A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
ANd as they ſpake unto the People, the Prieſts and the Captain of the Temple, and the Saducees came upon them, 2. Being grieved that they taught the people, and Preached through Jeſus the Reſurrection from the dead. 3. And they laid hands on them and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now even-tide.
1. Note, The great Perſecutors and Silencers were the Prieſts (who ſhould have been the holieſt) and the Sadducees that believed no life but this, and next the Soldiers that were mercenary. One would wonder what ſhould make ſuch Bruitiſts as the Sadduces to be ſuch furious Silencers and Perſecutors: If there were no life to come, what harm can other Mens hopes o… it do them. But in depraved Souls all Faculties are vitiated. A blind mind hath a malignant heart and a cruel hand. To this day, who Perſecute Men more for Preaching and ſeeking the heavenly Glory, than Atheiſts and Bruitiſts who believe there is none ſuch.
4. Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was about five thouſand.
4. The Aſſembly that owned Chriſtianity was increaſed to above five thouſand, and that ſucceſs grieved the Malignants.
5. And it came paſs on the morrow, that their Rulers and Elders and Scribes, 6. And Annas the high Prieſt, and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high Prieſt, were gathered together at Jeruſalem.
5. Their Rulers, the High Prieſt and their conſorts met in Council.
7. And when they had ſet them in the midſt, they asked, By what power, or by what name have ye done this?
7. Who gave you Power and Authority to ſet up as Miracle workers and Preachers to the People.
8. Then Peter filled with the holy Ghoſt, ſaid unto them, Ye Rulers of the people, and Elders of Iſrael. 9. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Iſrael, that by the name of Jeſus Chriſt of Nazareth, whom ye Crucified, whom God raiſed from the dead, even by him doth this man ſtand here before you whole.
8. It is Chriſts Power that did the Cure, and to his Glory they proclaim it.
11. This is the ſtone which was ſet at nought of your Builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we muſt be ſaved.
11, 12. He whom you rejected is made the Leader and Head over all: And it is only by truſting and obeying him that man can be ſaved.
13. Now when they ſaw the boldneſs of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jeſus.
13. When they perceived their freedom of ſpeech, and that thay had not been bred up to Learning, but were vulgar perſons untaught, they marvelled and took notice that they had ſeen them with Jeſus.
14. And beholding the man which was healed ſtanding with them, they could ſay nothing againſt it.
14. The Evidence of the fact ſilenced them at preſent, but did not cure their heardened hearts.
15. But when they had commanded them to go aſide out of the councel, they conferred among themſelves, 16. Saying, What ſhall we do to theſe men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them, is manifeſt to all them that dwell in Jeruſalem, and we cannot deny it. 17. But that it ſpread no further among the People, let us ſtraitly threaten them, that they ſpeak henceforth to no man in this name.
15. Note, O their Blindneſs and Devilliſh malignity of theſe ſilencers of Chriſts Miniſters, while they confeſs the miracle, and ſhould conſult how to repent of their former wickedneſs, they go on to conſult how to ſilence the Preachers: And think the Apoſtles ſo cowardly, that their threatning would ſerve to hinder them from preaching.
18. And they called them, and commanded them not to ſpeak at all, nor teach in the name of Jeſus. 19. But Peter and John anſwered and ſaid unto them, Whether it be right in the ſight of God to hearken unto you more then unto God, judge ye.
18, 19. The hardened Wretches called them, and ſilenced them by their pretended Authority, commanding them not to ſpeak at all, nor teach in the name of Jeſus! But Peter and John anſwered, the miracle proveth Gods atteſtation, and we know it by his ſpirit, and dare you ſay that you are greater than God: And that we ſhould obey you againſt his command: None but an Atheiſt dare affirm it.
Q. But may not Chriſtian Rulers and Prelates ſilence Miniſters, though the Jewiſh might not? Anſ. Either of them may ſilence Blaſphemy and wickedneſs: But ſure Chriſtian Rulers have no more power to fight againſt Chriſt and his Goſpel, and ſilence his Miniſters than Heathens? but much more obligation to encourage them.
Q. But muſt not Miniſters, called by Men, obey Men that ſilence them, though Apoſtles called by Chriſt, might not. Anſ. They that are called juſtly by Men, are called by Chriſt, who that way ſignifyed his Will: And Timothy that was called by Men, is charged before God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall Judge, &c. to Preach the word, and be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, &c. Which way ever Chriſt call Men, they are bound to be true to him. Chriſtian Rulers muſt be obeyed in the determination of Circumſtances (as time places maintenance, &c. which are left to them as Judges of Edification: But not when they forbid Chriſts Miniſters the work to which they are vowed, and conſecrated, unleſs they be unable or forfeit their Commiſſion. The Paſtors or Biſhops Preached three hundred years againſt the Will of Emperors and Kings, and long after againſt the Will of Chriſtian Emperors, called Arians, Eutychians, Monothelites, &c.
. For we cannot but ſpeak the things which we have ſeen and heard.
20. We are not ſo blind and hardened, as to go againſt all the Divine Evidence, which we have ſeen and heard, and to ſilence what God bids us ſpeak, of which we have been the Eye and Ear Witneſſes our ſelves.
21. So when they further threatned them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might puniſh them, becauſe of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
21. The common People were not ſo blinded, hardened and malignant as the Chief Prieſts and Rulers, but glorifyed God for that which did but ſtir up the Rulers malice. …. God made the People a reſtraint to the Prieſts and Rulers rage.
22. For the man was above fourty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was ſhewed.
22. For the caſe was paſt all doubt, the Man having been thus lame forty years, Chap. 3.2.
23. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reporred all that the chief Prieſts and Elders had ſaid unto them. 24. And when they heard that, they lift up their voice to God with one accord, and ſaid,
23. Note, Not that all are ſuppoſed with conjunct voice to ſay juſt the ſame words, but either ſome of them one part and ſome another; or ſome ſaid theſe words with others acclamations and conſent: or they all ſpake by turns to the ſame ſence.
Lord, thou art God which haſt made Heaven and Earth, and the Sea, and all that in them is: 25. Who by the mouth of thy Servant David haſt ſaid Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26. The Kings of the Earth ſtood up, and the Rulers were gathered together againſt the Lord, and againſt his Chriſt.
24. God Propheſied by David, that the Rulers of the Nations, Gentiles and Jews, ſhould in vain joyn their Councels and Powers againſt Chriſt, his Goſpel and his Kingdom.
27. For of a truth againſt thy holy Child Jeſus, whom thou haſt anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Iſrael were gathered together, 28. For to do whatſoever thy hand and thy Counſel determined before to be done.
27. All combined by their own wickedneſs to do that which God hath foredetermined: God foredecreed that Chriſt ſhould be a ſacrifice for ſin; but the wicked determination of their Wills that did it, God only foreſaw and permitted, but did not cauſe.
29. And now, Lord, behold their threatnings: and grant unto thy Servants, that with all boldneſs they may ſpeak thy word; 30. By ſtretching forth thine hand to heal: and that ſigns and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jeſus.
29, 30. Note, 1 That threatnings of malignant People are a fit opportunity for Gods Grace to his Servants. 2. Boldneſs to Preach when unjuſtly forbidden, is a great effect of Gods grace to his Servants. 3. The gift of convincing miracles, though promiſed, muſt be prayed for by them.
31. And when they had prayed, the place was ſhaken where they were aſſembled together; and they were all filled with the holy Ghoſt, and they ſpake the word of God with boldneſs.
31. The Spirit cauſed them thus to pray, and more of the Spirit was poured on them, in anſwer to thoſe Prayers: giving the boldneſs which they asked, and that with a ſignal ſhaking of the place.
32. And the multitude of them that believed, were of one heart, and one Soul: neither ſaid any of them, that ought of the things which be poſſeſſed, was is own, but they had all things common.
32. They were all of one mind, and will and practice, united in fervent Love, which made all common to them.
Note, It was not a commonneſs by levelling Titles, but by voluntary fervent love. 2. And the Spirit did this in the beginning to give the word an example what true Chriſtianity and the Spirits Operation is, even ſuch fervent Love to each other for Chriſt's ſake, as deſtroyeth all ſinful ſelfiſhneſs, and maketh others intereſt to be to us as our own, and ſo uniteth us in one Body.
33. And with great power gave the apoſtles witneſs of the reſurrection of the Lord Jeſus: and great grace was upon them all.
33. And with evident miracles and wonderful gifts of the Spirit, did the Apoſtles perform their Teſtimony of Chriſts Reſurrection: And the favour of God and Man was upon them, or great charity prevailed among them.
34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were poſſeſſours of land, or houſes, ſold them, and brought the prices of the things that were ſold, 35. And laid them down at the apoſtles feet: and diſtribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
34. This was neither to be the conſtant practice, nor yet was it an unwiſe exceſs of zeal. But it was a preſent effect of the Spirit? to ſhew what a degree of Love all Chriſtians ſhould deſire, and what ſelf-denial and contempt of Riches it ſhould cauſe.
36. And Joſes, who by the apoſtles was ſurnamed Barnabas (which is being interpreted, The Son of conſolation) a Levite, and of the Countrey of Cyprus, 37. Having land, ſold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apoſtles feet.
36, 37. To ſignifie his renouncing the World and ſelfiſhneſs in Love to Chriſt and his Church; he himſelf being after to go abroad the World to preach the Goſpel.