A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
ANd the apoſtles and brethren that were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had alſo received the word of God. 2. And when Peter was come up to Jeruſalem, they that were of the Circumciſion contended with him, 3. Saying thou wenteſt in to men uncircumciſed, and didſt eat with them.
1, 2. Note, 1. Even in the pure Apoſtolical firſt Church there were wrangling contending Chriſtians. 2. Even that which ſhould have been their rejoycing was their matter of cenſorious contention. 3. Theſe weak ones charged ſin on the Apoſtle as if they had been wiſer and holier than he. 4. It was the ſeparating and ſelf honouring vice which cauſed this cenſorous contention.
4. But Beter rehearſed the matter from the begining, and expounded it by order unto them, ſaying, 5. I was in the City of Joppa praying; and in a trance I ſaw a Viſion, A certain Veſſel deſcend, as it had been a great ſheet, let down from Heaven by four corners; and it came even to me. 6. Upon the which when I had faſtened mine eyes, I conſidered, and ſaw four-footed beaſts of the Earth, and wild beaſts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7. And I heard a voice ſaying unto me, Ariſe, Peter; ſlay, and eat. 8. But I ſaid, Not ſo, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entred into my mouth. 9. But the voice anſwered me again from Heaven, What God hath cleanſed, that call not thou common. 10. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into Heaven. 11. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the houſe where I was, ſent from Ceſarea unto me. 12. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, theſe ſix brethren accompanied me, and and we entred into the mans houſe: 13. And he ſhewed us how he had ſeen an Angel in his houſe, which ſtood and ſaid unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whoſe ſurname is Peter: 14. Who ſhall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy houſe ſhall be ſaved.
4. Of all this we have ſpoken on the former Chapter.
Note, 1. God who hath ordained the Miniſtry of men will uſe it for mens Salvation. 2. How greatly ſhould the Goſpel and mens Preachtng it be valued, when it is Gods means of ſaving men. 3. God uſed then to Covenant and ſave whole houſhoulds together. And it ſeems Cornelius's houſe was prepared for it.
15. And as I began to ſpeak, the holy Ghoſt fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16. Then remembred I the word of the Lord, how that he ſaid, John indeed baptized with water; but ye ſhall be baptized with the holy Ghoſt.
15, 16. I remembred Chriſts promiſe of the Spirit, and ſaw that he owned them by fullfilling it.
17. Foraſmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, what was I that I could withſtand God?
17. Seeing God ſo evidently owned them as he had done us, I was neither able nor willing to oppoſe God in his way of mercy to the Gentiles, which ſhould rather be our joy.
18. When they heard theſe things, they held their peace, and glorified God, ſaying, Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles granted repentace unto life.
18. Note. 1. Go…s miraculous gift of the Spirit was an undenyable evidence of his approbation. 2. Cenſorious ſeparating Contention came from hafty raſh judging of things unknown, and before they heard what could be ſaid. 3. When contentious cenſorious Chriſtians come to hear and know what may be ſaid, they may yield and charge their minds.
19. Now they which were ſcattered abroad upon the perſecution that aroſe about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
19. Note, The calling of the Gentiles was not yet well underſtand by them.
20. And ſome of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, ſpake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jeſus.
20. Note, Whether by the Grecians be meant the Jews that ſpeak Greek or Gentile Proſelytes, is doubtful.
21. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
21. God bleſſed their Miniſtry to the Converſion of a great number to Chriſtianity.
22. Then tidings of theſe things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jeruſalem: and they ſent forth Barnabas, that he ſhould go as far as Antioch.
22. To confirm them and carry on the work.
23. Who when he came, and had ſeen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpoſe of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghoſt, and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
23. It rejoyced him to ſee what Gods Grace had done.
Note, Every Goodman will be glad at the Converſion of Souls and the increaſe of the Church (As Diaboliſts are grieved at it and fight againſt it.)
2. Young Converts need Counſel and Exhortation to be confirmed and perſevere. 3. Confirmation conſiſteth in a habitual fixed Reſolution, or full purpoſe to cleave to the Lord.
25. Then departed Barnabas to Tarſus, for to ſeek Saul. 26. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to paſs, that a whole year they aſſembled themſelves with the Church, and taught much people; and the Diſciples were called Chriſtians firſt in Antioch.
25. Barnabas having ſought Saul, and drawn him to Antioch for more publick ſervice, they two did for a whole year, teach much People in the Church-Aſſembly (which it ſeems was then but one:) And the Diſciples were then firſt called Chriſtians, who before were called by Reprochers but Gallileans and Nazarites: (and ſince by Hereſie and by hereticating reproaches, are called by a multitude of dividing and diſgraceful names.
27. And in theſe days came prophets from Jeruſalem unto Antioch. 28. And there ſtood up one of them, named Agabus, and ſignified by the Spirit, that there ſhould be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to paſs in the days of Claudius Ceſar.
28. In divers Countrys, eſpecially in Judea, ſhould be a death.
29. Then the Diſciples, every man according to his ability, determined to ſend relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea. 30. Which alſo they did, and ſent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
29, 30. The Famine being moſt in Judea (the Country being dry and poor) and having frequent Famines, and many Converts to ſhew the power of Love having ſold their Poſſeſſions heretofore for common uſe, the Chriſtians of other Countrys, ſent them relief, by Paul and Barnabas, to the Elders of the Church to be juſtly diſtributed, as there was need.
Note, Whether by Elders here be meant the unordained Seniors of the People. Or the Presbyters ordained as ſuch. Or as Dr. Hamond thought, Dioceſane Biſhops, who yet had never a Presbyter under them, and therefore were the ſingle Paſtors of ſingle Congregations; is ſufficiently elſwhere conſidered.