A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
NOw there were in the Church that was at Antioch, certain Prophets and Teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetarch, and Saul.
1. The Church Aſſembled at Antioch, had then in it many Men of eminent Gift, for Prophecy and Teaching.
2. As they miniſtred to the Lord and faſted, the holy Ghoſt ſaid, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereu…to I have called them.
2. Note, To whom the Holy Ghoſt manifeſted this, whether to many or to few is uncertain.
3. And when they had faſted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they ſent them away. 4. So they being ſent forth by the holy Ghoſt, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they ſailed to Cyprus. 5. And when they were at Salamis, they Preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews: and they had alſo John to their miniſter.
3. Note, This was not the firſt Authorizing of them to be Miniſters by Office; for they were called and Preacht before. But it was their Call or Miſſion to this Particular work▪ to go abroad Preaching to many Nations. To be ſeparated to the Miniſtry is to be done but once: But to be appointed to this or that place, charge or flock, may be oft done, and that by Faſting, Prayer, and Impoſition of hands. 2. They began their Preaching uſually in the Jews Synagogues in all Countrys where there were ſuch where they came, they being Expectants of the Meſſiah.
6. And when they had gone through the iſle unto Paphos, they Found a certain ſorcerer, a falſe Prophet, a Jew, whoſe name was Barjeſus: 7. Which was with the Deputy of the Country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and deſired to hear the word of God.
7. Note, His prudence made him willing to be inſtructed, and to hear men that ſaid they were ſent by God.
8. But Elymas the ſorcerer (for ſo is his name by interpretation) withſtood them, ſeeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
8. Elymas (which ſignifieth a Magician) oppoſed them to hinder the Deputys Converſion.
9. Then Saul (who alſo is called Paul) filled with the holy Ghoſt, ſet his eyes on him,
10. And ſaid, O full of all ſubtily and all miſchief, thou child of the Devil, thou enemy of all righteouſneſs, wilt thou not ceaſe to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11. And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou ſhalt be blind, not ſeeing the Sun for a ſeaſon. And immediately there fell on him a miſt and a darkneſs; and he went about ſeeking ſome to lead him by the hand.
9. The Holy Ghoſt inſpired Paul to paſs this ſentence when he was reſolved to execute it: it came not by the will of man primarily.
12. Then the deputy when he ſaw what was done, believed, being aſtoniſhed at the doctrine of the Lord.
12. Whether the Deputy was Baptized is uncertain, But being Converted to the Faith we may ſay to his honour that Sergius Paulus was the firſt Chriſtian Magiſtrate (unleſs you will call the Jewiſh converted Prieſts, Magiſtrates:) Conſtantine was not the firſt.) But he had no power to uſe Magiſtracy for Chriſtianity, ſave obliquely.
2. The Judgment of God on Elymas was for the Deputies Converſion: what he did himſelf is unknown.
13. Now when Paul and his company looſed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them, returned to Jeruſalem. 14. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Piſidia, and went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day, and ſat down.
13.Note. They began with the diſpiſed Jews ſtill, as underſtanding each others Languages, and as the moſt prepared to hear the news of the Meſſiah: Miraculous Language was like Miraculous works: not conſtant and at the ſpeakers will, as if they ſtill ſpake by Miracles.
15. And after the reading of the law and the Prophets, the Rulers of the Synagogues ſent unto them, ſaying Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, ſay on.
15. Note, Thus were their Rulers like Church-Juſtices, that diſpoſed of Order, that were no Teachers themſelves. 1. It was among the Jews allowed any man that profeſſed to be a wiſe man and a Teacher thoug not in Office, to Teach the People by the conſent of the Ruler of the Synagogue. 3. The reading of the Law and Prophets was the chief part of their Liturgie.
16. Then Paul ſtood up, and beckening with his hand, ſaid, Men of Iſrael, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17. The God of this people of Iſrael choſe our Fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as ſtrangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18. And about the time of fourty years ſuffered he their manners in the Wilderneſs. 19. And when he had deſtroyed ſeven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20. And after that, he gave unto them judges about the ſpace of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the Prophet. 21. And afterward they deſired a King: and God gave unto them Saul the ſon of Cis, a man of the tribe Benjamin, by the ſpace of fourty years. 22. And when he had removed him, he raiſed up unto them David to be their King; to whom alſo he gave teſtimony, and ſaid, I have found David the ſon of Jeſſe, a man after mine own heart, which ſhall fulfil all my will.
16. &c. Note, The recital of the Hiſtory of the Jews, was by Peter and Stephen and Paul judged the meeteſt way to introduce the tidings of Chriſt as come, it being that which the Jews believed and underſtood, and on which they grounded their priviledges and expectations.
23. Of this mans ſeed hath God according to his promiſe, raiſed unto Iſrael a Saviour Jeſus: 24. When John had firſt preached before his coming, the baptiſm of repentance to all the people of Iſrael.
23. This Jeſus is the Son of David whom you expect, and John by Preaching and Baptizing foreſhewed you.
25. And as John fulfilled his courſe, he ſaid, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But behold there cometh one after me, whoſe ſhoes of his feet I am not worthy to looſe.
25. John told you that he was not the Chriſt, but that this Jeſus was he.
26. Men and brethren, children of the ſtock of Abraham, and whoſoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this ſalvation ſent.
26. To you Jews and Proſelytes who are prepared by the fear of God and expectation of the Meſſiah, we are ſent to tell you that he is come, that you may believe in him to Salvation.
27. For they that dwell at Jeruſalem, and their rulers, becauſe they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every ſabbath-day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28. And though they found no cauſe of death in him, yet deſired they Pilate that he ſhoul be ſlain. 29. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a Sepulchre. 30. But God raiſed him from the dead.
27, The chief of your Nation, not believing in him, nor underſtanding the Prophets, fulfilled the Propheſie by killing him, but God raiſed him.
31. And he was ſeen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jeruſalem, who are his witneſſes unto the people.
31. He ſhewed himſelf to thoſe that he choſe to be his Witeſſes to the World.
32. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promiſe which was made unto the Fathers, 33. God hath fulfilled the ſame unto us their Children, in that he hath raiſed up Jeſus again; as it is alſo written in the ſecond Pſalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
32. To you expectants we bring joyful news, the Meſſiah is come, the promiſe of him is fulfilled to us, and Chriſt is riſen.
Note, Seeing all men love glad Tidings, the Goſpel ſhould be welcome to all.
33, And as David the Type is called Gods begotten Son, becauſe he Exalted him to the Throne, ſo is that word fulfilled now on Chriſt, indeed begotten of God and raiſed to Glory.
34. And as concerning that he raiſed him up from the dead, now no more to return to Corruption, he ſaid on this wiſe, I will give you the ſure mercies of David.
34. And this everlaſting Kingdom which Chriſt is raiſed to, is that called the ſure Mercies of David, Iſa. 55.3.
35. Wherefore he ſaith alſo in another pſalm, Thou ſhalt not ſuffer thine holy one to ſee corruption: 36. For David after he had ſerved his own generation by the will of God, fell on ſleep, and was laid unto his Fathers, and ſaw corruption: 37. But he whom God raiſed again, ſaw no co…ruption.
35. This muſr be meant of Chriſt, &c.
38. Be it known unto you therefore, men and breathren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveneſs of ſins: 39. And by him all that believe are juſtified from all things, from which ye could not be juſtified by the law of Moſes.
38, 39. By his Sacrifice and Merits and interceſſion and Kingly Power, all ſins ſhall be pardoned to all that truly believe in him, and take him for their Saviour and King; And by him all ſuch are acquit from damning guilt and puniſhment (initially now by his pardoning Law of Grace, and finally hereafter by his Judgment and Execution) from which the Law of Moſes can never juſtifie or acquit you; by all its Sacrifices, and your obſervances.
40. Beware therefore, leſt that come upon you which is ſpoken of in the prophets, 41. Behold, ye deſpiſers, and wonder, and periſh: for I work a work in your days, a work which you ſhall in no wiſe believe, though a man declare it unto you.
40. Take head leſt your obſtinate unbelief cauſe God to caſt you off, and take in the Gentiles in your ſtead.
42. And when the Jews were gone out of the Synagogue, the Gentiles beſought that theſe words might be preached to them the next ſabbath.
42. Some diſlike theſe words, but others eſpecially Proſelytes deſired to hear them again. By the ſame words is meant the ſame doctrine: Note, They groſly miſtake that ſay it is the Lords day, as ſuch that is here called the next Sabbath.
43. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews, and religious proſelytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who ſpeaking to them, perſwaded them to continue in the grace of God.
42. Beginners newly convinced muſt be followed with perſwaſions to proceed and perſevere.
44. And the next ſabbath-day came almoſt the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45. But when the Jews ſaw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and ſpake againſt thoſe things which were ſpoken by Paul, contradicting and blaſpheming.
44, 45. Note 1. The Apoſtles did uſe to meet on the Jews Sabbath on their Synagogues, and to obſerve the outward reſt of them while they were among the Jews, both to get an opportunity of Preaching to them, and to avoid their offence, till the diſſolution of their ſtate had in fact caſt down their Law and Policy, which Chriſt had before abrogated.
2. The Crowds of Hearers and Multitude of Converts being hateful to Satan, doth uſually ſtir up rage in his ſervants, and raiſe greater oppoſition.
46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and ſaid, It was neceſſary that the word of God ſhould firſt have been ſpoken to you: but ſeeing ye put it from you, and judge your ſelves unworthy of everlaſting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47. For ſo hath the Lord commanded us, ſaying, I have ſet thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou ſhouldeſt be for Salvation unto the ends of the Earth.
46, 47. God did appoint us to offer Chriſt firſt to you Jews, and he or we rejected not you firſt: But ſeeing by your obſtinate rejecting of Chriſt and his Goſpel you make and ſhew your ſelves unworthy and uncapable of ſo great Mercy, we go to the Gentiles; for ſo is our Commiſſion.
48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.
48. Note, It is a Controverſie what is here meant by [Ordained to Eternal life:] whether it be [Ordained by Gods decree] or [ordered by preparing Grace:] But there is no doctrinal Controverſie ariſing from either Expoſition, thoſe being Proſelytes or otherwiſe in the neereſt diſpoſition to believe, its probable at the leaſt were the perſons here meant: But that God alſo doth fore decree whom he will effectually Convert and ſave, ſhould be paſt doubt with all ſober Chriſtians, the Perfection of God, and the words of Scripture making it plain: and not only Auguſtine and Proteſtants, but almoſt all the Papiſts Doctors and Schoolmen proving it. And Dr. Hammon confeſſeth that this preparing Grace is Gods Gift; which therefore he before purpoſed to give. But when he oppoſeth […[The abſolute decree of deſtinating them whatſoever they do to Salvation.] It is very ill done ſo to inſinuate that this is the opinion of thoſe that diſſent from him: who are ſo far from it that they hold that to deſtinate to Holineſs and Salvation is one and the ſame decree of God: Of this ſee my Catholick Theoligie fully handling it: Alas for this ſad Diſeaſe in Church Doctors.
49. And the word of the Lord was publiſhed throughout all the region. 50. But the Jews ſtirred up the devout and honourable women, and the cheif men of the city, and raiſed perſecution againſt Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coaſts.
50. Note, Devout Women and Men in ignorance may be Adverſaries to Chriſtianity and Truth, and Inſtruments of Perſecution: And the chief and honorable are oft the chief herein. 2. Powerful ſucceſsful Preaching uſeth to ſtir up violent Perſecuting, which oft driveth the Preachers to ſome other place where God hath ſome to call.
51. But they ſhook off the duſt of their feet againſt them, and came unto Iconium.
51. Note, As Excommunication was diſmal to them that were cut off, ſo ſhaking off the duſt of their ſeet aganſt them was a diſmal ſignification of a forſaken People.
52. And the Diſciples werefilled with joy, and with the holy Ghoſt.
52. Note, Gods Grace and the Churches joy, may increaſe under Perſecution, and Expulſion by men.