A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
ANd in thoſe days, when the number of the Diſciples was multiplied, there aroſe a murmuring of the Grecians againſt the Hebrews, becauſe their widows were neglected in the daily miniſtration.
1. Note, Thoſe Jews that underſtood the Greek Tongue, and uſed the Greek Tranſlation of the Scripture, were called Greeks: who were ſome at Jeruſalem, moſt at Alexandria, and ſome ſcattered abroad the World, 2. Even in the greateſt Exemplification of Chriſtian Love, Concord and ſelf denial, the intereſt of the body, and its proviſions, began a murmuring among this choſen Flock that had all things common. And can we now expect to live without murmurring at each other upon croſs intereſts and bodily wants. The ſuffering Party will think themſelves injured, and will complain.
2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Diſciples unto them, and ſaid, It is not reaſon that we ſhould leave the word of God, and ſerve tables.
2. We muſt prefer the greater before the leſs; the Preaching of Gods word before the charge of diſtributing to Love feaſts and to the Poor; and we are not ſufficient for both.
3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you ſeven men of honeſt report, full of the holy Ghoſt and wiſdom, whom ye may appoint over this buſineſs.
3. Note, 1. This is the firſt call of Officers mediately by Men: yet the Holy Ghoſt in the Apoſtles inſtituteth the office; but yet they give a reaſon for it. A Divine Inſtitution, and reaſon from neceſſity and convenience, well agree. 2. The Apoſtles fix the number. 3. The Congregation muſt chooſe the Perſons. 4. God by his Spirit in the Apoſtles limiteth them to certain qualifications: 1. Good Report. 2. Full of the Holy Ghoſt. 3. And of Wiſdom. The Choſen Perſons muſt be appointed or authorized and directed by the Apoſtles. Incapable Matter ma…th both Election and Mens Ordination void. But yet the Electors ſtill are Truſted whom to Elect, and the Ordainers whom to Ordain; And every Error is not a nullity, where there are the eſſential qualifications.
4. But we will give our ſelves continually to prayer, and to the miniſtery of the word.
4. Where ever God will bleſs his Church with Biſhops indeed, this will be their life and their deſcription.
5. And the ſaying pleaſed the whole multitude: and they choſe Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the holy Ghoſt, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proſelyte of Antioch.
5. The Reaſon of the motion, the Authority of the Apoſtles, and the Spirit of God, made them all unanimouſly conſent.
6. Whom they ſet before the apoſtles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
6. Prayer to God to accept and bleſs them, and the Authorizing them by the ſign of Impoſition of hands, was the Apoſtles way of Ordination (ſuppoſing them inſtructed for their Office.)
7. And the word of God increaſed; and the number of the Diſciples multiplyed in Jeruſalem greatly; and a great company of the Prieſts were obedient to the faith.
7. And the ſucceſs of the Word increaſed, and the number of the Diſciples in Jeruſalem grow very great, and a great Company of the Prieſts (or a great Company, and of the Prieſts ſome) were obedient to the Doctrine of Chriſt by believing
8. And Stephen full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the People.
8. Stephen having a great meaſure of the Spirit, was full of Faith and Power and wrought great Miracles.
9. Then there aroſe certain of the ſynagogue, which is called the ſynagogue, of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Aſia, diſputing with Stephen.
9. Jeruſalem being the place where the ſcattered Jews of all Nations uſed at certain times to worſhip, no wonder if ſeveral Countrys had there ſeveral Synagogues. Libertines are by moſt ſuppoſed to be Jews made free: Though ſome derive the Name from a Country thinking one Letter is changed.
10. And they were not able to reſiſt the wiſdom and the Spirit by which he ſpake. 11. Then they ſuborned men which ſaid, We have heard him ſpeak blaſphemous words againſt Moſes, and againſt God.
10. Note, On ſuch terms we diſpute with Malignant men. When they cannot reſiſt the Truth they turn Diaboliſts, and ſuborn Men to ſwear to falſe Accuſations: Malignity, Bood-thirſty Cruelty, and Lying are the three Eſſentials of a Diaboliſt. 2. It is next to a Miracle of Providence that no greater numbers of Religious perſons have been murdered in the World by the way of Perjury, and pretence of Law, when ſo many thouſands hate them, who make no Conſcience of falſe Oaths.
12. And they ſtirred up the People, and the Elders and the Scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the Council;
12. Note, When Informers and Perjured Witneſſes and Council or Judges were all of a Mind, falſe Malignants, blood thirſty men, it was eaſie to foreknow the ſentence.
13. And ſet up falſe witneſſes, which ſaid, This man ceaſeth not to ſpeake blaſphemous words againſt this holy place, and the Law. 14. For we have heard him ſay, that this Jeſus of Nazareth ſhall deſtroy this place, and ſhall change the cuſtoms which Moſes delivered us.
13, 14. Note, It is very likely that they heard Stephen ſay ſome words of Chriſts Abrogation of the Law, from which the Perjured gathered their Teſtimony, and puting their own ſence on his words made Blaſphemy of them, and did not think they were Perjured: And what man is there that Judges, Jury and Witneſſes may not Condemn, if they will but put their ownſence on their words: Chriſt ſo ſuffered, before Stephen: And it is no wonder or diſhonour to be condemned as the greateſt Malefactors by ſuch men: Therefore judge of Hiſtory accordingly, where wicked Men are the Accuſers and Judges.
15. And all that ſate in the Council, looking ſtedfaſtly on him, ſaw his face, as it had been the face of an Angel.
15. With a a ſplendor which might amaze them, but did not change them; ſo much was Dives in Hell deceived that one from the Dead would convert his ſenſual Brethren, when it is like that if Lazarus had come to them as he prayed, they would have put him to death again: For ſo they conſulted to do by another Lazarus whom Chriſt raiſed. But where are theſe Judges and Gentlemen now?