The Early Church

If then God gave them the same grace as to us also who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ: who was I, that could withstand God?

Having heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying: God then hath also to the Gentiles given repentance, unto life.

Now they who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose on occasion of Stephen went about as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none, but to the Jews only.

But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were entered into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.

And the hand of he Lord was with them: and a great number believing, were converted to the Lord.

And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

Who, when he was come and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced. And he exhorted them all with purpose of heart to continue in the Lord.

For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

And Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch.

And they conversed there in the church a whole year: and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.

And in these days there came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch.

And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over the whole world, which came to pass under Claudius.

And the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea.

Which also they did, sending it to the ancients, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church.

And he killed James, the brother of John, With the sword.

And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes.

And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers, to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the room. And he, striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands.

And the angel said to him: Gird thyself and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee and follow me,

And going out, he followed him. And he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision.

And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street. And immediately the angel departed from him.

And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.