A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
1. AFter theſe things Jeſus walked in Galilee: For he would not walk in Jury becauſe the Jews ſought to kill him.
N. 1. Chriſts own example tells us, that it is no ſinful cowardize to avoid perſecution, till our ſuffering or death be like to do more good than liberty or life.
2. Now the Jews Feaſt of Tabernacles was at hand. 3. His brethren therefore ſaid to him, depart hence and go into Judaea, that thy Diſciples alſo may ſee the works that thou doſt. 4. For there is no Man that doth any thing in ſecret, and he himſelf ſeeketh to be known openly: If thou do theſe things, ſhew thy ſelf to the World. 5. For neither did his brethren believe in him.
2. &c. N. Chriſts own Kindred believed not on him a long time: And cenſured him for not appearing more publickly in the face of dangers and rulers, if he were ſent from God. Thus men will teach and reprove thoſe of whom they ſhould learn. Fooliſh men will ſeem wiſer than Chriſt and diſlike his ways.
6. Then Jeſus ſaid to them; my time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. 7. The world cannot hate you but me it hateth, becauſe I teſtifie of it that the works thereof are evil. 8. Go ye up to this feaſt; I go not up to this feaſt; for my time is not yet full come. 9. When he had ſaid theſe words to them he abode ſtill in Galilee. 10. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he alſo up unto the feaſt, not openly but as it were in ſecret.
6. &c. N. 1. Chriſt …re alſo avoided perſe…ution. 2. He truſted not … his purpoſe.
11. Then the Jews ſought him at the feaſt, and ſaid, where is he. 12. And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for ſome ſaid, he is a good man: Others ſaid, nay, but he deceiveth the people. 13. Howbeit, no man ſpake openly of him, for fear of the Jews.
12, 13. The people divided in their judgments of him, did not openly ſpeak their minds, for fear of the Rulers that were moſt againſt him.
14. Now about the midſt of the feaſt, Jeſus went up into the Temple, and taught. 15. And the Jews marvailed, ſaying, how knoweth this man letters, having never learned. 16. Jeſus anſwered them and ſaid, my doctrine is not mine, but his that ſent me. 17. If any man will do his will, he ſhall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I ſpeak of my ſelf.
14. He that is ſent of God may know more than he hath learnt of man: God tells me what to ſpeak. And thoſe that truly obey ſo much of the will of God as they know, are prepared to know more, and to diſcern my doctrine to be of God: but wilful ſinners are not.
18. He that ſpeaketh of himſelf, ſeeketh his own glory: but he that ſeeketh his glory that ſent him, the ſame is true, and no unrighteouſneſs is in him.
18. Did I ſeek vain-glory or any private ends of my own, you might ſuppoſe that I ſpake my own words: But if I only ſeek the Glory of God and good of men though to my own ſuffering, you have no cauſe to ſuſpect me of deceit or any ill deſign.
19. Did not Moſes give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? why go ye about to kill me?
19. But how unfit are you to diſcern what doctrine is of God, who keep not the Law of Moſes which you boaſt of: For that Law forbiddeth Murder, and yet you ſeek to murder me.
20. The people anſwered and ſaid, thou haſt a devil who goeth about to kill thee?
20. N. They ſuppoſed him diſtracted: And the diſtracted were uſually taken for Dem…i….
21. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 22. Moſes therefore gave unto you circu… ciſion, [not becauſe it is of Moſes, but of the fathers] and ye on the Sabbath day circumciſe a man. 23. If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumciſion, that the law of Moſes ſhould not be broken; are ye angry at me, becauſe I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day?
22. N. The Hiſtory of his Cure and their Plotting his death for it, is here paſt over and ſuppoſed: But Chriſt knew their malicious deſign.
24. Judge not according to the appearance, but judg righteous judgment.
24. Judge not by outward ſhews and worldly mens opinions, but according to the evidence of truth.
25. Then ſaid ſome of them of Jeruſalem, is not this he whom they ſeek to kill? 26. But lo, he ſpeaketh boldly, and they ſay nothing to him: Do the Rulers know indeed, that this is the very Chriſt?
25. Do they ſuffer him becauſe they believe him to be Chriſt.
27. Howbeit, we know this man whence he is: but when Chriſt cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
27. N. They knew his viſible Originals, but they knew not his heavenly nature and glory.
28. Then cried Jeſus in the Temple as he taught, ſaying, ye both know me, and ye know whence I am, and I am not come of my ſelf; but he that ſent me is true, whom ye know not. 29. But I know him, for I am from him, and he hath ſent me.
28. Ye know my viſible Originals: But you know not my Heavenly Father who ſent me: But I know him, for I, &c.
30. Then they ſought to take him, but no man laid hands on him, becauſe his hour was not yet come. 31. And many of the people believed on him, and ſaid, when Chriſt cometh, will he do more miracles than theſe which this man hath done.
30.31, His Miracles convinced ſome againſt all prejudices and objections.
32. The Phariſees heard that the people murmured ſuch things concerning him; and the Phariſees a…d cheif Prieſts ſent Officers to take him. 33 Then ſaid Jeſus unto them, yet a little while I am with you, and then I go unto him that ſent me. 34. Ye ſhall ſeek me, and ſhall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
32. &c. The Phariſees and Prieſts, thought perſecuting neceſſary to keep people from believing on him: And Chriſt told them, it's but a little while, till I ſhall be out of the reach of your malice.
35. Then ſaid the Jews among themſelves, whither will he go, that we ſhall not find him? Will he go unto the diſperſed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? 36. What manner of ſaying is this, that he ſaid, ye ſhall ſeek me, and ſhall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
35. Will he go to thoſe Jews who are diſperſed abroad the World, or what meaneth he?
37. In the laſt day, that great day of the feaſt, Jeſus ſtood, and cried, ſaying, if any man thirſt, let him come unto me, and drink. 38. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living waters. 39. But this he ſpake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him, ſhould receive: for the holy Ghoſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glorified.
37. In the laſt and great day of that Feaſt Chriſt proclaimed the promiſed gift of the Spirit, under the name of Rivers of living Waters, to all that ſhould truly believe on him: That is, when he was glorified: for till then the Holy Ghoſt for the operation of theſe eminent gifts was not given.
40. Many of the people therefore, when they heard this ſaying, ſaid, of a truth this is the Prophet. 41. Others ſaid, this is the Chriſt: But ſome ſaid, ſhall Chriſt come out of Galilee? 42. Hath not the Scripture ſaid, that Chriſt cometh of the ſeed of David, and out of the town of Bethleem, whence David was? 43. So there was a diviſion among the people becauſe of him.
40. His Words and Works inclined many to believe in him: but they could not anſwer objections from his Originals.
44. And ſome of them would have taken him, but no man laid hands on him.
44. N. God hindereth bad men from doing what they would do, and they know not how he doth it.
45. Then came the officers to the cheif Prieſts and Phariſees, and they ſaid unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46. The Officers anſwered, Never man ſpake like this man.
45, 46. God made Chriſts words effectual at the preſent to convince and reſtrain them from violence.
47. Then anſwered them the Phariſees, are ye alſo deceived? 48. Have any of the Rulers, or of the Phariſees believed on him? 49. But this people, who knoweth not the law, are curſed.
47. 48. N. The vain reſpect to men of reputation and power, is a uſual cauſe of unbelief and diſobedience to God. 2. They rightly judged that ignorance is the cauſe of error and deceit; but they falſly thought their literal knowledge with prejudice and worldly minds, had been a ſafe ſtate.
50. Nicodemus ſaith unto them, [he that came to Jeſus by night, being one of them.] 51. Doth our law judg any man before it hear him, and know what he doth?
50.51. Nicodemus bearing a good will to Chriſt ſtopt them by a common rule of Juſtice, that by the Law no man ſhould be condemned till he be heard ſpeak for himſelf, and the Caſe be well tried.
52. They anſwered and ſaid unto him, art thou alſo of Galilee? Search and look, for out of Galilee ariſeth no Prophet. 53. And every man went into his own houſe.
52. N. 1. They give him a ſcorn inſtead of a good anſwer. 2. And then how poor a reaſon ſatisfieth them againſt all the Miracles and Doctrine of Chriſt: becauſe Galilee was a contemned Country where Chriſt dwelt, though he was born at Bethlehem, of Davids line. 3. One mans words may ſometimes divert a perſecution.