of teaching men to worship God contrary to the laws. And when Paul was beginning to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: If it were some matter of wrong, or a heinous deed, you men, O Jews, it would be reasonable I should bear with you. But if they be questions of a word and of names, and of your law, look you to it I will not be judge of such matters. And he drove them from the judgment-seat. And all laying hold on Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, struck him before the judgment-seat: and Gallio cared for none of those things.

Paul then left Corinth, and departed for Ephesus, where, after another circuit near the coasts, he again returned, and baptised and confirmed the converts recently made. He preached in Ephesus for about two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, Jews and Gentiles. And God wrought special miracles by the hand of Paul; so that even there were brought from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the wicked spirits went out of them. Now some of the Jewish exorcists, who went about, attempted to invoke, over them that had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying: I conjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva a Jew, a chief priest, who did this. But an evil spirit answering, said to them: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaping upon them, and mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and the Gentiles who dwelt at Ephesus: and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many of those who believed came confessing and declaring their deeds. And many of those who had followed curious things, brought their books together and burnt them before all: and the price of them being computed, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily increased the word of God, and was confirmed.

At length a violent tumult arose in the city. A certain silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen : whom having called together, with workmen of like occupation, he said: You men, you know that our gain is by this trade: now you see and hear that this Paul by persuasion hath drawn away a great multitude, not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, saying: That they are no gods which are made with hands. So that not only this our craft is in danger to be vilified, but also the temple of great Diana shall be thought nothing of, yea, and her majesty shall begin to be destroyed whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. Having heard these things they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, companions of Paul. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And some also

of the rulers of Asia, who were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not venture himself into the theatre. Now some cried out one thing, some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what cause they were come together. And they drew forth Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews thrusting him forward. And Alexander, beckoning with his hand for silence, would have given the people satisfaction. But as soon as they perceived him to be a Jew, all with one voice, for the space of about two hours, cried out: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. In the end the tumult was appeased; and Paul, having exhorted the disciples, took his leave, and set forth to go to Macedonia.

CHAP. XII. Paul's Discourse to the Clergy of Ephesus.

PAUL now passed through Macedonia and many parts of Greece. At Troas he raised to life a young man named

Eutychus, who was oppressed with sleep, while Paul was long preaching, and fell from a great height and was killed. At Philetus he sent to Ephesus, and called

the ancients of the Church. And he said to them: You know from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you all the time, serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and temptations which came upon me from the snares of the Jews: how I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have preached it to you, and taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and Gentiles penance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound in the spirit, I go to Jerusalem; not knowing the things that shall befall me there only that the Holy Ghost in every city witnesseth to me, saying: That chains and afflictions wait for me at Jerusalem. But I fear none of these things: neither do I count my life more precious than myself, so that I may consummate my course, and the ministry of the word which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all. For I have not been wanting to declare to you all the counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. I know that, after my departure, ravenous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves will rise up men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not night and day, with tears admonishing every one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. I have not coveted any man's silver, gold, or apparel, as you yourselves know: that as for such things as were needful for me, and for

them that are with me, these hands have furnished. I have shewed you all things, that labouring in this manner, we must receive the weak, and remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how He said: It is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with them all. And there was much weeping among them all: and falling on Paul's neck, they kissed him, being very much grieved for the word which he had said, that they should see his face no more. And they conducted him to the

ship.

CHAP. XIII. Paul goes to Jerusalem, and is apprehended by the Jews in the Temple.

FROM Miletus, Paul, now accompanied by Luke, went on to Tyre, where he was gladly received by the disciples. From thence they went to Cesarea, and lodged seven days with Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven deacons, who had four daughters, virgins, who were endowed with the gift of prophecy. And while they were there, there came from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come to them, he took Paul's girdle and binding his own feet and hands, he said: These things saith the Holy Ghost: The man whose girdle this is, thus shall the Jews bind in Jerusalem, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Then they all began to entreat him not to go to Jerusalem. But he would not hear, and said that he was ready not only to be bound, but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. And they ceased their importunity, and said: The will of the Lord be done.

And when they reached Jerusalem, the brethren received them gladly. And they told Paul that the Jewish converts were strongly prejudiced against him, because they had heard that he spoke against the observance of circumcision, and the other ceremonies of the Mosaic law. By their advice, therefore, in order to shew the Jewish Christians that though he did not enforce obe

dience to the law of Moses, yet he did not forbid it, he joined himself to four men who had made a certain vow, and in fulfilling it observing all the rules prescribed by the law. Nevertheless, though the Jewish Christians were thus satisfied, the unbelieving Jews soon stirred up a tumult, and persuaded the multitude that Paul took the Gentiles into the temple. And the whole city was in an uproar: and there was a concourse of people. And having seized on Paul, they drew him out of the temple: and immediately the doors were shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, it was told the tribune of the band: That all Jerusalem was in confusion. Who forthwith, taking with him soldiers and centurions, ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul. Then the tribune coming near took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains: and demanded who he was, and what he had done. And some cried out one thing, some another, among the multitude. And when he could not know the certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be brought into the castle. And when he was come to the stairs, it happened that he was borne up by the soldiers, because of the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out: Away with him. And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he said to the tribune: May I speak something to thee? Who said: Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian who before these days didst raise a tumult, and didst lead forth into the desert four thousand men that were murderers? But Paul said to him: I am indeed a Jew, a man of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I beseech thee, permit me to speak to the people. And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people.

And when Paul began to speak to them in the Hebrew tongue, they were more than before disposed to listen to him, and for a time they heard him patiently, while he related the history of his conversion, till he told them how God had sent him to preach the Gospel