CHAPTER IV.✦

SAUL AND SINAI.

ACTS ix. 19, 20.

Visit of Ananias to House of Judas--Christ the True Visitor--Keble's Hymn for Easter Monday--Restoration of Saul's Sight--His Baptism--Language of Ananias-- Importance of this fact--Saul's Work in Damascus-- Narrative in Acts and in Galatians--Difficulties-- Reconciliation--Saul in Arabia--Ancient Explanations of--Discipline of--Value of Seasons of Retirement--Waste of Vital Spiritual Tissues in Activity--Abuse of this Principle in Monasticism--Celtic Monasticism--Saul, the Vas Electionis, trained like Jesus Christ 68-91

CHAPTER V.✦

THE FIRST GENTILE CONVERT.

ACTS x. 1-6.

The Turning-points of Primitive Church History--Conversion of Saul and of Cornelius--Saul's earliest Ministry at Jerusalem--His Escape to Tarsus--St. Peter and Church in Joppa--Temporary Peace after Saul's Conversion-- Caligula's attempt to erect his Statue in Jerusalem--St. Peter and Simon the Tanner--Time of Conversion of Cornelius was Providential--Place, Cæsarea-by-the-Sea, Providential--Cornelius, a Roman Centurion--The Legions and Palestine--Modern Authorities confirm the Acts--New Testament and Favourable Estimate of Soldiers--Catholic Nature of Christianity--Value of Discipline--Lessons Taught by Example of Cornelius 92-114

CHAPTER VI.✦

THE PETRINE VISION AT JOPPA.

ACTS x. 9-15.

St. Peter led to Joppa Unconsciously--His Period of Repose--Joppa and Missions to the Gentile World-- Jonah--Peter and the Hour of Prayer--Value of Forms-- Canonical Hours--Tertullian's Testimony--Nature of Peter's Vision--Conditioned by his Natural State-- Exactly suited to Destroy his Prejudices--John Calvin's View--St. Peter at Cæsarea--His Sermon--Not Latitudinarian, as some Think--But Truly Catholic--Peter presupposes some Knowledge of Gospel Facts--Evidence of Resurrection--Necessarily Limited--Unless Course of Human Affairs was to be Upset--And God's Usual Laws set Aside--Outpouring of Holy Ghost on Gentiles--Baptism of Cornelius 115-141