16. There came 16. And the Fame of these A. D. 33. also a multitude out of Things spreading through the them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 17. Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the * Sadduces) and were filled with indignation, 18. And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 17 & 18. The Apostles, continuing with these Miracles to preach the Refurrection of Chrift and a future State, put the High "See chap. Priest, and that Part of the Coun- iv. 1. cil that were Sadduces into a most violent Rage; (the Doctrine preached being in direct Oppofition to the principal Tenet of their Sett;) and so they ordered them again to be apprehended, and put into the common Goal. 19. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prisondoors, and brought them forth, and faid, 20. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people, all the words of this life. * they did. 19 & 20. But an Angel of God, that very Night, led them out, and shut the Doors again, without any of the Keepers Knowledge, and ordered them early next Morning to go and preach the fame Doctrine (viz. of the future State of eternal Life,) openly in the Temple, and so 21. And when they 21. At the fame Time, the heard that, they en- High Priest and Sadduces called tered into the temple all the Council together, and sent early in the morning, to the Goal to fetch the Apostles. and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Ifrael, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22. But * Ver. 20. All the Words of this Life-or πάντα τα ῥήμαζα, all the Things concerning this Life This Life 1 empha A. D. 33. 22. But when the officers came and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23. Saying, The prison truly found we 22 & 23. The Officers went accordingly, but came back, and told them, That they had been at the Prison, where they found every Thing faft, and every Man in his Post, as they were left the Night before, but that the Prisoners were gone. door: but when we had opened, we 24. Now when the high prieft, and the to a perfect Non-plus. captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 24. This put the Council again 25. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison, are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without vlolence: (for they feared the people, left they should have been stoned.) 25. But in the Midst of their Perplexity, they had Notice given them, that their Prisoners were in the Temple, teaching the People as they used to do. 26. Upon which Intelligence, the Roman Officer went with a Guard, and brought them to the Council, with as little Violence as could be, for fear the People should have mutinied. 27. And when they 27 & 28. When they were come had brought them, into Court, the High Prieft asked they set them before them, How they durst presume the council: and the against the folemn Orders and high priest asked them, Threats of so great an Authority, 28. Saying, Did to preach up a Doctrine, that in not we straitly command you, that you effect, was to tax the whole Counshould not teach in cil with Murder and Blood-shed? this name? and behold, ye have filled Jerufalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this mans blood upon us. 29. Then emphatically, this Refurrection to the future Life, which the Sadduces so violently opposed - - This Life, in Contradiftinction to the Life of mere temporal, worldly Blessings and Grandeur the Jews were generally so fond of. 29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered, and faid, We ought to obey. God sather than men. 30. The God of our fathers raised, up Jesus, whom ye flew and hanged on a tree. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Ifrael, and forgiveness of fins. 29. To which they all unani- A. D. 33. moufly gave the fame Answer as Peter and John had given before, ch. iv. That the Authority of God was fuperior to that of their Court. 30, 31 & 32. Repeating to them again the Sum of the Doctrine they preached, viz. That the very God of Ifrael whom they all acknowledged, has raised up the very Jesus whom they had crucified, and exalted him to the highest Degree of heavenly Glory, as the Meffiah and Saviour of Mankind; that he had now offered to them, and the whole World, Pardon and Happiness, upon the Condition of Repentance, and a fincere Profession of his Religion; that they his Apoftles were Eye-witnesses, both of Afcenfion, and had fufficiently the Powers of the Holy Ghoft. 32. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. his Refurrection and confirmed them by 33. When they heard that, they were cut to the beart, and took counsel to flay them. 34. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharifee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of law, had in reputation a mong all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space. 33. The Council enraged at this, were refolving, right or wrong, to condemn them to Death. 34 & 35. But an eminent Pharifee, one of their own Members, either from some inward Conviction of the Truth of the Apostles Miracles, or elfe out of Opposition to the Sadduces, put a Stop to it, by advising them to consider a while upon a Thing of such Consequence. them, Ye men of Ifrael, take heed to yourselves, what ye 35. And faid unto intend to do as touching these men. 36. For before these 36 & 37. Telling them that days rose up Theudas, boafting himself to be they had had Instances of Men, that set up for Heads of Parties, some body, to whom and Deliverers of Ifrael, upon a D much 1 1 A. D. 33. a number of men, a- all, as many as obey much worse Designs than these Men yet appeared to have; and all dropp'd and came to nothing; as in the Cafes of Theudas * and Judas of Galilee. ed him, were scatter- 37. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the + taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished, and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38. And now I fay this counsel or this 39. But if it be of God, ye cannot over- is in vain and impious 40. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 38 & 39. Wherefore (says he) seeing the Miracles they work are so palpable, the safest Way is to stay a little, and wait what Designs they tend to. If to any feditious Purposes, by the very Course of Things, and especially by Divine Providence, you will easily put a Stop to it, without illegal and defperate Methods. But if God really appears to be the Author of these Miracles, it for us to oppose it. the 40. The Majority agreed to this Advice, and yet to show their Indignation at the Apostles for breaking their Commands, the they ordered them to be whipp'd, and so dismissed them for that Time, charging and threatening them to do so no more. 41. * It may fave the Criticks the Labour of reconciling Jofephus with Gamaliel, by either joining μετὰ τῆλον to the laft Words of the foregoing Verse, and so reading it, were Scastered and brought to nought μετά τον after him, i. e. af ter he was taken off, as Dan. Heinfius thinks; or else by referring it to the Instance, not the Time of Judas's Infurrection, and making it thus, viz. after or besides Theudas, I instance in Judas. See Mr. Lardener's Credibil. of the Gufp. Hift. Vol. I. Book II. Chap. vii. + Ver. 37. In the Days of the Taxing - i. e. When this Land of Judea was reduced to a Roman Province, and the Taxes payable to Cafar were first levied upon us. 41. And they departed from the prefence of the council, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to fuffer shame for his name. 42. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Chrift. 41. And thơ' Whipping was a servile and infamous Punishment, they were so far from being ashamed of it on this Account, that they rejoyced and blessed God for the Honour of suffering in so glorious a Caufe. 42. And fo went on to preach the Gospel, both in publick and private, every Day. CHẢ P. VÌ. The CONTENTS. The Complaint of the Græcian Converts against the Hebrews, about the partial Distribution of the Charities. The Apostles appoint seven Deacons to be chofen, to remedy this Evil. They are elected to the Office by Prayer, and Impofition of Hands. Stephen the most eminent amongst them. A false Accusation raised against him. He is brought before the Council. * I here follow the Distinction between the Grecian and Hebrew Jews, made by Bishop Pearson. Op. Poft. p. 52, 53 |