ner.

{351}{352}
[Illustration]
GENERAL VIEW OF LYDDA

From a photograph belonging to Miss Julia W. Snow, and used by her
kind permission.

Lydda, the ancient Lod, is a village in the plain of Sharon, ten miles
southeast of Joppa. It was an important town in early days, being on the
caravan route between the East and Egypt, and a place where the
caravans rested and refitted. It was thus the center of a considerable
business. It was here that Peter healed Aeneas, and from this place he
was summoned to Joppa by the death of Dorcas.
[End illustration]

{353}

VIII

PETER AND THE ROMAN CAPTAIN.

_Peter's Vision. How a Valuable Recruit Was Enlisted for the New Faith_.

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion
of the company called the Italian company, a devout man, and one that
feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and
prayed to God always. He saw in a vision about the ninth hour of the
day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, "Cornelius."

And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being afraid, said, "What is
it, Lord?"

And he said unto him, "Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a
memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon, who
is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by
the sea side."

And when the angel that spoke unto him was departed, he called two of
his household servants, and a devout soldier of his body guard, and
having told all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the
city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:
and he became hungry, {354} and desired to eat: but while they made
ready, he fell into a trance; and he beheld the heaven opened, and a
certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four
corners upon the earth: wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts
and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. And there came
a voice to him, saying, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."

But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is
common and unclean."

And a voice came unto him again the second time, "What God hath
cleansed, make not thou common."

And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up
into heaven.

Now while Peter was much perplexed as to what the vision