is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a chamberlain* of great authority under Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure. This man

had come to Jerusalem to worship,† and he was returning, and sitting in his chariot; and he was reading Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip running [to him] heard him reading the prophet Esaias. And he said, Well now, dost thou understand what thou readest? And he said, Why, how can I, unless some one guide me? And he entreated Philip that he should come up and sit with him. Now the place of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was brought as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before the person shearing it, so he opens not his mouth in his humiliation his judgment was taken away and his generation who shall declare? for his life is taken from the earth. And the chamberlain answered Philip, and said, I pray thee of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself or of some other man? Then Philip opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, declared unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain

* Chamberlain, Eunuch.-This latter word signifies literally, keeper of the bed or couch, nearly answering to the English word chamberlain. But it came, by use, to signify, as here, any court officer of rank. Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard, though a married man, is called, in the Greck translation, a Eunuch.

This chamberlain of the Queen of Ethiopia was a proselyte to the Jewish faith. It is remarkable that the Abyssinians, who, it is probable, were the Ethiopians here mentioned, were, according to their own traditions, proselytes to the Jewish religion before they were Christians, and received their knowledge of it from one of their ancient queens, who is supposed to be the same who visited Solomon. She is called in Scripture the Queen of the South.

water and the chamberlain said, See, here is water; what hinders my being baptized? [And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, Philip and the chamberlain ; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the chamberlain saw him no more: for he went on his own way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and, as he passed through, he announced the glad tidings in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.*

QUESTIONS ON LESSON VI.

WHEN there was a persecution at Jerusalem, what became of the Christians there?

How was Saul employed?

Where did Philip go to?

Who was Philip? (See former Lesson.)

What did he do at Samaria ?

How was he received?

There was a remarkable person at Samaria, what was his name?

What was he remarkable for?

How did he behave when Philip preached there ?

Whom did the apostles send down to Samaria ?

What did they do?

What did Simon the magician propose to the apostles ? Who answered him, and what was the answer?

What did Simon say in return?

Where was Philip sent to ?

Who sent him?

Whom did he meet there?
What was he doing?

*Philip's residence was at Cesarea, as appears from Acts xxi. 8, where we learn that, many years afterwards, the apostle Paul, arriving at Cesarea, went to the house of Philip, there called the evangelist, or preacher: for evangelist does not here signify the writer of one of the gospels, as the word is frequently employed to do, but merely one who proclaims the glad tidings of salvation.

What was Philip directed to do, and by whom?
What question did Philip put to the officer?

What answer did he give?

What did he request Philip to do?

What part of Scripture was he reading, and what was it about?

How did Philip explain that passage of Scripture ?
What did the officer propose to Philip ?

Did Philip baptize him?

What became of Philip afterwards?

What did the officer do?

Where did Philip come to?

LESSON VII.

Saul going to Damascus to persecute the Christians, is arrested by a vision and voice from heaven-struck blind far a time and led to Damascus -Ananias is sent to him-He is converted and begins to preach Christ-the Jews would have killed him, but he escapes and visits Jerusalem.

FROM ACTS IX.

AND Saul, even yet, breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damaseus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this persuasion, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And, as he was on his journey, he came near Damascus and suddenly, there shone round about him a light from heaven: and falling to the earth, he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:* [it is hard

* 1 am Jesus whom thou persecutest.—Jesus identifies himself with his people, Mat. xxv. 35–45.

for thee to kick against the goad. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him,] Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one: but, leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays. And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said

unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel + unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and, laying his hands on him, said,

*Kick against the goad.-This is a figure taken from restive animals, who instead of being urged forward by the goad or the whip, kick against it. So Saul, instead of yielding to the power of the gospel, and perhaps the stings of his own conscience, was giving way to his obstinacy, and to the violence of his rage against the Christians.

+ Vessel, or instrument.

Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And straightway there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and immediately he looked up, and arising, was baptized. And, having received food, he was strengthened. And he was some days with the disciples who were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were astonished, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

And after many days had passed, the Jews consulted together to kill him: but their lying in wait was made known to Saul: and they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall in a basket.

*

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had freely spoken and taught at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them, coming in, and going out at Jerusalem. And, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, he disputed against the Grecians. But they went about to slay him. When the brethren knew this, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

* Through a window. 2 Cor. xi. 33.