The Early Church

and he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name--for eight years laid upon a couch--who was paralytic,

and Peter said to him, `Aeneas, heal thee doth Jesus the Christ; arise and spread for thyself;' and immediately he rose,

and all those dwelling at Lydda, and Saron saw him, and did turn to the Lord.

And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, (which interpreted, is called Dorcas,) this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing;

and it came to pass in those days she, having ailed, died, and having bathed her, they laid her in an upper chamber,

and Lydda being nigh to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter is in that place , sent two men unto him, calling on him not to delay to come through unto them.

And Peter having risen, went with them, whom having come, they brought into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing coats and garments, as many as Dorcas was making while she was with them.

And Peter having put them all forth without, having bowed the knees, did pray, and having turned unto the body said, `Tabitha, arise;' and she opened her eyes, and having seen Peter, she sat up,

and having given her his hand, he lifted her up, and having called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive,

and it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord;

and it came to pass, that he remained many days in Joppa, with a certain one, Simon a tanner.

And there was a certain man in Caesarea, by name Cornelius, a centurion from a band called Italian,

pious, and fearing God with all his house, doing also many kind acts to the people, and beseeching God always,

he saw in a vision manifestly, as it were the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, `Cornelius;'

and he having looked earnestly on him, and becoming afraid, said, `What is it, Lord?' And he said to him, `Thy prayers and thy kind acts came up for a memorial before God,

and now send men to Joppa, and send for a certain one Simon, who is surnamed Peter,

this one doth lodge with a certain Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea; this one shall speak to thee what it behoveth thee to do.'

And when the messenger who is speaking to Cornelius went away, having called two of his domestics, and a pious soldier of those waiting on him continually,

and having declared to them all things, he sent them to Joppa.

And on the morrow, as these are proceeding on the way, and are drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up upon the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour,

and he became very hungry, and wished to eat; and they making ready, there fell upon him a trance,

and he doth behold the heaven opened, and descending unto him a certain vessel, as a great sheet, bound at the four corners, and let down upon the earth,

in which were all the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the heaven,

and there came a voice unto him: `Having risen, Peter, slay and eat.'

And Peter said, `Not so, Lord; because at no time did I eat anything common or unclean;'