Hitherto the preachers of the new religion feem to have had the common people on their fide; which is affigned as the reason why the Jewish rulers did not, at this time, think it prudent to proceed to greater extremities. It was not long, however, before the enemies of the institution found means to reprefent it to the people as tending to fubvert their law, degrade their lawgiver, and dishonour their temple*. And these infinuations were dispersed with fo much success, as to induce the people to join with their fuperiors in the ftoning of a very active member of the new community.

The death of this man was the fignal of a general perfecution, the activity of which may be judged of from one anecdote of the time: "As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prifon." This perfecution † raged at Jerufa

* Acts vi. 12. † Acts viii. 3.

lem lem with so much fury, as to drive * most of the new converts out of the place, except the twelve apostles. The converts, thus "scattered abroad," preached the religion wherever they came: and their preaching was, in effect, the preaching of the twelve; for it was fo far carried on in concert and correspondence with them, that, when they heard of the success of their emissaries in a particular country, they fent two of their number to the place to complete and confirm the miffion.

An event now took place of great importance in the future history of the religion. The † perfecution which had begun at Jerufalem, followed the Christians to other cities, in which the authority of the Jewish

Sanhedrim over those of their own nation was allowed to be exercised. A young man, who had fignalized himself by his hoftility to the profeffion, and had procured a commiffion from the council at Jerufalem to seize any converted Jews whom he might find at Damafcus, fuddenly became a proselyte to the religion which he was going about to extirpate. The new convert not only shared, upon this extraordinary change, the fate of his companions, but brought upon himself a double measure of enmity from the party which he had left. The Jews at Damascus, upon his return to that city, watched the gates night and day with fo much diligence, that he escaped from their hands only by being let down in a basket by the wall. Nor did he find himself in greater safety at Jerufalem, whither he immediately repaired. Attempts were there also soon fet on foot to destroy him, from the danger of which he was preferved by being sent away to Cilicia, his native country.

For fome reafon, not mentioned, perhaps

not

not known, but probably connected with the civil history of the Jews, or with some danger * which engrossed the public attention, an intermission about this time took place in the sufferings of the Christians, This happened, at the most only seven or eight, perhaps only three or four, years after Christ's death. Within which period, and notwithstanding that the late perfecution occupied part of it, churches, or societies of believers, had been formed in all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria; for we read that the churches in these countries " had now reft, and were edified, and, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied †." The original preachers of the religion did not remit their labours or activity during this season of quietness; for we find one, and he a very principal person amongst them, paffing throughout all quarters. We find also those who had been before expelled from Jerufalem by the perfecution which raged there, travelling as far as Phoenice, Cyprus, and Antioch*: and lastly, we find Jerufalem again the centre of the mission, the place whither the preachers returned from their feveral excursions, where they reported the conduct and effects of their ministry, where questions of public concern were canvassed and fettled, from whence directions were fought, and teachers fent forth.

The time of this tranquillity did not, however, continue long. Herod Agrippa, who had lately acceded to the government of Judea, " stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the churcht." He began his cruelty by beheading one of the twelve original apostles, a kinsman and constant compa