776 
PETER. 
how they mightput them all todeath, upon acharge either 
of blafphemy or of fedition. But from this defign they 
were diffuaded by Gamaliel, a learned Pharifee, of high 
reputation for wifdom and piety, who, after commanding 
that the apoftles fliould be taken out for a little while, 
argued powerfully againft adopting any intemperate 
resolutions refpefting them, concluding in thefe memo¬ 
rable words : Refrain from thefe men, and let them alone: 
for if this counfel, or this work, be of men, it will come to 
nought: but, if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; left 
haply ye be found even to fight againfi God. To his advice 
the alfembly yielded ; and, after ordering the apoftles to 
be fcourged, difmifl’ed them, with threatenings of fevere 
punifhment if they fliould perfift in propagating their 
notions concerning Jefus. 
Upon the death of the proto-martyr Stephen, the church 
at Jerufalem was cruelly harafl'ed by perfecution, which 
caufed the believers, in general, excepting the apoftles, 
to be difperfed throughout the countries of Judea and 
Samaria. Among thofe who came to the laft-mentioned 
place, was Philip the deacon, who preached Chrift to the 
inhabitants of that city, and gained many converts to his 
religion. No fooner were the apoftles informed of this 
Hate of things, than they deputed Peter and John to go 
to Samaria, that they might confirm the new believers in 
theirprofeflion, by communicating to them the extraor¬ 
dinary gifts of the fpirit. While they were thus en¬ 
gaged, Peter feverely reproved and expofed the infincere 
profeflion of one Simon, commonly called the Magician, 
who had formerly gained a high reputation by prailifing 
the pretended arts of magic. Afterwards, having exe¬ 
cuted their commiflion, the two apoftles returned to Jeru¬ 
falem, preaching the Gofpel by the way in many villages 
of the Samaritans. In the year of Chrift 40, owing to 
home circumftances in the civil ftate of the Jews, the 
church began to enjoy a refpite from perfecution, which 
probably continued twelve months or more. This peace¬ 
ful interval, as it may be fuppofed, was zealoufly im¬ 
proved by all the apoftles in fpreading the knowledge of 
the Gofpel. Of Peter, in particular, it is faid, that he 
paHed through all parts of the country, and vifited the 
Chriftian converts at Lydda, a confiderable town not far 
from the coaft of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, in the 
name of Jefus, he performed a wonderful miraculous 
cure on a perfon called y£neas, who had been confined to 
his bed by the palfy for eight years. By this miracle 
great numbers of the inhabitants of the place and the 
adjoining diftrifls, who perfonally knew the fubjeft of 
it, or had the opportunity of gaining unqueftionable in¬ 
formation concerning the particulars of his cafe, were 
convinced that he in whofe name the cure was performed 
mull be the promifed Mefiiah, and immediately embraced 
his Gofpel. A vaft increafe in the number of believers 
in thefe parts wasfpeedily produced by another and more 
attoniftiing event which took place about the fame time. 
At Joppa, a fea-port within a few miles from Lydda, re- 
fided a female difciple called Tabitha, who was a woman 
of an excellent character, and diftinguiflied for her deeds 
of beneficence and charity to the poor. While Peter 
was at Lydda, this worthy perfon fell fick, and died ; 
upon which event, the Chriilians in that town fent to 
Peter, requefting that he would come to them without 
delay, and impart to them confolation and advice in 
their great diftrefs for the lofs of fuch a kind and ufeful 
friend. With this requeft Peter complied ; and, when he 
arrived at Tabitha’s houfe, he was introduced into the 
apartment where Are was laid out, in which were many 
widows lamenting the death of their benefa&refs, who 
fliowed him the coats and garments which (he had made 
to diftribute among the neceflitous. But Peter, fending 
them all out of the room, and finding himfelf moved by 
a fupernatural impulfe, kneeled down and prayed; and 
then, turning towards the body, faid, Tabitha, arife. And 
Pie opened her eyes ; and, when Jhe faiv Peter, Jhe fat up. 
He then took her by the hand, and prefented her alive to 
z 
her aflembled friends. A knowledge of this wonderful 
fa£t foon fpread through Joppa, and caufed fo many to 
believe in Chrift upon the credit of fuch a fignal miracle, 
that Peter fpent many days in that city, confirming them 
in the faith which they had received. 
While Peter continued at Joppa, Cornelius, a centu¬ 
rion of theHtalian cohort, ftationed at Caefarea, a wor- 
fhipper of the true God, and a man of diftinguifhed piety, 
though a Gentile, being directed in a vifion to fend for 
the apoftle, in order to receive from him important in- 
Itruftion in matters of religion, difpatched two of his 
fervants and a pious foldier, to requeft that Peter would, 
accompany them to the place of his refidence. A little 
before their arrival at Joppa, the apoftle went to the top 
of the houfe to pray, about the time of noon, when he 
felt the cravings of hunger, and his dinner was preparing. 
While he was engaged in his devotions, he fell into a 
trance, or extafy, in which an inftrudlive vifion prefented 
itfelf to him. He feemed to fee the Heavens open, and 
fomething refembling in form a great (fleet fufpended at 
the four corners defcend to the earth, in which, were 
various wild and tame four-footed beads, reptiles, and 
fowls. While thefe things were before him, he heard a 
voice calling upon him to kill fuch of them as he chofe, 
and fatisfy his hunger. As, however, hefaw none among 
them but fuch as were forbidden by the ceremonial law, 
he faid, Not fo, Lord ; for I have never eaten any thing that 
is common or unclean. And the voice fpake unto him again 
the fecond time, What God hath cleanfed, that call not thou 
common. To make the ftronger impreflion upon him, the 
vifion was reprefented three times fucceflively. While 
Peter was pondering concerning what it might be inten¬ 
ded to point out to him, he was informed, by divine 
fuggeftion, that the meffengers from Caefarea were en¬ 
quiring for him, and direfted to go with them to that 
city, as Cornelius’s meflage was fent in obedience to a 
divine command. On the following morning, therefore, 
he fet out with them, accompanied by certain believers 
from Joppa; and, when he came to the houfe of Cornelius, 
he found that the centurion had convened feveral of his 
relations and intimate friends, to be prefent at their in¬ 
terview. After premifing, that it had been generally 
coniidered unlawful by the Jews to hold intimate inter- 
courfe and converfation with Gentiles, but that God 
had lately fiiown him that he was not to make fuch dif- 
tindlion, or to call any man common or unclean, Peter 
defired to be informed of the reafon why Cornelius had 
fent for him. Upon this the centurion mentioned the 
circumftances of his vifion, and declared that he and his 
friends were aflembled with a ferious difpofition to lifter, 
to thofe important truths which the apoftle was commif- 
fioned to unfold. When Cornelius had given this anfwer, 
Peter began his addrefs to the perfons prefent with a 
frank and liberal declaration, which was expreflive of no 
little triumph over his prejudices as a Jew. Of a truth I 
perceive, faid he, that God is no refpecler of perfons; but in 
every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteoujhefs, 
is accepted with him. He then expatiated on the divine 
miflion of Jefus Chrift, the evidence which fupported its 
truth, and the ineftimable offer of remiflion of fins which 
was made in his name. While he was yet fpeaking, fimi- 
lar extraordinary circumftances with thofe which at¬ 
tended the communication of preternatural powers to 
the apoftles and Jewifli believers on the day of Pentecoft: 
at Jerufalem, fliowed that Cornelius and his company 
were in veiled with the fame diftinguilhed privileges; and, 
to the aftoniftiment of the difciples who came from Joppa, 
convinced them that the uncircumcifed Gentiles were to 
be partakers in thebleffings of the Gofpel. Immediately 
after this, Cornelius and his friends were baptized, and 
Peter, at their entreaty, remained feveral days with them, 
for the purpofe of inftrudling them farther in the faith of 
which they had made profeflion. This memorable event, 
of opening the kingdom of heaven to the Gentiles, or of 
receiving them into the Chriftian church, the honour of 
which 
