Part 1287

Jesus.... That is Josue, so called in Greek.

7:46. Who found grace before God and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

7:47. But Solomon built him a house,

7:48. Yet the most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands, as the prophet saith:

Dwelleth not in houses, etc.... That is, so as to stand in need of earthly dwellings, or to be contained, or circumscribed by them. Though, otherwise by his immense divinity, he is in our houses; and every where else; and Christ in his humanity dwelt in houses; and is now on our altars.

7:49. Heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool. What house will you build me (saith the Lord)? Or what is the place of my resting?

7:50. Hath not my hand made all these things?

7:51. You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost. As your fathers did, so do you also.

7:52. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One: of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers.

7:53. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it.

7:54. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart: and they gnashed with their teeth at him.

7:55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

7:56. And they, crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears and with one accord ran violently upon him.

7:57. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul.

7:58. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

7:59. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.

Acts Chapter 8

Philip converts the Samaritans and baptizes the eunuch.

8:1. And at that time, there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles.

8:2. And devout men took order for Stephen’s funeral and made great mourning over him.

8:3. But Saul made havock of the church, entering in from house to house: and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison.

8:4. They therefore that were dispersed went about preaching the word of God.

8:5. And Philip, going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them.

8:6. And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did.

8:7. For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out.

8:8. And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed.

8:9. There was therefore great joy in that city. Now there was a certain man named Simon who before had been a magician in that city, seducing the people of Samaria, giving out that he was some great one:

8:10. To whom they all gave ear, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man is the power of God, which is called great.