in this matier For they beyng muche desyrous of their maysters auauncement and to wynne moe vnto him feared lesâ—e that many of the Gentyles myndes woulde be alienated and turned awaye from Christe because they coulde not abyde the lawe And againe they thoughte it not expedient to geue a iuste cause to the Iewes to forsake the ghospell as thoughe it were dysagreeyng from the holye lawe forasmuche as they were so earnestlye rooted in the lawe whyche they had receiued of theyr forefathers and had at that tyme in great reuerence that they mighte not sodainly be plucked from it And when there was muche dâ—sputing Peter arose vp and saide vnto them ye menne and brethren ye know how that a good while ago God did choose emoÌ„g vs that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the word of the gospel and beleue And god which knoweth the hertes bare them witnesse and gaue vnto them the holy ghost euen as he did vnto vs and put no difference betwene vs and them seyng that with faith he purified their hertes Now therfore why tempte ye god to put on the disciples neckes the yoke which neither our fathers nor we are able to beare But we beleue that through the grace of the lorde Iesu Christ we shal be saued as they do Than all the multitude was pleased and gaue audience to Barnabas and Paule whiche tolde what sygnes and wunders God had shewed emong the Gentiles by them Wherfore bothe parties beyng in earnest disputacion and reasonyng and bothe parties allegyng testimonies out of scriptures and groundyng theyr argumentes vpon thesame Peter arose vp and spake vnto them in this wise Brethren wherefore call ye this matter into controuersy or disputacion as though it were doubtfull and as who sayth that it were in mannes arbitrement to allowe or dysailowe that thing that god hath already allowed Your selues do knowe that fewe yeares since it chaunced me to haue the practyse of suche a lyke thing in Iewry as ye finde fault withal emong all the Gentiles nowe For whan ye likewyse grutched that Cornelius his householde were Christened I shewed vnto you all the whole matier howe that I toke my iourney to Cesarea not of myne owne heade but by the commaundemente of God to preache his ghospel to the Gentiles also that they throughe faythe in hym might obteyne saluacion And where as they that hearde me than preache the gospell were vncircumcised and free without bondage of Moses law yet neuerthelesse god who estemeth not man of his apparel or outwarde furniture but of the inwarde affeccion of his herte whiche he alone doeth knowe gaue vs manyfest tokens that he approued theyr faythe forasmuche as he whiles they harkened vnto vs powred on them his holy ghoste yea so plentifully that they spake diuerse languages as well as we and that also before they were christened so that he put no dyfference as concernynge the gracious fauour that cummeth by the gospell betwene them whiche were not circumcised and vs that are Iewes For their hertes be clensed through fayth playnely declaring to vs that thys fauour doeth not consist in the power of the lawe to geue it vnto men but in fayth whiche maketh man acceptable in the syght of God For God geueth not his holy spirite to the vncleane And they had nothing els but eueÌ„ a playne beliefe whan the holy ghost came downe vpon them Wherefore nowe seeyng that God hath expressed his mynde and will that the Gentiles shoulde bee receyued to the ghospell and shoulde bee partakers therof throughe onely faith without the burden of the lawe why than dooe ye prouoke and tempte God whiles that contrary to his will ye go about to lay vpon the disciples neckes this so heauy a yoke of the lawe whiche they were neuer hitherto vsed vnto and the whiche neyther our forefathers nor yet we oure selues that wer borne vnder the lawe coulde euer bee hable to beare For whyche of vs all euer kepte the lawe as it oughte to bee kepte Wherfore there remayneth no hope for vs to attayne vnto saluacion by kepynge of the lawe but we truste to bee saued by the grace of oure Lorde Iesus Christe beeyng in this behalfe nothynge better then the Gentiles vnto whome he willed thys gyft to bee frely communicate and parted as he freely gaue it vnto vs also By these woordes of Peter the contencious disputacion betwene the Pharisees and those that were of opinion contrarye was ceassed And so afterwarde the multitude quietly harde Barnabas and Paule shewing by howe sondrye myracles and woonders whiche had by theyr handes bene wroughte amonge the Gentiles God had witnessed that his will was that the Gentyles shoulde bee made partakers of the ghospell without kepeynge of the heauy burden of the lawe accordyng as he had declared his mynde beefore to Peter whan he was preachyng Christe in Cornelius house by sendyng downe the holy goste vpon them ¶ And when they helde theyr peace Iames answered saiyng Men and brethren herken vnto me Simeon tolde how god at the beginning did visit the Gentiles to receiue of them a people in his name And to this dooe agree the wordes of the prophetes as it is written After this I wil returne and will buylde vp agayne the Tabernacle of Dauid whiche is fallen downe and that whiche is fallen in decaye of it wil I build again I wil set it vp that the residue of men myght seke after the lorde and also the Gentiles vpon whome my name is uained saith the lord which doeth al these thinges knoweÌ„ vnto god are al these his workes froÌ„ the beginning of the world Wherfore my senteÌ„ce is yâ— we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles â–ª are turned to God But that we write vnto them that they abstayn themselues from filthynes of ymages and from fornicacion and from strangled and from bloude For Moses of olde tyme hathe in euerye citie them that preache him in the synagoges whan he is read euery Sabboth day Whan they had ended their communicacion Iames whiche otherwyse was called Iames the iust or Iames the good and was commonlye named the brother of our lorde to whom the apostles had than coÌ„mitted chiefe autoritie arose and approued their sayinges in this wise Brethren for asmuche as ye haue quietly heard the other that spake vnto you I pray you heare me also whiles that I shew you my conceite what I thinke best to bee doen in this matter Symon Peter declared euen now that thinge whiche all we knowe to be very true how that first it pleased god whiche had great pitie vpon mankynde seeyng in what distresse and extremitie of peryll and daunger to be lost the Gentyles were and how they were all gyuen to worshyppinge of idols to chose hym a people euen of those also that semed to bee none of his people a people that shoulde be well accepted with him and call on his name as wel as we And that same thinge whiche
preacher and what or how his doctrine ought to be out of the Scriptures in blasing the AntichristiaÌ„ decrees of poperie vnder the name of tradicions constitucioÌ„s of our mother church in decising the right difference betwene the spirite and the lettre and finally in al other poinctes or articles of our religion hauing now of late yeres ben in controuersie Erasmus like as he is no where ouer vehement so is he euery where both sincere and ful Neither doeth any wryter more wittily more earnestly more apâ—ly more finely more substauncially more piththily or more playnely describe peyncte out the vsurped estate preeminence and pompe of the bishope of Rome then he doth aswel in all other places where iust occasion offereth it selfe as also directely though vnder a preaty couloure in the eleuenth chapitur of the Euangelist Marke Erasmus ferthermore is wondreful in comparing of fygures of the olde testamente in applying of allegories in declaring of parables in discussing of doubtful questions in serching and explicating of profound misteries wherin he euidently declareth himselfe that he was a man of an excellent witte of much study of exquisite learning of profounde knowelage of an exact iudgemente of notable diligence of woorthy famous industrie of singular peinefulnes of an encomparable memorie of an vnestimable zele towardes that setting furth of Christes most holy gospel And yet doth he with such prudence and semely circuÌ„speccion so teÌ„per his stile that his very enemies as he cannot lacke enemies enough whosoeuer wil be an opener teller of the trueth in matiers of religioÌ„ he caÌ„not lacke enuie of Satans brode whosoeuer wil endeuour himselfe to ferther the knowlage of Gods word he cannot lacke neither priuie backebiting nor yet open reproche to slaundre him to bring him out of credit to deface him to trede him vnder foote whosoeuer wil be diligent to help bring the gospel to light â–ª he shal not auoide to be opeÌ„ly burdened with false crimes whereby he may be vttrely diffamed whosoeuer wil trauaile to manifest the glory of Christes bloud he shal haue enough to write speake against him whosoeuer wil attempt to discouer the iugling castes practise of poperie his very enemies I say that hated him because they hated the veritie could neuer yet finde how to geue him any foile or how to take thaduantage of any such holde against him whereby to confound his doctrine Neuertheles whan I do in my mind make a comparison of you three together Erasmus in writing this Paraphrase Quene Katerine in procuring the same to be turned into English and your highnes in publishing the same by your godly iniunccions to bee had in vse throughout all parties of thys Royalme me semeth I do wel note Erasmus to haue doen the lest act of the three For Erasmus fact did helpe onely such as are sene in latin the Quenes goodnesse extendeth to the help of the vnlearned also which haue more nede of helping foreward and your Maiesties benefit it is â–ª that maketh so precious a treasour coÌ„mon to as many as may take profit or fruict thereby And in dede no Christian Prince there is to whome the tuicion proteccion stablishing of any such bookes or weorkes as concerne the pure setting forth of Christ and his gospel doeth so aptely or so duely apperteine as to your most excellent Maiestie to whome by a most iust and right deuolucion and discente of inheritaunce of the crounes of England Fraunce and Ireland the title also of DefeÌ„dour of the feith doth most nerely most peculiarely most specially and most directly belong Now as touching the translatours of such bookes as this although I haue at this present the lesse to say because I my selfe haue in a small porcion of this weorke filled one roume of some other man that might haue ben hable to do it better then I haue doen yet can I not but wish that emong so many your Maiesties moste â—umple bountâ—ous exhibicions so many other godly actes to be doen as are daily brought offred to the gracious direccioÌ„ of your highnes of your most dere â–ª vncle being Gouernour of your Royal person during thys time of your minoritie vnder your Maiestie our protectour and of the other your most honourable CouÌ„saillours this thing also might be peferred to your consideracions how necessarie a thing it were that some hable worthy and mete persons for doing such publique benefite to the coÌ„mon weale as translating of good weorkes and writing of Cronicles might by some good prouision and meanes haue some condigne sustentacion in the same For what Royalme almost EnglaÌ„d excepted hath not al the good authours that euer wrote traÌ„slated into the mother tong whereby the people are made prudent and expert men in the tract of all affaireâ— either touching any discipline or els any ciuile matiers And in Germany what good weorke of diuinitie is there which they haue not in their own laÌ„guage to the vnestimable edifying of the people in the due knowlage of God For what hath ben or is in any common weale the foundacion of spreading abrode the knowlage of Goddes woorde but onely the setting forth of the Bible with other good and godly tractises for the declaracion of the same What thing hath the whelpes of the Romish Antichrist so fiercely alwaies backed against as at the translating of Scripture and other bookes coÌ„cerning matiers of religion into the vulgare tong for the vse of the people What any one thing is there against the whiche there hath in all Christen Royalmes as long as it might preuayle been eyther sorer decrees lawes or inhibicions ordeined or more terrible execucion of all kindes of tormentes and deathes inuented deuised and put in vre then againste the setters foorthe of bookes concernyng religyon What one thing hath papistry in all countreyes more eagrely conspired more subtelly coumpaced or more earnestly practised to oppresse then the coming foorth of Scripture and other diuine weorkes in the vulgare tong whereof the rude multitude might gather knowlage Against what thing hath there in these laste yeres vntill Christ like fier being hidden vnder wood would nedes mounte vp and appere abrode maugre the head of the Romish Pharao al his tiranny against what thing I say hath there been eyther more sorer thundreboltes shot of deprauing of accursing of slaundreing of defacing of condemning and of burning then against bookes of scripture matiers traÌ„slated or writen in the mother laÌ„guage against the autours of the same Until the Bible other good traitises for the explanacioÌ„ of the same wer in Christian regions turned set forth in the vulgare languages what kind of idolatry supersticioÌ„ poperie errour ignorance or counterfeict religion did not reigne As long as the candel light of the gospel was kepte hidden vnder the bushell what King what Prince what countrey what people did not the blind popish guides lede as one that is blindfolde may be led till both
thinketh it a goodlyer thyng for hym to haue in is trayne CCC horsmen well appointed wyth crosbowes iauelins and handegunnes then to bee accompanied wyth a good numbre of learned and vertuous deacons and to carry about with hym bokes of holy scripture Why dooe they thynk them selues great by the pompous shewe and setting foorth of those thynges by contemnyng wherof suche as they succeded were accompted great and worthy persons Why haue trumpettes and hornes a sweter sounde in theyr eares then the readyng of holy scripture Well then what if a kyng in steade of a Diademe and a robe of estate put on a Myter and a priestes attyre and contrary a bishop in stede of a Myter and priestes attyre weare a Diademe and a kynges robe or kyrtel-wil it not appeare a monstreous sight vnto vs Nowe if the vnright and disordered vse of suche thinges as are but signes of theyr office and ministeries dooe so greatly moue vs why then are we not a greate deale more moued to see their offices turned cleane cam misordered Certes if either kyng oâ— bishop dooe any thing priuately they must haue respect to nothing els but to the health and conseruacion of the people For yf they dooe theyr dutie aright either they admonishe such as are out of the way correct suche as haue done amysse or coumforte the dismayed or kepe vnder the proude and hye mynded or styrre vp idle persons or make those that are at variaunce frendes and louers againe This is the very office of kynges but specially of the euangelike kynges who in no wyse ought ambiciously to desyre this worldly kingdome And forasmuche as the Lorde Iesus was in very dede both a spirituall and a temperall kyng although he expressed in yerth but a spirituall kyngdom alonely it is both theyr partes to dooe what in the lyeth to counterfaicte and followe theyr prince He wholly gaue himselfe for his And how then for shame dare any that calleth hymselfe Christes vicar lyue onely to his owne priuate wealth and commoditie Christe whether he were in the temple or in the Synagoges or went abrode or taried at home in his seuerall house or were carried by water or continued in the wildernes dyd nothyng elles all his lyfe long but playe the parte of a sauiour of a comforter of a well dooer He taught the multitude he healed the diseased he clensed the lepres he restored the sycke of the palsey the lame and the blynd Further he chased awaye hurteful spirites raysed the dead deliuered those that were in peryll filled the bellies of the hungry reproued the Phariseis defended his disciples and also the synner that so lauishely poured out her oyntmente vpon hym He coumforted the synfull woman of Canaan and her that was taken in adulterye Peruse all the whole lyfe of Iesus and it shall euidently appeare that he neuer harmed any bodye notwithstanding he had so manye hurtes and displeasures done to hym of others and that he coulde easâ—ly haue been auenged yf it had pleased hym He euery where played the sauioure euerywere the well doer He restored Malchus eare agayne whiche Peter cut of with his sweâ—rd He would not haue his safegarde defeded wyth the least hurte or displeasure that might be to any body He made Herode and pilate at one Hangyng on the crosse he saued one of the theues Whan he was dead he drewe the captaine of the garison vnto the christian profession This was the very office and parte of a kyng to do all men good and hurte no bodye His example all christian princes ought as nygh as thei can to folowe And forasmuche as your grace is called the moste christian kyng the very name and title selfe that is geuen your highnes ought specially to moue you to expresse in all your doinges as nere as ye can possible the prince of all princes Christe But what sparcle of shame remayneth there in those persons who albeit they haue a pleasure to be called the vicars of Christe doe notwithstandyng require to haue I saye not theyr lyfe or dignitie but theyr auarice and pryde defended with greate effusion and shedyng of christian bloud And this wryte I ryght noble prince not for to defame or reproue any bishops albeit I woulde wishe of God that there were not some christian bishops of whome these wordes might beiustely spoken but onely to shewe wherein the true dignitie of kynges and bishoppes consisteth to the ende that bothe of them knowyng and mayntening theyr owne dignitie maye happily passeouer this transytorye lyfe to Goddes pleasure and contentacion But muche farder are those euangelike pastours from doyng theyr dutye who where it had been theyr parte to make princes beyng at debate and variaunce at one agayne do of their owne accorde incense them to warre and as it is an old prouerbe do cast brandes vpon the fyers or flames of battayle Surely yf euer it were nedefull for a good pastour or shepherde anye where to prouide for the safegarde of his flocke with the losse and spendyng of his lyfe if the example of that chiefe shepherde Christ in whose stede they are were any where to be expressed and folowed here chiefly ought they to haue do one theyr duetie whereso greate a sea of mischiefes gusseth and floweth out into the worlde But howe chaunceth it that amoÌ„g so great a noumber of Abbottes bishops and Archebishops and Cardinals not one steppeth foorth that dare putte yea euen his veraye lyfe in hasarde to make an ende of this greate stirryng and troublous buisynes of the worlde Howe happily dyeth he whoso by his deathe causeth so many thousande mennes lyues to be saued There is no crueller a thyng then is that fyghting hand to hande and bucherly manglyng and cuttyng of sweard players And yet was antiquitie so fondly delyted with this syght that the moste naughtie and detestable example remaynyng of the vse of the Gentiles continued a long season euen emong christen men namely in the Citie of Rome whiche coulde not yet forget her old paganitie But that this manoure of fyghtyng is vtterly set asyde we maye thanke as wytnesseth the historye called the tripartite history one Telemachus a manne of theyr order and profession who for christian simplicitie and a desyre they had to leade a solitarye lyfe and to eschewe the companye of the synfull multitude were commonly called monkes or solytarye persons This Telemachus came for this purpose out of the easte parties to Rome and entryng into the place whiche was called of them Theatrum that is to saye a place ordayned to beholde shewes and pastimes in when he sawe two armed men come into the fightyng place and aboute to sley one another he leaped betwixt them as they were in their furye and rage crying and saying with a loude voyce What dooe ye brethern why go ye about like wylde beastes to murther one another To make shorte tale whiles the good man wente about to saue both theyr lyues he lost his owne
by course succeded All thissame though it semed to be doen by mere chaimce at auenture yet was there no one poynte therof but it was wrought by the high wysedome and prouidence of God yea not so muche as the veray numbre of the course but it was for a purpose and a consideracion For lyke as the numbre of seuen for many causes hath the figure significacion of the olde lawe so doeth the numbre of eight well accorde to the grace of the ghospel for asmuche as the euerlasting blisse of heauen is nowe geuen not through the workes of the lawe but freely and frankly through feith And Zacharie had also a wife named Elizabeth not only the better to be estemed for the respecte of her noble birth for she came of the stocke and bloud of Aaron the first prieste of the people of Israell but also worthie to be had in reuerence and wurship for hir integritie and perfecte goodnesse of behaueour to the intente that suche an holy man as Zacharie was should not be without a wyfe accordyng ¶ They were both righteouse before God and so walked in all the commaundementes and ordeynauÌ„ces of the Lord that no man could fynde faulte with them And they had no childe because that Elizabeth was baraine and they both were now well stricken in age For it was in veray dede an holy wedlocke knitte and made vp not somuch by copulacion of their bodies as by lykenesse of theyr mindes and hertes and by the felowship of godlines because they were both of them veray good folkes and iust not with the iustice of the Phariseis whiche Phariseis vnder a false couiour and counterfaite shewe of holynesse did sette foorth theyr prynted sheathe to the iyes of men for lucre and for worldely prayse defourmyng their faces and makyng them vnsightly for the nons a troumpette blowyng before them at all suche times whan they gaue their almes sekyng to be estemed holy by reason of long prayers made in corners of the stretes whan their herte was drouned in all fylthinesse of hainous offences and trespaces against God but Zachary and Elizabeth with vncorrupt hertes dyd in suche wyse obserue and kepe all thynges whiche the Lord had commaunded by the lawe that neyther they gaue vnto men any holde or tytle to fynde faulte with them and yet the which is a poynte of no small difficultie they did also by the puritie and clenesse of their liuyng shewe themselfes pleasyng in the sight of God Yea and this veray poynte also was wrought by the high wysedome of God of a speciall prouision to the ende that suche a one as should afterwarde geue testimonie vnto Christe at his cumming might on his owne behalfe be in all maner degrees worthy acceptacion emong the people of the Iewes first for the noblenesse of his linage being descended of the ordre of priesthood aswell on the fathers syde as on the mothers syde secondarily for the linyng of both his parentes beyng vnreprouable thirdly for the vertues giftes of grace in his owne selfe beyng wonderfull and suche as were but in fewe persones to be found and finally for his gloryous death whan he should suffre for the truthes sake Suche a cryar veryly it was mete that he should haue which came to allure to hymselfe the whole worlde with the sauor as it were of the good fame and opinion that should spryng of hym Ferthermore by the prouidence of God this poynte alo was wrought that the straunge maner of his natiuitie should stiere vp the myndes of men to haue a speciall regarde of Iohn and no suche common matiers or facions as were in other folkes to be looked for at his hande the whiche was borne into this worlde not after the common course of nature but by the onely benefite of God For although the holy conuersacion of zacharie and Elizabeth was specially well approued allowed of all persons yet in this one poynte their godlynesse semed to haue but hard happe that both of them were veray ferre groweÌ„ in age without hauing any issue or childe in all their tyme. For emong the Iewes lyke as the fruitfulnesse of matrimonie was reputed for a certayne thyng of great Royaltie so was barainnesse in as muche reproche as any thyng and was rekoned in the numbre of the chiefe missehappes and euils of this lyre For the moste parte of the people did interprete and take those persons to bee reiected and cast out of the fauour of God whiche had not had the fortune and happe with some kynde of issue to encrease and multiplie the people of the Iewes beeyng a people specially chosen dedicate vnto God For the Iewes beyng altogether grosse and carnall had not yet learned that a spirituall and ghostely people it was whiche God would haue by an heauenly generacion styll from tyme to tyme more and more to be multiplied with continuall succession of issue They had not yet heard that blissed were tho persons whiche had gelded themselfes for the kingdome of heauen And this mattier dyd not a lytle grieue them bothe in theyr mindes especially Elizabeth who was now euen already by a muche reprochefull name in euery bodyes mouth called baraine and was rekoned in the numbre of women of hard happe as one of suche barainesse that she was nowe past all lykelyhood or hope to haue any chylde because that veray many yeres hauyng passed in the coumpanie of her wedded house bande she had yet brought foorth no fruite of matrimonie For the reproche of barainnesse is woont moste specially to light on the womeÌ„ And this despaire of hauing any chyld the old age of them both had encreased But the bounteous goodnesse of God did of tendre fauour geue vnto the deuoute prayers and desires of theyr hertes that thyng which the strength and power of nature dyd not geue to the coumpanying of theyr bodyes And it came to passe that whan Zacharie executed the priestes office before God as his course came accordying to the custome of the priestes office his lotte fell to burne incâ—nse And he wente into the temple of the Lorde and the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer whyle the incense was in burnyng Therfore whan zacharie executed the office of the prieste in the ordre of his course whiche as we haue sayed was in the course of Abia and continuing within the temple in the sight of God attended the ministryng of the sacres lyke a pure and a chaste man and now accordyng to the custome and maner there was one to be chosen to goe into the innermoste and priuiest place of the temple which is called Sancta sanctorum that is to say the holy of holyes or the principall holy place the chaunce of the lotte so fell that he was chosen to entre into the principall holy place which it was not leefull for any person to entre except the bishop or suche an
weÌ„t in with vs vnto Iames. And all the elders came together And whan he had saluted them he tolde by order all thinges that God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministracion And so whan we had taryed a fewe dayes at Cesarea we made readye oure selues to take our iourney towarde Hierusalem And some of the disciples folowed Paule and went in cumpany with vs from the citie of Cesarea bringing with them a certaine man named Muason which was a Ciprian borne with whome we shouldâ— hoste at Hierusalem For he was knowen to bee a good and godly man for he had than of longe tyme beleued the ghospell and had persisted and continued in the sincerite of the faythe But whan we were come to Hierusalem the brethren gladly and ioyfully receyued vs. And Paule the nexte day takinge vs with him went to Iames his house the iuste whiche was called the brother of the Lorde For he was instituted of the Apostles byshop of Hierusalem And thyther assembled all the elders Whome as soone as Paule had euerychone saluted he rehearsed to them in ordre what God had wrought emong the Gentiles by his ministerye emonge whome he had nowe a good sorte of yeares preached the ghospell And when they heard it they gloryfied the Lorde And sayed vnto him Thou seest brother how many thousande Iewes there are whiche beleue and they are all earnest folowers ouer the lawe And they are infourmed of the that thou teachest al the Iewes whiche are among the Gentiles to forsake Moises and saiest that they ought not to circumcise their children neyther to lyue after the customes What is it therfore The multitude must nedes come together For they shall heare that thou art come Do therfore this that we saye to the. We haue fower men whiche haue a nowe on them Them take and purifie thy selfe with them and do coste on them that they maye shaue their heades and all shall knowe that those thinges whiche they haue heard concernynge the are no thing but that thou walkest and kepest the lawe Whan they heard all the matter they glorifyed the Lorde that had also powred his grace vpon the Gentyles But forasmuche as Paule was accused to many of the Iewes to be one that abhorred Moyses law and that he in settyng furth the benefyte that came by the ghospell yelded lesse to the obseruacioÌ„ of the lawe then he ought to do to the entent that a remedy myght be founde for this inconuenience also they sayed vnto hym brother Paule sayed they thou seest howe many thousande Iewes be heâ—e that beleue the ghospell and all these are muche affeccionate to the lawe of Moses And a rumour there is come to their eares whiche we knowe to bee false that thou teacheste the Iewes which are among the Gentyles to forsake and renounce Moyses law so that they neyther circumcise theyr children ne kepe the trade of theyr forefathers as concerning choyse of meates kepyng of the Sabbothe dayes washyng and suche other thinges as the Iewes whiche are not conuersaunte with the Gentyles do with great deuocion obserue and folowe These men beyng restrayned by an acte made of their forefathers are indifferently contented that the Gentiles be not burdened with the lawe But that those which are Iewes borne shoulde be led awaye from the obseruacion of the lawe to the Gentiles kynde of lyfe they can in no wyse abyde Wherfore we must take here good hede that no sedicion be made about this matter What remayneth thaÌ„ to be doen First it cannot be chosen but that the multitude must be called together For it wyll soone be knowen that thou art come Wherfore to the entente that thou mayest bee out of this suspicion folowe our counsell Here be among vs fower men whiche accordynge to the custome of the Iewes haue taken a vowe on them ioyne the with them and fulfyll together all solemne ceremonies as they do that desyre to be purified and made holy after theyr vowe and yf there be any thing besydes that is to be bestowed on sacrifice or offeringes bestowe lyke coste as they do vntyll suche tyme that they haue shauen their heades And in so doyng euery man shall knowe for a suertie those thinges to be false that be rumoured abrode of the and they shall also perceyue that thou in suche forte besydes doest preache the gracious benefite of the ghospell that it is without reprofe of those that kepe the ceremonies of the lawe whiche God deliuered them and other tradicions of their elders whaÌ„ they see thee do the same which some had reported the to disproue And by this meanes shall the Iewes cease to speake euyll of the whiche are so manye in numbre that they must nedes be had inestimacion and not neglected ¶ But as concernyng the Gentiles whiche beleue we haue wrytten and concluded that they obserue no suche thing saue onely that they kepe them selues from bloud and from thinges offered to ydolles and from strangled and from fornicacion But as for the Gentyles that are conuerted to the fayth we haue writ but of late vnto them as it was agreed vpon and decreed by the apostles and the whole cumpanye of dysciples that they shall not be compelled to kepe Moses lawe sauyng onely that they absteyne from that fleshe that is sacrificed vnto ydolles from bloude from strangled beastes and from aduoutry ¶ Then the nexte daye Paule toke the men and purified himselfe with them entred into the temple declaryng that he obserued the dayes of the purificacion vntil that an offeryng shoulde be offered for euery one of them And whan the seuen dayes wer now almost ended the Iewes whiche wer of Asia when they sawe him in the temple moued all the people and layed handes on him crying men of Israel helpe This is the maÌ„ that teacheth all men euery where against the people and the law and this place He hath also brought Brekes into the temple and hath polluted this holy place For they had seen with him in the citie one Etophimus an Ephesian whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple And all the citie was moued and the people swarmed together And they toke Paul and drue him out of the temple and forthwith the doores wer shut Than Paul dyd after this councell of Iames and of the brethren and takyng vnto hym those fower persones whiche had solemnely made a vowe wente into the temple and there professynge that his dayes of purifying wer finyshed he omitted ne let passe no ceremonye vntyll that sacrifyce was offred vp for euery one of them All this required seuen dayes space for the accomplyshement therof Whiche beyng almoste expired certayne Iewes that beleued not whiche before had seen hym in Asia and there raysed commocion agaynste him whan as they sawe Paule in the temple they stirred vp the people and laied handes on Paul crying Ye meÌ„ of Israel helpe this is he whom you haue by reporte hearde of that hath wandered ouer