Being licensed by the Tribune to speake to the people, he sheweth them that he was once as
earnest on that side as they now be: 6. and how strange and miraculous his conuersion was. 17. They
heare him quietly vntil he began to make mention of a vision that sent him away from them to the
Gentils. 22. Then they crie out vpon him so, 23. that for their crying the Tribune commandeth him to
be scourged. 25. Which yet by his wisedom he escapeth.
1. MEN Brethren and Fathers, heare what account I doe render now vnto you.
2. (And when they had heard that he spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, they did
the more keep silence.
3. And he saith:)
*
Act. 21,39.
I am a man a Iewe, borne at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought vp in
this citie, at the feet of Gamaliel instructed according to the veritie of the law of the
Fathers, and emulatour of the Law as also al you are to this day:
4. who
*
Act. 8,3.
persecuted this way vnto death, binding & deliuering into custodies men &
women,
5. as the high Priest doth giue me testimonie, and al the Ancients.
6. Of whom
*
Act. 9,1.
receiuing letters also to the Brethren, I went to Damascus, that I might
bring them thence bound to Hierusalem, to be punished.
7. And it came to passe as I was going, and drawing nigh to Damascus at mid-day,
sodenly from Heauen there shone round about me much light:
8. and falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?
9. And I answered: Who are thou Lord? And he said to me: I am Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ of
Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
10. And they that were with me, saw the light indeed, but the voice they heard not of
him that spake with me.
11. And I said: What shal I doe Lord? And our Lord said to me: Arise and goe to
Damascus; and there it shal be told thee of al things that thou must doe.
12. And whereas I did not see for the brightnesse of that light, being led of my
companions by the hand, I came to Damascus.
13. And one Ananias, a man according to the Law, hauing testimonie of al the Iewes
inhabitants,
14. comming to me, and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, looke vp. And I
the self-same houre looked vpon him.
15. But he said: The God of our Fathers hath pre ordained thee, that thou shouldest
know his wil, and see the Iust one, and heare a voice from his mouth:
16. because thou shalt be his witnes to al men, of those things which thou hast
seen and heard.
17. And now what tariest thou? Rise vp, and be baptized, and
✟
The Sacrament of Baptisme doth it self wash away sinnes as here is plaine, &
therfore doth not only signifie (as the Heretikes affirme) that our sinnes be
forgiuen before, or otherwise by faith only remitted. Wherby the Churches
doctrine is proued to be fully agreable to the Scriptures, that the Sacraments
giue grace ex opere operatio, that is, by the force & vertue of the worke
and word, done & said in the sacrament.
wash away thy sinnes
inuocating his name.
18. And it befel me returning into Hierusalem, and praying in the Temple, that I was
in a trance,
19. and saw him saying vnto me: Make hast, and depart quickely out of Hierusalem:
because they wil not receiue thy testimonie of me.
20. And I said, Lord, they know that I did cast into prison and beat in euery
Synagogue them that beleeued in thee.
21. And when the bloud of Steuen thy
✟
μάρτυρος.
Witnes
*
Act. 7,38.
was shed,
✟
Not only the Principals, but al that consent to the death or vexation of
Christian men for the Catholike faith, doe highly offend: which the
Apostle confesseth here, that Gods mercie may be more notoriously
glorified in him hereby.
I stood by consented, and kept
the garments of them that killed him.
22. And he said to me: Goe, for into the Gentils a farre wil I send thee.
23. And they heard him vntil this word, and they lifted vp their voice, saying:
Away with such an one from the earth: for it is not meet he should liue.
24. And when they cried out, and threw of their garments, and cast dust into the
aire,
25. the Tribune commanded him to be caried into the castel, and to be beaten with
whips, & that he should be tormented: to know for what cause they did so crie at him.
26. And when they had bound him very straight with thongs, Paul saith to the
Centurion standing by him: Is it lawful for you to whip a man that is a Roman and uncondemned?
27. Which the Centurion hearing, went to the Tribune, and told him, saying: What
wilt thou doe? for this man is a citizen of Rome.
28. And the Tribune comming, said to him: Tel me, art thou a Romane? But he said: Yea.
29. And the Tribune answered: I obtained this citie with a great summe. And Paul said:
But I was also borne to it.
30. Immediatly therfore they departed from him that were to torment him. The
Tribune also feared after he vnderstood that he was a citizen of Rome, and because he had
bound him.
31. But the next day meaning to know more diligently for what cause he was accused
of the Iewes, he loosed him, and commanded the
✟
ἀρχιερεῖς.
Priests to come together and al the Councel: &
bringing forth Paul, he set him among them.