Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/243

 how he  wrought  many  miracles  in  this  world,

and afterwards  suffered  death  of  His  own  will  for  us,

and on  the  third  day  arose  from  the  dead  uncorrupt.

In the  midst  of  these  words  was  shown  a  great  miracle  of  God,

so that  the  Holy  Ghost  came  upon  the  heathen,

and they  all  who  heard  that  lore  spake

with divers  tongues,  magnifying  God.

Then marvelled  the  Jews  who  were  there  with  Peter,

which believed  in  Christ,  that  the  Holy  Ghost  came

upon the  heathen,  and  the  holy  Peter  said,

' Who  shall  forbid  water  for  the  baptism  of  these  men

now that  they  have  received  the  Holy  Ghost

even as  we  ourselves?'  and  he  straightway  commanded  them

all to  be  baptized,  in  the  name  of  the  Almighty.

Then prayed  they  Peter  to  tarry  there

for a  few  days  after  their  baptism.

After that  when  Peter  came  to  the  Christian  congregation

at Jerusalem,  then  the  brethren  asked  him,

they of  the  Jewish  nation  who  believed  in  Christ,

' Why  wentest  thou  to  the  heathen  and  didst  eat  in  their  house?'

The Jews  thought  that  they  alone  were

chosen of  God,  and  therefore  so  spake.

In old  days,  under  Moses'  Law,

the Jews  would  not  come  near  the  heathen,

nor eat  with  them,  and  very  rightly  then,

because they  themselves  believed  in  the  living  God,

and the  heathen  believed  in  the  false  gods,

which were  not  gods  but  horrible  devils.

The Jews  wished  now  to  hold  their  customs  S

after their  baptism,  and  to  contemn  the  heathen.

Then began  St.  Peter  to  relate  to  them  all

what God  had  showed  him  before  ho  came  thither,