them of Cilicia" mentioned in Acts vi. 9.

[48] St. Luke xii. 11, 12.

[49] Acts vii. 56.

[50] Acts viii. 1. 4.

[51] Acts xi. 19, 20.

[52] It may be, that the recollection of our Saviour's visit to the
neighbouring city of Sychar, or Sichem [St. John iv.], would help to
influence the Samaritans.

[53] From the rather indistinct account of Simon's death, it seems
probable that he became a victim to such a temptation as the "Cast
Thyself down," which was set before our Lord.

[54] Acts xi. 19, 20.

[55] Acts xi. 26.

[56] See "Some Account of the Church in the Apostolic Age," by the late
Professor Shirley, p. 27.

[57] Acts ix. 32.

{25}

CHAPTER II

The Foundation of the Church among the Heathen

A.D. 38-45

[Sidenote: A.D. 38]

During St. Peter's journey, the course of God's good Providence led him
to the sea-port town of Joppa, on the borders of Samaria and Judaea,
and there we read that "he tarried many days," a measure of time which
is supposed to be equivalent to three years. At the expiration of this
time an event occurred which had a deep and lasting influence on the
life of the Church of Christ. [Sidenote: Further fulfilment of the
promise to St. Peter.] Hitherto no Gentiles had been admitted into her
fold; but now it was to be given to St. Peter first to unlock to them
the door of union with Christ through His Human Nature; for to him had
first been committed the Power of the Keys, as a reward for his adoring
confession of Christ's Divinity[1].

Section 1. _The Conversion of Cornelius._

A Roman soldier quartered at the great stronghold of Caesarea was
honoured by being the occasion of the {26} gathering in of the first
heathen converts. [Sidenote: A.D. 41. Conversion of the gentile
Cornelius.] This centurion was not a proselyte, but a Gentile, one
however who feared and served God according to the light given him
through reason and natural religion. He was commanded by an angel from
God to send to Joppa for St. Peter to show him the way of salvation,
whilst another express revelation prepared the holy Apostle for a step
so contrary to all his most cherished habits and prejudices.
[Sidenote: Descent of the Holy Ghost on gentile converts.] Taught by
God Himself no longer to consider or treat the Gentiles as "common or
unclean," St. Peter obeyed the summons of Cornelius; and, even whilst
he was preaching to him and the many gentile friends he had gathered,
the Holy Ghost