CHAP. IV. Five Thoufand converted by the foregoing Difcourfe and Miracle of the Two Apoftles. The Jewish Council, and Roman Captain, cause them to be apprehended, and brought before them. Their Defence of themselves. The Determination of the Council thereupon. The Apoftles Anfwer to it. Their Prayer upon that Occa- fion; and the Effect of it. The Unity and Charity of HIS Discourse of the A- A. D. 33. they had wrought, being imme- 2. Being grieved 2. The chief Priefts of the that they taught the great Council being fretted to 3. And they laid them that very Evening to be v. 17. 4. But notwithstanding this Severity, about five thousand of the People were converted to the A. D. 33. 5. And it came to pafs on the morrow. that their rulers, and elders, and fcribes, 6. And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and many as were of the **Exyev- kindred * of the high sex prieft, were gathered elix together at Jerufalem. as 7. And when they had fet them in the midft, they asked, By what power, or by what name have ye done this? 8. Then Peter filled with the holy Ghoft, faid unto them, Ye rulers of the people, 9. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole, and elders of Ifrael, 5 & 6. So the next Day the High Priefts Annas and Caiaphas, affembled all the chief Priests and Doctors of the Law, that belonged* to the great Council. There was no Occafion for the Roman Commander's Prefence; for the Pretence of Sedition was waved, being wholly groundless, and a mere Invention of the Jewish Priefts, who therefore were now the only Members of this Court. 7. And ordering the two Apoftles to be brought into Court, they demanded of them, by what Art they had done the Cure upon the lame Man, and by what Authority they preached to the People. 8,9 & 10. Peter being affifted by the Holy Ghoft, with Readinefs and Courage to fpeak before fo great an Affembly, gave them this refpectful Anfwer. That as to the Cure wrought upon the poor Man, it had all the Signs of an Act of Charity and Mercy, but nothing that could look like a Crime. And as to the Power by which they did it, they profeffed to them, and the whole Nation, it was derived from the very Jefus of Nazareth whom they had crucified, and from no other. 10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Ifrael, that by the name of Jefus Chrift of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him doth this man ftand here before you whole. 11. This is the ftone which was fet at nought by you builders, which is now become the head of the 12. Nei corner. cil rejected and defpifed 11. Who by his Resurrection from the Dead, is now become, what the Pfalmift defcribed him, (Pfal. cxviii. 22.) The Saviour of Mankind, and Lord and Head of the Church, though you of the Coun him. 12. And 12. Neither is there falvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be faved. 12. And then as to our Au- A. D. 33. thority for preaching to the People, we have it alfo from the Jame Jefus, who has commiffioned and enjoined us to publifh to the World, That there is now no other Means of Pardon Mankind, but that of embracing * and Salvation to 13. Now when they faw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jefus. 14. And beholding the man which was healed ftanding with them, they could fay nothing against it. 15. But when they commanded them to go afide out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16. Saying, What fhall we do to these men? for that indeed were unlearned and a notable miracle hath 13 & 14. The Council knowing the two Apoftles to have been the Difciples of Jefus while he lived and preached, and that they were private plain Men, brought up to no Learning in the Law, they could not but marvel at the great Readiness and Strength with which they fpoke; and the Man they had cured ftanding by them, they could object nothing to the Truth and Reality of the Miracle. 15 & 16. And ordering them to withdraw, they confulted together, and confidering the Fact was fo univerfally known and allowed, they were perfectly at a Lofs what to determine about it, or how to restrain the Apostles from proceeding any farther, been done by them, is manifeft to all them that dwell at Jerufalem, and we cannot deny it. C 4 17 & 18, * Ver. 12. Whereby we must be faved or be healed. or cured, as this lame Man was, ver. 9, 10. it is the fame Word ufed in both Paffages. Salvation, in the fpiritual Senfe, as being owing to Chrift alone, as fole Mediator, is fufficiently proved from other Paffages; tho' we fhould allow it in this Place to be meant of a temporal Cure. However, I have here given it the Acceptation commonly given by Interpreters. 17. But that it spread to no man in this 18. And they called than unto God, judge ye. 20. For we cannot but fpeak the things which we have feen and heard. 21. So when they that which was done. 17 & 18. However being refolved not to be convinced themfelves, and to keep the common People from it as much as they could, they agreed to fend for them in, and charge them, upon Pain of the utmoft Punishment, to preach this Doctrine no more to any of the People. Name of JESUS. 19 & 20. To which the Apoftles replied, That though they had all juft Regard for their Authority, yet in the prefent Cafe, having an abfolute Affurance of the Truth of what they taught, and a Commiffion from God to publish it, they referred it to their own Confciences, whether they could expect to be obeyed, and fo told them plainly, they neither could, nor would do it. 21. The Council could do no more but repeat their Threats to them, and fo difmifs them; for the common People had fuch a mighty Efteem, and religious Veneration for them, that they durft not arbitrarily punish them, for fear of a Tumult. 22. And that which heightened and confirmed the People's Opinion of the Cure, was, that the Length of the Distemper fhewed. had put it paft all natural Remedies, the Man being forty Years old. 23. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had 23. The two Apostles being difmiffed, went immediately to the other ten, and the rest on whom the Holy Ghost had fallen, (chap.ii.) and told them what had pafs'd had faid unto them. pafs'd in the Council, and how A. D. 33. feverely they were threatened. earth, and the fea and all that in them is. 25. Who by the his Chrift. 27. For of a truth against thy holy child. Jefus, whom thou haft anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gen 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30. tiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together. 29. And now, Lord, behold their threatnings, and grant 30. By ftretching forth thine hand to heal: and that figns *Ver. 27 & 28. Note, Thefe Words, For to do whatsoever tby Hand, and tby Counsel determined before to be done, may, in fit Conftruction, be referred to the Words, Jefus whom tbou baft anointed For to do whatfoever, &c. agreeable to Chap. x. 38. God anointed Jefus of Nazareth with the Holy Gboft and with Power, who went about doing Good, and bealing all that were oppressed, for God was with him. |