The Apostolical History, Chapter 2
v. 27. Candaces nomen commune Reginarum Aethiopiae fuiſſe, à Plinio traditum eſt, lib. 6. cap. 29.v. 40. foreign, ut ſuprà, v. 23.CHAP. II. Anno Chriſti 35. Tiberii 30.Containing the Acts of the Apoſtles, from Saul's Converſion to his Firſt Journey with Barnabas.
SECT. I.
SAul (a)Saulus erat ex tribu Benjamin, in quâ tribu …c nomen videtur …iſſe uſitat…m, quod primus Rex Iſ…aelis hoc nomen h…beus, ex eâdem tribu erat. Notat nomen aliquem, quem Parentes precibus à Deo impetrarunt.having for ſome time made havock of the Church, and ſtill breathing out threatnings and ſlaughter againſt the Diſciples of Chriſt, went at length to the Sanhedrim the ſupream Council at Jeruſalem, wherein the Prieſts made a great part, and were the moſt active men, (which C…uncil had the Cognizance, and ſupream Judgment of all matters appertaining to the Jewiſh Religion and that in the Synagogues, which were without*See 2 Chron. …9 8 9.10. the land of Judaea, as well as thoſe within) and obtained of them letters of Commiſſion to the Synagogues of Damaſcus (b)This was the chief City of Syria ſituate on one ſide of Mount Libanus, about five or ſix days journey from Jeruſalem, a H…a…he… City but wh re many of the diſperſed Jews dwelt, and had Synagogues. Hi …udaei etſi extra Judaeam h…bitabant, tamen communionem ſuam colebant cum Templo & Synedrio Hieroſol mitano. Itaq…e à ſummo fa…erdote, …ynedrii praeſide, literas pet…it …aulus ad Synagoga… Damaſcena, ut harum operâ, & interceſſione à Damaſcenorum Rege impetraret liberta…em inquitendi ſi qui eſſent Damaſci Chriſtiani, eoſque vinciendi, & Hieroſolym m perducendi Romani Synedrio permittebant jus prehenſionis, & verberum; non tantum in Judaeos Paleſtinae, verum etiam extra Palaeſtinam, ubi erant Synagogae, quae ſponte ſu… juriſdictionem Synedrii in rebus ad religionem ſpectantibus agnoſcebant. Grot., that if he found any there that p…ofeſt Chriſt, he ſhould bring them bound to Jeruſalem, that they might be puniſhed. And journeying towards Damaſcus to proſecute this cruel deſign, when he came nigh to the City, at midday, a Light from Heaven above the brightneſs of the Sun, ſhone round about him(c)Hinc diſcendum quod gratia converſionis non datur ſecundum praeviſa merita, aut praeviſas bonas diſpoſitiones., and thoſe that journyed with him. When they were all fallen proſtrate on the earth, he heard a voice ſpeaking to him(d)Exemplum rarae clementiae, quae eſt in Chriſto, qui hunc ſuum perſecutorem ex coelo dignatur inſtituere, eique ſe manifeſtare. Multum erat quod incredulitati Thomae ita ſuccurrit, ut ei latera ſua, & cicatrices eſtenderet, ſed hic infidelitati Saulis ita occurrit, ut ſe ex coelo ipſi conſpiciendum exhibeat & propriâ voce ſeipſum ei praedicet. in the Hebrew tongue, Saul▪ Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? Saul trembling, and full of fear, ſaid, Lord, Who art thou? The Lord ſaid, I am Jeſus whom thou perſecuteſt; 'Tis hard for thee to kick againſt the pricks. Saul ſaid, Lord what wilt thou have me to do? Jeſus anſwered, Ariſe go into the City, and there it ſhall be told thee what thou muſt do. The m…n, that journeyed with Saul riſing up from the earth were greatly amazed, and ſtood ſpeechleſs, having ſeen indeed a great Light, and heard a ſound of words(e)Comites Pauli viderunt lucem, & audiverunt vocem, ſed non intellexerunt articulatum ſenſum, qui cum illâ voce pe…mixtus erat, & à ſolo Saulo audiebatur, vi…. Joh. 12.28.29. Erant proſtrati, & tamen dicuntur ſtetiſſe muti. Proſtrati ſurrexerunt quidem, attamen manſerunt in loco attoniti. Comites percelluntur, ut Judaeis teſtarentur vocem ex coelo factam ad Saulum., but neither ſaw Chriſt who ſpake, (as Saul did) nor underſtood diſtinctly any thing he ſpake. Saul alſo being riſen up, there were Seals(f)Squamae oculis ejus inductae ipſum effecerant caecum, ut per corporalem caecitatem, caecitatem mentis diſceret. Hactenus non fuerat caecus, i. e. non agnoverat caecitatem ſuam in rebus fidei, ſed viſus ſibi fuerat ſapientiſſimus, Gal. 1.14. vid. Joh. 9.39.41. come over his eyes, ſo that when he op…ed them, he could ſee nothing; Chriſt teaching him by this bodily blindneſs the blindneſs of his ſoul in ſpiritual things, which he was before inſenſible of. Being led therefore by the hand into Damaſcus he was there three days without ſight, and did neither eat, nor drink*See Mat. 15.32. & Mark 8.2., (men being better able in thoſe hot Countri…s to endure long faſting, than in our colder Climate) and probably he ſpent a great part of that time in prayer, and humbling his Soul before the Lord for his former ſins, and particularly his violent perſecution of the Church of Chriſt. And in this time, (as ſome learned*Vid. Ludov. Capell. hiſtoriam Apoſt. pag. 8. men think) he had that extaſie, and was rapt up into the third Heaven, where he ſaw, and heard, what was not lawful for him to utter, 2 Cor. 12.2, 3, 4. For from his Converſion to the writing of that Epiſtle, fourteen years intercurr'd.
Now there was at this time a certain Diſciple at Damaſcus, named Ananias *See Sect. 13. of ch. 1.to whom the Lord ſpake in a Viſion(g)Ananiam all…cutus eſt per repraeſentationem aliquam internam; qualis fieri ſolet in ſomniis, vel in ex…ſibus., that he ſhould go into the ſtreet that is called Straight and inquire in the houſe of Judas for Saul, telling him that he was then in prayer, and had it revealed to him he ſhould receive his ſight. Ananias is ſtartled at this command, being afraid to go to him, becauſe of his former violent perſecution of the Saints, and his preſent commiſſion and authority from the chief Prieſts to purſue that bloody deſign; but Chriſt tells him, he was a choſen Veſſel, one whom he had choſen to conveigh the Divine Treaſure of his Goſpel, not only to the Jews but the Gentiles alſo, even to the greateſt and higheſt among them, and that he ſhould do and ſuffer great things for his Name ſake. Ananias hereupon went to him, and laying his hands on him, ſaid, Brother Saul, the Lord Jeſus who appeared unto thee in the way as thou cameſt hither, hath ſent me to thee, that thou ſhouldſt receive thy ſight(h)Non eſt putandum Ananiam non plura dixiſſe Paulo, quàm quae hic narrantur. Nam non tantum ad ſanandum, ſed etiam ad docendum Paulum fuit miſſus. Et quod Act. 26.16, 17, 18. Chriſtus ſcribitur dixiſſe Paulo, id forſan non immediatè ex caelo ſed per hunc Ananiam dixit. Plurima igitur Ananias dixit Paulo quibus ipſum tum de Chriſtianiſmo, tum de Apoſtolatu ejus latè, inſtituit.; and be filled, and endued with thoſe admirable gifts of the holy Ghoſt, which may enable thee in the diſcharge of that divine Office to which thou art called, and confirm thee in the faith and belief of Jeſus. Ariſe therefore, and be baptized for a Sign and Seal(i)Sacramenti vis non eſt alia, quam obſignatio promiſſionum Evangelii, & medium roborandi fidem. that thy ſins are waſhed away in the blood of Chriſt▪ and by ſuch an open owning and profeſſing of him, declare thy ſelf to be his true Diſciple, Ananias having thus ſpoken, ſtraitway there fell from Sauls eyes as it were Scales, and he received his ſight, and was baptized, and when he had received meat he was ſtrengthened. And then he continued with the Diſciples there certain days.
Act. 9. v. 1. And Saul yet breathing out threatnings and ſlaughter againſt the diſciples of the Lord, went unto the high prieſt,
v. 2. And deſired of him letters to Damaſcus, to the ſynagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jeruſalem.
v. 3. And as he journeyed, he came neer to Damaſcus, and ſuddenly there ſhined round about him a light from heaven.
v. 4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice ſaying unto him, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me?
v. 5. And he ſaid, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord ſaid, I am Jeſus whom thou perſecuteſt: It is hard for thee to kick againſt the pricks.
v. 6. And he trembling and aſtoniſhed, ſaid, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord ſaid unto him, Ariſe, and go into the city, and it ſhall be told thee what thou muſt do.
v. 7. And the men which journeyed with him, ſtood ſpeechleſs, hearing a voice, but ſeeing no man.
v. 8. And Saul aroſe from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he ſaw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damaſcus,
v. 9. And he was three days without ſight, and neither did eat nor drink.
v. 10. And there was a certain diſciple at Damaſcus, named Ananias, and to him ſaid the Lord in a viſion, Ananias. And he ſaid, Behold, I am here, Lord.
v. 11. And the Lord ſaid unto him, Ariſe, and go into the ſtreet which is called Straight, and enquire in the houſe of Judas, for one called Saul of Tarſus: for behold, he prayeth,
v. 12. And hath ſeen in a viſion a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his ſight.
v. 13. Then Ananias anſwered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy ſaints at Jeruſalem:
v. 14. And here he hath authority from the chief prieſts, to bind all that call on thy Name.
v. 15. But the Lord ſaid unto him, Go thy way: for he is a choſen veſſel unto me, to bear my Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Iſrael.
v. 16. For I will ſhew him how great things he muſt ſuffer for my Names ſake.
v. 17. And Ananias went his way, and entred into the houſe, and putting his hands on him, ſaid, Brother Saul, the Lord, (even Jeſus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou cameſt) hath ſent me, that thou mighteſt receive thy ſight, and be filled with the holy Ghoſt.
v. 18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been ſcales, and he received ſight forthwith, and aroſe, and was baptized.
v. 19. And when he had received meat, he was ſtrengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the Diſciples, which were at Damaſcus.
v. 5. Adverſus stimulos calcitrare. Eodem adagio & Euripides & Pindarus, & Menander apud Stobaeum utuntur. A bobus deducta metaphora, qui cùm foreign, aut ſtimulis recalcitrant, ſeipſos laedunt.v. 7. Viri comites vocem quidem audiverunt, ſed neminem viderunt. At Saulus vidit aliquem, quem comites non videbant. Videtur ipſum glorioſum corpus Domini Jeſu vidiſſe, ſicut Stephanus Act. 7. & ſicut aliâs, Act. 22.18. & 23.11. & 2 Cor. 12.2. Dicit enim ipſemet expreſſe, quod Chriſtum viderit poſt reſurrectionem, 1 Cor. 15.8. 1 Cor. 9.1. That Chriſt at this time was ſeen of Paul appears v. 27. & ch. 22.14. but whether this was done by a Viſion of the Spirit only, as it happened ch 22.18. or with the eyes of his body before he was blinded, is not made known unto us Certain it is, God could as well ſtrengthen the ſight of Paul, that he might ſee Chriſt in Heaven opened, as he did the ſight of Stephen, Act. 7.56.v. 9. Poenitentiam ſic oſtendens ſaevitiae in Eccleſiam exercitae. Hoc eſt quod Hebraei dicunt foreign.v. 15. foreign, eſt, praedicatione Evangelii Chriſtum ejuſque beneficia mundo c…mmendare; ſed quod de Regibus dicitur quomodo imp…etum? Nuſquam legitur quod Regibus Evangelium praedicaverit, niſi ſoli Agrippae, Act. 26, quem tam…n lucratu… non eſt: ſed non tantum hic intelliguntur Reges, ſed Magnates, qu…rum multis Evangelium praedicavit, tandem etiam fortaſſis ipſi Imperatori, Act. 27.24. Et deinde vir…u miniſterii Paulini non eſt reſtringenda ad tempus vitae ipſius. Cando… enim, quam vivus accendit, etiam poſt mortem ejus multis illuxit, parvis, & magnis, eoſque ad …idem Chriſti adduxit.Act 22. V. 5. As alſo the high prieſt doth bear me witneſs, and all the eſtate of th… elders: from whom alſo I received letters unto the brethren, and went to D…m…ſcus to bring them which were there, bound unto Jeruſalem, for to be puniſhed.
v. 6. And it came to paſs, that as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto D…m…ſcus about noon, ſuddenly there ſhone from heaven a great light round about me.
v. 7. And I f…ll unto the ground, and heard a voice ſaying unto me, Saul, S…ul, why p…rſ…cu…eſt thou m…?
v. 8. And I …nſwered, Who art thou, Lord? and he ſaid unto me, I am Jeſus of N…zar…th whom th…u p…rſ…cuteſt.
v. 9. And they that w…re with the law indeed the light, and were afraid; but they he…rd not th… voice of him that ſpak… to me.
v. 10. And I ſaid, Wh…t ſhall I do, Lord? And the Lord ſaid unto me, Ariſe, and g… into D…ſ…us, and there it ſhall be told thee of all things which are appointed for th… to do.
v. 11. A…d when I co…ld not ſee for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of th…m that were with me, I came into Damaſcus:
v. 12. And one An…ni…s, a devout man according to the law, having a good r…port of all the J…ws which dwelt there,
v. 13. Cam… unto me, and ſtood, and ſa…d unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy ſight. And the ſame hour I looked up upon him.
v. 14. And he ſaid, The God of our fathers hath choſen thee, that thou ſhouldſt know h…s will, and ſee that juſt One, and ſhouldſt hear the voice of his mouth
v. 15. For thou ſhalt be his witneſs unto all men of what thou haſt ſeen and h…ard.
v. 16. And now, why tarrieſt thou? Ariſe, and be baptized, and waſh away thy ſins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Act. 26. v. 12. Whereupon as I went to Damaſcus with authority and commiſſion from the chi…f pri…ſts,
v. 13. At mid-day, 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.
v. 14. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice ſpeaking unto me, and ſaying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, S…ul, why perſecuteſt thou me? It is hard for thee to kick againſt the pricks.
v. 15. And I ſaid, Who art thou Lord? And he ſaid, I am Jeſus whom thou perſecuteſt.
v. 16. But ariſe, and ſtand up upon thy feet, for I have appeared unto thee for this purpoſe, to make thee a miniſter and a witn…ſs, both of theſe things which thou haſt ſeen, and of thoſe things in the which I will appear unto thee.
v. 17. Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now ſend thee,
v. 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.
SECT. II.An. Chriſti 36, 37. Tiberii 21, 22.
THe Lord now reveales to Saul what he would have him do; and among other things, he was taught that he ſhould not confer with fleſh and blood, nor debate the matter, either with himſelf or others, (who might cauſe him to queſtion the reality of his Call, or diſcourage him from yielding obedience to it, by repreſenting dangers to him); nor go to Jeruſalem to thoſe that were Apoſtles before him (to conſult with them and be inſtructed by them, or to obtain a permiſſion or commiſſion from them to diſcharge his Office, he being ſo extraordinarily, and immediately called, and inſtructed by Chriſt himſelf) but that he ſhould go for ſome time into Arabia, and the places near Damaſcus. Being now therefore well inſtructed in the Doctrine of the Goſpel, he begins ſtraitway to preach Chriſt in the Synagogues of the Jews (b)Semper enim Apoſtoli primùm Judaeos affati ſunt, ut aut eos converterent, aut omnem eis excuſationem adimerent.in that City, and to declare to them, and convince them by plain demonſtrations, that he is the true Meſſias, and the Son of God; the praedictions of the Prophets, concerning the Meſſias being exactly fulfilled in his perſon. They that heard him were amazed at this thing, knowing what he had done at Jeruſalem, and with what intent he came up to Damaſcus. When he had for ſome time preached Chriſt here, he went into Arabia, where for the ſpace of about three years he preached the Goſpel, and then returning to Damaſcus again, and ſtrenuouſly preaching the Doctrine of Chriſt in that City, the Jews being enraged at him conſulted to kill him, and being encouraged by the Governours under Aretas King of Arabia, (who kept the City with a Garriſon) they watched the gates day and night, that they might take him, and put him to death; but he being let down by the Diſciples in a Basket*See 1 Sam. 19.12. over the Wall in the night, eſcaped their hands.
Gal. 1. v. 11. But I certifie you, brethren, that the goſpel which was preached of me, is not after man.
v. 12. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt.
v. 13. For ye have heard of my converſation in time paſt in the Jews religion, how that beyond meaſure I perſecuted the church of God, and waſted it:
v. 14. And profited in the Jews religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
v. 15. But when it pleaſed God, who ſeparated me from my mothers womb, and called me by his grace,
v. 16. Hoc v…lt Apoſtolus, Se non homines conſuluiſſe …uid ſibi eſſet faciendum, ſed ſolo Spiritûs divini motu & inſtinctu actum, & ab ipſo Chriſto in raptu triduano poſt converſionem ſuam edoctum, ſtatim praedicaſſe Chriſtum. Neque hoc eſt alicuju… arrogantiae, ſed juſtae defenſionis contra criminationes aliorum, quaſi non eſſet plenus Apoſtolus, utpote qui ipſum Chriſtum, ut reliqui, non habuiſſet magiſtrum, Freidl.v. 16. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with fleſh and blood.
v. 17. Neither went I up to Jeruſalem, to them which were Apoſtles before me, but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damaſcus.
Act. 9. v. 20. And ſtraightway he preached Chriſt in the ſynagogues, that he is the Son of God.
v. 21. But all that heard him were amazed, and ſaid, Is not this he that deſtroyed them which called on this Name in Jeruſalem, and came hither for that intent that he might bring them bound unto the chief prieſts?
v. 22. foreign] Verbum foreign ſignificat, efficere condeſcenſionem ut ſic dicam, i. e. argumentis propoſitis efficere ut aliquis tecum in eandem ſententiam deſcendat. foreign ſcilicet foreign i. e. aſſentiri eos cogens quòd hic Jeſus ſit Chriſtus, Piſc.v. 22. But Saul increaſed the more in ſtrength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damaſcus, proving that this is very Chriſt.
v. 23. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counſel to kill him.
v. 24. But their laying await was known of Saul, and they watched the gat…s day and night to kill him.
v. 25. Then the diſciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a bask….
Act. 26. v. 19. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not diſobedient unto the heavenly viſion.
v. 20. But ſhewed firſt unto them of Damaſcus, and Jeruſalem, and thorowout all the coaſts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they ſhould repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
2 Cor. 11. v. 32. In Damaſcus the governour under Aretas the king, kept the city with a gariſon, deſirous to apprehend me:
An. Chriſti 38. Tiberii 23. In which year he dyes, and Caius Caligula ſucceeds.v. 33. And thorow a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and eſcaped his hands.
SECT. III.
SAƲL eſcaping in this manner at Damaſcus, he goes from thence to Jeruſalem, to viſit Peter (a)He deſired to go ſee Peter, and to have ſome acquaintance with him; not for any homage to his Primacy (as the Papiſts plead) for he maketh no diſtinction between him, and James, and John, in point of dignity, Gal. 2.9. nay is ſo f…r from homaging him, that he rebuketh him, and reproveth him, Gal. 2.11. But he deſired to be acquainted …th Peter, becauſe he underſtood he was the Miniſter of the Circumciſion, as he himſelf was to be of the Uncircumciſion, Gal 2.8. and becauſe there had been ſome kind of Parallel betwixt them in their recovery; the one having denyed, and forſworn Chriſt, and th… other having violently perſecuted h… in his members., and the other Apoſtles, in the fourth year after his Converſion; but eſſaying to join himſelf to the Diſciples there, they were all afraid of him, not believing him to be a true Diſciple, and ſincere Convert, till Barnabas (b)Poſſibly there had been ſome acquaintance in former times betwix… Paul, and Barnabas, they being bot… Grecizing Jews; the one of Cypras, the … ther of Cilicia; and both prob…b… brought up and educated at Jeruſale… ſee Act. ch. 4. v. 36…bringing him to Peter, and James the Kinſman of Chriſt (for of the reſt of the Apoſtles he ſaw none, they being as it ſeems at this time gone abroad to propagate the Goſpel) declared unto them how he had ſeen the Lord in the way, who had ſpoken to him from heaven, and that he had boldly preached in the name of Chriſt at Damaſcus with the hazard of his life, and ſo he was ſet right in their opinion, and converſed familiarly with them. Whilſt he is here, he preaches Chriſt undauntedly, and diſputes with the Helleniſts *See Sect. 9. of Chap. 1., (or Jews that cohabiting among the Greek Nations, uſed the Greek Tongue, and the Septuagints Tranſlation of the Old Teſtament) proving to them that Jeſus was the true Meſſias, who were ſo enraged at him, that they went about to kill him. But being in the Temple in prayer, he fell into a trance, wherein he ſaw Chriſt, who bad him make haſte out of Jeruſalem, for there they would not receive his Teſtimony. Againſt this, he humbly argued with the Lord, alledging, That his former zeal againſt Chriſt, and his Doctrine having been ſo remarkable, and notorious among the Jews in this place, it might be an argument to them, that ſo ſtrange a change as this was not wrought in him but upon great and ſufficient grounds and reaſons, and ſo he might in all likelyhood be a more fit inſtrument to propagate the Goſpel here, by how much the more he had oppoſed it formerly. But this did not prevail for ſtaying at Jeruſalem, but Chriſt commands him to depart from thence, telling him, he would ſend him to preach to the Gentiles. Saul hereupon readily obeys, and forthwith departs from thence having ſtayed there only Fifteen days; ſeveral brethren that dwelt at Jeruſalem accompanying him as far as Caeſarea, from whence he ſailed to Tarſus his own City, the Metropolis of Cilicia; and from thence was ſhortly after fetched by Barnabas unto Antioch, the Metropolis of Syria; being all this while not ſo much as known by face to the Churches of Judeae, which had embraced the Faith; only they had heard of his preaching the Doctrine of Chriſt, which before he had perſecuted, and they glorified God for his Grace ſo powerfully manifeſted in him.
Act. 9. v. 26. And when Saul was come to Jeruſalem, he aſſayed to joyn himſelf to the diſciples, but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a diſciple.
v. 27. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apoſtles, and declared unto them, how he had ſeen the Lord in the way, and that he had ſpoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damaſcus in the Name of Jeſus.
v. 28. And he was with them coming in, and going out at Jeruſalem.
v. 29. And he ſpake boldly in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and diſputed againſt the Grecians: but they went about to ſlay him.
v. 30. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Ceſarea, and ſent him forth to Tarſus.
Gal. 1. v. 18. Then after three years I went to Jeruſalem to ſee Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
v. 19. But other of the Apoſtles ſaw I none, ſave James the Lords brother.
v. 20. Juramentum adhibet, ut Rom. 1.9 2 Cor. 1.23. Cauſa autem gravis erat, ut crederetur Apostolus à Christo factus non ab aliis Apoſtolis ſubſtitutus.v. 20. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God I lie not.
v. 21. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia,
v. 22. And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea, which were in Chriſt.
v. 23. But they had heard only, that he which perſecuted us in times paſt, now preacheth the faith, which once he deſtroyed.
v. 24. And they glorified God in me.
Act. 22. v. 17. And it came to paſs, that when I was come again to Jeruſalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance,
v. 18. And ſaw him ſaying unto me, Make haſte and get thee quickly out of Jeruſalem: for they will not receive thy teſtimony concerning me,
v. 19. And I ſaid, Lord, they know that I impriſoned and beat in every ſynagogue them that believed on thee.
v. 20. And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was ſhed, I alſo was ſtanding by and conſenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that ſlew him.
v. 21. And he ſaid unto me, Depart: for I will ſend thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
An. Chriſti 39. Caii Caligula 1.SECT. IV.
NOw after Sauls miraculous Converſion, the Churches which were planted by Philip, and others (who fled from Jeruſalem upon the perſecution raiſed by him, Act. 8.1.) through all Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, had much reſt and peace, and were greatly edifyed, and built up in Knowledg, Faith and Love, the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit daily increaſing in them, and the number of believers was daily augmented. In this time Peter went forth to viſit the Churches newly planted in thoſe parts, and to confirm them in the Faith. Who coming at laſt, to the Saints which dwelt at Lydda, he there in the Name, and by the Power of Chriſt heals Aeneas, who lay ſick of the Palſey, and had kept his bed Eight years. Upon this Miracle the inhabitants of Lydda and Saron generally received the Faith, ſeeing this man to be ſo ſtrangely, ſuddenly, and perfectly cured. From thence he goes to Joppa, where he finds a very good woman full of good works (whoſe name in Syriac was Tabitha, but in Greek Dorcas, ſignifying a Roe) newly dead(a)Non mortua eſt Dorcas, ut miſeriam fuam finiret, & in gloriae poſſeſſionem transferretur, ſed ut eſſet objectum in quo Chriſtus ſuam gloriam manifeſtaret, & ſuorum Apoſtolorum auctoritatem ac vocationem confirmaret, planè ut Joh. 11.4. whom they had waſhed(b)Mos lavandi, & pollinciendi cadavera mortuorum non eſt ceremonia Judaica divinitus inſtituta, ſed eſt conſuetudo tum Judaeorum tum Gentilium ſapientiorum, orta ex naturali inſtinctu & ſpe futurae reſurrectionis. Sic Enmus Tarquin…i corpus bona faemina lavit & unxit. Huc accommod…ndum illud Pauli, 1 Cor 15.29. q. d. ſi non eſt animis noſtris naturaliter inſcriptum, futurum aliquam reſurrectionem mortuorum, quid eſt quod plerique homines tantum curae, & lotionis adhibent ſuper cadaveribus mortuorum? Streſ., and laid out according to the mannner of the Ancients, who as ſome think did thereby intend to ſignifie their hope of a Reſurrection. Peter being brought up into the Chamber where ſhe lay, the poor Widdows, which had been cloathed by her liberality came weeping to him, and ſhewed him the evidence(c)Textilia manuum ejus monumenta. Videmus hinc quae ſint optimae Sanctorum reliquiae, quibus poſt mortem poſſunt manere in memoriâ hominum, ſcil. benefacta in pauperes. of her Charity, the Coats and Garments which ſhe made, or cauſed to be made for them. Upon this Peter putting them all forth kneeled down, and prayed, and then raiſed her to life(d)Habemus in Scriptura octo ad minimum exempla eorum qui verè mortui in vitam redierunt, viz. filium viduae Sareptanae, 1 Reg. 17.19 filium ſunamitidis, 2 Reg. 4.32. Virum in Sepulchro Elizae vivificatum, 2 Reg. 13.21. Filiolam Jairi, Mar. 5.22. Filium viduae Naimiticae, Luc. 7.11. Lazarum, fratrem Mariae & Marthae, Joh. 11.33. Ipſum Dominum Jeſum Chriſtum, Mat. 28. Tabitham hauc, Act. 9. Praeter illam innumeratam turbam ſanctorum quae cum Chriſto reſurrexit, & in urbe ſanctâ viſa eſt, Mat. 27.52.53. Haec exempla probant reſurrectionem mortuorum, quam ſperamus, & quae toties in Scripturâ promiſſa eſt, non eſſe impoſſibilem ſed certò futuram. again*See Mat. 9.25. Mar. 5.41.. And by theſe miracles very many in thoſe Quarters were brought to believe in Jeſus.
Act. 9. v. 31. Then had the churches reſt thorowout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the holy Ghoſt, were multiplied.
v. 32. And it came to paſs, as Peter paſſed thorowout all quarters, he came down alſo to the Saints which dwelt at Lydda.
v. 33. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was ſick of the palſie.
v. 34. And Peter ſaid unto him, Aeneas, Jeſus Chriſt maketh thee whole: ariſe, and make thy bed. And he aroſe immediately.
v. 35. And all that dwelt at Lydda, and Saron, ſaw him, and turned to the Lord.
v. 36. Now there was at Joppa a certain diſciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: This woman was full of good works, and alms-deeds which ſhe did.
v. 37. And it came to paſs in thoſe days, that ſhe was ſick and died: whom when they had waſhed, they laid her in an upper Chamber.
v. 38. And foraſmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the diſciples had heard that Peter was there, they ſent unto him two men, deſiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
v. 39. Then Peter aroſe and went with them: when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows ſtood by him weeping, and ſhewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while ſhe was with them.
v. 40. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed, and turning him to the body, ſaid, Tabitha, Ariſe. And ſhe opened her eyes, and when ſhe ſaw Peter, ſhe ſat up.
v. 41. And he gave her his hand, and lift her up: and when he had called the ſaints and widows, preſented her alive.
v. 42. And it was known thorowout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
v. 43. And it came to paſs, that he tarried many days in Joppa, with one Simon a tanner.
An. Ch…ſti 40. C. Caligulae 2.SECT. V.
DUring Peter's ſtay at Joppa, Cornelius a Roman (a)H…tenus deſcripſit Evangeliſta praecipua acta Apoſtolorum inter Hieroſolymitanos, Judaeos & Samaritanos; Nunc incipit deſcribere acta eorum int…r gente… & hoc capite converſionem …imi Ethnici deſcribit in quo Apoſtoli didic…runt in poſterum etiam Ethnicis E…lium praedicare. Converſi ante… fuerant Samaritani, converſus quoque Eunuchus Aethiops, ſed hi potius inter Proſelyto… & circumciſos adeoque inter Judaeos numerandi, cum per prof…ſſionem Religionis Judaicae, Eccleſiae fuerint inſiti. Cornelius autem eſt prim… incircumciſus, cui annunciatum eſt Evang…lium. In eo ergo ordinaria genti…m vocatio incaepit. There were two things ſh…l mainly differenced the Jews f m other people, Cir…ciſion, and Singularity of Di…t, or Pro…ibition of c…rtain meats. But the more proper differe…ce was the …tter. For … the …ale … …d of A…r…ham was c…cu…ciſed …nd … in re…rd of that ceremon, there was no difference b…twixt an … and a Jew. But …bſ…ining … ſuch and ſuch meats, w …a … mono, a ſingu…ity, … an Iſr… …. A…d … any m…ats … l…erty of converſing w…th any … and their the enlarging … one in the enlarging the othe…. T… H…then w… … off at the confuſion of …el, and had lain ſo long in Darkne…, Sin, Superſtition and Idol…try, and all the world (Iſrael only excepted) were ſtrangers to God. Peter the Miniſter o… the Circumciſion was appointed the inſtrument of bringing in the Gentiles. Some think Chriſt intended this, when in Mat. 16.19. he gave him the k…ys of the Kingdom of heaven, and th…reby put into his hands a peculiar priviledg to open the door of Faith and the Goſpel to the Gentiles, and giveth him withall, power to bind and looſe the uſe of Moſes's Law among the Heathens when he brought the Goſpel among them; ſome of it being to fall and ſome to ſtand, according as the Spirit ſhould d…rect him; and accordingly it ſhou…d be ratified in Heaven, See Lightf. in loc., and Captain of a Band of Italian Souldiers, who with others kept Garriſon for the Romans at Caeſarea (b)Caeſarea was the City where the Roman Governour or Pro Conſul reſided, ſee Act. 23.23. & 24.6. and th…t partly for the bravery o… the City, but chiefly for the commodiouſneſs o… the Haven.(being a very pious and religious(c)Cornelius non erat extùs Judaeus aut Proſelytus. Judaicam religionem publicè nondum profitebatur, ſed tamen ſacram Scripturam, inter Judaeos converſans, legerat, & ex illa veri Dei cognitionem aliquam hauſerat, miſeriam ſuam agnoverat, gratiae & ſalutis cupidus erat factus, fortè etiam generalem aliquam cognitionem venturi Meſſiae imbiberat. Habet regeneratio ſuos gradus. Primus gradus eſt contritio & emollitio cordis, quâ quis adigitur ad ſenſum peccati & miſeriae; quo ſenſu gravatus ſitit & eſurit liberationem. Secundus gradus eſt, agnitio Christi, quâ quis de ſufficientiâ Chriſti ad liberandum convictus, ſeipſum abnegat & ad Chriſtum confugit, eique vivâ fiduciâ cordis inſeritur, & cum filiali fiducia liberationis in ipſum recumbit, & filialis in Deum amor in c…rde ejus accenditur cujus ductu & impulſu ſervit Deo ingenuâ obedientiâ & novâ vitâ. Primus gradus vocari ſolet ſpiritus ſervitutis & eſt propriè effectus legis: poſterior ſpiritus adoptionis & eſt propriè effectum Evangelii. Fieri poteſt in Cornelius habuerit primum gradum regenerationis, ſcil. ut fuerit contritus corde & onuſtus ſenſu miſeriae, ſitiensque gratiam, eamque quaerens; ſed non novit veram viam inveniendi & verum medium quaerendi, ſed ſine dubio eam quaeſivit per propria opera & honeſtam vitam; quae tamen opera Deus propter veram contritionem cordis non aſpernatus, ſed ſe iis moveri paſſus eſt ad dandos majores regenerationis gradus ad ſalutem neceſſarios. Non enim eſt contra ſanam Theologiam, quod primitiae gratiae regenerantis bene uſurpatae, ſint cauſae impetrantes gratiam majorem. Habenti enim dabitur ut abundantius habeat, Mat. 13.12. Moralibus virtutibus, quibus homo ſeipſum ab aliis per liberum arbitrium naturale nonnihil diſcernit, nullis promiſſionibus alligata eſt gratia regenerationis ſalviſica: ſed initiis gratiae regenerantis bene uſurpatis eſt alligata, Joh. 7.17. Et praecipue contritum cor habet magnas promiſſiones, Pſal. 51.19. Iſa. 57.15. Streſ. perſon, and one that worſhipped the true God, with all his Family, and was very charitable to the poor, though only a Proſelyte of the Gate *There were two ſorts of Proſelytes. 1. Proſelytus foederis or justitiae, who ſubmitted himſelf to Circumciſion and to the whole Moſaical Paedagogy. 2. Proſelytus portae, a Proſelyte or Stranger within their Gates, Deut. 14.21. ſuch were ſuffered to live among them though not circumcis'd, neither did they conform to the Moſaical rites and Ordinances, only were obliged to obſerve the ſeven precepts of Noah of which ſee Godw. Jewiſh Antiq. pag. 10.(as they called them), and uncircumciſed) had in that City, as he was Faſting and Praying, about three of the Clock in the afternoon(*,)Though Corneliu… was not proſelyted to the Jewiſh Church, yet he followed their manner and form of Worſhip. This was the hour of their Evening Sacrifice. a Viſion of an holy Angel, (not in an extaſie or rapture of Spirit, or in a dream, but waking, ocularly and ſenſibly) who appearing('*)Angeli frequenter ſolebant fieri viſib…le… aſſimiendo formam hominis & humano… …dentes motus, quod & ipſe filius D…m V. T. ſaepinſculè fecit in praeludium ſ… Incarnationis. to him, told him, that his prayers and alms(d)Pr…tionem ſubvehi alis duabu…, aiunt veteres, jejunio & miſericordiae operibus. had found acceptance with God. And the Lord deſigning to manifeſt his Grace now in a more eſpecial manner unto him, commanded him to ſend to Joppa, to inquire for one Simon Peter, who ſhould come unto him and further inſtruct him(e)Major erat legatio Apoſtolica, quam Angelica. Angelus Apoſtolum monſtrat; Apoſtolus Chriſtum: tantum honorem t…ſtibus ſuis habuit Chriſtus. Cur non ipſe Angelus edocet quid Cornelio faciendum ſed ad Petrum remittit? Quia non Angeli ſunt inſtrumenta regenerationis & ſanctificationis ſed miniſtri Evangelii. Sic Deus Saulum remittit ad Ananiam, Act. 8.26. Quo exemplo non immerito monentur Magiſtratus Politici, ne ſpiritualem adminiſtrationem regni Chriſti ad ſe rapiant; fed eam relinquant iis qui à Deo ad hoc vocati ſunt. concerning the Mind and Will of God toward him. Cornelius immediately yeilds obedience hereunto, and accordingly ſends two of his Domeſtick Servants, and a devout Souldier that conſtantly attended him, to Peter who was now at Joppa. Peter about the time that Cornelius his meſſengers drew near the City, knowing nothing of their coming, went up of his own accord, about noon to the Battlements of the houſe as a place of privacy to pray in; and being there he became very hungry and deſired to eat: but whilſt they made ready, he fell into a trance, ſuch as in which men were wont to receive Viſions from Heaven. And in a Viſion of his Spirit(f)God revealed himſelf to his people of old, 1. By Dreams and Viſions in the night when they were aſleep. 2. By Apparitions when they were awake. 3. By Voice from Heaven. 4. By Urim. 5. By inſpiration. 6. By Rapture… and Extaſie. (without the help of his outward Senſes) he ſaw a great ſheet (g)Per hoc Vas commodiſſimè intelligitur totus mundus cum quatuor ſuis plagis. Eccleſia N. T. colligitur ex toto mundo, & ex omnibus quatuor mundi angulis. Huic viſioni adjungitur vox ſcilicet imaginaria quae Petro dixit macta & comede: macta, h. e. para Domino in ſacrificium gratum., full of all ſorts of living creatures, clean and unclean, let down unto him from Heaven, and a voice ſpake to him, that he ſhould eat freely and indifferently of any of them: which he doubting to do, the Voice ſpake again to him, ſaying, What God hath cleanſed call not thou common. By which Viſion he is taught that he ſhould not deſpiſe the Gentiles nor account them unclean, but converſe with them and preach freely unto them as well as to the Jews; and hereby alſo was intimated that God had taken away thoſe interdicts and prohibitions concerning ſome meats, and conſequently thoſe differences and ſeparations between Jews and Gentiles (h)Diſcrimen inter Judaeos & Gentes per diſcrimen ciborum adumbratum erat.ſignified by them, and therefore he was not to make a diſtinction where God now made none. Whilſt Peter thought on theſe things, Cornelius's meſſengers were come to the houſe where he was, and asking for Peter delivered their M…ſſ…ge unto him: The Apoſtle the next d… very readily went along with them, (b…ing incouraged thereto by an inward rev…la…ion or affla…ion of the Spirit(i)Videi Spiritus Sanctus internas cogitationes ac dubitationes Petri ſuper hac viſione eaſque prohibet & declarat ſe eſſe eum qui miſerit eos viros. Qui loquitur & prohibet ac jubet, perſona eſt. Qui cogitationes cordis videt, Deus eſt. Qui miniſtros Evangelii vocat, imò qui Angelos mittit ad aliquid expediendum, divinam authoritatem habet. Atque haee omnia de ſe dicit Spiritus Sanctus. Eſt igitur Deus verus.) and ſome other believing Jews alſo accompanied him to Caeſarea. When he was come thither, Cornelius being ſtricken with an extraordinary reverence at the preſence of ſo great a S…rvant of God, and exceeding the bounds of meer civil reſpect, fell down at his feet and worſhipped him. But Peter would by no means receive that honour from him, but told him that he was an ordinary man, ſuch an one as himſelf; though thus employ'd at preſent in Gods meſſage unto him. Then entring into the houſe he found many of Cornelius's Kinſmen and Friends there met together; to whom addreſſing himſelf, he ſpake after this manner, Ye all know that its counted unlawful (k)Illicitum non lege Moſis ſed decreto ſapientûm quod pari loco cum lege habebatur. Ubi enim interdictum homini Judaeo ſeſe commiſcere cum alienigenis? Expreſſum praeceptum de hac re non legimus niſi illud particulare de non contrahendo cum incircumciſis matrimonio nec faciendis cum illis foederibus, praeſertim cum illis ſeptem gentibus Anathemati devotis Deut. 7. à 1 ad 7. Etſi autem lex ſola conjugia & politica foedera cum Ethnicis interdicit, tamen conſtitutionibus humanis, ac conſuetudinibus paternis illa lex fuit ampliata, ut etiam à conviviis & convictu & privato congreſſu Ethnicorum abſtinuerint; unde etiam gentes omnes contempſerunt tanquam canes. Non igitur tam divinae inſtitutionis, quam humanae conſuetudinis erat, abſtinere à congreſſo politico cum Ethnicis.for us Jews to converſe familiarly with you Gentiles, but God hath now by a Viſion from Heaven, and the inſpiration of his Spirit, ſhewed me that I ſhould not make any difference between Jews and Gentiles. For I perceive(l)Legerat hoc antea Petrus in Prophetiis V. T. de futurâ vocatione Gentium; audiverat ex ore Chriſti mandatum dantis de docendis omnibus gentibus, ſed rem non comprehenderat, non intellexerat, convictus non erat donec non ſolum per viſionem ex coelo eſſet inſtructus, ſed etiam propriis oculis videret hunc incircumciſum Cornelium à Deo donatum initiis verae converſionis. Nulla ferè eſt veritas quam non audiunt homines ſaepe propoſitam declaratam, demonſtratam & tamen centeſſimâ t…ndem concione, vix intelligunt, comprebendunt, credunt. Videmus etiam regenitos poſſe graves errare errores in re religionis. that the Partition wall is now broken down, and that national Prerogatives or perſonal excellencies find no acceptance with God, but any man of any Nation whatſoever, if he fear God and work righteouſneſs, is accepted with him. Hear ye therefore the Doctrine(m)foreign. Hebraiſmus pro foreign, hoc illud verbum, i. e. hoc patet & manifeſtum eſt ex ilio verbo, quod Deus miſit Iſraeli. Haec eſt deſcriptio Evangelii prout miſſum eſt …itis in V. T. per Prophetas. which God appointed his Prophets of old to publiſh to the Children of Iſrael, to wit, that of reconciliation and peace between God and man by Chriſt Jeſus, (who is Lord of all). Which Doctrine, was firſt publiſhed in Galilee, preſently after John Baptiſt began to preach and baptize, which you cannot but have heard of, and how God indued the humane nature of Chriſt with the fulneſs of the graces of his Holy Spirit and with power to work Miracles, and anointed and conſecrated his whole perſon to the the office of the Mediator, which he accordingly executed with much tenderneſs and compaſſion, going about doing good, curing diſeaſes and caſting out Devils, for God was with him in the fulneſs of the Deity, as he was his eternal Son [Col. 2.9.] and in power, grace, and favour, as he was man and Mediator [Joh. 8.29. & 16.32.] And though the Jews put him to death and crucified him, yet God raiſed him up the third day and manifeſted him openly, not to all the Jews, but to his Apoſtles and Diſciples that attended on him, who were choſen for this end that they might teſtifie what Divine Doctrine he preached and what Miracles he wrought, and might be witneſſes particularly of his reſurrection, having had the honour to eat and drink with him and to ſee him eat and drink after he roſe from the dead. To theſe he gave command that they ſhould preach his Goſpel to the world, and ſhould teſtifie that he is appointed of God, to be Judg of all men, even of all that ſhall dye before, or ſhall be found alive at his Coming. And he further ſhews them, That this Jeſus is he whom all the Prophets foretold as the ſole Author of Reconciliation with God, and Remiſſion of ſins through faith in him.
Whilſt Peter was thus preaching to Cornelius's family and thoſe other perſons there preſent, they were by the powerful work of the Spirit of God converted to Chriſt, and the holy Ghoſt by his wonderful Graces and Gifts, viz. of Illumination, Regeneration and the gift of Tongues deſcended on them all, of his own accord, without any laying on of hands by Peter, to the great wonder and aſtoniſhment of the believing Jews, that had accompanied the Apoſtle thither, who thought this Promiſe, of ſending down the holy Ghoſt, belonged only to the Houſe of Iſrael. Then Peter ſeeing what was done, and how theſe Gentiles had been baptized with the holy Ghoſt, concluded that they ought to be baptized with Water, and receive the external ſign or ſeal of incorporation into Chriſts Body, the Church; therefore commanding all things to be made ready, either He baptized them himſelf, or gave order that ſome of thoſe who accompanied him (who probably were Miniſters and Teachers), ſhould do it. This done, they deſired him to ſtay ſome days with them, that they might be further inſtructed confirmed and comforted by his Miniſtry.
Act. 10. v. 1. There was a certain man in Ceſarea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band, called the Italian band,
v. 2. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his houſe, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
v. 3. He ſaw in a viſion evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and ſaying unto him, Cornelius.
v. 4. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and ſaid, What is it, Lord? And he ſaid unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
v. 5. And now ſend men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whoſe ſirname is Peter.
v. 6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner whoſe houſe is by the ſea-ſide; he ſhall tell thee what thou oughteſt to do.
v. 7. And when the angel which ſpake unto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his houſhold ſervants, and a devout ſouldier of them that waited on him continually.
v. 8. And when he had declared all theſe things unto them, he ſent them to Joppa.
v. 9. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the houſe to pray, about the ſixth hour.
v. 10. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
v. 11: And ſaw heaven opened, and a certain veſſel deſcending unto him, as it had been a great ſheet, knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
v. 12. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beaſts of the earth, and wild beaſts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
v. 13. And there came a voice to him, Riſe, Peter: kill and eat.
v. 14. But Peter ſaid, Not ſo, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
v. 15. And the voice ſpake unto him again the ſecond time, What God hath cleanſed that call not thou common.
v. 16. This was done thrice: and the veſſel was received up again into heaven.
v. 17. Now while Peter doubted in himſelf what this viſion which he had ſeen, ſhould mean: behold, the men which were ſent from Cornelius, had made enquiry for Simons houſe, and ſtood before the gate,
v. 18. And called, and asked whether Simon which was ſirnamed Peter, were lodged there.
v. 19. While Peter thought on the viſion, the ſpirit ſaid unto him, Behold, three men ſeek thee.
v. 20. Ariſe therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have ſent them.
v. 21. Then Peter went down to the men, which were ſent unto him from Cornelius, and ſaid, Behold, I am he whom ye ſeek: what is the cauſe wherefore ye are come?
v. 22. And they ſaid, Cornelius the centurion, a juſt man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel, to ſend for thee into his houſe, and to hear words of thee.
v. 23. Then called he them in, and lodged them: And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
v. 24. And the morrow after they entred into Ceſarea: and Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinſmen and near friends.
v. 25. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worſhipped him.
v. 26. But Peter took him up, ſaying, Stand up, I my ſelf alſo am a man.
v. 27. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
v. 28. And he ſaid unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath ſhewed me, that I ſhould not call any man common or unclean.
v. 29. Therefore came I unto you without gain-ſaying, aſſoon as I was ſent for. I ask therefore for what intent ye have ſent for me?
v. 30. And Cornelius ſaid, Four days ago I was falling until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my houſe, and behold a man ſtood before me in bright clothing,
v. 31. And ſaid, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the ſight of God.
v. 32. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whoſe ſirname is Peter: he is lodged in the houſe of one Simon a tanner, by the ſea-ſide, who when he cometh, ſhall ſpeak unto thee.
v. 33. Immediately therefore I ſent to thee, and thou haſt well done, that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here preſent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
v. 34. Then Peter opened his mouth, and ſaid, Of a truth I perceive that God is no reſpecter of perſons.
v. 35. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteouſneſs, is accepted with him.
v. 36. The word which God ſent unto the children of Iſrael, preaching peace by Jeſus Chriſt, (he is Lord of all).
v. 37. That word (I ſay) you know which was publiſhed thorowout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptiſm which John preached:
v. 38. How God anointed Jeſus of Nazareth with the holy Ghoſt, and with pow…r, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppreſſed of the devil: for God was with him.
v. 39. And we are witneſſes of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jeruſalem, whom they ſlew and hanged on a tree:
v. 40. Him God raiſed up the third day, and ſhewed him openly.
v. 41. Not to all the people, but unto witneſſes, choſen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he roſe from the dead.
v. 42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to teſtifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judg of quick and dead.
v. 45. To him give all the prophets witneſs, that through his Name whoſoever believeth in him, ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins.
v. 44. While Peter yet ſpake theſe words, the holy Ghoſt fell on all them which heard the word.
v. 45. And they of the circumciſion which believed, were aſtoniſhed, as many as came with Peter; becauſe that on the Gentiles alſo was powred out the gift of the holy Ghoſt.
v. 46. For they heard them ſpeak with tongues, and magnifie God. Then anſwered Peter,
v. 47. Can any man forbid water, that theſe ſhould not be baptized, which have received the holy Ghoſt as well as we?
v. 48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
V. 2. foreign] Incircumciſus ſed qui idololatriâ relictâ uni Deo ſe dederat, & quae pietati conſentanea judicabat, ſequebaturv. 10. foreign] H…c loco ſignificat conſtitutionem hominis extra ſe rapti. Cecidit ſuper eum exſtaſis, id est. in exſtaſim incidit: nam proprie loquendo non foreign in nos ſed nos in foreign incidimus.v. 11. Videb…tur linteum illud à coelo pendere ut ſignificaretur libertas coelitùs indulta. foreign] quorum multa immunda, Lev. 1.27.v. 15. foreign] id est, noli tu pro polluto habere. Do not thou pollute, that is, Do not thou call or count polluted, that which God hath made lawful. 'Tis the uſe of the Scripture, very frequently to ſpeak as in an effective or active ſenſe, and to intend only a declarative; and in the very ſame ſenſe is the binding and looſing to be underſtood, Mat. 16.19. & 18.18. for teaching what is bound, and what looſe; what lawful, and what unlawful, Lightf. There was a diſtinction of clean and unclean beaſts before the Flood, as appears Gen. 7.8. But this was in reference to ſacrifice only, and not in reference to dyet. After the Flood God gave Noah liberty to eat any thing that was wholeſom for d…et; and in this liberty the world continued till the Law given at Sinai, ſave only that the Iſraelites did not eat the ſinew that ſhrank, which was the firſt diſtinguiſher that ever began to incloſe Iſrael for a peculiar from other people, Gen. 32. Pecudes immundae à menſis ſemotae non modò ante legem ſed & ante diluvium, Gen. 7.2. Ea tamen diſtinctio tandem ſublata eſt ut umbra rerum futurarum, quarum corpus erat in Chriſto, Col. 2.17. Ex mundis ſanguinem attingere nefas, Gen. 9.4. tum quia in ſanguine eſt anima, i. e. vita pecudis, tum quia Deus ſanguinem deſtinaverat ad expiationem faciendam in altari pro animabus noſtris, Lev. 17.11. Quod cum mere ſit ceremoniale, nihil quicquam cauſae fuit cur Apoſtoli gentibus ſanguinem ad tempus prohiberent, Act. 15.20. quam ſpes Judaeos infirmos hac ratione lucrifaciendi, qui ab eſu ſanguinis tantopere abhorrebant, ut eos omnes populos gladio deſtruendos ſcrib…nt qui rennunt huic mandato ſe ſubjicere. Ideo hoc obſervatum quamdiu viſum eſt Judaeo in hiſce ritibus educatos, poſſe ad Chriſtum allici. At poſt de illorum converſi…ne deſperari jam coeptum, etiam hoc interdictum ut partem legis ceremonialis abrog…vit Apoſtolus, 1 Cor. 10.25. & alibi non raro. Itaque Auguſtini aevo ſi qui putarent ab eſu ſangu…nis eà lege ſe prohiberi, à caeteris irridebantur, ut docet contra Fauſtum, lib. 32. c. 13. Bochartus.v. 20. Ego miſi eos] Activum pro duplici activo, i. e. Feci ut mitterentur.v 22. Alter ille Gen u…i… huic non d…ſſimilis, Luc. 7.5.v. 30. Hora nonâ or…b…m … imi…atus in hoc Judaeos.v. 36. foreign … ſub… foreign. Audite igitur ſermonem illum quem miſit, i. e. promulgacit ſi…us Iſrael ann…ncians pacem per Jeſum Chriſtum, hic eſt omnium Dominus, vel…quie… …mnium Dominu.v. 37. B…pti…mus J…h…nnis… ſe ſumitur pro doctrinâ Johannis. Sicut ſit, Mat. 21.25. Ast. 18.25. & 19.3.4. Doctrina Johannis erat, Meſſiam olim expectatum jam veniſſe in Mundum & propediem eſſe revelandum. Tempus igitur eſſe ut unuſquiſque per veram poenitentiam ſe paret ad filium Dei vera ſide receipiendum, Mat. 3.2. Si hunc rejiciant, adeſſe terribilem illum diem reprobandi totius populi, Mal 4.1.v. 39 Dicuntur Judaei Chriſtum ſuſpendiſſe à ligno quia praetextu ſeditionis contra C…ſarem Pilato perſuaſerunt ut Romano more eum cruciſigeret, cl…m…ntes, cruciſige, cruciſige. Factum hoc ſecundam conſilium Domini qui in Veteri Teſ…amento praefiguraverat hunc modum mortis Chriſti.v. 41. Chriſtus ediſſe memoratur, Luc. 24.34. ut verum ſe hominem etiam à reſurrectione demonſtraret. Edit non quia opus habuit, ſed quia …oluit. Chriſtus etſi glorificatus tamen nondum voluit uti ſua ple… â glor á ſed accommodavit ſe hominibus & cum illis ut homo converſatus eſt. Edit, cum non indigeret, Inde colligo eum etiam b…biſſe: utrumque enim eſt hominis ut vivat: exprimere autem id, neceſſe non fuit, quia potus paſſim ſub cib… comprehenditur. Invitat Chriſtus à reſurrectione diſcipulos ſuos ad prandium, Joh. 21.12. foreign, inquit foreign. Ipſe panem diſtrib…t ae piſces. Veriſimilé nè eſt pranſos diſcipulos ſine potu? quod ſi & ipſum ſervatorem pranſum cum illis dicamus, cum alimento potum rectè conjungimus, De Dieu.v. 43. In fide noſtra ſunt duo diſtincti actus qui requirunt duplex fundamentum: In fide requiritur, 1. Certitudo intellectus ut de veritate ejus quod credimus ſimus certi & in dabii. Hujus certitudinis fundamentum eſt teſtimonium Apoſtolorum. 2. Fiducia cordis, qua cor oneratum & onere peccati feſſum, anhelans acquieſcit & ſe ſuſtentat. Hujus fundamentum eſt Chriſtus. In Chriſtum collocatur haec ſiducia, & nunquam in Apoſtolos.v. 44. This was a ſecond confirmation that the Gentiles were to be taken in. For when G… …ured out the holy Ghost upon the Uncircumciſion, as well as upon the Circumc… it was evidence ſufficient that now God had made no difference betwixt them.v. … …st fruit of t…e gift of tongues was that they that had it were enabled to ſpe…k & … Originals of the Scripture, Lightf.v. 48. Apoſtoli ad baptizandos homines etiam aliorum utebantur operâ.SECT. VI.
THe Apoſtles and Brethren that were in Judea, namely Thoſe that had been converted out of Judaiſm to Chriſt hearing of this, when Peter came ſhortly after to Jeruſalem, began to quarrel with him, that he had converſed with Ʋncircumciſed perſons, and eaten with them. But when he had declared unto them the whole matter (which he confirmed by the Teſtimony of thoſe ſix perſons that accompanied him to Caeſarea), they were ſatisfied, and glorified God, who alſo has given unto the Gentiles repentance unto life, graciouſly changing their hearts, and drawing them to believe in Chriſt.
Act. 11. v. 1. And the Apoſtles, and brethren that were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had alſo received the word of God.
v. 2. And when Peter was come up to Jeruſalem, they that were of the circumciſion contended with him,
v. 3. Saying, Thou wenteſt in to men uncircumciſed, and didſt eat with them.
v. 4. But Peter rehearſed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, ſaying,
v. 5. I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I ſaw a viſion, a certain veſſel deſcend, as it had been a great ſheet, let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even to me.
v. 6. Upon the which when I had faſtn…d mine eyes, I conſidered, and ſaw four-footed beaſts of the earth, and wild beaſts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
v. 7. And I heard a voice ſaying unto me, Ariſe Peter, ſlay and eat.
v. 8. But I ſaid, Not ſo, Lord, for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entred into my mouth.
v. 9. But the voice anſwered me again from heaven, What God hath cleanſed, that call not thou common.
v. 10. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
v. 11. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the houſe where I was, ſent from Ceſarea unto me.
v. 12. And the ſpirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover theſe ſix brethren accompanied me; and we entred into the mans houſe:
v. 13. And he ſhewed us how he had ſeen an angel in his houſe, which ſtood and ſaid unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whoſe ſirname is Peter:
v. 14. Who ſhall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy houſe ſhall be ſaved.
v. 15. And as I began to ſpeak, the holy Ghoſt fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
v. 16. Then remembred I the word of the Lord, how that he ſaid, John indeed baptized with water, but ye ſhall be baptized with the holy Ghoſt.
v. 17. Foraſmuch then as God give them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: what was I that I could withſtand God?
v. 18. When they heard theſe things, they held their peace, and glorified God, ſaying, Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
SECT. VII.Anno Christ. Calig. 41 3 42 4 43 5 44 & 45 Claudii 1 2 3
A Door being thus opened for the promulgation of the Goſpel to the Gentiles, ſome Diſciples born in Cyprus and Cyrene, who after the martyrdom of Stephen were diſperſed and went about publiſhing the Goſpel, but hitherto to the Jews only; now underſtanding (as it ſeems) what had paſſed between Peter and Cornelius and the liberty granted unto them, began to preach Chriſt to the Greeks(a)He ſeemeth not to mean here the Helleniſts or Jews who uſed the Greek tongue in their Synagogues, as ch 6.1, (for of them he ſpake, v. 19.) but the Grecians which were Gentiles. at Antioch in Syria, who were Gentiles. And God proſpered their endeavours exceedingly and brought in many Converts(b)Deſcribitur hic prima Eccleſia ex gentibus collecta, ſaltem ex Judaei…, ſimul & Gentibus. Caeſareae una aliqua familia Gentilis ad fidem fuerat converſa, ſed Antiochiae colligitur integra & magna Eccleſia, Streſ. in loc. to them daily. The Apoſtles that remained at Jeruſalem hearing of it, ſent Barnabas to confirm thoſe Diſciples there in the Faith, (See Sect. 13. of ch. 1.) who coming and ſeeing with what good ſucceſs, the Goſpel had been preached among them was exceeding glad and exhorted them ſtedfaſtly to hold faſt to Chriſt. For he was a very pious perſon, a man of excellent gifts and graces, and by his means alſo many others were won to the Faith of Chriſt. And having great a deſire that the Goſpel might ſtill be more and more propagated, he went to Tarſus to ſeek out Saul, (knowing as 'tis probable, that he was deſigned for miniſter to the Uncircumciſion) that they might joyn together in the work of Chriſt. And having found him he brought him with him to Antioch, where for a whole year they inſtructed the Church in that City, and taught much people. And the Diſciples (viz. ſuch as had received the Faith of Chriſt, being formerly called by the Jews, Nazarites or Galilaeans; but among themſelves, Diſciples, Believers, Saints, Brethren, and thoſe of the Church), did now firſt in this place obtain the name of Chriſtians.
Act. 11. v. 19. Now they which were ſcattered abroad upon the perſecution that aroſe about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none, but unto the Jews only.
v. 20. And ſome of them were men of Cyprus, and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, ſpake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jeſus.
v. 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
v. 22. Then tidings of theſe things came unto the ears of the church, which was in Jeruſalem: and they ſent forth Barnabas, that he ſhould go as far as Antioch.
v. 23. Who when he came, and had ſeen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpoſe of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
v. 24. For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghoſt, and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord.
v. 25. Then departed Barnabas to Tarſus, for to ſeek Saul.
v. 26. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to paſs that a whole year they aſſembled themſelves with the church, and taught much people, and the diſciples were called Chriſtians firſt in Antioch.
v. 19. foreign] Propter Stephanum. Druſius verti poſſe ait, poſt Stephanum, ſcil. l…pid…tum. Eraſm. & Beza, Ob Stephanum.v. 20. foreign] Certò legendum foreign, quomodo habet ille in Angliâ. M. S. & ita legit Syrus. Grot.v. 26. foreign] Ubi ſedes fuit regni iſtius quod Magog Ezechieli, ſeptentrionale Danieli: & everſum erat ante adventum Chriſti, ſecundum oracula.SECT. VIII.
ABout this time certain perſons who had the gift of Propheſie, and foretelling future things; came from Jeruſalem to Antioch; one of whom (by name(a)The ſame perſon, Act. 21.10. foretold Pauls bonds. Agabus) by revelation from the Spirit of God, foretold that there would ſhortly be a great famine(b)Famis hujus meminerunt Suetonius in Claudio, cap. 18. Joſeph. Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 2. over all Judea, and ſeveral other parts of the world,(c)The Septuagint often tender the Land (when it ſignifies the Land of Judea) by foreign the world. See Dr. Hammond. which accordingly came to paſs in the reign of the Emperor Claudius; The Chriſtians therefore of Antioch, reſolved to ſend relief to their Brethren the Chriſtians in Judea, in this time of dearth(d)Euſebius in Chron. & Oroſius l. 7. c. 6. affirmant, Helenam Adiabenorum Reginam (quam ad Chriſtum converſam eſſem ſcribit Oroſius) Judaeis in hac fame, magnâ munificentiâ ſuccurriſſe.; and having gathered it, ſent it to the Elders(e)Seniores vocantur penes quos erat Eccleſiae regimen, in quibus primum gradum tenebant Apoſtoli. Sic menſis praefuerunt Diaconi, ut Preſbyteris tamen ſubeſſent, nec quicquam niſi ex eorum authoritate agerent, Calvin. Haec prima eſt Presbyterorum in Eccleſiâ mentio. Vocantur Patres Synagogarum. Totum autem regimen Eccleſiarum Chriſti, conformatum fuit ad Synagogarum Exemplar. Grot. of thoſe Churches(f)Agnoſcebant enim eos quaſi Patres ſuos utpote primos fideles: tum quia fideles in Judaeâ ſpoliati bonis à Judaeis, majori indigentiâ laborabant: tum quia ipſi ſponte ſe bonis abdicarant, poſuerantque eorum pretia ad pedes Apoſtolorum, c. 4. 34. quare prae caeteris merebantur juvari. A Lapide. by the hands of Barnabas and Saul; who having performed this their charge, returned again to Antioch taking with them John whoſe ſirname was Mark, Nephew to*See Col. 4.10. Barnabas.
Act. 11. v. 27. And in theſe days came prophets from Jeruſalem unto Antioch.
v. 28. And there ſtood up one of them, named Agabus, and ſignified by the Spirit, that there ſhould be great dearth thorowout all the world: which came to paſs in the days of Claudius Ceſar.
v. 29 Then the diſciples, every man according to his ability, determined to ſend relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea.
v. 30. Which alſo they did, and ſent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Act. 12. v. 25. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jeruſalem, when they had fulfilled their miniſtry, and took with them John, whoſe ſirname was Mark.
SECT. IX.
LƲke having thus related what was done at Antioch he returns now to Judea, and ſhews how about the ſame time King Herod Agrippa (a)Quatuor ſunt Herodes in ſacrâ Scripturâ noti. 1. Aſcalonita ſub quo Chriſtus natus eſt, Infanticida, aliàs Herodes magnus. 2. Antipas, filius ejus, Tetrarcha Galilaeae, qui Johannem Baptiſtam occidit, Math. 14. Mar. 6. & Chriſtum ludificatus eſt, Luc. 23.11. 3. Herodes Agrippa, Ariſtobuli filius, & Herodis M. nepos. Hic Romae cum eſſet, Caio erat familiaris nondum Caeſari, optabatque Tiberio Caeſari celerem mortem, ut Caius citò ad Imperium veniret; quo nomine à Tiberio in Carcerem conjiciebatur. Caius autem Imperator factus, eum carcere liberatum fecit Regem Judaeae. 4. Agrippa Junior, prioris Agrippae filius de quo Act. 25.13. qui tamen in Scripturà non Herodes, ſed ſimplicitèr Agrippa appellatur.(Son of Ariſtobulus and Granſon of Herod the great) having obtained a
Herodes Magnus Rex Judaeae per Annos XXXVII. Hoc regnante Joann. Baptiſta & Chriſtus nati, Luc. 1. Mat. 11. hic Magorum adventu & abitu territus occidit Infantes. Ibid.
| Β Filii, Tetrarchae. | Nepotes ex Ariſtobulo juſſa… Patris ſtrangulato. | ||||
| Archelaus …rarcha Ju…rum per …os 7 aut 8. … hoc Chri… rediit ab …io, Mat. 2. | Δ Philippus Tetrarcha Ituraeae & Trachonitidis regionis, Luk. 3.1. maritus Herodiadis, Matth. 14.3. | ε Herodes Antipas Tetrarcha Galilae ae, Luc. 3.1. raptor Herodiadis, Mat. 14.4. interfector Baptiſiae, ibidem, vulpes inſidias ſtruit vitae Chriſti. Luc 13.31. illuſor Chriſti, Luc. 23.11. Hujus procurator Chuza, Luc. 8.3. Cum hoc educatus Manahen Act. 13.1. Conſpirat cum Pilato adverſus diſcipulos Chriſti, Act. 4.27. | Herodes Rex Chalcidis, qui regnum à Claudio Imper. interceſſione fratris Agrippae obtinuit, Joſephus. | ζ Agrippa Major univerſum regnum avi obtinuit. Imperat annos 7. Inte… ficit Jacobum: in vincula conjicit Petrum, ab angelo percutitur, Act. 12. ubi etiam Herodes vocatur in hujus praetorio, Caeſareae, cuſtoditur Paulus, Act. 23.35. | Herodias primum Philippi deinde p…r conſenſum fratris ejus …ntipae uxor. Matth. 14. Joſephus. |
| Bernice, Act. 13.14. Haec primum Herodi chalcidis regi, patruo, deinde Polemoni Ciciliae Regi nupta, à quo diſcedens caepit Regem Agrippam ſectari, non ſine manifeſta inceſti ſuſpicione. | η. Agrippa Minor regnat annos 56. …oram hoc, & Bernice ſorore, cauſam dicit Paulus. Act. 26. | Druſilla. Haec primum Emeſenorum Regi, circumciſionem admittenti, deinde promiſſis perſuaſa, abjecta religione patriâ, Felici, procuratori nupſit, Act. 24.24. Joſeph. l. 20. 5. |
great part of his Grandfathers Dominions of Claudius the Emperor, came into Judea, to take upon him his Government, about the latter end of the firſt, or beginning of the ſecond year of Claudius; and being willing to gratifie the Jews, (who he ſaw deſperately hated the Chriſtians), he began to vex and perſecute certain of the Church at Jeruſalem; and in that perſecution he ſlew James (b)Catalogus Apoſtolorum duos habet Jacobos. Prior eſt Jacobus frater Johannis, filius Zebedaei, in ordine Apoſtolorum tertius; à Theol…gis vocatur Jacobus Major, & à Marco 3.17. Boanerges. Alter eſt Jacobus frater Domini. Gal. 1.19. filius Alphaei, in ordine Apoſtolorum nonus, Mat. 10. Ab alii… vocatur Jacobus minor ex Marc. 15.40. & eſt is, qui Hieroſolymitanae Synodi Praeſes fuit, Act. 15. cujus mentio, v. 17. hujus capitis; habeturque pro auctore Epiſtolae, qua… Jacobi vocatur.Brother of John, and Son of Zebedee with the Sword(c)Ita c…ntigit ei calix iſte de quo Chriſtus erat loquntus, Mat 20.23. Jacobus primus omnium Apoſtolorum mortem obiit. Gladio decollare, ſupplicium fuit inter Judaeos non uſitatum▪ quod legimus; ſed à Romanis acceptum, ſicut & Johannes Baptiſta gladio decollatus eſt., who was called Boanerges (Mark 3.16.) becauſe he was a zealous and thundering Preacher againſt the Vices of the Times. And perceiving that the Jews were well pleaſed therewith, He proceeded further and apprehended Peter alſo, the Paſſeover of the Jews being then at hand. And having impriſoned him, he ſet ſixteen(e)Tot militibus Petrum cuſtodiri curavit, quia veritus eſt, ne miraculosè evaderet, ſicut fecerat antea, Act. 5.19. See Sect. 7. of 1. Chap. Souldiers to guard him, four at a time, and to take their turns in the four watches of the night, meaning after the Feaſt of the Paſſeover was over to bring him forth to the Jews, and probably (if they deſired it) to put him to death alſo.
Peter being thus caſt into priſon, fervent and importunate prayers were made by the Church to God in his behalf. He continues there till the very night(f)God many times ſuffers his Children to come to the Pits-brink, and then delivereth them, that they may be more ſenſible of his mercy, and have the more evident matter of praiſing his name. before Herod intended to bring him out to the people; at which time ſleeping between two Souldiers to whom he was bound with two Chaines, and the Souldiers keeping watch before the door, an Angel came to him, and the light with which he appeared ſhone in the priſon, who raiſing him up and cauſing his Chaines to fall off from his hands, He commands him to make himſelf ready to go out immediately with him; which accordingly he does, but as yet was not aſſur'd that this was really done, but in this tranſport, apprehended he had been in a dream or trance. And the priſon, as it ſeems, being in the Suburbs, after they were out of priſon, they paſt thorow two watches, or wards which ſtood every night without the gates of the City, and at laſt came to the Irongate, which leads into the City, which opened to them of its own accord, and when they had paſſed together thorow one ſtreet, the Angel left him, and departed. Peter now perceiving that it it was no viſion, but a real deliverance, ſaid within himſelf, Now I ſee clearly that God hath ſent his holy Angel and hath delivered me from the hands of Herod and from the malice of the Jews. And when he had conſidered what courſe was fitteſt for him to take, he reſolved to go to the houſe of Mary, Mark's mother, where many Chriſtians were met together at this very time of the night to ſeek the Lord in prayer for him: And as he knocked at the door, a Damoſel came to ask Who was there? and knowing Peters voice, ſhe ſtayed not to open the door for gladneſs, but ran in and told them Peter was there. They at firſt thought ſhe ſpake idly, but ſhe perſiſting in it, they then ſaid, It is his (g)So the word Angel does ſometimes ſignifie no more than a Meſſenger, Luk. 7 24.27.Angel; that is, ſome Meſſenger come from him, who mentioning his name, the Maid by miſtake, concludes it to be Peter himſelf; or elſe poſſibly by his Angel they might mean that ſome holy Angel(h)Angelum ejus nominant qui divinitus illi appoſitus ſit cuſtos, & ſalutis miniſter. Quo ſenſu Chriſtus dicit Angelos parvulorum ſemper videre faciem Patris, Matth. 18.10. Quod antem vulgò hinc eliciunt ſingul…s hominibus attribui ſingulos Angelos qui eorum curam gerant, nimis infirmum eſt. Nam Scriptura teſtatur magno interdum populo unum Angelum dari, & uni tantum homini, ingentem exercitum, Gen. 32. Nam Elizaei miniſtro aperti ſunt oculi, ut multos currus igneos in aere cerneret, qui ad tuendam Prophetae ſalutem ordinati erant, 2 Reg. 6.17. apud Danielem verò non niſi unus Perſarum Angelu…, & unus Graecorum nominatur, Dan. 10 5.13.20. Nec Scriptura ſuum cuique certum & peculiarem Angelum promittit▪ ſed potius quod Angelis ſuis mandaverit Deus, ut ſingulos fideles cuſtodiant, Pſal. 91.11. Item ut caſtrametentur in circuitu piorum. Pſal. 34.8. Ergo figmentum quod paſſim invaluit, de binis cujuſque geniis, profanum eſt. Nobis ſufficiat quod pro Eccleſiae ſalute tota coeleſtis militia excubat: atque ita pro temporis neceſſitate, nunc unus Angelus, nunc plures ſuo praeſidio nos protegunt. Certè inaeſtimabilis haec eſt Dei bonitas, quod Angelos qui radii ſunt divini fulgoris, miniſtros noſtros eſſe pronunciat. Calv. in loc., had aſſumed his ſhape and voice, and ſtood at the gate in his reſemblance. But whilſt they thus debated the matter, Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened the door, they were amaz'd to find that it was indeed Peter himſelf. Then he related to them how miraculouſly the Lord had delivered him, and giving order, that James the leſs (the Son of Alpheus, called the brother, that is, the kinſman of the Lord, Gal. 1.19.) and the reſt of the Brethren in that City ſhould be certifi'd of the manner of his deliverance; he withdrew himſelf to ſome more ſecure place, (probably to Antioch) not being willing to put himſelf into the ſame danger again, out of which God had ſo wonderfully delivered him, [See Mat. 10.23.]
In the morning there was a great ſtir among the Souldiers, what was become of Peter. And Herod not finding him, ſtrictly examined the Watch, and being fruſtrated of his intention againſt the Apoſtle, he vents his rage againſt the Souldiers, and commanded they ſhould be carried away(i)foreign ſignificat abduci, hoc eſt, rapi ad ſupplicium, vel duci in vincula. either to priſon or to execution, and to be puniſhed as malefactors.
Act. 12.1. Now about that time, Herod the king ſtretched forth his hands, to vex certain of the church.
v. 2. And h… killed James the brother of John with the ſword.
v. 3. And b…cauſe he ſaw it pleaſ…d the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter alſo. (Then were the days of unleavened bread)
v. 4. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in priſon, and delivered him to four quarternions of ſouldiers to keep him, intending after Eaſter to bring him forth to the people.
v. 5. Peter therefore was kept in priſon, but prayer was made without ceaſing of the church unto God for him.
v. 6. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the ſame night Peter was ſleeping between two ſouldiers, bound with two chaines, and the keepers before the door kept the priſon.
v. 7. And behold, the …ngel of the Lord came upon him, and a light ſhined in the priſon: and he ſmote Peter on the ſide, and raiſed him up, ſaying, Ariſe up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
v. 8. And the angel ſaid unto him, Gird thy ſelf, and bind on thy ſandals, And ſo he did. And he ſaith unto him, Caſt thy garments about thee, and follow me.
v. 9. And he went out, and followed him, and wiſt not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he ſaw a viſion.
v. 10. When they were paſt the firſt and the ſecond ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city, which opened to them of his own accord, and they went out, and paſſed on thorow one ſtreet, and forthwith the angel departed from him.
v. 11. And when Peter was come to himſelf, he ſaid, Now I know of a ſurety, that the Lord hath ſent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
v. 12. And when he had conſidered the thing, he came to the houſe of Mary the mother of John, whoſe ſirname was Mark, where many were gathered together, praying.
v. 13. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damſel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
v. 14. And when ſhe knew Peters voice, ſhe opened not the gate for gladneſs, but ran in, and told how Peter ſtood before the gate.
v. 15. And they ſaid unto her, Thou art mad. But ſhe conſtantly affirmed that it was even ſo. Then ſaid they, It is his angel.
v. 16. But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, and ſaw him, they were aſtoniſhed.
v. 17. But he beckning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the priſon: and he ſaid, Go ſhew theſe things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
v. 18. Now aſſoon as it was day, there was no ſmall ſtir among the ſouldiers, what was become of Peter.
v. 19. And when Herod had ſought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they ſhould be put to death.
v. 11. foreign] Ubi ad ſe redierat, ſtupore excuſſo.SECT. X.
HErod ſhortly atfer goes from Jeruſalem to Caeſarea and abode there: And being highly diſpleaſed with the Tyrians and Sidonians he intended to make war(a)foreign had an intention to make war. Sic Hammondus. upon them. They being ſenſible, that their own narrow circuit of Land was not ſufficient to maintain them, and that they depended on Galilee and Judea, (now under Herods juriſdiction) for a great part of their proviſions, they judged it their wiſeſt courſe to ſeek peace with him. Having therefore gratifi'd Blaſtus his Chamberlain, and got him to be their Friend, they ſent their Commiſſioners to requeſt the King that he would be graciouſly pleaſed to be reconciled to them. Herod being a proud Prince and pufft up with his proſperity, on a ſolemn, day appointed (as 'tis like) for the audience of theſe Tyrian and Sidonian Commiſſioners, being clad in a Royal Robe all gliſtering with Silver (whereon the Sun ſhone, and ſo made it more glorious and illuſtrious, as Joſephus reports, lib. 19. Antiq. ch. 7.), and ſitting upon his Throne, made a ſpeech unto them to ſhew his magnificence and eloquence, and poſſibly extoll'd his own clemency, that having a juſt cauſe to chaſtize them with his arms, yet he was graciouſly inclin'd to ſpare them. At this the people gave a ſhout and with impious flattery, cry'd out, It is the voice of a God and not of a man. Herod priding himſelf in this acclamation and aſſuming this divine honour to himſelf, immediately the(b)In morbis immittendis ſaepè Angelorum miniſterio Deus utitur, Exod. 12.29. 2 Sam. 24.16. Angel of the Lord ſmote him with a loathſom diſeaſe, ſo that he was eaten up either of lice or worms, and dyed miſerably. And this Tyrant and Perſecutor of the Church being thus removed, the Goſpel proſpered exceedingly, and was preached up and down with great ſucceſs.
—And he went down from Judea to Ceſarea, and there abode.
v. 20. And Herod was highly diſpleaſed with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and having made Blaſtus the kings chamberlain their friend, deſired peace, becauſe their country was nouriſhed by the kings countrey.
v. 21. And upon a ſet day Herod arayed in royal apparel, ſat upon his throne and made an oration unto them.
v. 22. And the people gave a ſhout, ſaying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
v. 23. And immediately the angel of the Lord ſmote him, becauſe he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghoſt.
v. 24. But the word of God grew, and multiplied.