Horæ apostolicæ : A, digested narrative of the acts and writings of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Arranged according to Townsend

Preface

The object of this little work is to present, in regular and plain succession, a digested narrative of the Acts and Writings of the Apostles, in order that the Christian reader may be better enabled to understand the pains and labours of the first messengers of the Gospel of Peace, and thereby more rightly estimate the loving-kindness and faithfulness of Him who sent them forth as His ambassadors to bear the knowledge of His name into all nations.

It is hoped that the attempt may be found useful, as well to the younger members of the Christian Church as to those more aged ones, who have not the means nor

VI PREFACE.

ability to search more minutely into the various bearings of the Revealed Word of God, in reference to the ministration of His Apostles, and the building up of His Most Holy Church.

In this hope it is now sent forth, with earnest prayer to the Divine Head of the Christian Heritage that His blessing may be upon it, to the edifying of His people and to the glory of His name, besides which " there is none other under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."

Margaret Roding, JEssex, May 29, 184G.

CHAPTER I.— INTRODUCTION. Acts I

Page Mount Olivet. — The Apostles enter upon their Ministerial

Office, by the appointment of Matthias to succeed Judas

Iscariot 1

CHAPTER II. Acts II

Pentecost. — The Descent of the Holy Spirit. — Its Effects. — The First-Fruits of the Gospel. — Union of the Converts, and their Place of Assembly 11

CHAPTER HI.

Acts III. 4-32.

First Apostolic Miracle. — Solomon's Porch. — Apprehension of Peter and John. — Their Conduct before the Sanhedrim, and Liberation. — Prayer of the Assembled

Church 22

s2

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV. Acts IV. 32, to the end

Page Union and Concord of the Church. — Punishment of Ananias and Sapphira. — Its effects upon the Church. — Increase of Converts. — Healing of the Sick. — Rage of the Sanhedrim. — The Apostles thrown into Prison. — Delivered by an Angel. — Their Boldness before the Jewish Council. — Peter's Address. — Gamaliel's Advice 33

Chapter V

Acts VI. VII. VIII. 2.

Appointment of Deacons. — Further Increase of Converts. — Synagogues of the Foreign Jews. — Their Dispute with Stephen. — Stephen's Courage, Defence, and Martyrdom 45

CHAPTER VI. Acts VIII. 3, to the end

First General Persecution. — Saul. — Flight of the Disciples. — Philip. — The Gospel preached in Samaria. — Its Success. — Simon Magus. — Peter and John are sent from Jerusalem to bestow the Gift of the Holy Spirit on the Samaritan Converts. — Conversion of Judich, the Ethiopian. — The Gospel preached in the Provinces of Judea. — Gospel of St. Matthew ... 55

CONTENTS. IX

CHAPTER VII. Acts IX. 1-19

Page

The Conversion of Saul. — Damascus. 70

Chapter VIII

a.d. 35-40.

Acts IX. 19, to the end.

The first public Preaching of Saul. — His Return to Jerusalem. — Peter's Visit to the Provinces. — Extension of the Gospel. — Cessation of the First General Persecution , 81

Chapter IX

a.d. 40-42.

Acts X. XI. to verse 25.

The Conversion of the Devout Gentiles, or Proselytes of the Gate, by Peter at Csesarea. — Reception of the Gentiles at Antioch. — The Mission of Barnabas. — Saul accompanies him from Tarsus to Antioch, where the Disciples are first called Christians 94

Chapter X

a.d. 43-45.

Acts XII.

The Herodian Persecution. — James, first Bishop of Jerusalem. — Dispersion of the Apostles. — Deliverance of Peter. — The Gospel of St. Mark. — Saul and Barnabas at Jerusalem. — Death of Herod. — Saul's Divine Appointment to the Apostleship. — His Return to An, tioch, accompanied by Barnabas and Mark . . . . 105

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XL

Acts XIII. XIV.

Page Antioch in Syria. — Mission of Barnabas and Saul. — Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos. — Conversion of Sergius Paulus, the first Idolatrous Convert. — Paul. — Perga in Pamphylia. — Antioch in Pisidia. — Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, in Lycaonia. — Paul and Barnabas return. — Attalia in Pamphylia. — Completion of the first EvangelicalJourney 116

Chapter XII

Acts XV. XVI. XVII. to verse 10.

Discussion at Antioch concerning Circumcision. — Mission of Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem. — The first General Council. — Decree of James and the Apostles. — Return of Paul and Barnabas. — Sojourn at Antioch. — Their Separation. — Paul's Visitation of the Churches in Syria, Cilicia, &c. — Night Vision at Troas. — Call to visit Macedonia. — Introduction of the Gospel into Europe. — Philippi and Thessalonica. — Epistle to the Galatians. — The first Apostolic Epistle 129

Chapter XIII

Acts XVII. 10, to end; XVIII. to verse 18.

The Bereans. — Paul at Athens. — Corinth. — First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians. — Gallio . . . 147

CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XIV

Acts XVIII. 18 to end ; XIX. to verse 20.

Page Crete, Nicopolis. — Epistle to Titus. — Illyricum. — Cenchrea. — First Visit to Ephesus. — Csesarea. — Jerusalem. — Antioch. — Conclusion of the Second, and Commencement of Third Apostolical Journey. — Apollos at Ephesus and Corinth. — Paul's Second Visit to Ephesus. — Ephesian Magicians. — Their Failure. — Triumph of the Gospel 160

CHAPTER XV. Acts XIX. 20, to the end ; XX

First Epistle to the Corinthians. — Church at Ephesus. — Paul's Departure from Macedonia. — Timothy. — First Epistle to Timothy. — Second Visit to Macedonia. — Second Epistle to the Corinthians. — Third Visit to Corinth. — Epistle to the Romans. — Troas. — Eutychus — Pathetic Separation from the Ephesian Bishops at Miletus 170

Chapter XVI

a.d. 58-60.

Acts XXI. XXII. XXIII.

Tyre. — Ptolemais. — Philip and his Daughters. — Agabus. — Csesarea. — Jerusalem. — Alms delivered by Paul. — Performance of a Vow in the Temple. — An Uproar of the Asiatic Jews. — Paul rescued by the Roman Guard. — The Sanhedrim divided in Opinion. — A Divine Vision to Paul by Night. — His Departure from Jerusalem, and Arrival at Csesarea 183

Xll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVH. a.d. 58-60.

Acts XXIV. XXV. XXVI. to verse 31.

Page Tertullus accuses Paul before Felix. — Drusilla. — Paul's Defence. — Festus. — Paul again accused. — His Defence. — Appeals unto Caesar. — Herod Agrippa and Bernice. — Paul's Appeal confirmed 197

CHAPTER XVHI. a.d. 60, 61.

Acts XXVI. 31 to end ; XXVII. ; XXVIII. to verse

Paul sails for Rome. — His dangerous Voyage. — Shipwreck. — Meleda or Melita — Miracles. — Proceeds towards Rome by Sicily. — Met by the Brethren — The Apostolic Ovation 216

CHAPTER XIX.

Acts XXVIII. 16-30.

Conference with the unbelieving Jews at Rome. — Their

Obduracy. — Epistle to the Ephesians Epistle to the

Philippians. — Epistle to the Colossians. — Onesimus. — Epistle to Philemon. — James, Bishop of Jerusalem. —His Catholic Epistle, and Death 235

CONTENTS. Xlll

CHAPTER XX. a.d. 63-66.

Acts XXVIII. 30, 31.

Page Paul's Deliverance from Rome — Luke writes the Gospel which bears his Name, and the Acts of the Apostles. — Epistle to the Hebrews. — Paul visits Spain, Gaul, and

Britain Returns to Jerusalem for the last time. —

Visits various Churches on his way from Jerusalem to Rome. — Second Epistle to Timothy Paul's Martyrdom .... 252

CHAPTER XXI.

St. Peter. — His Two Epistles. — His Martyrdom. — Jude. His Epistle. — Destruction of Jerusalem. — St. John the Divine. — The Book of the Apocalypse or Revelation. — First, Second, and Third Epistles of St. John. — The Gospel of St. John — Completion of the New Testament Canon 272

EOUM APOSTOLIC^!

OR,

A DIGESTED NABBATIYE OF THE ACTS AND WBITEJGS OF THE APOSTLES.