rising up commanded the men to be put forth a little while.

Then he said to the council, "Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what you intend to do with these men. If their work be of men, it will come to naught. But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it."

The council took his advice. So calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the Name of Jesus; and dismissed them.

They indeed went out from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the Name of Jesus. And every day they ceased not in the temple, and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.

In these days, there came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, told that there should be a great famine over the whole world. This came to pass under Claudius. And the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea. This they did, sending it to the ancients, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

At the same time, Herod stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the Church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with a sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also.

When Herod apprehended Peter, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison.

and

But prayer was made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains the keepers before the doors kept the prison. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him; and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: "Arise, quickly." And the chains fell off from his hands.

The angel said to him: "Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals."

He did so.

The angel continued: "Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.”

And going out, he followed him. And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And as they were passing through one street, immediately the angel departed from him.

Peter, coming to himself, said: "Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod."

Then Peter came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying.

When he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel whose name was Rhode came to hearken.

As soon as she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but running in she said that Peter stood before the gate.

They said to her: "Thou art mad."

She affirmed that it was so.

Then they said: "It is his angel."

But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him, and were astonished.

But he, beckoning to them with his hand to hold their peace, told how the Lord had brought him out of prison, and he said: "Tell these things to James, and to the brethren."

I. 1. What special dignity did our Blessed Lord confer on St. Peter? 2. Do you remember reading about St. Peter in any other books? 3. How does St. Luke describe the coming of the Holy Ghost? 4. What effect did it have on those who witnessed it? 5. What did some of the people say when they heard the Apostles speaking in different languages? 6. How did St. Peter refute this charge? 7. What was the result of his speech? 8. What did St. Peter do for the lame beggar? 9. What was the effect of this miracle? 10. What did St. Peter say to the high priest and his followers? 11. What is the meaning of the clause, "but all things were common unto them"?

II. 1. Tell the story of Ananias and Saphira. 2. How did the people show their faith in the power of the Apostles? 3. How were St. Peter and St. John rescued from prison? 4. What advice did Gamaliel give to the men who were trying St. Peter and St. John? 5. What did Herod do? 6. Give an account of St. Peter's second rescue from prison. 7. Repeat the conversation which took place when St. Peter visited the home of St. Mark.

Expressions for study:

be this known to you
came to hearken
confounded in mind
cut to the heart

characters

every nation under heaven gave up the ghost

hold their peace

it shall come to pass

in this Biblical narrative.

1. Enumerate the 2. Give a description of each. 3. In order to get a vivid impression of them make a list of the significant acts and sayings of each of them. 4. Point out the various scenes which occur either in Part One or Part Two. 5. Arrange the story into scenes, make St. Peter the central figure, and outline what is to happen in each scene. 6. Then dramatize either the first or the second part.

Ever since the time of our Blessed Lord, a number of great and saintly men and women have flourished in every century. Though each of them differed in many respects, they all had one prime object: "To do the will of God in all things." That they succeeded most remarkably is beyond dispute. Their extraordinary lives should be familiar to all Christians; because the heroic virtues which they practiced are a fruitful source of inspiration. What boy or girl is not thrilled by the heroic life of St. Agnes, St. Cecilia, St. Rose of Lima, St. Stanislaus, and St. Aloysius ! There is something so generous and noble in their deeds that one cannot help admiring and esteeming them.

Saints are God's flowers, fragrant souls
That His own hand hath planted,
Not in some far-off heavenly place,
Or solitude enchanted,

But here and there and everywhere,

In lonely field, or crowded town,

God sees a flower when He looks down.

Some wear the lily's stainless white,
And some the rose of passion,
And some the violet's heavenly blue,
But each in its own fashion,

With silent bloom and soft perfume,
Is praising Him, Who, from above,
Beholds each lifted face of love.

HENRY VAN DYKE.