twelve tribes, inftantly ferving God day and night, hope to come; for which hope's fake, King Agrippa, I am accused. by the Jews. Why fhould it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God fhould raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many. things contrary to the name of Jefus of Nazareth. Which thing I alfo did in Jerufalem, and many of the faints did I fhut up in prifon, having received autho *rity from the chief priests; and when they

were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every. fynagogue, and compelled them to blaf-, pheme, and being exceedingly mad against. them, I perfecuted them even unto strange, cities. Whereupon as I went to Damafcus with authority and commiffion from the chief priests, at mid-day, O King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the

brightness of the fun, fhining round about me, and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth,, I heard a voice fpeaking unto me, and faying

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saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I faid, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jefus whom thou perfecuteft. But rife, ftand upon thy feet; for I have ap-. peared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minifter, and a witness both of those things which thou haft feen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people,. and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now fend thee, to open their eyes, and to turn. them from darkness to light, and from the

power of Satan unto God, that they may ⚫ receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance among them which are fanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not difobedient to the heavenly vifion but fhewed firft unto them. of Damafcus, and at Jerufalem, and through• out all the coast of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to • God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in

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the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I ⚫ continue unto this day witneffing both to fmall and great, faying none other things. than those which Mofes and the prophets did fay should come: that Christ should fuffer, and that he fhould be the first that fhould rife from the dead, and should fhew light to the people, and to the Gen

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tiles. And as he thus fpake for himself,

Feftus faid with a loud voice, Paul, thou art befide thyfelf; much learning doth • make thee mad. But he faid, I am not

mad, moft noble Feftus, but speak forth the words of truth and foberness. For the King knoweth of these things, before whom alfo I fpeak freely; for I am perfuaded that none of these things are hidden 'from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believeft. -Then Agrippa faid unto Paul, almost thou perfuadeft me to be a Chriftian. • And Paul faid, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day,

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were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds *., In another chapter of the fame book he gives in fubftance the fame account to the Jews, adding thefe further particulars; And I faid, What fhall I do, Lord? And the Lord faid unto me, Arife, and go into Damafcus, and there it fhall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And ⚫ when I could not fee for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damafcus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and faid unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy fight; and the fame hour I looked up upon him. And he faid, The God of our fathers hath chofen thee, that thou fhould't know his will, and fee that Juft One, and fhould'st hear the voice of his mouth. For thou fhalt be his witnefs unto all men of what thou haft

* Acts xxii, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

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feen and heard. And now why tarrieft thou? Arife, and be baptized, and wash away thy fins, calling on the name of the · Lord.’·

In the IXth chapter of the fame book, the author of it relates the fame story, with fome other circumftances not mentioned in thefe accounts: as, that Saul in a vision faw Ananias before he came to him, coming in, and putting his hand upon him that he might receive his fight*. And that when Ananias had spoken to him, immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been fcales †.

And agreeably to all thefe accounts, St. Paul thus fpeaks of himfelf in the epiftles he wrote to the feveral churches he planted; the authenticity of which cannot be doubted without overturning all rules, by which the authority and genuineness of any writings can be proved, or confirmed.

To the Galatians he fays: I certify you, brethren, that the gofpel which was preached by me is not after man. For I

*Acts ix. 12. + Acts, ibid. ver. 18.