Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 40
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
CAP. I.
4 But wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith hee, Yee have heard of me.BUt wait for the performance of that promise, which God the Father hath made concerning the sending downe of the holy Ghost; which promise (said he) yee have heard related to you, by me.
5 For Iohn truely baptised with water, but yee shall bee baptised with the holy Ghost, &c.See Matth. 3.11.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying; Lord, wilt thou at this time restore againe the kingdome to Israel?Lord, we have heard, and have all this while beleeved that there is a temporall kingdome to be restored to the now-enthralled, and tributary people of Israel, by the Messias. Wee know thee to bee that Messias, which should come: thou hast mightily declared thy selfe to be the Sonne of God by thy rising from death, so as no human power can bee able to resist thee: wilt thou now therefore, at this time, satisfie the expectation of thy people, and breake off this servile yoke of the Romans, and restore the kindome to Israel?
This question of yours is curious, and mis-grounded.7 And hee said unto them, it is not for you to know the times, or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his owne power. It is true that I shall restore the kingdome to Israel, spiritually; not in a carnall and temporall manner, as ye weakely suppose; but by ruling in the hearts of men by the power of my Gospell, and at last, by perfiting the full glory of my Church: but when this shall be effected, it is not for you to inquire: there is enough revealed truth for you to content your selves with. Doe not yee offer to pry into those matters, and seasons, the knowledge whereof God the Father hath thought fit to reserve unto himselfe.
That which concernes you, is,8 But ye shall receive power after that the holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall bee witnesses unto mee, both in Ierusalem, and in all Iudea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. to looke unto the worke whereto yee are designed: ere long yee shall receive power from above, & be furnished with abilities to cary my Gospell into the world; for which purpose the holy Ghost shall come upon you, in miraculous gifts and graces; and yee shall bee witnesses to mee, to declare and justifie unto the world, the truth of my resurrection, and the power of my Godhead, beginning at Hierusalem, and so proceeding to the rest of Judea, and Galilee, and then, even to Samaria it selfe, and to all the nations of the earth without all exception, or limitation.
Two Angels stood by them in the forme of men,10 And while they looked stedfastly towards heaven, as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparell. clothed in bright apparell.
Yee men of Galilee, the late disciples of Jesus;11 Ye men of Galilee, why stand yee gazing up into heaven? this same Iesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seene him goe into heaven. why stand ye thus, with your eyes fixed upon that point of heaven, where your master ascended, as if you could still see him, as if your eyes would follow him up into that glory? know, that now yee must exercise rather the eyes of your faith; and that the heavens must containe that glorious master and Saviour of yours, till his second comming to judgement; at which time yee shall see him returning from heaven, in the same glorious manner, wherein ye saw him ascending up thither.
Now this man received that reward or hire of his treachery, wherewith a field was afterward purchased:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquitie, and falling headlong, hee burst asunder in the midst: and and all his bowels, &c. and when hee had done, in a late remorse, offered a desperate violence to himselfe.
From which Judas, by that wicked treason against his master, fell, that he might goe to that place which was fit for so foule a traytor,25 From which Iudas by transgression fel, that he might goe to his owne place. and such an hypocrite; who had all this while taken up a roome, that he was utterly unworthy of.
CAP. II.
4 And they were all filled with the holy Ghost, and began to speake with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.WHereas the eleven Apostles had before, upon the breathing of their Master, and Saviour, received the holy Ghost, in that measure that was fit for the present occasion; now all the assembled Disciples (together with the twelve) were fully inspired with the same holy Ghost; and miraculously furnished with the gifts and graces thereof; and (for a proofe of it) began to speake with strange tongues, as they were guided by the same Spirit.
17 I will powre out of my Spirit upon all flesh, &c.See Ioel. 2.28.29,18 And on my servants, and on my handmaids, &c. 30, 31:20 The Sunne shall be turned into darknesse, &c.
31 That his soule was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.Hee was not left to continue in the state of death; neither was his flesh so long suffered to lye under the power of death, as to passe through the degrees of corruption.
36 That God hath made that same Iesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.That God hath in his eternall counsell ordained this Jesus, whom yee have crucified, to be the Lord of his Church, the true and onelyonly Messias, and the sole redeemer of mankinde; and hath mightily declared, and approved him for such; so as yee all ought to acknowledge him, and looke for salvation from him alone.
And even yee also shall receive these miraculous gifts of the holy Ghost,38 And ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost. in testimony and assurance of the free remission of your sins, and that inward worke of renovation which hee shall effect in you.
40 Save your selves from this untoward generation.Do not any longer joyne your selves with the perverse and malicious enemies of Christ; but as you do now see their hainous impiety, in crucifying the Lord of life, so do yee estrange your selves from them; and beleeve, and professe that truth of the Gospell which they labour to oppose.
And they continued stedfastly in the communion,42 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. and fellowship of the Apostles and the rest of the Disciples of Christ; and constantly professed that doctrine, which the Apostles taught them; and joyned together in the celebration, and receit of the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and in prayers.
And they had in that first plantation of the Gospell, so, all things common,44 And had all things common. as that every one was ready to contribute of that, which hee had, to the publique uses of the Church, and to the particular necessities of their brethren.
So also verse 45.
And consorting in their frugall, and temperate meales,46 And breaking bread from house to house, did eate their meate with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart. they did injoy the holy society of each other, with much comfort, and great sincerity of heart.
CAP. III.
AT the houre of evening prayer,1 At the houre of prayer, being the ninth houre. being about three of the clocke in the afternoone.
It was onelyonly the name of Jesus,16 And his name through faith, in his name hath made this man strong, whom yee see and know: yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect soundnesse in the presence of you all. which I made use of in this cure; neither was it the bare outward sound thereof, but the faith in the Almightie power of him, whose name it is, that hath made this man strong, whom ye see, and know; yea, howsoever the secret and omnipotent power of God hath done it, yet the meanes which hath obtained it, is the faith in this Jesus, (both wrought in us by him, and firmely pitched upon him alone) that is it, which hath procured to this man perfect soundnesse, in the presence of you all.
And now brethren,17 And how brethren, I wote that through ignorance yee did it, as did also your rulers. I have not said this to drive you into a despaire of mercy; had yee done this knowingly, wilfully, maliciously, the case had beene fearfull, and hardly capable of remedie; but now ye did it rather out of ignorance, and errour of opinion, as likewise, diverse of your rulers did; so that there is great hope, and (if ye repent) assurance of merciemercy, and forgivenesse.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sinnes may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
That, in the time when this Sonne of God shall come againe to judge the world, which shall be a day of terrour indeed to the wicked and impenitent; but a day of unspeakable comfort and happinesse to all penitent beleevers; yee may then receive, not a discharge onelyonly, but joy, and blessednesse for him.
Whom the heavens must containe,21 Whom the heavens must receive untill the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets. in respect of the presence of his glorified body, untill the time of his second comming, when hee shall appeare againe, for the full consummation of the glory of his elect; and perfect accomplishment of his kingdome, concerning which (in all the passages thereof) God hath spoken by all his holy Prophets, &c.
CAP. IV.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought, of you, &c.See Psal. 118.22.
NEither can there be any other meanes named, or conceived,12 For there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved. in all the world, whereby salvation can be had, but onelyonly by, and through him.
All these enemies of thy Christ, notwithstanding all their complotting,28 For to doe whatsoever thy hand and thy counsell determined before to be done. and maliciousnesse; could do nothing against him, but that which thou in thine eternall counsell hadst both foreseene, and decreed to permit, and order to the behoofe, and salvation of thy Church.
CAP. V.
3 Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the holy Ghost, and to keepe backe part of the price of the land?WHy hast thou given way to Satan to take full possession of thy heart, in this grosse hypocrisie of thine; wherein thou hast under a colour of holinesse, committed a grievous sacriledge, and thereby hast drawne in the holy Ghost as a suborner, and abetter of thy wickednesse and falshood; pretending to have beene moved by that good Spirit, to give all the price of thy land, freely, to God, and his Church, when in the meane time thou hast kept back part for thine owne use?
How is it, that ye have agreed together thus to mock God,9 How is it that yee have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them which have buried thy husband. and to put this affront upon the Spirit of the Lord? as if, by this secret, and fraudulent conveyance, ye would try whether hee did know, or would revenge this your close deceit, and impietie, &c.
And they all met together every day, at set houres, in that spacious roome of the Temple,12 And they were all with one accord in Solomons porch. which was called the porch of Solomon.
37 After this man rose up Iudas of Galilee, in the day of the taxing, and drew away much people after him.After this man, arose up Judas of Galilee, and upon the quarrell of the taxes, laid by Cesar upon the people of the Jewes, made an insurrection; pretending that they ought not to be charged with those impositions, &c.
CAP. VI.
THere arose a murmur of those proselytes,1 There arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrewes, because their widdows were neglected in the daily ministration. and Jewes (now converted to the Christian faith) that were bred in Greece, and had lived there, against those that were borne, and bred in Judea; because in the distribution of the Churches money and almes, their widdowes were not, as well provided for, as the other.
It is no reason that wee,2 It is not reason that wee should leave the word of God, and serve tables. who are appointed by Christ our Master to preach the Gospell, and to attend the winning of soules to God, and the planting and ordering of his Church, should be taken up with the cares of the distributions of money, and other almes, for the reliefe and provision of the body.
And when they had prayed,6 And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. they laid their hands upon them, as hereby to signifie, and import the setting apart, and consecration of them to this usefull office.
And there arose certaine of that famous Schoole or Synagogue,9 Then there arose certaine of the Synagogue, which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines, and Cerenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with Steven. which the free men of Rome had built for those Jewes, which came out of the Provinces, being strangers, of many severall nations, and they disputed with Steven.
They saw a certaine majesty, and Angelicall brightnesse in the countenance of Steven.15 Saw his face as it had beene the face of an Angel.
CAP. VII.
BEing in all,14 Then sent Ioseph, and called his father Iacob to him, and all his kinred, threescore and fifteene soules. to the number of threescore and fifteene soules; for the making up whereof, there are reckoned, above those which Moses mentioneth, two sons, and a nephew of Ephraim, and two sonnes of Manasseth, which were borne after the comming down into Egypt.
And were carried some of them to Hebron,16 And were carried over unto Sichem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a summe of money of the sonnes of Emor the father of Sichem. some to Sichem, whether to that plot of ground which was bought of Emor the father of Sichem; or to that sepulchre which Abraham bought for money (for the buriall of his dead) of Ephron the Hittite.
Yea, rather neglecting my Tabernacle, ye erected a Tabernacle to Moloch, the Idol of the Ammonites,43 Yea, ye tooke up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the starre of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them. and to those other false deities, which ye chose out to your selves, out of the hoast of heaven; whose images & representations ye framed to your selves, to worship thē, &c.
Which also our fathers carried about with them,45 Which also our fathers that came after, brought in with Iesus into the possession of the Gentiles. as the visible testimony of Gods presence; and brought it in with Joshua, and, under his conduct, into the promised land, which was then the possession of the Gentiles, &c.
51 Yee stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart, and eares, yee do alwayes resist the holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so do ye.Ye stubburne and perverse people, men whose hearts are corrupt and gracelesse, and whose eares are wilfully shut up against all good counsell; yee do alwayes rebelliously set your selves against those wholsome doctrines, and holy admonitions, which the Spirit of God gives you by his messengers; as your fathers did before you, even so doe ye, obstinately resist all the meanes of grace, and goodnesse.
Who have received the Law, by the ministration of Angels, on mount Sinai, and have not kept it.53 Who have received the Law by the disposition of Angels, and have not kept it.
But he, being full of faith, and all other graces of the holy Ghost,55 But hee being full of the holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Iesus standing on the right hand of God. looked up stedfastly into heaven, and there saw a glorious representation of the Majesty of God, and Jesus appearing in his glorified humane nature, invested with that infinite resplendence, which was fit for him, to whom the Father hath committed all power and glory.
So also verse 56.
58 And cast him out of the citie, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid downe their cloathes at a young mans feet whose name was Saul.Yet this tumultuous violence was not without some pretence of a legall proceeding, for there came in certaine men, which gave evidence against Stephen; and these witnesses (according to the law, being to cast the first stones at the condemned) laid downe their garments at the feet of one that was a favourer, and abettour of their proceedings, even a yong man, named Saul.
CAP. VIII.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles hands, the holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.ANd when Simon the sorcerer saw, that upon the outward ceremony of laying on of hands (though accompanied with the faithfull prayers of the Apostles) the miraculous gifts of the holy Ghost were sensibly conferred on the persons formerly baptized; hee offered them money.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitternesse, and in the bond of iniquitie.For I perceive, thou art all over tainted, and empoysoned with the most deadly venome of wickednesse, and fast bound with the fetters and manicles of thine iniquitie.
33 In his humiliation, &c.See Esay 53.8.
And the Spirit of the Lord suddenly and miraculously withdrew Philip, from the presence,39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the Eunuch saw him no more: and hee went on his way rejoycing. and sight of the Eunuch; who went on his way, thereupon more rejoyceing, for that hee saw God had by so wonderfull meanes, wrought his conversion.
CAP. IX.
IT is no boot for thee to struggle,5 And he said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest, it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. and spurne against my almighty power; herein thou shalt so much the more punish, and wrong thy selfe; cease therefore from this thy violent and unjust persecution.
And he disputed with those Jewes which came out of Greece to Jerusalem.29 And disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
CAP. X.
A Man that in his kinde,2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house. and according to his knowledge, was very devout; and that (according to those generall principles which he had received) feared God; and had wrought his family to an orderly, and religious course, &c.
Thy prayers which thou hast made unto God,4 Thy prayers and thine almes are come up for a memoriall before God. proceeding from such weake and imperfect (though true) faith, as his Spirit hath wrought in thee, and those charitable almes of thine, which upon the same grounds thou hast given, are gratiously taken notice of, and accepted by Almightie God.
That which God hath sanctified,15 What God hath cleansed, that call thou not common. and delivered from all that legall pollution, which formerly debarred it from ordinary, and allowed use; do not thou hold profane, and uncleane.
CAP. XI.
See Matth. 3.11.16 Iohn baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the, &c.
ANd sent it to the Presbyters and Deacons of the Church, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.30 Which also they did, and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
CAP. XII.
4 And when hee had apprehended him, he put him in prison, & delivered him to foure quaternions of souldiers to keepe him, &c.DElivered him to foure quaternions of souldiers; that so there might bee for every change of the watch, both day and night, foure souldiers to gard him; that he might not faile to be forth-comming, &c.
11 Now I know of a suretie, that the Lord hath sent his Angel, and hath delivered mee out of the hand of Herod, &c.Now, when that astonishment was overpast, and Peter began sensibly to perceive that it was not a vision, but a reall act of deliverance; he said, &c.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad, but she constantly affirmed, &c.It is his Angel, who hath taken upon him the shape of Peter; himselfe it cannot be.
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 Chamberlaine their friend, desired peace, &c.They desired peace, because their country, being of it selfe but barren, was nourished with that corne, which was transported to them out of Herods dominions; the importation whereof being upon this late hostility forbidden; they were forced to submit, and sue to Herod.
23 And immediatly, the Angel of the Lord smote him▪ because hee gave not God the glory, and he was eaten with wormes, and gave up the ghost.And God smote him by the immediate hand of his Angell, with a loathsome and painefull disease; because he tooke to himselfe that vaine and wicked applause; and was willing enough that the people should rob God of glory, to bestow it upon him; and his entrailes were noysomely corrupted, and eaten thorow with wormes, and he gave up the ghost.
CAP. XIII.
1 And Manaen, which had bin brought up with Herod the Tetrarch.ANd Manaen who had beene a courtier of great note, bred familiarly with Herod the Tetrarch, &c.
2 Separate me Barnabas & Saul, for the worke whereunto I have called them.Set ye apart Barnabas and Saul, by solemne prayer, and fasting, and imposition of hands, to be the Apostles of the Gentiles; and send them on that errand accordingly.
And they had John (which was called Marke) to bee their Minister,5 And they had also Iohn to their minister. to assist them in those holy labours, though in an inferiour degree.
9 Set his eyes on him.Fixed his eies upon him, with much indignation, and zealous anger.
And as concerning his raising up &c.34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to returne to corruption, hee said on this wife; I will give you the sure mercies of God. he said on this wise; I will make good that firme and faithfull, and no lesse gratious promise, which I made to David; that from his loines should proceed a King, whose dominion should be everlasting.
By him, and through faith in his bloud,39 And by him all that beleeve, are justified from all things, from which yee could not bee justified by the Law of Moses. all that beleeve, receive a full discharge from all those sinnes, whereof they could never bee acquitted by the Law of Moses; it is our faith in him, which shall give us that iustification, which we should in vaine seeke in the Law of workes.
See Matth. 10.14.51 They shooke off the dust of their feet against them, and came into Iconium.
CAP. XIV.
PAul knowing, by the instinct,9 Who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that hee had faith to be healed. & intimation of the Spirit of God, that the lame man, who had heard his preaching, had now faith enough to make him capable of this miraculous cure.
Neverthelesse,17 Neverthelesse hee left not himselfe without witnesse, in that hee did good, and gave us raine from heaven, and fruitfull seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladnesse. God hath not left the blindest heathens, in their darkest times of ignorance, without a sufficient conviction of his infinite goodnesse, and power; in that hee hath heaped upon them many blessings, for the present life, and hath given cleare demonstrations of his providence, and omnipotence, in ordering the seasons according to a regular course, and making plentifull pourveiance for his creatures, of all, both necessary, and expedient helpes and comforts.
CAP. XV.
THey were gladly received by the whole congregation, and especially by the Apostles,4 They were received of the Church, and of the Apostles, and Elders. and those Presbyters, which the Apostles had there ordained, &c.
Why doe yee goe about to crosse God,10 Now therefore why tempt yee God, to put a yoke upon the necke of the disciples, which neither our fathers, neither we are able to beare? in thwarting his ordinance, and altering the course, which hee hath set for the justification, and salvation of men, by imposing upon the disciples a necessity of subjecting themselves to this yoke of the law of Ceremonies, and, by consequence, to the law of workes; a condition, which not they onelyonly, but even the holiest of our fathers, were utterly unable to undergoe, and fulfill.
20 But that wee write unto them, that they abstaine from pollutions of Idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from bloud.OnelyOnly, that wee write unto them, that they abstaine from those things, which are the most common and ordinary offences of the times, in those that are become converts to Christianity; namely, from having any thing to doe with the pollutions of Idolatrie, in partaking of their Idol-services, or ought that pertaines thereunto. Secondly, that they abstaine from fornication, and all bodily uncleannesse; which, however the Gentiles (especially in those parts) are wont to make slight account of (as if it were a matter of little, or no offence,) yet they must be better taught, that it is a very hainous sinne against God, and their owne bodies. And thirdly, that they doe abstaine (for the time) from the eating of ought strangled, and of blood, whether within the body of the thing killed, or severed from it; because this charge was not peculiarly given to the Jewes alone in the Law, but, before the Law, to whole mankinde, and therefore not too suddenly to bee abrogated.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him, being read in the Synagogues, every Sabbath day.For we may not, all at once, inhibite the observations of these rites, and Mosaicall ceremonies, for as much as the people have beene of old trained up in them, and are taught in every City, to regard, and observe them; in that every Sabbath day, the Law of Moses is (by severall sections) read to them in their Synagogues: they must therefore bee weaned from them by degrees, and meet leasure.
28 For it seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you.It seemed good to us, being herein led, and guided by the holy Ghost, to lay upon you, &c.
CAP. XVI.
14 Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.WHose understanding the Lord inlightned with the knowledge and apprehension of that which was taught, and whose heart was moved to affect that truth which she heard, &c.
16 A certaine damosell possessed with a spirit of divination met us.A certaine Damosell, possessed with an ill Spirit, which had the power (through the permission of God) to foretell things to come, met us, &c.
37 Being Romans, and have cast us into prison, & now doe they thrust us out privily?Being free Denizens of Rome, and therefore, privileged by the Law, from these base usages.
CAP. XVII.
THese Jewes of Berea, were more ingenuous,11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readinesse of minde, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. and better affected, than those of Thessalonica; for they chearefully received the word of our Gospell, and tooke paines to search the Scriptures, and to compare our doctrine with the text of the Prophets, to see if wee had alleged them aright.
And they brought him into that spacious roome,19 And they tooke him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying. wherein was wont to be held the chiefe Court of Justice in Athens, called Areopagus, or Mars his hill, saying, &c.
For as much then as we are of a divine originall,29 Forasmuch then as wee are the offspring of God, wee ought not to thinke that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art, and mans device. having our soules inspired into us by almighty God, wee might by our very selves easily reach to so much knowledge of God, as to understand, that he is of a spirituall nature, and not to be resembled by gold, or silver, or stone, graven by the art, and device of man, or any other bodily creature.
As for those former times of ignorance;30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men, every where, to repent. God hath seemed, as it were, to over-looke, and disregard them, in not giving them the meanes of knowledge and conversion; and therefore hath expected the lesse from them; but now that he hath offered so effectuall meanes of salvation, hee lookes for other manner of obedience, commanding all men, every where, now to repent them of their sinnes.
CAP. XVIII.
ANd,3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought (for by their occupation, they were tent-makers.) because he was of the same craft of tent-making which he had learned, and (though formerly a Pharise, and now an Apostle, by profession, and by privilege a Citizen of Rome) practised, for his owne necessary maintenance, as one that would not, in those tender beginnings, charge the Church; nor, in this holy care and frugality, bee gone beyond by the false apostles: hee abode with them, and wrought in their trade.
Having purposely so farre conformed himselfe to the Law of Moses;18 Having shorne his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. as to shave his head upon a vow made to God, and to be performed by him at Hierusalem; that, by this meanes, hee might winne the weake Jewes; in that they should see, he was not (as was suggested) an duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page enemy and despiser of the Law; but one, that was willing to observe it for the time, till those ceremonies, which were dead with Christ, might also be safely, and decently buried.
CAP. XIX.
2 Have yee received the holy Ghost, since yee beleeved? and they said unto him, We have not so much as heard, whether there bee any holy Ghost.HAve yee received the extraordinary and miraculous gifts of the holy Ghost, since ye beleeved? and they said unto him; we have not so much as heard that there are those miraculous gifts of the holy Ghost bestowed on men that beleeve.
3 And hee said unto thē, Unto what then were ye baptized? and they said, unto Iohns baptisme.And hee said unto them; These graces and gifts are wont to be given by imposition of hands, after Baptisme; which since yee have not taken notice of, tell mee, unto what were ye baptized? And they said, we were baptized by Johns baptisme, to the remission of sinnes by Jesus Christ, that Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinnes of the world.
4 Then said Paul; Iohn verily baptized with the baptisme of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should beleeve on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Iesus.Then said Paul; John verily, as the outward Minister of baptisme, baptized you with water, to the remission of sinnes; together with his baptisme, teaching the people that they should beleeve in that Jesus Christ, which should come after him; so as, his baptisme was true, and perfect; yet such, as was not accompanied, and attended with these miraculous gifts, which now since the full glorification of Christ, are bestowed upon men.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus.Whiles therefore John taught them thus, and made this holy Commentary upon his said baptisme, they that heard it (in receiving his baptisme) were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the holy Ghost came on them, and they &c.And when Paul had laid his hands upon them (as having before beene fully, and duely baptized) the holy Ghost came downe upon them, in miraculous gifts; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
19 Many also of them which used curious arts, brought their bookes together.Many of them, which used magicall, & devilish Arts, in a professed remorse, brought their bookes together, &c.
CAP. XX.
7 When the disciples came together to breake bread.WHen the disciples came together to celebrate the Lords Supper, &c.
22 And now behold, I goe bound in the Spirit unto Ierusalem.And now, behold, I am by the strong motions of Gods Spirit, over-ruled, and, as it were, forcibly urged, to goe up to Jerusalem.
Amongst whom I have gone preaching the Gospell of Christ, and by the power thereof laboured to erect,25 And now behold, I know that yee all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdome of God. and advance the spirituall kingdome of the Lord Jesus, &c.
Be carefull, and vigilant, O yee Ephesian Pastors,29 For I know this, that after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you. over the flocke committed unto you; for I doe well know, by reuelation from God, that, when I am gone, there will arise dangerous false-teachers, who will intrude themselves into your assemblies, and make havock of the soules of your people.
CAP. XXI.
WHo said to Paul,4 Who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not goe up to Ierusalem. through those revelations (which they had from the Spirit of God) of the dangers, which Paul should passe at Jerusalem; that they thought good to advise him not to goe up thither.
We have foure men,23 Doe therefore this that we say to thee, Wee have foure men which have a vow on them, which having vowed themselves Nazarites for a season, are now come up to accomplish those oblations, which are in the Law required.
Them doe thou take with thee, and joyne with them,24 Them take and purifie thy selfe with them, and bee at charges with them, that they may shave their heads, and all may know that those things &c. in the ceremonies of their purification, in the Temple; and, in the charge of their offerings; that they by shaving their heads, giving open testimony of their vow, may, as by thy countenance and allowance, put themselves forward to the full performance thereof, &c.
And the next day purifying himselfe with them,26 And the next day purifying himselfe with them, entred into the Temple, to signifie the accomplishment of the daies of purification, untill that an offering should bee offered for every one of them. entred into the Temple, according to the Law, to signifie the accomplishment of the daies of their separation; and there staied with them, untill those three sacrifices of the three Lambes (one for a burnt offering, another for a sinne offering, a third for a peace offering) should be offered for every one of them; and till the rest of the oblations, and rites should be accomplished.
And immediately they shut to the outer gates of the Temple,30 And forthwith the doores were shut. lest that holy place should be defiled with that bloud, which they meant to shed.38 Art not thou that Aegyptian, which before these daies, madest an uproare, and leddest our into the wildernesse foure thousand men that were murtherers?
Art not thou that Aegyptian impostor, which under the name of a Prophet, didst lately draw together foure thousand debauched men, into the mount of Olives, and make an insurrection against the Roman government?
CAP. XXII.
28 But I was free borne.BUt I was free borne, in that I was borne a citizen of Tarsus, a colonie of Rome, indued with the priviledges of that mother citie.
CAP. XXIII.
3 God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for, sittest thou to judge mee after the Law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the Law?GOd shall be revenged of thee, O thou counterfeit of an High-Priest, and mere painted visor of justice; For dost thou pretend to come hither to judge mee according to the law, and now (preventing and abusing justice) doest thou command mee to be smitten contrary to law? the law forbids to punish any man causelesly, and unheard, thou commandest this unjust measure to be offered unto mee.
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that hee was the high Priest, for it is written, Thou shalt not speake evill of the ruler of thy people.Then said Paul, Brethren, I acknowledge not this man (being a knowne and palpable usurper) to be the High-priest; for I well know what is written in the law, Thou shalt not speake ill of the Ruler of thy people; were he so, I would have forborne to speake unreverently, and unrespectively to him; but being as he is, a noted intruder, I have made bold to speake home unto him.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadduces, and the other Pharisees, hee cryed out in the Councell, Men &c.But when Paul perceived that the one part of the assembly were Sadduces, which denyed the resurrection, the other Pharisees; in an holy policie to divert the malice of the multitude, and so to divide them, that his just cause might finde a partie among them, hee cryed out in the councell, and said, &c.
9 But if a spirit, or an Angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.If the Spirit of God, or some Angel of God hath spoken to him, what reason have wee to quarrell with him, in this? or if wee doe, what do wee else but fight against God himselfe?
CAP. XXIV.
1 And after five dayes, Ananias the high Priest descended with the Elders and with a certain Oratour named Tertullus.ANd after five dayes, Ananias the high Priest, out of his malicious stomach against Paul, tooke his journey with the Elders of the Jewes, to Cesarea, and carried with him a certaine famous pleader, named Tertullus, &c.
6 Who also hath gone about to profane the Temple; whom wee tooke, and would have judged according to our law.Who hath gone about to profane the Temple in carrying in thither with him a forrayner, both in nation, and religion.
CAP. XXVI.
ANd now I stand here before thee,6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our Fathers. and am judged for maintaining the accomplishing of that blessed hope, which our fathers conceived, from those cleare promises, made by God unto them, of that Messias, which hee would send, and now hath sent into the world, as also for averring that assured hope of our resurrection from the dead.
To the happy fruition whereof our twelve tribes,7 VntoUnto which promise our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night, hope to come, for which hopes sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Iewes. and all that are faithfull amongst them, serving God, day and night, hope to attaine: for the maintenance of which hope (O King Agrippa) I am accused of the Jewes.
And compelled them to disclaime and renounce their profession, and to speake against the name of Jesus.11 And compelled them to blaspheme.
CAP. XXVII.
BEcause it began now to be dangerous sayling,9 Now when much time was spent, and when sayling was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already past, Paul admonished them. for that the season was well neare out; it being well forward in Autumne, at which time the seas use to be shut up, and the weather is wont to be stormie, and unsetled.
There arose a stormie, and tempestuous wind,14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous winde called Euroclydon. that blew strongly from the North-East, which therefore the mariners are wont to call Euroclydon.
God hath indeed assured me, that none of all our lives shall miscarry in this danger,31 Paul said to the Centurion and to the Souldiers, Except these abide in the ship, yee cannot be saved. but that God who hath ordained our preservation, hath also ordained the means thereof, and therefore hath appointed that these mariners shall continue in the ship, if we will hope of safety.
And when wee fell upon a shelfe of ground,41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground, and the forepart stuck fast and remained unmoveable. that rising up somewhat high, and being shallow under water, had a deepe sea, and strong eddye on both sides of it, they ran the ship aground there, (though not close to any shore) and the fore part sticking fast upon that shelfe remained unmoveable, &c.
CAP. XXVIII.
THey knew that the Iland was called Malta.1 They knew that the Iland was called Melita.
Hee shooke off that venemous serpent into the fire,5 And hee shooke off the beast into the fire, and felt no harme. and felt no hurt; according to that word of our Saviour, They shall take up serpents, and if they drinke any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.
15 They came to meet us as farre as Appii forum.They came to meet us a dayes journey, as farre as the towne called Appii forum, &c.
19 Not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.Not that I have any complaint to make unto Cesar, of my nation; howsoever some of them secretly plotted, and vowed my death without cause; but onelyonly that I may stand upon my owne just defence before him.
20 Because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chaine.For maintai…g the truth of that Messias, who is the onelyonly hope, and the sole redeemer of Israel, I am now bound with this chaine.
26 Go unto this people and say: Hearing yee shall heare, and shall not understand, &c.See Isay 6.9.