preieden for hem, þat þei ſchulden receyue þe Hooly Goſt; forſoþ not ȝit he cam into ony of hem, but þei weren baptyſid oonly in þe name of þe Lord Jheſu. Þanne þei puttiden hondis on hem, and þei receyueden þe Hooly Goſt. Forſoþ whanne Symound hadde ſeyn, for þe Hooli Goſt was ȝouun by puttyng on of þe hond of apoſtlis, he offride to hem money, ſeyinge, Ȝyue ȝe to me and þis power, þat to whom euere I ſchal putte on hondis, he receyue þe Hooly Goſt. Forſoþ Petre ſeide to him, Þi money be wiþ þee into perdicioun, for þou geſſidiſt þe ȝifte of God for to be had, or weeldid, by money. Part is not to þee, neþir ſort, in þis word, for þin herte is not riȝtful bifore God. And ſo do þou penaunce fro þis þi wickidneſſe, and preie God, if perauenture þis þouȝt of þin herte be forȝouun to þee. Forſoþ in galle of bittirneſſe and bond of wickidneſſe I ſe þee for to be. Forſoþ Symound anſweringe, ſeide, Preie ȝe for me to þe Lord, þat no þing of þes þat ȝe han ſeid, come on me. And þei witneſſinge and ſpekinge þe word of þe Lord, ȝeden aȝen to Jeruſalem, and euangeliſiden to manye cuntrees of Samaritans. Forſoþ an aungel of þe Lord ſpak to Philip, ſeyinge, Ryſe þou, and go aȝens þe ſouþ, to þe weye þat goþ doun fro Jeruſalem into Gaſam; þis is deſert weye. And he riſynge, wente forþ. And lo! a man of Eþiopie, geldyng, myȝti of þe queene Candace of Eþiopiens, þe which was on alle hir richeſſis, cam for to worſchipe in Jeruſalem. And he turnyde aȝen, ſittinge on his chare, and redynge Yſaie, þe prophete. Forſoþ þe ſpirit ſeide to Philip, Come to, and ioyne þee to þis chare. Forſoþ Philip rennynge to, herde hym redinge Yſaie, þe prophete. And he ſeyde, Geſſiſt þou, wher þou vndirſtondiſt, what þingis þou rediſt? Þe which ſeiþ, And how may I, if ſum man ſchal not ſchewe to me? And he preiede Philip, þat he ſchulde ſtiȝe vp, and ſitte wiþ him. Forſoþe þe place of ſcripture þat he radde, was þis, As a ſcheep to ſleyng he was led, and as a lomb bifore a man ſcheringe him is doumb wiþ oute vois, ſo he openyde not his mouþ. In mekeneſſe his dom is takyn vp; who ſchal telle out þe generacioun of hym? For his lyf ſchal be takyn awey fro þe erþe. Forſoþ þe gelding anſweringe to Philip, ſeide, I biſeche þee, of what prophete ſeiþ he þis þing? of him, or of ony oþir? Forſoþe Philip openynge his mouþ, and bigynnynge at þis ſcripture, euangeliſide to hym Jheſu. And þe while þei wenten bi þe weye, þei camen to ſum watir. And þe geldyng ſeiþ, Loo! watir; who forbediþ me for to be baptyſid? Forſoþ Philip ſeide, If þou bileuyſt of al þe herte, it is leefful. And he anſweringe, ſeiþ, I bileue þe ſone of God for to be Jheſu. And he comaundide þe chare for to ſtonde. And þei wenten doun boþe into þe watir, Philip and þe gelding, and he baptiſyde him. Forſoþe whanne he ſtiȝede vp of þe watir, þe ſpirit of þe Lord rauyſchide Philip, and þe geldyng ſyȝ him no more. Forſoþ he wente ioyinge by his weye. Forſoþ Philip is foundun in Aſoto; and he paſſinge forþ, euangeliſide to alle citees, til he cam to Ceſarye.

Capitulum IX.

Saul, ȝit breþere, or blowere, of manaſſis and betyng, or ſleyng, into diſciplis of þe Lord, cam nyȝ to þe princes of preſtis, and axide of him epiſtlis into Damaſke, to ſynagogis; þat if he founde ony men and wymmen of þis lyf, he ſchulde lede boundyn to Jeruſalem. And whanne he made iourney, it bifel, þat he cam nyȝ to Damaſke. And ſudeynly liȝt fro heuene ſchon aboute hym; and he fallinge into þe erþe, herde a vois ſeyinge to hym, Saul, Saul, what purſueſt þou me? Þe which ſeide, Who art þou, Lord? And he, >I am Jheſu of Nazareþ, whom þou purſueſt. It is hard to þee, for to kyke aȝens þe pricke. And he tremblinge and wondringe, ſeide, Lord, what wolt þou me for to do. And þe Lord to him, Ryſe þou, and entre in to þe citee, and it ſchal be ſeide to þee, what it bihoueþ þee for to do. Forſoþe þo men þat wenten wiþ him, ſtooden maad ferd, or out of mynde; ſoþli heeringe a vois, forſoþe ſeynge no man. Forſoþe Saul roos fro þe erþe; and þe yȝen openyd, he ſyȝ no þing. Forſoþ þei drawinge him to hondis, ledden into Damaſk. And he was þre daies not ſeynge; and he eet not, neþer drank. Forſoþ ſum diſciple was at Damaſk, by name Ananye. And þe Lord ſeide to him in a viſioun, Ananye. And he ſeiþ, Lo! I, Lord. And þe Lord to him, >Ryſe þou, and go into a ſtreete þat is clepid Rectus; and ſeke, in þe hous of Judas, Saul by name Tarſence. Forſoþ lo! he preieþ; and he ſyȝ a man Ananye by name, entringe and puttinge to hym hondis, þat he receyue ſiȝt. Forſoþe Ananye anſweride, Lord, I haue herd of manye of þis man, how manye yuele þingis he dide to þi ſeyntis in Jeruſalem; and þis haþ power of þe princes of preſtis, for to bynde alle men þat inclepen þi name. Forſoþ þe Lord ſeide to him, Go þou, for þis is to me a veſſel of cheſyng, þat he bere my name bifore heþen men, and kingis, and þe ſones of Iſrael. Forſoþe I ſchal ſchewe to him, how manye þingis it bihoueþ him for to ſuffre for my name. And Ananye wente, and entride into þe hous; and he puttinge to him þe hondis, ſeide, Saul broþir, þe Lord Jheſu ſente me, þat apperide to þee in þe weye, in which þou cameſt, þat þou ſe, and be fulfillid wiþ þe Hooli Goſt. And anon þer felden from his yȝen as ſcalis, and he receyuede ſiȝt. And he riſinge is baptiſid. And whanne he hadde takun mete, he was comfortid. Forſoþ he was wiþ diſciplis, þat weren at Damaſk, by ſumme dayes. And anoon he entrynge into þe ſynagogis, prechide þe Lord Jheſu, for þis is þe ſone of God. Forſoþ alle men þat herden him, wondriden, and ſeiden, Wher þis is not þat inpugnide in Jeruſalem hem þat inclepiden þis name? and hidir to þis þing he cam, þat he ſchulde lede hem bounden to þe princes of preſtis. Forſoþe Saul moche more wexide ſtrong, and confoundide þe Jewis þat dwelliden at Damaſk, affermynge for þis is Criſt. Forſoþ whanne manye dayes weren fulfillid, Jewis maden a counceil, þat þei ſchulden ſlee him. Forſoþe þe aſpies of hem ben maad knowun to Saul. Forſoþe þei kepten and þe ȝatis day and nyȝt, þat þei ſchulden ſle him. Forſoþe his diſciplis takynge him in nyȝt, bi þe wal leften him, ſendinge doun in a leep. Forſoþ whanne he cam into Jeruſalem, he temptide, or aſaiede, for to ioyne him to diſciplis; and alle dredden him, not bileuynge þat he was a diſciple. Forſoþ Barnabas ledde him takun to apoſtlis, and telde to hem, how in þe weye he hadde ſeyn þe Lord, and for he ſpak to him, and how in Damaſk he dide triſtily in þe name of Jheſu. And he was wiþ hem, entringe and goynge out in Jeruſalem, doynge triſtily in þe name of þe Lord. And he ſpaak to heþene men, and diſputide wiþ Grekis. Forſoþe þei ſouȝten for to ſle him. Þe which þing whanne breþeren hadden knowe, þei ledden him in nyȝt to Ceſarie, and leften to Tarſis. Soþli þe chirche by al Judee, and Galile, and Samarie hadde pees, and was edifyed, walkinge in þe drede of þe Lord, and was fulfillid wiþ comfort of þe Hooly Goſt. Forſoþ it is maad, þat Petre, þe while he paſſide alle, cam to þe hooly men þat dwelliden at Lidde. Forſoþe he fond þere ſum man, Eneas by name, fro eiȝte ȝeris ligynge in bedd; þe which was ſyke in paleſye. And Petre ſeiþ to him, Eneas, þe Lord Jheſu Criſt heele þee; ryſe þou, and dreſſe to þee. And anoon he roos. And alle men þat dwelliden at Lidde, and Sarone, ſyȝen hym, þe whiche ben conuertid to þe Lord. Forſoþ in Joppe was ſum diſcipliſſe, bi name Tabyta, þe which interpretid, is ſeid Dorcas. Þis was ful of goode werkis and almeſdedis, þat ſche dide. Forſoþ it is maad in þo dayes, þat ſche maad ſyk deiede. Þe whiche whanne þei hadde wayſchun, þei puttiden hir in a ſoupyng place. Forſoþ whanne Lidda was nyȝ fro Joppe, diſciplis heeringe for Petre was in it, ſenten twey men to him, preiynge, Þat þou tarie not for to come til to vs. Soþli Petre ryſinge vp cam wiþ hem. And whanne he cam, þei ledden him into þe ſouping place. And alle widewis ſtooden aboute hym, wepinge, and ſchewinge cootis and cloþis, þe whiche Dorcas maade to hem. Forſoþe alle men caſt out wiþouteforþ, Petre puttinge þe knees, preiede. And he turnyd to þe body, ſeide, Tabita, ryſe þou. And ſche openyde þe yȝen, and Petre ſeyn, ſaat vp aȝen. Forſoþ he ȝyuynge to hir þe hond, reyſide hir. And whanne he hadde clepid hooly men and widewis, he aſſignede hir quyk. Forſoþ it is maad knowun by al Joppe; and þei bileuyden in þe Lord. Forſoþ it is maad, þat many dayes he dwellide in Joppe, at Symound, ſum coriour, or tawier.

Capitulum X.

Forſoþ ſum man was in Ceſarie, Corneli by name, centurio, þat is, hauynge an hundrid men vndir hym, of þe cumpanye of knyȝtis, þat is ſeid of Ytalie; a religious man, and dredinge þe Lord, wiþ al his meyne; doynge manye almeſſis to þe peple, and preiynge þe Lord euermore. Þis ſyȝ in a uyſioun opynli, as in þe nynþe hour, or noon, an aungel of God entrynge into hym, and ſeyinge to him, Corneli. And he biholdinge hym, takyn wiþ drede ſeyde, Who art þou, Lord? Forſoþ he ſeide to him, Þi preieris and þin almeſdedis han ſtiȝed vp into mynde, in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord. And now ſende men into Joppe, and clepe ſum man, Symound, þat is namyd Petre. Þis is herborid at ſum man, Symound, coriour, whos hous is biſydis þe ſee. Þis ſchal ſeie to þee, what it bihoueþ þee for to do. And whanne þe aungel þat ſpak to him, hadde gon a wey, he clepide tweyne his homely men, and a knyȝt dredinge þe Lord, of hem þat obeiſchiden to him. To which, whanne he hadde told alle þingis, he ſente hem into Joppe. Forſoþ on þe day ſuynge, hem makinge iourney, and neiȝynge to þe citee, Petre ſtiȝede vp into þe hiȝere þingis of þe hous, þat he ſchulde preie, aboute þe ſixte hour. And whanne he hungride, he wolde taſte, or ete. Forſoþ hem makinge redy, an axceſſ of ſoule, or rauyſching of ſpirit, fel on hym; and he ſyȝ heuene openyd, and ſum veſſel comynge doun, as a greet ſcheete wiþ foure cordis, for to be ſent doun fro heuene into erþe, in þe which weren alle foure footide beeſtis, and crepinge þingis of erþe, and volatils of heuene, or eyr. And a vois is maad to hym, Ryſe, Petre, ſlee, and ete. Forſoþe Petre ſeiþ, Lord, ferr be it fro me, for I neuere eet al comyn þing and vnclene. And eft þe ſecunde tyme þe vois to him, Þat þing þat God haþ clenſid, þou ſchalt not ſeie vnclene. Forſoþ þis þing is don by þries; and a non þe veſſel is receyued into heuene. And þe while Petre wiþ ynne hym doutide, what þe viſioun was which he ſyȝ, lo! þe men, þat weren ſent fro Cornelie, ſekinge þe hous of Symound, ſtooden nyȝ at þe ȝate. And whanne þei hadden clepid, þei axiden if Symound, þat was named Petre, hadde þer herbore. Forſoþe Petre þenkinge on þe viſioun, a ſpirit ſeide to him, Lo! þre men ſeken þee. And ſo ryſe þou, and go doun, and go wiþ hem, no þing doutynge, for I ſente hem. Forſoþ Petre comynge doun to þe men, ſeide, I am, whom ȝe ſeken; what is þe cauſe, for which ȝe han comen? Þe whiche ſeiden, Cornelie, centurio, a iuſt man, and dredinge God, and hauynge good witneſſing of alle þe folk of Jewis, took anſwer of an hooly aungel, for to clepe þee into his hous, and for to heere wordis of þee. Þerfore he ledinge hem wiþ ynne, receyuede in herbore. Forſoþ in þe day ſuynge he ryſinge, wente forþ wiþ hem; and ſumme of breþeren fro Joppe folowiden hym, þat þei be witneſſis to Petre. Forſoþ an oþer day he entride into Ceſarie. Forſoþ Cornelie abood hem, his coſyns and neceſſarie frendis clepid to gidere. And it is don, whanne Petre hadde entrid, Cornelie cam metinge him, and fallinge doun at his feet, he worſchipede him. Petre ſoþli reyſide him, ſeiynge, Ryſe, and I my ſilf am a man, as and þou. And he ſpekinge wiþ him, entride yn, and fond manye þat camen to gidere. And he ſeide to hem, Ȝe witen, how abhomynable it is to a man Jew, for to be ioyned or for to come to an alien; but God ſchewide to me, no man for to ſeie a man comyn, or vnclene. For which þing I clepid cam. Þerfore I axe ȝou, for what cauſe han ȝe clepid me? And Cornelie ſeiþ, Fro þe fourþe day paſſid til to þis hour, I faſtinge was preiynge in þe nynþe hour in myn hous. And lo! a man ſtood bifore me in a whit cloþ, and ſeiþ, Cornelie, þi preier is herd, and þin almeſdedis ben in mynde in þe ſiȝt of God. Þerfore ſende into Joppe, and clepe Symound, þat is named Petre; þis is herborid in þe hous of Symound coriour, biſydis þe ſee. Þis, whan he ſchal come, ſchal ſpeke to þee. Þerfore anon I ſente to þee, and þou didiſt wel in comynge to vs. Now þerfore we alle ben preſent in þi ſiȝt, for to heere þe wordis, what euere ben comaundid to þee of þe Lord. Forſoþ Petre openynge his mouþ, ſeide, In treuþe I haue foundyn, for God is not acceptour of perſoones; but in ech folk he þat drediþ God, and worchiþ riȝtwyſneſſe, is accept to him. God ſente a word to þe ſones of Iſrael, ſchewinge pees by Jheſu Criſt; þis is God of alle men. Ȝe witen þe word þat is maad bi al Judee, forſoþ bigynnynge fro Galilee, aftir þe baptym þat John prechide, Jheſu of Nazareþ; how God anoyntide him wiþ þe Hooly Goſt, and vertu; þe which þorw paſſide in wel doynge, and heelinge alle men oppreſſid of þe deuyl, for God was wiþ him. And we ben witneſſis of alle þingis, þe whiche he dide in þe cuntree of Jewis, and Jeruſalem; whom þei ſlowen, hongynge in a tree. God reyſide þis in þe þridde day, and ȝaf him for to be maad knowun, not to ech peple, but to witneſſis bifore ordeyned of God; to vs þat eetyn and drunkyn wiþ him, aftir þat he roos aȝen fro deed men. And he comaundide to vs for to preche to þe peple, and for to witneſſe, for he is, þat is ordeyned of God domeſman of quyke and deede. To þis alle prophetis beren witneſſing, alle men þat bileuen into him, for to receyue remyſcioun of ſynnes by his name. Ȝit Petre ſpekinge þes wordis, þe Hooli Goſt fell on alle þat herden þe word. And þe feiþful, or criſten, men of circumciſioun wondriden, þat camen wiþ Petre, and for into naciouns þe grace of þe Hooli Goſt is ſched out. Forſoþ þei herden hem ſpekinge wiþ tungis, or langagis, and magnyfiynge God. Þanne Petre anſweride, Wher ony man may forbede watir, þat þeſe be not baptyſid, þat han receyued þe Hooly Goſt as and we? And he comaundide hem for to be baptiſid in þe name of þe Lord Jheſu Criſt. Þanne þei preieden him, þat he ſchulde dwelle wiþ hem ſumme dayes.

Capitulum XI.

Forſoþ apoſtlis herden, þat were in Judee, for and heþene men receyueden þe word of God, and þei glorifieden God. Forſoþ whanne Petre cam to Jeruſalem, þei þat weren of circumciſioun, diſputiden aȝens him, ſeiynge, Whi entridiſt þou to men hauynge prepucie, and haſt ete wiþ hem? Petre ſoþli bigynnynge, expownede to hem þe ordre, ſeiynge, I was in þe citee of Joppe preiynge, and I ſyȝ in exceſſ of my ſoule a viſioun, ſum veſſel comynge down as a greet ſcheete, or lynnen clooþ, wiþ foure cordis for to be ſent down fro heuene; and it cam til to me. Into which I biholdinge biheeld, and ſyȝ foure footide þingis of erþe, and beeſtis, and crepinge þingis, and volatils of þe eyr. Forſoþ I herde and a voys ſeyinge to me, Petre, ryſe, ſle, and ete. Forſoþ I ſeide, Nay, Lord; comyn þing or vnclene, entride neuere into my mouþ. Soþli þe vois anſweride þe ſecunde tyme fro heuene, Þo þingis þat God haþ clenſid, þou ſchalt not ſeye vnclene. Forſoþ þis is don bi þries, and alle þingis ben receyued aȝen into heuene. And lo! þre men anon ſtooden nyȝ in þe hous, in which I was, ſent fro Ceſarie to me. Forſoþ a ſpirit ſeide to me, þat I ſchulde go wiþ hem, no þing doutynge. Forſoþ and þes ſixe breþeren camen wiþ me, and we entriden into þe hous of þe man. Soþli he teelde, how he ſyȝ an aungel in his hous, ſtondinge and ſeyinge to him, Sende into Joppe, and clepe Symound, þat is namyd Petre, þe which ſchal ſpeke to þee wordis, in whiche þou ſchalt be ſaf, and al þin hous. Forſoþ whanne I hadde bigunne for to ſpeke, þe Hooly Goſt fel on hem, as and into vs in þe bygynnyng. Forſoþ I biþouȝte on þe word of þe Lord, as he ſeide, Soþli John baptiſide in watir, forſoþ ȝe ſchulen be baptiſid in þe Hooly Gooſt. Þerfore if God ȝaf to hem þe ſame grace, as and to vs þat bileuyden into þe Lord Jheſu Criſt, who was I, þat myȝte forbede þe Lord, þat he ſchulde not ȝyue þe Hooly Goſt to men bileuynge in þe name of Jheſu Criſt? Þeſe þingis herd, þei heelden pees, and glorifieden God, ſeiynge, Þerfore and to heþene men God haþ ȝouun penaunce to þe lyf. And ſoþeli þei þat weren ſcaterid of þe tribulacioun þat was maad vndir Sþeuene, walkiden forþ til to Fenyſe, and Cypre, and Antiochie, to no man ſpekinge þe word, no but to Jewis aloone. Forſoþ ſumme of hem weren men of Cypre and Cyrenen; þe whiche whanne þei entriden into Antiochie, ſpaken to Greekis, ſchewinge þe Lord Jheſu. And þe hond of þe Lord was wiþ hem, and moche noumbre of men bileuynge is conuertid to þe Lord. Forſoþ þe word cam to þe eeris of þe chirche, þat was at Jeruſalem, on þes þingis; and þei ſenten Barnabas til to Antiochie. Þe which whanne he hadde come, and ſeyn þe grace of þe Lord, ioyede, and moneſtide alle men in purpos of herte for to dwelle in þe Lord; for he was a good man, and ful of þe Hooly Goſt, and feiþ. And moche cumpanye is putt to þe Lord. Forſoþ he wente forþ to Tarſis, þat he ſchulde ſeke Saul; whom whanne he hadde founden, he ledde to Antiochie. And al a ȝeer þei lyueden þere in þe chirche, and tauȝten moche cumpanye, ſo þat firſt criſten diſciplis weren namyd at Antiochie. Forſoþe in þes daies prophetis camen ouer fro Jeruſalem to Antiochie. And oon of hem ryſinge, Agabus by name, ſignyfiede bi þe ſpirit a greet hungir to comynge in al þe roundneſſe of erþis, þat is maad vndir Claudius. Forſoþ diſciplis purpoſiden alle, as ech hadde, for to ſende myniſterie to breþeren dwellinge in Judee. Þe which þing and þei diden, ſendinge to þe eldere men, bi þe hondis of Barnabas and Saul.

Capitulum XII.

Forſoþ in þe ſame tyme Heroude kyng ſente hondis, for to turmente ſum men of þe chirche. Forſoþ he ſlouȝ by ſwerd James, þe broþer of John. Forſoþ he ſeynge for it pleſide to Jewis, puttide to for to catche and Petre; forſoþ þe dayes of þerf looues weren. Whom whanne he hadde cauȝt, he ſente into priſoun, and bitakinge to foure quaternyouns of knyȝtis, þat ech hadde foure men vndir him, for to kepe him, willinge aftir paſke for to brynge him forþ to þe peple. And ſoþli Petre was kept in priſoun; forſoþe preier was maad of þe chirche wiþoute ceeſſinge to God for him. Forſoþe whanne Heroude was to bryngynge forþ him, in þat nyȝt Petre was ſlepinge bitwixe twey knyȝtis, boundun wiþ twey chaynes; and keperis bifore þe dore kepten þe priſoun. And loo! an aungel of þe Lord ſtood nyȝ, and liȝt ſchoon aȝen in þe habytacle. And þe ſyde of Petre ſmytun, he reyſide, or wakide, him, ſeiynge, Ryſe þou ſwiftli. And anoon þe chaynes felden doun of his hondis. Forſoþ þe aungel ſeide to him, Be þou gurd bifore, and do on þi hoſis. And he dide ſo. And he ſeide to him, Do aboute to þee þi cloþ, and ſue me. And he goynge out, ſuede him; and he wiſte not for it is ſoþ, þat was maad bi þe aungel; forſoþ he geſſide him ſilf to ſe a viſioun. Forſoþ þei paſſinge þe firſte and þe ſecunde kepyng, camen to þe irun ȝate þat leediþ to þe citee, þe which wilfully is opened to hem. And þei goynge out, camen forþ into o ſtreete, and anoon þe aungel paſſide awey fro him. And Petre turnynge aȝen to him ſilf, ſeide, Now I woot verily, for þe Lord ſente his aungel, and delyuerede me fro þe hond of Eroude, and of al abydinge of þe peple of Jewis. And he biholdinge cam to þe hous of Marie, modir of John, þat is named Marcus, where manye weren gederid to gidere, and preiynge. Forſoþ him knockynge at þe dore of þe ȝate, a wenche, Rode by name, cam forþ for to ſe. And, as ſche knew þe vois of Petre, for ioye ſhe openede not þe ȝate, but rennynge yn, tolde Petre for to ſtonde bifore þe ȝate. And þei ſeiden to hir, Þou maddiſt, or art wood. Soþli ſhe affermyde, for to haue him ſo. Forſoþ þei ſeiden, It is his aungel. Forſoþ Petre laſtide knockynge. Soþli whanne þei hadden openyd, þei ſyȝen him, and wondriden. Soþli he bekenynge to hem wiþ hond for to be ſtille, tolde hou þe Lord hadde ledd him out of priſoun. And he ſeide, Telle ȝe to James and breþeren þes þingis. And he gon out, wente into anoþer place. Soþli þe day maad, þer was not lytil trowblyng among þe knyȝtis, what was don of Petre. Soþli whanne Eroud had ſouȝt hym aȝen, and nouȝt founde, inquiciſioun, or ſekyng, maad of keperis, he comaundide hem for to be brouȝt. And he comynge doun fro Judee into Ceſarie, dwellide þere. Forſoþ he was wroþ to men of Tyre and of Sidon. And þei of oon acoord camen to him, and Blaſtis, þat was on þe cowche of þe kyng, ſoftli ſtirid, þei axiden pees, for þat her cuntrees weren noriſched, or ſuſteyned, by him. Forſoþ a day ordeyned, Eroud cloþid wiþ kingis cloþinge, ſaat for domeſman, and ſpak to hem. Forſoþ þe peple cryede, Þe vois of God, not of man. Soþly anoon an aungel of þe Lord ſmoot him, for he hadde not don honour to God; and he waaſtid of wormes, deiede. Soþeli þe word of þe Lord wexide, and was multiplied. Forſoþ Barnabas and Saul turnyden aȝen fro Jeruſalem, þe myniſterie fulfillid, John takyn to, þat was namyd Markus.

Capitulum XIII.

Forſoþ þer weren in þe chirche þat was at Antioche, prophetis and doctours, in whiche Barnabas, and Symound, þat is clepid Blak, and Lucius Cironenſe, and Manaen, þat was þe ſowkynge feere of Eroud tetrarke, þat is, prince of þe fourþe part, and Saul. Forſoþ hem myniſtringe in þe Lord, and faſtynge, þe Hooly Goſt ſeide to hem, Departe ȝe to me Saul and Barnabas, into þe work to which I haue takyn hem. Þanne þei faſtinge, and preiynge, and puttinge hondis to hem, leften hem. And ſoþli þei ſent of þe Hooly Goſt, wenten forþ to Seleucia, and fro þennis þei wenten by boot to Cypre. And whanne þei camen to Salamyne, þei prechiden þe word of God in ſynagogis of Jewis; forſoþ þei hadden and John in myniſterie, or ſeruyſe. And whanne þei hadden walkide by al þe yle til to Pafum, þei founden ſum man wicche, a fals prophete, Jew, to whom þe name was Barieu, þat was wiþ þe proconſul Sergius Poul, prudent man. Þis, Barnabas and Poul clepid to, deſyride for to heere þe word of God. Soþeli Elymas wicche wiþſtood hem; ſo ſoþli is interpretid his name; ſekinge for to turne awey þe proconſul fro bileue. Forſoþ Saul, which and Poul, fulfillid wiþ þe Hooly Goſt, biholdynge into him, ſeide, A! þou ful of al gyle, and al falſneſſe, þou ſone of þe deuel, þou enemye of al riȝtwyſneſſe, þou leeuyſt not for to ſubuerte, or diſtroye, þe riȝtful weyes of þe Lord. And now lo! þe hond of þe Lord on þee, and þou ſchalt be blynd, and not ſeynge ſunne til a tyme. And anoon a myſt fel down on hym and derkneſſe; and he goynge aboute, ſouȝte hym þat ſchulde ȝyue þe hond to him. Þanne þe proconſul, whanne he hadde ſeyn þe dede, bileuyde, wondrynge on þe teching of þe Lord. And whanne fro Pafum Poul hadde go by boot, and þei þat weren wiþ him, þei camen to Pergen of Pamfili; forſoþ John departinge fro hem, turnyde aȝen to Jeruſalem. Soþli þei goynge to Pergen, camen to Antioche of Perſidie; and þei gon into þe ſynagoge þe day of ſabatis, ſaten. Soþli aftir þe redinge of lawe and prophetis, þe princes of þe ſynagogue ſenten to hem, ſeyinge, Men breþeren, if ony word of exortacioun, or teching, to þe peple is in ȝou, ſeye ȝe. Forſoþ Poul ryſynge, and wiþ hond biddynge ſylence, ſeiþ, Men of Iſrael, and ȝe þat dreden God, heere. God of þe peple of Iſrael chees oure fadris, and enhaunſide þe peple, whanne þei weren comelingis in þe lond of Egipt, and in an hiȝ arm he ledde hem out of it; and bi þe tyme of fourti ȝeeris he ſuſteynede her maneris in deſert. And he diſtroyinge ſeuene folkis in þe lond of Canaan, by ſort departide to hem þe lond of hem, as aftir foure hundrid and fyfti ȝeeris. And after þes þingis he ȝaf domeſmen, til to Samuel, þe prophete. And fro þennis þei axiden a kyng, and he ȝaf to hem Saul, þe ſone of Cis, a man of þe lynage of Beniamyn, by fourty ȝeeris. And him don awey, he reyſide to hem Dauiþ king, to whom he beringe witneſſing ſeyde, I haue foundun Dauiþ, þe ſone of Jeſſe, a man vp myn herte, þe which ſchal do alle my willis. Of whos ſeed vp biheeſte God ledde out to Iſrael a ſauyour Jheſu, John prechinge bi fore þe face of his comyng þe baptym of penaunce to al þe peple of Iſrael. Forſoþ whanne John fulfillide his cours, he ſeyde, Whom ȝe demen me for to be, I am not; but lo! þer comeþ aftir me, of whos I am not worþi for to vnbynde þe ſchoon of his feet. Men breþeren, ſones of þe kynde of Abraham, and þat in ȝou dreden God, to ȝou þe word of heelþe is ſent. Soþeli þei þat dwelliden at Jeruſalem, and princes of it, vnknowynge þis Jheſu, and þe voyſis of prophetis, þat by euery ſabotis ben radd, demynge fulfilliden; and þei fyndinge in him no cauſe of deeþ, axiden of Pilate, þat þei ſchulden ſlee him. And whanne þei hadden endid alle þingis þat weren writun of him, þei puttinge him doun of þe tree, puttiden him in a graue. Forſoþ God reyſide him fro deede men in þe þridde day; þe which is ſeyn by many dayes to hem þat to gidere ſtiȝeden vp fro Galilee into Jeruſalem, þe whiche ben til now his witneſſis to þe peple. And we ſchewen to ȝou þe ilke þat is maad biheeſte aȝen to oure fadris; for God haþ fulfillid þis to oure ſones, aȝen ryſinge Jheſu; as and in þe ſecunde ſalm it is writun, Þou art my ſone, to day I gendride þee. Forſoþ þat he aȝen reyſide him fro deede men, now no more to turnynge into corupcioun, þus he ſeiþ, For I ſchal ȝyue to ȝou þe hooly trewe þingis of Dauiþ. And þerfore and on anoþer ſtide he ſeiþ, Þou ſchalt not ȝyue þin hooli for to ſe corupcioun. Forſoþ Dauiþ in his generacioun, whanne he hadde mynyſtrid to þe wille of God, ſlepte, or deiede, and is putt to his fadris, and ſyȝ corupcioun; ſoþli he whom God reiſide fro deede men, ſyȝ not corupcioun. Þerfore, men breþeren, be it knowun to ȝou, for by him remyſſioun of ſynnes is told to ȝou, fro alle ſynnes, of þe whiche ȝe myȝten not be iuſtified in þe lawe of Moyſes. In þis ech man þat bileueþ, is iuſtified. Þerfore ſe ȝe, þat it come not to ȝou, þat is aboue ſeid in prophetis, Se ȝe, diſpiſeris, and wondre ȝe, and be ȝe ſcaterid a brood; for I worche a work in ȝoure daies, a werk þat ȝe ſchulen not bileue, if ony man ſchal telle out to ȝou. Forſoþ hem goynge out, þei preieden, þat anoþer ſuynge ſaboþ þei ſchulden ſpeke to hem þes wordis. And whanne þe ſynagoge was left, manye of Jewis and of comelingis worſchipinge ſueden Poul and Barnabas; þe whiche ſpekinge, ſoftli counceiliden hem, þat þei ſchulden dwelle in þe grace of God. Soþly in ſaboþ ſuynge almooſt al þe cyte cam to gidere, for to heere þe word of God. Forſoþ Jewis ſeynge þe cumpanyes of peple, ben fulfillid wiþ enuye, and aȝen ſeiden þes þingis þat weren ſeid of Poul, blaſphemynge. Þanne Poul and Barnabas ſtedefaſtly ſeyden, To ȝou it bihofte firſt for to ſpeke þe word of God; but for ȝe putten it awey, and han demed vs vnworþi of euere laſting lyf, lo! we turnen to gidere to heþene men. Forſoþe ſo þe Lord comaundide vs, I haue putt þee into liȝt to heþene men, þat þou be into heelþe til to þe vtmoſte of erþe. Soþli heþen men heeringe ioyeden, and glorifieden þe word of þe Lord; and bileuyden, how manye euere weren byfore ordeyned to euere laſtyng lyf. Forſoþ þe word of þe Lord was ferr ſowun by al þe cuntree. Soþli Jewis ſtiredyn religiouſe wymmen, and honeſt, and þe firſte men of þe cytee, and ſtiriden perſecucioun into Poul and Barnabas, and caſtiden hem out of her cuntrees. And þei, þe powdir of feet ſhakun awey into hem, camen to Iconye. And diſciplis weren fulfillid wiþ ioye and þe Hooly Goſt.

Capitulum XIIII.

Forſoþ it is don at Iconye, þat to gidere þei entriden into a ſynagoge of Jewis, and ſpaken, ſo þat a plenteuous multitude of Jewis and Greekis bileueden. Forſoþ þe Jewis þat weren vnbileueful, reiſiden perſecucioun, and to wraþþe ſtiriden þe ſoulis of heþen men aȝens breþeren. Þerfore þei dwelliden moche tyme, doynge triſtyli in þe Lord, beringe witneſſinge to þe word of his grace, ȝyuynge ſygnes and wondris for to be maad by þe hondis of hem. Forſoþe þe multitude of þe citee is departid, and ſoþeli ſumme weren wiþ Jewis, ſumme ſoþli wiþ apoſtlis. Forſoþ whanne aſawt of heþen men and Jewis was maad, wiþ her princes, for to poniſche wiþ diſpiſingis, or fals blamyngis, and ſtoone hem, þei vndirſtondinge fledden to gidere to þe citees of Licaonye, Liſtris and Derben, and al þe cuntree inuyroun. And þei weren þere prechinge þe goſpel, and al þe multitude is moued to gidere in þe teching of hem. Poul ſoþli and Barnabas dwelten at Liſtris. And ſum man at Liſtris, ſyk in þe feet, ſaat crokid fro his modris wombe, þe which neuere hadde gon. Þis herde Poul ſpekinge; þe which biholdynge him, and ſeynge, for he hadde feiþ, þat he ſchulde be maad ſaaf, ſeide wiþ greet vois, Ryſe þou riȝt on þi feet. And he lepide, and walkide. Forſoþ þe cumpanyes, whanne þei hadden ſeyn þat þat Poul dide, reriden her voys in Lycaon tunge, ſeiynge, Godis maad lyk to men camen doun to vs. And þei clepiden Barnabas Jouem, Poul ſoþli Mercurie, for he was ledere of þe word. And þe preſt of Jubiter, þat was bifore þe citee, bryngynge to bolis and crownes bifore þe ȝatis, wiþ peplis, wolde make ſacrifice. Þe which þing whanne apoſtlis, Barnabas and Poul, herden, her cootis kitt to gidere, þei ſcipten out into þe cumpanyes, cryinge, and ſeiynge, Men, what don ȝe þis þing? and we ben deedly men lyk to ȝou, ſchewinge to ȝou, for to be conuertid fro þeſe veyne þingis to quyk God, þat made heuene, and erþe, and þe ſee, and alle þingis þat ben in hem; þe which in generaciouns paſſid lefte alle folkis entre into her weyes. And ſoþeli not wiþoute witneſſyng he wel doynge lefte hym ſilf, fro heuene ȝyuynge reynes and tymis beringe fruyt, fulfillinge wiþ mete and gladneſſe ȝoure hertis. And þei ſeyinge þes þingis, vnneþe ſwagiden þe cumpanyes, þat þei offriden not to hem. Forſoþe ſumme Jewis camen out fro Antiochie and Iconye, and, þe cumpanyes ſweteli ſtirid, þei ſtoonynge Poul, drowen out of þe citee, geſſinge him for to be deed. Soþli diſciplis enuyrownynge hym, he ryſinge entride into þe citee; and þe ſuynge day he wente forþ wiþ Barnabas into Derben. And whanne þei hadden euangelyſid to þe ilke citee, and tauȝt manye, þei turneden aȝen to Liſtris, and Iconye, and Antiochie; confermynge þe ſoulis of diſciplis, and moneſting, þat þei ſchulden dwelle in feiþ, and ſeiynge, For by manye tribulaciouns it bihoueþ vs for to entre into þe kingdom of heuenes. And whanne þei hadden ordeyned preſtis to hem by alle citees, and hadden preied wiþ faſtingis, þei bitoken hem to þe Lord, into whom þei bileuyden. And þei paſſinge Perſidie, camen to Pamphilie; and þei ſpekinge þe word of þe Lord in Pergen, camen down in to Atalie. And fro þennis þei wenten bi boot to Antiochie, fro whennis þei weren takun to þe grace of God, in to þe werk þat þei fulfilliden. Soþli whanne þei camen, and gedriden þe chirche, þei telden how manye þingis God dide wiþ hem, for he hadde opened to heþene men þe dore of feiþ. Forſoþe þei dwelliden a tyme not litil wiþ diſciplis.

Capitulum XV.

And ſumme comynge doun fro Judee, tauȝten breþeren, For no but ȝe be circumſidid vp þe lawe of Moyſes, ȝe mown not be maad ſaaf. Þerfore ſedicioun, or diſſencioun, maad not leeſt to Poul and Barnabas aȝens hem, þei ordeyneden, þat Poul and Barnabas, and ſumme oþere of hem, ſchulden gon vp to apoſtlis and preſtis in Jeruſalem, on þis queſtioun. Þerfore þei, ledd forþ of þe chirche, paſſiden by Fenyſe and Samarie; tellinge þe lyuynge of heþen men, and þei maaden greet ioye to alle breþeren. Soþli whanne þei camen to Jeruſalem, þei weren receyued of þe chirche, and of apoſtlis, and eldere men, tellinge how manye þingis God dide wiþ hem. Forſoþ ſum of þe ereſye of Phariſees, þat bileuyden, riſen, ſeyinge, For it bihoueþ hem for to be circumſidid, and for to comaunde for to kepe þe lawe of Moyſes. And apoſtlis and eldre men camen to gidere, for to ſe of þis word. Forſoþ whanne greet ſekyng to gidere was maad, Petre ryſinge, ſeide to hem, Men breþeren, ȝe witen, for of oolde dayes in ȝou God chees by my mouþ heþen men, for to heere þe word of þe goſpel, and for to bileue; and God þat knew hertis, bar witneſſing, ȝyuynge to hem þe Hooli Goſt, as and to vs; and no þing dyuerſide bitwixe vs and hem, bi feiþ clenſynge þe hertis of hem. Now þerfore what tempten ȝe God, for to putte a ȝok on þe nol, or necke, of diſciplis, þe which neþer we, neþer oure fadris myȝten bere? But bi þe grace of oure Lord Jheſu Criſt we bileuen for to be ſauyd, as and þei. Forſoþ al þe multitude heeld pees, and herden Barnaban and Poul, tellinge how many ſignes and wondris God dide by hem in heþen men. And aftir þat þei helden pees, James anſweride, ſeyinge, Men breþeren, heere ȝe me. Symound telde, how firſt God viſytide, for to take of heþen men a peple to his name. And to him þe wordis of prophetis acorden, as it is writun, Aftir þis I ſchal turne aȝen, and bylde þe tabernacle of Dauiþ, þat felde doun; and I ſchal bylde aȝen þe caſt doun þingis of it, and I ſchal reyſe it; þat oþere of men aȝen ſeke þe Lord, and alle folkis on whiche my name is inclepid; þe Lord doynge þis þing, ſeiþ. Fro þe world, to þe Lord his werk is knowun. For which þing I deme hem þat of heþen men ben conuertid to God, for to be not vnquyetid, or diſeſid, but for to wryte to hem, þat þei abſteyne hem fro defoulingis of ſymulacris, and fornycacioun, and ſtranglid þingis, and blood. Moyſes ſoþli of olde tymes haþ in alle citees hem þat prechen him in ſynagogis, where by ech ſaboþ he is rad. Þanne it pleſide to apoſtlis, and eldre men, wiþ al þe chirche, for to cheſe men of hem, and ſende to Antiochie, wiþ Poul and Barnabas, Judas, þat was named Barſabas, and Sylam, þe firſte men in breþeren; wrytinge by þe hondis of hem, Apoſtlis and eldere breþeren to hem þat ben at Antiochie, and Cirie, and Cilice, breþeren of heþen men, greetyng, or heelþe. For we herden þat ſumme of vs goynge out, troubliden ȝou wiþ wordis, turnynge vpſodoun ȝoure ſoulis, to whiche men we comaundiden not, it pleſide to vs gederid into oon, for to cheeſe men, and ſende to ȝou, wiþ oure mooſte dereworþe Barnabas and Poul, men þat bitoken, or ȝauen, her ſoulis, or lyues, for þe name of oure Lord Jheſu Criſt. Þerfore we ſenten Judas and Sylas, þe whiche and þei ſchulen telle þe ſame þingis to ȝou by wordis. Forſoþe it is ſeyn to þe Hooly Goſt and vs, for to putte to ȝou no þing more of charge, þan þeſe nedeful þingis, þat ȝe abſteyne ȝou fro þe offrid þingis of ſymulacris, and blood ſtranglid, and fornycacioun. Fro whiche ȝe kepinge ȝou, ſchulen do wel. Fare ȝe wel. Þerfore þei diſmittid, camen down to Antiochie; and, þe multitude gederid, þei bitaken þe epiſtle; þe which whanne þei hadden radd, þei ioyeden on þe comfort. Forſoþ Judas and Sylas and þei, whanne þei weren prophetis, wiþ ful moche word coumfortiden breþeren, and confermyden. Soþli ſum litil tyme maad þere, þei weren diſmittid, or left, wiþ pees of breþeren, to hem þat hadden ſent hem. Forſoþ it is ſeyn to Silas, for to dwelle þere; Judas ſoþli wente aloone to Jeruſalem. Forſoþ Poul and Barnabas dwelliden at Antiochie, techinge and euangelyſinge þe word of þe Lord, wiþ oþere manye. Forſoþe aftir ſumme dayes, Poul ſeide to Barnabas, We turnynge aȝen, viſite oure breþeren by alle citees, in whiche we han prechid þe word of þe Lord, how þei han hem. Barnabas forſoþe wolde take wiþ him and John, þat was namyd Markus. Poul ſoþli preiede him, þat he þat departide fro hem fro Pamphilie, and wente not wiþ hem into werk, ſchulde not be receyued. Forſoþ diſſencioun is maad, ſo þat þei departiden atwyny. And Barnabas ſoþli, Mark takyn to, bi boot cam to Cypre. Forſoþ Poul, Silas choſun, wente forþ, takun to þe grace of God fro briþeren. Forſoþ he wente bi Sirie and Cilice, confermynge þe chirche, comaundinge for to kepe þe preceptis of apoſtlis and eldre men.

Capitulum XVI.

Soþli he cam in to Derben and Liſtram. And lo! ſum diſciple was þere, by name Tymoþe, þe ſone of a womman widowe feiþful, or criſten, þe fadir heþen. Breþeren þat weren in Liſtris and Iconye, ȝelden good witneſſing to him. Poul wolde him for to go forþ wiþ him ſilf, and he takinge to, circumcide him, for Jewis þat weren in þe ilke places. Soþely alle wiſten, þat his fadir was heþen. Forſoþ whanne þei paſſiden bi citees, þei bitoken to hem for to kepe þe techingis, þat weren demed of apoſtlis and eldere men, þat weren at Jeruſalem. And ſoþly þe chirchis weren confermyd in feiþ, and haboundiden in noumbre ech day. Forſoþ þei paſſinge Frigye, and þe cuntree of Galaþie, weren forbodyn of þe Hooly Goſt for to ſpeke þe word of God in Aſya. Soþli whanne þei camen into Miſye, þei temptiden for to go into Biþinie, and þe ſpirit of Jheſu ſuffride not hem. Soþli whanne þei hadden paſſid by Miſye, þei camen down to Troade; and a viſioun by nyȝt was ſchewid to Poul. Sum man of Macedonye was ſtondinge, and preiynge him, and ſeyinge, Þou goynge into Macedonye, help vs. Soþli as he ſyȝ þe viſioun, anoon we ſouȝten for to go forþ into Macedonye, maad certeyn þat God hadde clepid vs for to euangeliſe to hem. Soþeli we goynge by boot, or ſeylinge, wiþ ſtreiȝt cours camen to Samatrachia; and þe day ſuynge to Neapolis; and fro þennis to Philippis, þat is þe firſte part of Macedonye, þe citee colonye. Soþli we weren in þis citee ſumme dayes, ſpekinge to gidere. Soþli in þe day of ſabotis we wenten out wiþoute þe ȝate biſydis þe flood, wher preier was ſeyn for to be; and we ſittinge, ſpaken to wymmen þat camen to gidere. And ſum womman, Lidda bi name, purpureſſe of þe citee of Tiatirens, worſchipinge God, herde; whos herte þe Lord openyde for to ȝyue tent to þeſe þingis, þat weren ſeid of Poul. Forſoþe whanne ſhe was baptyſid and hir hous, ſhe preiede, ſeiynge, If ȝe han demyd me for to be feiþful to þe Lord, entre ȝe into myn hous, and dwelle. And ſche conſtreynede vs. Forſoþe it is don, vs goynge to preier, ſum wenche hauynge a ſpirit of dyuynacioun, for to mete vs, þe which ȝaf greet wynnyng to hir lordis in dyuynyng, þat is, tellinge hid þingis bi þe deuelis craft. Þis ſuynge Poul and vs, criede, ſeyinge, Þes men ben ſeruauntis of hiȝe God, þat tellen to ȝou þe wey of helþe. Forſoþe þis þing ſhe dide in many dayes. Soþli Poul ſorwinge, and conuertid, ſeide to þe ſpirit, I comaunde to þee in þe name of Jheſu Criſt, for to go out of hir. And he wente out in þe ſame hour. Soþli þe lordis of hir, ſeynge for þe hope of hir wynnyng wente a wey, catchinge Poul and Silas ledden into cheping, or dom place, to þe princes. And þei offringe hem to þe mageſtratis, ſeyden, Þeſe men diſturblen oure citee, whanne þei ben Jewis, and ſchewen a cuſtom, þe which it is not leueful to vs for to receyue, neþer do, ſyþen we ben Romayns. And þe peple ran aȝens hem and mageſtratis, and þe cootis of hem kitt, þei comaundiden hem for to be betyn wiþ ȝerdis. And whanne þei hadden ȝouun to hem many woundis, þei ſenten hem into priſoun, comaundinge to þe kepere, þat he diligentli ſchulde kepe hem. Þe which, whanne he hadde takyn ſuch a precept, ſente hem into þe ynner priſoun, and ſtreynede þe feet of hem in a tree. Soþli at mydnyȝt Poul and Silas worſchipinge, herieden God; and þei þat weren in keping herden hem. Forſoþ ſudenli a greet erþe mouyng is maad, ſo þat þe foundementis of þe priſoun weren mouyd. And anoon alle þe doris ben openyd, and þe bondis of alle ben vnbounden. Soþli þe kepere of þe priſoun maad wakyn, and ſeynge þe ȝatis of þe priſoun openyd, þe ſwerd drawun out, wolde ſle hym ſilf, wenynge þe boundyn men for to haue fled. Forſoþ Poul criede wiþ greet vois, ſeyinge, Do þou no þing of yuel to þi ſilf, forſoþ alle we ben here. And liȝt axid, he entride yn, and tremblinge he fel down to Poul and Silas at þe feet. And he bringinge hem wiþoute forþ, ſeiþ, Lordis, what bihoueþ me for to do, þat I be maad ſaf? And þei ſeiden, Bileue þou in to þe Lord Jheſu, and þou ſchalt be ſaf, and þin hows. And þei ſpaken to him þe word of þe Lord, wiþ alle þat weren in his hous. And he takinge hem in þe ilke hour of nyȝt, waiſchide her woundis. And he is baptyſid, and al his hous anoon. And whanne he hadde led hem into his hous, he ſette to hem a boord. And he gladide wiþ al his hous, bileuynge to God. And whanne day was maad, þe magiſtratis ſenten littoures, þat ben myniſtris of ponyſching, ſeyinge, Diſmitte, or delyuere, ȝe þo men. Forſoþ þe keper of priſoun telde þes wordis to Poul, For þe mageſtratis han ſent, þat ȝe be delyuered; now þerfore ȝe goynge out, goþ in pees. Forſoþ Poul ſeide to hem, Þei ſenten into priſoun vs, betyn opynly vndampnyd, men Romayns, and now priuely þei caſten vs out; not ſo, but come þei, and þei ſilf caſte vs out. Soþli þe myniſtris of peyne telden þes wordis to þe mageſtratis; and þei dredden, herd þat þei weren Romayns. And þei comynge, biſecheden hem, and þei ledinge forþ, preieden, þat þei ſchulden go out of þe citee. Soþli þei goynge out of þe priſoun, entriden into Lidie. And, þe breþeren ſeyn, þei coumfortiden hem, and wenten forþ.

Capitulum XVII.

Soþeli, whanne þei hadden paſſid bi Amphipolis and Apolonye, þei camen to Teſſalonyk, wher was a ſynagoge of Jewis. Soþli vp cuſtom Poul entride into hem, and by þre ſabotis he declaride to hem of ſcripturis, openynge and ſchewynge for it bihoueþ Criſt for to ſuffre, and ryſe aȝen fro deede men, and for þis is Jheſus Criſt, whom I tolde, or ſchewide, to ȝou. And ſumme of hem bileueden, and ben ioyned to Poul and Silas; and of heþen men worſchipinge a greet multitude, and noble wymmen not fewe. Soþli Jewis hauynge enuye, and takinge of þe comune ſumme yuele men, and a cumpanye maad, þei moueden þe citee. And þei ſtondinge nyȝ Jaſons hous, ſouȝten hem for to bringe forþ into þe peple. And whanne þei founden hem not, þei drowen Jaſon and ſumme breþeren to þe princes of þe citee, criynge, For þeſe it ben, þat mouen þe world, and hidir þei camen, whom Jaſon receyuede. And þes alle don aȝens þe maundementis of Ceſar, ſeiynge, an oþer Jheſu for to be kyng. Forſoþ þei mouyden þe peple, and princes of þe citee, heeringe þes þingis. And ſatisfaccioun takun of Jaſon and of oþere, þei leften hem. Forſoþ anoon by nyȝte breþeren diſmittiden Poul and Silas in to Beroan. Þe whiche whanne þei camen, entriden into þe ſynagoge of Jewis. Soþli þes weren þe nobelere of hem þat ben at Teſſalonyk, whiche reſceyueden þe word wiþ al deſyr, ech day ſekynge ſcripturis, if þeſe þingis ſo hadden hem. And ſoþeli manye of hem bileuyden, and of heþen wymmen honeſte and men not fewe. Forſoþe whanne Jewis in Teſſalonyk hadden knowe, for and at Beroan þe word of God is prechid of Poul, þei camen and þidur, mouynge and diſturblinge þe multitude. And anon breþeren diſmittiden Poul þanne, þat he ſchulde go til to þe ſee; forſoþ Silas and Tymoþe dwelten þere. Soþli þei þat ledden forþ Poul, ledden him til to Aþenes. And maundement takyn of him to Silas and Tymoþe, þat ful hiȝyngli þei ſchulden come to him, þei wenten forþ. Forſoþ whanne Poul abood hem at Aþenys, his ſpirit was mouyd in him, ſeynge þe citee ȝouun to ydolatrie. Þerfore he diſputide in þe ſynagoge wiþ Jewis, and men worſchipinge, in þe chepinge, or dom place, bi alle dayes to hem þat herden. Forſoþe ſumme Epicureis, and Stoycis, and philoſofris diſputiden, or tretiden, wiþ him. And ſumme ſeiden, What wole þis ſowere of wordis ſeie? Soþli oþere ſeiden, He is ſeyn for to be a tellere of newe deuelis; for he telde to hem Jheſu, and aȝen ryſing. And þei ledden him takun to Ariopage, þat is, comun ſcole, ſeyinge, Mown we wite, what is þis newe doctryn, þat is ſeid of þee? Soþli þou bringiſt yn ſum newe þingis to oure eeris; þerfore we wolen wite, what þeſe þingis wolen be. Soþli alle men of Aþenis and comelingis, herborid men, ȝauen tent to noon oþir þing, no but eþir for to ſeye, eþir for to heere, ony þing of newe. Forſoþ Poul ſtondinge in þe myddel of Areopage, ſeiþ, Men of Aþenis, bi alle þingis I ſe ȝou as veyn worſchiperis. Soþli I paſſinge, and ſeynge ȝoure ſymulacris, foond and an auter, in which was writun, To vnknowun God. Þerfore which þing ȝe vnknowynge worſchipen, þis þing I ſchewe to ȝou. God þat made þe world and alle þingis þat ben in it, þis, whanne he is Lord of heuene and erþe, dwelliþ not in templis maad bi hond, neþer is worſchipid by mannis hondis, hauynge nede of ony þing, whanne he ȝyueþ lyf to alle men, and ynbreþing, and alle þingis; and maad of oon al þe kynde of men for to enhabite on al þe face of erþe, determynynge tymes ordeyned, and termes of habitacioun, or dwelling, of hem, for to ſeke God, if perauenture þei feelen him, eþir fynden, þouȝ he be not fer fro ech of ȝou. Soþeli in him we lyuen, and ben moued, and ben. As and ſumme of ȝoure poetis ſeiden, Soþeli we ben and þe kynde of him. Þerfore ſiþen we ben þe kynde of God, we ſchulen not deme, or geſſe, godly þing for to be lyk to gold, and ſiluer, or ſtoon, to grauyng of craft and þouȝt of man. And ſoþeli God diſpiſinge þe tymes of þis vnkunnynge, now ſchewiþ to men, þat alle euerywhere do penaunce; for þat he ordeynede a day, in which he is to demynge þe world in equyte, in a man in which he ordeynede, feiþ ȝyuynge to alle, reyſinge him fro deede men. Soþeli whanne þei hadden herd þe aȝen ryſing of deede men, ſoþli ſumme ſcorneden, ſumme forſoþe ſeiden, We ſchulen heere þee eft of þis þing. So Poul wente out of þe myddil of hem. Forſoþe ſumme cliuynge to him, bileuyden. In þe whiche and Dionyſe Ariopagite, or greet man of comun ſcole, and a womman, by name Damaris, and oþere men wiþ hem.

Capitulum XVIII.

Aftir þes þingis he gon out of Aþenis, cam to Corinþe. And fyndynge a man Jew, by name Aquyla, of Ponte bi kynde, þat late cam fro Italie, and Priſcille, his wyf, for þat Claudius comaundide alle Jewis for to departe fro Rome, cam to hem. And for he was of þe ſame craft, he dwellide at hem, and wrouȝte; ſoþli þei weren of cenefectorie craft, þat is, to make hilingis to trauelinge men. And he diſputide in þe ſynagoge by ech ſaboþ, by twixe puttinge þe name of þe Lord Jheſu; and he ſoftly counceilide to Jewis and Greekis. Soþeli whanne Silas and Tymoþe camen fro Macedonye, Poul ȝaf biſyneſſe to þe word, witneſſinge to þe Jewis, Jheſu for to be Criſt. Forſoþe hem aȝen ſeyinge and blasfemynge, he ſchakynge of his cloþis, ſeide to hem, Ȝoure blood on ȝoure heed; I clene fro hennis forþ, ſchal go to heþene men. And he paſſinge þennis, entride into þe hous of ſum iuſt man, by name Tyte, worſchipynge God, whos hous was ioyned to þe ſynagoge. Criſpe ſoþli, prince of þe ſynagoge, bileuyde to þe Lord, wiþ al his hows. And manye of þe Corinþies heeringe bileuyden, and weren criſtenyd. Forſoþ þe Lord ſeide by nyȝte to Poul by a viſioun, Nyle þou drede, but ſpek, and be not ſtille; for which þing I am wiþ þee, and no man ſchal be put to þee þat he anoye þee, for moche peple is to me in þis citee. Forſoþ he ſaat þer a ȝeer and ſixe moneþis, techinge at hem þe word of þe Lord. Soþli Gallion proconſul of Achaye, Jewis riſen vp wiþ oon ynwitt, or wille, into Poul, and ledde hym to þe dom, ſeiynge, For aȝens þe lawe þis counceliþ men for to worſchipe God. Soþli Poul bigynnynge for to opene þe mouþ, Gallion ſeide to Jewis, Forſoþ if þer were ony wickid þing, or worſt treſpas, ȝe men Jewis, riȝtly I ſchulde ſuſteyne ȝou; forſoþ if queſtiouns ben of þe word, and names of ȝoure lawe, ȝe ſilf ſe; I wole not be domeſman of þes wordis. And he drof þem fro þe dom place. Forſoþe alle takynge Soſtenen, prince of þe ſynagoge, ſmyten him bifore þe dom place; and no þing of þeſe was to charge to Gallion. Poul forſoþe whanne ȝit he hadde ſuſteyned many dayes, ſeiynge far wel to breþeren, by boot cam to Sirie, and wiþ him Priſcille and Aquyla, þe whiche hadden clippid to hem þe heed in Tencris; ſoþli þei hadden a vow. And he cam to Epheſy, and þere he lefte hem; ſoþli he goynge into þe ſynagoge, diſputide wiþ Jewis. Soþli hem preiynge þat he ſchulde dwelle more tyme, he conſentide not, but he makinge farwel, and ſeiynge, It bihoueþ me for to make þe ſolempne day comynge to at Jeruſalem, and eft I ſchal turne aȝen to ȝou. God willinge, wente forþ fro Epheſi. And he comynge doun to Ceſarie, ſtiȝede vp, and grette þe chirche, and cam doun to Antiochie. And, þere ſumwhat of tyme maad, he wente forþ, walkinge by ordre þorw þe cuntree of Galaþie, and Frigie, confermynge alle diſciplis. Soþli ſum Jew, Apollo by name, a man of Alyſaundre of kynde, a man eloquent, cam to Epheſie, myȝti in ſcripturis. Þis man was tauȝt þe wey of þe Lord, and feruent in ſpirit ſpak, and tauȝte diligentli þo þingis þat weren of Jheſu, knowinge oonli þe baptym of John. Soþli þis man bigan for to do triſtily in þe ſynagoge. Whom whanne Priſcille and Aquyla herden, þei token him to, and more diligently expowneden to him þe wey of þe Lord. Soþli whanne he wolde go to Achaie, breþeren moneſtid, or councelid, writen to diſciplis, þat þei ſchulden reſceyue him; which whanne he cam, ȝaf moche to hem þat bileuyden. Forſoþe he greetly ouercam Jewis, ſchewinge openly by ſcripturis, Jheſu for to be Criſt.

Capitulum XIX.

Forſoþ it is don, whanne Apollo was at Corinþe, þat þe hiȝer partis gon, Poul cam to Epheſi, and fond ſumme of diſciplis. And he ſeide to hem, If ȝe han reſceyued þe Hooli Goſt bileuynge? And þei ſeiden to him, But neþir we han herd, if þe Hooli Goſt is. Soþly he ſeiþ, Þerfore in what þing ben ȝe baptyſid? Whiche ſeiden, In baptym of John. Forſoþ Poul ſeide, John baptyſide in baptym of penaunce þe peple, ſeyinge, þat þei ſchulde byleue into him þat was to comynge aftir him, þat is, into Jheſu. Þeſe þingis herd, þei ben baptiſid in þe name of þe Lord Jheſu. And whanne Poul hadde putt to hem þe hondis, þe Hooli Goſt cam on hem, and þei ſpaken wiþ langagis, and propheſieden. Forſoþ alle weren almeſt twelue men. Soþli he gon into þe ſynagoge, wiþ triſt ſpak, by þre moneþis diſputinge and ſoftli mouynge of þe kyngdom of God. Soþli whanne ſumme weren endurid, or maad hard, and bileuyden not, curſinge þe wey of þe Lord bifore multitude, he goynge awey fro hem, departide diſciplis, ech day diſputinge in ſcole of ſum tyraunt, or ſtrong man. Þis is don by twey ȝeeris, ſo þat alle þat dwelliden in Aſie herden þe word of þe Lord, Jewis and heþene men. And vertues whiche euere þe Lord dide by þe hond of Poul, ſo þat on ſyke men þe ſudaries, or ſwetyng cloþis, or nyȝt cloþis, or girdils, weren borun fro his body, and ſikeneſſis departiden fro hem, and wickide ſpiritis wenten out. Forſoþe and ſumme of þe Jewis exorciſtis, or coniureris, comynge aboute, temptide for to inclepe þe name of þe Lord Jheſu Criſt on hem þat hadden yuele ſpiritis, ſeiynge, I coniure ȝou by Jheſu, whom Poul prechiþ. Soþeli þer weren ſumme ſeuene ſones of a Jewe, Sceue, prince of preſtis, þat diden þis þing. Soþli þe yuel ſpirit anſweringe, ſeide to hem, I haue knowe Jheſu, and I woot Poul; forſoþ whiche ben ȝe? And þe man in which was þe worſte deuel, lippinge into hem, and hauynge lordſchip of boþe, was ſtrong aȝens hem, þat þei nakid and woundid fledden awey fro þat hous. Forſoþ þis þing was maad knowun to alle Jewis and heþene men, þat dwelliden at Epheſi; and drede fel doun on hem alle, and þei magnyfieden þe name of þe Lord Jheſu. And manye of men bileuynge camen, knowlechinge and tellinge her dedis. Soþeli manye of hem þat ſueden curiouſe þingis, brouȝten to gidere bookis, and brennyden hem bifore alle men; and þe priſis of hem acountid, þei founden money of fifty þouſynd pens; ſo ſtrongly þe word of God wexide, and was confermyd. Soþli þes þingis fulfillid, Poul purpoſide in ſpirit, Macedonye paſſid and Achaye, for to go to Jeruſalem, ſeiynge, For aftir þat I ſchal be þere, it bihoueþ me for to ſe Rome. Forſoþ he ſendinge into Macedonye tweyne of men myniſtringe to him, Tymoþe and Eraſte, dwellide at a tyme in Aſie. Þerfore þer was maad in þat day a ſturbling not leeſt, of þe wey of þe Lord. Forſoþ ſum man, Demetrie by name, argentarie, makinge ſiluerene houſis to Dian, þat is, fals goddeſſe, ȝaf to crafty men not litil wynnyng; whom he clepinge to gidere, and hem þat weren ſuche manere werk men, ſeide, Men, ȝe witen for of þis craft is to ȝou wynnyng; and ȝe ſeen and heeren, for not oonly of Epheſi, but almeſt of al Aſie, þis Poul councelinge turneþ awey moche cumpany, ſeiynge, for þei ben not goddis, þat ben maad by hondis. Forſoþ not oonli þis part ſchal be in perel to vs, for to come into reprof, but þe temple of greet Dian ſchal be acountid into noȝt; but and þe mageſte of hir ſchal be diſtroyed, whom al Aſie worſchipiþ and þe world. Þeſe þingis herd, þei ben fulfillid wiþ ire, and cryeden, ſeiynge, Greet Dian of Epheſians. And þe citee is fulfillid wiþ confuſioun, and þei maden a ſawt wiþ oon ynwit, or wille, in to þe teatre, or comune biholdyng place, Gayus rauyſchid and Ariſtark, men of Macedonye, felowis of Poul. Soþli Poul willinge for to entre into þe peple, diſciplis ſuffriden not. Forſoþ ſumme and of þe princes of Aſie, þat weren his frendis, ſenten to him, preiynge, þat he ſchulde not ȝyue him ſilf into þe teatre. Soþli oþere men cryeden oþir þing; ſoþli þe chirche was confuſid, and manye wiſten not of what cauſe þei camen to gidere. Soþli of þe cumpanye þei wiþdrowen ſum man Aliſaundre, Jewis puttinge him, or fer ſchowfynge. Forſoþe Aliſaundre, ſilence axid wiþ þe hond, wolde ȝelde reſoun to þe peple. Whom as þei knewen for to be a Jew, o vois of alle men was maad, criynge as by twey houris, Greet Dian of Ephiſians. And whanne þe ſcribe hadde ceeſſid þe cumpanyes, he ſeide, Men of Epheſi, who ſoþli is of men, þat knowiþ not, þe citee of Ephiſians for to be worſchiper of greet Dian, and of þe ſone Jubiter? Þerfore whanne it may not be aȝen ſeid to þes þingis, it bihoueþ ȝou for to be ceeſſid, or ſwagid, and for to do no þing folily; ſoþli ȝe han brouȝt þes men, neþer ſacrilegeris, neþer blasfemynge ȝoure goddeſſe. Þat if Demetrie, and þe werkmen þat ben wiþ him, han cauſe aȝens ony man, comyngis to gidere of dom ben don, and proconſuls, or iuſtiſis, ben; accuſe þei hem to gidere. If ȝe ſeken ouȝt of ony oþir þing, it may be aſoylid in þe laweful chirche. Forwhi and we ben in perel for to be reproued of þis dayes ſeducioun, or diſſencioun, ſiþen no man is gilty, of whom we mown ȝelde reſoun of þis rennyng to gidere. And whanne he hadde ſeid þis þing, he lefte, or delyuerede, þe chirche.

Capitulum XX.

Forſoþe aftir þat þe noyſe ceeſſide, diſciplis clepid, Poul moneſtinge hem, ſeide farwel; and he wente forþ, for to go into Macedonye. Soþli whanne he hadde walkid bi þe partis, and hadde moneſtid hem by moche word, he cam to Greece. Where whanne he hadde be þre moneþis, aſſpies in yuel of þe Jewis weren maad to him, to ſchippinge into Sirie; and he hadde counceil of turnynge aȝen into Macedonye. Soþli Soſſipater Pirri Beroence folowide him; of Teſſaloniſenſis forſoþe Ariſtark, and Secunde, and Gayus, Derbeus, and Tymoþe; ſoþli Aſians, Tyticus and Trophimus. Þeſe whanne þei wenten bifore, ſuſteyneden, or abiden, vs at Troade. Forſoþ we ſchipiden aftir dayes of þerf looues fro Philippis, and camen to hem at Troade in fyue daies, where we dwelten ſeuene dayes. Soþli o day of ſaboþ, whanne we camen for to breke breed, Poul diſputide wiþ hem, he to goynge in þe morwe; and he drow along þe word til into mydnyȝt. Soþli plenteuous laumpis weren in þe ſouping place, where we weren gederid to gidere. Soþli ſum ȝong man, Euticus bi name, ſittinge on þe wyndow, whanne he was dreynt wiþ a greuous ſleep, Poul diſputinge longe, he ledd by ſleep fel down fro þe þridde ſtage, or ſouping place; and he takun vp, is offrid deed. To whom whanne Poul cam down, he lay on him, and biclippinge ſeide, Nyle ȝe be troublid; forſoþ þe ſoule of him is in him. And he goynge vp, and brekinge breed, and taſtinge, and ſpak ynow til into þe liȝt; and ſo he wente forþ. Soþli þei brouȝten to þe child lyuynge, and þei ben comfortid not leeſt. Soþli we ſtiȝynge vp into a ſchip, ſchippiden into Aſſon, fro þennus we to receyuynge Poul; ſoþli ſo he hadde diſpoſid, to makinge iourney bi lond. Forſoþ whanne he fond vs in Aſſon, him takyn to, we camen to Mitilene. And fro þennis ſchippinge, in þe day ſuynge we camen aȝens Chyum, and an oþer day we haueneden at Samum, and in þe day ſuynge we camen to Milete. Soþli Poul purpoſide for to ſchippe ouer to Epheſi, leſt ony dwelling were maad to him in Aſie; forſoþ he hiȝede, if it were poſſible to him, þat he ſchulde make þe day of Pentecoſte at Jeruſalem. Fro Milete ſoþli he ſendynge to Epheſy, clepide þe more þorw birþe of þe chirche. Which whanne þei camen to him, and weren to gidere, he ſeide to hem, Ȝe witen fro þe firſte day, in which I cam into Aſie, hou wiþ ȝou by ech tyme I was, ſeruynge to þe Lord wiþ al mekeneſſe, and myldneſſe, and teeris, and temptaciouns, þat felden to me of aſpyingis of Jewis; how I wiþdrowȝ noȝt of profitable þingis to ȝou, þat I telde not to ȝou, and tauȝte ȝou openly, and bi houſis; witneſſinge to Jewis and heþene men into God penaunce, and feiþ into oure Lord Jheſu Criſt. And now lo! I boundun in ſpirit, go into Jeruſalem; what þingis in it ben to comynge to me vnknowynge, no but þat þe Hooly Goſt by alle citees witneſſiþ to me, ſeyinge, for bondis and tribulaciouns at Jeruſalem dwellen to me. But I ſchame, or drede, no þing of þeſe, neþer I make my ſoule, þat is, lyf, preciouſer þan my ſilf, þe while I ende, or fulfille, my cours, and þe mynyſterie of þe word, þe which I receyuede of þe Lord Jheſu, for to witneſſe þe goſpel of þe grace of God. And now lo! I woot, for ȝe ſchulen no more ſe my face, alle ȝe by whom I paſſide, prechinge þe kingdom of God. Wherfore I witneſſe ȝou þis day, for I am clene of þe blood, or ſynne, of alle men. Forſoþ I fleiȝ not awey, þat I tauȝte, or teelde, not to ȝou al þe councel of God. Take tent to ȝou, and to al þe folk, in which þe Hooly Goſt ſette ȝou biſchopis, for to reule þe chirche of God, which he purchaſide wiþ his blood. I woot for aftir my departyng, rauyſchinge wolues ſchulen entre in to ȝou, not ſparinge þe flok; and of ȝou ſilf men ſpekinge weyward þingis ſchulen ryſe, þat þei leden diſciplis aftir hem. For which þing wake ȝe, holdinge in mynde þat by þre ȝeer nyȝt and day I ceeſſide not wiþ teeris moneſtinge ech of ȝou. And now I bitake ȝou to God and to þe word of his grace, þat is myȝty for to edifie and ȝyue heritage in alle maad hooly. Forſoþ of no man I coueitide ſiluer, and gold, or cloþ, as ȝe ſilf witen; but to þo þingis þat weren nede to me, and to þeſe þat ben wiþ me, þeſe hondis myniſtriden. Alle þeſe þingis I ſchewide to ȝou, for ſo it bihoueþ men trauelinge for to reſceyue þe ſyke, and for to haue mynde of þe word of þe Lord Jheſu; for he ſeide, It is more bleſſid for to ȝyue, more þan for to receyue. And whanne he hadde ſeide þeſe þingis, his knees putt, he preiede wiþ alle hem. Soþli greet wepyng of alle men was maad; and þei fallinge in þe necke of Poul, kiſſeden him, ſorwinge mooſt in þe word þat he ſeide, for þei weren no more to ſeynge his face. And þei ledden him to þe ſchip.

Capitulum XXI.

Soþeli whanne it was don, þat we ſchulden ſchippe, drawun awey fro hem, ſtreiȝt cours we camen to Choum, and þe day ſuynge to Rodum, and fro þennis to Patiram, fro þennis into Iram. And whanne we founden a ſchip paſſinge ouer into Fenyſe, we ſtiȝynge vp, ſchippeden, or ſeiliden. Soþli whanne we apperiden to Cypre, we leeuynge it at þe left half, ſchipiden into Cyrie, and camen to Tyre. Soþeli þere þe ſchip was to puttinge out þe charge. Soþli diſciplis foundun, we dwelliden þere ſeuene dayes; þe whiche ſeiden bi ſpirit to Poul, þat he ſchulde not ſtiȝe to Jeruſalem. And þe dayes fulfillid, we goinge forþ wenten, alle men wiþ wyues and fre children ledinge forþ vs til to wiþoute þe citee; and þe knees putt in þe ſee brynke, we preieden. And whanne we hadden maad farwel to gidere, we wenten vp into þe ſchip; ſoþli þei turneden aȝen into her owne þingis. Soþli þe ſchip ſeiling fulfillid fro Tyre, we deſſendiden to Tolomayda, and þe breþeren gret wel, we dwelliden o day at hem. Forſoþe an oþer day we gon forþ, camen to Ceſarie. And we entringe into þe hous of Philip euangeliſt, þat was oon of þe ſeuene, dwelliden at him. Soþli to þis weren foure douȝtris, virgyns, propheſiynge. And whanne we dwelliden þere bi ſum dayes, ſum man prophete, Agabus by name, cam ouer fro Judee. Þis whanne he cam to vs, took þe girdil of Poul, and byndynge to gidere to him þe feet and hondis, ſeide, Þe Hooli Goſt ſeiþ þes þingis, Þus Jewis ſchulen bynde in Jeruſalem þe man, whos is þis girdil; and þei ſchulen bitake into heþene mennis hondis. Which þing whanne we herden, we preieden, and þei þat weren of þat place, þat he ſchulde not ſtiȝe to Jeruſalem. Þanne Poul anſweride, and ſeide, What do ȝe, wepinge and turmentynge myn herte? Soþli I am redy, not onli for to be boundun, but and to deie in Jeruſalem for þe name of þe Lord Jheſu. And whanne we myȝten not councele him, we weren ſtille, or reſtiden, ſeyinge, Þe wille of þe Lord be don. Soþeli aftir þes dayes we maad redy, ſtiȝeden to Jeruſalem. Soþli ſumme of diſciplis camen wiþ vs fro Ceſarie, ledinge wiþ hem ſum man, Jaſon of Cypre, an old diſciple, at whom we ſchulden be herborid. And whanne we camen to Jeruſalem, breþeren reſceyueden vs wilfulli. Soþli in þe day ſuynge Poul entride wiþ vs to James, and alle þe eldere men ben gederid. Whom whanne he hadde grett, he tolde bi alle þingis, what þingis God hadde don in heþene men, by þe myniſterie of him. And þei whanne þei herden, magnifieden God, and ſeiden to him, Þou, broþir, ſeeſt how manye þouſandis ben in Jewis, þat han bileuyd to God, and alle ben ſueris, or loueris, of þe lawe. Soþli þei herden of þee, for þou techiſt departing fro Moyſes of þe ilke Jewis þat ben by heþene men, ſeiynge, þat þei oweden not for to circumſide her ſones, neþer owen for to entre vp cuſtom. Þerfore what is? Soþli it bihoueþ a multitude come to gidere; forſoþe þei ſchulen heere þee, for to haue come ouer. Þerfore do þou þis þing, þat we ſeyn to þee. Þere ben to vs foure men, hauynge a vow on hem. Þeſe takun to, halowe þee wiþ hem; and coſte in hem, þat þei ſchaue her heedis; and alle men wite, þat þe þingis þat þei herden of þee ben falſe, but þou walkiſt and þi ſilf kepinge þe lawe. Of þeſe ſoþli þat bileuyden of heþene men, we writen, demynge þat þei abſteyne hem fro þingis offrid to ydols, and blood, and ſtranglid þing, and fornicacioun. Þanne þe men takyn to, Poul in þe day ſuynge purified wiþ hem, entride into þe temple, ſchewinge þe fulfilling of dayes of purifiyng, til offring was offrid for ech of hem. Soþli whanne ſeuene dayes weren endid, þe Jewis þat weren of Aſie, whanne þei ſyȝen hym in þe temple, ſtiriden al þe peple, and leiden hondis on him, criynge, Men of Iſrael, helpe ȝe vs. Þis is þe man, þat aȝens peple and lawe and þis place techinge euery where alle men, more ouer and haþ ledd yn heþen men into þe temple, and haþ defoulid þis hooly place. Forſoþe þei ſyȝen Trophimus of Epheſi in þe citee wiþ him, whom þei geſſiden for Poul hadde brouȝt into þe temple. And al þe citee is mouyd, and a rennynge to gidere of peple is maad. And þei catchinge Poul, drowyn him out of þe temple; and anoon þe ȝatis ben cloſid. Soþli hem ſekynge for to ſle hym, it is toold to þe tribune of þe cumpanye of knyȝtis, for al Jeruſalem is confoundid. Þe which a noon knyȝtis takun to, and centuriouns, ran to hem. Whiche whanne þei hadden ſeyn þe tribune and knyȝtis, ceeſſiden for to ſmyte Poul. Þanne þe tribune comynge to, kauȝte him, and comaundide for to be boundyn wiþ twey chaynes; and axide, who it was, and what he hadde don. Soþli oþere crieden oþir þing in þe cumpanye. And whanne he myȝte not knowe certeyn þing for þe noyſe, he comaundide him for to be ledd into þe caſtels. And whanne Poul cam to grees, it bifel þat he was born of knyȝtis, for ſtrengþe of þe peple. Forſoþe multitude of peple ſuede him, criynge, Take him awey. And whanne Poul bigan for to be ledd in to þe caſtels, he ſeiþ to þe tribune, If it is leefful to me, for to ſpeke ony þing to þee? Which ſeide, Þou Greek haſt þou knowun? Wher þou ert not þe Egipcian, þe which bifore þes dayes mouediſt a noyſe, and laddiſt out into deſert foure þouſand of men, menſleeris? And Poul ſeide to him, Soþli I am a man Jew, of Tarſe of Cilicie, a citeſeyn, or burgeys, of a citee not vnknowun. Forſoþ I preie þee, ſuffre me for to ſpeke to þe peple. And whanne he ſuffride, Poul ſtondinge in þe grees, bekenyde wiþ þe hond to þe peple. And a greet ſilence maad, he ſpak to in Ebrew tunge, ſeyinge,

Capitulum XXII.

Men, breþeren and fadris, heere ȝe what reſoun I ȝelde now to ȝou. Forſoþ, whanne ſumme herden for in Ebrew tunge he ſpak to hem, þei ȝauen more ſilence. And he ſeide, I a man Jew, born at Tarſe of Cilicie, noriſchid forſoþ in þis citee biſydis þe feet of Gamaliel, lerud vp þe treuþe of fadris lawe, folower, or louer, of þe lawe, as and ȝe alle ben to day. Þe whiche I purſuede þis wey til to þe deeþ, byndinge to gidere and drawinge into holdis men and wymmen, as þe prince of preſtis ȝeldiþ witneſſing to me, and alle þe more in birþe. Of which and I takinge piſtlis to breþeren, wente to Damaſk, þat I ſchulde brynge fro þennis bounden into Jeruſalem, þat þei ſchulden ben peyned. Forſoþ it is don, me goynge, and neiȝynge to Damaſk, in þe mydday ſudenli fro heuene a copious liȝt ſchon aboute me. And I fallinge into þe erþe, herde a vois fro heuene, ſeiynge to me, Saul, Saul, what purſueſt þou me? It is hard to þee for to kyke aȝens þe pricke. Forſoþe I anſweride, Who art þou, Lord? And he ſeide to me, I am Jheſu of Nazareþ, whom þou purſueſt. And þei þat weren wiþ me ſyȝen ſoþli þe liȝt, forſoþe þei herden not þe vois of him, þat ſpak wiþ me. And I ſeide, Lord, what ſchal I do? Soþli þe Lord ſeide to me, Þou riſynge, go to Damaſk; and þere it ſchal be ſeid to þee, of alle þingis whiche it bihoueþ þee for to do. And whanne I ſyȝ not, for þe clerete of þat liȝt, I ledd to hondis of felowis, cam to Damaſk. Forſoþ ſumman, Ananye, vp þe lawe hauynge witneſſing of alle Jewis dwellinge in Damaſk, comynge to me, and ſtondinge nyȝ, ſeide, Saul, broþer, bihold. And I in þe ſame hour biheld in to him. And he ſeide, God of oure fadris ordeynede þee, þat þou ſchuldiſt knowe þe wille of him, and ſchuldiſt ſe iuſt þing, and heere þe vois of his mouþ. For þou ſchalt be his witneſſe to alle men, of þo þingis þat þou haſt ſeyn and herd. And now, what dwelliſt þou? Ryſe vp, and be baptiſid, and waiſch awey þi ſynnes, ynclepid þe name of him. Forſoþ it is don to me, turnynge aȝen into Jeruſalem, and preinge in þe temple, me for to be maad in rauyſſching of ſoule, and to ſe him ſeyinge to me, Hiȝe þou, and go out faſte of Jeruſalem, for þei ſchulen not receyue þi witneſſyng of me. And I ſeide, Lord, þei witen, for I was cloſynge to gidere into priſoun, and betynge by ſynagogis hem þat bileueden in to þee. And whanne þe blood of Sþeuene, þi witneſſe, was ſched, I ſtood nyȝ, and conſentide, and kepte þe cloþis of men ſleynge him. And he ſeide to me, Go þou, for I ſchal ſende þee ferr to naciouns. Forſoþ þei herden him til to þis word; and þei reyſiden her vois, ſeyinge, Take fro þe erþe ſuch a maner man; forſoþ it is not leefful, him for to lyue. Soþli hem cryinge in voys, and caſtinge a wey her cloþis, and þrowinge dowſt in to þe eyr, þe tribune comaundide hym for to be ledd in to caſtels, and for to be betyn wiþ ſcourgis, and him for to be turmentid, þat he ſchulde wite, for what cauſe þei cryeden ſo to him. And whanne þei hadden ſtreyned hym wiþ boondis, or roopis, Poul ſeide to a centurioun ſtondinge nyȝ to him, If it is leefful to ȝou, for to ſcourge a man Romayn, and vndampned? Which þing herd, centurioun wente to þe tribune, and tolde to him, ſeiynge, What art þou to doinge? forſoþ þis man is a citeſeyn Romayn. Forſoþ þe tribune comynge to, ſeide to him, Seie þou to me, if þou art a Romayn? And he ſeide, Ȝhe. And þe tribune anſweride, How liȝtly ſeiſt þou þee a Romayn citeſeyn? I wiþ moche ſumme gat þis ciuylite. And Poul ſeiþ, I ſoþli and am borun. Þerfore a noon þei þat weren to turmentinge him, departiden awey fro him. And þe tribune dredde, aftir þat he wiſte aȝen, for he was a citeſeyn of Rome, and for he hadde boundyn him. Forſoþ in þe day ſuynge he willinge for to wite more diligently, of what cauſe he were accuſid of Jewis, vnbound him, and comaundide preſtis for to come, and al þe counſeil. And he bryngynge forþ Poul, ordeynede him among hem.

Capitulum XXIII.

Poul forſoþ biholdinge in to þe counſeil, ſeiþ, Men breþeren, I wiþ al good conſcience haue lyued bifore God, til into þis day. Soþli Anany, prince of preſtis, comaundide to men ſtondinge nyȝ, for to ſmyte his mouþ. Þanne Poul ſeide to him, Wal maad whiȝt, God ſchal ſmyte þee; and þou ſittinge demeſt me vp þe lawe, and aȝenſt þe lawe comaundiſt me for to be ſmytyn. And þei þat ſtooden nyȝ, ſeiden, Curſiſt þou þe hiȝeſte preſt of God? Soþli Poul ſeide, Breþeren, I wiſte not, for he is prince of preſtis; forſoþ it is writun, Þou ſchalt not curſe þe prince of þi peple. Forſoþe Poul witinge, for o party was of Saducees, and þat oþir of Phariſees, he cryede in þe counceil, Men breþeren, I am a Phariſe, þe ſone of Phariſees; of þe hope and aȝen ryſing of deede men I am demed. And whanne he hadde ſeid þis þing, diſſencioun is maad bitwixe Phariſees and Saducees, and þe multitude is departid. Forſoþ Saducees ſeyn, for to be no ryſinge aȝen of deede men, neþer aungel, neþer ſpirit; forſoþe Phariſees knowlechen boþe. Soþli a greet cry is maad. And ſumme of Phariſees ryſinge vp, fouȝten, ſeyinge, We fynde no þing of yuel in þis man; what if a ſpirit ſpak to him, or aungel? And whanne greet diſſencioun was maad, þe tribune dredinge, leſt Poul ſchulde be to-drawun a mong hem, comaundide knyȝtis for to go doun, and to rauyſche him of þe myddil of hem, and for to lede him in to caſtels. Soþli in þe nyȝt ſuynge þe Lord ſtondinge nyȝ to him, ſeiþ, Be þou ſtedefaſt; ſoþli as þou haſt witneſſid of me in Jeruſalem, ſo it bihoueþ þee for to witneſſe and at Rome. Forſoþe þe day maad, ſumme of þe Jewis gederiden hem, and maden a vow, ſeyinge, hem neþer to etinge, neþer to drynkinge, til þei ſlowen Poul. Forſoþ þer weren mo þan fourty men, þat maden þis coniuracioun, or ſwering to gidere. Þe whiche wenten to þe princes of preſtis, and eldre men, and ſeiden, Wiþ deuocioun we han avowid vs to no þing taſtinge, til we ſlen Poul. Now þerfore make ȝe knowun to þe tribune, wiþ þe counceil, þat he leede forþ him to ȝou, as ȝe to knowinge ſum þing more certeynli of him; ſoþli we ben redy for to ſle him, bifore þat he come nyȝ. Which þing whanne þe ſone of Poulis ſiſtir hadde herd þe aſpies, or treſoun, he cam, and entride in to þe caſtels, and tolde Poul. Soþli he clepinge to him oon of þe centuriouns, ſeiþ, Leed þis ȝonge man to þe tribune, for he haþ ſum þing for to ſchewe to him. And he forſoþe takinge him to, ledde to þe tribune, and ſeiþ, Boundyn Poul preiede me, for to lede to þee þis ȝonge man, hauynge ſum þing for to ſpeke to þee. Soþli þe tribune takinge his hond, wente wiþ him a ſydis half, and axide him, What þing is it, þat þou haſt to ſchewe to me? Forſoþ he ſeide, It bifalliþ to þe Jewis for to preie þee, þat to morwe day þou bringe forþ Poul into þe counceil, as þei ben to ſekinge ſum þing certeynere. Soþli bileue þou not to hem; forſoþe more þan fourty men of hem aſpien him, þe whiche han a vowid, hem for to not ete ne drynke, til þei ſlen him; and now þei ben redy, abidinge þi biheeſte. Þerfore þe tribune lefte þe ȝonge man, comaundinge, þat he ſchulde ſpeke to no man, for he hadde maad þes þingis knowun to him. And tweye centuriouns clepid to gidire, he ſeide to hem, Make ȝe redy tweyne hundrid knyȝtis, þat þei go til to Ceſarie, and horſmen ſeuenty, and ſper men tweyn hundrid, fro þe þridde hour of þe nyȝt. And make ȝe redy iumentis, or hors, þat þei puttinge Poul vpon, ſchulden lede him ſaf to Felix, preſident. Soþli he dredde, leſt perauenture Jewis ſchulden rauyſche him, and ſlee, and he aftirward ſchulde ſuffre chalenge, as he were to takinge money; writinge to him an epiſtle, conteynynge þes þingis. Claudius Liſias to þe beſt Felix, precident, heelþe. Þis man takyn of Jewis, and bigynnynge for to be ſlayn of hem, I aboue comynge wiþ cumpany delyuerede, knowun for he is a Romayn. And I willinge for to wite þe cauſe, þe which þei puttiden aȝens him, ledde him in to þe counceil of hem. Whom I fond for to ben accuſid of queſtiouns of þe lawe of hem, forſoþ hauynge no cryme worþi þe deeþ, or bondis. And whanne it was teeld to me of þe aſpies, or treſouns, þat þei maden redy, I ſente him to þee, denounſinge and to accuſatours, þat þei ſeie at þee. Farwel. Soþli knyȝtis, vp þing comaundid to hem, takinge to Poul, ledden him by nyȝt into Antipatriden. And in þe day ſuynge, þe horſmen left, þat þei ſchulden go wiþ him, þei turnyden aȝen to þe caſtels. Þe whiche whanne þei camen to Ceſarie, and token þe pyſtle to þe preſident, þei ſetten bifore hym and Poul. Forſoþ whanne he hadde rad, and axid, of what prouynce he was, and knowinge for he was of Cilice, I ſchal heere þee, he ſeiþ, whanne þi accuſeris ſchulen come. And he comaundide him for to be kept in þe pretorie, or moote halle, of Heroude.

Capitulum XXIIII.

Forſoþ aftir fyue dayes, Ananye, prince of preſtis, cam doun wiþ ſum eldre men, and Terculle, ſum oratour, or fair ſpeker, or auocat, whiche wenten to þe preſedent aȝeyns Poul. And, Poul ſomenyd, Terculle bigan for to accuſe, ſeyinge, Whanne in moche pees we don bi þee, and manye þingis ben amendid bi þi prouydence, or wyſdom, euermore and euerywhere, þou beſt Felix, we han receyued wiþ al doynge of þankingis. Forſoþ leſt I tarie þee lengere, I preie þee, ſchortly heere vs for þi mekeneſſe. We han foundun þis man beringe venym, or peſtilence, and ſtiringe ſedicioun, or diſſencioun, to alle Jewis in al þe world, and auctour of ſeducioun of þe ſecte of Nazarens; þe which alſo enforſide for to defoule þe temple; whom and takun to, we wolden deme, aftir oure lawe. Soþli Liſias, þe tribune, aboue comynge wiþ greet ſtrengþe, delyuerede him fro oure hondis; comaundinge his accuſeris for to come to þee, of whom þou demynge, maiſt knowe of alle þes þingis, of whiche we accuſen him. Forſoþ and Jewis caſtiden to, ſeyinge þes þingis for to haue hem ſo. Forſoþ Poul anſweride, grauntinge þe preſedent to him for to ſeie, Of manye ȝeeris I knowinge þee for to be domeſman to þis folk, ſchal do ynow for me wiþ good ynwitt, or reſoun. Soþli þou maiſt knowe, for to me ben not more þan twelue dayes, ſiþen I ſtiȝede vp for to worſchipe in Jeruſalem; and neþir in þe temple þei founden me diſputinge wiþ ony man, or makinge concurs, or rennyng to gidere, of þe cumpany of peple, neþer in ſynagogis, neþer in citee; neþer þei mown proue to þee, of þe whiche þingis þei now accuſen me. Soþeli I knowleche to þee þis þing, þat vp þe ſecte which þei ſeyn ereſie, ſo I ſerue to God þe fadir, bileuynge to alle þingis þat ben writun in þe lawe and prophetis; hauynge hope in to God, þe whiche and þei hem ſilf abyden, þe aȝen ryſing to comynge of iuſt men and wickid. In þis þing and I ſtudie wiþouten hirtyng, for to haue conſcience to God, and to men euermore. Forſoþ aftir mo ȝeeris, I cam to doynge almeſdedis into my folk, and offringis, and vowis; in whiche þei founden me purified in þe temple, not wiþ cumpanye, neþir wiþ noyſe. And þei cauȝten me, þei cryinge, and ſeiynge, Take awei oure enemy. Soþli ſumme Jewis of Aſie, whom it bihofte for to be now preſent, or redy, at þee, and accuſe, if þei hadden ony þing aȝens me, or þeſe hem ſilf ſeye, if þei founden in me ony þing of wickidneſſe, ſiþen I ſtonde in þe counceil, no but oonli of þis o vois, by which I cryede ſtondinge a mong hem, For of þe aȝen ryſing of deede men I am demyd þis day of ȝou. Soþli Felix deferride hem, mooſt certeynli he witinge of þe weye, ſeiynge, Whanne Liſias, þe tribune, ſchal come, I ſchal heere ȝou. And he comaundide to centurioun for to kepe him, and for to haue reſte, neþir for to forbede ony man for to mynyſtre of his owne þingis to him. Soþeli aftir ſumme dayes, Felix comynge wiþ Druſille, his wyf, þat was a Jeweſſe, clepide Poul, and herde of him þe feiþ þat is into Jheſu Criſt. Soþli him diſputinge of riȝtwyſneſſe, and chaſtite, and of dom to comynge, Felix maad tremblinge, anſweride, Þat perteyneþ now, go; ſoþli in tyme couenable I ſchal clepe þee to. Alſo and hopinge, þat money ſchulde be ȝouun to him of Poul; for whiche þing and ofte he clepinge him to, ſpak wiþ him. Soþli twey ȝeeris fulfillid, Felix took a ſucceſſour, Feſtus of Ponte; forſoþ Felix willinge for to ȝyue grace to Jewis, lefte Poul boundun.

Capitulum XXV.

Therfore whanne Feſtus cam into prouynce, aftir þe þridde day he aſſendide to Jeruſalem fro Ceſarie. And þe princes of preſtis, and þe firſte of Jewis wenten to him aȝens Poul, and preieden him, axinge grace aȝens him, þat he ſchulde comaunde him for to be led to Jeruſalem; ſettinge aſpies for to ſle hym in þe weye. Soþli Feſtus anſweride, Poul for to be kepte in Ceſarie; him ſoþly to goynge forþ more rypeli, or haſteli. Þerfore he ſeiþ, Þei þat in ȝou ben myȝti, comynge doun to gidere; if ony cryme is in þe man, accuſe him. Soþli he dwellinge a mong hem no more þan eiȝte or ten dayes, cam doun to Ceſarie; and þat oþir day he ſat for domeſman, and comaundide Poul for to be ledd to. Which whanne he was ledd, Jewis ſtooden aboute him, þe whiche camen doun fro Jeruſalem, puttinge aȝens manye and greuouſe cauſis, whiche þei myȝten not proue. Soþli Poul ȝeldinge reſoun, For neþir into þe lawe of Jewis, neþer in to þe temple, neþer into Ceſar, I ſynnede ony þing. Forſoþ Feſtus willinge for to ȝyue grace to þe Jewis, anſweringe to Poul, ſeide, Wolt þou aſſende to Jeruſalem, and þere be demed of þeſe þingis at me? Soþli Poul ſeide, At þe dom place of Ceſar I ſtonde, where it bihoueþ me for to be demyd. I haue not noyed to þe Jewis, as þou haſt betere knowun. Soþli if I haue noyed, or don ony þing worþi deeþ, I forſake not for to deie; ſoþli if no þing of þeſe is, þat þei accuſen me, no man may ȝyue me to hem. Ceſar I apele. Þanne Feſtus ſpekinge wiþ þe counceil, anſweride, Ceſar þou haſt apelid, to Ceſar þou ſchalt go. And whanne ſumme dayes weren paſſid, Agrippa kyng, and Bernyſe camen doun to Ceſarie, for to greete wel Feſtus. And whanne þei dwelliden þere manye dayes, Feſtus ſchewide to þe king of Poul, ſeiynge, Sum man is left boundun of Felix, of which, whanne I was at Jeruſalem, princes of preſtis and eldere men of Jewis camen to me, axinge dampnacioun aȝens him. To whom I anſweride, It is not cuſtom to Romayns, for to dampne ony man, bifore þat he þat is accuſid haue his accuſeris preſent, and take place of defendyng, for to wayſche a wey crymes, or greet treſpaſſis, þat ben putt aȝens. Þerfore whanne þei camen to gedire hidur, wiþoute ony delay, in þe day ſuynge I ſittinge for domeſman, comaundide þe man for to be ladd to. Of whom whanne þe accuſeris ſtooden nyȝ, þei ſeyden no cauſe, of whiche þingis I hadde ſuſpicioun of yuel. Soþli þei hadden aȝens hym ſumme queſtiouns of her veyn worſchiping, or religioun, and of ſum Jheſu deed, whom Poul affermyde for to lyue. Soþli I doutinge of ſuch maner queſtioun, ſeide, If he wolde go to Jeruſalem, and þere for to be demyd of þeſe þingis? Forſoþ Poul apelinge, þat he ſchulde be kept to þe knowinge of þe emperour, I comaundide him for to be kept, til I ſchal ſende him to Ceſar. Soþli Agrippa ſeide to Feſtus, And I my ſilf wolde heere þe man. Feſtus anſweride, To morwe, he ſeiþ, þou ſchalt heere him. Soþeli on þat oþir day, whanne Agrippa and Bernyce camen wiþ moche ambicioun, or pryde of ſtaat, and entriden into þe auditorie, wiþ tribunis and principal men of þe citee, Feſtus biddinge, Poul is lad to. And Feſtus ſeide, Kyng Agrippa, and alle men þat ben wiþ vs, ȝe ſeen þis, of þe which al þe multitude of Jewis preiede me at Jeruſalem, axinge, and cryinge, him for to not bihoue for to lyue more. Forſoþ I fond, him for to haue don no þing worþi of deeþ; ſoþli him apelinge þis þing to þe emperour, I deme for to ſende. Of which man I haue not, what þing certeyn I ſchal wryte to þe lord. For which þing I brouȝte him to ȝou, and mooſt to þee, O kyng Agrippa, þat axyng maad, I haue what I ſchal wryte. Forſoþ it is ſeyn to me wiþoute reſoun, for to ſende a boundun man, and not to ſignifie þe cauſe of him.

Capitulum XXVI.

Agrippa ſoþli ſeiþ to Poul, It is ſuffrid to þee, for to ſpeke for þi ſilf. Þanne Poul, þe hond holdun forþ, bigan for to ȝelde reſoun. Of alle þingis, in whiche I am accuſid, þou kyng Agrippa, I geſſe me bleſſid at þee, whanne I am to defendinge me þis day; mooſt þee witinge alle þingis þat ben at Jewis, cuſtoms and queſtiouns. For which þing, I beſeche, heere me paciently. And ſoþli alle Jewis bifore witinge me fro þe bigynnyng, han knowun my lyf fro ȝongþe; þat fro þe bigynnyng was in my folk in Jeruſalem, if þei wolen bere witneſſe, for vp þe mooſt certeyn ſecte of oure religioun, I lyuede a Fariſee. And now in þe hope of repromyſcioun, þat is maad to oure fadris of God, I ſtonde ſuget in dom; in which oure twelue lynagis ſeruynge nyȝt and day, hopen for to become; of which hope, þou king, I am accuſid of Jewis. What vnbileefful þing is demyd at ȝou, if God reyſiþ deede men? And ſoþeli I geſſide, me aȝens þe name of Jheſu Nazarene, for to owe do manye contrarie þingis. Which þing and I dide in Jeruſalem, and I encloſide manye of ſeyntis in priſouns, power takun of þe princes of preſtis. And whanne þei weren ſlayn, I ȝaf þe ſentence. And bi alle ſynagogis ofte I ponyſchinge hem, conſtreynede for to blasfeme; and more I waxynge wood aȝens hem, purſuede to aliene citees. In whiche, þe while I wente to Damaſk, wiþ power and ſuffring of princes of preſtis, in þe mydday, in þe wey I ſyȝ, þou kyng, fro heuene liȝt haue ſchyned aboute me, ouer þe ſchynyng of þe ſunne, and hem þat weren to gidere wiþ me. And whanne we alle hadden fallun doun into þe erþe, I herde a voys ſeyinge to me in Ebrew tunge, Saul, Saul, what purſueſt þou me? it is hard to þee, for to kike aȝens þe pricke. Forſoþ I ſeide, Who art þou, Lord? Soþeli þe Lord ſeide, I am Jheſus, whom þou purſueſt. But ryſe vp, and ſtond on þi feet. Soþli to þis þing I aperide to þee, þat I ordeyne þee myniſtre and witneſſe of þo þingis þat þou haſt ſeyn, and of þo in whiche I ſchal apeere to þee; delyuerynge þee fro peplis and folkis, into whiche now I ſende þee, for to opene þe yȝen of hem, þat þei be conuertid fro derkneſſis to liȝt, and fro power of Saþanas to God, þat þei take remyſcioun of ſynnes, and ſort, or part, among ſeyntis, by feiþ þat is in me. Wherfore, þou kyng Agrippa, I was not vnbileefful to heuenly viſioun; but to hem þat ben at Damaſk firſt, and Jeruſalem, and bi al þe cuntree of Judee, and to heþen men, I ſchewide, or tolde, þat þei ſchulden do penaunce, and be conuertid to God, doynge worþi workis of penaunce. Of þis cauſe Jewis temptiden me takyn to, whanne I was in þe temple, willinge for to ſle me. Soþli I holpyn by þe help of God into þis day, ſtonde, witneſſinge to laſſe and more; no þing wiþoute ſeyinge þan whiche þingis þe prophetis and Moyſes ſpaken for to be comynge, if Criſt paſſible, or able to ſuffre, if þe firſte of þe aȝen ryſing of deede men is to ſchewinge liȝt to þe peple and heþen men. Him ſpekinge þes þingis, and ȝeldinge reſoun, Feſtus wiþ greet vois ſeyde, Poul, þou maddiſt, or wexiſt wood; manye lettris turnen þee to woodneſſe. And Poul ſeiþ, I madde not, þou beſt Feſtus, but I ſpeke out þe wordus of treuþe and ſobreneſſe. Soþli and þe kyng, to whom I ſpeke ſtedefaſtly, woot of þeſe þingis; ſoþli I deme no þing of þeſe for to dare him, or vnknowe. Forſoþ neþer in a corner is ouȝt of þeſe þingis don. Bileueſt þou, kyng Agrippa, to prophetis? I woot for þou bileueſt. Soþli Agrippa ſeide to Poul, In litil þing þou counceliſt me for to be maad a criſten man. And Poul, I deſyre anentis God, and in litil and in greet, not oonly þee, but and alle þeſe þat heeren to day, for to be maad ſuche what manere and I am, out takun þes bondis. And þe kyng roos vp, and þe preſident, and Bernyce, and þei þat ſaten nyȝ to hem. Þe whiche whanne þei wenten awey, ſpaken to gidere, ſeyinge, For þis man haþ not don ony þing worþi deeþ, or bondis. Forſoþ Agrippa ſeide to Feſtus, Þis man myȝte be diſmittid, or delyuered, if he hadde not apelid to Ceſar.

Capitulum XXVII.

Soþli as it is demed him for to ſchippe into Italie, and þei bitoken Poul wiþ oþere kept to a centurioun, by name Julius, of þe cumpanye of knyȝtis of þe emperour. Soþli we ſtiȝynge into þe ſchip of Adrymetis, and bigynnynge for to ſeyle, baren vp aboute þe placis of Aſie, laſtinge ſtille wiþ vs Ariſtark of Macedonye, Teſſalonycenſe. Forſoþ þe day ſuynge we camen to Sidon; ſoþli Julius tretynge manly, or kurteyſly, Poule, ſuffride for to go to frendis, and do þe cure, or nede, of hym. And whanne we haddun takun vp fro þennis, we vndirſailiden to Cypre, for þat wyndis weren contrarie. And þe ſee of Silicie and Pamphilie we ſeilinge, camen to Liſtris, þat is Licie. And þere centurioun fyndinge a ſchip of Aliſaundre, ſeilinge into Italie, puttide vs ouer in to it. And whanne many dayes we ſeiliden ſlowli, and vnneþe camen aȝens Gnydum, þe wynd forbedinge vs, we ſeiliden to Creete, bi ſydis Salomona. And vnneþe we bi ſydis ſeylinge, camen into ſum place, þat is clepid of good hauene, to whom þe citee Teſſala was nyȝ. Forſoþe moche tyme paſſid, and whanne now ſeylinge was not ſykir, for þat faſting paſſide, Poul coumfortide hem, ſeiynge to hem, Men, I ſe for wiþ wrong and harm, not oonly of charge and ſchipp, but alſo of oure ſoulis, or lyues, bygynneþ ſeiling for to be. Soþli centurioun bileuede more to þe gouernour, and to þe lord of þe ſchipp, þan to þeſe þingis þat weren ſeid of Poul. And whanne þe hauene was not able for to dwelle in wyntir, ful manye ordeyneden counceil for to ſeile þennis, if on ony maner þei myȝten come to Fenyce, for to wynterne in þe hauene of Crete, biholdinge to Affryk, and to Chorum. Soþli þe ſouþ blowynge, þei geſſinge hem for to holde purpos, whanne þei hadden takun vp fro Aſſon, ſeiliden to Crete. Soþli not aftir moche, þe wynd Tiffonyk, þat is clepid norþ eeſt, or wynd of tempeſt, ſente him aȝens it. And whanne þe ſchipp was rauyſchid, and myȝte not enforſe into þe wynd, þe ſchipp ȝouun to blowingis, we were borun. Soþli we rennynge into ſum yle þat is clepid Canda, vnneþe myȝte gete a litil boot. Þe which takun vp wiþ helpis, þei vſeden girdyng to gidere of ſchipp, dredynge leſt þei ſchulden falle into ſandy placis; þe veſſel vndirſent, ſo þei were borun. Soþli vs þrowun wiþ greet tempeſt, in þe day ſuynge þei maden caſtyng out. And þe þridde day wiþ her hondis þei caſtiden awey þe inſtrumentis of þe ſchipp. Soþely neþer ſunne neþer ſterris apperinge bi mo dayes, and tempeſt not litil ſchewinge nyȝ, now al þe hope of oure heelþe was don awey. And whanne moche faſting hadde be, þanne Poul ſtondinge in þe myddel of hem, ſeyde, A! men, it bihofte me herd, for to not take awey fro Crete, and make wynne þis wrong and caſting out. And now I counceile ȝou for to be of good ynwitt, or herte; ſoþli þer ſchal be loſſ of no ſoule of ȝou, out takun of þe ſchipp. Forſoþ an aungel of God, whos I am, and to whom I ſerue, ſtood nyȝ to me þis nyȝt, ſeyinge, Poul, drede þou not; it bihoueþ þee for to ſtonde nyȝ to Ceſar. And lo! God haþ ȝouun to þee alle þat ben in ſchipp wiþ þee. For which þing, ȝe men, be of good ynwitt, or herte; forſoþ I bileue to my God, for ſo it ſchal be, as it is ſeid to me. Soþli it bihoueþ vs for to come into ſum yle. But aftirward þat in fourteneþ day þe nyȝt cam aboue to vs ſeilinge in þe ſtoony ſee, aboute mydnyȝt þe ſchipmen ſuppoſiden ſum regioun, or cuntre, for to appere to hem. Þe whiche ſendinge doun a plomet, founden twenty paſis of depneſſe. And aftir a litil þei departid þennis, founden fiftene paſis. Soþli þei dredinge leſt we ſchulden falle into ſcharp places, fro þe laſte part of þe ſchipp ſendinge foure ancris, deſireden day for to be maad. Soþli þe ſchippmen ſekinge for to fle of þe ſchipp, whanne þei hadden ſente a litel boot in to þe ſee, vndir colour as þei ſchulden bigynne fro þe former part of þe ſchipp for to ſtrecche forþ þe ancris, Poul ſeide to þe centurioun and knyȝtis, No but þeſe ſchulen dwelle in þe ſchipp, ȝe mown not be maad ſaf. Þanne knyȝtis kittiden awey þe cordis of þe litil boot, and ſuffriden it for to falle fro. And whanne liȝt bigan for to be maad, Poul preiede alle men for to take mete, ſeiynge, Þe fourtenþe day þis day ȝe abidinge, dwellen faſtinge, no þing takynge. For which þing I preie ȝou for to take mete, for ȝoure helþe; for of noon of ȝou þe heer of þe heede ſchal periſche. And whanne he hadde ſeid þeſe þingis, he takinge breed dide þankingis to God in þe ſiȝt of alle men; and whanne he hadde brokyn, he bigan for to ete. Forſoþ alle maad more pacient, or herty, and þei token to mete. Soþli we weren alle þe ſoulis in þe ſchipp, two hundrid ſeuenti and ſixe. And þei fulfillid wiþ mete, diſcargeden þe ſchipp, caſtinge whete in to þe ſee. Soþli whanne day was maad, þei knewen not lond; forſoþe þei biheelden ſum hauene hauynge a water banke, into which þei þouȝten, if þei myȝten, for to caſte þe ſchipp. And whanne þei hadden takun vp þe ancris, þei bitoken hem to þe ſee, to gidere ſlakinge þe ioyntours of gouernaylis. And a litil ſeil lift vp, vp blowinge of þe wynd þei wenten to þe banke. And whanne we felden into a place of grauel gon al aboute wiþ þe ſee, þei hurtliden þe ſchipp. And þe formere part ficchid, dwellide vnmouable; ſoþli þe laſte part was brokyn of ſtrengþe of þe ſee. Soþli counceil of þe knyȝtis was, for to ſle men in þe keping, leſt ony ſchulde ſcape, whanne he hadde ſwymmed out. Forſoþ þe centurioun willinge for to kepe Poul, forbeed for to be don. And he comaundide hem þat myȝte ſwymme, for to ſende hem þe firſte into þe ſee, and ſcape, and go out to þe lond. And ſumme oþere þei baren in boordis, ſumme on þo þingis þat weren of þe ſchipp. And it is maad, þat alle þe ſoulis, or lyuynge men, ſcapiden to þe lond.

Capitulum XXVIII.

And whanne we hadden ſcapid, þanne we knewen þat þe yle was clepid Mitilene. Soþli barbaris, or heþene men, ȝauen to vs not litil humanyte, or curteſye. Forſoþ a fyer kyndlid, þei refetiden, or refreiſchiden, vs alle, for þe reyn þat cam nyȝ, and cold. Soþli whanne Poul hadde gederid ſum multitude of kittingis of vynes, and ynputt on þe fyer, an eddre, whanne ſhe cam forþ fro þe heete, aſailide his hond. Þerfore as barbares ſyȝen þe beeſt hangynge in his hond, þei ſeiden to gidere, Soþli þis man is a man quellere; which whanne he ſcapide fro þe ſee, Goddis veniaunce ſuffriþ him not for to lyue. And he ſoþli ſchakinge of þe beeſt into þe fyer, ſuffride no þing of yuel. And þei geſſiden him to be turned into ſwellinge, and ſudenly to fallinge, and for to deie. Forſoþe hem longe abidinge, and ſeynge no þing of yuel for to be don in him, þei turnynge to gidere, ſeiden him for to be God. Forſoþe in þo places weren maneres, or feeldis, of þe prince of þe yle, Puplius by name, þe which reſceyuynge vs þre dayes benygnely, or wiþ good loue, fond vs. Soþli it bifel, þe fadir of Puplius for to ligge trauelid wiþ feueres and diſſenterie, or flix. To whom Poul entride, and whanne he hadde preied, and putt þe hondis to him, he ſauyde him. Which þing don, alle þat in þe yle hadden ſykeneſſis, camen to, and weren curid, or heelid. Whiche alſo honowriden vs in many worſchipis, and to vs ſchippinge, ynputtiden what þingis weren neceſſarie. Forſoþ aftir þre moneþis we ſchippiden in a ſchip of Aliſaundre, þat hadde wyntrid in þe yle, to which was a noble þing of caſtels. And whanne we camen to Siracuſan, we dwelliden þere þre dayes. Fro þennis we ſchippinge aboute, bicamen to Regioum; and aftir o day, þe ſouþ blowynge, in þe ſecunde day we camen to Puteolos. Where breþeren foundun, we ben preied for to dwelle þere anentis hem ſeuene dayes. And ſo we camen to Rome. And fro þennus, whanne breþeren hadden herd, þei runnen to vs til to þe cheping of Appius, and to a place þat is clepid Þre tauernes. Whom whanne Poul hadde ſeyn, he doynge þankinges to God, toke triſt. Soþeli whan we camen to Rome, it is ſuffrid to Poul for to dwelle to him ſilf, wiþ oo kniȝt kepynge him. Forſoþe aftir þe þridde day, he clepide to gydere þe firſte of Jewis. And whan þei camen, he ſeide to hem, Men briþeren, I doynge no þing aȝens þe puple or cuſtom of fadirs, I bounden at Jeruſalem, am bitakun in to þe hondes of Romayns. Whiche whan þei hadden axinge of me, wolden diſmytte me, for þat no cauſe of deeþ was in me. But Jewis aȝenſeiynge, I am conſtreyned for to apeele Ceſar; not as hauynge ony þing for to accuſe my folk. Þerfore for þis cauſe I preyede for to ſee ȝou, and ſpeke to; forſoþe for þe hope of Yrael I am gyrd aboute wiþ þis cheyne. And þei ſeiden to him, Neþer we han receyued lettres of þee from Judee, neþer ony of briþeren comynge to ſchewide, or ſpake ony yuel þing of þee. Soþeli we preyen for to here of þee, what þingis þou feeliſt; forwhi of þis ſecte it is knowun to vs, for euery where it is aȝen ſeid to it. Soþeli whan þei hadden ordeyned a day to him, mo camen to him in to þe hooſt, or herbore. To whom he expounede, witneſſinge þe kyngdom of God, and counſeilede hem of Jheſu, of þe lawe of Moyſes, and prophetis, fro þe moru til to euentijde. And ſumme bileueden to þes þingis þat weren ſeid of Poul, ſumme bileueden not. Whan þei weren not conſentinge to gydere, þei departiden, Poul ſeiynge oo word, For þe Holy Gooſt ſpake wel by Yſaie, þe prophet, to oure fadirs, ſeiyng, Go þou to þis puple, and ſeie to hem, Wiþ ere ȝe ſhulen here, and ȝe ſhulen not vndirſtonde; and ȝe ſeeynge ſhulen ſee, and ȝe ſhulen not biholde. Þe herte of þis puple is infattid, and wiþ eris þei herden greuouſli, and þei preſſiden to gydere her iȝen, leſt perauenture þei ſeen wiþ iȝen, and wiþ erys here, and bi herte vndirſtonde, and be conuertid, and I heele hem. Þerfore be it knowen to ȝou, for to heþen men þis helþe of God is ſent, and þei ſhulen here. And whan he hadde ſeid þes þinges, Jewis wenten out fro him, hauynge miche queſtioun, or ſeking, among hem ſilf. Soþeli he dwellide alle two ȝeer in his hijrid place; and he receyuede alle þat entriden to him, prechinge þe kyngdom of God, and techinge what þinges ben of þe Lord Jheſu Criſt, wiþ al triſt, wiþ outen forbeding.

Here endiþ þe book of Apoſtle Deedis.