A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
THere was a certain man in Ceſarea, called Cornelius a centurion of the band called the Italian band.
1. In Ceſarea the chief City of the Country about ſeventy miles from Jeruſalem, where was a Roman Garriſon was one Cornelius Captain of an hundred in the Italian Regiment or Legion.
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his houſe, which gave much alms to to the people, and prayed to God always.
2. A Proſelyte that was a Godly man and fearing God, with all his houſehould, liberal in giving Alms and conſtant in Prayer.
2. N. We muſt not think this man under mere common Grace, but in a ſtate of ſaving Grace, ſuch as the faithful Jews had before Chriſts incarnation; ſuch being prepared above others to believe in Chriſt perſonally, when he was come and Preached to them. This is notifyed, 1. In that he was a Proſelyte of Juſtice though not Circumciſed. 2. He is called a Godly man (or devout.) 3. He kept no other in his houſe. 4. He was full of works of Charity. 5. And conſtant in Prayer, with due faſting. 6. God teſtified his acceptance of him.
3. He ſaw in a viſion evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an Angel of God coming in to him, and ſaying unto him, Cornelius.
3. Being faſting and at Prayer at three a Clock Afternoon, an Angel appeared to him.
4. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and ſaid, What is it, Lord? And he ſaid unto him, Thy Prayers and thine a…ms are come up for a memorial before God.
4. The ſight of the Angel ſtruck him with dread, &c. He ſaid, Thy Prayers and Alms coming from Faith and a ſincere heart, are ſo acceptable to God, that he hath ſent me to give thee this notice of it, and to reward thee with a farther Bleſſing.
5. And now ſend men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whoſe ſurname is Peter: 6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whoſe houſe is by the ſea-ſide: he ſhall tell thee what thou oughteſt to do.
5. Note, God will honour his appointed qualified inſtruments in the giving of his Mercies,
7. And when the Angel which ſpake unto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his houſhold-ſervants and a devout ſouldier of them that waited on him continually: 8. And when he had declared all theſe things unto them, he ſent them to Joppa.
7, 8. Note, O What a Bleſſing to a Family is a good Maſter, that will keep ſuch about him as he can truſt, and alſo deſerve his ſpecial Love. And what happy ſociety are ſuch Familys. This man had even Godly Soldiers, who uſe to be the worſt of Men.
9. On the morrow as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the houſe-top to pray, about the ſixth hour.
9. Note, God doth no great things uſually, but by men of Prayer, at leaſt accepteth no other.
10. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into trance, 11. And ſaw Heaven opened, and a certain veſſel deſcending unto him, as it had been a great ſheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the Earth: 12. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beaſts, of the Earth, and wild beaſts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13. And there came a voice to him Riſe, Peter; kill, and eat.
10. The clean and the unclean, noted the Jews and Gentiles, and alſo the abrogation of the Ceremonial Laws of Meats.
14. But Peter ſaid, Not ſo, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15. And the voice ſpake unto him again the ſecond time, What God hath cleanſed, that call not thou common. 16. This was done thrice: and the veſſel was received up again into heaven.
14. What Meats or what Perſons God hath cleanſed, do not thou call polluted and unclean to be rejected.
17. Now while Peter doubted in himſelf what this viſion which he had ſeen ſhould mean; behold, the men which were ſent from Cornelius, had made enquiry for Simons houſe, and ſtood before the gate, 18. And called, and asked whether Simon which was ſurnamed Peter, were lodged there.
17. The ſame God directeth both the Viſions, and the Meſſ…ages of Cornelius to concur.
19. While Peter thought on the viſion, the Spirit ſaid unto him, Behold, three men ſeek thee. 20. Ariſe therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have ſent them.
20. Note. How this ſpeaking of the Spirit was done and known, they only that have it can fully conceive.
21. Then Peter went down to the men which were ſent unto him from Cornelius; and ſaid, Behold, I am he whom ye ſeek: what is the cauſe wherefore ye are come? 22. And they ſaid, Cornelius the centurion, a juſt man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy Angel to ſend for thee into his houſe, and to hear words of thee.
22. God commanded Cornelius to ſend for thee to hear thee.
23. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24. And the morrow after they entred into Ceſarea: and Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kniſmen and near friends.
23, 24. Note, This good man had a care that his Kindred and Friends, might all be ſaved as well as he.
25. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worſhipped him. 26. But Peter took him up, ſaying, Stand up; I my ſelf alſo am a man.
25. Note, It was not a Divine Worſhip that Cornelius gave him; but yet Peter would not accept of any that was ſo extraordinary, as was unmeet for an humble man to own.
27. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many that were come together.
27. Note, As evil as thoſe times were, ſuch Conventicles were then allowed.
28. And he ſaid unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to keep company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath ſhewed me, that I ſhould not call any man common or unclean. 29. Therefore came I unto you without gainſaying, aſſoon as I was ſent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have ſent for me?
28. God hath ſatisfied me to come to you though Gentiles.
30. And Cornelius ſaid, Four days ago I was faſting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my houſe, and behold, a man ſtood before mein bright clothing, 31. And ſaid, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the ſight of God. 32. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon whoſe ſurname is Peter; he is lodged in the houſe of one Simon a Tanner, by the ſea-ſide; who when he cometh, ſhall ſpeak unto thee. 33. Immediately therefore I ſent to thee; and thou haſt well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here preſent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God?
30. I was thus commanded by an Angel of God to ſend for thee▪ and now I and my friends are all here ready as in Gods preſence obediently to hear what ever meſſage or command God ſendeth by thee to us, (ſome Copies have [before thee] not (God.)
34. Then Peter opened his mouth, and ſaid, Of a truth I perceive that God is no reſpecter of perſons: 35. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteouſneſs, is accepted with him.
34. I do by this inſtance more fully than before perceive, that God reſpecteth not men for their Country ſake, or any common worldly priviledges, but for their real goodneſs, and whatever Nation a man be of, if he ſo ſincerely believe in God and his Mercy, as to fear and ſerve him, or to work righteouſneſs or truly obey his Laws, he ſhall be mercifully accepted by him, who is the rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him.
36. The word which God ſent unto the Children of Iſrael, Preaching peace by Jeſus Chriſt (he is Lord of all) 37. That word (I ſay) you know, which was publiſhed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptiſm which John preached; 38. How God anointed Jeſus of Nazareth with the holy Ghoſt, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppreſſed of the Devil: for God was with him.
36, &c. The word which God ſent to the Children of Iſrael was not like Moſes Law confined to them, but it was the Proclaiming of Reconciliation to all Jews and Gentiles that will believe in him, who is by Redemption Lord of all (and not only of the Jews.) This word you cannot but have heard hath been publiſhed throughout all Judaea, &c. How God indued Jeſus with the Holy Ghoſt and with Power, who went about donig good and healing, &c.
39. And we are witneſſes of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and Jeruſalem; whom they ſlew and hanged on a tree: 40. Him God raiſed up the third day, and ſhewed him openly, 41. Not to all the People, but unto witneſſes choſen before of God, even to us who did eat and drink with him after he roſe from the dead.
39. We are Witneſſes of his Doctrine and Miracles, and of his Reſurrection, and did eat and drink with him, being choſen to this Office.
42. And he commanded us to preach unto the People, and to teſtifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead.
42. Judge of all that are alive at his coming, and that were dead before and are then raiſed.
43. To him give all the Prophets witneſs, that through his name whoſoever believeth in him, ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins.
43. All the Prophets foretold that, through the Merits of this the Meſſiah, God by his Covenant of Grace would give Remiſſion of ſins, to all that truly believe in him.
44. While Peter yet ſpake theſe words, the holy Ghoſt fell on all them which heard the word.
44. Even while Peter was thus ſpeaking, the great miraculous gift of the Holy Ghoſt, came down on all that heard, which broak out in the effects before them all.
45. And they of the circumciſion which believed, were aſtoniſhed, as many as came with Peter, becauſe that on the Gentiles alſo was poured out the gift of the holy Ghoſt. 46. For they heard them ſpeak with tongues, and magnified God. Then anſwered Peter.
45. This was aſtoniſhing News to the Jewiſh Chriſtians, to hear Gentiles ſpeak Tongues not learned, and to be rapt up in the praiſe of God.
47. Can any man forbid water, that theſe ſhould not be baptized, which have received the holy Ghoſt as well as we?
47. Can any reaſon be given, why theſe though Gentiles ſhould not be Baptized, when God hath thus ſignally owned them by his miraculous gift of the Spirit, as he hath done us.
48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
48. He cauſed them to be entred by Baptiſm into the Chriſtian Covenant and Church: and they prayed him to ſtay a while with them, to confirm and comfort them.