A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
ANd when the day of Pentecoſt was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
1. It is by moſt Expoſitors taken to be on the Lords day though ſome few contradict it. 2. Chriſt choſe the time to ſend the Spirit▪ when they were unanimouſly aſſembled for his worſhip.
2. And ſuddenly there came a ſound from heaven, as of a ruſhing mighty wind, and it filled all the houſe where they were ſitting.
3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it ſat upon each of them:
2, 3. Note, It is likely it was only on the Apoſtle.
4. And they were all filled with the holy Ghoſt, and began to ſpeak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
4. They that were unlearned men, were all ſuddenly filled with the Holy Ghoſt, who inſpiring their minds with Sacred Light of Knowledge and fervor of affection, cauſed them to utter theſe in various Languages, which they had never learnt in the Praiſes of God and his works.
Note, As Baptiſm entereth Men into the ſtate of Chriſtianity, this effuſion of the Spirit ſolemnly inveſted the Apoſtles in the full ſtate and power of their Offices.
5. And there were dwelling at Jeruſalam, Jews, devout men, out of every Nation under heaven.
5. Then were at Pentecoſt Jews out of many Nations where they were diſperſed, that came up to the Feaſt.
6. Now when this was noiſed abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, becauſe that every man heard them ſpeak in his own language. 7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, ſaying one to another, Behold, are not all theſe which ſpeak, Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Meſopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Aſia, 10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya, about Cyrene, and ſtrangers of Rome, Jews and proſelytes. 11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them ſpeak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
6, 7, &c. The word as of Chriſt and of his Goſpel was that which they ſpeak in the Tongues of all theſe Countries.
12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, ſaying one to another, What meaneth this? 13. Others mocking, ſaid, Theſe men are full of new wine.
12, 13. Some derided them as Drunken.
14. But Peter ſtanding up with the eleven, lift up his voice, and ſaid unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jeruſalem, be this known unto you, and hearken, unto my words: 15. For theſe are not drunken, as ye ſuppoſe, ſeeing it is but the third hour of the day.
14, &c. It is but nine a Clock at which time Men uſe to pray faſting, (and Drunkeneſs will not enable a Man to ſpeak various Languages.)
16. But this is that which was ſpoken by the prophet Joel, 17. And it ſhall come to paſs in the laſt days, (ſaith God) I will pour out of my Spirit upon all fleſh: and your ſons and your daughters ſhall propheſie, and your young men ſhall ſee viſions, and your old men ſhall dream dreams: 18. And on my ſervants, and on my hand-maidens I will pour out in thoſe days of my Spirit, and they ſhall propheſie.
16, &c. This is the fulfilling of what Joel Prophecied of the times of the Meſſsiah, &c,
19. And I will ſhew wonders in heaven above, and ſigns in the earth beneath; bloud, and fire, and vapour of ſmoke. 20. The Sun ſhall be turned into darkneſs, and the Moon into bloud, before that great and notable day of the Lord come. 21. And it ſhall come to paſs, that whoſoever ſhall call on the name of the Lord, ſhall be ſaved.
19, 20, 21, Many Prodigies in Heaven and Earth as if the frame of Nature did ſhake or were altered, ſhall go before the deſtruction of the Temple and Nation of the Jews, But faithful praying Chriſtians ſhall be ſaved.
22. Ye men of Iſrael hear theſe words, Jeſus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles and wonders and ſigns, which God did by him in the midſt of you, as ye your ſelves alſo know: 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counſel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and ſlain: 24. Whom, God hath raiſed up having looſed the pains of death; becauſe it was not poſſible that he ſhould be holden of it.
22, 23, 24. You deny not the fact of thoſe Miracles done by Jeſus, which are the infallible works of Gods atteſtation: Gods determinate Counſel having appointed him to die as a Sacrifice for the Sins of the World, and he foreknowing all that your wicked hearts do in it hereto, accordingly with wicked hands you have murdered him (not at all excuſable by the ſaid decree or fore knowledge of God.) But God raiſed him from the dead having looſed the bonds of Death, it being impoſsible they ſhould be held and conquered by it.
Note, The word tranſlated Pains of death may be alſo tranſlated bonds: But if it muſt be read [Pains] Death as a ſeparation of Soul and Body is by privation a Penal ſtate, though not dolorous by poſitive evil; yet ſome think that the Article of Deſcent into Hell ſignifieth ſome poſitive penalty on Chriſts ſoul, called here The Pains of Death: But moſt think otherwiſe.
25. For David ſpeaketh concerning him, I foreſaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I ſhould not be moved. 26. Therefore did my heart rejoyce, and my tongues was glad: moreover alſo my fleſh ſhall reſt in hope. 27. Becauſe thou wilt not leave my Soul in hell, neither wilt thou ſuffer thine holy One to ſee corruption.
Note, Though David ſpake this partly of himſelf, the Holy Ghoſt ſpake it by him of Chriſt, that God would not leave him in the ſtate of Death, nor ſuffer his body to be corrupted.
28. Thou haſt made known to me the ways of life; thou ſhalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29. Men and brethren, let me freely ſpeak unto you of the Patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his Sepulchre is with us unto this day: 30. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had ſworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loyns, according to the fleſh, he would raiſe up Chriſt, to ſit on his throne: 31. He ſeeing this before, ſpake of the reſurrection of Chriſt, that his Soul was not left in hell, neither his fleſh did ſee corruption.
30. Queſt. How is Chriſt ſaid to ſit on Davids Throne which was of a viſible Earthly Kingdom. Anſw. It is that which was principally meant in the promiſe to David, And the eminent and higheſt Reign containeth the lower under its power.
2. The Article of Chriſts deſcent into Hell is ſo largely handled by many, that I will not here interpoſe any more of it, than to ſay that I take it to be beſt expounded by A. Biſhop Ʋſher in his Anſwer to the Jeſuits challenge. And this Text ſpeaking firſt of David and ultimately of Chriſt, ſeemeth to m…an no other Hell for Chriſt, but what David meant of … ſelf: which is Hades, the State of ſeparated Souls as ſuch.
32. This Jeſus hath God raiſed up, whereof we all are witneſſes. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promiſe of the holy Ghoſt, he hath ſhed forth this, which ye now ſee and hear.
32. We being all Witneſſes of his Reſurrection (and Aſcenſion) he being in Glory in the fulneſs of his Power, and having promiſed thus to ſend down the Holy Ghoſt, hath performed his promiſe as ye ſee and hear. 1. To prove by this Miracle the truth of his Power to convince Unbelievers, 2. And to enable us to Teach the Goſpel to the People of divers Languages in the World.
Note, The Apoſtles were credible Witneſſes of fact: 2. The Holy Ghoſt is the infalible evidence that Chriſtians miſſion and power is of God.
34. For David is not aſcended into the Heavens: but he ſaith himſelf, The LORD ſaid unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35. Until I make thy foes thy footſtool.
34. David went not up to Heaven bodily as Jeſus did, (but only his Soul) but he Propheſied of Chriſts Aſcenſion and Glory.
36. Therefore let all the Houſe of Iſrael know aſſuredly, that God hath made that ſame Jeſus whom ye have Crucified, both Lord and Chriſt.
36. All of you therefore believe theſe Divine atteſtations and know aſuredly that this Jeſus whom you Crucified is in Glory exalted by God to be the Lord King and Saviour.
37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and ſaid unto Peter, and to the reſt of the apoſtles, Men and brethren, what ſhall we do?
37. Theſe words accompanied with ſo great Evidence, and the work of the Spirit now poured out, they could not reſiſt, but their hearts convinced were prickt or wounded with grief and fear, to find that they had Crucified the Meſſiah whom they expected; And they cryed out, is there yet no hope or remedy? If there be what ſhall we do?
38. Then Peter ſaid unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, for the remiſſion of ſins, and ye ſhall receive the gift of the holy Ghoſt.
38. There is yet hope and remedy. Repent of this and all your ſins, and give up your ſelves by Faith to Chriſt in the Baptiſmal Covenant, and your ſins ſhall be remitted, and this Holy Ghoſt which you now admire ſhall alſo be given unto you.
39. For the promiſe is unto you, and to your Children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God ſhall call.
39. For the Meſſiah with his Grace, of Remiſſion and the Spirit is promiſed and is offered to you that are Jews and your whole Nation and Children in the firſt place, and ſhall be yours yet if you accept the offer: And not to you only but to as many as God ſhall call of the Gentiles in the remoteſt parts of the World: For Chriſt is now to be the Univerſal King and Saviour of all Nations and Perſons that accept him.
40. And with many other words did he teſtifie and exhort, ſaying, Save your ſelves from this untoward generation.
40. And with many more Exhortations he perſwaded them, to believe and repent, and not to imitate the unbelieving, perſecuting, hardned part of the Jews, leſt they periſh with them.
41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the ſame day there were added unto them about three thouſand ſouls.
41. Then they that believed and gladly conſented to be Chriſtians were baptized: And that day about three thouſand were converted to Chriſtianity.
1. Theſe Jews were before inſtructed in much of the Law and Prophets▪ and therefore their Baptiſm was not delayed ſo long as the following Churches delayed the baptizing of the Gentile Catechumens. 2. Yet though all were converted that day it is not certain that all were Baptized that day. 3. None were Baptized that did not profeſs to believe the Eſſentials of the Baptiſmal Covenant (that Jeſus is the Chriſt ſent of God to reconcile us to him, and give us remiſſion of ſin and his Spirit and everlaſting Salvation; and profeſt not willing conſent to the Covenant.
42. And they continued ſtedfaſtly in the apoſtles doctrine and fellowſhip, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
42. And being thus Convinced, Converted and Sacramentally bound and devoted to Chriſt, they continued united in Communion with the Apoſtles, in learning their Doctrine, and in brotherly Communication, and Love, and in Celebration of the Lords Supper and in conjunct Prayer. The Apoſtles conducting the Society in all this.
43. And fear came upon every ſoul: and many wonders and ſigns were done by the Apoſtles.
43. The wonder amazed all men, and the Miracles wrought by the Apoſtles increaſed mens conviction.
44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, 45. And ſold their poſſeſſions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need.
44. The greatneſs of the thing raiſed them above the World, and the Holy Ghoſt filled them with ſuch Love as made every one to be to another as himſelf, and ſo made all common, not by deſtroying Propriety, but Selfiſhneſs, and cauſing Charity: And God that moved them to it, knew that they were quickly to be driven from their Poſſeſſions in Judea.
46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from houſe to houſe, did eat their meat with gladneſs and ſingleneſs of heart.
46. In the Temple was the meeting of the multitude, and from houſe to houſe they had their leſſer Meetings where they did eat together and Sacramentally Communicate and all with great joy and ſingleneſs of heart.
Note, Breaking Bread ſometime ſignifieth common eating together, and ſometimes Sacramental Communicating. And it is likeſt here to ſignifie both conjunct, becauſe there the Church uſed the Sacrament at the end of a meel, and not alone as now.
47. Praiſing God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily ſuch as ſhould be ſaved.
47. Praiſing God and applauded by all, (or in Charity to all): God dayly added to the Church new Coverts, ſaved from unbelief and ſin, and to be ſaved by further Grace and Glory.