“ And now come þou, and I schal sende þee into Egipt. Þis Moyses, whom þei denyeden, seyinge, Who ordeyned þee prince and domesman on vs? God sente þis prince and aȝenbyer, wiþ þe hond of þe aungel, þat apperide to hym in þe boisch. Þis ledde hem out, doynge wondris and sygnes in þe lond of Egipt, and in þe reede see, in desert fourty ȝeeris. Þis is Moyses, þat seide to þe sones of Israel, God schal reise to ȝou a prophete of ȝoure breþeren, as me ȝe schulen heere him. Þis is, þat was in þe chirche in wildirnesse, wiþ þe aungel þat spak to him in þe mount Syna, and wiþ oure fadris ”

“ Fro þe world, to þe Lord his werk is knowun. For which þing I deme hem þat of heþen men ben conuertid to God, for to be not vnquyetid, or disesid, but for to wryte to hem, þat þei absteyne hem fro defoulingis of symulacris, and fornycacioun, and stranglid þingis, and blood. Moyses soþli of olde tymes haþ in alle citees hem þat prechen him in synagogis, where by ech saboþ he is rad. Þanne it pleside to apostlis, and eldre men, wiþ al þe chirche, for to chese men of hem, and sende to Antiochie, wiþ Poul and Barnabas, Judas, þat was named Barsabas, and Sylam, þe firste men in breþeren ”

“ Kyngis of þe erþe stooden nyȝ, and princes camen to gidere into oon, aȝens þe Lord, and aȝens his Crist. For þei camen to gidere verily in þis citee aȝens þi hooly child Jhesu, whom þou anoyntidest, Heroude and Pounce Pilat, wiþ heþene men, and peplis of Israel, for to do þe þingis, þat þin hond and þi counceil demiden for to be don. And now, Lord, bihold into þe þretingis of hem, and ȝyue to þi seruauntis wiþ al trist for to speke þi word, in þat þing þat þou holde forþ þin hond, heelþis and signes and wondris for to be maad by þe name of þin hooly sone Jhesu. ”

“ God þat made þe world and alle þingis þat ben in it, þis, whanne he is Lord of heuene and erþe, dwelliþ not in templis maad bi hond, neþer is worschipid by mannis hondis, hauynge nede of ony þing, whanne he ȝyueþ lyf to alle men, and ynbreþing, and alle þingis; and maad of oon al þe kynde of men for to enhabite on al þe face of erþe, determynynge tymes ordeyned, and termes of habitacioun, or dwelling, of hem, for to seke God, if perauenture þei feelen him, eþir fynden, þouȝ he be not fer fro ech of ȝou. ”

“ Forsoþ þe prince of prestis comynge, and þei þat weren wiþ him, clepiden togidere þe counceil, and alle þe eldere men of þe sones of Israel; and senten to þe prisoun, þat þei schulden be brouȝt forþ. Soþli whanne þe mynistris camen, and, þe prisoun openyd, founden hem not, þei turned aȝen telden, seiyng, Forsoþ we founden þe prisoun schit wiþ al diligence, and þe keperis stondinge at þe ȝatis; forsoþ we openynge founden no man þer ynne. Soþli as þe magestratis of þe temple, and þe princes of prestis herden þese wordis, þei doutiden of hem, what schulde be don. ”

“ And manye of þe Corinþies heeringe bileuyden, and weren cristenyd. Forsoþ þe Lord seide by nyȝte to Poul by a visioun, Nyle þou drede, but spek, and be not stille; for which þing I am wiþ þee, and no man schal be put to þee þat he anoye þee, for moche peple is to me in þis citee. Forsoþ he saat þer a ȝeer and sixe moneþis, techinge at hem þe word of þe Lord. Soþli Gallion proconsul of Achaye, Jewis risen vp wiþ oon ynwitt, or wille, into Poul, and ledde hym to þe dom, seiynge, For aȝens þe lawe þis counceliþ men for to worschipe God. ”

“ Forsoþ Poul and Barnabas dwelliden at Antiochie, techinge and euangelysinge þe word of þe Lord, wiþ oþere manye. Forsoþe aftir summe dayes, Poul seide to Barnabas, We turnynge aȝen, visite oure breþeren by alle citees, in whiche we han prechid þe word of þe Lord, how þei han hem. Barnabas forsoþe wolde take wiþ him and John, þat was namyd Markus. Poul soþli preiede him, þat he þat departide fro hem fro Pamphilie, and wente not wiþ hem into werk, schulde not be receyued. Forsoþ dissencioun is maad, so þat þei departiden atwyny. And Barnabas soþli, Mark takyn to, bi boot cam to Cypre. ”

“ Forsoþ al þe multitude heeld pees, and herden Barnaban and Poul, tellinge how many signes and wondris God dide by hem in heþen men. And aftir þat þei helden pees, James answeride, seyinge, Men breþeren, heere ȝe me. Symound telde, how first God visytide, for to take of heþen men a peple to his name. And to him þe wordis of prophetis acorden, as it is writun, Aftir þis I schal turne aȝen, and bylde þe tabernacle of Dauiþ, þat felde doun; and I schal bylde aȝen þe cast doun þingis of it, and I schal reyse it; þat oþere of men aȝen seke þe Lord, and alle folkis on whiche my name is inclepid ”

“ And alle ben fulfillid wiþ þe Hooli Gost, and þei bigunnen for to speke wiþ dyuerse langagis, as þe Hooli Gost ȝaf to hem for to speke. Forsoþ þer weren in Jerusalem dwellinge Jewis, religiouse men, of ech nacioun þat is vndir heuene. Soþli, þis vois maad, þe multitude cam to gidere, and in soule, or vndirstondyng, was confoundid, or stoneyd, for ech man herde hem spekynge in his langage. Forsoþ alle men weren a stoneyd in witt, and wondriden, seyinge to gidere, Wher not alle þese þat speken ben Galilees, and how we herden ech man his langage in which we ben born? ”

“ Forsoþ God reyside him fro deede men in þe þridde day; þe which is seyn by many dayes to hem þat to gidere stiȝeden vp fro Galilee into Jerusalem, þe whiche ben til now his witnessis to þe peple. And we schewen to ȝou þe ilke þat is maad biheeste aȝen to oure fadris; for God haþ fulfillid þis to oure sones, aȝen rysinge Jhesu; as and in þe secunde salm it is writun, Þou art my sone, to day I gendride þee. Forsoþ þat he aȝen reyside him fro deede men, now no more to turnynge into corupcioun, þus he seiþ, For I schal ȝyue to ȝou þe hooly trewe þingis of Dauiþ. ”

“ Forsoþe þe man was more þan of fourty ȝeeris, in þe which þis sygne of heelþe was maad. Forsoþ þei left, camen to hern, and toolden to hem, how manye þingis þe princes and eldere men seiden to hem. Þe whiche whanne þei herden, wiþ oon herte reysiden voys to þe Lord, and seiden, Lord, þou þat madist heuene and erþe, see, and alle þingis þat ben in hem, þe which by þe Hooly Gost, by þe mouþ of oure fadir Dauiþ, þi child, seidist, Whi heþene men wraþþiden, or beten wiþ teeþ to gidere, and peplis þouȝten veyn þingis? ”

“ Soþli hem cryinge in voys, and castinge a wey her cloþis, and þrowinge dowst in to þe eyr, þe tribune comaundide hym for to be ledd in to castels, and for to be betyn wiþ scourgis, and him for to be turmentid, þat he schulde wite, for what cause þei cryeden so to him. And whanne þei hadden streyned hym wiþ boondis, or roopis, Poul seide to a centurioun stondinge nyȝ to him, If it is leefful to ȝou, for to scourge a man Romayn, and vndampned? Which þing herd, centurioun wente to þe tribune, and tolde to him, seiynge, What art þou to doinge? forsoþ þis man is a citeseyn Romayn. ”

“ Þanne þe men takyn to, Poul in þe day suynge purified wiþ hem, entride into þe temple, schewinge þe fulfilling of dayes of purifiyng, til offring was offrid for ech of hem. Soþli whanne seuene dayes weren endid, þe Jewis þat weren of Asie, whanne þei syȝen hym in þe temple, stiriden al þe peple, and leiden hondis on him, criynge, Men of Israel, helpe ȝe vs. Þis is þe man, þat aȝens peple and lawe and þis place techinge euery where alle men, more ouer and haþ ledd yn heþen men into þe temple, and haþ defoulid þis hooly place. ”

“ Þanne Petre fulfillid wiþ þe Hooly Gost, seide to hem, Ȝe princes of þe peple, and eldre men, heere, If we to day ben demyd in þe good dedis of a syke man, in þe which þis is maad saaf, be it knowun to ȝou alle, and to al þe peple of Israel, for in þe name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist of Nazareþ, whom ȝe crucifieden, whom God reyside fro deed men, in þis þis man stondiþ hool bifore ȝou. Þis is þe stoon, which was reproued of ȝou bildinge, þe which is maad into þe heed of þe corner ”

“ And whanne moche fasting hadde be, þanne Poul stondinge in þe myddel of hem, seyde, A! men, it bihofte me herd, for to not take awey fro Crete, and make wynne þis wrong and casting out. And now I counceile ȝou for to be of good ynwitt, or herte; soþli þer schal be loss of no soule of ȝou, out takun of þe schipp. Forsoþ an aungel of God, whos I am, and to whom I serue, stood nyȝ to me þis nyȝt, seyinge, Poul, drede þou not; it bihoueþ þee for to stonde nyȝ to Cesar. And lo! God haþ ȝouun to þee alle þat ben in schipp wiþ þee. For which þing, ȝe men, be of good ynwitt, or herte ”

“ And þerfore and on anoþer stide he seiþ, Þou schalt not ȝyue þin hooli for to se corupcioun. Forsoþ Dauiþ in his generacioun, whanne he hadde mynystrid to þe wille of God, slepte, or deiede, and is putt to his fadris, and syȝ corupcioun; soþli he whom God reiside fro deede men, syȝ not corupcioun. Þerfore, men breþeren, be it knowun to ȝou, for by him remyssioun of synnes is told to ȝou, fro alle synnes, of þe whiche ȝe myȝten not be iustified in þe lawe of Moyses. In þis ech man þat bileueþ, is iustified. ”

“ Petre soþli reyside him, seiynge, Ryse, and I my silf am a man, as and þou. And he spekinge wiþ him, entride yn, and fond manye þat camen to gidere. And he seide to hem, Ȝe witen, how abhomynable it is to a man Jew, for to be ioyned or for to come to an alien; but God schewide to me, no man for to seie a man comyn, or vnclene. For which þing I clepid cam. Þerfore I axe ȝou, for what cause han ȝe clepid me? And Cornelie seiþ, Fro þe fourþe day passid til to þis hour, I fastinge was preiynge in þe nynþe hour in myn hous. ”

“ Forsoþ sudenli a greet erþe mouyng is maad, so þat þe foundementis of þe prisoun weren mouyd. And anoon alle þe doris ben openyd, and þe bondis of alle ben vnbounden. Soþli þe kepere of þe prisoun maad wakyn, and seynge þe ȝatis of þe prisoun openyd, þe swerd drawun out, wolde sle hym silf, wenynge þe boundyn men for to haue fled. Forsoþ Poul criede wiþ greet vois, seyinge, Do þou no þing of yuel to þi silf, forsoþ alle we ben here. And liȝt axid, he entride yn, and tremblinge he fel down to Poul and Silas at þe feet. ”

“ Þis, whan he schal come, schal speke to þee. Þerfore anon I sente to þee, and þou didist wel in comynge to vs. Now þerfore we alle ben present in þi siȝt, for to heere þe wordis, what euere ben comaundid to þee of þe Lord. Forsoþ Petre openynge his mouþ, seide, In treuþe I haue foundyn, for God is not acceptour of persoones; but in ech folk he þat drediþ God, and worchiþ riȝtwysnesse, is accept to him. God sente a word to þe sones of Israel, schewinge pees by Jhesu Crist; þis is God of alle men. ”

“ Forsoþ it is maad, þat many dayes he dwellide in Joppe, at Symound, sum coriour, or tawier.
Capitulum X. Forsoþ sum man was in Cesarie, Corneli by name, centurio, þat is, hauynge an hundrid men vndir hym, of þe cumpanye of knyȝtis, þat is seid of Ytalie; a religious man, and dredinge þe Lord, wiþ al his meyne; doynge manye almessis to þe peple, and preiynge þe Lord euermore. Þis syȝ in a uysioun opynli, as in þe nynþe hour, or noon, an aungel of God entrynge into hym, and seyinge to him, Corneli. ”

“ Forsoþ whanne Symound hadde seyn, for þe Hooli Gost was ȝouun by puttyng on of þe hond of apostlis, he offride to hem money, seyinge, Ȝyue ȝe to me and þis power, þat to whom euere I schal putte on hondis, he receyue þe Hooly Gost. Forsoþ Petre seide to him, Þi money be wiþ þee into perdicioun, for þou gessidist þe ȝifte of God for to be had, or weeldid, by money. Part is not to þee, neþir sort, in þis word, for þin herte is not riȝtful bifore God. And so do þou penaunce fro þis þi wickidnesse, and preie God, if perauenture þis þouȝt of þin herte be forȝouun to þee. ”

“ Forsoþe þe day maad, summe of þe Jewis gederiden hem, and maden a vow, seyinge, hem neþer to etinge, neþer to drynkinge, til þei slowen Poul. Forsoþ þer weren mo þan fourty men, þat maden þis coniuracioun, or swering to gidere. Þe whiche wenten to þe princes of prestis, and eldre men, and seiden, Wiþ deuocioun we han avowid vs to no þing tastinge, til we slen Poul. Now þerfore make ȝe knowun to þe tribune, wiþ þe counceil, þat he leede forþ him to ȝou, as ȝe to knowinge sum þing more certeynli of him; soþli we ben redy for to sle him, bifore þat he come nyȝ. ”

“ And fourty ȝeer fulfillid, an aungel apperide to him in fyer of flame of a boisch, in desert of þe mount of Syna. Forsoþe Moyses seynge wondride þe siȝt. And him comynge to þat he schulde biholde, þe vois of þe Lord is maad to him, seyinge, I am God of ȝoure fadris, God of Abraham, God of Ysaac, God of Jacob. Moyses maad tremeling, durste not biholde. Forsoþe God seide to him, Vnbynd þe schon of þi feet, for þe place in which þou stondist is hooli erþe. I seyng syȝ þe affliccioun, or turmentyng, of my peple þat is in Egipt, and I herde þe mornyng of hem, and I caam down for to delyuere hem. ”

“ Forsoþ neþir oþir name is vndir heuene ȝouun to men, in þe which it bihoueþ vs to be maad saf. Forsoþ þei seynge þe stedfastnesse of Petre and John, founden þat þei weren men wiþ oute lettris, and idiotis, wondriden, and knewen for þei weren wiþ Jhesu. And seynge þe man stondinge wiþ hem, þat was heelid, þei myȝten no þing wiþseye. Forsoþ þei comaundiden hem for to go forþ wiþoute þe counceil. And þei spaken to gidere, seyinge, What schulen we do to þes men? for soþli þe sygne is maad knowun by hem to alle men, dwellinge at Jerusalem; it is opyn, and we mown not denye. ”

“ Forsoþ þis is don bi þries, and alle þingis ben receyued aȝen into heuene. And lo! þre men anon stooden nyȝ in þe hous, in which I was, sent fro Cesarie to me. Forsoþ a spirit seide to me, þat I schulde go wiþ hem, no þing doutynge. Forsoþ and þes sixe breþeren camen wiþ me, and we entriden into þe hous of þe man. Soþli he teelde, how he syȝ an aungel in his hous, stondinge and seyinge to him, Sende into Joppe, and clepe Symound, þat is namyd Petre, þe which schal speke to þee wordis, in whiche þou schalt be saf, and al þin hous. ”