A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
ANd Saul was conſenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great perſecution againſt the Church which was at Jeruſalem, and they were all ſcattered abroad throughout the Regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apoſtles.
1. Note, Sauls Perſecution muſt be recorded before his Converſion. 2. The pureſt Church was not free from the malice of wicked men. 3. God uſed Malignant Perſecutions for the ſpreading abroad his word.
2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
2. They made a Funeral for Stephen with ſolemn mourning.
3. As for Saul, he made havock of the Church, entring into every Houſe, and hailing men and women, committed them to priſon.
3. By halling people to Priſons out of their houſes, Saul waſted the gathered Church.
4. Therefore they that were ſcattered abroad, went every where Preaching the word.
4. Note, It was a tolerable hurt to their bodies, which brought good to others Souls, and ſo enlarged the Church by ſcattering it, as ſeed is ſcattered that is ſown. 2. All Chriſtians may and muſt publiſh the Goſpel where they come if there be need, tho only called Miniſters muſt make an office and calling of it, as ſeparated to it.
5. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and Preached Chriſt unto them.
5. Philip the Deacon Preacht at the City of Samaria, after by Herod called Sebaſte.
6. And the People with one accord gave heed unto thoſe things which Philip ſpake hearing and ſeeing the miracles which he did, 7. For unclean Spirits crying with loud voice, came out of many that were poſſeſſed with them: and many taken with palſies, and that were lame were healed. 8. And there was great joy in that City.
6. The Samaritans received the Goſpel with great joy, convinced by Miracles, and pleaſed by many Cures.
Note, The Goſpel where ever it cometh is cauſe of great joy.
9. But there was a certain man called Simon, which before time in the ſame city uſed ſorcery, and bewitched the People of Samaria, giving out, that himſelf was ſome great one. 10. To whom they all gave heed from the leaſt to the greateſt, ſaying, This man is the great power of God. 11. And to him they had regard, becauſe that of long time he had bewitched them with Sorceries.
9. One Simon had long been reputed among them ſome great man, even the great power of God, as he boaſted of himſelf; becauſe by Sorcery he had long bewitched, and done ſome ſtrange things among them: And they all admired and regarded him.
Note, Deceivers have uſually many followers.
12. But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, they were baptized, both men and women.
12. Note, This ſuddain Baptizing yet implyeth time for inſtruction, and profeſſion of all eſſential to Chriſtianity.
13. Then Simon himſelf believed alſo: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and ſigns which were done.
13. Simon ſaw the reality of Philips Miracles, being conſcious of the fallacy of his own, and he believed that Jeſus was the Chriſt and was baptized into his name, and ſtayed with Phillip admiring his works.
Note, 1. Simon had a Superficial opinionative belief, that was not clear and ſound, nor effectual to renew his Soul. 2. The Miniſters of Chriſt baptized not as Heart ſearchers, as knowing mens ſincerity, but as taking their Profeſſion for their title to Baptiſm.
14. Now when the Apoſtles which were at Jeruſalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they ſent unto them Peter and John:
14. Note, As Peter or John were no Rulers of the reſt of the Apoſtles, ſo the reſt ſent not them as Rulers of them by Vote, but by brotherly requeſt and conſent.
15. Who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the holy Ghoſt. 16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jeſus.) 17. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the holy Ghoſt.
15. Note 1. It was at firſt the eminent Priviledge of the Apoſtles that the Holy Ghoſt ſhould be given by their Miniſtry: 2. Impoſition of hands being an uſual act of Authoritative benediction was uſed as the ſign herein. 3. Yet Prayer to God muſt firſt prevail for his grant thereof, before the Sign was uſed. 4. This gift of the Holy Ghoſt was not that which is Regenerating and neceſſary to pardon and Salvation (elſe all theſe Baptiſed perſons muſt be ſuppoſed till ſo long after unpardoned;) but it was that extraordinary gift which was for the firſt ſealing and propagating the Goſpel, of which others could be diſcerning Judges, (ſuch as Languages Prophecy Healing, Miracles, &c.); which they were not of ſincere inward holineſs.
18. And when Simon ſaw that through laying on of the Apoſtles hands, the holy Ghoſt was given, he offered them mony, 19. Saying, Give me alſo this power, that on whomſoever I lay hands, he may receive the holy Ghoſt.
18. Note 1. It was ſuch a thing as Simon could ſee in the preſent effects: 2. He deſired this power in pride for his own advancement, and not for Chriſt and Souls. 3. He overvalued Money, and blaſphemouſly …ilified God, as if he ſet his gifts to ſale.
20. But Peter ſaid unto him, Thy money periſh with thee, becauſe thou haſt thought that the gift of God may be purchaſed with Money.
20. Unleſs thou Repent thou ſhalt periſh with thy Money, for this blaſphemous thought of God.
21. Thou haſt neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the ſight of God.
21. Though thou art Baptized, thou art no true Chriſtian, nor haſt any part in the Grace and Spirit of Chriſt: for thy heart is unſound and falſe in the ſight of God.
22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedneſs, and pray God, if perhaps the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterneſs, and in the bond of iniquity.
22. Preſently Repent therefore of that wicked heart and blaſphemous thought; and pray to God for Mercy and forgiveneſs, while its poſſible to be obtained.
Quest. Is not the Prayer of the Wicked abominable? Anſw. Yes, the wicked Prayer of the Wicked; which is to ſerve his wickedneſs: And his beſt Prayers are not qualified for any certain grant: But if he truly Repent he is no longer wicked: And the Prayer a Common Repentance (like Ahabs and the Ninevites) may tend towards better, and is better than none. Queſt. Doth Peter mean that Simons heart was falſe at his Baptiſm, or that he received Grace and pardon then, and loſt it after by Apoſtacy. Anſw. Simons ſin made Peter newly perceive that his heart was falſe before, though his body was waſhed; but not that it now began to be falſe by a ſudden Apoſtacy? 1 Pet. 3.21, 22. He was in the Gall of bitterneſs and bond of Iniquity through the wickedneſs of his unſanctified heart, even when he was Baptized. Yet all this Hypocriſie and Wickedneſs was pardonable upon Repentance.
24. Then anſwered Simon, and ſaid, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of theſe things which ye have ſpoken come upon me.
24. Note, His ſight of their Miracles and fear of deſtruction humbled him ſo far as to beg their Prayers that the threatned Judgments might not befall him. But whether the report of ſome old Writers be true, that after all this he pretended to be God the Father, and had a conflict with Peter, and flying in the Air fell down and was deſtroyed by his Prayers, and had a Statue at Rome inſcribed, Simoni Deo Sancto, &c. of this many doubt, though others believe it: And if it was he that Paul, 2 Theſ. 2. and John in the Revelation ſpeak of as the Man of Sin, &c. and the head of Hereſies ſo much decryed by Paul (as Doctour Hammond thinks) it is ſtrange that neither Luke, nor Paul, nor Peter, nor Jude, nor James, nor John, who all inveigh againſt Hereſies would never once name him, when Nicolaitans, Diotrephes, Hymenaus, Phile…us, &c. are named.
25. And they when they had teſtified and Preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jeruſalem, and Preached the Goſpel in many villages of the Samaritanes. 26. And the Angel of the Lord ſpake unto Philip, ſaying, Ariſe and go towards the ſouth, unto the way that goeth down from Jeruſalem unto Gaza, which is deſert. 27. And he aroſe and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, an Eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treaſure, and had come to Jeruſalem for to worſhip. 28. Was returning, and ſitting in his chariot, read Eſaias the Prophet.
25, 26, &c. Note, God ſhewed a notable proof in this of his free Electing Crace.
2. Angels Miniſter towards the Converſion of Gods Elect.
3. He that was a Proſelyte before and came ſo far to worſhip, was better prepared for the Goſpel than Heathens.
4. He that would loſe no time, but was reading Gods word on his Journey in his Chariot, was in Gods way for further Mercy, which was ſent after him.
29. Then the Spirit ſaid unto Philip, Go near, and joyn thy ſelf to this chariot.
29. By inſpiration.] Note, the Chariot was driven ſlowly that he might read and ſo Phillip on foot could accompany it. Gods Spirit directeth his word to the Elect.
30. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the Prophet Eſaias, and ſaid, Underſtandeſt thou what thou readeſt? 31. And he ſaid, How can I, except ſome man ſhould guide me? and he deſired Philip that he would come up, and ſit with him.
30. Note, God directed him to the Text: And God gave him the ſenſe of his own ignorance and inſufficiency to underſtand, and of his need of a Teacher. And God gave him an humble mind, to condeſcend to ask a ſtranger on foot, to come ſit with him in his Chariot and teach him. All theſe were happy preparatives to Chriſtianity, and further Grace.
32. The place of the ſcripture which he read, was this, He was led as a ſheep to the ſlaughter, and like a Lamb dumb before his ſhearer, ſo opened he not his mouth: 33. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who ſhall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the Earth.
32. He ſuffered innocently and patiently by unrighteous Cruel men; He humbled himſelf to undergo their unjuſt judgment: They wickedly triumph over him, as cutting off his life from the Earth.
34. And the eunuch anſwered Philip, and ſaid, I pray thee, of whom ſpeaketh the Prophet this? of himſelf, or of ſome other man? 35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the ſame Scripture, and Preached unto him Jeſus. 36. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch ſaid, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
34, 35. Note, 1. He firſt craveth inſtruction and then Baptiſm, and is not forced to be Baptiſed againſt his will.
37. And Philip ſaid, If thou believeſt with all thine heart, thou mayeſt. And he anſwered and ſaid, I believe that Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of God.
37. If thou believe with a ſerious well grounded reſolved Faith, thou mayſt be Baptized and have the preſent remiſſion of ſin as a Chriſtian.
Note, The belief that Jeſus is the Son of God includeth all the reſt that is neceſſary to Salvation, that is, That there is a God whom we offended to whom he reconcileth us, and who gave him to us in love, and that his word is true, and that by the Word and by the Holy Ghoſt he ſanctifieth and prepareth us for Heaven.
38. And he commanded the chariot to ſtand ſtill: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch ſaw him no more: and he went on his way rejoycing.
38, 39. The Angel or Power of God caught away Phillip.
Note, A Converted man hath great cauſe of rejoycing. The Goſpel proclaimed, much more heartily received, is matter of great joy. 2. The Tradition of Abaſſia (where is a great Empire of Chriſtians) is that they received the Chriſtian Faith by this man who was the Queens Lord Treaſurer. And ſome Learned men conjecture that it was rather by Frumentius and Edeſius, and that it was Abaſſia that was by Hiſtorians miſcalled India: But if theſe firſt brought in Church Government by a Biſhop, the Eunuch might bring Lay Chriſtianity before.
40. But Philip was found at Azotus: and paſſing through, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Ceſarea.