8-60 CHAPTER 16 THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM. Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1 THE apology of Stephen struck the keynote of Christian freedom, traced out the fair proportions of the Catholic Church, while the actual martyrdom of Stephen taught men that Christianity was not only the force which was to trium... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 2 THE CONVERSION OF THE PERSECUTOR. Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1 WE have in the last chapter traced the course of St. Paul's life as we know it from his own reminiscences, from hints in Holy Scripture, and from Jewish history and customs. The Jewish nation is exactly like all the nations of the East... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 17 SIMON MAGUS AND THE CONVERSION OF SAMARIA. Acts 8:5; Acts 8:9 THE object of the earlier part of this book of the Acts is to trace the steady, gradual development of the Church among the Jews, the evolution, never ceasing for a moment, of that principle of true catholic and universal lif... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 8:9 CHAPTER 17 SIMON MAGUS AND THE CONVERSION OF SAMARIA. Acts 8:5; Acts 8:9 THE object of the earlier part of this book of the Acts is to trace the steady, gradual development of the Church among the Jews, the evolution, never ceasing for a moment, of that principle of true catholic and un... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 18 THE APOSTLES AND CONFIRMATION. Acts 8:14 IN the last chapter we noticed the work of Philip in Samaria, the present one will deal with the mission of the Apostles Peter and John to complete and perfect that work. The story, as told in the sacred narrative, is full of instruction. It rev... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 19 ST. PETER AND SIMON MAGUS. Acts 8:18 WE have in the last exposition endeavoured to explain the origin of the rite of Confirmation and to connect its development in the second century with the first notice of its rise in germ and principle at Samaria. There have been from time to time mo... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 20 EVANGELISTIC WORK IN THE PHILISTINES' LAND. Acts 8:26; Acts 9:32 I HAVE; united these two incidents, the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch and the mission of St. Peter to the people of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa, because they relate to the same district of country and they happened at th... [ Continue Reading ]