A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
THen Agrippa ſaid unto Paul, Thou art permitted to ſpake for thy ſelf. Then Paul ſtretched forth the hand, and anſwered for himſelf,
1. Note, It was the cuſtome by the motion of the hand to give notice when one was beginning to ſpeak, to procure ſilent audience.
2. I think my ſelf happy, King Agrippa becauſe I ſhall anſwer for my ſelf this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accuſed of the Jews: 3. Eſpecially, becauſe I know thee to be expert in all cuſtoms and queſtions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beſeech thee to hear me patiently.
2. Its a great favour for Great men ſo much as to hear an innocent good Man ſpeak for himſelf.
4. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the firſt among mine own nation at Jeruſalem, know all the Jews. 5. Which knew me from the beginning (if they would teſtifie) that after the moſt ſtraiteſt ſect of our Religion, I lived a Phariſee. 6. And now I ſtand, and am judged for the hope of the promiſe made of God unto our Fathers, 7. Unto which promiſe our twelve tribes inſtantly ſerving God day and night, hope to come for which hopes ſake, King Agrippa, I am accuſed of the Jews.
4. Note, He ſuppoſeth Agrippa acquainted with the Jewiſh affairs, of their expectation of the Meſſiah and the Preaching of Chriſtianity, and the ſtirs about it. And if the hopes of a Meſſiah be Sedition, all the Jews are guilty of it, that pray for it continually. Queſt. Did the Ten Tribes pray for it, who were carried away by the Aſſyrians and Idolators put in their Country? Anſw. 1. In ſuch Captivating Tranſplantations, they never carry away all the poor People that muſt Till the Ground, but the Rulers, Soldiers, great Men and Men of Note; elſe it would be the Conquerers loſs: So it hath been here, at the Conqueſts made by the Romans, Saxons and Deans and Normans: The greater number of the Country People ſtill ſtaid as Tenants or Servants to the Conquerers. 2. The Neigbourhood of the Jews, did by degrees ſhame away much of the Idolatry of the Iſraelites: As Joſiabs power extended to pull down their Idols and Altars, and burn mens bones on them. 3. And afterward the Iſraelites Countrey wanting ſome Inhabitants, the Jews by degrees poſſeſſed much of their Country. And the ſpeech of the Samaritan Woman, John 4. Sheweth that they commonly expected Chriſt to come, and tell them all things.
8. Why ſhould it be thought a things incredible with you, that God ſhould raiſe the dead.
8. The great point of our Controverſie now is, Whether Chriſt roſe from the Dead? And why ſhould this ſeem an incredible thing to you? Is it too hard for God who upholdeth all the World, and giveth life to all that live.
9. I verily thought with my ſelf, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jeſus of Nazareth.
9. I once was of your mind, and did not only ſet light by the Name of Jeſus, but thought I ought to ſet my ſelf againſt it, and oppoſe them that Preached and Profeſſed it.
10. Which thing I alſo did in Jeruſalem, and many of the ſaints did I ſhut up in Priſon: having received authority from the cheif Prieſts; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice againſt them.
10. In this blindneſs I was a Perſecuter of the Saints.
11. And I puniſhed them oft in every Syangogue, and compelled them to blaſpheme; and being exceedingly mad againſt them, I perſecuted them even unto ſtrange Cities.
11. Note, Whether Paul prevailed with any to Blaſpheme Chriſt through fear, or only endeavoured it, is uncertain. 2. He now knew that his Perſecution was from exceeding madneſs, when yet before he took it for his duty? So blind are Perſecutors Judgments.
12. Whereupon as I went to Damaſcus with authority and commiſſion from the chief Prieſts; 13. At midday, O King, I ſaw in the way a light from Heaven, above the brightneſs of the Sun, ſhining round about me, and them which journeyed with me. 14. And when we were all ſallen to the Earth, I heard a voice ſpeaking unto me, and ſaying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? It is hard for thee to kick againſt the pricks.
12. I was Convinced by this Miracle and voice from Heaven. Ignorant man? Doſt thou know whom thou perſecuteſt and why? It will prove to thee but like ſpurning at Thornswith thy bare feet.
Note, Here we find that all Pauls Company fell to the ground with him. Which is not mentioned Chap. 9. or 22.
15. And I ſaid, Who art thou, Lord? And he ſaid, I am Jeſus whom thou perſecuteſt.
15. It is me in my cauſe and ſervants that thou Perſecuteſt.
16. But riſe, and ſtand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpoſe, to make thee a miniſter and a witneſs both of theſe things which thou haſt ſeen, and of thoſe things in the which I vvill appear unto thee;
16. My appearing to thee is to make thee a Preacher of that thou haſt Perſecuted; to witneſs what thou now haſt ſeen, and what I ſhall further tell the by my Spirit and works.
17. Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I ſend thee, 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and inheritance among them which are ſanctified by faith that is in me.
17.18. Delivering thee both from the Jews and Gentiles, to whom now I command thee to Preach; to open the Eyes that are blinded in groſs ignorance and Idolatry, and to turn them from that darkneſs to the light of the ſaving knowledg of God and their Redeemer, from the Power of Satan whom thy ſerve by ſin, to the Belief, Love and Obedience of God, that they may hereupon receive the forgiveneſs of all their paſt ſin, and right to the inheritance among the Sanctified: which is here begun in Holineſs and Communion with God and his Saints, and hereafter perfected in Glory; and all this believing, truſting and obeying me, and my Goſpel (or by being Chriſtians).
Note, Theſe words were omitted by Luke in Chap. 9. and 22. Here is a Promiſe to be truſted, and a Command to be obeyed.
19. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not diſobedient unto the Heavenly viſion:
19. I did not, I durſt not Rebel againſt ſuch a Viſion and a Command from Heaven.
20. But ſhewed firſt unto them of Damaſcus, and at Jeruſalem, and throughout all the coaſts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they ſhould repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
20. And the Goſpel which I Preached at Damaſcus, &c. is, that men ſhould Repent and turn to God, and ſhew the ſincerity of their Repentance by a Holy, Righteous, Charitable and ſober Life, (and all this in hope of Glory, purchaſed and promiſed by Chriſt who thus ſent me.)
21. For theſe cauſes the Jews caught me in the Temple, and vvent about to kill me.
21. This is the true cauſe why the Jews would have killed me, as croſſing their unbelief,
22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witneſſing both to ſmall and great, ſaying none other things then thoſe which the Prophets and Moſes did ſay ſhould come: 23. That Chriſt ſhould ſuffer, and that he ſhould be the firſt that ſhould riſe from the dead, and ſhould ſhew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
22. God hath kept me through many dangers to this day, while I teſtifie this Goſpel to all, which is but what was Propheſied that Chriſt ſhould dye for our ſins, and riſe firſt from death and Convert the Gentiles.
24. And as he thus ſpake for himſelf, Feſtus ſaid with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beſide thy ſelf: much learning doth make thee mad.
24. Thou art a crazed Fanatick: much Learning or Bookiſhneſs hath diſtracted thee.
25. But he ſaid, I am not mad; moſt noble Feſtus; but ſpeak forth the words of truth and ſoberneſs. 26. For the King knoweth of theſe things, before whom alſo I ſpeak freely: for I am perſwaded that none of theſe things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
25, 26. I am not mad, but ſoberly ſpeak that truth which I ſuppoſe the King knoweth; I do not think that the fame of Chriſts Miracles, Death and Reſurrection, no nor of this Viſion of mine, is unknown to him, being things openly done and famed abroad.
27. King Agrippa, believeſt thou the Prophets? I know that thou believeſt.
27. If thou believe the Prophets, thou mayeſt ſee that they Propheſied this of Chriſt.
28. Then Agrippa ſaid unto Paul, Almoſt thou perſwadeſt me to be a Chriſtian.
28. A little thou perſwadeſt, &c.
Note, It is uncertain whether he ſpake this ſeriouſly as inclining to believe in Chriſt? Or in contempt, Thou would perſwade me that I am almoſt a Chriſtian.
29. And Paul ſaid, I would to God, that not only thou, but alſo all that hear me this day, were both almoſt, and altogether ſuch as I am, except theſe bonds.
29. Note, True Miniſters thirſt for mens Converſion and Salvation.
30. And when he had thus ſpoken, the King roſe up, and the Governour, and Bernice, and they that ſat with them. 31. And when they were gone aſide, they talked between themſelves, ſaying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds. 32. Then ſaid Agrippa unto Feſtus, This man might have been ſet at Liberty, if he had not appealed to Caeſar.
30. Thy acquit him, but diſcharge him not.