A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
NOw Peter and John went up together into the Temple, at the hour of prayer being the ninth hour.
1. Note, They conformed to the Jews ordinary way of chooſing the Temple for a place of Prayer, and chooſing the common hour.
2. And a certain man lame from his mothers womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the Temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entred into the Temple. 3. Who ſeeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple, asked an alms. 4. And Peter faſtening his eyes upon him, with John, ſaid, Look on us. 5. And he gave heed unto them expecting to receive ſomething of them. 6. Then Peter ſaid, Silver and Gold have I none; but ſuch as I have give I thee: In the name of Jeſus Chriſt of Nazareth, Riſe up and walk.
2. Note, 1. They that have not Money may have much better: Holineſs and Spiritual Riches are found moſt with Poverty. 2. God gave this Cripple better than he asked.
7. And he took him by the right hand, and lift him up; and immediately his feet and Ancle-bones received ſtrength. 8. And he leaping, ſtood, and walked, and entred with them into the Temple, walking and leaping, and praiſing God.
7. Note, This and ſuch Miracles were not at the meer will of the Apoſties; but when God would work them, his ſpirit by inſpiration made it known to them and put them on.
9. And all the people ſaw him walking and praiſing God. 10. And they knew that it was he which ſat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the Temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazment at that which had happened unto him.
9.10. He had ſo long uſed to be there begging that they well know him, and wondred at the change.
11. And as the lame man which was healed, held Peter and John, all the People ran together unto them in the Porch that is called Solomons, greatly wondring.
11. The Miracle made the People crowd to gaze at them.
12. And when Peter ſaw it, he anſwered unto the People, Ye men of Iſrael, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye ſo earneſtly on us as though by our own power or holineſs we had made this man to walk?
12. After all the Miracles that Chriſt himſelf did, why make you ſo ſtrange a matter of this: or why gaze you with wonder on us, as if you, thought we did it by our own Power or Holineſs.
13. The God of Abraham and of Iſaac, and of Jacob, the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jeſus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the preſence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14. But ye denied the holy one, and the juſt, and deſired a murderer to be granted unto you, 15. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raiſed from the dead: whereof we are witneſſes.
13. This is the work of Jeſus glorified, whom ye Murdered, though he was the Holy One and Juſt, and the Lord of Life, now raiſed to Glory.
16. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man ſtrong, whom ye ſee and know: yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect ſoundneſs in the preſence of you all.
16, Queſt. Whoſe Faith was it? The lame man ſhewed no belief in Chriſt before he was healed. Anſw. 1. It was by the Apoſtles Faith, 2. And for the generating of Faith in others.
17. And now brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did alſo your Rulers.
17. Note, Ignorance is the Common cauſe of error and all ſin: But ſome mens ignorance is more willful than others and againſt more light, and hath leſs excuſe: And ſo was the Rulers worſe than the Peoples.
18. But thoſe things which God before had ſhewed by the mouth of all his Prophets, that Chriſt ſhould ſuffer, he hath ſo fulfilled.
18. God who decreed Chriſts ſufferings for man, foretold it and permitted your ſin that did it, and his Prophecies and Promiſes of our Redemption are thus fulfilled.
19. Repent ye therefore, and he converted, that your ſins may be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord, 20. And he ſhall ſend Jeſus Chriſt, which before was preached unto you:
19, 20. Repent therefore of your rejecting Jeſus Chriſt, and be Converted to true Chriſtianity and Godlineſs, that your ſins may be forgiven, and ſo found to your comfort, when the time of Chriſts glorious return, ſhall rejoyce all true believers, and God ſhall ſend Jeſus viſibly to juſtifie and glorifie them, whom we now Preach to you, and was deſigned, to be our Saviour.
21. Whom the heaven muſt receive, until the times of reſtitution of all things, which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets, ſince the world began.
21. Who muſt be in the Heavens in Glory (not viſible here) till the great and bleſſed change ſhall come which God hath Promiſed by all his Prophets, and ſin and curſe ſhall be taken away, and the Creation ſhall be delivered from the bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, and there ſhall be a new Heaven and a new Earth in which ſhall dwell Righteouſneſs: Even the time of our actual, full, Redemption and Salvation.
22. For Moſes truly ſaid unto the Fathers, A Prophet, ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; him ſhall ye hear in all things, whatſoever he ſhall ſay unto you. 23. And it ſhall come to paſs, that every Soul which will not hear that Prophet, ſhall be deſtroyed from among the People.
22, 23. Note, Though Moſes immediately ſpake of the ſpecies of the Jewiſh Government, by a Prophetical Theocracy, that God would not Rule them by Elective or Hereditary Kings; but by Prophets or Men Prophetically called (till they caſt off this Theocracy,) yet the Holy Ghoſt here tells us that Moſes eminently Propheſied this of Chriſt, who muſt be Univerſally obeyed as our Soveraign, and not to obey him will be ſure Condemnation, of which the Jews deſtruction was a fore taſt.
24. Yea, and all the Prophets from Samuel, and thoſe that follow after, as many as have ſpoken, have likewiſe foretold of theſe days.
24. The ſum of all the Prophets was to foretell the ſufferings and the Kingdom of Chriſt now begun,
25. Ye are the Children of the Prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our Fathers, ſaying unto Abraham. And in thy ſeed ſhall all the kindreds of the Earth be bleſſed.
25. According to the Fleſh ye are the Poſterity of the Prophetical Nation, and firſt in that Covenant whch God made with Abraham pronouncing all Nations bleſſed in his Seed, as thence deriving their bleſſedneſs.
26. Unto you firſt, God having raiſed up his Son Jeſus, ſent him to bleſs you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
46. Accordingly God having raiſed up his Son, doth firſt offer him and his Grace to you before he be Preached to the Gentiles; we declare to you his Miracles, Reſurrection and Doctrine, that you may be turned from your unbelief and other ſins, and be a People firſt bleſſed as pardoned, and ſanctified and ſaved by his Grace.