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1 Luke tieth this historie to his Gospel. 9 Christ being taken into heauen, 10 the Apostles 11 being warned by the Angels, 12 returne, 14 and giue themselues to prayer. 15 By Peters motion, 18 into Iudas the traitours place, Matthias is chosen.

¹ I haue made the [Note: [1] A passing ouer from the historie of the Gospel, that is, from the historie of the sayings and doings of Christ, vnto the actes of the Apostles. ] former treatise, O Theophilus, of al that Iesvs began to [Note: [a] The actes of Iesus are the miracles and doings which shewed his Godhead, and his most perfite holines and examples of his doctrine. ] doe and teach,

² Vntill the day that hee was taken vp, after that hee through the holy Ghost, had giuen commaundements vnto the Apostles, whome hee had chosen:

³ [Note: [2] Christ did not straightwaies ascend into heauen after his resurrection, because hee would throughly prooue his resurrection, and with his presence confirme his Apostles in the doctrine, which they had heard. ] To whome also he presented himselfe aliue after that he had suffered, by many [Note: [b] Hee calleth those infallible tokens, which are otherwise termed necessarie: nowe in that, that Christ spake, and walked, and ate, and was felt of many, these are sure signes and tokens that hee truely rose againe. ] infallible tokens, being seene of them by the space of fourtie daies, and speaking of those thinges which appertaine to the kingdome of God.

⁴ [Note: Luke 24.49. ] And when he had [Note: [c] They were dispersed here and there, but he gathereth them together that they might altogether be witnesses of his resurrection. ] gathered them together, he commaunded them, that they should not depart from Hierusalem, but to waite for the promise of the Father, [Note: Iohn 14.25. ] which sayde hee, yee haue heard of me.

⁵ [Note: Matt.3.11. marke 1.8. luke 3.16. chap. 2.2. & 11.16. & 19.4. ] For Iohn in deede baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized [Note: [d] Either of the Father, or of mee: so that either the Father or Christ, is set here against Iohn, as the holy Ghost is against the water, as thinges answerable the one to the other. ] with the holy Ghost within these fewe daies.

⁶ [Note: [3] Wee must fight before we triumph: and we ought not curiously to search after those things, which God hath not reueiled. ] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lorde, wilt thou at this time [Note: [e] To the olde and auncient state. ] restore the kingdome to Israel?

⁷ And hee saide vnto them, It is not for you to know the times, or the [Note: [f] That is, the fitte occasions that serue to doing of matters which the Lorde hath appointed to bring things to passe in. ] seasons, which the Father hath put in his owne power,

⁸ [Note: Chap.2.2. ] But yee shall receiue power of the holy Ghost, when he shall come on you: and ye shalbe witnesses vnto me both in Hierusalem and in all Iudea, and in Samaria, and vnto the vttermost part of the earth.

⁹ [Note: Luke 24.51. ] [Note: [4] After that Christ had promised the ful vertue of the holy Ghost, wherewith he would gouerne his Church, although hee shoulde be absent in bodie, hee tooke vp his bodie from vs into the heauenly tabernacles, there to continue vntill the latter day of iudgement, as the Angels witnesse. ] And when he had spoken these things, while they behelde, he was taken vp: for a cloude tooke him vp out of their sight.

¹⁰ And while they looked stedfastly towarde heauen, as hee went, beholde, two men stoode by them in white apparell,

¹¹ Which also sayde, Yee men of Galile, why stande yee gasing into heauen? This Iesus which is taken vp [Note: [g] That is, out of your sight. ] from you into heauen, shal so come, as yee haue seene him goe into heauen.

¹² ¶ Then returned they vnto Hierusalem from the mount that is called the mount of Oliues, which is neere to Hierusalem, being from it a Sabbath [Note: [h] About two mile. ] daies iourney.

¹³ [Note: [5] Ecclesiasticall assemblies to heare the worde, and to make common praier, were first instituted and kept in priuate houses by the Apostles. ] And when they were [Note: [i] They went into the house, which the Church had chosen at that time to be a receite for the whole assemblie. ] come in, they

went vp into an vpper chamber, where abode both Peter and Iames, and Iohn, and Andrewe, Philip, and Thomas, Bartlemew, and Matthewe, Iames the sonne of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Iudas Iames brother.

¹⁴ These all [Note: [k] The Greke word signifieth an inuincible constancie, and steadinesse. ] continued with [Note: [l] It is to good purpose, that this concorde is mentioned: for those prayers are most acceptable to God, which are made with agreeing mindes and willes. ] one accorde in [Note: [m] The disciples prayed for the sending of the holy Ghost, and also to be deliuered from present daungers wherewith they were beset. ] prayer and supplication with the [Note: [n] For it was behoueable to haue the wiues confirmed, who were afterwarde to bee partakers of the dangers with their husbands. ] women, and Marie the mother of Iesus, and with his [Note: [o] With his kinsfolkes. ] brethren.

¹⁵ ¶ [Note: [6] Peter is made the mouth and interpreter of the whole companie of the Apostles, either by secrete reuelation of the holy Ghost, or by expresse iudgement of the congregation. ] And in those dayes Peter stoode vp in the middes of the disciples, and sayde (nowe the nomber of [Note: [p] Because men are commonly billed and enrolled by their names. ] names that were in one place were about an hundreth and twentie.)

¹⁶ [Note: [7] Peter preuenteth the offence that might bee taken of the falling away of Iudas the betraier, shewing that all thinges which came vnto him, were foretold by God. ] Yee men & brethren, this scripture must needes haue beene fulfilled, which the [Note: Psal.41.9. ] holy Ghost by the mouth of Dauid spake before of Iudas, which was [Note: Iohn 13.27. ] guide to them that tooke Iesus.

¹⁷ For hee was nombred with vs, and had obteined felowship in this ministration.

¹⁸ He therefore hath [Note: [q] Luke considered not Iudas his purpose, but that that folowed of it, and so we vse to say, that a man hath procured himselfe harme, not that his wil and purpose was so, but in respect of that which folowed. ] purchased a field with the reward of iniquitie: and when [Note: Matt.27.5. ] he had [Note: [r] The Greeke woordes signifie thus much, that Iudas fell downe flat and was rent in sunder in the middes, with a marueilous huge noyse. ] throwen downe himselfe headlong, hee brast asunder in the middes, and all his bowels gushed out.

¹⁹ And it is knowen vnto all the inhabitants of Hierusalem, in so much, that that field is called in their owne language, Aceldama, That is, the field of blood.

²⁰ For it is written in the booke of Psalmes, [Note: Psal.69.26. ] Let his habitation be void, and let no man dwel therein: [Note: Psal.109.7. ] also, Let another take his [Note: [s] His office and ministerie: Dauid wrote these wordes against Dorg the Kings heardman: And these woordes, Shephearde, Sheepe, and Flocke, are put ouer to the Church office and ministerie, so that the Church and the offices thereof are called by these names. ] charge.

²¹ [Note: [8] The Apostles deliberate vpon nothing, but first they consult and take aduisement by Gods woorde: and againe they doe nothing that concerneth and is behoueable for the whole body of the Congregation, without making the Congregation priuie vnto it. ] Wherefore of these men which haue companied with vs, all the time that the Lorde Iesus was [Note: [t] Word for word, went in & out, which kinde of speach betokeneth as much in the Hebrew tongue, as the exercising of a publique & painful office, when they speake of such as are in any publique office, Deut.31.2. 1.Chr.27.1. ] conuersant among vs,

²² Beginning from the baptisme of Iohn vnto the day that hee was taken vp [Note: [u] From our companie. ] from vs, must one of them bee made a witnesse with vs of his resurrection.

²³ [Note: [9] Apostles must be chosen immediately from God, and therefore after praiers, Matthias is chosen by lotte, which is as it were, GODS owne voyce. ] And they [Note: [x] Openly, and by the voyces of all the whole companie. ] presented two, Ioseph called Barsabas, whose surname was Iustus, & Matthias.

²⁴ And they praied, saying, Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shewe whether of these two thou hast chosen,

²⁵ That he may take the [Note: [y] That he may be fellowe and partaker of this ministerie. ] roume of this ministration and Apostleship, from which Iudas hath [Note: [z] Departed from, or fallen from: And it is a Metaphore taken from the way: For Callings are signified by the name of wayes, with the Hebrewes. ] gone astray, to goe to his owne place.

²⁶ Then they gaue foorth their lottes: and the lotte fell on Matthias, and hee was by a common consent counted with the eleuen Apostles.
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1 The Apostles 4 filled with the holy Ghost 8 speake with diuers tongues: 12 They are thought to bee drunke, 15 but Peter disprooueth that: 34 He teacheth that Christ is the Messias: 37 And seeing the hearers astonied, 38 he exhorteth them to repentance.

¹ And [Note: [1] The Apostles being gathered together on a most solemne feast day in one place, that it might euidently appeare to all the world, that they had all one office, one Spirite, one faith, are by a double signe fro heauen authorised, and anointed with all the most excellent giftes of the holy Ghost, and especially with an extraordinarie and necessarie gift of tongues. ] when the day of Pentecost was [Note: [a] Word for word, was fulfilled: that is, was begonne, as Luke 2.21. For the Hebrewes say, that a day, or a yeere is fulfilled or ended, when the former daies or yeeres are ended, and the other begun, Ier.25.12. And it shall come to passe, that when seuentie yeeres are fulfilled, I will visite, &c. For the Lord did not bring home his people after the seuentieth yeere was ended, but in the seuetieth yeere: Now the day of Pentecost, was the fiftieth day after the feast of the Passeouer. ] come, they were [Note: [b] The twelue Apostles, which were to be the Patriarkes as it were of the Church. ] al with one accord in one place.

² And suddenly there came a sounde from heauen, as of a russhing and mightie winde, and it filled all the house where they sate.

³ And there appeared vnto them clouen tongues, like fire, and it sate vpon eche of them.

⁴ And they were all filled with the holy Ghost, and began to speake with [Note: [c] He calleth them other togues, which were not the same which the Apostles vsed commonly, and Marke calleth them newe tongues. ] other tongues, as the [Note: [d] Hereby we vnderstande, that the Apostles vsed not nowe one tongue, and then an other by haphazarde and at all aduenture, or as fantasticall men vse to doe, but with good consideration of their hearers: and to be short, that they spake nothing but as the holy Ghost gouerned their tongues. ] Spirit gaue them vtterance.

⁵ And there were dwelling at Hierusalem Iewes, men that feared God, of euery nation vnder heauen.

⁶ Nowe when this was noised, the multitude came together and were astonied, because that euery man heard them speake his owne language.

⁷ And they wondered al, and marueiled, saying among themselues, Beholde, are not all these which speake, of Galile?

⁸ [Note: [e] Not that they spake with one voyce, & many languages were heard, but that the Apostles spake with strange tongues: for els the miracle had rather bene in the hearers, whereas nowe it is in the speakers, Nazian in his oration of Whitsunday. ] How then heare we euery man our owne language, wherein we were borne?

⁹ Parthians, and Medes, & Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and of Iudea, and of Cappadocia, of Pontus, and Asia,

¹⁰ And of Phrygia, and Pamphylia, of Egypt, & of the partes of Libya, which is beside Cyrene, & strangers of Rome, and [Note: [f] By Iewes, hee meaneth them that were both Iewes by birth, and Iewes by profession of religion though they were borne in other places: and they were Proselytes, which were Gentiles borne, and embraced the Iewish religion. ] Iewes, & Proselytes,

¹¹ Creetes, and Arabians: wee hearde them speake in our owne tongues the wonderful works of God.

¹² [Note: [2] Gods woorde pearceth some so, that it driueth them to seeke out the trueth, and it doeth so choke other, that it forceth them to bee witnesses of their owne impudencie. ] They were all then amased, and douted, saying one to another, What may this be?

¹³ And others [Note: [g] The woorde which he vseth here, signifieth such a kinde of mocking which is reprochfull and contumelious: And by this reprochfull mocking we see, that there is no miracle so great and excellent, which the wickednes of man dareth not speake euill of. ] mocked, and saide, They are full of newe wine.

¹⁴ ¶ But Peter standing with ye Eleuen, [Note: [h] Peter his boldenesse is to be marked, wherein the grace of the holy Ghost is to be seene, euen straight after the beginning. ] lift vp his voice, & said vnto them, Ye men of Iudea, and ye all yt inhabite Hierusalem, be this knowen vnto you, and hearken vnto my woordes.

¹⁵ For these are not drunken, as yee suppose, since it is but the [Note: [i] After the sunne rising, which may bee about seuen or eight of the clocke with vs. ] third houre of the day.

¹⁶ But this is that, which was spoken by the [Note: [k] There is nothing that can dissolue questions and doubts, but testimonie taken out of the Prophets: for mens reasons may be ouerturned, but Gods voice can not be ouerturned. ] Prophet [Note: Ioel.2.28. esai 24.3. ] Ioel,

¹⁷ [Note: [3] Peter setting the trueth of God against the false accusations of men, sheweth in himselfe and in his fellowes, that that is fulfilled which Ioel spake before concerning the full giuing of the holy Ghost in the latter daies: which grace also is offered to the whole Church, to their certaine and vndoubted destruction, which doe contemne it. ] And it shalbe in the last daies, saith God, I wil powre out of my Spirite vpon [Note: [l] All without exception, both vpon the Iewes and Gentiles. ] al [Note: [m] That is, men. ] flesh, & your sonnes, and your daughters shall prophecie,

and your yong men shal see visions, and your old men shall dreame dreames.

¹⁸ And on my seruauntes, and on mine handmaides I will powre out of my Spirite in those daies, and they shall prophecie.

¹⁹ And I wil shew wonders in heauen aboue, and tokens in the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and the vapour of smoke.

²⁰ The Sunne shalbe turned into darkenesse, and the moone into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.

²¹ [Note: [4] The chiefest vse of all the giftes of the holy Ghost, is to bring men to saluation by faith. ] And it shalbe, that whosoeuer shall [Note: [n] This woorde, Call on, signifieth in holy Scriptures, an earnest praying and crauing for helpe at Gods hand. ] call on the Name of the Lord, shalbe saued.

²² [Note: [5] Christ being innocent, was by Gods prouidence crucified of wicked men. ] Yee men of Israel, heare these woordes, Iesvs of Nazareth, a man [Note: [o] Who is by those woorkes which God wrought by him, so manifestly approoued and allowed of, that no man can gainesay him. ] approued of God among you with great workes, and wonders, and signes, which God did by him in the middes of you, as yee your selues also knowe:

²³ Him, I say, being deliuered by the determinate counsell, and [Note: [p] Gods euerlasting knowledge going before, which can neither be separated from his determinate counsell, as the Epicures say, neither yet be the cause of euill: for God in his euerlasting & vnchangeable counsell, appointed the wicked acte of Iudas to an excellent ende: and God doeth that well, which the instruments doe ill. ] foreknowledge of God, after you had taken, with wicked [Note: [q] Gods counsell doeth not excuse the Iewes, whose handes were wicked. ] handes you haue crucified and [Note: [r] The fact is sayde to bee theirs, by whose counsell and egging forwarde it is done. ] slaine.

²⁴ [Note: [6] Christ (as Dauid foretolde) did not onely rise againe, but also was in the graue voyde of all corruption. ] Whome God hath raised vp, and loosed the [Note: [s] The death that was full of sorowe both of bodie and minde: therefore when death appeared conquerour and victorer ouer those sorowes, Christ is rightly said to haue ouercome those sorowes of death, when as being dead, hee ouercame death, to liue for euer with his Father. ] sorrowes of death, because it was vnpossible that he should be holden of it.

²⁵ For Dauid sayeth concerning him, [Note: Psal.16.9. ] I beheld the Lorde alwaies before me: for hee is at my right hand, that l should not be shaken.

²⁶ Therefore did mine heart reioyce, and my tongue was glad, and moreouer also my flesh shall rest in hope,

²⁷ Because thou wilt not [Note: [t] Thou wilt not suffer mee to remaine in graue. ] leaue my soule in graue, neither wilt suffer thine Holy one to see corruption.

²⁸ Thou hast [Note: [u] Thou hast opened me the way to the true life. ] shewed me the waies of life, & shalt make me full of ioy with thy countenance.

²⁹ Men and brethren, I may boldly speake vnto you of the Patriarke Dauid, [Note: 1.King.2.10. chapter.13.36. ] that hee is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre remaineth with vs vnto this day.

³⁰ Therefore, seeing hee was a Prophet, and knewe that God had [Note: Psalm.132.11. ] [Note: [x] Had sworne solemnely. ] sworne with an othe to him, that of the fruite of his loynes hee woulde raise vp Christ concerning the flesh, to set him vpon his throne,

³¹ Hee knowing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that [Note: Psalm.16.10. chapter 13.35. ] his soule shoulde not bee left in graue, neither his flesh shoulde see corruption.

³² [Note: [7] Peter witnesseth that Iesus Christ is the appointed euerlasting King, which hee prooueth manifestly by the giftes of the holy Ghost and the testimonie of Dauid. ] This Iesus hath God raised vp, whereof we all are witnesses.

³³ Since then that he by the [Note: [y] Might and power of God. ] right hande of God hath bene exalted, and hath receiued of his Father the promise of the holy Ghost, hee hath shed foorth this which yee nowe see and heare.

³⁴ For Dauid is not ascended into heauen, but he sayth, [Note: Psalme 110.1. ] The Lord sayd to my Lorde, Sit at my right hande,

³⁵ Vntill I make thine enemies thy footestoole.

³⁶ Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for a suretie, that God hath [Note: [z] Christ is sayde to bee made, because hee was aduaunced to that dignitie: and therefore it is not spoken of his nature, but of his state and high dignitie. ] made him both Lorde, and Christ, this Iesus, I say, whome yee haue crucified.


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³⁷ Now when they heard it, they were pricked in their heartes, and said vnto Peter and the other Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we doe?

³⁸ [Note: [8] Repentance and remission of sinnes in Christ, are two principles of the Gospel, and therefore of our saluation: and they are obtained by the promises apprehended by faith, and are ratified in vs by Baptisme, wherewith is ioyned the vertue of the holy Ghost. ] Then Peter said vnto them, Amend your liues, and bee baptized euery one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes: and ye shall receiue the gift of the holy Ghost.

³⁹ For the [Note: [a] The word that is vsed here, giueth vs to vnderstand, that it was a free gift. ] promise is made vnto you, and to your children, and to all that are a farre off, euen as many as the Lord our God shall call.

⁴⁰ [Note: [9] Hee is truely ioyned to the Church, which separateth himselfe from the wicked. ] And with many other words he besought and exhorted them, saying, Saue your selues from this froward generation.

⁴¹ [Note: [10] A notable example of the vertue of the holy Ghost: but such as are of age, are not baptized, before they make confession of their faith. ] Then they that gladly receiued his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added to the Church about three thousand soules.

⁴² [Note: [11] The markes of the true Church are the doctrine of the Apostles, the dueties of charitie, the pure & simple administration of the Sacraments, and true inuocation vsed of all the faithful. ] And they continued in the Apostles doctrine, and [Note: [b] Comunicating of goods, and all other dueties of charitie, as is shewed afterward. ] fellowship, and [Note: [c] The Iewes vsed thinne loaues, & therefore they did rather breake them then cut them: So by breaking of bread, they vnderstoode that liuing together, and the banquets which they vsed to keepe. And when they kept their loue feasts, they vsed to celebrate the Lords Supper, which euen in these dayes began to be corrupted, and Paul amendeth it, 1.Cor.11. ] breaking of bread, and prayers.

⁴³ ¶ [Note: [12] So oft as the Lord thinketh it expedient, he bridleth the rage of strangers, that the Church may be plated, and haue some refreshing. ] And feare came vpon euery soule: and many wonders & signes were done by ye Apostles.

⁴⁴ [Note: [13] Charitie maketh all things common concerning the vse, according as necessitie requireth. ] And all that beleeued, were in one place, and had all things common.

⁴⁵ And they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all me, as euery one had need.

⁴⁶ [Note: [14] The faithfull came together at the beginning with great fruit, not only to the hearing of the word, but also to meate. ] And they continued dayly with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread at home, did eate their meate together with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart,

⁴⁷ Praysing God, and had fauour with all the people: and the Lorde added to the Church from day to day, such as should be saued.

1 Peter goeth into the Temple with Iohn, 2 healeth the creeple. 9 To the people gathered together to see the miracle, 12 hee expoudeth the mysterie of our saluation through Christ, 14 accusing their ingratitude, 19 and requiring their repentance.

¹ Nowe [Note: [1] Christ, in healing a man that was borne lame, and well knowen to all men, both in place and time very famous, by the handes of his Apostles, doeth partly confirme them which beleeued, and partly also calleth other to beleeue. ] Peter and Iohn went vp together into the Temple, at the ninth houre of prayer.

² And a certaine ma which was a creeple fro his mothers wombe, was caried, whom they layde dayly at the gate of the Temple called Beautifull, to aske almes of them that entred into ye Temple.

³ Who seeing Peter & Iohn, that they would enter into the Temple, desired to receiue an almes.

⁴ And Peter earnestly beholding him with Iohn, said, Looke on vs.

⁵ And hee [Note: [a] Both with heart and eyes. ] gaue heede vnto them, trusting to receiue some thing of them.

⁶ Then said Peter, Siluer & gold haue I none, but such as I haue, that giue I thee: In the Name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth, rise vp and walke.

⁷ And hee tooke him by the right hand, and lift him vp, and immediately his feete and ankle bones receiued strength.

⁸ And he leaped vp, stoode, and walked, and entred with them into the Temple, walking and leaping, and praysing God.

⁹ And all the people sawe him walke, and praysing God.

¹⁰ And they knewe him, that it was he which sate for the almes at the Beautifull gate of the

Temple: and they were amased, and sore astonied at that, which was come vnto him.

¹¹ ¶ And as the creeple which was healed, [Note: [b] Either because he loued them, who had healed him: or because he feared that if hee once let them go out of his sight, he should be lame againe. ] held Peter & Iohn, all the people ranne amased vnto them in the porch which is called Solomos.

¹² [Note: [2] Miracles are appointed to conuince the vnbeleeuers, and therefore they doe wickedly abuse them, who standing amased, either at the miracles themselues, or at the instruments and meanes which it pleaseth God to vse, take an occasion to establish idolatrie and superstition, by that, which God hath prouided for the knowledge of his true worship, that is, Christianitie. ] So when Peter saw it, he answered vnto the people, Ye me of Israel, why marueile ye at this? or why looke ye so stedfastly on vs, as though by our owne power or godlines, we had made this ma go?

¹³ The God of Abraham, & Isaac, and Iacob, the [Note: Chap.5.30. ] God of our fathers hath glorified his Sonne Iesus, whom ye betrayed, & denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had iudged him to be deliuered.

¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy one and the Iust, and desired a murtherer to be giuen you,

¹⁵ And killed the Lorde [Note: [c] Who hath life in himselfe, & giueth life to other. ] of life, whome God hath raised fro the dead, whereof we are witnesses.

¹⁶ And his Name hath made this man sound, whom ye see, & know, through faith in his Name: [Note: [d] Because he beleeued on him being raised fro the dead, whose Name hee heard of by vs. ] and the faith which is by him, hath giuen to him this perfite health of his whole body in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ [Note: [3] It is best of all to receiue Christ so soone as he is offered vnto vs: but such as haue neglected so great a benefite through mans weakenesse, haue yet repentance for a meane: As for the ignominie of the crosse, we haue to set against that, the decree & purpose of God, foretolde by the Prophets, of Christ, howe that first of al he should be crucified here vpo earth, and then he should appeare from heauen the iudge and restorer of all things, that al beleeuers might be saued, and all vnbeleeuers vtterly perish. ] And now brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your gouernours.

¹⁸ But those thinges which God before had shewed [Note: [e] Though there were many Prophets, yet he speaketh but of one mouth, to shew vnto vs the consent and agreement of the Prophets. ] by the mouth of all his Prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath thus fulfilled.

¹⁹ Amend your liues therefore, and turne, that your sinnes may be put away, whe the time of refreshing shal come from the presence of the Lord.

²⁰ And he shall sende Iesus Christ, which before was preached vnto you,

²¹ [Note: [f] Or, be taken vp into heauen. ] Whome the heauen must containe vntill the time that all thinges be restored, which God had spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began.

²² [Note: Deut.18.15 chap.7.37. ] For Moses said vnto the Fathers, The Lord your God shall raise vp vnto you [Note: [g] This promise was of an excellent and singular Prophet. ] a Prophet, euen of your brethren, like vnto me: ye shal heare him in all things, whatsoeuer he shal say vnto you.

²³ For it shalbe that euery person which shall not heare that Prophet, shall be destroyed out of the people.

²⁴ Also all the Prophets [Note: [h] At what time the kingdome of Israel was established. ] from Samuel, and thencefoorth as many as haue spoken, haue likewise foretolde of these dayes.

²⁵ [Note: [3] The Iewes that beleeue are the first begotten in the kingdome of God. ] Ye are the [Note: [i] For whom the Prophets were specially appointed. ] children of the Prophets, and of the couenant, which God hath made vnto our fathers, saying to Abraham, [Note: Gene.12.3. galat.3.8. ] Euen in thy seede shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

²⁶ First vnto you hath God [Note: [k] Giuen to the world, or raised from the dead, and aduanced to his kingdome. ] raysed vp his Sonne Iesus, and him hee hath sent to blesse you, in turning euery one of you from your iniquities.

1 Peter and Iohn 3 are taken and brought before the council. 7 and 19 They speake boldly in Christes cause. 24 The disciples pray vnto God. 32 Many sell their poßeßions: 36 Of whome Barnabas is one.

¹ And [Note: [1] None are commonly more diliget or bolder enemies of the Church, then such as professe themselues to be head builders: but the more they rage, the more constantly the faithfull seruants of God doe continue. ] as they spake vnto the people, the Priestes and the [Note: [a] The Iewes had certaine garrisons for the garde and safety of the Temple and holy things, Matth.26.65. These garisons had a Captaine, such as Eleazarus Ananias the high Priestes sonne was in the time of the warre that was in Iudea, being a very impudent and proude yong man, Ioseph.lib.2. of the taking of Iudea. ] Captaine of the Temple, [Page]

and the Sadduces came vpon them,

² Taking it grieuously that they taught the people, and preached in Iesus Name the resurrection from the dead.

³ And they layde handes on them, and put them in holde, vntill the next day: for it was now euentide.

⁴ Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, beleeued, and the [Note: [b] While they thought to diminish the number, they increased them. ] number of the men was about fiue thousand.

⁵ ¶ And it came to passe on the morow, that their [Note: [c] These were they that made the Sanhedrim, which were all of the tribe of Iuda, vntill Herod vsed that cruelty against Dauids stock. ] rulers, and Elders, and Scribes, were gathered together at Hierusalem,

⁶ And Annas the chiefe Priest, and Caiaphas, and Iohn, and Alexander, and as many as were of the [Note: [d] Of whome the high Priestes were wont to be chosen and made, the execution of the yeerely office being nowe changed. ] kindred of the hie Priestes.

⁷ [Note: [2] Against such as bragge of a succession of persons, without a succession of doctrine, and by that meanes beate downe the true ministers of the word, so farre foorth as they are able. ] And whe they had set them before them, they asked, By what power, or in what [Note: [e] By what authoritie? ] Name haue ye done this?

⁸ Then Peter ful of the holy Ghost, said vnto them, Ye rulers of the people, and Elders of Israel,

⁹ [Note: [3] Wolues which succeede true Pastours, pleade their owne cause, and not Gods, neither the Churches. ] For as much as we this day are examined of the good deede done to the impotent man, to wit, by what meanes he is made whole,

¹⁰ [Note: [4] He is in deede a true shephearde, that teacheth his sheepe to hang vpon Christ onely, as vpon one that is not dead, but hath conquered death, and hath all rule in his owne handes. ] Be it knowen vnto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Iesvs Christ of Nazareth, whom ye haue crucified, whome God raised againe from the dead, euen by him doth this man stand here before you, whole.

¹¹ [Note: Psal.118.22. esai.28.16. matt.21. 42. mark.12.10. luke 20.17. rom.9. 33. 1.pet 2.7. ] This is the stone cast aside of you builders which is become the head of the corner.

¹² Neither is there saluation in any other: for among men there is [Note: [f] Of God. ] giuen none other [Note: [g] There is no other man, or no other power and authoritie whatsoeuer: which kinde of speach being vsuall among the Iewes, rose vpon this, that when we are in danger, we call vpon them at whose handes we looke for helpe. ] Name [Note: [h] Any where: and this setteth foorth vnto vs the largenesse of Christes kingdome. ] vnder heauen, whereby we must be saued.

¹³ [Note: [5] The good libertie and boldnes of the seruants of God doth yet thus much good, that such as lay hid vnder a vizarde of zeale, do at length betray themselues to be in deed wicked men. ] Now when they sawe the boldnes of Peter and Iohn, and vnderstoode that they were vnlearned men and without [Note: [i] The word vsed here, is Idiot, which being spoken in comparison had to a Magistrate, betokeneth a priuate man: but when we speake of sciences & studies, it signifieth one that is vnlearned: and in accompt of honour and estimation, it importeth one of base degree, and no estimation. ] knowledge, they marueiled, & knew them, that they had bin with Iesus:

¹⁴ And beholding also the man which was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.

¹⁵ Then they commaunded them to goe aside out of the Council, and [Note: [k] Laid their heads together. ] conferred among themselues,

¹⁶ [Note: [6] He that flattereth himselfe in ignorance, commeth at length to do open wickednes, and that against his owne conscience. ] Saying, What shall we doe to these men? for surely a manifest signe is done by them, and it is openly knowen to all them that dwell in Hierusalem: and we cannot denie it.

¹⁷ But that it be noysed no farther among the people, let vs threaten and charge them, that they speake hencefoorth to no man in this Name.

¹⁸ So they called them, and commaunded them, that in no wise they should speake or teach in the Name of Iesus.

¹⁹ [Note: [7] We must so obey men to whome we are subiect, that especially and before all things we obey God. ] But Peter and Iohn answered vnto them, and said, Whether it be right in the sight of God, to obey you rather then God, iudge ye.

²⁰ For we cannot but speake the things which we haue seene and heard.

²¹ [Note: [8] So farre off are the wicked fro doing what they list, that contrarywise God vseth euen that to the setting foorth of his glory, which he giueth them leaue to doe. ] So they threatened them, and let them goe, and found nothing how to punish them, because of the people: for all men praised God for

that which was done.

²² For the man was aboue fourtie yeeres olde, on whome this miracle of healing was shewed.

²³ [Note: [9] The Apostles communicat their troubles with the Congregation. ] Then assoone as they were let goe, they came to their felowes, and shewed all that the hie Priestes and Elders had said vnto them.

²⁴ [Note: [10] We ought neither to be afraid of the threatnings of our enemies, neither yet foolishly contemne their rage and madnesse against vs: but we haue to set against their force and malice, an earnest thinking vpon the power and good will of God (both which we doe manifestly beholde in Christ) and so flee to the ayde & succour of our Father. ] And when they heard it, they lift vp their voyces to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou art the God which hast made the heaue, and the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

²⁵ Which by the mouth of thy seruant Dauid hast saide, [Note: Psalme.2.1. ] Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people imagine vaine things?

²⁶ The Kings of the earth assembled, and the rulers came together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

²⁷ For doutlesse, against thine holy Sonne Iesus, whome thou haddest anoynted, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the [Note: [l] Although the people of Israel was but one people, yet the plurall nomber is here vsed, not so much for the twelue tribes, euery one of which made a people, as for the great multitude of them, as though many nations had assembled themselues together, as Iudg.5.14. ] people of Israel gathered themselues together,

²⁸ To [Note: [m] The wicked execute Gods counsel, though they thinke nothing of it, but they are not therefore without fault. ] doe whatsoeuer [Note: [n] Thou haddest determined of thine absolute authoritie and power. ] thine hand, and thy counsell had determined before to be done.

²⁹ And nowe, O Lorde, beholde their threatnings, and graunt vnto thy seruants with all boldnesse to speake thy word,

³⁰ So that thou stretch forth thine hand, that healing, and signes, and wonders may be done by the Name of thine holy Sonne Iesus.

³¹ [Note: [11] God witnesseth to his Church by a visible signe, that it is he that will establish it, by shaking the powers both of heauen and earth. ] And when as they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God boldely.

³² [Note: [12] An example of the true Church, wherein there is consent as well in doctrine as in charitie one towardes another: And the Pastours deliuer true doctrine both syncerely, and constantly. ] And the multitude of them that beleeued, were of [Note: [o] They agreed both in counsell, will, and all purposes. ] one heart, and of one soule: neither any of them said, that any thing of that which he possessed, was his owne, but they had all thinges [Note: Chapter 2.44. ] common.

³³ And with great power gaue the Apostles witnes of the resurrection of the Lord Iesus: and great grace was vpon them all.

³⁴ [Note: [13] True charitie helpeth the necessitie of the poore with his owne losse: but so, that all things be done well and orderly. ] Neither was there any among them, that lacked: for as many as were possessours of landes or houses, solde them, and brought the price of the things that were solde,

³⁵ And layde it downe at the Apostles feete, and it was distributed vnto euery man, according as he had neede.

³⁶ Also Ioses which was called of the Apostles, Barnabas (that is by interpretation the sonne of consolation) being a Leuite, and of the countrey of Cyprus,

³⁷ Where as he had land, solde it, and brought the money, & laid it downe at the Apostles feete.

1 Ananias, for his deceite in keeping backe part of the price, 5 falleth downe dead, 10 and likewise Sapphira his wife. 12 Through diuers the Apostles miracles 14 the faith is increased. 11 The Apostles that were imprisoned, 19 are deliuered by an Angel, 26 and being before the Synode of the Priests, 36 through Gamaliels counsell they are kept aliue, 40 and beaten: 41 They glorifie God.

¹ Bvt [Note: [1] Luke sheweth by cotrary examples, how great a sinne hypocrisie is, especially in them which vnder a false pretence and cloke of zeale woulde seeme to shine and be chiefe in the Church. ] a certaine man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, solde a possession,

² And [Note: [a] Craftily tooke away. ] kept away part of the price, his wife also being of counsell, and brought a certaine part, and layde it downe at the Apostles feete.

³ Then saide Peter, Ananias, why hath Satan

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[Note: [b] Fully poßeßed. ] filled thine heart, that thou shouldest [Note: [c] For when they had appointed that farme or poßession for the Church, they stucke not at it to keepe away a part of the price, as though they had had to doe with men, and not with God, and therefore he sayth afterward that they tempted God. ] lye vnto the holy Ghost, and keepe away part of the price of this possession?
⁴ Whiles it remained, appertained it not vnto thee? and after it was solde, was it not in thine owne power? howe is it that thou hast [Note: [d] Hereby is declared an aduised and purposed deceite, and the fault of the man in admitting the deuils suggestions. ] conceiued this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto God.

⁵ Now when Ananias heard these wordes, he fell downe, and gaue vp the ghost. Then great feare came on all them that heard these things.

⁶ And the yong men rose vp, and tooke him vp, and caried him out, and buried him.

⁷ And it came to passe about the space of three houres after, that his wife came in, ignorant of that which was done.

⁸ And Peter sayd vnto her, Tell me, solde ye the land for so much? And she sayd, Yea, for so much.

⁹ Then Peter sayde vnto her, Why haue ye agreed together, to [Note: [e] Looke howe oft men do things with an euill conscience, so oft they pronounce sentence against themselues, and as much as in them lieth, prouoke God to anger, as of set purpose minding to trie whether he be iust and almightie or no. ] tempt the Spirit of the Lord? beholde, the feete of them which haue buried thine husband, are at the [Note: [f] Are at hand. ] doore, and shall carie thee out.

¹⁰ Then she fell downe straightway at his feete, and yeelded vp the ghost: and the yong men came in, and found her dead, and caried her out, and buried her by her husband.

¹¹ [Note: [2] The Lorde by his marueilous vertue brideleth some, that they may not hurt the Church: other some he keepeth in his awe & feare: and other some he allureth vnto him. ] And great feare came on all the Church, and on as many as heard these things.

¹² Thus by the hands of the Apostles were many signes and wonders shewed among the people (and they were all with one accorde in Solomons porche.

¹³ And of the other durst no man ioyne him selfe to them: neuerthelesse the people [Note: [g] Highly praysed them. ] magnified them.

¹⁴ Also the number of them that beleeued in the Lord, both of men and women, grewe more and more)

¹⁵ In so much that they brought the sicke into the streetes, and layd them on beds and couches, that at the least way the shadowe of Peter, when he came by, might shadow some of them.

¹⁶ There came also a multitude out of the cities round about vnto Hierusalem, bringing sicke folkes, & them which were vexed with vncleane spirits, who were all healed.

¹⁷ ¶ [Note: [3] The more that the Church increaseth, the more increaseth the rage of Satan, and therefore they proceede from threatnings, to prisoning. ] Then the chiefe Priest rose vp, and all they that were with him (which was the [Note: [h] The word which in vsed here, is Heresie, which signifieth a choyse, and so is taken for a right forme of learning, or faction, or studie and course of life, which the Latines call a sect: at the first this worde was indifferently vsed, but at length, it came to be taken onely in euill part, whereupon came the name of Heretike, which is taken for one that goeth astray from sound and wholesome doctrine after such sort, that he setteth light by the iudgement of God and his Church, and continueth in his opinion, and breaketh the peace of the Church. ] sect of the Sadduces) and were full of indignation,

¹⁸ And laide hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.

¹⁹ [Note: [4] Angels are made seruants of the seruants of God. ] But the Angel of the Lorde, by night opened the prison doores, & brought them forth, and sayd,

²⁰ [Note: [5] God doeth therefore deliuer his, that they may more stoutly prouoke his enemies. ] Go your way, & stand in the Temple, and speake to the people, all the [Note: [i] Wordes, whereby the way vnto life is shewed. ] wordes of this life.

²¹ [Note: [6] God mocketh his enemies attempts from aboue. ] So when they heard it, they entred into the Temple early in the morning, & taught. And the chiefe Priest came, and they that were with him, and called the Councill together, and all the Elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison, to cause them to be brought.

²² But when the officers came, & found them not in the prison, they returned and tolde it,

²³ Saying, Certainely we founde the prison shut as sure as was possible, and the keepers standing without, before the doores: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

²⁴ Then when the chiefe Priest, and the captaine of the Temple, and the hie Priestes heard these things, they doubted of them, whereunto this would growe.

²⁵ [Note: [7] The more openly that Christs vertue sheweth it selfe, the more increaseth the madnes of his enemies which conspire against him. ] Then came one and shewed them, saying, Beholde, the men that ye put in prison, are standing in the Temple, and teach the people.

²⁶ [Note: [8] Tyrants which feare not God, are constrained to feare his seruants. ] Then went the captaine with the officers, and brought them without violence (for they feared the people, lest they should haue bene stoned)

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the Councill, & the chiefe Priest asked them,

²⁸ [Note: [9] It is the propertie of tyrants to set out their owne commaundements as right and reason, be they neuer so wicked. ] Saying, Did not we straightly commaund you, that ye should not teach in this Name? & behold, ye haue filled Hierusale with your doctrine, and ye would [Note: [k] Make vs guiltie of murdering that man whome yet they wil not vouchsafe to name. ] bring this mans blood vpon vs.

²⁹ [Note: [10] We ought to obey no man, but so farre forth as obeying him we may obey God. ] Then Peter and the Apostles answered, & sayd, We ought rather to obey God then men.

³⁰ [Note: [11] Christ is appointed and in deede declared Prince and preseruer of his Church in despite of his enemies. ] The [Note: Chap.3.13. ] God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus, whom ye slewe, and hanged on a tree.

³¹ Him hath God lift vp with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Sauiour, to giue repentance to Israel, and forgiuenes of sinnes.

³² [Note: [12] It is not sufficient for vs that there is a right end, but we must also according to our vocation goe on forward till we come vnto it. ] And we are his witnesses concerning these things which we say: yea, & the holy Ghost, whome God hath giuen to them that obey him.

³³ Now when they heard it, they [Note: [l] This betokeneth that they were in a most vehement rage, and maruellously disquieted in minde, for it is a borowed kinde of speach taken from them which are harrishly cut in sunder with a saw. ] brast for anger, and consulted to slay them.

³⁴ [Note: [13] Christ findeth defendours of his cause, euen in the very route of his enemies, so oft as hee thinketh it needefull. ] Then stoode there vp in the Councill a certaine Pharise named Gamaliel, a doctour of the Lawe, honoured of all the people, and commaunded to put the Apostles forth a litle space,

³⁵ And sayd vnto them, Men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye intende to doe touching these men.

³⁶ [Note: [14] In matters of religion we must take good heede that we attempt nothing vnder a colour of zeale, beside our vocation. ] For before these times, rose vp Theudas [Note: [m] To be of some fame. ] boasting himselfe, to whom resorted a number of men, about a foure hundreth, who was slaine: and they all which obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

³⁷ After this man, arose vp Iudas of Galile, in the dayes of the tribute, and drewe away much people after him: hee also perished, and all that obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

³⁸ And nowe I say vnto you, [Note: [n] He disswadeth his fellowes from murdering the Apostles, neither doeth he thinke it good to referre the matter to the Romane Magistrate, for the Iewes could abide nothing worse, then to haue the tyrannie of the Romanes confirmed. ] Refraine your selues from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsell, or this worke be of [Note: [o] If it be counterfeit and deuised. ] men, it will come to nought:

³⁹ But if it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest ye be found euen fighters against God.

⁴⁰ And to him they agreed, and called the Apostles: and when they had beaten them, they commaunded that they should not speake in the Name of Iesus, and let them goe.

⁴¹ [Note: [15] The Apostles, accustomed to suffer and heare wordes, are at length inured to beare stripes, & yet so, that by that meanes they become stronger. ] So they departed from the Councill, reioycing, that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name.

⁴² And dayly in the [Note: [p] Both publikely and priuately. ] Temple, & from house to house they ceased not to teach, and preach Iesus Christ.

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2 The Apostles 3 appoint the office of Deaconship 5 to seuen chosen men: 8 Of whom Steuen, full of faith, is one: 12 He is taken, 13 and accused as a transgreßour of Moses Lawe.

¹ And [Note: [1] When Satan hath assailed the Church without, and that to small purpose & in vaine, he assaileth it within, with ciuil dissension & strife betwixt themselues: But the Apostles take occasion thereby to set order in the Church. ] in those dayes, as the nomber of ye disciples grewe, there arose a murmuring of the [Note: [a] Of their partes which of Grecians became religious Iewes. ] Grecians towards ye Hebrewes, because their widowes were neglected in the [Note: [b] In the bestowing of almes according to their necessitie. ] dayly ministring.

² [Note: [2] The office of preaching the worde, and dispensing the goods of the Church, are different one from another and not rashly to be ioyned together, as the Apostles doe here institute: And the Apostles doe not chuse so much as the Deacons without the consent of the Church. ] Then the twelue called the multitude of the disciples together, and sayd, It is not [Note: [c] It is such a matter, as we may in no wise accept of it. ] meete that we should leaue the worde of God to serue the [Note: [d] Banquets: though by the name of tables, other offices are also meant, which are annexed to it, such as perteine to the care of the poore. ] tables.

³ [Note: [3] In chusing of Deacons (& much more of Ministers) there must be examination both of their learning and maners of life. ] Wherefore brethren, looke ye out among you seuen men of honest report, and full of the holy Ghost, and of wisedome, which we may appoint to this busines.

⁴ And we will giue our selues continually to prayer, and to the ministration of the worde.

⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Steuen a man full of fayth and of the holy Ghost, and [Note: Chap.21.8. ] Philippe, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a Proselyte of Antiochia,

⁶ [Note: [4] The auncient Church did with laying on of hands, as it were consecrate to the Lord, such as were lawfully elected. ] Which they set before the Apostles: and they prayed, and [Note: [e] This ceremonie of laying on of hands, came from the Iewes, who vsed this order both in publike affaires, and offering of sacrifices, and also in priuate prayers and blessings, as appeareth, Gene.28. and the Church obserued this ceremonie, 1.Tim.5.22. acts.8.17. but here is no mention made either of creame, or shauing, or rasing, or crossing, &c. ] layed their hands on them.

⁷ [Note: [5] An happy ende of temptation. ] And the worde of God increased, and the nomber of the disciples was multipled in Hierusalem greatly, and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the [Note: [f] This is the figure Metonymia, meaning by faith, the doctrine of the Gospel which engendreth faith. ] faith.

⁸ ¶ [Note: [6] God exerciseth his Church first with euill wordes and slanders, then with imprisonments, afterward with scourgings, and by these meanes prepareth it in such sort, that at length he causeth it to encounter with Satan and the world, euen to bloodshead and death, and that with good successe. ] Now Steuen full of faith & [Note: [g] Excellent and singular giftes. ] power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

⁹ [Note: [7] Schooles and Vniuersities were of olde time addicted to false pastours, and were the instruments of Satan to blowe abroad and defende false doctrines. ] Then there arose certaine of the [Note: [h] Of the company and Colledge as it were. ] Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, & of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, and disputed with Steuen.

¹⁰ [Note: [8] False teachers, because they will not be ouercome, flee from disputations to manifest & open slaundring and false accusations. ] But they were not able to resist the wisdome, and the Spirit by the which he spake.

¹¹ Then they suborned men, which saide, We haue heard him speake blasphemous wordes against Moses, and God.

¹² [Note: [9] The first bloody persecution of the Church of Christ begun and sprang from a Council of Priests by the suggestion of the Vniuersitie doctours. ] Thus they mooued the people & the Elders, and the Scribes: and running vpon him, caught him, and brought him to the Councill,

¹³ [Note: [10] An example of cauillers or false accusers, which gather false conclusions of things that are well vttered and spoken. ] And set forth false witnesses, which sayd, This man ceasseth not to speake blasphemous wordes against this holy place, and the Law.

¹⁴ For we haue heard him say, that this Iesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the ordinances, which Moses gaue vs.

¹⁵ And as all that sate in the Councill, looked stedfastly on him, they [Note: [i] Hereby it appeared that Steuen had an excellent and goodly countenance, hauing a quiet and setled minde, a good conscience, and sure persuasion that his cause was iust: For seeing he was to speake before the people, God beautified his countenance, to the ende that with the very beholding of him, the Iewes mindes might be pearced and amased. ] saw his face as it had bene the face of an Angel.

1 Steuen pleading his cause, sheweth that God chose the Fathers, 20 before Moses was borne, 47 and before the Temple was built: 44 And that all outwarde ceremonies were ordeined according to the heauenly Paterne. 54 The Iewes gnashing their teeth, 59 stone him.

¹ Then [Note: [1] Steuen is admitted to pleade his cause, but to this end and purpose, that vnder a cloke and colour of Lawe, he might be condemned. ] sayd the chiefe Priest, Are these things so?

² [Note: [2] Steuen witnesseth vnto the Iewes, that hee acknowledgeth the true fathers, and the onely true God: and sheweth moreouer that they are more auncient then the Temple, with all that seruice appointed by the Lawe, and therefore they ought to lay an other foundation of true religion, that is to say, the free couenant that God made with the fathers. ] And he sayd, Ye men, brethren and Fathers, hearken. [Note: Gene.12.4. ] That God of [Note: [a] That mightie God full of glory and maiestie. ] glory appeared vnto our father Abraham, while he was in [Note: [b] When he sayth afterward, vers.4. that Abraham came out of Chaldea, it is euident that Mesopotamia conteined Chaldea which was neere vnto it, and bordering vpon it, and so writeth Plinius, Booke 6. chap.27. ] Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

³ And said vnto him, Come out of thy countrey, and from thy kindred, and come into the land, which I shall shewe thee.

⁴ Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran. And after that his father was dead, God brought him from thence into this land, wherein ye now dwell,

⁵ And hee gaue him none inheritance in it, no, not the [Note: [c] Not so much ground as to set his foote vpon. ] bredth of a foote: yet he [Note: [d] The promise of the poßession was certaine, and belonged to Abraham, though his posteritie enioyed it a great while after his death: and this is the figure Synecdoche. ] promised that he would giue it to him for a possession, and to his seede after him, when as yet hee had no childe.

⁶ But God spake thus, that his [Note: Gene.15.13. ] seede should be a soiourner in a strange land: and that they should keepe it in bondage, and entreate it euill [Note: [e] There are reckoned foure hundreth yeeres, from the beginning of Abrahams progenie, which was at the birth of Isaac: and foure hundreth and thirtie yeeres which are spoken of by Paul, Galat.3.17. from the time that Abraham and his father departed together out of Vr of the Chaldeans. ] foure hundreth yeeres.

⁷ But the nation to whome they shall be in bondage, will I iudge, sayth God: and after that, they shall come forth and serue me in this place.

⁸ [Note: Gen.17.9. ] Hee gaue him also the couenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begate [Note: Gene.21.3. ] Isaac, and circumcised him the eight day: and Isaac begate [Note: Gene.25.24. ] Iacob, and Iacob the twelue [Note: Gene.29.33.and 30.5. and 35.23. ] Patriarkes.

⁹ [Note: [3] Steuen reckoneth vp diligently the horrible mischiefes of some of the Fathers, to teach the Iewes that they ought not rashly to rest in the authoritie or examples of the Fathers. ] And the Patriarkes moued with enuie, solde [Note: Gene.37.28. ] Ioseph into Egypt: but God was [Note: [f] By this kinde of speach, is meant the peculiar fauour that God sheweth men: for hee seemeth to be away from them, whome hee helpeth not, and on the other side, hee is with them whome hee deliuereth out of whatsoeuer great troubles. ] with him,

¹⁰ And deliuered him out of all his afflictions, and [Note: Gene.41.37. ] gaue him [Note: [g] Gaue him fauour in Pharaos sight for his wisedome. ] fauour and wisdome in the sight of Pharao King of Egypt, who made him gouernour ouer Egypt, and ouer his whole house.

¹¹ ¶ Then came there a famine ouer all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction, that our fathers found no sustenance.

¹² But when [Note: Gene.42.1. ] Iacob heard that there was corne in Egypt, he sent our fathers first:

¹³ [Note: Gene.45.4. ] And at the second time, Ioseph was knowen of his brethren, and Iosephs kindred was made knowen vnto Pharao.

¹⁴ Then sent Ioseph and caused his father to be brought, and all his kindred, euen threescore and fifteene soules.

¹⁵ So [Note: Gene.46.5. ] Iacob went downe into Egypt, and he [Note: Gene.49.33. ] dyed, and our fathers,

¹⁶ And were [Note: [h] The Patriarkes the sonnes of Iacob, though there be mentions made of no moe then Ioseph, Iosh.24.32. ] remoued into Sychem, and were put in the sepulchre, that Abraham had bought [Note: Gene.23.16. ] for money of the sonnes of Emor, sonne of Sychem.

¹⁷ But when the time of the promes drewe neere, which God had sworne to Abraham, the people [Note: Exod.17. ] grewe and multiplied in Egypt,


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¹⁸ Till another King arose, which knewe not Ioseph.

¹⁹ The same [Note: [i] He deuised a subtil inuention against our stocke, in that he commanded all the males to be cast out. ] dealt subtilly with our kindred, and euill entreated our fathers, and made them to cast out their yong children, that they should not remaine aliue.

²⁰ [Note: Exod.2.2. ] The same time was Moses borne, and was [Note: [k] That childe was borne through Gods mercifull goodnesse and fauour, to be of a goodly and faire countenance. ] acceptable vnto God, which was nourished vp in his fathers house three moneths.

²¹ And when he was cast out, Pharaos daughter tooke him vp, and nourished him for her owne sonne.

²² And Moses was learned in all the wisdome of the Egyptians, and was mightie in wordes and in deedes.

²³ Nowe when he was full fourtie yeere olde, it came into his heart to visite his brethren, the children of Israel.

²⁴ [Note: Exod.2.11. ] And whe he saw one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, & auenged his quarell that had the harme done to him, and smote the Egyptian.

²⁵ For hee supposed his brethren would haue vnderstand, that God by his hande should giue them deliuerance: but they vnderstoode it not.

²⁶ [Note: Exod.2.13. ] And the next day, he shewed himselfe vnto them as they stroue, and woulde haue set them at one againe, saying, Syrs, ye are brethren: why doe ye wrong one to another?

²⁷ But he that did his neighbour wrong, thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a prince, and a iudge ouer vs?

²⁸ Wilt thou kill mee, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

²⁹ Then fled Moses at that saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begate two sonnes.

³⁰ And when fourtie yeres were expired, there appeared to him in the [Note: Exod.3.2. ] wildernes of mout Sina, an [Note: [l] Now he calleth the Sonne of God an Angel, for he is the Angel of great counsell, and therefore straightwayes after hee sheweth him, saying to Moses, I am that God of thy Fathers, &c. ] Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire, in a bush.

³¹ And when Moses sawe it, hee wondred at the sight: and as he drew neere to consider it, the voyce of the Lord came vnto him, saying,

³² I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. Then Moses trembled, & durst not behold it.

³³ Then the Lord said to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feete: for the place where thou standest, is holy ground.

³⁴ I haue seene, I haue seene the affliction of my people, which is in Egypt, & I haue heard their groning, and am come downe to deliuer them: and nowe come, and I will sende thee into Egypt.

³⁵ This Moses whome they forsooke, saying, Who made thee a prince and a iudge? the same God sent for a prince, & a deliuerer by the [Note: [m] By the power. ] hand of the Angel, which appeared to him in the bush.

³⁶ Hee [Note: Exo.7.8.9.10. 11.14. Chapters. ] brought them out, doing wonders, and miracles in the land of Egypt, and in the red sea, and in the wildernes [Note: Exod.16.1. ] fourtie yeeres.

³⁷ [Note: [4] He acknowledgeth Moses for the law giuer, but so, that he proueth by his owne witnes, that the Lawe had respect to a more perfect thing, that is to say, to the propheticall office which tended to Christ, the head of all Prophets. ] This is that Moses, which saide vnto the children of Israel, [Note: Deut.18.15. chap.3.22. ] A Prophet shall the Lorde your God raise vp vnto you, euen of your brethren, like vnto me: him shall ye heare.

³⁸ [Note: Exod.19.2. ] This is he that was in the Congregation, in the wildernes with the Angell, which spake to him in mount Sina, and with our fathers, who receiued the liuely oracles to giue vnto vs.

³⁹ To whom our fathers would not obey, but refused, and in their hearts turned backe againe into Egypt:

⁴⁰ Saying vnto Aaron, [Note: Exod.32.1. ] Make vs gods that may goe before vs: for we knowe not what is become of this Moses that brought vs out of the land of Egypt.

⁴¹ And they made a [Note: [n] This was the superstition of the Egyptians idolatrie: for they worshipped Apis a strange and marueilous calfe, and made goodly images of Kine. Herod.lib.2. ] calfe in those dayes, and offered sacrifice vnto the idole, and reioyced in the workes of their owne handes.

⁴² Then God turned himselfe away, and [Note: [o] Being destitute and voyde of his Spirit, he gaue them vp to Satan, and wicked lustes, to worship starres. ] gaue them vp to serue the [Note: [p] By the hoste of heauen here, hee meaneth not the Angels, but the moone and sunne, and other starres, Deut.17.3. ] host of heauen, as it is written in the booke of the Prophets, [Note: Amos 5.25. ] O house of Israel, haue ye offred to me slaine beasts and sacrifices by the space of fourtie yeres in the wildernes?

⁴³ And ye [Note: [q] You tooke it vpon your shoulders and caried it. ] tooke vp the tabernacle of Moloch, and the starre of your god Remphan, figures, which ye made to worship them: therefore I will carie you away beyond Babylon.

⁴⁴ [Note: [5] Moses in deede erected a tabernacle, but that was to call them backe to that fourme which he had seene in the mountaine. ] Our fathers had the tabernacle of [Note: [r] That is, of the couenant. ] witnes, in the wildernes, as hee had appointed, speaking vnto [Note: Exod.25.40. hebr.8.5. ] Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seene.

⁴⁵ [Note: Iosh.3.14. ] Which tabernacle also our fathers [Note: [s] Deliuered from hand to hand. ] receiued, and brought in with Iesus into the [Note: [t] By the figure Metonymie, for the coutreys which the Gentiles posseßed. ] possession of the Gentiles, which God draue out [Note: [u] God draue them out, that they should yeelde vp the possession of those countreis to our fathers, when they entred into the land. ] before our fathers, vnto the dayes of Dauid:

⁴⁶ [Note: 2.Sam.7.2. psalme 132.5. ] Who found fauour before God, and desired that hee might finde a tabernacle for the God of Iacob.

⁴⁷ [Note: 1.Chron.17.12. 1.king.6.1. ] [Note: [6] Solomon built a Temple, according to Gods commandement, but not with any such condition that the Maiestie of God should be inclosed therein. ] But Solomon built him an house.

⁴⁸ Howbeit the most High [Note: Chap.17.24. ] dwelleth not in temples made with handes, as saith the Prophet,

⁴⁹ [Note: Esa.66.1. ] Heauen is my throne, and earth is my footestoole: what house wil ye build for me, saith the Lord? or what place is it that I should rest in?

⁵⁰ Hath not mine hand made all these things?

⁵¹ [Note: Ier.9.26. eze.44.9. ] [Note: [7] Steuen mooued with the zeale of God, at length iudge this owne iudges. ] Ye stiffenecked and of [Note: [x] They are of vncircumcised hearts, which lie drownde still in the sinnes of nature, and sticke fast to them: for otherwise all the Iewes were circumcised as touching the flesh, and therefore there were two kindes of Circumcision, Rom.2.28. ] vncircumcised heartes and eares, ye haue alwayes resisted the holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you.

⁵² Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted? & they haue slaine them, which shewed before of the comming of that Iust, of whome ye are now the betrayers and murtherers,

⁵³ [Note: Exo.19.16. gal.3 19. ] Which haue receiued the Lawe by the [Note: [y] By the ministerie of Angels. ] ordinance of Angels, and haue not kept it.

⁵⁴ [Note: [8] The more Sata is pressed, the more he brasteth out into an open rage. ] But when they heard these thinges, their heartes brast for anger, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

⁵⁵ [Note: [9] The neerer yt the Martyrs approch to death, the neerer they beholding Christ doe rise vp euen into heauen. ] But he being full of the holy Ghost, looked stedfastly into heauen, and sawe the glory of God, & Iesus [Note: [z] Ready to confirme him in the confeßion of the trueth, and to receiue him to him. ] standing at the right hand of God,

⁵⁶ And said, Beholde, I see the heauens open, and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of God.

⁵⁷ [Note: [10] The zeale of hypocrites and superstitions people, breaketh out at legth into most open madnes. ] Then they gaue a shoute with a loude voyce, and stopped their eares, and [Note: [a] This was done in a rage and furie, for at that time the Iewes could put no man to death by law, as they confeße before Pilate, saying, that it was not lawful for them to put any ma to death, & therefore it is reported by Ios.lib.20 that Ananus a Sadduce slew Iames the brother of the Lord, & for so doing, was accused before Albinus the President of the coutry. ] ranne vpon him violently all at once,

⁵⁸ And cast him out of the citie, and stoned him: and the [Note: [b] It was appointed by the Law, that the witneßes should cast the first stones, Deut.17.7. ] witnesses layd downe their clothes at a yong mans feete, named Saul.

⁵⁹ And they stoned Steuen, who called on [Page]

God, and said, Lord Iesus, receiue my spirit.

⁶⁰ [Note: [11] Faith and charitie neuer forsake the true seruants of God, euen to the last breath. ] And he kneeled downe, and cried with a loude voyce, Lorde, [Note: [c] The word which he vseth here, noteth out such a kinde of imputing or laying to ones charge, as remaineth firme & stedy for euer, neuer to be remitted. ] laye not this sinne to their charge. And when he had thus spoken, he [Note: [d] Looke 1.Thes.4.13. ] slept.

2 The godly make lamentation for Steuen. 3 Saul maketh hauocke of the Church. 5 Philip preacheth Christ at Samaria. 9 Simon Magus 18 his couetousnes reproued. 26 Philip 27 cometh to the Ethiopian Eunuche, 38 and baptizeth him.

¹ And [Note: [1] Christ vseth the rage of his enemies to the spreading foorth and enlarging of his kingdome. ] Saul consented to his death, and at that time, there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Hierusalem, and they were all scattered abroad thorowe the regions of Iudea and of Samaria, except the Apostles.

² [Note: [2] The godly mourne for Steuen after his death, and burie him, shewing therein an example of singular faith and charitie: but no man prayeth to him. ] Then certaine men fearing God, [Note: [a] Amongst all the dueties of charitie which the godly vse, there is no mention made of shrining vp of relikes. ] caried Steuen amongs them, to be buried, and made great lamentation for him.

³ [Note: [3] The dispersion or scattring abroad of the faithfull, is the ioyning together of Churches. ] But Saul made hauocke of the Church, and entred into euery house, and drewe out both men and women, and put them into prison.

⁴ Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went to and fro preaching the worde.

⁵ ¶ [Note: [4] Philip, who was before a Deacon in Hierusalem, is made of God extraordinarily an Euangelist. ] Then came Philip into the citie of Samaria, and preached Christ vnto them.

⁶ And the people gaue heed vnto those things which Philippe spake, with one accorde, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

⁷ For vncleane spirits crying wt a loud voyce, came out of many that were possessed of them: and many taken wt palsies, & that halted, were healed.

⁸ And there was great ioy in that citie.

⁹ [Note: [5] Christ ouercommeth Satan so oft as he listeth, and carieth him about as it were in a triumphe, in the sight of them, whome he deceiued, and bewitched. ] And there was before in the citie a certaine man called Simon, which vsed [Note: [b] The word which is vsed in this place was at the first taken in good part, and is borowed out of the Persians language, who call their wise men by that name, but afterward it was taken in euill part. ] witchcraft, and [Note: [c] He had so allured the Samaritans with his witchcrafts, that as blind & mad hare braines they were wholly addicted to him. ] bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himselfe was some great man.

¹⁰ To whome they gaue heede from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that great power of God.

¹¹ And they gaue heed vnto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them wt sorceries.

¹² But assoone as they beleeued Philip, which preached the thinges that concerned the kingdome of God, and the Name of Iesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.

¹³ [Note: [6] The wicked and the very reprobate are constrained oftentimes to taste of the good gift of God, but they cast it vp againe forthwith. ] Then Simon himselfe beleeued also and was baptized, and continued with Philippe, and wondred, when he sawe the signes and great miracles which were done.

¹⁴ ¶ [Note: [7] Peter, not chiefe, but as an ambassadour sent from the whole company of the Apostles, and Iohn his companion, according to the authoritie which was committed vnto them, confirme and build vpon the Churches of Samaria, whose foundation had bene layde afore by Philip. ] Nowe when the Apostles, which were at Hierusalem, heard say, that Samaria had receiued the worde of God, they sent vnto them Peter and Iohn.

¹⁵ Which whe they were come downe, prayed for them, that they might receiue the [Note: [d] Those excellent giftes, which are neceßarie, especially for them that were to be appointed rulers and gouernours of the Church. ] holy Ghost.

¹⁶ (For as yet, hee was fallen downe on none of them, but they were baptized onely in the Name of the Lord Iesus.)

¹⁷ Then layd they their handes on them, and they receiued the holy Ghost.

¹⁸ [Note: [8] Ambition and couetousnesse doe at length plucke the hypocrites out of their dennes. ] And when Simon sawe, that through laying on of the Apostles hands the holy Ghost was giuen, he offred them money,

¹⁹ Saying, Giue mee also this power, that on

whomsoeuer I lay the handes, he may receiue the holy Ghost.

²⁰ [Note: [9] They are the successors of Simon Magus, and not of Simon Peter, which either buy or sell holy things. ] Then saide Peter vnto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obteined with money.

²¹ Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this [Note: [e] In this doctrine which I preache. ] businesse: for thine heart is not [Note: [f] Is not vpright in deede, and without dißembling. ] right in the sight of God.

²² [Note: [10] Wee must hope well euen of the vilest sinners, so long and so farre foorth as we may. ] Repent therefore of this thy wickednes, and pray God, that if it be possible, the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee.

²³ For I see that thou art in the [Note: [g] He calleth the inward malice of the heart, and that venimous and deuilish wickednesse wherewith this Magician was wholly replenished, the gall of bitterneße: and he is said to be in the gall, as though hee were wholy ouerwhelmed with gall, and buried in it. ] gall of bitternes, and in the [Note: [h] Intangled in the bonds of iniquitie. ] bonde of iniquitie.

²⁴ Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye haue spoken, come vpon me.

²⁵ ¶ So they, when they had testified & preached the worde of the Lord, returned to Hierusalem, and preached the Gospel in many townes of the Samaritans.

²⁶ [Note: [11] Christ who calleth freely whome he listeth, doeth nowe vse Philippe who thought on no such matter, to instruct and baptize the Eunuche at vnwares, and by this meanes extendeth the limits of his kingdome euen into Ethiopia. ] Then the Angel of the Lorde spake vnto Philip, saying, Arise, and goe towarde the South vnto the way that goeth downe from Hierusalem vnto Gaza, which is waste.

²⁷ And hee arose and went on: and beholde, a certaine Eunuche of Ethiopia, Candaces the Queene of the Ethiopians [Note: [i] A man of great wealth and authoritie with Candaces: Now this word Candaces is a common name to all the Queenes of Ethiopia. ] chiefe Gouernour, who had the rule of all her treasure, and came to Hierusalem to worship:

²⁸ And as he returned sitting in his charet, he read Esaias the Prophet.

²⁹ Then the Spirit said vnto Philip, Goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet.

³⁰ And Philip ranne thither, and heard him reade the Prophet Esaias, and said, But vnderstandest thou what thou readest?

³¹ And he saide, Howe can I, except I had [Note: [k] To shewe me the way how to vnderstand it. ] a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come vp and sit with him.

³² [Note: [12] Those things which seeme most to come by chance or fortune (as men terme it) are gouerned by the secret prouidence of God. ] Nowe the place of the Scripture which he read, was this, [Note: Esai 53.7. ] Hee was lead as a sheepe to the slaughter: and like a lambe domme before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

³³ In his [Note: [l] The Hebrew text readeth it thus, Out of a narrow straite, and out of iudgement was he taken: where by the narrow straight, hee meaneth the graue and the very bandes of death, and by iudgement, the punishmet which was layd vpon him, and that miserable state which Christ tooke vpon him for our sakes, in bearing his Fathers wrath. ] humilitie his iudgement hath bene exalted: but who shall declare his [Note: [m] How long his age shal last: for Christ hauing once risen fro the dead, dieth no more, Rom.6.9. ] generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

³⁴ Then the Eunuche answered Philippe, and saide, I pray thee of whome speaketh the Prophet this? of himselfe, or of some other man?

³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, & preached vnto him Iesus.

³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came vnto a certaine water, and the Eunuche said, See, here is water: what doeth let me to be baptized?

³⁷ [Note: [13] Profession of faith is requisite in baptizing of them which are of yeeres, and therefore it is euident that we are not then first engraffed into Christ, when wee are baptized, but being alreadie engraffed, are then confirmed. ] And Philippe said vnto him, If thou beleeuest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Then he answered, and saide, [Note: [n] The summe of the confeßion which is neceßarie for baptisme. ] I beleeue that that Iesus Christ is that Sonne of God.

³⁸ Then he commaunded the charet to stand stil: & they went downe both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuche, and he baptized him.

³⁹ And assoone as they were come vp out of the water, the Spirit of the Lorde caught away Philip, that the Eunuche sawe him no more: so he went on his way reioycing.


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⁴⁰ But Philippe was found at Azotus, and he walked to and fro preaching in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.

2 Saul going towards Damascus, 4 is strooken downe to the ground of the Lord: 10 Ananias is sent 18 to baptize him. 23 The laying awaite of the Iewes 25 he escapeth, being let downe through the wall. 33 Peter cureth Aeneas of the palsie, 36 and by him Tabitha being dead 40 is restored to life.

¹ And [Note: [1] Saul (who is also Paul) persecuting Christ most cruelly, who did as it were flee before him, falleth into his hands and is ouercome: and with a singular example of the goodnes of God, in stead of punishment which he iustly deserued for his crueltie, is not onely receiued to fauour, but is also euen by the mouth of God appointed an Apostle, and is confirmed by the ministerie and witnes of Ananias. ] [Note: Rom.9.3. galat.1.13. ] Saul yet [Note: [a] This is a token that Sauls stomake boyled and cast out great threatnings to murder the disciples. ] breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of ye Lord, went vnto the hie Priest,

² And desired of him letters to Damascus to the Synagogues, that if he found any that were of that [Note: [b] Any trade of life which a man taketh him selfe vnto, the Iewes call away. ] way (either men or women) hee might bring them bound vnto Hierusalem.

³ Now as he iourneyed, it came to passe that as he was come neere to Damascus, [Note: Chap.22.6. 1.cor.15.8. ] suddenly there shined rounde about him a light from heauen.

⁴ And hee fell to the earth, and heard a voyce, saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁵ And he sayd, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord sayd, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest: it is [Note: [c] This is a prouerb, which is spoken of them that through their owne stubburneße hurt them selues. ] hard for thee to kicke against pricks.

⁶ He then both trembling and astonied, sayd, Lord, what wilt thou that I doe? And the Lord sayd vnto him, Arise and goe into the citie, and it shall be tolde thee what thou shalt doe.

⁷ The men also which iourneyed with him, [Note: [d] Stood still and could not goe one step forward, but abode amased as if they had bene very stones. ] stood amased, hearing his [Note: [e] They heard Pauls voyce: for afterward it is sayd in flat termes, that they heard not his voyce that spake: as beneath chap. 22.9. But other go about to set these places at one which seeme to be at a iarre, after this sort, to wit, that they heard a sound of a voyce, but no perfite voyce. ] voyce, but seeing no man.

⁸ And Saul arose from the ground, and opened his eyes, but sawe no man. Then led they him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus,

⁹ Where he was three dayes without sight, and neither ate nor dranke.

¹⁰ And there was a certaine disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and to him sayd the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he sayd, Beholde, I am here Lord.

¹¹ Then the Lord sayd vnto him, Arise, and goe into the streete which is called Straight, and seeke in the house of Iudas after one called Saul of [Note: [f] Tarsus was a citie of Cilicia neere vnto Anchiala, which two cities Sardanapalus is sayd to haue built in one day. ] Tarsus: for beholde, he prayeth.

¹² (And he sawe in a vision a man named Ananias comming in to him, and putting his hands on him, that he might receiue his sight.)

¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I haue heard by many of this man, howe much euill hee hath done to thy saints at Hierusalem.

¹⁴ Moreouer here hee hath authoritie of the hie Priestes, to binde all that call on thy Name.

¹⁵ Then the Lord said vnto him, Go thy way: for he is a [Note: [g] To beare my name in. ] chosen vessell vnto me, to beare my Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.

¹⁶ For I will [Note: [h] I will shew him plainely. ] shewe him, howe many things he must suffer for my Names sake.

¹⁷ Then Ananias went his way, and entred into [Note: [i] Into Iudas his house. ] that house, and put his hands on him, and sayd, Brother Saul, the Lorde hath sent me (euen Iesus that appeared vnto thee in the way as thou camest) that thou mightest receiue thy sight, and be filled with the holy Ghost.

¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had bene scales, & suddenly he receiued sight, and arose, and was baptized,

¹⁹ And receiued meate, & was strengthened.

So was Saul certaine dayes with the disciples which were at Damascus.

²⁰ [Note: [2] Paul beginneth straightwayes to execute the office which was enioyned him, neuer consulting with flesh and blood. ] And straightway hee preached Christ in the Synagogues, that he was that Sonne of God,

²¹ So that all that heard him, were amased, and sayde, Is not this hee, that made hauocke of them which called on this Name in Hierusalem, and came hither for that intent, that hee should bring them bound vnto the hie Priests?

²² [Note: [3] Paul striueth not with his owne authoritie alone, but with the testimonies of the Prophets. ] But Saul encreased the more in strength, and confounded the Iewes which dwelt at Damascus, [Note: [k] By conferring places of the Scripture together, as cunning craftsmen doe, when they make vp any thing they vse to gather all partes together, to make them agree fitly one with another. ] confirming, that this was that Christ.

²³ [Note: [4] Paul who was before a persecutour, hath nowe persecution layd before him selfe, but yet a farre off. ] And after that many dayes were fulfilled, the Iewes tooke counsell together, to kill him,

²⁴ But their laying awayte was knowen of Saul: nowe they [Note: 2.Cor.11.32. ] watched the gates day and night, that they might kill him.

²⁵ [Note: [5] We are not forbidden to auoyde and eschew the dangers and conspiracies that the enemies of God lay for vs, so that we swarue not from our vocation. ] Then the disciples tooke him by night, and put him through the wall, and let him downe by a rope in a basket.

²⁶ [Note: [6] In auncient time, no man was rashly or lightly receiued into the nomber of and amongst the sheepe of Christ, much lesse to be a pastour. ] And when Saul was come to Hierusalem, he assayed to ioyne himselfe with the disciples: but they were all afrayd of him, and beleeued not that he was a disciple.

²⁷ But Barnabas tooke him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared to them, howe hee had seene the Lord in the way, and that hee had spoken vnto him, and how he had spoken boldly at Damascus in the Name of Iesus.

²⁸ [Note: [7] The constant seruants of God must looke for danger after danger: yet God watcheth for them. ] And hee was conuersant [Note: [l] With Peter and Iames, for he saith that he sawe none of the Apostles but them, Gala.1.18, 19. ] with them at Hierusalem,

²⁹ And spake boldly in the Name of the Lord Iesus, and spake and disputed against the [Note: [m] Looke chap.6.1. ] Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

³⁰ [Note: [8] The Ministers of the worde may change their place, by the aduise and counsell of the congregation and Church. ] But when the brethren knewe it, they brought him to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

³¹ [Note: [9] The ende of persecutions is the building of the Church, so that we will patiently waite for the Lorde. ] Then had the Churches rest through all Iudea, and Galile, and Samaria, and were [Note: [n] This is a borowed kinde of speach, which signifieth establishment and increase. ] edified and walked in the feare of the Lorde, and were multiplied by the comfort of the holy Ghost.

³² [Note: [10] Peters Apostleship is confirmed, by healing of the man that was sicke of the palsy. ] And it came to passe, as Peter walked throughout all quarters, hee came also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

³³ And there he found a certaine man named Aeneas, which had kept his couch eight yeeres, and was sicke of the palsie.

³⁴ Then said Peter vnto him, Aeneas, Iesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise and trusse thy couch together. And he arose immediately.

³⁵ And all that dwelt at [Note: [o] Lydda was a citie of Palestine, and Saron a champion countrey, and place of good pasturage, betweene Cesarea of Palestine and the mountaine Tabor, and the lake of Genezareth which extendeth it selfe in great length beyond Ioppa. ] Lydda and Saron, sawe him, and turned to the Lord.

³⁶ [Note: [11] Peter declareth euidently by raising vp a dead body through the name of Christ, that he preacheth the glad tydings of life. ] There was also at Ioppa a certaine woman, a disciple named Tabitha (which by interpretation is called Dorcas) she was full of good workes and almes which she did.

³⁷ And it came to passe in those dayes, that she was sicke & dyed: and when they had washed her, they layd her in an vpper chamber.

³⁸ Now forasmuch as Lydda was nere to Ioppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent vnto him two men, desiring that he would not delay to come vnto them.
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³⁹ Then Peter arose and came with them: and when hee was come, they brought him into the vpper chamber, where all the widowes stoode by him weeping, and shewing the coates and garments, which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

⁴⁰ But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled downe, and prayed, and turned him to the body, and sayd, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she sawe Peter, sate vp.

⁴¹ Then he gaue her the hand and lift her vp, and called the Saints and widowes, and restored her aliue.

⁴² And it was knowen throughout all Ioppa, and many beleeued in the Lord.

⁴³ And it came to passe that he taried many dayes in Ioppa with one Simon a Tanner.

1 Cornelius, 4 at the Angels commaundement, 5 sendeth for Peter: 11 Who also by a vision 15. 20 is taught not to despise the Gentiles: 34 He preacheth the Gospel to Cornelius and his housholde: 45 Who hauing receiued the holy Ghost, 47 are baptized.

¹ Fvrthermore [Note: [1] Peter consecrateth the first fruites of the Gentiles to God by the meane of two miracles. ] there was a certaine man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captaine of the band called the Italian band,

² A [Note: [a] So that he worshipped one God, and was no Idolater, neither could be voide of faith in Christ, because hee was a deuoute man: but as yet he knewe not that hee was come. ] deuoute man, and one that feared God with [Note: [b] This is a great commendation to this man, that hee laboured to haue all his housholde and familiar friends & acquaintance to be religious and godly. ] all his housholde, which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed God continually.

³ He sawe in a vision euidently (about the ninth houre of the day) an Angel of God comming in to him, and saying vnto him, Cornelius.

⁴ But when hee looked on him, hee was afrayd, and sayd, [Note: [c] What wilt thou with me, Lord? for he setleth himselfe to heare. ] What is it, Lord? and he sayd vnto him, Thy prayers & thine almes are [Note: [d] This is a borowed kinde of speache which the Hebrues vse very much, taken from sacrifices and applied to prayers: for it is sayd of whole burnt sacrifices, that the smoke and sauour of them goeth vp into Gods nostrels, so do our prayers, as a sweete smelling sacrifice which the Lord taketh great pleasure in. ] come vp into [Note: [e] That is, in so much that they will not suffer God as it were to forget thee: for so doeth the Scripture vse oftentimes to prattle with vs as nurses doe with litle children, when they frame their tongues to speake. ] remembrance before God.

⁵ Nowe therefore send men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

⁶ Hee lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to doe.

⁷ And when the Angel which spake vnto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his seruants, and a souldier that feared God, one of them that waited on him,

⁸ And tolde them all things, and sent them to Ioppa.

⁹ On the morow as they went on their iourney, and drew neere vnto the citie, Peter went vp vpon the house to pray, about the sixt houre.

¹⁰ Then waxed hee an hungred, and would haue eaten: but while they made some thing ready, he fell into a [Note: [f] For though Peter stand not amased as one that is tongue tied, but talketh with God, & is instructed in his mysteries, yet his minde was farre otherwise then it was wont to be, but shortly returned to the olde bent. ] trance.

¹¹ And hee sawe heauen opened, and a certaine vessell come downe vnto him, as it had bene a great sheete, knit at the [Note: [g] So that it seemed to be a fouresquare sheete. ] foure corners, & was let downe to the earth.

¹² Wherein were [Note: [h] Here is this word (All) which is general, plainely put for an indefinite and vncertaine, that is to say, for some of all sortes, not for all of euery sort. ] all maner of [Note: [i] That is, such as were meete for mens vse. ] foure footed beastes of the earth, and wilde beastes and [Note: [k] What is meant by these creeping things, Looke Leuit.11. ] creeping things, and foules of the heauen.

¹³ And there came a voyce to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eate.

¹⁴ [Note: [2] Peter profiteth dayly in the knowledge of the benefite of Christ, yea after that he had receiued the holy Ghost. ] But Peter sayd, Not so, Lord: for I haue

neuer eaten any thing that is polluted, or vncleane.

¹⁵ And the voyce spake vnto him againe the second time, The things that God hath purified, [Note: [l] Doe not thou holde them as vncleane. ] pollute thou not.

¹⁶ This was so done thrise: and the vessell was drawen vp againe into heauen.

¹⁷ ¶ Nowe while Peter douted in himselfe what this vision which he had seene, meant, beholde, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simons house, and stoode at the gate,

¹⁸ And called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

¹⁹ And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit sayde vnto him, Beholde, three men seeke thee.

²⁰ Arise therefore, and get thee downe, and goe with them, and doute nothing: For I haue sent them.

²¹ ¶ Then Peter went downe to the men, which were sent vnto him from Cornelius, and sayd, Beholde, I am he whome ye seeke: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

²² And they sayd, Cornelius the captaine, a iust man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Iewes, was warned from heauen by an holy Angel, to send for thee into his house, and to heare thy wordes.

²³ Then called he them in, and lodged them, and the next day, Peter went foorth with them, and certaine brethren from Ioppa accompanied him.

²⁴ ¶ And the day after, they entred into Cesarea. Nowe Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsemen, and special friends.

²⁵ [Note: [3] Religious adoration or worship agreeth onely to God: but ciuill worship is giuen to the Ministers of the word, although not without danger. ] And it came to passe as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell downe at his feete, and worshipped him.

²⁶ But Peter tooke him vp, saying, Stand vp: for euen I my selfe am a man.

²⁷ And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together.

²⁸ And he sayd vnto them, Ye know that it is an vnlawfull thing for a man that is a Iewe, to company, or come vnto one of another nation: but God hath shewed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or vncleane.

²⁹ Therefore came I vnto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I aske therefore, for what intent haue ye sent for me?

³⁰ Then Cornelius sayd, Foure dayes agoe, about [Note: [m] Hee meaneth not the selfe same houre, but the like, that is, about nine of the clocke the other day, as it was then nine when he spake to Peter. ] this houre, I fasted, & at the ninth houre I prayed in mine house, and beholde, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

³¹ [Note: [4] Cornelius faith sheweth foorth it selfe by prayer and charitie. ] And sayd, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine almes are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

³² [Note: [5] As faith commeth by hearing, so is it nourished and groweth vp by the same. ] Send therefore to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the sea side) who when he commeth, shall speake vnto thee.

³³ Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Nowe therefore are we all here present before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God.

³⁴ [Note: [6] Distinction of nations is taken away by the comming of Christ: And it is euidently seene by faith and righteousnes, who is agreeable to him, or whome he accepteth. ] Then Peter opened his mouth, and sayd, Of a trueth I perceiue, that [Note: [n] That God iudgeth not after the outward appearance. ] [Note: Deut.10.17. 2.chro.19.7. iob. 34.19. rom.2.11. gala 2.6. ephes.6 9. colos.3.25. 1 pet. ] God is no accepter of persons.


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³⁵ But in euery nation he that [Note: [o] By the feare of God, the Hebrues vnderstand the whole seruice of God: whereby we perceiue that Cornelius was not voide of faith, no more then they were which liued before Christes time: and therefore they deale foolishly, which builde preparatiue workes and free will, vpon this place. ] feareth him, and worketh righteousnesse, is accepted with him.

³⁶ Ye [Note: [p] God gaue the Israelites to vnderstand, that whosoeuer liueth godly, is acceptable to God, of what nature soeuer he be, for he preached peace to men through Iesus Christ, who is Lord not of one nation onely, that is, of the Iewes, but of all. ] know the worde which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Iesus Christ, which is Lord of all:

³⁷ [Note: [7] The summe of the Gospel (which shall be made manifest at the latter day, when Christ himselfe shall sit as iudge both of the quicke and dead) is this, that Christ promised to the Fathers, and exhibited in his time with the mightie power of God, (which was by all meanes shewed) and at length crucified to reconcile vs to God, did rise againe the third day, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should be saued through the remission of sinnes. ] Euen the worde which came through all Iudea, [Note: Luke 4.14. ] beginning in Galile, after the baptisme which Iohn preached.

³⁸ To wit, howe God [Note: [q] The stile is taken from an olde custome of the Iewes, who vsed to anoint there Kings and Priestes, where upon it grewe, to call them anointed vpon whom God bestoweth giftes and vertues. ] anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the deuill: for God was with him.

³⁹ And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Iewes, and in Hierusalem, whom they slewe, hanging him on a tree.

⁴⁰ Him God raysed vp the third day, and caused that he was shewed openly:

⁴¹ Not to all the people, but vnto the witnesses [Note: [r] This chusing of the Apostles is properly giuen to God: for though God be president in the lawfull election of Ministers, yet there is in this place a secret opposition and setting of Gods chusing, and mens voyces the one against the other, for the Apostles are immediatly appointed of God, and the Church Ministers by meanes. ] chosen before of God, euen to vs which did eate and drinke with him, after he arose from the dead.

⁴² And he commanded vs to preach vnto the people, and to testifie, that it is he that is ordained of God a iudge of quicke and dead.

⁴³ To him also giue all the [Note: Iere.31.34. mica.7.18. chap.15.9. ] Prophets witnesse, that through his Name all that beleeue in him, shall receiue remission of sinnes.

⁴⁴ [Note: [8] The Spirit of God sealeth that in the heart of the hearers, which the Minister of the worde speaketh by the commandement of God, as it appeareth by the effectes. ] While Peter yet spake these wordes, the holy Ghost fell on al them which heard the word.

⁴⁵ So they of the circumcision which beleeued, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was powred out the gift of the holy Ghost.

⁴⁶ For they heard them speake with tongues, and magnifie God. Then answered Peter,

⁴⁷ [Note: [9] Baptisme doeth not sanctifie or make them holy which receiue it, but sealeth vp & confirmeth their sanctification. ] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which haue receiued the holy Ghost, as well as we?

⁴⁸ So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tary certaine dayes.

2 Peter being accused for going to the Gentiles, 5 defendeth himselfe. 22 Barnabas is sent to Antiochia, 26 where the disciples are called Christians: 28 And there Agabus foretelleth a famine to come.

¹ Nowe [Note: [1] Peter being without cause reprehended of the vnskilfull and ignorant, doeth not obiect that he ought not to be iudged of any, but openly giueth an accompt of his doing. ] the Apostles and the brethren that were in Iudea, heard, that the Gentiles had also receiued the worde of God.

² And when Peter was come vp to Hierusalem, they of the circumcision contended against him,

³ Saying, Thou wentest in to men vncircumcised, and hast eaten with them.

⁴ Then Peter beganne, and expounded the thing in order to them, saying,

⁵ I was in the citie of Ioppa, praying, and in a trance I sawe this vision, A certaine vessell comming downe as it had bene a great sheete, let downe from heauen by the foure corners, and it came to me.

⁶ Towarde the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and sawe foure footed beastes of the earth, and wilde beastes, and creeping things, and foules of the heauen.

⁷ Also I heard a voyce, saying vnto me, Arise, Peter: slay and eate.

⁸ And I said, God forbid, Lord: for nothing polluted or vncleane hath at any time entred into my mouth.

⁹ But the voyce answered me the seconde time from heauen, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not.

¹⁰ And this was done three times, and all were taken vp againe into heauen.

¹¹ Then behold, immediatly there were three men already come vnto the house where I was, sent from Cesarea vnto me.

¹² And the Spirit saide vnto me, that I should go with them, without doubting: moreouer these sixe brethren came with me, and we entred into the mans house.

¹³ And he shewed vs, howe he had seene an Angel in his house, which stoode and said to him, Send men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

¹⁴ He shall speake wordes vnto thee, whereby both thou and all thine house shalbe saued.

¹⁵ And as I began to speake, the holy Ghost fell on them, [Note: Chap.2.4. ] euen as vpon vs at the beginning.

¹⁶ Then I remembred the word of the Lord, howe he said, [Note: Chap.1.5. and 19.4. matth.3.11. marke 1.8. luke 3. 16. iohn 1.25. ] Iohn baptized with water, but ye shalbe baptized with the holy Ghost.

¹⁷ For as much then as God gaue them a like gift, as he did vnto vs, when we beleeued in the Lorde Iesus Christ, who was I, that I coulde let God?

¹⁸ [Note: [2] Such as aske a question of the trueth which they knowe not, ought to bee quietly heard, and must also quietly yeelde to the declaration thereof. ] When they heard these things, they helde their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles graunted repentance vnto life.

¹⁹ ¶ [Note: [3] The scattering abroade of the Church of Hierusalem, is the cause of the gathering together of many other Churches. ] And they which were [Note: Chap.8.1. ] scattered abroade because of the affliction that arose about Steuen, went throughout till they came vnto Phenice and Cyprus, and [Note: [a] He speaketh of Antiochia which was in Syria and bordered vpon Cilicia. ] Antiochia, preaching the worde to no man, but vnto the Iewes onely.

²⁰ [Note: [4] The Church of Antioche, the newe Hierusalem of the Gentiles, was extraordinarily called. ] Now some of them were men of Cyprus and of Cyrene, which when they were come into Antiochia, spake vnto the Grecians, and preached the Lord Iesus.

²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, so that a great number beleeued and turned vnto the Lord.

²² [Note: [5] The Apostles doe not rashly condemne an extraordinarie vocation, but yet they iudge it by the effectes. ] Then tydings of those things came vnto the eares of the Church, which was in Hierusalem, and they sent foorth Barnabas, that he should goe vnto Antiochia.

²³ Who when he was come and had seene the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted all, that with purpose of heart they would continue in the Lord.

²⁴ For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost, and faith, and much people ioyned them selues vnto the Lord.

²⁵ ¶ [Note: [6] There was no contention amongst the Apostles eyther of vsurping, or of holding places and degrees. ] Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus to seeke Saul:

²⁶ And when he had founde him, he brought him vnto Antiochia: and it came to passe that a whole yere they were conuersant with ye Church, and taught much people, in so much that the disciples were first called Christians in Antiochia.
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²⁷ [Note: [7] God doeth so wrappe vp his Church with the wicked, in his scourges and plagues which he sendeth vpon the earth, that notwithstanding be prouideth for it conueniently. ] In those dayes also came Prophets from Hierusalem vnto Antiochia.

²⁸ And there stoode vp one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great famine throughout all the world, which also came to passe vnder Claudius Cesar.

²⁹ [Note: [8] All congregations or Churches make one bodie. ] Then the disciples, euery man according to his habilitie, purposed to sende [Note: [b] That is, that thereof the Deacons might succour the poore: for it behoued to haue all these things done orderly and decently, and therefore it is said, that they sent these things to the Elders, that is, to the gouernours of the Church. ] succour vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iudea.

³⁰ Which thing they also did, and sent it to the Elders, by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

2 Herod killeth Iames with the sword: 4 And imprisoneth Peter, 8 whom the Angel deliuereth. 20 Herod being offended with them of Tyrus, 21 is pacified: 22 And taking the honour due to God, to himselfe, 23 he is eaten with wormes, and so dyeth.

¹ Nowe [Note: [1] God giueth his Church a truce, but for a litle time. ] about that time, [Note: [a] This name Herod was common to all them that came of the stocke of Herod Ascalonites, whose surname was Magnus: but he that is spoken of here, was nephewe to Herod the great, sonne to Aristobulus, and father to that Agrippa who is spoken of afterward. ] Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vexe certaine of the Church,

² And he [Note: [b] Violently, his cause being not once heard. ] killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword.

³ [Note: [2] It is an olde fashion of Tyrants to procure the fauour of the wicked, with the blood of the godly. ] And when he sawe that it pleased the Iewes, he proceeded further, to take Peter also (then were the dayes of vnleauened bread.)

⁴ [Note: [3] The Tyrants and wicked make a galouse for them selues euen then when they doe most according to their owne will and fantasie. ] And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and deliuered him to foure quaternions of souldiers to be kept, intending after the Passeouer to bring him foorth to the people.

⁵ [Note: [4] The prayers of the godly ouerturne the counsell of Tyrants, obteine Angels of God, breake the prison, vnloose chaines, put Satan to flight, and preserue the Church. ] So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer was made of ye Church vnto God for him.

⁶ And when Herod woulde haue brought him out vnto the people, the same night slept Peter betweene two souldiers, bound wt two chaines, and the keepers before the doore, kept the prison.

⁷ [Note: Chap.5.19. ] And behold the Angel of the Lord came vpon them, and a light shined in the [Note: [c] In the prison. ] house, and he smote Peter on the side, and raysed him vp, saying, Arise quickely. And his chaines fell off from his handes.

⁸ And the Angel saide vnto him, Girde thy selfe, and binde on thy sandales. And so he did. Then he said vnto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and followe me.

⁹ So Peter came out and followed him, and knewe not that it was true, which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.

¹⁰ Nowe when they were past the first and the second watch, they came vnto the yron gate, that leadeth vnto the citie, which opened to them by it owne accord, and they went out, and passed through one streete, and by and by the Angel departed from him.

¹¹ ¶ And when Peter was come to himselfe, he said, Nowe I know for a trueth, that the Lord hath sent his Angel, and hath deliuered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the wayting for of the people of the Iewes.

¹² [Note: [5] Holy meetings in the night as well of men as women (when they cannot be suffered in the day time) are allowable by the example of the Apostles. ] And as he considered the thing, he came to the house of Marie, the mother of Iohn, whose surname was Marke, where many were gathered together, and prayed.

¹³ [Note: [6] We obteine more of God, then we dare well hope for. ] And when Peter knocked at the entrie doore, a maide [Note: [d] Out of the place where they were assembled, but not end of the house. ] came foorth to hearken, named Rhode,

¹⁴ But when she knew Peters voyce, she opened not the entrie doore for gladnesse, but ranne in, and tolde howe Peter stood before the entrie.

¹⁵ But they said vnto her, Thou art mad. Yet she affirmed it constantly, that it was so. Then said they, It is his Angel.

¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened it, and sawe him, they were astonied.

¹⁷ [Note: [7] We may some times giue place to the rage of the wicked, but yet so, that our diligence which ought to be vsed in Gods busines, be not a whit slackened. ] And he beckened vnto them with the hand, to hold their peace, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he saide, Goe shewe these things vnto Iames and to the brethren: and he departed and went into an other place.

¹⁸ ¶ [Note: [8] Euill counsell falleth out in the end to the hurt of the deuisers of it. ] Nowe assoone as it was day, there was no small trouble among the souldiers, what was become of Peter.

¹⁹ And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commaunded them to be led to be punished. And he went downe from Iudea to Cesarea, and there abode.

²⁰ [Note: [9] A miserable and shamefull example of the end of the enemies of the Church. ] Then Herod was angrie with them of Tyrus and Sidon, but they came all with one accord vnto him, and perswaded Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine, and they desired peace, because their countrey was nourished by the Kings land.

²¹ And vpon a day appointed, Herod arayed himselfe in royall apparell, and sate on the iudgement seate, and made an oration vnto them.

²² [Note: [10] The flatterie of the people, maketh fooles faine. ] And the people gaue a shoute, saying, The voyce of God, and not of man.

²³ [Note: [11] God resisteth the proude. ] But immediatly the Angel of the Lorde smote him, because he [Note: [e] Iosephus recordeth, that this king did not represse those flatterers tongues, and therefore at his death he complained and cryed out of their vanitie. ] gaue not glorie vnto God, so that he was eaten of wormes, and gaue vp the ghost.

²⁴ [Note: [12] Tyrants builde vp the Church by plucking it downe. ] And the [Note: [f] They that heard the worde of God. ] worde of God grewe, and multiplied.

²⁵ So Barnabas and Saul returned from Hierusalem, when they had fulfilled their office, and tooke wt them Iohn, whose surname was Marke.

2 The holy Ghost commaundeth that Paul and Barnabas be separated vnto him. 6 At Paphus 8 Elymas the sorcerer 11 is strooken blind: 14 From whence being come to Antiochia, 17 they preache the Gospel, 45 the Iewes vehemently withstanding them.

¹ There [Note: [1] Paul with Barnabas, is againe the second time appointed Apostle of the Gentiles, not of man, neither by man, but by an extraordinarie commandement of the holy Ghost. ] were also in the Church that was at Antiochia, certaine Prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen (which had bin brought vp with [Note: [a] The same was Antipas, which put Iohn Baptist to death. ] Herod the Tetrarche) and Saul.

² Nowe as they [Note: [b] Whiles they were busie doing their office, that is, as Chrysostome expoundeth it, while they were preaching. ] ministred to the Lord, and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worke whereunto I haue [Note: [c] The Lorde is said to call (whereof this worde (Calling) commeth, which is vsuall in the Church) when he causeth that to be, which was not, whether you referre it to the matter it selfe, or to any qualitie or thing about the matter: and it groweth of this, because when things beginne to be, then they haue some name: as God his mightie power is also declared thereby, who spake the worde, and things were made. ] called them.

³ [Note: [2] Fast, and solemne prayers were vsed before the laying on of handes. ] Then fasted they and prayed, and layde their hands on them, and let them goe.

⁴ [Note: [3] Paul and his companions doe at the first bring Cyprus to the subiection and obedience of Christ. ] And they, after they were sent foorth of the holy Ghost, came downe vnto [Note: [d] Seleucia was a citie of Cilicia, so called of Seleucus one of Alexanders successours. ] Seleucia, and from thence they sayled to Cyprus.

⁵ And when they were at Salamis, they preached the worde of God in the Synagogues of the Iewes: and they had also Iohn to their minister.

⁶ So when they had gone throughout the yle vnto Paphus, they found a certaine sorcerer, a

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false prophet, being a Iewe, named Bariesus,
⁷ Which was wt the Deputie Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. He called vnto him Barnabas and Saul, and desired to heare the woorde of God.

⁸ [Note: [4] The deuill maketh the conquest of Christ more glorious, in that that hee setteth himselfe against him. ] But Elymas, ye sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstoode them, and sought to turne away the Deputie from the faith.

⁹ Then Saul (which also is called Paul) being full of the holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

¹⁰ [Note: [5] The sorcerer which was stricken of Paul with a corporall punishment (although extraordinarily) sheweth an example to lawful magistrates, howe they ought to punish them which wickedly and obstinately hinder the course of the Gospel. ] And sayde, O full of all subtiltie and all [Note: [e] Hee noteth out such a fault, as who so hath it, runneth headlong and with great desire to all kinde of wickednesse with the least motion in the world. ] mischiefe, the childe of the deuill, and enemie of all righteousnesse, wilt thou not cease to peruert the straight waies of the Lord?

¹¹ Nowe therefore behold, the [Note: [f] His power which he sheweth in striking and beating downe his enemies. ] hand of the Lorde is vpon thee, and thou shalt be blinde, and not see the sunne for a season. And immediately there fel on him a mist & a darknes; and he went about, seeking some to leade him by the hand.

¹² Then the Deputie when he sawe what was done, beleeued, and was astonied at the doctrine of the Lord.

¹³ [Note: [6] An example in one and the selfe same companie both of singular constancie, and also of great weakenesse. ] Nowe when Paul & they that were with him were departed by shippe from Paphus, they came to Perga a citie of Pamphylia: then Iohn departed from them, and returned to Hierusalem.

¹⁴ But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antiochia a citie of [Note: [g] This putteth a difference betwixt it, and Antiochia which was in Syria. ] Pisidia, & went into the Synagogue on ye Sabbath day, & sate downe.

¹⁵ [Note: [7] In the Synagogue of ye Iewes (according to the patterne whereof Christian congregations were instituted) first the Scriptures were read, then such as were learned, were licensed by the rulers of the Synagogue to speake & expound. ] And after the lecture of the Law & Prophets, the rulers of ye Synagogue sent vnto them, saying, Ye men & brethren, if ye [Note: [h] Word for word, If there bee any woorde in you, and this is a kinde of speach taken from the Hebrewes, whereby is meant, yt the giftes of Gods grace are in vs, as it were in treasure houses, & that they are not ours, but Gods: In like sort sayth Dauid, Thou hast put a newe song in my mouth, Psal.40.1. ] haue any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

¹⁶ [Note: [8] God bestowed many peculiar benefites vpon his chosen Israel, but this especially, that he promised them the euerlasting redeemer. ] Then Paul stoode vp and beckened with the hand, and sayde, Men of Israel, and yee that feare God, hearken.

¹⁷ The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and [Note: [i] Aduaunced and brought to honour. ] exalted the people when they dwelt in the land of [Note: Exod.1.9. ] Egypt, and with an [Note: Exod.13.14. ] [Note: [k] Openly and with maine force, breaking in pieces the enemies of his people. ] high arme brought them out thereof.

¹⁸ And about the time [Note: Exod.16.1. ] of fourtie yeeres, suffered he their maners in the wildernesse.

¹⁹ And he destroied seuen nations in the land of Chanaan, & [Note: Ios.14.1. ] deuided their lad to them by lot.

²⁰ Then afterward he gaue vnto them [Note: Iudges 3.9. ] Iudges about [Note: [l] There were fro the birth of Isaac vnto the destruction of the Canaanites vnder the gouernace of Ioshua foure hundreth & seuen & fourtie yeres, & therfore he addeth in this place this woord, About, for there want three yeeres, but the Apostle vseth the whole greater number. ] foure hundreth and fiftie yeeres, vnto the time of Samuel the Prophet.

²¹ So after that, they desired a [Note: 1.Sam.8.5. ] King, & God gaue vnto them [Note: 1.Sam.9.15.and 10.1. ] Saul, the sonne of Cis, a man of ye tribe of Beniamin, by the space of [Note: [m] In this space of fortie yeeres, must the time of Samuel be reckoned with the daies of Saul, for the kingdome did as it were swallowe vp his gouernement. ] fourty yeres.

²² And after he had taken him away, he raised vp [Note: 1.Samuel 16.13. ] Dauid to be their King, of whom he witnessed, saying, I haue found Dauid the sonne of Iesse, a man after mine owne heart, which will doe all things that I will.

²³ [Note: [9] Hee prooueth by the witnes of Iohn, that Iesus is that Sauiour which should come of Dauid. ] Of this mans seede hath God [Note: Psal.89.21. esai.11.1. ] according to his promise raised vp to Israel, ye Sauiour Iesus:

²⁴ When [Note: Malach.3.1. matt.2 1. marke 1.2. luke 3.2. ] Iohn had first preached [Note: [n] Iohn as an Herault, did not shew Christ comming a farre off as the other Prophets did, but hard at hande and entred on his iourney. ] before

his coming the baptisme of repentance to all the people of Israel.

²⁵ And when Iohn had fulfilled his course, he saide, [Note: Mat.3.11. marke 1.7. iohn 1.20. ] Whom ye thinke that I am, I am not he: but beholde, there commeth one after me, whose shooe of his feete I am not worthy to loose.

²⁶ [Note: [10] Christ was promised and sent properly to the Iewes. ] Yee men and brethren, children of the generation of Abraham, and whosoeuer among you feareth God, to you is the woorde of this saluation sent.

²⁷ [Note: [11] All thinges came to passe to Christ, which the Prophets foretolde of Messias: so that hereby also it appeareth that he is the true and onely Sauiour: and yet notwithstanding they are not to be excused which did not onely not receiue him, but also persecute him most cruelly although hee was innocent. ] For the inhabitants of Hierusalem, and their rulers, because they knewe him not, nor yet the woordes of the Prophets, which are read euery Sabbath day, they haue fulfilled them in condemning him.

²⁸ And though they found no cause of death in him, [Note: Mat.27.22. mar.15.13. lu.23.23. ioh.19.6. ] yet desired they Pilate to kill him.

²⁹ And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they tooke him downe from the tree, and put him in a sepulchre.

³⁰ [Note: [12] We must set the glorie of the resurrection against the shame of the crosse, and graue. And the resurrection is proued as well by witnesses which sawe it, as by the testimonies of the Prophets. ] But God [Note: Mat.28.2. mar.16.6. lu.24.6. iohn 20.19. ] raised him vp from the dead.

³¹ And hee was seene many dayes of them, which came vp with him from Galile to Hierusalem, which are his witnesses vnto the people.

³² And we declare vnto you, that touching the promise made vnto the fathers,

³³ God hath fulfilled it vnto vs their children, in that he [Note: [o] For then he appeared plainely and manifestly as that onely Sone of God, when as he left off his weakenesse, and came out of the graue, hauing conquered death. ] raised vp Iesus, [Note: [13] If Christ had taried in death, he had not beene the true Sone of God, neither had the couenant, which was made with Dauid, beene sure. ] euen as it is written in the seconde Psalme, [Note: Psal.2.7. hebr. 1.5.& 5.5. ] Thou art my Sonne: this day haue I begotten thee.

³⁴ Nowe as concerning that he raised him vp from the dead, no more to returne to corruption, he hath said thus, [Note: Esay.55.3. ] I wil giue you the holy things of Dauid, [Note: [p] The Grecians cal those, holy things, which the Hebrues call gracious bounties: and they are called Dauids bouties in the passiue signification, because God bestowed them vpon Dauid: Moreouer they are termed faithfull, after the maner of speach which the Hebrewes vse, who terme those things faithfull, which are steadie and sure, such as neuer alter nor change. ] which are faithfull.

³⁵ [Note: [14] The Lord was so in graue, that he felt no corruption. ] Wherefore hee sayeth also in another place, [Note: Psal.16.11. chap.2.31. ] Thou wilt not suffer thine Holy one to see corruption.

³⁶ Howbeit, Dauid after hee had serued his time by the counsell of God, hee [Note: 1.King 2.10.chap.2.29. ] slept, and was laid with his fathers, and sawe corruption.

³⁷ But he whom God raised vp, sawe no corruption.

³⁸ [Note: [15] Christ was sent to giue them free remission of sinnes, which were condemned by the Lawe. ] Be it knowen vnto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes.

³⁹ And from [Note: [q] Where as the ceremonies of the Lawe coulde not absolue you from your sinnes, this man doeth absolue you, if you lay holde on him by faith. ] al things, from which ye could not be iustified by the Law of Moses, by him euery one that beleeueth, is iustified.

⁴⁰ [Note: [16] The benefits of God turne to the vtter vndoing of them that contemne them. ] Beware therefore lest that come vpon you, which is spoken of in the Prophets,

⁴¹ [Note: Habak.1.5. ] Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and vanish away: for I woorke a woorke in your daies, a woorke which yee shall not beleeue, if a man would declare it you.

⁴² ¶ [Note: [17] The Gentiles goe before the Iewes into the kingdome of heauen. ] And when they were come out of the Synagogue of the Iewes, the Gentiles besought, that they woulde preach these woordes to them the next Sabbath day.

⁴³ Nowe when the congregation was dissolued, many of the Iewes and [Note: [r] Which had forsaken their heathenish religion, and embraced the religion set foorth by Moses. ] Proselytes that feared God, followed Paul & Barnabas, which spake to them, and exhorted them to continue in the grace of God.
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⁴⁴ And ye next Sabbath day came almost the whole citie together, to heare the worde of God.

⁴⁵ [Note: [18] The sauour of one selfe same Gospell is vnto the reprobate and vnbeleeuers, death, and to the elect and such as beleeue, life. ] But when the Iewes saw the people, they were full of enuie, and spake against those things, which were spoken of Paul, contrarying them, and railing on them.

⁴⁶ [Note: [19] The Gospel is published to the Gentiles by the expresse commandement of God. ] Then Paul and Barnabas spake boldly, and sayde, It was necessarie that the woorde of God shoulde first haue beene spoken vnto you: but seeing yee put it from you, and [Note: [s] By this your doing you doe as it were pronouce sentence against your selues, and iudge your selues. ] iudge your selues vnworthie of euerlasting life, loe, we turne to the Gentiles.

⁴⁷ For so hath the Lord commanded vs, saying, [Note: Esai 49 6. ] I haue made thee a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be the saluation vnto the end of the world.

⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard it, they were glad, and glorified the woorde of the Lorde: and as many as were [Note: [t] Therefore either all were not appointed to euerlasting life, or els all should haue beleeued, but because that is not so, it foloweth that some certaine were ordeined: and therefore God did not only foreknowe, but also fore ordeine, that neither faith nor the effects of faith, shoulde be the cause of his ordeining or appointment, but his ordeining the cause of faith. ] ordeined vnto eternall life, beleeued.

⁴⁹ Thus the worde of the Lord was published throughout the whole countrey.

⁵⁰ [Note: [20] Such is the craft and subtiltie of the enemies of the Gospel, that they abuse the simplicitie of some which are not altogether euill men, to execute their crueltie. ] But the Iewes stirred certaine [Note: [u] Such as embraced Moses his Lawe. ] deuout & honourable women, and the chiefe men of the citie, and raised persecution against Paul & Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coastes.

⁵¹ [Note: [21] The wickednesse of the world can not let God to gather his Church together, and to foster and cherish it, when it is gathered together. ] But they [Note: Matt.10.14. mar.6.11. luke 9.5. chap.18.6. ] shooke off the dust of their feete against them, and came vnto Iconium.

⁵² And the disciples were filled with ioy, and with the holy Ghost.

1 Paul and Barnabas 5 are persecuted from Iconium: 6 At Lystra Paul 10 healeth a creeple: 13 They are about to doe sacrifice vnto them, 15 but they forbid it: 19 Paul, by the perswasion of certaine Iewes, is stoned: 23 From thence passing through diuers Churches, 26 they returne to Antiochia.

¹ And [Note: [1] We ought to be no lesse constant in preaching of the Gospel, then the peruersenesse of the wicked is obstinate in persecuting of it. ] it came to passe in [Note: [a] Iconium was a citie of Lycaonia. ] Iconium, that they went both together into the Synagogue of the Iewes, & so spake, that a great multitude both of the Iewes and of the Grecians beleeued.

² And the [Note: [b] Which obeyed not the doctrine. ] vnbeleeuing Iewes stirred vp, and corrupted the mindes of the Gentiles against the brethren.

³ [Note: [2] We ought not to leaue our places & giue place to threatenings, neither to open rage, but when there is no other remedie, and that not for our owne quietnes sake, but that the Gospel of Christ may bee spreade further abroade. ] So therefore they abode there a long time, and spake boldly in the Lorde, which gaue testimonie vnto the woord of his grace, and caused signes and woders to be done by their hands.

⁴ But the multitude of the city was deuided: and some were with the Iewes, and some with the Apostles.

⁵ And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and of the Iewes with their rulers, to doe them violence, and to stone them,

⁶ They were ware of it, and [Note: [c] It is lawful sometime to flee daungers, in time conuenient. ] fled vnto Lystra, and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and vnto the region round about,

⁷ And there preached the Gospel.

⁸ ¶ [Note: [3] It is an olde subtiltie of the deuill, either to cause the faithfull seruaunts of God to be banished at once, or to bee worshipped for idoles: and that chiefly taking occasion by miracles wrought by them. ] Nowe there sate a certaine man at Lystra, impotent in his feete, which was a creeple fro his mothers wombe, who had neuer walked.

⁹ He heard Paul speake: who beholding him, and perceiuing that he had faith to be healed,

¹⁰ Said with a loude voyce, Stand vpright on thy feete. And he leaped vp, and walked.

¹¹ Then when the people sawe what Paul had done, they lift vp their voyces, saying in ye speach of Lycaonia, Gods are come downe to vs in the likenesse of men.

¹² And they called Barnabas, Iupiter: and Paul, Mercurius, because hee was the chiefe speaker.

¹³ Then Iupiters priest, which was before their citie, brought bulles with garlands vnto the [Note: [d] Of the house where Paul and Barnabas were. ] gates, & would haue sacrificed with the people.

¹⁴ But when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul heard it, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying,

¹⁵ [Note: [4] That is also called Idolatrie, which giueth to creatures, be they neuer so holy and excellent, that which is proper to the onely one God, that is, Inuocation, or calling vpon. ] And saying, O men, why doe yee these things? We are euen men subiect to the [Note: [e] Men, as yee are, and partakers of the selfe same nature of man as you. ] like passions that yee be, and preache vnto you, that yee shoulde turne from these [Note: [f] He calleth Idols, vaine things, after the maner of the Hebrewes. ] vaine things vnto the liuing God, [Note: Gen.1.1. psal.146.5. reuel.14.7. ] which made heauen and earth, and the sea, and all things that in them are:

¹⁶ [Note: [5] Custome, be it neuer so old, doeth not excuse the Idolaters. ] Who in times past [Note: Psal.81.13. rom.1.24. ] [Note: [g] Suffered them to liue as they listed, prescribing & appoynting them no kinde of religion. ] suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies.

¹⁷ Neuerthelesse, hee left not him selfe without witnes, in that hee did good and gaue vs raine from heauen, & fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with foode, and gladnesse.

¹⁸ And speaking these things, scarce appeased they the multitude, that they had not sacrificed vnto them.

¹⁹ [Note: [6] The deuil when he is brought to the last cast, at length rageth openly, but in vaine, euen then when he seemeth to haue the vpper hand. ] Then there came certaine Iewes from Antiochia and Iconium, which when they had persuaded the people, [Note: 2.Cor.11.25. ] stoned Paul, and drewe him out of the citie, supposing he had bene dead.

²⁰ Howbeit, as the disciples stoode rounde about him, hee arose vp, and came into the citie, and the next day hee departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

²¹ [Note: [7] We must goe forwarde in our vocation through a thousand deaths. ] And after they had preached the glad tidings of the Gospel to that citie, and had taught many, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antiochia,

²² [Note: [8] It is the office of the ministers, not onely to teach, but also to confirme them that are taught, and prepare them to the crosse. ] Confirming the disciples hearts, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, affirming that we must through many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God.

²³ [Note: [9] The Apostles committed the Churches which they had planted, to proper and peculiar Pastours, which they made not rashly, but with prayers and fastings going before: neither did they thrust them vpon Churches through briberie or lordly superioritie, but chose & placed them by the voyce of the congregation. ] And when they had ordeined them Elders by election in euery Church, and prayed, and fasted, they commended them to the Lorde in whome they beleeued.

²⁴ [Note: [10] Paul and Barnabas hauing made an ende of their peregrination, and being returned to Antiochia, doe render an accompt of their iourney to the Congregation or Church. ] Thus they went throughout Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.

²⁵ And when they had preached the woorde in Perga, they came downe to [Note: [h] Attalia was a sea citie of Pamphylia, neere to Lycia. ] Attalia,

²⁶ And thence sailed to [Note: [i] Antiochia of Syria. ] Antiochia, [Note: Chap.13.3. ] from whence they had bene comended vnto the grace of God, to the woorke, which they had fulfilled.

²⁷ And when they were come & had gathered the Church together, they rehearsed all the things that God had done by them, and howe he had opened the doore of faith vnto the Gentiles.

²⁸ So there they abode a long time with the disciples.

1 Certaine goe about to bring in circumcision at Antiochia: 6 About which matter the Apostles consult: 19 and what must bee done 23 they declare by letters. 36 Paul and Barnabas 39 are at great variance.


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¹ Then [Note: [1] The Church is at length troubled with dissension within it selfe, and the trouble riseth of the proude and stubburne wittes of certaine euill men: The first strife was, concerning the office of Christ, whether we be saued by his only righteousnesse apprehended by faith, or we haue neede also to obserue the Lawe. ] came downe [Note: [a] Epiphanius is of opinion that this was Cerinthus. ] certaine from Iudea, and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the maner of Moses, ye cannot be saued.

² [Note: [2] Meetings of Congregations were instituted to suppresse heresies, whereunto certaine were sent by common consent in the name of all. ] And when there was great dissension, and disputation by Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordeyned that Paul and Barnabas, and certaine other of them, should goe vp to Hierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders about this question.

³ Thus [Note: [b] Courteously and louingly brought on their way by the Church, that is, by certaine appointed by the Church. ] being brought forth by ye Church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conuersion of the Gentiles, and they brought great ioy vnto all the brethren.

⁴ And when they were come to Hierusalem, they were receiued of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders, and they declared what things God had done by them.

⁵ But said they, certaine of the sect of the Pharises, which did beleeue, rose vp, saying, that it was needefull to circumcise them, and to commaunde them to keepe the lawe of Moses.

⁶ [Note: [3] The matter is first handled, both partes being heard, in the assembly of the Apostles and auncients, and after is communicated with the people. ] Then the Apostles and Elders came together to looke to this matter.

⁷ And when there had bene great disputation, Peter rose vp, and said vnto them, [Note: Chap.10.20. and 11.13. ] [Note: [4] God himselfe in calling of the Gentiles which are vncircumcised, did teache that our saluation doeth consist in faith without the worship appointed by the Lawe. ] Ye men and brethren, ye know that a [Note: [c] Word for word, of olde time, that is, euen from the first time that we were commaunded to preach the Gospel, and straightwayes after that the holy Ghost came downe vpon vs. ] good while ago, among vs God chose out me, that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the worde of the Gospel, and beleeue.

⁸ And God which knoweth the heartes, bare them witnesse, in giuing vnto them ye holy Ghost euen as he did vnto vs.

⁹ And he put no [Note: [d] He put no difference betweene vs and them, as touching the benefite of his free fauour. ] difference betweene vs and them, after that [Note: Chap.10.43. 1.Cor.1.2. ] [Note: [e] Christ pronounceth them Blessed, which are pure of heart: and here we are plainely taught, that men are made such by faith. ] by faith he had purified their heartes.

¹⁰ [Note: [5] Peter, passing from the Ceremonies, to the Lawe it selfe in generall, sheweth that none coulde be saued, if saluation were to be sought for by the Lawe, and not by grace onely in Iesus Christ: because that no man coulde euer fulfill the Lawe, neither Patriarch, nor Apostle. ] Nowe therefore, why [Note: [f] Why tempt ye God, as though he coulde not saue by faith? ] tempt ye God, to [Note: Matth. 23.4. ] lay a yoke on the disciples neckes, which neither our fathers, nor we were able to beare?

¹¹ But we beleeue, through the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ to be saued, euen as they doe.

¹² [Note: [6] A true paterne of a lawfull Councill, where Gods trueth onely reigneth. ] Then all the multitude kept silence, and heard Barnabas and Paul, which told what signes and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.

¹³ And when they helde their peace, [Note: [g] The sonne of Alpheus, who is also called the Lordes brother. ] Iames answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken vnto me.

¹⁴ [Note: [7] Iames confirmeth the calling of the Gentiles, out of the worde of God, therein agreeing to Peter. ] Simeon hath declared, howe God first did visite the Gentiles, to take of them a people vnto his Name.

¹⁵ And to this agree the woordes of the Prophets, as it is written,

¹⁶ [Note: Amos 9 11. ] After this I will returne, and will builde againe the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe, and the ruines thereof will I build againe, and I will set it vp,

¹⁷ That the residue of men might seeke after the Lorde, and all the Gentiles vpon whom my Name is called, saith the Lorde which doeth all these things.

¹⁸ From the beginning of the worlde, God [Note: [h] And therefore nothing commeth to passe by fortune, but by Gods appointment. ] knoweth all his workes.

¹⁹ [Note: [8] In matters indifferent, we may so farre beare with the weakenesse of our brethren, as they may haue time to be instructed. ] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them of the Gentiles yt are turned to God,

²⁰ But that we send vnto them, that they absteine themselues from [Note: [i] From sacrifices, or from feastes which were kept in Idoles temples. ] filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from blood.

²¹ For Moses of olde time hath in euery citie them that preache him, seeing he is read in the Synagogues euery Sabbath day.

²² [Note: [9] In a lawfull Synode, neither they which are appointed and chosen Iudges, appoint and determine any thing tyrannously or vpon a Lordlinesse, neither doeth the common multitude set them selues tumultuously against them which sit as iudges by the worde of God: as the like order also is holden in publishing and ratifying those things which haue bene so determined & agreed vpo. ] Then it seemed good to the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church, to sende chosen men of their owne companie to Antiochia with Paul and Barnabas: to wit, Iudas whose surname was Barsabas and Silas, which were chiefe men among the brethren,

²³ And wrote letters by them after this maner, The Apostles, and the Elders, and the brethren, vnto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antiochia, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, send greeting.

²⁴ [Note: [10] The Councill of Hierusalem concludeth, that they trouble mens consciences which teache vs to seeke saluation in any other meanes then in Christ onely, apprehended by faith, from whence soeuer they come, and whomsoeuer they pretend to be authour of their vocation. ] Forasmuch as we haue heard, that certaine which [Note: [k] From our congregation. ] went out from vs, haue troubled you with wordes, and [Note: [l] A borowed kind of speache taken of them which pull downe that that was built vp: and it is a very vsuall metaphore in the Scriptures, to say the Church is built, for the Church is planted and stablished. ] cumbred your mindes, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keepe the Lawe: to whom we gaue no such commaundement,

²⁵ It seemed therefore good to vs, when we were come together with one accord, to send chosen men vnto you, with our beloued Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶ Men that haue [Note: [m] Haue greatly hazarded their liues. ] giuen vp their liues for the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ.

²⁷ We haue therefore sent Iudas and Silas, which shall also tell you ye same things by mouth.

²⁸ [Note: [11] That is a lawfull Councill, which the holy Ghost ruleth. ] For it seemed good to the [Note: [n] First they make mention of the holy Ghost, that it may not seeme to be any mans worke. ] holy Ghost, and [Note: [o] Not that men haue any authoritie of themselues, but to shewe the faithfulnesse that they vsed in their ministerie and labour. ] to vs, to lay no more burden vpon you, then these [Note: [p] This was no precise necessitie, but in respect of the state of that time, that the Gentiles and the Iewes might more peaceably liue together with lesse occasion of quarell. ] necessary things,

²⁹ [Note: [12] Charitie is requisite euen in things indifferent. ] That is, that ye absteine from things offered to idoles, and blood, and that that is strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keepe your selues, ye shall doe well. Fare ye well.

³⁰ [Note: [13] It is requisite for all people to knowe certainely what to holde in matters of faith and religion, and not that the Church by ignorance and knowing nothing, shoulde depende vpon the pleasure of a fewe. ] Nowe when they were departed, they came to Antiochia, and after that they had assembled the multitude, they deliuered the Epistle.

³¹ And when they had read it, they reioyced for the consolation.

³² And Iudas and Silas being Prophets, exhorted the brethren with many wordes, & strengthened them.

³³ And after they had taried there a space, they were let goe in [Note: [q] This is an Hebrewe kinde of speache, which is as much to say, as the brethren wished them all prosperous successe, and the Church dismissed them with good leaue. ] peace of the brethren vnto the Apostles.

³⁴ Notwithstanding Silas thought good to abide there still.

³⁵ Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antiochia, teaching and preaching with many other, the worde of the Lord.

³⁶ ¶ [Note: [14] Congregations or Churches do easely degenerate, vnlesse they be diligently seene vnto, and therefore went these Apostles to ouersee such as they had planted, and for this cause also, Synodes were instituted and appointed. ] But after certaine dayes, Paul said vnto Barnabas, Let vs returne, & visite our brethren in euery citie, where we haue preached the worde of the Lord, and see how they doe.
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³⁷ [Note: [15] A lamentable example of discord betweene excellent men and very great friendes, yet not for prophane or their priuate affaires, neither yet for doctrine. ] And Barnabas counselled to take with them Iohn, called Marke.

³⁸ But Paul thought it not meete to take him vnto their companie, which departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the worke.

³⁹ [Note: [16] God vseth the faultes of his seruants to the profite and building of his Church: yet we haue to take heede, euen in the best matters, that we passe not measure in our heate. ] Then were they so [Note: [r] They were in great heate: But herein we haue to consider the force of Gods counsell: for by this meanes it came to passe, that the doctrine of the Gospel was exercised in many places. ] stirred, that they departed asunder one from the other, so that Barnabas tooke Marke, and sailed vnto Cyprus.

⁴⁰ And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended of the brethren vnto the grace of God.

⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, stablishing the Churches.

1 Paul hauing circumcised Timotheus, 12 being at Philippi, 14 instructeth Lydia in the faith. 16 The spirit of Diuination 18 is by him cast out: 20 and for that cause 22 they are whipped, 24 and imprisoned. 26 Through an earthquake 27 the prison doores are opened. 31 32 The Iailer receiueth the faith.

¹ Then [Note: [1] Paul himselfe doth not receiue Timothie into the ministerie without sufficient testimonie, and allowance of the brethren. ] came he to Derbe and to Lystra: and beholde, a certaine disciple was there named [Note: Rom.16.21. philip.2.19. 1.thess.3.2. ] Timotheus, a womans sonne, which was a [Note: [a] Paul in his latter Epistle to Timothie, commendeth the godlines of Timothies mother and grandmother. ] Iewesse and beleeued, but his father was a Grecian,

² Of whom the brethren which were at Lystra and Iconium, [Note: [b] Both for his godlines and honestie. ] reported well.

³ [Note: [2] Timothie is circumcised, not simplie for any necessitie, but in respect of the time onely to winne the Iewes. ] Therefore Paul would that he should go forth with him, and tooke and circumcised him, because of ye Iewes, which were in those quarters: for they knewe all, that his father was a Grecian.

⁴ [Note: [3] Charitie is to be obserued in things indifferent, that so, regarde be had both of the weake, and the quietnesse of the Church. ] And as they went through the cities, they deliuered them the [Note: [c] Those decrees which he spake of in the former chapter. ] decrees to keepe, ordeined of the Apostles & Elders, which were at Hierusalem.

⁵ And so were the Churches stablished in the faith, and encreased in number daily.

⁶ ¶ [Note: [4] God appointeth certaine and determinate times to open and set foorth his trueth, that both the election, and the calling may proceede of grace. ] Nowe when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, they were [Note: [d] He sheweth not why they were forbidden, but onely that they were forbidden, teaching vs to obey, and not to inquire. ] forbidden of the holy Ghost to preache the worde in Asia.

⁷ Then came they to Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

⁸ Therefore they passed through Mysia, and came downe to Troas,

⁹ [Note: [5] They are the Ministers of the Gospel, by whom he helpeth such as were like to perish. ] Where a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stoode a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come into Macedonia, and helpe vs.

¹⁰ [Note: [6] The Saints did not easely beleeue euery vision. ] And after he had seene the vision, immediatly we prepared to goe into Macedonia, being assured that the Lord had called vs to preache the Gospel vnto them.

¹¹ Then went we forth from Troas, and with a straight course came to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis,

¹² ¶ And from thence to Philippi, which is the chiefe citie in ye partes of Macedonia, & whose inhabitants came from Rome to dwell there, and we were in that citie abiding certaine dayes.

¹³ [Note: [7] God beginneth his kingdome in Macedonia by the conuersion of a woman, and so sheweth that there is no acception of persons in the Gospel. ] And on the Sabbath day, we went out of the citie, besides a Riuer, where they were wont to [Note: [e] Where they were wont to assemble themselues. ] pray: and we sate downe, and spake vnto the women, which were come together.

¹⁴ [Note: [8] The Lorde onely openeth the heart to heare the worde which is preached. ] And a certaine woman named Lydia, a

seller of purple, of the citie of the Thyatirians, which worshipped God, heard vs: whose heart the Lorde opened, that she attended vnto the things, which Paul spake.

¹⁵ [Note: [9] An example of a godly huswife. ] And when she was baptized, and her houshold, she besought vs, saying, If ye haue iudged me to be faithfull to ye Lord, come into mine house, and abide there: and she constrained vs.

¹⁶ [Note: [10] Satan transformeth himselfe into an Angel of light, and coueteth to enter by vndermining, but Paul openly letteth him, and casteth him out. ] And it came to passe that as we went to prayer, a certaine maide hauing a spirit of [Note: [f] This is a proper note of Apollo, which was wont to giue answeres to them that asked him. ] diuination, mette vs, which gate her masters much vantage with diuining.

¹⁷ She followed Paul and vs, and cryed, saying, These men are the seruants of the most high God, which shewe vnto you the way of saluation.

¹⁸ And this did she [Note: [g] Paul made no haste to this miracle, for he did all things as he was lead by the Spirit. ] many dayes: but Paul being grieued, turned about, and said to the spirit, I commaund thee in the Name of Iesus Christ, that thou come out of her. And he came out the same houre.

¹⁹ [Note: [11] Couetousnesse of lucre and gaines is an occasion of persecuting the trueth. In the meane season, God sparing Timothie, calleth Paul and Silas as the stronger, to battaile. ] Nowe when her masters sawe that the hope of their gaine was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drewe them into the market place vnto the Magistrates,

²⁰ [Note: [12] Couetousnesse pretendeth a desire of common peace and godlinesse. ] And brought them to the gouernours, saying, These men which are Iewes, trouble our citie,

²¹ [Note: [13] It is an argument of the deuil, to vrge the authoritie of ancesters without any distinction. ] And preache ordinances, which are not lawfull for vs to receiue, neither to obserue, seeing we are Romanes.

²² [Note: [14] An example of euill Magistrates, to obey the furie and rage of the people. ] The people also rose vp together against them, and the gouernours rent their clothes, and commaunded them to be beaten with roddes.

²³ And when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison, commaunding the Iayler to keepe them surely.

²⁴ Who hauing receiued such commaundement, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feete [Note: [h] Because hee would be more sure of them, he set them first in the stockes. ] fast in the stockes.

²⁵ [Note: [15] The prayers of the godly do shake both heauen and earth. ] Nowe at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sung Psalmes vnto God: and the prisoners heard them.

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken: and by and by all the doores opened, and euery mans bands were loosed.

²⁷ [Note: [16] The mercifull Lorde, so oft as he lifteth, draweth men to life euen through the middest of death, and whereas iustly they deserued great punishment, he sheweth them great mercie. ] Then the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleepe, and when he sawe the prison doores open, he drewe out his sword and would haue killed himselfe, supposing the prisoners had bin fled.

²⁸ [Note: [17] In meanes, which are especially extraordinarie, we ought not to moue our foote forwarde, vnlesse that God goe before vs. ] But Paul cryed with a loude voyce, saying, Doe thy selfe no harme: for we are all here.

²⁹ Then he called for a light, and leaped in, and came trembling, and fell downe before Paul and Silas,

³⁰ And brought them out, and said, Syrs, what must I doe to be saued?

³¹ And they saide, Beleeue in the Lorde Iesus Christ, and thou shalt be saued, & thine houshold.

³² And they preached vnto him the worde of the Lord, and to all that were in the house.

³³ [Note: [18] God with one selfe same hand woundeth and healeth, when it pleaseth him. ] Afterwarde he tooke them the same houre of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized with all that belonged vnto him, straigthway.

³⁴ And when he had brought them into his house, he set meate before them, and reioyced that he with all his houshold beleeued in God.

³⁵ [Note: [19] Shame and confusion is in processe of time, the rewarde of wicked and vniust Magistrates. ] And when it was day, the gouernours sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men goe.


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³⁶ Then the keeper of the prison tolde these woordes vnto Paul, saying, The gouerness haue sent to loose you: nowe therefore get you hence, and goe in peace.

³⁷ [Note: [20] We must not render iniurie for iniutie, and yet notwithstanding it is lawfull for vs to vse such helpes as God giueth vs, to bridle the outrageousnesse of the wicked, that they hurt not other in like sort. ] Then sayde Paul vnto them, After that they haue beaten vs openly vncodemned, which are Romanes, they haue cast vs into prison, and nowe would they put vs out priuily? nay verely: but let them come and bring vs out.

³⁸ [Note: [21] The wicked are not mooued with the feare of God, but with the feare of men: and by that meanes also God prouideth for his, when it is needefull. ] And the sergeants tolde these woordes vnto the gouernours, who feared whe they heard that they were Romanes.

³⁹ Then came they and praied them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the citie.

⁴⁰ [Note: [22] We may eschewe dangers, so that we neuer neglect our duetie. ] And they went out of the prison, and entred into the house of Lydia: and when they had seene the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

1 Paul at Thessalonica 3 preaching Christ, 6.7 is intertained of Iason: 10 Hee is sent to Berea: 15 from thence comming to Athens, 19 in Mars streete 23 he preacheth the liuing God to them vnknowen, 34 and so many are conuerted vnto Christ.

¹ Nowe [Note: [1] The casting out of Silas and Paul, was the sauing of many other. ] as they passed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a Synagogue of the Iewes.

² And Paul, as his maner was, went in vnto them, and three Sabbath daies disputed with them by the Scriptures,

³ [Note: [2] Christ is therefore the Mediatour, because hee was crucified and rose againe: much lesse is he to bee reiected because the crosse is ignominious. ] Opening, & alleadging that Christ must haue suffered, and risen againe from the dead: and this is Iesus Christ, whom, said he, I preach to you.

⁴ And some of them beleeued, and ioyned in companie with Paul and Silas: also of the Grecians that feared God a great multitude, and of the chiefe women not a fewe.

⁵ [Note: [3] Although the zeale of the vnfaithfull seeme neuer so goodly, yet at length it is founde to haue neither trueth not equitie: But yet the wicked can not doe what they list, for euen amog them selues God stirreth vp some, whose helpe hee vseth to the deliuerance of his. ] But the Iewes which beleeued not, mooued with enuie, tooke vnto them certaine [Note: [a] Certaine companions which doe nothing but walke the streetes, wicked men, to be hired for euery mans money, to do any mischief, such as we commonly call the rascals and verie sinkes and dunghill knaues of all townes and cities. ] vagabonds and wicked felowes, and whe they had assembled the multitude, they made a tumult in the citie, and made assault against the house of Iason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

⁶ But when they found them not, they drew Iason & certaine brethren vnto the heads of the citie, crying, These are they which haue subuerted the state of the [Note: [b] Into what countrey and place so euer they come, they cause sedition and tumult. ] world, and here they are,

⁷ Whom Iason hath receiued, and these all doe against the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another King, one Iesus.

⁸ Then they troubled the people, and the heads of the citie, when they heard these things.

⁹ Notwithstanding when they had receiued sufficient [Note: [c] When Iason had put them in good assurance that they should appeare. ] assurance of Iason and of the other, they let them goe.

¹⁰ [Note: [4] That is in deede the wisedome of the spirit, which alwaies setteth the glorie of God before it selfe as a marke whereunto it directeth it selfe and neuer swarueth from it. ] And the brethren immediatly sent away Paul and Silas by night vnto Berea, which when they were come thither, entred into ye Synagogue of the Iewes.

¹¹ [Note: [5] The Lord setteth out in one moment, & in one people, diuers examples of his vnsearchable wisedome, to cause them to feare him. ] These were also more [Note: [d] Hee compareth the Iewes with the Iewes. ] noble men then they which were at Thessalonica, which receiued the woorde with all readinesse, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

¹² Therefore many of them beleeued, and of honest women, which were Grecians, and men not a fewe.

¹³ ¶ [Note: [6] Satan hath his, who are zealous for him, and that euen such, as least of all ought. ] But when the Iewes of Thessalonica knewe, that the woord of God was also preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, & mooued the people.

¹⁴ [Note: [7] There is neither counsell nor furie, nor madnesse against the Lorde. ] But by and by the brethren sent away Paul to goe as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

¹⁵ [Note: [8] The sheepe of Christ doe also watch for their pastours health & safetie, but yet in the Lorde. ] And they yt did conduct Paul, [Note: [e] It is not for naught that the Iewes of Berea were so commeded, for they brought Paul safe fro Macedonia to Athens, and there is in distance betwixt those two, all Thessalia, and Boeotia, and Attica. ] brought him vnto Athens: and when they had receiued a commaundement vnto Silas and Timotheus that they shoulde come to him at once, they departed.

¹⁶ ¶ [Note: [9] In coparing the wisedome of God with mans wisedome, men scoffe and mocke at that which they vnderstande not: And God vseth the curiositie of fooles, to gather together his elect. ] Nowe while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirite was [Note: [f] He coulde not forbeare. ] stirred in him, when hee sawe the citie subiect to [Note: [g] Slauishly giuen to Idolatrie: Pausanias writeth that there were moe Idoles in Athenes, then in all Grecia, yea they had altars dedicated to Shame, and Fame, and Lust, whome they made goddesses. ] idolatrie.

¹⁷ Therefore he disputed in the Synagogue with the Iewes, and with them that were religious, and in the market daily with [Note: [h] Whomesoeuer Paul mette with, that would suffer him to talke with him, hee reasoned with him, so throughly did hee burne with the zeale of Gods glory. ] whomesoeuer he met.

¹⁸ [Note: [10] Two sectes especially of the Philosophers, doe set them selues against Christ: the Epicures, which make a mocke and scoffe at all religion: and the Stoicks, which determine vpo matters of religion according to their owne braines. ] Then certaine Philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoickes, disputed with him, and some sayde, What will this [Note: [i] Worde for worde, seede gatherer: a borowed kinde of speach taken of birdes which spoile corne, & is applied to them which without all arte bluster out such knowledge as they haue gotten by hearing this man & that man. ] babler say? Others sayde, He seemeth to be a setter forth of straunge gods (because hee preached vnto them Iesus, and the resurrection.)

¹⁹ And they tooke him, and brought him into [Note: [k] This was a place called as you would say, Mars hil, where the iudges sate which were called Areopagita, vpo waighty affaires, which in old time arrained Socrates, and afterward condened him of impietie. ] Mars streete, saying, May we not know, what this newe doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

²⁰ For thou bringest certaine strange thinges vnto our eares: we woulde knowe therefore, what these things meane.

²¹ [Note: [11] The wisedom of man is vanitie. ] For all the Athenians, and strangers which dwelt there, gaue them selues to nothing els, but either to tell, or to heare some newes.

²² [Note: [12] The Idolaters themselues minister most strong and forcible arguments against their owne superstition. ] Then Paul stoode in the mids of Mars streete, and sayde, Yee men of Athens, I perceiue that in all things yee are too [Note: [l] To stand in too peuish & seruile a feare of your gods. ] superstitious.

²³ For as I passed by, and behelde your [Note: [m] Whatsoeuer men worship for religions sake, that we call deuotion. ] deuotions, I founde an altar wherein was written, Vnto The [Note: [n] Pausanias in his Atticis, maketh mention of the altar which the Athenians had dedicated to vnknowen gods: and Laertius in his Epimenides maketh mention of an altar that had no name intituled. ] Vnknowen God. Whome yee then ignorantly worship, him shewe I vnto you.

²⁴ [Note: [13] It is a most foolish and vaine thing to compare the Creator, with the creature, to limite him within a place which can be comprehended in no place, and to thinke to allure him with gifts, of whome all men haue receiued all thinges whatsoeuer they haue: And these are the fountaines of all Idolatry. ] God that made the worlde, and all things that are therein, seeing that he is Lorde of heaue and earth, [Note: Chap.7.48. ] dwelleth not in temples made with hands,

²⁵ [Note: Psal.50.8. ] Neither is worshipped wt mens handes, as though he needed any thing, seeing hee giueth to all life and breath and all things,

²⁶ [Note: [14] God is wonderful in al his works, but especially in the worke of man: not that we should stand amased at his works, but that we should lift vp our eyes to the workeman. ] And hath made of [Note: [o] Of one stocke and one beginning. ] one blood all mankinde, to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath assigned the seasons which were ordeined before, and the boundes of their habitation,
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²⁷ That they shoulde seeke the Lorde, if so be they might haue [Note: [p] For as blindmen we coulde not seeke out God but onely by groping wise, before the true light came and lightned the world. ] groped after him, and founde him though doubtlesse he be not farre from euery one of vs.

²⁸ For in him we liue, and mooue, and haue our being, as also certaine of your owne Poets haue sayd, for we are also his generation.

²⁹ [Note: Esa.40.19. ] Forasmuch then, as we are the generation of God, we ought not to thinke that ye Godhead is like vnto gold, or siluer, or stone [Note: [q] Which stuffe, as golde, siluer, stones, are customably grauen as mans wit can deuise, for men will not worshippe that grosse stuffe as it is, vnlesse by some arte it haue gotten some shape vpon it. ] grauen by arte and the inuention of man.

³⁰ [Note: [15] The oldnesse of the errour doeth not excuse them yt erre, but it commendeth and setteth forth the patience of God: who notwithstanding will be a iust iudge to such as contemne him. ] And the time of this ignorance God regarded not: but nowe hee admonisheth all men euery where to repent,

³¹ Because hee hath appoynted a day in the which he wil iudge the world in righteousnes, by that man whome hee hath appoynted, whereof he hath giuen an [Note: [r] By declaring Christ to be iudge of the world, through the resurrection from the dead. ] assurance to all men, in that hee hath raised him from the dead.

³² [Note: [16] Men, to shewe foorth their vanitie, are diuersly affected and mooued with one selfe same Gospel, which notwithstanding ceasseth not to be effectuall in the elect. ] Now when they heard of the resurrection from the dead, some mocked, and other sayde, We will heare thee againe of this thing.

³³ And so Paul departed from among them.

³⁴ Howbeit certaine men claue vnto Paul, and beleeued: among whome was also Denys Areopagita, and a woman named Damaris, and other with them.

1 As Paul at Corinth 6 taught the Gentiles, 9 The Lorde comforteth him. 12 Hee is accused before Gallio, 16 but in vaine: 18 From thence hee saileth to Syria, 19 and so to Ephesus: 23 At Galatia and Phrygia hee strengtheneth the disciples. 24 Apollos being more perfectly instructed by Aquila, 28 preacheth Christ with great efficacie.

¹ After [Note: [1] The true ministers are so farre from seeking their owne profite, that they do willingly depart from their right, rather then the course of the Gospel should be hindered in the least wise that might be. ] these thinges, Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinthus,

² And found a certaine Iewe named [Note: Rom.16.3. ] Aquila, borne in Pontus, lately come from Italie, and his wife Priscilla (because that [Note: [a] Suetonius recordeth that Rome banished the Iewes, because they were alwaies at disquiet, & that by Christes meanes. ] Claudius had commaunded all Iewes to depart from Rome) and he came vnto them.

³ And because hee was of the same crafte, he abode with them and wrought (for their crafte was to make tentes.)

⁴ [Note: [2] The trueth ought alwaies to be freely vttered, yet notwithstanding the doctrine may be so moderated, as occasion of the profite that the people take thereby shall require. ] And he disputed in the Synagogue euery Sabbath day, and [Note: [b] Exhorted so that hee perswaded, and so the woorde signifieth. ] exhorted the Iewes, and the Grecians.

⁵ Now when Silas & Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul, [Note: [c] Was very much grieued in minde: whereby is signified the great earnestnesse of his minde, which was greatly mooued: for Paul was so zealous, that hee cleane forgate himselfe, and with a wonderfull courage gaue himselfe to preach Christ. ] forced in spirit, testified to the Iewes that Iesus was the Christ.

⁶ [Note: [3] Although wee haue assaied all meanes possible, and yet in vaine, we must not leaue off from our woorke, but forsake the rebellious, and go to them that be more obedient. ] And when they resisted and blasphemed, he [Note: Chap.13.51. matt.10.14. ] shooke his raiment, & saide vnto them, Your [Note: [d] This is a kinde of speache taken from the Hebrewes, whereby hee meaneth, that the Iewes are cause of their owne destruction: and as for him, that hee is without fault in forsaking them and going to other nations. ] blood be vpon your owne head: I am cleane: from henceforth will I goe vnto the Gentiles.

⁷ So he departed thence, & entred into a certaine mans house, named Iustus, a worshipper of God, whose house ioyned hard to the Synagogue.

⁸ And [Note: 1.Cor.1.14. ] Crispus the chiefe ruler of the Synagogue, beleeued in the Lorde with all his housholde:

and many of the Corinthians hearing it, beleeued and were baptized.

⁹ [Note: [4] God doeth auouche and maintaine the constancie of his seruants. ] Then saide the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Feare not, but speake, and holde not thy peace.

¹⁰ For I am with thee, and no man shall lay handes on thee to hurt thee: for I haue much people in this citie.

¹¹ So he [Note: [e] Word for word, sate, whereupo they in former time, tooke the name of their Bishops seas: but Paul sate, that is, continued teaching the worde of God: and this kinde of seat belongeth nothing to them, which neuer sawe their seates with a minde to teach in them. ] continued there a yeere & six moneths, and taught ye worde of God among them.

¹² ¶ [Note: [5] The wicked are neuer wearie of euil doing, but the Lorde mocketh their endeuours marueilously. ] Now when Gallio was Deputie of [Note: [f] That is, of Grecia, yet the Romanes did not call him Deputie of Grecia, but of Achaia, because the Romanes brought the Grecians into subiection, by the Achaians, which in those daies were Princes of Grecia, as Pausanias recordeth. ] Achaia, the Iewes arose with one accorde against Paul, and brought him to the iudgement seate,

¹³ Saying, This fellow persuadeth me to worship God otherwise then the Lawe appointeth.

¹⁴ And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio saide vnto the Iewes, If it were a matter of wrong, or an euill deede, O ye Iewes, I would according to [Note: [g] As much as in right I could. ] reason maintaine you.

¹⁵ But if it bee a question of [Note: [h] As if a man haue not spoken well, as the case of your religio stadeth ] woordes, and [Note: [i] For this prophane man thinketh that the controuersie of religion, is but a braule about wordes, and for no matter of substace. ] names, and of your Lawe, looke yee to it your selues: for I will be no iudge of those things.

¹⁶ And hee draue them from the iudgement seate.

¹⁷ Then tooke al the Grecians Sosthenes the chiefe ruler of the Synagogue, and beat him before the iudgement seat: but Gallio cared nothing for those things.

¹⁸ [Note: [6] Paul is made all to all, to winne all to Christ. ] But when Paul had taried there yet a good while, hee tooke leaue of the brethren, and sailed into Syria (and with him Priscilla and Aquila) after that [Note: [k] That is, Paul. ] he had shorne his head in [Note: [l] Cenchrea was an hauen of the Corinthians. ] Cenchrea: for he had a [Note: Numb.16.18. chap.21.24. ] vowe.

¹⁹ Then hee came to Ephesus, and left them there: but hee entred into the Synagogue and disputed with the Iewes.

²⁰ [Note: [7] The Apostles were caried about not by the will of man, but by the leading of the holy Ghost. ] Who desired him to tarie a longer time with them: but he would not consent,

²¹ But bade the farewel, saying, I must needes keepe this feast that commeth, in Hierusalem: but I will returne againe vnto you, [Note: 1.Cor.4.19. iam.4.15. ] [Note: [m] So we shoulde promise nothing without this clause, for we knowe not what the day following will bring foorth. ] if God will. So he sailed from Ephesus.

²² ¶ And when hee came downe to Cesarea, he went vp to Hierusalem: and when he had saluted the Church, he went downe vnto Antiochia.

²³ Nowe when he had taried there a while, he departed, and went thorowe the countrey of Galatia and Phrygia by order, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴ [Note: [8] Apollos, a godly and learned man, refuseth not to profit in the schole of a base and abiect handicraftes man, and also of a woman: and so becometh an excellent minister of the Church ] And a certaine Iewe named [Note: 1.Cor.1.12. ] Apollos, borne at Alexandria, came to Ephesus, an eloquent man, and [Note: [n] Very wel instructed in the knowledge of the Scriptures. ] mightie in the Scriptures.

²⁵ The same was instructed in the way of the Lorde, and hee spake feruently in the Spirite, and taught diligently the things of the Lord, & knew but the baptisme of Iohn onely.

²⁶ And he began to speake boldely in the Synagogue. Whom when [Note: Ro 16.3. ] Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they tooke him vnto them, and expounded vnto him the [Note: [o] The way that leadeth to God. ] way of God more perfectly.

²⁷ And when hee was minded to goe into Achaia, the brethren exhorting him, wrote to the disciples to receiue him: and after hee was come thither, he holpe them much which had beleeued through [Note: [p] Through Gods gracious fauour, or by those excellent giftes which God had bestowed vpon him. ] grace.

²⁸ For mightily hee confuted publikely the Iewes, with great vehemencie, shewing by the Scriptures, that Iesus was that Christ.


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1 Certaine disciples at Ephesus, 3 hauing onely receiued Iohns baptisme, 2 and knew not the visible gifts of the holy Ghost, wherewith God had beautified his Sonnes kingdome, 5 are baptized in the name of Iesus. 13 The Iewish exorcists 16 are beaten of the deuill. 19 Coniuring bookes are burnt. 24 Demetrius 29 raiseth sedition against Paul.

¹ And [Note: [1] Paul being nothing offended at the rudenesse of the Ephesians, plateth a Church amongst them. ] it came to passe, while Apollos was at Corinthus, that Paul when he passed thorow the vpper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found certaine disciples,

² And saide vnto them, Haue ye receiued the [Note: [a] Those excellent giftes of the holy Ghost, which were in those dayes in the Church. ] holy Ghost since ye beleeued? And they saide vnto him, Wee haue not so much as heard whether there be an holy Ghost.

³ [Note: [2] Iohn did onely begin to instruct the disciples whom Christ should make perfite. ] And he said vnto them, Vnto [Note: [b] In what doctrine then, are you taught and instructed? ] what were ye then baptized? And they saide, Vnto [Note: [c] To be baptized into Iohns baptisme, is to professe the doctrine which Iohn preached and sealed with his baptisme. ] Iohns baptisme.

⁴ Then saide Paul, [Note: Chap.1.5.and 2.2. and 11.16. mat.3.11. mar.1.8. luke 3.16. iohn.1.26. ] Iohn verely baptized with the baptisme of repentance, saying vnto the people, that they shoulde beleeue in him, which should come after him, that is, in Christ Iesus.

⁵ And when they heard it, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Iesus.

⁶ So Paul layde his handes vpon them, and the holy Ghost came on them, and they spake the tongues, and prophecied.

⁷ And all the men were about twelue.

⁸ ¶ Moreouer he went into the Synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three moneths, disputing and exhorting to the things that appertaine to the kingdome of God.

⁹ [Note: [3] For a man to separate himselfe and others from infidels which are vtterly desperate, it is not to deuide the Church, but rather to vnite it and make it one. ] But when certaine were hardened, and disobeyed, speaking euill of the [Note: [d] By this worde Way, the Hebrues vnderstand any kinde of life, and here it is taken for Christianitie. ] way of God before the multitude, hee departed from them, and separated the disciples, and disputed dayly in the schole of one [Note: [e] This was mans proper name. ] Tyrannus.

¹⁰ And this was done by the space of two yeeres, so that all they which dwelt in Asia, heard the word of ye Lord Iesus, both Iewes & Grecians.

¹¹ And God wrought no small miracles by the handes of Paul,

¹² So that from his body were brought vnto the sicke, kerchefs or handkerchefs, and the diseases departed from them, and the euill spirits went out of them.

¹³ [Note: [4] Satan is constrained to giue witnes against himselfe. ] Then certaine of the vagabond Iewes, [Note: [f] So were they called which cast out deuils by coniuring them in the Name of God: and in the beginning of the Church, they which had the gift of working miracles, and layd their handes on them that were posseßed with deuils, were also so called. ] exorcistes, tooke in hand to name ouer them which had euil spirits, the Name of the Lord Iesus, saying, We adiure you by Iesus, whom Paul preacheth.

¹⁴ (And there were certaine sonnes of Sceua a Iewe, the Priest, about seuen which did this)

¹⁵ And the euil spirit answered, and said, Iesus I acknowledge, and Paul I know: but who are ye?

¹⁶ And the man in whome the euil spirit was, ranne on them, and ouercame them, and [Note: [g] He preuailed against them, though they stroue neuer so much. ] preuailed against them, so that they fledde out of that house, naked, and wounded.

¹⁷ And this was knowen to all the Iewes and Grecians also, which dwelt at Ephesus, and feare came on them all, and the Name of the Lord Iesus was magnified,

¹⁸ [Note: [5] Coniuring and sorcerie is condemned by open testimonie, and by the authoritie of the Apostle. ] And many that beleeued, came and [Note: [h] Confeßed their errours, & detested them openly, being terrified with the feare of the iudgement of God: and what is this to care shrift? ] confessed, and shewed their workes.

¹⁹ Many also of them which vsed curious artes, brought their bookes, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it [Note: [i] They that make the least value of it, recke it to be about eight hundred pouds English. ] fiftie thousand pieces of siluer.

²⁰ So the worde of God grewe mightily, and preuailed.

²¹ ¶ [Note: [6] Paul is neuer wearie. ] Nowe when these things were accomplished, Paul purposed by the [Note: [k] By the motion of Gods Spirit: therefore we may not say that Paul ran hand ouer head to death, but as the Spirit of God led him. ] Spirite to passe through Macedonia and Achaia, and to goe to Hierusalem, saying, After I haue bene there, I must also see Rome.

²² So sent hee into Macedonia two of them that ministred vnto him, Timotheus and Erastus, but he remained in Asia for a season.

²³ [Note: [7] Gaine cloked with a shew of religion, is the very cause wherefore idolatrie is stoutly and stubburnely defended. ] And the same time there arose no small trouble about that way.

²⁴ For a certaine man named Demetrius a siluersmith, which made siluer [Note: [l] These were certaine counterfet temples with Dianas picture in them, which they bought that worshipped her. ] temples of Diana, brought great gaines vnto the craftesmen,

²⁵ Whom he called together, with the workemen of like things, and saide, Syrs, ye knowe that by this craft we haue our goods:

²⁶ Moreouer ye see and heare, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath perswaded, and turned away much people, saying, That they be not gods which are made with handes.

²⁷ So that not onely this thing is dangerous vnto vs, that this our [Note: [m] As if he said, If Paul go on thus as he hath begonne, to confute the opinion which men haue of Dianas image, all this our gaine will come to nought. ] portion shall be reproued, but also that the temple of the great goddesse Diana should be nothing esteemed, and that it would come to passe that her magnificence, which all Asia & the world worshippeth, should be destroyed.

²⁸ Now when they heard it, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

²⁹ And the whole citie was full of confusion, and they rushed into the common place with one assent, and caught [Note: Rom.16.23. 1.cor.1.14. ] Gaius, and [Note: Coloß.4.10. ] Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, and Pauls companions of his iourney.

³⁰ And when Paul would haue entred in vnto the people, the disciples suffred him not.

³¹ [Note: [8] There ought to be in al Christians, and especially in the Ministers, an inuincible constancie, which may not by any stormes or assaults be ouercome, which notwithstanding must suffer it selfe modestly to be gouerned by wisdome. ] Certaine also of the chiefe of Asia which were his friendes, sent vnto him, desiring him that hee woulde not present him selfe in the Common place.

³² Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assemblie was out of order, and the more part knewe not wherefore they were come together.

³³ And some of the company drew foorth Alexander, the Iewes thrusting him forwards. Alexander then beckened with the hande, and woulde haue excused the matter to the people.

³⁴ [Note: [9] In steade of reason, the idolaters are sufficiently cotented with their owne madnes and outcries, and those are the greatest defences that they haue. ] But when they knew that he was a Iewe, there arose a shoute almost for the space of two houres, of all men crying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

³⁵ [Note: [10] An example of a politike man who redeemeth peace & quietnesse with lies which Paul would neuer haue done. ] Then the towne clearke when hee had stayed the people, saide, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is it that knoweth not howe that the citie of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddesse Diana, and of the image, which [Note: [n] The Ephesians beleeued superstitiously, that the image of Diana came downe from heauen to them. ] came downe from Iupiter?

³⁶ Seeing then that no man can speake against these things, ye ought to be appeased, and to doe nothing rashly.

³⁷ For yee haue brought hither these men, which haue neither committed sacrilege, neither doe blaspheme your goddesse.

³⁸ Wherefore, if Demetrius and the craftes men which are with him, haue a [Note: [o] Haue ought to accuse any man of. ] matter against any man, the [Note: [p] For there are certaine dayes appointed for ciuill causes and matters of iudgement, and the Deputies sit. ] lawe is open, and there are [Note: [q] By the Deputies are ment also the Deputies Substitutes, that is, such as did sit for them. ] Deputies: let them accuse one another.

³⁹ But if ye inquire any thing cocerning other [Page]

matters, it may be determined in a [Note: [r] He speaketh of a lawful assembly, not onely to except against the disordered hurly burly of the people, but also against all meeting and comming together which was not by order: for there were certaine dayes appointed to call the people together in. ] lawful assembly.

⁴⁰ For we are euen in ieopardie to be accused of this dayes sedition, for as much as there is no cause, whereby we may giue a reason of this concourse of people.

⁴¹ And when he had thus spoken, hee let the assembly depart.

1 Paul appointeth to goe to Macedonia: 7 In Troas preaching vntill midnight, 9 Eutychus fell downe dead out of a windowe, 10 he raiseth him to life: 15 At Miletum, 17 hauing called the Elders of Ephesus together, 23 hee declareth what things shall come vpon himselfe, 28 and others.

¹ Nowe [Note: [1] Paul departeth from Ephesus by the consent of the Church, not to be idle or at rest, but to take paines in another place. ] after the tumult was appeased, Paul called the disciples vnto him, and embraced them, and departed to goe into Macedonia.

² And when hee had gone through those parts, and had exhorted them with [Note: [a] For after so great trouble, there was neede of a long exhortation. ] many words, he came into Grecia.

³ [Note: [2] A froward zeale is the guider and instructour to murders: and we are not debarred by the wisdome of God to preuent the endeuours of wicked men. ] And hauing taried there three moneths, because the Iewes layde waite for him, as hee was about to saile into Syria, hee purposed to returne through Macedonia.

⁴ And there accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of them of Thessalonica, Aristarchus, and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of them of Asia, Tychicus, and Trophimus.

⁵ These went before, and taried vs at Troas.

⁶ And we sailed forth from Philippi, after the dayes of vnleauened bread, & came vnto them to Troas in fiue dayes, where we abode seuen dayes.

⁷ [Note: [3] Assemblies in the night time can not be iustly condemned, neither ought, when the cause is good. ] And the [Note: [b] Word for word, the first day of the Sabbath, that is, vpon the Lords day: so that by this place, and by 1. Cor.16.2. it is not amisse gathered, that in those dayes the Christians were wont to assemble themselues solemnly together vpon that day. ] first day of the weeke, the disciples being come together to breake bread, Paul preached vnto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued the preaching vnto midnight.

⁸ [Note: [4] The deuil minding to trouble the Church with a great offence, giueth Paul a singular occasion to cofirme the Gospel. ] And there were many lightes in an vpper chamber, where they were gathered together.

⁹ And there sate in a windowe a certaine yong man, named Eutychus, fallen into a dead sleepe: and as Paul was long preaching, hee ouercome with sleepe, fell downe from the thirde loft, and was taken vp dead.

¹⁰ But Paul went downe, and layde himselfe vpon him, and embraced him, saying, Trouble not your selues: for his life is in him.

¹¹ Then when Paul was come vp againe, and had broken bread, and eaten, hauing spoken a long while till the dawning of the day, hee so departed.

¹² And they brought the boye aliue, and they were not a litle comforted.

¹³ ¶ Then we went before to shippe, and sailed vnto the citie Assos, that wee might receiue Paul there: for so had hee appointed, and would himselfe goe afoote.

¹⁴ Now when he was come vnto vs to Assos, and we had receiued him, we came to Mitylenes.

¹⁵ And wee sailed thence, and came the next day ouer against Chios, and the next day we arriued at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium: the next day we came to Miletum.

¹⁶ [Note: [5] Paul an earnest and diligent follower of Christ, making haste to his bonds without any ceasing or stopping in his race, doeth first of all as it were make his testament, wherein he giueth an accompt of his former life, defendeth the doctrine which he taught, and exhorteth the Pastours of the Church to perseuere and goe forward with continuance in their office. ] For Paul had determined to saile by Ephesus, because hee woulde not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted to be, if hee could possible, at Hierusalem, at the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷ ¶ Wherefore from [Note: [c] According as the situation of these places is set forth, that distance betwene Ephesies & Miletum, was about 400. furlongs, which maketh almost fiftie dutch miles. ] Miletum, hee sent to

Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church.

¹⁸ [Note: [6] A liuely image of a true Pastour. ] Who when they were come to him, hee said vnto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what maner I haue bene with you at all seasons,

¹⁹ Seruing the Lorde with all modestie, and with many teares, and tentations, which came vnto me by the layings awaite of the Iewes,

²⁰ And how I kept [Note: [d] I refrained not to speake, neither dißembled in any respect whatsoeuer, either for feare, or lucres sake. ] backe nothing that was profitable, but haue shewed you, and taught you openly and throughout euery house,

²¹ Witnessing both to the Iewes, and to the Grecians the repentance towarde God, and faith toward our Lord Iesus Christ.

²² [Note: [7] He testifieth, that he goeth to his bonds, by the commaundement of God. ] And nowe beholde, I goe [Note: [e] He calleth that motion of the holy Ghost, which inforced him to take his iourney to Hierusalem, the bond of the Spirit, whome hee folowed with all his heart. ] bound in the Spirit vnto Hierusalem, and know not what things shall come vnto me there,

²³ Saue that ye holy Ghost witnesseth in euery citie, saying, that bondes and afflictions abide me.

²⁴ But I passe not at all, neither is my life deare vnto my selfe, so that I may fulfill my course with ioye, and the ministration which I haue receiued of the Lorde Iesus, to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God.

²⁵ And now behold, I know that henceforth ye all, through whome I haue gone preaching the kingdome of God, shall see my face no more.

²⁶ Wherefore I take you to recorde this day, that I am [Note: [f] If you do perish, yet there shall be no fault in me, Looke chap.18.6. ] pure from the blood of all men.

²⁷ [Note: [8] The doctrine of the Apostles is most perfite and absolute. ] For I haue kept nothing backe, but haue shewed you all the counsell of God.

²⁸ Take heede therefore vnto your selues, and to all the flocke, whereof the holy Ghost hath made you Ouerseers, to [Note: [g] To keepe it, to feede it, and gouerne it. ] feede the Church of God, which [Note: [h] A notable sentence for Christes Godhead: which sheweth plainely in his person, how that by reason of the ioyning together of the two natures in his owne person, that which is proper to one is spoken of the other, being taken in the deriuatiue, and not in the primitiue: which in olde time the godly fathers termed, a communicating or fellowship of proprieties, that is to say, a making common of that to two, which belongeth but to one. ] hee hath purchased with [Note: [i] This word, That, sheweth the excellencie of this blood. ] that his owne blood.

²⁹ [Note: [9] A Prophecie of pastors that should straightway degenerat into wolues, against such as boast and bragge onely of a succession of persons. ] For I knowe this, that after my departing shall grieuous wolues enter in among you, not sparing the flocke.

³⁰ Moreouer of your owne selues shall men arise speaking peruerse thinges, to [Note: [k] This is great miserie, to want the presence of such a shepheard, but greater to haue wolues enter in. ] drawe disciples after them.

³¹ Therefore watche, and remember, that by the space of three yeres I ceased not to warne euery one, both night and day with teares.

³² [Note: [10] The power of God, and his free promises reueiled in his word, are the props and vpholders of the ministery of the Gospel. ] And nowe brethren, I commend you to God, and to the worde of his grace, which is able to build further, and to giue you an [Note: [l] As children, and therfore of free loue and good will. ] inheritance, among all them, which are sanctified.

³³ [Note: [11] Pastours must before all things beware of couetousnes. ] I haue coueted no mans siluer, nor gold, nor apparell.

³⁴ Yea, ye knowe, that these handes haue ministred vnto my [Note: 1.Cor.4.12. 1.thes. 2. 9. 2.thes.3.8. ] necessities, and to them that were with me.

³⁵ I haue shewed you all things, howe that so labouring, ye ought to [Note: [m] As it were by reaching out the hande to them, which otherwise are about to slippe and fall away, and so to stay them. ] support the weake, and to remember the wordes of the Lord Iesus, howe that hee saide, It is a blessed thing to giue, rather then to receiue.

³⁶ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled downe, and prayed with them all.

³⁷ [Note: [12] The Gospel doeth not take away naturall affections, but ruleth and bridleth them in good order. ] Then they wept all abundantly, and fell on Pauls necke, and kissed him,

³⁸ Being chiefly sorie for the words which he spake, That they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him vnto the shippe.


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1 Paul goeth toward Hierusalem: 8 at Cesarea hee talketh with Philip the Euangelist: 10 Agabus foretelleth him of his bonds. 17 After he came to Hierusalem, 26 and into the Temple, 27 The Iewes layd hands on him: 32 Lysias the Captaine taketh him from them.

¹ And [Note: [1] Not only men simply, but euen our friends, and such as are endued with the Spirit of God, doe sometimes go about to hinder the course of our vocation: but it is our part to goe forwarde without all stopping or staggering, after that we are sure of our calling from God. ] as we launched forth, and were departed from them, we came with a straight course vnto Coos, and the day following vnto the Rhodes, and from thence vnto Patara.

² And we found a ship that went ouer vnto Phenice, and went aboard, and set forth.

³ And whe we had discouered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, & sailed toward Syria, and arriued at Tyrus: for there the ship vnladed ye burden.

⁴ And when we had found disciples, we taried there seuen dayes. And they told Paul through the [Note: [a] They foretolde through the Spirit what dangers hanged ouer Pauls head, and this they did as Prophets: but of a fleshly affection they frayed him from going to Hierusalem. ] Spirit, that he should not goe vp to Hierusalem.

⁵ But when the dayes were ended, we departed & went our way, & they all accompanied vs with their wiues & children, euen out of the citie: and we kneeling downe on the shore, prayed.

⁶ Then when we had embraced one another, we tooke ship, and they returned home.

⁷ And when we had ended the course from Tyrus, we arriued at Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

⁸ And the next day, Paul and we that were with him, departed, and came vnto Cesarea: and we entred into the house of [Note: Chap.6.5. ] Philippe the Euangelist, which was one of the [Note: [b] He speaketh of the seuen Deacons which he mentioned before, chap.6. ] seuen Deacons, and abode with him.

⁹ Now he had foure daughters virgins, which did [Note: [c] They had a peculiar gift of foretelling things to come. ] prophecie.

¹⁰ And as we taried there many dayes, there came a certaine Prophet from Iudea, named Agabus.

¹¹ And when he was come vnto vs, he tooke Pauls girdle, and bound his owne hands & feete, and sayd, Thus sayth the holy Ghost, So shall the Iewes at Hierusalem binde the man that oweth this girdle, and shall deliuer him into the hands of the Gentiles.

¹² And when we had heard these things, both we and other of the same place besought him that he would not go vp to Hierusalem.

¹³ Then Paul answered, and sayd, What doe ye weeping and breaking mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound onely, but also to die at Hierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus.

¹⁴ [Note: [2] The wil of God brideleth all affections in them which earnestly seeke the glory of God. ] So when he would not be perswaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

¹⁵ And after those dayes we trussed vp our fardels, and went vp to Hierusalem.

¹⁶ There went with vs also certaine of the disciples of Cesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an olde disciple, with whome we should lodge.

¹⁷ And when we were come to Hierusalem, the brethren receiued vs gladly.

¹⁸ And the next day Paul went in with vs vnto Iames: and all the Elders were there assembled.

¹⁹ [Note: [3] God is to be praysed, who is the Authour of all good sayings and deedes. ] And when he had embraced them, hee tolde by order all things, that God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministration.

²⁰ [Note: [4] In things indifferent (of which fort were not the traditions of the Pharises, but the ceremonies of the Law, vntill such time as christian libertie was more fully reueiled to the Iewes) charitie willeth vs to conforme or applie our selues willingly so farre as we may, to our brethren which doe not stubburnly and maliciously resist the trueth, but are not throughly instructed, especially if the question be of a whole multitude, ] So when they heard it, they glorified God, and sayd vnto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousand Iewes there are which beleeue, and they are all zealous of the Law:

²¹ Now they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Iewes, which are among the

Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and sayest that they ought not to circumcise their sonnes, neither to liue after the customes.

²² What is then to be done? the multitude must needes come together: for they shall heare that thou art come.

²³ Doe therefore this that we say to thee. We haue foure men, which haue made a vowe,

²⁴ Them take, and [Note: [d] That is, consecrate thy selfe: for he speaketh not here of the vncleane, but of such as were subiect to the vowe of the Nazarites. ] purifie thy selfe with them, and [Note: [e] That it may be knowen, that thou wast not onely present at the vowe, but also a chiefe man in it: and therefore it is sayd afterwards, that Paul declared the dayes of purification: for although the charges for the Nazarites offerings were appointed, yet they might adde somewhat vnto them, Nomb.6.21. ] contribute with them, that they may [Note: Chap.18.18. nomb.6.18. ] shaue their heads: and all shall knowe, that those things, whereof they haue bene informed concerning thee, are nothing, but that thou thy selfe also walkest and keepest the Lawe.

²⁵ For as touching ye Gentiles, which beleeue, we haue written, & determined that they obserue no such thing, but that they keepe themselues from things offred to idoles, and from blood, and from that that is strangled, and from fornication.

²⁶ Then Paul tooke the men, and the next day was purified with them, and entred into the Temple, [Note: [f] The Priests were to be aduertised of the accomplishmet of the dayes of the purification, because there were sacrifices to be offred the same day, that their vowe was ended. ] declaring the accomplishment of the dayes of the purification, vntill that an offering should be offered for euery one of them.

²⁷ [Note: [5] A preposterous zeale is the cause of great confusion, and great mischiefes. ] And when the seuen dayes were almost ended, the Iewes which were of Asia (when they sawe him in the Temple) moued all the people, and laide hands on him,

²⁸ Crying, Men of Israel, helpe: this is the man that teacheth all men euery where against the people, and the Lawe, and this place: moreouer, he hath brought Grecians into the Temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

²⁹ For they had seene before Trophimus an Ephesian with him in the citie, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the Temple.

³⁰ Then all the citie was moued, and the people ran together: and they tooke Paul and drewe him out of the Temple, and forth with the doores were shut.

³¹ [Note: [6] God findeth some eue amongst the wicked and prophane themselues, to hinder the endeuours of the rest. ] But as they went about to kill him, tydings came vnto the chiefe captaine of the band, that all Hierusalem was on an vproare.

³² Who immediately tooke souldiers & Centurions, and ran downe vnto them: and when they sawe the chiefe Captaine and the souldiers, they left beating of Paul.

³³ Then the chiefe Captaine came neere and tooke him, and commaunded him to be bound with two chaines, and demaunded who he was, and what he had done.

³⁴ And one cryed this, another that, among the people. So when he could not know the certeintie for the tumult, he commaunded him to be led into the castell.

³⁵ And when hee came vnto the grieces, it was so that he was borne of the souldiers, for the violence of the people.

³⁶ For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

³⁷ And as Paul should haue bene led into the castell, he sayd vnto the chiefe Captaine, May I speake vnto thee? Who sayd, Canst thou speake Greeke?

³⁸ Art not thou the [Note: [g] Touching this Egyptian which assembled thirtie thousand men, reade Ioseph, booke 2.chap.12. ] Egyptian who before these dayes raised a sedition, and led out into the wildernesse foure thousande men that were murtherers?

³⁹ Then Paul sayde, Doubtlesse, I am a man which am a Iewe, and citizen of Tarsus, a famous [Page]

citie of Cilicia, and I beseech thee, suffer mee to speake vnto the people.

⁴⁰ And when he had giuen him licence, Paul stoode on the grieces, & beckened with the hand vnto the people: and when there was made great silence, hee spake vnto them in the Hebrewe tongue, saying,

1 Paul yeeldeth a reason of his faith, 22 and the Iewes heare him a while: 23 But so soone as they cryed out, 24 hee is commanded to be scourged and examined, 27 and so declareth that he is a citizen of Rome.

¹ Ye men, brethren and Fathers, heare my defence nowe towards you.

² (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrewe tongue to them, they kept the more silence, and he sayd)

³ [Note: [1] Paul making a short declaration of his former life, proueth both his vocation, and doctrine to be of God. ] I am verely a man, which am a Iew, borne in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought vp in this citie at the [Note: [a] That is, his dayly hearer: the reason of this speach is this, for that they which teach, sit commonly in the higher place, speaking to their schollers which sit vpon fourmes beneath: and therefore hee sayth, at the feete of Gamaliel. ] feete of Gamaliel, & instructed according to the perfect maner of the Lawe of the Fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

⁴ And I persecuted this way vnto the death, binding and deliuering into prison both men and women.

⁵ As also ye chiefe Priest doeth beare me witnes, & al the company of the Elders: of whom also I receiued letters vnto the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring them which were there, bound vnto Hierusalem, that they might be punished.

⁶ ¶ And so it was, as I iourneyed and was come neere vnto Damascus about noone, that suddenly there shone from heauen a great light round about me.

⁷ So I fell vnto the earth, and heard a voyce, saying vnto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou mee?

⁸ Then I answered, Who art thou, Lorde? And he said to me, I am Iesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

⁹ Moreouer they that were with me, sawe in deede a light and were afraide: but they heard not the voyce of him that spake vnto me.

¹⁰ Then I sayd, What shall I doe, Lord? And the Lorde sayde vnto me, Arise, and goe into Damascus: and there it shall be tolde thee of all things, which are appointed for thee to doe.

¹¹ So when I could not see for the glory of that light, I was led by the hand of them that were with me, and came into Damascus.

¹² And one Ananias a godly man, as perteining to the Lawe, hauing good report of all the Iewes which dwelt there,

¹³ Came vnto me, and stoode, and sayd vnto me, Brother Saul, receiue thy sight: and that same houre I looked vpon him.

¹⁴ And he sayd, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee, that thou shouldest knowe his wil, and shouldest see that Iust one, and shouldest heare the voyce of his mouth.

¹⁵ For thou shalt be his witnes vnto all men, of the things which thou hast seene and heard.

¹⁶ Now therefore why tariest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sinnes, in calling on the Name of the Lord.

¹⁷ ¶ And it came to passe, that when I was come againe to Hierusalem, and prayed in the Temple, I was in a traunce,

¹⁸ And saw him saying vnto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Hierusalem: for they

will not receiue thy witnes concerning me.

¹⁹ Then I sayd, Lord, they know that I prisoned, and beat in euery Synagogue them that beleeued in thee.

²⁰ And when the blood of thy martyr Steuen was shed, I also stood by, and consented vnto his death, & kept the clothes of them that [Note: [b] This is properly spoken: for Steuen was murdered of a sort of cutthrotes, not by order of iustice, but by open force: for as that time the Iewes could not put any man to death by Lawe. ] slew him.

²¹ Then he sayd vnto me, Depart: for I will send thee farre hence vnto the Gentiles.

²² ¶ [Note: [2] Stout and stubburne pride will neither it selfe embrace the trueth, neither suffer other to receiue it. ] And they heard him vnto this worde, but then they lift vp their voyces, and sayd, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not meete that he should liue.

²³ And as they [Note: [c] The description of a seditious hurly burly, and of an barebrained and mad multitude. ] cried & cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the aire,

²⁴ [Note: [3] The wisdome of the flesh doeth not consider what is iust, but what is profitable, & therewith all measure the profite, according as it appeareth presently. ] The chiefe captaine commanded him to be led into the castle, and bade that he should be scourged, and examined, that he might knowe wherefore they cryed so on him.

²⁵ [Note: [4] There is no cause why we may not vse those lawfull meanes which God giueth vs, to repell, or put away an iniurie. ] And as they bound him with thongs, Paul sayd vnto the Centurion that stood by, Is it lawfull for you to scourge one that is a Romane, and not condemned?

²⁶ Nowe when the Centurion heard it, hee went, and tolde the chiefe captaine, saying, Take heede what thou doest: for this man is a Romane.

²⁷ Then the chiefe captaine came, and sayd to him, Tel me, art thou a Romane? And he said, Yea.

²⁸ And the chiefe captaine answered, With a great summe obtained I this freedome. Then Paul sayd, But I was so borne.

²⁹ Then straightway they departed from him, which should haue examined him: and the chiefe captaine also was afrayd, after he knewe that hee was a [Note: [d] Not by nation, but by the lawe of the citie. ] Romane, and that he had bound him.

³⁰ On the next day, because hee would haue knowen the certaintie wherefore he was accused of the Iewes, he loosed him from his bonds, and commaunded the hie Priests and all their Councill to come together: and he brought Paul, and set him before them.

1 As Paul pleadeth his cause, 2 Ananias commandeth them to smite him: 7 Dißension among his accusers. 11 God encourageth him. 14 The Iewes laying waite for Paul 20 is declared vnto the chiefe captaine: 27 Hee sendeth him to Felix the Gouernour.

¹ And [Note: [1] Paul, against the false accusations of his enemies, setteth a good conscience, for proofe whereof, he repeateth ye whole course of his life. ] Paul behelde earnestly the Councill, and sayde, Men and brethren, I haue in all good conscience serued God vntill this day.

² [Note: [2] Hypocrites are constrained at length, to betray them selues by their inteperancie. ] Then the hie Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth.

³ [Note: [3] It is lawfull for vs to complaine of iniuries, & to summon the wicked to the iudgement seate of God, so that we do it without hatred, & with a quiet and peaceable minde. ] Then sayd Paul to him, God [Note: [a] It appeareth plainely by the Greeke phrase, that Paul did not curse the hie Priest, but onely pronounce the punishment of God against him. ] will smite thee, thou [Note: [b] This is a vehement and sharpe speach, but yet not reprochfull: For the godly may speake roundly, and yet be voide of the bitter affection of a sharpe and angry minde. ] whited wall: for thou sittest to iudge me according to the Lawe, and [Note: [c] For the Law commandeth the Iudge to heare the person that is accused, patiently, and to pronounce the sentence aduisedly. ] transgressing the Lawe, commaundest thou me to be smitten?

⁴ And they that stood by, sayd, Reuilest thou Gods hie Priest?

⁵ [Note: [4] We must willingly & from the heart giue honour to Magistrates, although they be tyrants. ] Then sayd Paul, I knewe not, brethren, that he was the hie Priest: for it is written, [Note: Exod.22.27. ] Thou shalt not speake euill of the ruler of thy people.

⁶ [Note: [5] We may lawfully sometimes set the wicked together by the eares, that they may leaue off to assault vs, so that it be with no hinderance of the trueth. ] But when Paul perceiued that the one part were of the Sadduces, and the other of the

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Pharises, hee cried in the Council, Men and brethren, [Note: Chap.24.22. philip.3.5. ] I am a Pharise, the sonne of a Pharise: I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead.
⁷ [Note: [6] The concorde of the wicked is weake, although they conspire together to oppresse the trueth. ] And when hee had saide this, there was a dissension betweene the Pharises and the Sadduces, so that the multitude was deuided.

⁸ [Note: [7] It is an olde heresie of the Sadduces, to denie the substace of Angels and soules, and therewithal the resurrection of the dead. ] [Note: Matth.22.23. ] For the Sadduces say that there is no resurrection, neither [Note: [d] Natures that want bodies. ] Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharises confesse both.

⁹ [Note: [8] The Lord when it pleaseth him, findeth defendours of his cause, euen amongst his enemies. ] Then there was a great crye: and the [Note: [e] The Scribes office was a publike office, and the name of the Pharises, was the name of a sect. ] Scribes of the Pharises part rose vp, and stroue, saying, Wee finde none euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.

¹⁰ [Note: [9] God will not forsake his to the ende. ] And when there was a great dissension, the chiefe captaine, fearing lest Paul should haue bene pulled in pieces of them, commaunded the souldiers to go downe, and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castel.

¹¹ Nowe the night folowing, the Lord stoode by him, and saide, Be of good courage, Paul: for as thou hast testified of mee in Hierusalem, so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome.

¹² [Note: [10] Such as are caried away with a foolish zeale, thinke that they may lie and murther, and do whatsoeuer mischiefe they list. ] And when the day was come, certaine of the Iewes made an assemblie, and bounde themselues [Note: [f] They cursing and banning themselues, promised. ] with a curse, saying, that they woulde neither eate nor drinke, till they had killed Paul.

¹³ And they were more then fourtie, which had made this conspiracie.

¹⁴ And they came to the chiefe Priestes and Elders, and said, We haue bound our selues with a solemne curse, that wee will eate nothing, vntill we haue slaine Paul.

¹⁵ Nowe therefore, ye and the [Note: [g] Ye and the Senate requiring the same to be done, lest that the Tribune should thinke, that it was demaunded of him at some priuate mans sute. ] Council signifie to the chiefe captaine, that hee bring him foorth vnto you to morow: as though you would know some thing more perfectly of him, and we, or euer he come neere, will be readie to kill him.

¹⁶ But when Pauls sisters sonne heard of their laying awaite, he went, and entred into the castel, and tolde Paul.

¹⁷ [Note: [11] The wisdome of the Spirit must be ioyned with simplicitie. ] And Paul called one of the Centurions vnto him, and said, Take this yong man hence vnto the chiefe captaine: for he hath a certaine thing to shewe him.

¹⁸ So hee tooke him, and brought him to the chiefe captaine, and saide, Paul the prisoner called mee vnto him, and prayed mee to bring this yong man vnto thee, which hath some thing to say vnto thee.

¹⁹ Then the chiefe captaine tooke him by the hande, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to shewe me?

²⁰ And he saide, The Iewes haue conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring foorth Paul to morow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly:

²¹ But let them not perswade thee: for there lie in waite for him of them, more then fourtie men, which haue bound themselues with a curse, that they will neither eate nor drinke, till they haue killed him: and nowe are they readie, and waite for thy promes.

²² [Note: [12] There is no counsell against the Lord and his seruants. ] The chiefe captaine then let the yong man depart, after hee had charged him to vtter it to no man, that he had [Note: Greeke, that thou hast shewed these things to me. ] shewed him these things.

²³ And he called vnto him two certaine Centurions, saying, Make readie two hundred souldiers, that they may go to Cæsarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and two hundred with dartes,

at the thirde houre of the night.

²⁴ And let them make readie an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe vnto Felix the Gouernour.

²⁵ And he wrote an epistle in this maner:

²⁶ [Note: [13] Lysias is suddenly made by the Lord, Pauls patrone. ] Claudius Lysias vnto the most noble Gouernour Felix sendeth greeting.

²⁷ As this man was taken of the Iewes, and shoulde haue bene killed of them, I came vpon them with the garison, and rescued him, perceiuing that he was a Romane.

²⁸ And when I would haue knowen the cause, wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council.

²⁹ There I perceiued that hee was accused of questions of their Lawe, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bondes.

³⁰ And when it was shewed me, how that the Iewes layd waite for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commaunded his accusers to speake before thee the thinges that they had against him. Farewell.

³¹ Then the souldiers as it was commaunded them, tooke Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

³² And the next day, they left the horsemen to goe with him, and returned vnto the Castel.

³³ Now when they came to Cæsarea, they deliuered the epistle to the Gouernour, and presented Paul also vnto him.

³⁴ So when the Gouernour had read it, hee asked of what prouince he was: and when he vnderstoode that he was of Cilicia,

³⁵ I will heare thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commaunded him to bee kept in Herods iudgement hall.

2 Tertullus accuseth Paul: 10 Hee answereth for himselfe. 21 Hee preacheth Christ to the gouernour and his wife. 27 Felix hopeth, but in vaine, to receiue a bribe, 28 who going from his office, leaueth Paul in prison.

¹ Now [Note: [1] Hypocrites, when they cannot doe what they would do, by force and deceite, at length they goe about to compasse it by a shewe of Lawe. ] after fiue dayes, Ananias the hie Priest came downe with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certaine oratour, which appeared before the Gouernour against Paul.

² And when he was called foorth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we haue obtained great quietnesse [Note: [a] Felix ruled that prouince with great crueltie and couetousnes, and yet Iosephus recordeth that he did many worthy things, as that he tooke Eleazar the captaine of certaine cutthrotes, and put that deceiuing wretch the Egyptian to flight, which caused great troubles in Iudea. ] through thee, and that many [Note: [b] He vseth a word which the Stoickes defined to be a perfit duetie and behauiour. ] worthy things are done vnto this nation through thy prouidence,

³ We acknowledge it wholy, and in all places most noble Felix, with all thankes,

⁴ But that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy courtesie a fewe wordes.

⁵ Certainely we haue found this man a [Note: [c] Word for word, a plague. ] pestilent fellowe, and a moouer of sedition among all the Iewes throughout the world, and a [Note: [d] As you would say, a ringleader, or ensigne bearer. ] chiefe maintainer of the secte of the [Note: [e] So they called the Christians, scoffingly, of the townes name where they thought that Christ was borne, whereupon it came that Iulian the Apostata called him Galilean. ] Nazarites:

⁶ And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore wee tooke him, and woulde haue iudged him according to our Lawe:

⁷ But the chiefe captaine Lysias came vpon vs, and with great violence tooke him out of our handes,

⁸ Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.
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⁹ And the Iewes likewise [Note: [f] Confirmed Tertullus his saying. ] affirmed, saying that it was so.

¹⁰ [Note: [2] Tertullus by the deuils rhetorike beginning with flatterie, maketh an ende with lies: but Paul vsing heauenly eloquence, and but a simple beginning, casteth off from himselfe the crime of sedition, wherewith he was burdened, with a simple denial. ] Then Paul, after that the gouernour had beckened vnto him that hee shoulde speake, answered, I do the more gladly answere for my selfe, for as much as I knowe that thou hast bene of [Note: [g] Paul pleaded his cause two yeeres before Felix departed out of the prouince, Chap.27. but he had gouerned Trachonite, and Batauea, and Galaunite, before that Claudius made him Gouernour of Iudea: Iosephus in the historie of the Iewes warre, lib.2. cap.11. ] many yeres a iudge vnto this nation,

¹¹ Seeing that thou mayest knowe, that there are but twelue dayes since I came vp to worship in Hierusalem.

¹² And they neither found mee in the Temple disputing with any man, neither making vproare among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the citie.

¹³ Neither can they [Note: [h] They cannot lay foorth before thee, and prooue by good reasons. ] proue the things, whereof they now accuse me.

¹⁴ [Note: [3] Paul goeth in the case of religio, from a state coniecturall to a state of qualitie, not only not denying that religion which was obiected against him, but also prouing it to be true, to be heauenly and from God, and to be the oldest of all religions. ] But this I confesse vnto thee, that after the way (which they call [Note: [i] Here this word, Heresie, or secte, is taken in good part. ] heresie) so worship I the God of my fathers, beleeuing all things which are written in the Lawe and the Prophets,

¹⁵ And haue hope towardes God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselues looke for also, shalbe both of iust and vniust.

¹⁶ And herein I endeuour my selfe to haue alway a cleare conscience towarde God, and toward men.

¹⁷ [Note: [4] Paul in conclusion telleth the thing which was done, truely, which Tertullus had before diuers wayes corrupted. ] Now after many yeres, I came & brought almes to my nation and offerings.

¹⁸ At [Note: [k] And while I was busie about those things. ] what time, certaine Iewes of [Note: [l] Hereby it appeareth that these of Asia were Paul his enemies, and those that stirred vp the people against him. ] Asia founde mee purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

¹⁹ Who ought to haue bene present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me.

²⁰ Or let these themselues say, if they haue found any vniust thing in mee, while I stoode in the [Note: [m] Whither the Tribune brought me. ] Council,

²¹ Except it be for this one voyce, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.

²² [Note: [5] The iudge suspendeth his sentence because the matter is doutfull. ] Nowe when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more [Note: [n] Felix could not iudge whether he had done wickedly in the matters of his religion or no, vntil he had better vnderstading of that way which Paul profeßed: and as for other matters touching the seditio, he thinketh good to deferre it till he heare Lysias, and therefore he gaue Paul somewhat more libertie. ] perfectly know the things which concerne this way, by the comming of Lysias the chiefe Captaine, I will decise your matter.

²³ [Note: [6] God is a most faithfull keeper of his seruants, and the force of the trueth is wonderfull, euen amongst men which are otherwise prophane. ] Then hee commaunded a Centurion to keepe Paul, and that he should haue ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister vnto him, or to come vnto him.

²⁴ ¶ And after certaine dayes, came Felix with his wife [Note: [o] This Drusilla was Agrippa his sister, of whom Luke speaketh afterwarde, a very harlot and licentious woman, and being the wife of Azizus King of the Emesens, who was circumcised, departed from him, and went to this Felix the brother of one Pallas, who was sometime Mero his bondman. ] Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, and he called foorth Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ.

²⁵ And as he disputed of righteousnes & temperance, & of the iudgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I haue conuenient time, I will call for thee.

²⁶ Hee hoped also that money shoulde haue bene giuen him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore hee sent for him the oftner, and communed with him.

²⁷ [Note: [7] In a naughtie minde, that is guiltie to it selfe, although sometime there be some shewe of equitie, yet by and by it will be extinguished: but in the meane season we haue neede of patience, and that continuall. ] When two yeeres were expired, Porcius

Festus came into Felix roume: and Felix willing to [Note: [p] For whereas he had behaued himselfe very wickedly in the prouince, had it not bene for fauour of his brother Pallas, hee should haue died for it: so that we may gather hereby why he would haue pleasured the Iewes. ] get fauour of the Iewes, left Paul bound.

1 Festus succeeding Felix, 6 commaundeth Paul to be brought foorth. 11 Paul appealeth vnto Cesar. 14 Festus openeth Pauls matter to King Agrippa, 23 and bringeth him before him, 27 that he may vnderstand his cause.

¹ When [Note: [1] Satans ministers are subtil and diligent in seeking all occasions: but God who watcheth for his, hindreth all their counsels easely. ] Festus was then come into the prouince, after three dayes he went vp from Cæsarea vnto Hierusalem.

² Then the high Priest, and the chiefe of the Iewes appeared before him against Paul: and they besought him,

³ And desired fauour against him, that hee would send for him to Hierusalem: and they layd waite to kill him by the way.

⁴ But Festus answered, that Paul should bee kept at Cæsarea, and that he himselfe would shortly depart thither.

⁵ Let them therefore, saide he, which among you are able, come downe with vs: and if there be any wickednes in the man, let them accuse him.

⁶ ¶ [Note: [2] We may repel an iniurie iustly, but not with iniurie. ] Now when he had taried among them no more then ten dayes, hee went downe to Cæsarea, and the next day sate in the iudgement seat, and commaunded Paul to be brought.

⁷ And when hee was come, the Iewes which were come fro Hierusalem, stoode about him and layd many and grieuous complaints against Paul, whereof [Note: [a] They could not proue them certainely and with vndoubted reasons. ] they could make no plaine proofe,

⁸ Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended any thing against the lawe of the Iewes, neither against ye temple, nor against Cæsar.

⁹ [Note: [3] God doeth not onely turne away the counsel of the wicked, but also turneth it vpon their owne heads. ] Yet Festus willing to get fauour of the Iewes, answered Paul and saide, Wilt thou goe vp to Hierusalem, and there be iudged of these things before mee?

¹⁰ Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsars iudgment seate, where I ought to be iudged: to the Iewes I haue done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

¹¹ For if I haue done wrong, or committed any thing worthie of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliuer me to them: I appeale vnto Cæsar.

¹² Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, hee answered, Hast thou appealed vnto Cæsar? vnto Cæsar shalt thou goe.

¹³ ¶ [Note: [4] Festus, thinking no such thing, euen before Kings, bringing to light the wickednes of the Iewes, and Pauls innocencie, doeth marueilously confirme the Church of God. ] And after certaine dayes, King [Note: [b] This Agrippa, was Agrippa his sonne, whose death Luke spake of before, and Bernice was his sister. ] Agrippa and Bernice came downe to Cæsarea to salute Festus.

¹⁴ And when they had remained there many dayes, Festus declared Pauls cause vnto the King, saying, There is a certaine man left in prison by Felix,

¹⁵ Of whom when I came to Hierusalem, the high Priestes and Elders of the Iewes informed me, and desired to haue iudgement against him.

¹⁶ To whome I answered, that it is not the maner of the Romanes for fauour to [Note: [c] The Romanes vse not to deliuer any man to be punished before, &c. ] deliuer any man to the death, before that hee which is accused, haue the accusers before him, and haue place to defend himselfe, concerning the crime.

¹⁷ Therefore when they were come hither, without delay the day following I sate on the iudgement seate, and commaunded the man to be brought foorth.

¹⁸ Against whom when the accusers stood vp,

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they brought no crime of such things as I supposed:
¹⁹ [Note: [5] The prophane and wicked take an occasion to condemne the true doctrine, by reason of priuate controuersies and contentions of men betwixt themselues: but the trueth neuerthelesse abideth in the meane season safe and sure. ] But had certaine questions against him of their owne [Note: [d] This prophane man calleth the Iewish religion, superstition, and that before King Agrippa, but no marueile: for the rulers of prouinces by reason of the maiestie of the empire of Rome, vsed to preferre themselues before Kings. ] superstition, and of one Iesus which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be aliue.

²⁰ And because I doubted of such maner of question, I asked him whether he would goe to Hierusalem, and there be iudged of these things.

²¹ But because he appealed to be reserued to the examination of Augustus, I commaunded him to be kept, till I mght send him to Cesar.

²² [Note: [6] That is fulfilled in Paul, which the Lord before had tolde to Ananias of him, Chap.9.15. ] Then Agrippa sayd vnto Festus, I would also heare the man my selfe. To morowe, sayd he, thou shalt heare him.

²³ And on the morowe when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great [Note: [e] Gorgeously like a Prince. ] pompe, and were entred into the Common hall with the chiefe captaines and chiefe men of the citie, at Festus commandement Paul was brought forth.

²⁴ And Festus sayd, King Agrippa, & all men which are present with vs, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Iewes haue called vpon me, both at Hierusalem, and here, crying, that he ought not to liue any longer.

²⁵ Yet haue I found nothing worthy of death, that he hath committed: neuertheles, seeing that he hath appealed to Augustus, I haue determined to send him.

²⁶ Of whome I haue no certaine thing to write vnto my [Note: [f] To Augustus. Good Princes refused this name at the first, to wit, to be called Lords, but afterward they admitted it, as we reade of Traianus. ] Lord: wherefore I haue brought him forth vnto you, and specially vnto thee, King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might haue somewhat to write.

²⁷ For me thinketh it vnreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to shewe the causes which are layde against him.

2 Paul in the presence of Agrippa, 4 declareth his life from his childehoode, 16 and his calling, 22 with such efficacie of wordes, 28 that almost he perswadeth him to Christianitie: 30 But he and his company depart doing nothing in Pauls matter.

¹ Then Agrippa sayd vnto Paul, Thou art permitted to speake for thy selfe. So Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himselfe.

² [Note: [1] To haue a skilfull iudge, is a great and singular gift of God. ] I thinke my selfe happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answere this day before thee of all the things whereof I am accused of the Iewes.

³ Chiefly, because thou hast knowledge of all customes, and questions which are among the Iewes: wherefore I beseech thee, to heare me patiently.

⁴ [Note: [2] Paul deuideth the historie of his life into two times: for the first he calleth his aduersaries witnesses: for the latter, the fathers and Prophets. ] As touching my life from my childhood, and what it was from the beginning among mine owne nation at Hierusalem, know all the Iewes,

⁵ Which [Note: [a] What I was, and where, and howe I liued. ] knewe me heretofore, euen from my [Note: [b] That my parents were Pharises. ] elders (if they would testifie) that after the [Note: [c] The sect of the Pharises was the most exquisite amongst all the sectes of the Iewes, for it was better then all the rest. ] most straite sect of our religion I liued a Pharise.

⁶ [Note: [3] There are three chiefe and principall witnesses of true doctrine, God, the true Fathers, and the consent of the Church, ] And now I stand and am accused for the hope of the promes made of God vnto our fathers.

⁷ Whereunto our twelue tribes instantly seruing God day and night, hope to come: for the which hopes sake, O King Agrippa, I am accused of the Iewes.

⁸ [Note: [4] He proueth the resurrection of the dead, first by the power of God, then by the resurrection of Christ, whereof he is a sufficient witnes. ] Why should it be thought a thing incredible vnto you, that God should raise againe the dead?

⁹ I also verely thought in my selfe, that I ought to doe many contrarie things against the

Name of Iesus of Nazareth.

¹⁰ [Note: Chap.8.3. ] Which thing I also did in Hierusalem: for many of the Saints I shut vp in prison, hauing receiued authoritie of the hie Priests, and when they were put to death, I gaue my [Note: [d] I consented to, & allowed of their doing: for he was not a iudge. ] sentence.

¹¹ And I punished them throughout all the Synagogues, and [Note: [e] By extreme punishment. ] compelled them to blaspheme, and being more mad against them, I persecuted them, euen vnto strange cities.

¹² At which time, euen as I went to [Note: Chap.9.2. ] Damascus with authoritie, and commission from the hie Priests,

¹³ At midday, O King, I sawe in the way a light from heauen, passing the brightnes of the sunne, shine round about mee, and them which went with me.

¹⁴ So when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voyce speaking vnto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kicke against pricks.

¹⁵ Then I sayd, Who art thou, Lord? And he sayd, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest.

¹⁶ But rise and stand vp on thy feete: for I haue appeared vnto thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witnesse, both of the things which thou hast seene, and of the things in the which I will appeare vnto thee,

¹⁷ Deliuering thee from this people, and from the Gentiles, vnto whom now I send thee,

¹⁸ [Note: [5] The ende of the Gospel is to saue them which are brought to the knowledge of Christ, & are iustified and sanctified in him, being layd holde on by faith. ] To open their eyes, that they may turne from darknes to light, and from the power of Satan vnto God, that they may receiue forgiuenes of sinnes, and inheritance among them, which are sanctified by fayth in me.

¹⁹ [Note: [6] Paul alledgeth God to be authour of the office of his Apostleship, and his grace, as a witnesse. ] Wherefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient vnto the heauenly vision,

²⁰ [Note: Chap.9.22,26. and 13.4. ] But shewed first vnto them of Damascus, and at Hierusalem, & throughout all the coasts of Iudea, & then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turne to God, and doe workes worthy amendement of life.

²¹ For this cause the Iewes caught me in the [Note: Chap.21.30. ] Temple, and went about to kill me.

²² [Note: [7] Christ is the ende of the Lawe and the Prophets. ] Neuertheles, I obteined helpe of God, and continue vnto this day, witnessing both to [Note: [f] To euery one. ] small and to great, saying none other things, then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come,

²³ To wit, that Christ should [Note: [g] That Christ should not be such a king as the Iewes dreamed of, but one appointed to beare our miseries, and the punishment of our sinnes. ] suffer, and that he should be the [Note: [h] The first of them which are raised from the dead. ] first that should rise from the dead, and should shew [Note: [i] Life, yea and that a most bleßed life which shalbe endleße: and this is set against darkneße, which almost in all tongues signifieth sometime death, and sometime miserie and calamitie. ] light vnto this people, and to the Gentiles.

²⁴ [Note: [8] The wisdome of God is madnes to fooles, yet notwithstanding we must boldly auouch the trueth. ] And as he thus answered for himselfe, Festus said with a loude voyce, Paul, thou art besides thy selfe: much learning doeth make thee mad.

²⁵ But he said, I am not mad, O noble Festus, but I speake the wordes of trueth and sobernes.

²⁶ For the King knoweth of these things, before whom also I speake boldly: for I am perswaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing was not done in a [Note: [k] Secretly, and priuily. ] corner.

²⁷ [Note: [9] Paul as it were forgetting himself that he stood a prisoner to defend his cause, forgetteth not the office of his Apostleship. ] O King Agrippa, beleeuest thou the Prophets? I know that thou beleeuest.

²⁸ Then Agrippa said vnto Paul, Almost thou perswadest me to become a Christian.

²⁹ Then Paul sayd, [Note: [l] I would to God that not onely almost, but throughly and altogether, both thou and all that heare me this day, might be made as I am, my bonds onely except. ] I would to God that not onely thou, but also all that heare me to day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

³⁰ [Note: [10] Paul is solemnly quit, and yet not dismissed. ] And when he had thus spoken, the King [Page]

rose vp, and the gouernour, and Bernice, and they that sate with them.

³¹ And when they were gone apart, they talked betweene themselues, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds.

³² Then sayd Agrippa vnto Festus, This man might haue bene loosed, if hee had not appealed vnto Cesar.

1 Paul 7. 9 foretelleth the perill of the voyage, 11 but he is not beleeued. 14 They are toßed to and fro with the tempest, 21. 41 and suffer shipwracke: 34 Yet all safe and sounde 44 escape to land.

¹ Now [Note: [1] Paul with many other prisoners, and through the midst of many deaths, is brought to Rome, but yet by Gods own hand as it were, and set foorth and commended vnto the world with many singular testimonies. ] when it was concluded, that we should sayle into Italie, they deliuered both Paul, and certaine other prisoners vnto a Centurion named Iulius, of the band of Augustus.

² And [Note: 2.Cor.11.25. ] we entred into a ship of Adramyttium purposing to saile by the coastes of Asia, and launched foorth, and had Aristarchus of Macedonia, a Thessalonian, with vs.

³ And the next day we arriued at Sidon: and Iulius courteously entreated Paul, and gaue him libertie to go vnto his friends, that they might refresh him.

⁴ And from thence we launched, and sayled hard by Cyprus, because ye windes were contrarie.

⁵ Then sayled we ouer the sea by Cilicia, and Pamphilia, and came to Myra, a citie in Lycia.

⁶ And there the Centurion found a ship of Alexandria, sayling into Italie, and put vs therein.

⁷ And when we had sayled slowly many dayes, and scarce were come against Gnidum, because the winde suffered vs not, we sailed hard by Candie, neere to [Note: [a] Which was an high hil of Candie. ] Salmone,

⁸ And with much adoe sayled beyond it, and came vnto a certaine place called the Faire hauens, neere vnto the which was the citie Lasea.

⁹ [Note: [2] Gods prouidence taketh not away the causes which God vseth as meanes, but rather ordereth and disposeth their right vse euen then when he openeth an extraordinarie issue. ] So when much time was spent, and sayling was now ieopardous, because also the [Note: [b] This is meant of the Iewes fast which they kept in the feast of expiation, as we reade, Leuit.23.27. which fell in the seuenth moneth which we call October, and is not good for nauigation, or sailing. ] Fast was nowe passed, Paul exhorted them,

¹⁰ And sayde vnto them, Syrs, I see that this voiage will be with hurt & much damage, not of the lading and ship onely, but also of our liues.

¹¹ [Note: [3] Men cast them selues willingly into an infinite sort of dangers, when they chuse to followe their owne wisdome, rather then God speaking by the mouth of his seruants. ] Neuertheles the Centurion beleeued rather the gouernour and the master of the ship, then those things which were spoken of Paul.

¹² And because the hauen was not commodious to winter in, many tooke counsell to depart thence, if by any meanes they might attaine to Phenice, there to winter, which is an hauen of Candie, and lyeth toward the Southwest and by West, and Northwest and by West.

¹³ And when the Southerne winde blew softly, they supposing to atteine their purpose, loosed neerer, and sailed by Candie.

¹⁴ But anon after, there arose by [Note: [c] By Candie, from whose shore our ship was driuen by that meanes. ] it a stormy winde called [Note: [d] Northeast wind. ] Euroclydon.

¹⁵ And when the ship was caught, and could not resist the winde, we let her goe, and were caried away.

¹⁶ And we ran vnder a litle Yle named Clauda, and had much a doe to get the boat.

¹⁷ Which they tooke vp and vsed all helpe, vndergirding the ship, fearing least they should haue fallen into Syrtes, and they strake saile, and so were caried.

¹⁸ [Note: [4] The ende proueth that none prouide worse for them selues, then they which commit them selues to be gouerned onely by their owne wisdome. ] The next day when we were tossed with an exceeding tempest, they lightened the ship.

¹⁹ And the third day we cast out with our

owne hands the tackling of the ship.

²⁰ And when neither sunne nor starres in many dayes appeared, and no small tempest lay vpon vs, all hope that we should be saued, was then taken away.

²¹ [Note: [5] God spareth the wicked for a time, for his elect and chosens sake. ] But after long abstinece, Paul stood forth in the mids of them, and said, Syrs, ye should haue hearkened to me, and not haue loosed from Candie: so should ye haue gained this hurt and losse.

²² But now I exhort you to be of good courage: for there shalbe no losse of any mans life among you, saue of the ship onely.

²³ For there stood by me this night the Angel of God, whose I am, and whome I serue,

²⁴ Saying, Feare not, Paul: for thou must be brought before Cesar: and lo, God hath giuen vnto thee freely all that sayle with thee.

²⁵ [Note: [6] The promise is made effectuall through fayth. ] Wherefore, sirs, be of good courage: for I beleeue God, that it shall be so as it hath bene tolde me.

²⁶ Howbeit, we must be cast into a certaine Iland.

²⁷ [Note: [7] We attaine and come to the promised and sure saluation through the midst of tempests and death it selfe. ] And when ye fourteenth night was come, as we were caried to and fro in the [Note: [e] For Ptolome writeth, that the Adriaticall sea beateth vpon the East shore of Sicilia. ] Adriaticall sea about midnight, the shipmen deemed that some countrey [Note: [f] That they drew neere to some countrey. ] approched vnto them,

²⁸ And sounded, & found it twentie fathoms: and when they had gone a litle further, they sounded againe, and found fifteene fathoms.

²⁹ Then fearing least they should haue fallen into some rough places, they cast foure ancres out of the sterne, and wished that the day were come.

³⁰ [Note: [8] There is none so foule an acte, whereunto distrust and an euil conscience doe not enforce men. ] Nowe as the mariners were about to flee out of the ship, and had let downe the boat into the sea vnder a colour as though they would haue cast ankers out of the foreship,

³¹ [Note: [9] Although the perfourming of Gods promises doeth not simply depend vpon second causes, yet they make them selues vnworthy of Gods bountifulnes, which doe not embrace those meanes which God offreth them, either vpon rashnes or distrust. ] Paul sayde vnto the Centurion and the souldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye can not be safe.

³² Then the souldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let it fall away.

³³ [Note: [10] When the world trembleth, the faithfull alone be not only quiet, but confirme others by their example. ] And when it began to be day, Paul exhorted them all to take meate, saying, This is the fourteenth day that ye haue taried, and continued fasting, receiuing nothing:

³⁴ Wherefore I exhort you to take meate: for this is for your safegarde: for there shall not an [Note: [g] This is a prouerbe which the Hebrues vse, whereby is meant, that they shalbe safe, and not one of them perish. ] heare fall from the head of any of you.

³⁵ And when he had thus spoken, hee tooke bread and gaue thankes to God, in presence of them all, and brake it, and began to eate.

³⁶ Then were they all of good courage, and they also tooke meate.

³⁷ Nowe we were in the ship in all two hundreth three score and sixteene soules.

³⁸ And whe they had eaten ynough, they lightened the ship, & cast out the wheat into the sea.

³⁹ [Note: [11] Then are tempests most of all to be feared and looked for, when the Port or Hauen is neerest. ] And when it was day, they knewe not the countrey, but they spied a certaine [Note: [h] A creeke is a sea within land, as the Adriaticall sea, and the Persian sea. ] creeke with a banke, into the which they were minded (if it were possible) to thrust in the ship.

⁴⁰ So when they had taken vp the ankers, they committed the ship vnto the sea, and loosed the rudder bonds, and hoised vp the maine saile to the winde, and drewe to the shore.

⁴¹ And when they fell into a place, where [Note: [i] So is Isthmus called because the sea toucheth it on both sides. ] two seas met, they thrust in the ship: and the forepart stucke fast, and could not be moued, but the hinderpart was broken with the violence of the waues.


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⁴² [Note: [12] There is no where more vnfaithfulnesse and vnthankfulnesse then in vnbeleeuers. ] Then the souldiers counsell was to kill the prisoners, least any of them, when he had swomme out, should flee away.

⁴³ [Note: [13] God findeth euen amongest his enemies them whose helpe he vseth to preferre his. ] But the Centurion willing to saue Paul, stayed them from this counsell, and commaunded that they that coulde swimme, shoulde cast them selues first into the sea, and goe out to land:

⁴⁴ [Note: [14] The goodnesse of God ouercommeth mans malice. ] And the other, some on boardes, and some on certaine pieces of the ship: and so it came to passe that they came all safe to land.

2 The Barbarians courtesie towardes Paul and his companie. 3 A viper on Paules hand: 6 He shaketh it off without harme: 8 Publius 9 and others are by him healed. 11 They depart from Melita, 16 and come to Rome. 17 Paul openeth to the Iewes 20 the cause of his comming: 22 He preacheth Iesus 30 two yeere.

¹ And when they were come safe, then they knewe that the Yle was called [Note: [a] That is it, which at this day we call Malta. ] Melita.

² And the Barbarians shewed vs no litle kindnesse: for they kindled a fire, and receiued vs euery one, because of the present showre, and because of the colde.

³ [Note: [1] The godly are sure to haue danger vpon danger, but they haue alwayes a glorious yssue. ] And when Paul had gathered a nomber of stickes, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heate, and leapt on his hand.

⁴ [Note: [2] Although aduersitie be the punishment of sinne, yet seeing that God in punishing of men doeth not alwayes respect sinne, they iudge rashly, which either doe not waite for the ende, or doe iudge and esteeme of men, according to prosperitie or aduersitie. ] Nowe when ye Barbarians saw the worme hang on his hand, they said among themselues, This man surely is a murtherer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet [Note: [b] Right and reason. ] Vengeance hath not suffered to liue.

⁵ But he shooke off the worme into the fire, and felt no harme.

⁶ Howbeit they wayted whe he should haue [Note: [c] The Greeke worde signifieth to be inflamed or to swell: moreouer Dioscorides in his 6.booke, chap.38. witnesseth that the biting of a viper, causeth a swelling of the body, and so saith Nicander, in his remedies against poysons. ] swolne, or fallen downe dead suddenly: [Note: [3] There is nothing more vnconstant euery way, then they which are ignorant of true religion. ] but after they had looked a great while, and sawe no inconuenience come to him, they changed their mindes, and said, That he was a God.

⁷ [Note: [4] It neuer yet repented any man, that receiued the seruant of God, were he neuer so miserable and poore. ] In the same quarters, the chiefe man of the Yle (whose name was Publius) had possessions: the same receiued vs, and lodged vs three dayes courteously.

⁸ And so it was, that the father of Publius lay sicke of the feauer, and of a bloodie flixe: to whom Paul entred in, and when he prayed, he laide his hands on him, and healed him.

⁹ [Note: [5] Although Paul were a captiue, yet the vertue of God was not captiue. ] When this then was done, other also in the Yle, which had diseases, came to him, and were healed,

¹⁰ [Note: [6] God doeth well to strangers, for his childrens sake. ] Which also did vs great honour: and when we departed, they laded vs with things necessarie.

¹¹ ¶ [Note: [7] Idoles doe not defile the Saintes, which doe in no wise consent vnto them. ] Nowe after three moneths we departed in a shippe of Alexandria, which had wintred in the Yle, whose [Note: [d] So they vsed to decke the forepart of their shippes, whereupon the shippes were called by such names. ] badge was Castor and Pollux.

¹² And when we arriued at Syracuse, we taried there three dayes.

¹³ And from thence we set a compasse, and came to Rhegium: and after one day, the South wind blewe, and we came the seconde day to Putioli:

¹⁴ [Note: [8] God boweth and bendeth the heartes euen of prophane men, as it pleaseth him, to fauour his. ] Where we found brethren, and were desired

to tary with them seuen dayes, and so we went toward Rome.

¹⁵ ¶ [Note: [9] God neuer suffereth his to be afflicted, aboue their strength. ] And from thence, when the brethren heard of vs, they came to meete vs at the [Note: [e] Appius way, was a pauement made by Appius the blind with the helpe of his souldiers, long and broade, and runneth out towards the sea, and there were three tauernes in it. ] Market of Appius, and at the Three tauernes, whom when Paul sawe, he thanked God, and waxed bolde.

¹⁶ So when we came to Rome, the Centurion deliuered the prisoners to the generall Captaine: but Paul was suffered to dwell by [Note: [f] Not in a common prison, but in a house which he hired for himselfe. ] him selfe with a souldier that kept him.

¹⁷ [Note: [10] Paul in euery place remembreth himselfe to be an Apostle. ] And the third day after, Paul called the chiefe of the Iewes together: and when they were come, he said vnto them, Men and brethren, though I haue committed nothing against the people, or Lawes of the fathers, yet was I deliuered prisoner from Hierusalem into the handes of the Romanes.

¹⁸ Who when they had examined me, would haue let me goe, because there was no cause of death in me.

¹⁹ [Note: [11] Wee may vse the meanes which God giueth vs, but so, that we seeke the glorie of God, and not our selues. ] But when the Iewes spake contrary, I was constrained to appeale vnto Cesar, not because I had ought to accuse my nation of.

²⁰ For this cause therefore haue I called for you, to see you, and to speake with you: for that hope of Israels sake, I am bound with this chaine.

²¹ Then they saide vnto him, We neither receiued letters out of Iudea concerning thee, neither came any of the brethren that shewed or spake any euill of thee.

²² But we will heare of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we knowe that euery where it is spoken against.

²³ [Note: [12] The Lawe and the Gospel agree well together. ] And when they had appointed him a day, there came many vnto him into his lodging, to whom he expounded [Note: [g] By good reasons, and proued that the kingdome of God foretolde them by the Prophets, was come. ] testifying the kingdome of God, and persuading them those things that concerne Iesus, both out of the Lawe of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning to night.

²⁴ [Note: [13] The Gospel is a sauour of life to them that beleeue, and a sauour of death to them that be disobedient. ] And some were persuaded with ye things which were spoken, and some beleeued not.

²⁵ Therefore when they agreed not among themselues, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, to wit, Well spake the holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet vnto our fathers,

²⁶ [Note: [14] The vnbeleeuers doe willingly resist the trueth, and yet not by chance. ] Saying, [Note: Esa.6.9. matth.13. 14. marke 4.12. luke 8.10. iohn 12.40. rom.11.8. ] Goe vnto this people, and say, By hearing ye shal heare, & shal not vnderstand, and seeing ye shall see, and not perceiue.

²⁷ For the heart of this people is waxed fatte, and their eares are dull of hearing, and with their eyes haue they [Note: [h] They made as though they sawe not that which they sawe against their willes: yea they did see, but they woulde not see. ] winked, least they shoulde see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and vnderstand with their heartes, and should returne that I might heale them.

²⁸ [Note: [15] The vnbeliefe of the reprobate and castawayes cannot cause the trueth of God to be of none effect. ] Be it knowen therefore vnto you, that this saluation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they shall heare it.

²⁹ [Note: [16] Not the Gospel, but the contempt of the Gospel is the cause of strife and debate. ] And when he had saide these things, the Iewes departed, and had great reasoning among themselues.

³⁰ [Note: [17] The worde of God cannot be bounde. ] And Paul remained two yeeres full in an house hired for himselfe, and receiued all that came in vnto him,

³¹ Preaching the kingdome of God, and teaching those things which concerne the Lord Iesus Christ, with all boldnesse of speache, without let.