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Ghoft, and with pow- cles he wrought by the Power of A. D. 40. er, who went about the Holy Ghost.

doing good, and healing all that were oppreffed of the devil: for God was with him.

39. And we are witneffes of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerufalem, as alfo of his Refurrection from whom they flew and the Dead the third Day, after the hanged on a tree. 40. Him God raif- Jews had crucified him. ed up the third day, and fhewed him openly. 41. Not to all the people, but unto witneffes, chofen before of God, even to us

39 & 40. And of this his Life and Doctrine, we his Apoftles (befide many other of his Difciples) were Eye and Ear-witnesses;

who did eat and drink with him after he rofe

41. This his Refurrection indeed (and his glorious Afcenfion into Heaven after it) the divine Wisdom thought not fit to give the Jewish Council and People a fenfible Demonftration of, by fhewing him alive to them; (whose incurable Life and Obftinacy, rendered them both unworthy and incapable of being wrought upon by fuch Means) but did it to fuch a proper and fufficient Number of us that were to teftify it to others.

from the dead.

42. And he com- 42 & 43. Who are therefore manded us to preach commiffioned to declare to the unto the people, and World (what the Prophets had to teftify that it is he all in their feveral Ages foretold) which was ordained that this JESUS is the Saviour, of God to be the judge Lord, and Judge of Mankind; of quick and dead. 43. To him give all and the only Means of Pardon the prophets witnefs, and Salvation, is a firm Belief of that through his name, his Doctrine, and a fincere Obewhofoever believeth dience to his Commands. in him, fhall receive remiffion of fins. 44. While Peter 44. Cornelius and his Friends yet fpake these words, being convinced of the Truth of the holy Ghoft fell on Peter's Difcourfe, God was pleafall them which heard ed to confirm them more fully in the word. it, by immediately conferring the miraculous Powers of the Holy Ghoft upon them, particularly that of fpeaking divers Languages. F 4

45 & 46.

A. D. 40.

45. And they of the circumcifion which believed, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, be caufe that on the Gentiles alfo was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost.

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46. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnified God. Then anfwered Peter,

47. Then Peter appealed to them, whether this was not a clear Evidence, that God intended thefe Men the Bleffings of the Gofpel-Covenant; and that they might and ought to be baptized

47. Can any man
forbid water, that
thefe fhould not be
baptized, which have
received the holy
Ghoit, as well as we?
into the Chriftian Profeffion?

48. And he com-
manded them to be
baptized in the name
of the Lord. Then
prayed they him to
tarry certain days.

48. And upon their Confeffion that it was fo, he * baptized them. And they begged of him, for the further Advancement of the Gospel, to ftay there fome Time with them.

*Ver. 48. From St. Peter's baptizing thefe Converts, any Perfon may fee the monftrous Error of the QUAKERS, in affirming, That Water Baptifm is unneceffary to fuch as have the Holy Ghoft.

CHAP.

CHAP. XI.

The CONTENTS.

The Jewish Chriftians quarrel with Peter for converfing with Gentiles. His Account of his Conduct fully fatisfies them. The Gospel preached at Phoenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, but ftill to Jews only. Barnabas Sent to confirm thofe Converts. Saul comes to Antioch. Difciples called Chriftians there. Agabus foretels a Famine. Charities fent for the Relief of the Chriftians of Judea.

1.

AND the apothren that were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had alfo re

ftles and bre

ceived the word of God.

z. And when Peter was come up to Jerufalem, they that were of the circumcifion contended with him, 3. Saying, Thou circuncifed, and didft

wenteft in to men un

eat with them.
were uncircumcifed.
4. But Peter re-
hearfed the matter
from the beginning,
and expounded it by
order unto them, say-
ing,

5. I was in the city of Joppa, praying, and

in

I.

1.TH
HE Account of Cornelius A. D. 40.
and his Friends Conver-
fion, and Baptifm by Peter, was
foon heard of by the other Apo-
ftles and Chriftians at Jerufalem.

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For the full PARAPHRASE of thefe Verfes, from the

5th to the 16th, fee Chap. x.

A. D. 40. in a trance I faw a vifion, A certain veffel defcend, as it had been a great fheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it

came even to me.

and unclean Creatures without any Diftinction, by a Vifion, and Voice from Heaven; and that upon fhewing a Reluctancy to break the Jewish Law, the Command was repeated thrice to him.

6. Upon the which when I had faftned mine eyes, I confidered, and faw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beafts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

7. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arife, Peter; flay and eat.

8. But I faid, Not fo, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleanfed, that call not thou common.

10. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up. again into heaven.

me.

11. And behold immediately there were three men already come into the house where I was, fent from Cæfarea unto 12. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, thefe fix brethren accompanied me, and we entred into the mans house:

13. And he fhewed
us how he had feen an
angel in his house,
which flood, and faid

unto him, Send men
to Joppa, and call for
Simon, whofe fur-

name is Peter:

11, 12, 13, 14 & 15. How, while he was confidering upon the Meaning of the Vifion, the Holy Spirit fuggefted to him, that there were People waiting for him at the Door, and exprefly commanded him to go along with them to Cornelius; whom he found to have had a Vifion from Heaven to the fame Purpose; upon comparing which with his own, he found it to be the exprefs Will of GOD, that he fhould instruct him and his Friends in the Chriftian Faith; and that he had no fooner done

it, but the Holy Ghoft was conferred upon them, giving them the fame Gift of diverfe Languages, as he did the Apoftles on the Day of Pentecoft.

14. Who fhall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy houie fhall be faved.

15. And as I began to fpeak, the holy Ghoft fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16. Then

16. From whence he could not A. D. 40. but conclude, That great Promise of Chrift about the Holy Ghost, to be defigned for the Gentile as well as Jewish Converts.

16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he faid, John indeed baptized with water; but ye fhall be baptized with the holy Ghoft.

17. Forafmuch then as God gave them the like gift as be did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jefus Chrift, what was I that I could withstand God? to be his Minifters, Chriftians?

18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, faying, Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19.Now they which were fcattered abroad upon the perfecution that arofe about Stephen, travelled as far as Phoenice, and Cy prus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

figned for any other

zo. And fome of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to An

17. And now (fays he) can you imagine, that God should ever confer the fame Gifts and Endowments upon them and us, and yet deny them Baptifm into the fame Religion with us? And when his Spirit had qualified them how durft I deny to make them

18. Fully fatisfied with this, they were fo far from any longer envying the Gentiles the Gofpel Privileges, that they bleffed God for the Extent of his Mercies to wards them.

19. During thefe Tranfactions. of Saul and Peter, fome of the Difciples that were dispersed from Jerufalem by the Perfecution, (Chap. viii.) had travelled and preached the Gospel as far as Phoenice, the Ifle of Cyprus, and Antioch in Syria, but preached only to the Jews, (not yet understanding the Gospel to be deNation.)

20 & 21. And fome of them belonging to Cyprus and Cyrene, where the Greek Language was used, preached to the Jewish Profelytes at Antioch that used the tioch, fpake unto unto fame Language, with fuch Mira

the

cles

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