The Early Church

if then the equal gift God did give to them as also to us, having believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, I--how was I able to withstand God?'

And they, having heard these things, were silent, and were glorifying God, saying, `Then, indeed, also to the nations did God give the reformation to life.'

Those, indeed, therefore, having been scattered abroad, from the tribulation that came after Stephen, went through unto Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none except to Jews only;

and there were certain of them men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who having entered into Antioch, were speaking unto the Hellenists, proclaiming good news--the Lord Jesus,

and the hand of the Lord was with them, a great number also, having believed, did turn unto the Lord.

And the account was heard in the ears of the assembly that is in Jerusalem concerning them, and they sent forth Barnabas to go through unto Antioch,

who, having come, and having seen the grace of God, was glad, and was exhorting all with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord,

because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith, and a great multitude was added to the Lord.

And Barnabas went forth to Tarsus, to seek for Saul,

and having found him, he brought him to Antioch, and it came to pass that they a whole year did assemble together in the assembly, and taught a great multitude, the disciples also were divinely called first in Antioch Christians.

And in those days there came from Jerusalem prophets to Antioch,

and one of them, by name Agabus, having stood up, did signify through the Spirit a great dearth is about to be throughout all the world--which also came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar--

and the disciples, according as any one was prospering, determined each of them to send for ministration to the brethren dwelling in Judea,

which also they did, having sent unto the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

And about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands, to do evil to certain of those of the assembly,

and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword,

and having seen that it is pleasing to the Jews, he added to lay hold of Peter also--and they were the days of the unleavened food--

whom also having seized, he did put in prison, having delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people.

Peter, therefore, indeed, was kept in the prison, and fervent prayer was being made by the assembly unto God for him,

and when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night was Peter sleeping between two soldiers, having been bound with two chains, guards also before the door were keeping the prison,

and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the buildings, and having smitten Peter on the side, he raised him up, saying, `Rise in haste,' and his chains fell from off his hands.

The messenger also said to him, `Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals;' and he did so; and he saith to him, `Put thy garment round and be following me;'

and having gone forth, he was following him, and he knew not that it is true that which is done through the messenger, and was thinking he saw a vision,

and having passed through a first ward, and a second, they came unto the iron gate that is leading to the city, which of its own accord did open to them, and having gone forth, they went on through one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him.

And Peter having come to himself, said, `Now I have known of a truth that the Lord did sent forth His messenger, and did deliver me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews;'