The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Then said Peter vnto him, Aeneas, Iesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise and trusse thy couch together. And he arose immediately.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron, sawe him, and turned to the Lord.

There was also at Ioppa a certaine woman, a disciple named Tabitha (which by interpretation is called Dorcas) she was full of good workes and almes which she did.

And it came to passe in those dayes, that she was sicke and dyed: and when they had washed her, they layd her in an vpper chamber.

Now forasmuch as Lydda was neere to Ioppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent vnto him two men, desiring that he would not delay to come vnto them.

Then Peter arose and came with them: and when hee was come, they brought him into the vpper chamber, where all the widowes stoode by him weeping, and shewing the coates and garments, which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled downe, and prayed, and turned him to the body, and sayd, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she sawe Peter, sate vp.

Then he gaue her the hand and lift her vp, and called the Saints and widowes, and restored her aliue.

And it was knowen throughout all Ioppa, and many beleeued in the Lord.

And it came to passe that he taried many dayes in Ioppa with one Simon a Tanner.

Futhermore there was a certaine man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captaine of the band called the Italian band,

A deuoute man, and one that feared God with all his housholde, which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed God continually.

He sawe in a vision euidently (about the ninth houre of the day) an Angel of God comming in to him, and saying vnto him, Cornelius.

But when hee looked on him, hee was afrayd, and sayd, What is it, Lord? and he sayd vnto him, Thy prayers and thine almes are come vp into remembrance before God.

Nowe therefore send men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

Hee lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to doe.

And when the Angel which spake vnto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his seruants, and a souldier that feared God, one of them that waited on him,

And tolde them all things, and sent them to Ioppa.

On the morow as they went on their iourney, and drew neere vnto the citie, Peter went vp vpon the house to pray, about the sixt houre.

Then waxed hee an hungred, and would haue eaten: but while they made some thing ready, he fell into a trance.

And hee sawe heauen opened, and a certaine vessell come downe vnto him, as it had bene a great sheete, knit at the foure corners, and was let downe to the earth.

Wherein were all maner of foure footed beastes of the earth, and wilde beastes and creeping things, and foules of the heauen.

And there came a voyce to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eate.

But Peter sayd, Not so, Lord: for I haue neuer eaten any thing that is polluted, or vncleane.

And the voyce spake vnto him againe the second time, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not.

This was so done thrise: and the vessell was drawen vp againe into heauen.

Nowe while Peter douted in himselfe what this vision which he had seene, meant, beholde, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simons house, and stoode at the gate,

And called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit sayde vnto him, Beholde, three men seeke thee.

Arise therefore, and get thee downe, and goe with them, and doute nothing: For I haue sent them.

Then Peter went downe to the men, which were sent vnto him from Cornelius, and sayd, Beholde, I am he whome ye seeke: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

And they sayd, Cornelius the captaine, a iust man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Iewes, was warned from heauen by an holy Angel, to send for thee into his house, and to heare thy wordes.

Then called he them in, and lodged them, and the next day, Peter went foorth with them, and certaine brethren from Ioppa accompanied him.

And the day after, they entred into Cesarea. Nowe Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsemen, and special friends.

And it came to passe as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell downe at his feete, and worshipped him.

But Peter tooke him vp, saying, Stand vp: for euen I my selfe am a man.

And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together.

And he sayd vnto them, Ye know that it is an vnlawfull thing for a man that is a Iewe, to company, or come vnto one of another nation: but God hath shewed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or vncleane.

Therefore came I vnto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I aske therefore, for what intent haue ye sent for me?

Then Cornelius sayd, Foure dayes agoe, about this houre, I fasted, and at the ninth houre I prayed in mine house, and beholde, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

And sayd, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine almes are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Send therefore to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the sea side) who when he commeth, shall speake vnto thee.

Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Nowe therefore are we all here present before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and sayd, Of a trueth I perceiue, that God is no accepter of persons.

But in euery nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousnesse, is accepted with him.

Ye know the worde which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Iesus Christ, which is Lord of all:

Euen the worde which came through all Iudea, beginning in Galile, after the baptisme which Iohn preached.

To wit, howe God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the deuill: for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Iewes, and in Hierusalem, whom they slewe, hanging him on a tree.

Him God raysed vp the third day, and caused that he was shewed openly:

Not to all the people, but vnto the witnesses chosen before of God, euen to vs which did eate and drinke with him, after he arose from the dead.

And he commanded vs to preach vnto the people, and to testifie, that it is he that is ordained of God a iudge of quicke and dead.

To him also giue all the Prophets witnesse, that through his Name all that beleeue in him, shall receiue remission of sinnes.

While Peter yet spake these wordes, the holy Ghost fell on al them which heard the word.

So they of the circumcision which beleeued, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was powred out the gift of the holy Ghost.

For they heard them speake with tongues, and magnifie God. Then answered Peter,

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which haue receiued the holy Ghost, as well as we?

So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tary certaine dayes.

Nowe the Apostles and the brethren that were in Iudea, heard, that the Gentiles had also receiued the worde of God.

And when Peter was come vp to Hierusalem, they of the circumcision contended against him,

Saying, Thou wentest in to men vncircumcised, and hast eaten with them.

Then Peter beganne, and expounded the thing in order to them, saying,

I was in the citie of Ioppa, praying, and in a trance I sawe this vision, A certaine vessell comming downe as it had bene a great sheete, let downe from heauen by the foure corners, and it came to me.

Towarde the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and sawe foure footed beastes of the earth, and wilde beastes, and creeping things, and foules of the heauen.

Also I heard a voyce, saying vnto me, Arise, Peter: slay and eate.

And I said, God forbid, Lord: for nothing polluted or vncleane hath at any time entred into my mouth.

But the voyce answered me the seconde time from heauen, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not.

And this was done three times, and all were taken vp againe into heauen.

Then behold, immediatly there were three men already come vnto the house where I was, sent from Cesarea vnto me.

And the Spirit saide vnto me, that I should go with them, without doubting: moreouer these sixe brethren came with me, and we entred into the mans house.

And he shewed vs, howe he had seene an Angel in his house, which stoode and said to him, Send men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

He shall speake wordes vnto thee, whereby both thou and all thine house shalbe saued.

And as I began to speake, the holy Ghost fell on them, euen as vpon vs at the beginning.

Then I remembred the word of the Lord, howe he said, Iohn baptized with water, but ye shalbe baptized with the holy Ghost.

For as much then as God gaue them a like gift, as he did vnto vs, when we beleeued in the Lord Iesus Christ, who was I, that I coulde let God?

When they heard these things, they helde their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles graunted repentance vnto life.

And they which were scattered abroade because of the affliction that arose about Steuen, went throughout till they came vnto Phenice and Cyprus, and Antiochia, preaching the worde to no man, but vnto the Iewes onely.

Now some of them were men of Cyprus and of Cyrene, which when they were come into Antiochia, spake vnto the Grecians, and preached the Lord Iesus.

And the hand of the Lord was with them, so that a great number beleeued and turned vnto the Lord.

Then tydings of those things came vnto the eares of the Church, which was in Hierusalem, and they sent foorth Barnabas, that he should goe vnto Antiochia.

Who when he was come and had seene the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted all, that with purpose of heart they would continue in the Lord.

For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost, and faith, and much people ioyned them selues vnto the Lord.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus to seeke Saul:

And when he had founde him, he brought him vnto Antiochia: and it came to passe that a whole yere they were conuersant with ye Church, and taught much people, in so much that the disciples were first called Christians in Antiochia.

In those dayes also came Prophets from Hierusalem vnto Antiochia.

And there stoode vp one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great famine throughout all the world, which also came to passe vnder Claudius Cesar.

Then the disciples, euery man according to his ability, purposed to sende succour vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iudea.

Which thing they also did, and sent it to the Elders, by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Nowe about that time, Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vexe certaine of the Church,

And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword.

And when he sawe that it pleased the Iewes, he proceeded further, to take Peter also (then were the dayes of vnleauened bread.)

And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and deliuered him to foure quaternions of souldiers to be kept, intending after the Passeouer to bring him foorth to the people.

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer was made of ye Church vnto God for him.

And when Herod woulde haue brought him out vnto the people, the same night slept Peter betweene two souldiers, bound with two chaines, and the keepers before the doore, kept the prison.

And behold the Angel of the Lord came vpon them, and a light shined in the house, and he smote Peter on the side, and raysed him vp, saying, Arise quickely. And his chaines fell off from his handes.

And the Angel saide vnto him, Girde thy selfe, and binde on thy sandales. And so he did. Then he said vnto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

So Peter came out and followed him, and knewe not that it was true, which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.

Nowe when they were past the first and the second watch, they came vnto the yron gate, that leadeth vnto the citie, which opened to them by it owne accord, and they went out, and passed through one streete, and by and by the Angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himselfe, he said, Nowe I know for a trueth, that the Lord hath sent his Angel, and hath deliuered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the wayting for of the people of the Iewes.

And as he considered the thing, he came to the house of Marie, the mother of Iohn, whose surname was Marke, where many were gathered together, and prayed.