A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
BUt a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, ſold a poſſeſſion, 2. And kept back part of the price, his wife alſo being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apoſtles feet. 3. But Peter ſaid, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the holy Ghoſt, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
1. They pretended to give the whole price, but brought a part and ſaid it was all, —Why haſt thou let Satan put ſo great a ſin into thy, heart, as to think to deceive the Holy Ghoſt in us Apoſtles, as if he knew not when thou lyeſt.
Note, The ſin conſiſted, 1. In Hypocriſie, pretending to give more than he did. 2. In the remnant of a worldly diſtruſtful mind, that could not truſt God with all. 3. In blaſphemy againſt the Holy Ghoſt implyed, as if he knew not the heart. 4. In reſerving what he pretended to devote, which was a kind of Sacriledge.
4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was ſold, was it not thine own power? why haſt thou conceived this thing in thine heart thou haſt not lied unto men, but unto God.
4. While it was unſold it was thy own and in thy power, and ſo was the money when thou hadſt ſold it, why did thy heart conceive ſo great a ſin, as to play the Hypocrite and Lie? Didſt thou not know that it was to God who knew thy heart?
5. And Ananias hearing theſe words, fell down and gave up the Ghoſt: and great fear came on all them that heard theſe things.
5 Note, This was by part of the Apoſtolical Power, to [retain ſin] or puniſh it, in the time and manner that the Spirit in them did chooſe; which made Believers ſee that Chriſt hath puniſhments and is to be feared, when mercy and holy things are abuſed.
6. And the young men aroſe, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7. And it was about the ſpace of three hours after when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8. And Peter anſwered unto her, Tell me, whether ye ſold the land for ſo much. And ſhe ſaid, Yea, for ſo much. 9. Then Peter ſaid unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and ſhall carry thee out. 10. Then fell ſhe down ſtraightway at his feet, and yielded up the Ghoſt: and the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
6. Note, This was to confirm the honour of the Holy Ghoſt in the Apoſtles, and the certainty of their Teſtimony Sealed by him, And to do that which Magiſtrates, by the Sword, afterwards were to do. As the Prophetical Theocracy under Moſes and Joſhua, differed from the Monarchy of Saul; ſo more did the Apoſtles, puniſhing Men by the power of the Holy Ghoſt, from Chriſtian Magiſtrates who came after.
11. And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard theſe things.
Note, Under the moſt joyful tidings of Love Mercy and Salvation, God ſeeth that ſome fear is needful.
12. And by the hands of the apoſtles were many ſigns and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomons porch.
12. A large Porch into the Temple, was the place of their unanimous aſſembling.
13. And of the reſt durſt no man joyn himſelf to them: but the people magnified them.
13. Note, Though the Goſpel invite all, it flattereth none; but will tell Hypocrites and Lyars of their danger, to drive them from entering deceitfully into the Church. As there is moſt hope in the Church to the ſincere, there is more danger there to Hypocrites, than to thoſe without.
14. And believers were the more added to the Lord, Multitudes both of men and women.)
14. Yet theſe Judgments frightning away Hypocrites, hindred not the increaſe of the Church; but the powerful works of the Holy Ghoſt, external and internal, converted multitudes of both Sexes.
15. Inſomuch that they brought forth the ſick into the ſtreets, and laid them on beds and Couches, that at the leaſt, the ſhadow of Peter paſſing by, might overſhadow ſome of them.
15. As Nature taught them to deſire the healing of their bodies, experience taught them to expect miracles from the Apoſtles, and that the very ſhadow of Peter ſhould tend to heal them.
16. There came alſo a Multitude out of the Cities round about unto Jeruſalem, bringing ſick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean ſpirits: and they were healed every one.
16. Note Reader, That all this was done as well for us at this day, as for them then: All our hopes, comforts and holyneſs dependeth on our belief of the promiſes of the life to come by Chriſt: The things are unſeen and much above us: Had we not Gods own Teſtimony from Heaven, by many uncontrouled miracles, our reaſon would be puzzelled and in doubt, and our Faith might fail: But God knoweth our weakneſs, and by all the miracles that they were then convinced by, who ſaw them, we alſo are convinced, to whom, by infallible record they are tranſmitted; as if we had ſtood by and ſeen all theſe things.
17. Then the high Prieſt roſe up, and all they that were with him (which is the ſect of the Sadducees) and were filled with indignation, 18. And laid their hands on the apoſtles, and put them in the common Priſon.
17, 18. Note, So horridly corrupted was the Arch-Prieſthood in thoſe times, that the Atheiſtical Brutiſh Sadduce…s, were their party; Prieſthood and Prophane Brutiſts were as one body: Malignity filled theſe with Indignation, and made them perſecute and impriſon the Apoſtles.
19. But the Angel of the Lord by night opened the Priſon-doors, and brought them forth, and ſaid, 20. Go, ſtand and ſpeak in the Temple to the people, all the words of this life.
19, 20. God will be above Man: Angels can do more than Devils and Perſecutors, They can open the Priſon doors, and ſay, go and fear not theſe proud Tyrants, but preach to the People in the Temple, all the Doctrine of Chriſts Reſurrection, and of our Reſurrection and Salvation by him; and let Prieſts and Sadducers, and Infidels, do their worſt to you.
21. And when they heard that, they entred into the Temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high Prieſt came, and they that were with him, and called the Council together, and and all the Senate of the Children of Iſrael, and ſent to the priſon to have them brought.
21. the Prieſt and his Council ſent to have them brought out of Priſon before them.
22. But when the Officers came and found them not in the priſon, they returned, and told, 23. Saying, The Priſon truly found we ſhut with all ſafety, and the keepers ſtanding without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
22. It was not long of the Keepers that they got out.
24. Now when the high prieſt, and the Captain of the Temple, and the chief Prieſts heard theſe things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
24. Note, They ſaw that God overcame their malice, and that the Goſpel would not be ſo eaſily ſuppreſt as they imagined.
25. Then came one and told them, ſaying, Behold, the men whom ye put in Priſon, are ſtanding in the Temple, and teaching the people. 26. Then went the Captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: (for they feared the people, leſt they ſhould have been ſtoned.)
26. Note, Its ſtrange that they accuſed not the People of Sedition or Rebellion or a Ryot? And the Apoſtles of heading it.
27. And when they had brought them, they ſet them before the Council: and the high Prieſt asked them, 28. Saying, Did not we ſtraitly command you, that you ſhould not teach in this name? and behold, ye have filled Jeruſalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this mans bloud upon us.
27. Note, O the blindneſs and madneſs of proud Worms! What are your commands againſt God? Did not God command you not, to murder, and them to Preach his word? Did not you bring his blood upon your ſelves?
29. Then Peter and the other apoſtles anſwered and ſaid, We ought to obey God rather then men.
29. Note, This none of them durſt deny: But it is conſcience and obedience to God that Diaboliſts fight againſt.
30. The God of our Fathers raiſed up Jeſus, whom ye ſlew and hanged on a tree. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſs of ſins.
30. That God of our Fathers, whom you profeſs to obey, hath raiſed up Jeſus whom ye crucified from death, and hath exalted him by and at his right hand, to be the Lord of all, and the Saviour of his People, to give them converting grace and repentance, and forgiveneſs of ſins.
32. And we are his witneſſes of theſe things; and ſo is alſo the holy Ghoſt, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took Counſel to ſlay them.
32. And of his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion we are entruſted Witneſſeſ, and muſt not ſilence our Teſtimony, and of his preſent Power and Glory, this gift of the ſpirit is a full proof, whoſe effects you ſee your ſelves, and which God giveth to them that obey his Goſpel.
34. Then ſtood there up one in the Counſel, a Phariſee, named Gamaliel, a doctour of law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apoſtles forth a little ſpace, 35. And ſaid unto them, Ye men of Iſrael, take heed to your ſelves, what ye intend to do as touching theſe men. 36. For before theſe days roſe up Theudas, boaſting himſelf to be ſome body, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joyned themſelves: who was ſlain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were ſcattered, and brought to nonght.
34. Note. This Phariſee is not ſo mad as the Beaſtly Sadduces, who this Theudas was, we have no other notice, but by the words of Gamaliel.
37. After this man roſe up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing, and drew away much
70. Jeſus anſwered them, have not I choſen you twelve, and one of you is a Devil 71. He ſpake of Judas Iſcariot the Son of Simon; for he it was that ſhould betray him, being one of the twelve.
70, 71. Even of you twelve whom I have choſen out of all the reſt to be next me, one is a Devil; that is Judas.
N. 1. Some men are ſo bad that they may be call'd Devils. Both as falſe Calumniators whence is the name Diabolus; and as they are the very agents of the Devil, and minded like him, and ruled by him, and do what he moveth them to do, in his three great works. Lying, or (Deceit) Hatred (or Malignity) and …urtfulneſs and Murder. 2. Such may be latent in the holieſt Society. 3. Which yet muſt not be denominated by ſuch.