A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
THen ſaid the high Prieſt, Are theſe thing ſo?
1. The Arch-Prieſt is the Arch-malignant, and with ſeeming Gravity doth but enquire after Sin.
2. And he ſaid, Men, brethren, and Fathers heraken: The God of glory appeared unto our Father Abraham, when he was in Meſopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3. And ſaid unto him, Get thee out of thy countrey, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I ſhall ſhew thee.
2, 3. Obey me in forſaking thy Idolatrous Country and go to another, which I will direct thee to.
4. Then came he out of the land of the Caldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his Father was dead, he removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell. 5. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no not ſo much as to ſet his foot on: yet he promiſed that he would give it to him for a poſſeſſion, and to his ſeed after him, when as yet he had no child. 6. And God ſpake on this wiſe, that his ſeed ſhould ſojourn in a ſtrange land, and that they ſhould bring them into bondage, and intreat them …vil four hundred years, 7. And the nation to whom they ſhall be in bondage will I Judge, ſaid God: and after that ſhall they come forth, and ſerve me in this place.
4, &c. Note, Obedience to God muſt be performed by the hope of what he promiſeth though it be many hundred years after, and not only for preſent Poſſeſſion. 2. The four years began at the Birth of Iſaak, and not at the going into Egypt.
8. And he gave him the covenant of circumciſion, and ſo Abraham begat Iſaac, and circumciſed him the eighth day; and Iſaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve Patriarchs. 9. And the Patriarchs moved with envie ſold Joſeph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10. And delivered him out of all his affictions, and gave him favour and wiſdom in the ſight of Pharaoh King of Egypt: and he made him Governour over Egypt and all his houſe.
8. N. This Hiſtory Stephen reciteth to convince them of the greatneſs of their forefathers ſin and theirs, in ſtill hardening their hearts againſt Gods Mercies.
11. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our Fathers found no ſuſtenance. 12. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he ſent out our Fathers firſt. 13. And at the ſecond time Joſeph was made known to his brethren, and Joſephs kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 14. Then ſent Joſeph, and called his Father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threeſcore and fifteen ſouls, 15. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he and our Fathers.
14. Gen 46, 27. Saith they were but ſeventy: ſome ſay that Stephen includeth ſome born in Egypt with Joſeph, and his ſons and ſons ſons: Others ſay that the Septuagint which Stephen followed, hath a miſtaken word which cauſeth the difference.
16. And were carried over into Sichem, and laid in the Sepulchre that Abraham bought for a ſum of mony of the ſons of Emor, the Father of Sichem.
16. Some difference from the Hebrew Hiſtory here raiſeth difficulty: The truth ſeemeth to be Jacob was carried and buried in the Field of Macpelah bought by Abraham of Ephron the ſon of Zoar, or of the Sons of Heth, Gen. 23.8. and 49.32. But Joſephs bones were carried from Egypt to Sichem, Joſ. 24.31, 32. and buried in the Field bought by Jacob of the Sons of Hemor; and in which place his brethren were buried is uncertain.
17. But when the time of the promiſe drew nigh, which God had ſworn to Abraham, the People grew and multiplied in Egypt. 18. Till another King aroſe, which knew not Joſeph. 19. The ſame dealt ſubtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our Fathers, ſo that they caſt out their young Children, to the end they might not live.
17. Note, Mans cruelty and ſubtilty fighting in vain againſt Gods Providence and Mercy to his People, is the common caſe of the World
20. In which time Moſes was born, and was exceeding fair, and nouriſhed up in his Fathers Houſe three Moneths: 21. And when he was caſt out, Pharaohs daughter took him up, and nouriſhed him for her own ſon.
20. See Exod. 2.
22. And Moſes was learned in all the wiſdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words, and in deeds.
22. And being by Pharoahs Daughter Educated as her Son, he had the advantage of getting all the Egyptian ſort of Learning, in which he excell …
23. And when he was full forty ye… … it came into his heart to viſit his brethren the Children of Iſrael. 24. And ſeeing one of them ſuffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppreſſed, and ſmote the Egyptian:
23. Note, Though Moſes Age and Learning be not mentioned in the Old Teſtament, it might be otherwiſe known. 2. And whether he was warranted to ſtay the Egyptian by any ſpecial Revelation, is doubtful.
25. For he ſuppoſed his brethren would have underſtood, how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they underſtood not.
25, What notice he had then of this purpoſe of God, we read not: But ſaith Doctour Hammond, [This lawfully he might do, in the defence of an innocent perſons life, againſt an unjuſt aſſault or violen…e which could not be averted but by this means.]
26. And the next day he ſhewed himſelf unto them as they ſtrove, and would have ſet them at one again, ſaying, Sirs, ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one to another.
26. Note, Even while they are oppreſed by the common Tyranny of the King, they forbear not quarrelling and wronging one another.
27. But he that did his neighbour wrong, thruſt him away, ſaying, Who made thee a Ruler, and a Judge over us? 28. Wilt thou kill me, as thou didſt the Egyptian yeſterday?
27, 28. Note. 1. It's the injuring party that is uſually readieſt to riſe up againſt Peace-makers: 2. He that will reconcile Peace-… and reprove the injurious, muſt expect to be accuſed as a Peace-breaker, and injurious and arrogant himſelf. 3. Self-avengers love not Rulers▪
29. Then fled Moſes at this ſaying, and was a ſtranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two ſons.
29. He knew then that the killing his Egyptian would be known to Pharoah, and therefore fled.
30. And when fourty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderneſs of mount Sina, an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a buſh.
30. The ſame appearance is ſaid to be God and an Angel in fire: God ſpeaking by an Angel in fire.
31. When Moſes ſaw it, he wondred at … ſight: and as he drew nere to behold it, … …yce of the Lord came unto him. 32. Saying, I am the God of thy Fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Iſaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moſes trembled, and durſt not behold.
31. If ſo ſmall an appearing of God will make man tremble, why are not we conſtantly awed by the belief of his Glory.
33. Then ſaid the Lord to him, Put off thy ſhoes from thy feet: for the place where thou ſtandeſt, is holy ground.
33. Note, 1. The Holineſs of Places is their ſeparate relation to ſome holy work of God, or ſome appearance of him. God will have outward bodily expreſſions of inward Reverence, to him, and to that which is ſpecially related to him.
34. I have ſeen, I have ſeen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them: And now come, I will ſend thee into Egypt.
34. Note, God is not ignorant or regardleſs of his peoples ſufferings: 2. But his uſual ſeaſon of deliverance, is when their ſufferings are at the greateſt.
35. This Moſes whom they refuſed, ſaying, Who made thee a ruler and a Judge? the ſame did God ſend to be a ruler and a deliver, by the hands of the Angel which appeared to him in the buſh.
35. God ſent by his Angel the ſame man to Rule and Deliver them, whom they refuſed to be their Ruler and deliverer; even as you now have done by Jeſus Chriſt whom God hath ſent.
36. He brought them out, after that he had ſhewed wonders and ſigns in the land of Egypt, and in the red Sea, and in the wilderneſs fourty years.
36. God wrought many Miracles by him for their deliverance, who had rejected him (As he hath done by Jeſus for your deliverance.)
37. This is that Moſes which ſaid unto the children of Iſrael, A Prophet ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up unto you of your brethren, like unto me: him ſhall ye hear.
37. This Moſes of whom you boaſt thus propheſied of Chriſt, a Prophet, &c.
38. This is he that was in the Church in the wilderneſs with the Angel, which ſpake to him in the mount Sina, and with our Fathers: who received the lively Oracles, to give unto us. 39. To whom our Fathers would not obey, but thruſt him from them, and in their hearts turned back again in Egypt. 40. Saying unto Aaron, Make us Gods to go before us; for as for this Moſes, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
38. This is he whoſe name you honour who was in the Congregation in the Wilderneſs, who received the Oracles of God by voice which he gave you then as the way of life (in ſubordination to Faith in his promiſes; whom yet your Anceſtors would not obey, but rebelled againſt him and refuſed him, and unthankfully would have returned to that Egyptian Bondage, from which by ſo many Miracles they were delivered; yea rebelled againſt God and turned Idolators, and made Aaron make them feigned Gods to go before them.
41. And they made a calf in thoſe days, and offered ſacrifice unto the idol, and rejoyced in the works of their own hands.
41. So ſottiſh were they as to honour that as God which they had made themſelves.
42. Then God turned, and gave them up to worſhip the hoſt of Heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets, O ye Houſe of Iſrael, have ye offered to me ſlain beaſts and ſacrifices, by the ſpace of fourty years in the wilderneſs? 43. Yea, ye took up the Tabernacle of Moloch, and the ſtar of your God Remphan, figures which he made, to worſhip them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
42. That the text Amos 5. meaneth by Moloch and Rempham a Deifyed Egyptian King, and Saturn. See Dr. Hammonds Annot. and other conjectures in Beza, &c. whether this laſt Idolatry was included in the Golden Calf, or the Text only meant they fell to it after Joſhua's days is uncertain: Though the Hebrew ſay beyond Damaſcus, and Lukes Greek Beyond Babylon the ſence is the ſame. And Luke writing in the Greek, it's like uſed not the ſame word as Stephen in Chaldee.
44. Our Fathers had the Tabernacle of Witneſs in the wilderneſs, as he had appointed, ſpeaking unto Moſes, that he ſhould make it according to the faſhion that he had ſeen.
44, Theſe Anceſtors had the Tabernacle of the Teſtimony, where was the Ark of God that had the Tables of the Law, and where God uſed by ſigns to ſignifie his preſence and give his Oracles: This Moſes was to make according to the pattern which God ſhewed him.
45. Which alſo our Fathers that came after, brought in with Jeſus into the poſſeſſion of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our Fathers unto the days of David.
45. This Tabernacle our Fathers after brought into Canaan with Joſhua, and it continued till Davids time.
46. Who found favour before God, and deſired to find a Tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47. But Solomon built him an Houſe.
46. Who being beloved of God, deſired to have built him a Temple. But God choſe Solomon to build it.
48. Howbeit the moſt High dwelleth not in Temples made with hands, as ſaith the Prophet. 49. Heaven is my throne, and Earth is my foot-ſtool: What Houſe will ye build me, ſaith the Lord? or what is the place of my reſt? 50. Hath not my hand made all theſe things?
48, 49, 50. Temples are for Gods Worſhip, and not for Gods confinement or neceſſary abode: Heaven is the place of his glory, and Earth of his lower bleſſings, and all the world of his preſence: He made all things, and needeth not your Temple, but may forſake it for your Sin.
51. Ye ſtiff-necked and uncircumciſed in heart and ears, ye do always reſiſt the holy Ghoſt; as yours Fathers did, ſo do ye.
51. Ye are an unruly obſtinate People, whoſe hearts are unreformed and uncircumciſed, and your Ears ſtopt againſt the Truth, while you glory in your Circumciſion: you have in all ages reſiſted the Spirit and Word of God. And while you diſown your fore-fathers actions, you are like them and do the very ſame.
52. Which of the Prophets have not your Fathers perſecuted? and they have ſlain them which ſhewed before of the coming of the juſt One, of whom ye have been now the betrayers and Murderers: 53. Who have received the Law by the diſpoſition of Angels, and have not kept it.
52, 53. You boaſt of the Law and the Prophets, and the expected Meſſiah: But which of the Prophets, did not your Fathers perſecute? And thoſe that Propheſied of the Meſſiah, they murdered: And ſo have you done now by the Meſſiah himſelf, and out done all your Anceſtors in wickedneſs; and the Law which yo boaſt of delivered by Angels, you have neither underſtood nor kept.
54. When they heard theſe things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnaſhed on him with their teeth.
54. At theſe words their very hearts were enraged againſt him, &c.
Reproof which convinceth and humbleth them whom God Converteth, enrageth proud obdurate ſinners, and turneth them to perſecute the Reprovers: which preſageth their deſtruction
55. But he being full of the holy Ghoſt, looked up ſtedfaſtly into heaven, and ſaw the Glory of God, and Jeſus ſtanding on the right hand of God. 56. And ſaid, Behold, I ſee the Heavens opened, and the Son of man ſtanding on the right hand of God.
55, 56. God gave him ſo extraordinary a meaſure of the Spirit, as when he looked ſtedfaſtly toward Heaven he had an appearance of the Glory of God and Chriſt ſtanding at his right hand, which in this Rapture he declared to them all.
Note, Chriſt ſaw it meet by ſuch a glorious Miracles ſight to encourage and honour his firſt dying Martyr. O who would fear ſuffering for Chriſt. Martyrs may expect the Spirits greateſt help, and afterward the moſt glorious Crown.
57. Then they cryed out with a loud voyce, and ſtopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58. And caſt him out of the City, and ſtoned him: and the witneſſes laid down their clothes at a young mans feet, whoſe name was Saul.
57, 58. Note, Holineſs and Miracles do but increaſe their rage: They will run when malignity and the Devil inſtigates: Sinners are never ſo mad as againſt Chriſt and Mercy and their own Salvation. They that were the Accuſers for Blaſphemy were by the Law to caſt the firſt ſtone as the Executioners.
59. And they ſtoned Stephen, calling upon God, and ſaying, Lord Jeſus receive my Spirit.
59. Note, He that gave up himſelf to Chriſt in life and death might comfortably expect to be received. 2. The Spirit liveth after the bodies death: And Chriſt receiveth it to himſelf. This is part of Chriſts Office now in Heaven. See my Printed Sermon on this Text.
60. And he kneeled down, and cryed with a loud voyce, Lord lay not this ſin to their charge. And when he had ſaid this, he fell aſleep.
6. He died Praying, and that for his Perſecutors as Chriſt did: And its like the Converſion of Saul was an anſwer to this Prayer. Queſt. How far may we pray In Faith for wicked men, or others, and expect the thing prayed for. Anſw. For that which is abſolutely promiſed we may pray accordingly in aſſurance: For that which ſuppoſeth a qualifying condition in the receiver, we muſt believe that they ſhall have it if they are ſo qualified: For that which hath no promiſe to them, but is merely at Gods unrevealed Will, we muſt pray with ſubmiſſion to that Will, and accordingly take the event for uncertain.