pricked forward with an opinion vnaduisedly cōceiued Therfore let knowledge be present that it may gouern zeale And now it is said that zeale was the cause of diligence because Apollos gaue himselfe to teach diligently But and if that man being not yet throughly perfectly taught in the Gospel did preach Christ so diligently and freely what excuse doe those men hope to haue who know that more perfectly and fullie which he knew not as yet if they doe not indeuour so muche as in them lieth to further and aduaunce the kingdome of Christ Luke doth attribute zeale to the spirite therefore because it is a rare and peculiar gift neither doe I so expound it that Apollos was mooued and pricked forward with the instinct of his mind but by motion of the holy Spirite 26 Whom when Priscilla By this it appeareth how farre Priscilla and Aquila were from the loue themselues and from enuying another mans vertue in that they deliuer those things familiarly and priuately to an eloquent man which he may afterward vtter publikely They excelled not in the same grace wherein hee did excell and peraduenture they might haue been despised in the congregation Moreouer they most diligently helpe him whom they see better furnished as well with eloquence as the vse of the scripture so that they keepe silence and he alone is heard Againe this was no small modestie which was in Apollos in that hee doeth suffer himselfe to bee taught and instructed not only in an handicraftsman but also by a woman Hee was mightie in the scripture and did surpasse them but as touching the accōplishment of the kingdome of Christ those doe pollish and trim him who might seeme to bee scarce fit ministers Also we see that at that time women were not so ignorant of the word of God as the Papistes will haue them forasmuch as wee see that one of the chiefe teachers of the Churche was instructed by a woman Notwithstanding wee must remember that Priscilla did execute this function of teaching at home in her owne house that shee might not ouerthrowe the order prescribed by God and nature 27 When he was determined Luke doth not expresse for what cause Apollos would goe to Achaia Notwithstanding wee gather out of the text that he was not allured with any priuate commoditie but because more plentifull frute in spreading abroade the Gospell did shewe it selfe there because the brethren did more encourage him with their exhortation and did spurre him when hee did alreadie runne Which they would not haue done vnlesse it had been for the common profite of the Church For it had been an absurd thing to intreate a man to depart to another place whose faithfull industrie they alreadie vsed and did knowe that they should haue neede of him afterward vnlesse there had been som better recompence offered And I take it that the brethren of Ephesus wrote to those of Achaia not onely that they shoulde prouide lodging for the man but also that they shoulde suffer him to teache This is holy commendation in deede when wee studie to extoll euerie good man with our testimonie and consent least the giftes of the holie ghost which he hath giuen to euery man for the edifiyng of the church lie buried When he came The brethren forsawe this who had alreadie had experience thereof when they exhorted him to addresse himselfe to that iourney which he had alreadie in minde conceiued And whereas it is saide that he helped the faithfull much wee may take it two wayes eyther that he helped those who were not so well furnished and that hee did support them to beat downe the pride of their enemies for euery man was not able to haue weapon in readinesse to vndertake a harde combate against old enemies who woulde neuer haue yeelded vnlesse they had been inforced or that hee aided them least their faith shoulde faile being shaken with the gainsaying of the enemies which thing doth oftentimes befall the weake I take it that they wer holpen both waies that hauing a skilfull and practised captaine they gate the victorie in the conflict Secondly that their faith was fortified with a new prop that it might be without danger of wauering Furthermore Luke semeth to note that the brethren were holpen with this stoutnesse and constācie when as he sayth that he disputed publikely with the Iewes For this was a signe of zeale and boldnesse not to flie the light Whereas in the ende of the sentence these wordes are vsed through grace it doth either agree with the worde going before they beleeued or els it must be referred vnto the helpe wherewith he helped the brethren The former interpretation is nothing hard For the meaning thereof shall be this that the faithful were illuminate by the grace of God that they might beleeue as if he had said The brethren who were alredie called by the benefite of God vnto faith were furthered Yet the other text seemeth to agree better that Apollos in imparting that grace which hee had receiued with the brethren did helpe them So that through grace shall import as muche as according to the measure of the grace receiued 28 Hee ouercame the Iewes By this it appeareth to what vse that abilitie which Apollos had in that he was mighty in the holy scriptures did serue to wit because he had a strong and forcible proof to reproue and ouercome the enemies withall Also the state of the disputation is briefly set downe that Iesus is Christe For this was out of question among the Iewes that Christe was promised to bee the deliuerer but it was a hard matter to perswade thē that Iesus the son of Mary was this Christ through whom saluation was offered Therefore it was expedient for Apollos so to dispute concerning the office of Christe that hee might proue that the testimonies of the Scripture were fulfilled in the sonne of Mary and that hee might thereby gather that hee was Christe Also this place doth testifie that the scripture is profitable not onely to teach but also to breake the obstinacie of those which doe not obey and followe willingly For our faith should not otherwise bee firme enough vnlesse there were an euident demonstration extaunt there of those thinges which are necessarie to be knowen for saluation Surely if the lawe and the prophetes had so great light that Apollos did thereby proue manifestly that Iesus is Christe as if he did point out the matter with his finger the adding of the Gospel muste bring this to passe at least that the perfect knowledge of Christe may bee fet from the whole scripture Wherfore it is detestable blasphemie against God in that the papists say that the scripture is darke and doubtfull For to what end should god haue spoken vnlesse the plaine inuincible truth should shew it selfe in his words And wheras they infer that we must stand to the authority of the church they are not to dispute with heretiks out of the scriptures
in them his image whence riseth that second respect For God doth not finde man bare and naked then and voide of all grace but he knoweth his own work in him yea himself Therfore God accepteth the faithful because they liue godlily and iustly And we doe not denie that God accepteth the good works of the saints but this is another question Whether man preuent the grace of God with his merits or no and insinuate himselfe into his loue or whether he be beloued at the beginning freely and without respect of workes forasmuch as he is worthy of nothing else but of hatred Furthermore forasmuch as man left to his owne nature can bring nothing but matter of hatred he must needs cōfesse that hee is freely beloued whereupon it followeth that God is to himself the cause that he loueth vs and that he is prouoked with his own mercy and not with our merits Secondly we must note that although the faithful please God after regeneration with goods works their respect of works yet that is not done with the merit of works For the cleannes of works is neuer so exact that they can please God without pardon yea forasmuch as they haue alwaies some corruption mixed with them they are worthy to be refused Therfore the worthines of the works doth not cause them to be had in estimation but faith which borroweth that of Christ which is wanting in works 36 Cōcerning the matter Because the greek text is abrupt some think that the Accusatiue case is put in steede of the Nominatiue that the sense is this This is the word which God hath sent vnto the children of Israel Othersome refer it vnto the word ye know which followeth afterward they think that there was another word added to make the sentence more pleasant For Luke putteth logon in the former place and afterward rema But forasmuch as it is comō familiar amongst the grecians to vnderstand the prepositions this sense which I haue set down seemeth to me more agreable though if the harshnes of the speech can be any better mittigated I wil willingly yeeld Therfore I take this member to be a preface which appertaineth vnto this worthy worke of God which he shewed amongst the children of Israel preaching peace by Christ that done there is added a narration at length in the cōclusion of his speech Peter sheweth to what end Christ was sent into the world Furthermore he beginneth with this commemoration not without cause That God sent his word vnto the children of Israel And Speech is put for Thing in the Hebrew phrase The eternall couenant which God had made with that people was at that time famous There was nothing more cōmonly knowne amongst the Iewes than that there was a redeemer promised in times past to the fathers who should restore things which were decaied vnto a florishing and blessed estate This did those also know who were familiarly conuersant with the Iewes Therefore to the ende Peter may purchase greater credit he saith that he wil speak of no new or vnknown thing but of the restoring of the Church which did depend vppon the eternall couenant of God and which was nowe manifestly shewed and almost in euery mans mouth Preaching peace Peter teacheth here what maner rumour thing that was which was spread abroad to wit such as that it did make peace I take peace in this place for the recōciling of men God which notwithstanding hath in it the perfit saluation of the church For as horrible cōfusion as it were a huge lumpe do follow after that god is once estranged from vs so so soone as his fatherly fauour doth once appeare he gathereth his church togither true felicity ariseth Therfore this is Peter his meaning that god shewed himself merciful to his people in Christ that he receiued into fauor Abraham his children again whom he seemed to haue cast away for a time that he might establish among them a florishing estate And as he maketh God the author of this peace so he placeth Christ in the mids as the pledge therof that it may be certain holy He coupleth peace and preaching expresly togither because this is one way whereby the fruite of the reconciliation purchased by Christ commeth vnto vs. Ephes 2.17 In like sort after that Paul hath taught that Christ is our peace he addeth immediatly that hee came to preach peace vnto those who were nigh at hand and farre off 37 Ye know howe the word This sermon of Peter consisteth vppon two members principally for in the former he reciteth an historie secondly he discendeth vnto the fruit of the historie For seing that the comming of Christ into the world his death and resurrection are the matter of our saluation Christ cannot otherwise be set before vs to saluation than if we first know that hee hath put on our flesh that hee was in such sort conuersant amongst men that he proued himselfe by certaine testimonies to be the son of God that he was at length nailed vpon the crosse and raised vp from the deade by the power of God Againe least the knowledge of the historie be vnprofitable and colde we must also shewe the end why he came downe from his heauenly glorie into the worlde why he suffered such a death so reprochfull amongst men and accursed by the mouth of God The cause of his resurrection must bee shewed whence the effect and fruite of all these things is gathered to wit that Christ was humbled that he might restore vs vnto perfite blessednesse who were quite lost Isai 53.4 and also that hee put on brotherly loue togither with our flesh that by taking vpon him our infirmities hee vnburdened vs thereof that hee made satisfaction for our sinnes by the sacrifice of his death that he might purchase the fathers fauor for vs that when as he had gotten the victorie of death he purchased for vs eternall life that hee set heauen open for vs by his entrance into the same that all the power of the Spirit was powred out vpon him that he might enrich vs with his abundance This order of teaching doth Peter obserue when hee beginneth with the history of the gospel and afterward sheweth what we haue by Christ his descending into the earth by his death and resurrection First he saith that Iesus of Nazareth came abroade after Iohn his Baptisme For because Iohn was appointed to this end by the counsell of God that he might lift vp the mindes of the people to waite for Christ it was not meete that this point should be omitted Hee was counted an excellent Prophet of God therefore his authoritie was of great importance to make Christ to be beleeued especially amongst the ignorant and those which were but nouices We must note the phrase that Iohn preached Baptisme For Luke comprehendeth in deed vnder the worde Baptisme all the whole ministery of Iohn neuerthelesse hee sheweth that it
hauing chāged his coat he doth now play a tragedie who could not speed welbefore by his faire speech and flatterie And though the heat of zeale wherewith Paul was prouoked to anger did raise the whirlewinde of persecution yet is hee not therefore to be blamed neither did it any whit repent Paul that he had wrought the myracle so that hee did wish that that were vndone which was done because he knew full wel through what motion he had driuen the diuell out of the maid whereby we are taught that we must not rashlie condemne thinges which are well done and that which is taken in hand at the commandement of God though an vnhappie successe follow because God doth then examine the constancie of those which bee his vntill a more ioyfull and prosperous ende driue away all sorrowe As touching the men Luke expresseth the cause why they were so mad vpon Paul to wit because their hope of filthie gain was gone But thogh they were pricked forward with couetousnes only to persecute the Gospel and the ministers therof yet they pretend a fair colour that it greeueth them that the publike state should be peruerted that their ancient lawes should bee broken and peace troubled So though the enemies of Christ behaue themselues wickedly and vnhonestly yet they alwayes inuent some cause for their sinne Yea thogh their wicked desire appear plainly yet with an impudent face they alwaies bring in somwhat to couer their filthinesse withall So at this day those Papists which are more zealous ouer their lawe haue nothing els in their mindes besides their gain and gouernment Let them sweare and forsweare by al their Saints and sacrifices that they are inforced only with a godly affection yet the matter it selfe doth plainly shew that it is the coldnes of their kitchins which maketh their zeale so whot and that ambition is the fanne therof For they be either hungrie dogs pricked forward with greedinesse or furious Lions breathing out nothing but crueltie 20 These men trouble our citie This accusation was craftily composed to burdē the seruants of Christ For on the one side they pretend the name of the Romans then which nothing was more fauourable on the other they purchase hatred and bring them in contempt by naming thē Iewes which name was at that time infamous for as touching religion the Romans wer more like to any then to the Iewish nation For it was lawful for a man which was a Romane to do sacrifice either in Asia or in Grecia or in any other countrie wher were Idols superstitions I warrant you Satan did agree with himself very well though he put on diuers shapes but that which was religion only then which ther was no other in the world was counted among the Romanes detestable They frame a third accusation out of the crime of sedition for they pretende that the publike peace is troubled by Paul his companie In like sort was Christ brought in contempt euen at this day the paists haue no more plausible thing wherwith they may bring vs to be hated Luk. 2◠5 thā when they crie that our doctrine tendeth to no other ende but to procure tumults that at length there may follow a filthie confusion of all thinges But we must valiantly contemn this filthie false infamie as did Christ and Paul vntill the Lord bring to light the malice of our enemies and refute their impudencie 21 Ordinances which They lean to a preiudice least the cause shuld com to be disputed as the papists deale with vs at this day this was decreed in a general councell it is a more ancient cōmon opinion thā that it may be called in questiō custom hath long time approued this this hath been established by consent more then a thousand yeeres agoe But to what end tend all these things saue only that they may rob the word of god of all authoritie They make boast of mans decrees but in the mean season they leaue no place at all for the lawes of God Wee may see by this place what force these preiudices ought to haue The lawes of the Romanes wer excellent but religion doth depende vppon the worde of God alone Therefore in this matter we must take great heed that men being brought vnder the authoritie of God alone do preuaile and that he make all things which in the world are excellent subiect to him 22 The multitude came togither When Luke declareth that there was great concourse of the people made after that a few men of no reputation to wit such as did iuggle and cosin to get gaine and whose filthines was wel knowen had made some sturre he teacheth with what fury the world rageth against Christ Folishnes and inconstancie are in deed common vices among al people and almost continual but the wonderful force of Satan doth therein bewray it self in that those who are in other matters modest quiet are for a matter of no importāce in a heat become companions of most vile persons when the truth must be resisted There was neuer a whit more modestie to be found in the iudges themselues if we consider what was their duty For they ought by their grauity to haue appeased the fury of the people to haue set thēselues stoutly against their violence they ought to haue aided defended the giltles but they lay hands on thē outragiously renting their garmēts they cōmand them to be stripped naked whipt before they know the matter Surely the malice of men is to be lamented whereby it came to passe that almost all the iudgement seates of the world which ought to haue bin sanctuaries of iustice haue bin polluted with the wicked sacrilegious oppugning of the gospel Notwithstāding the question is why they were cast in prison seing they were already punished for the prison was ordained for the keeping of men They vsed this kind of correction vntil they might know more and so we see the seruants of Christ more sharply handled than adulterers robbers and other most vile persons Whereby appeareth more plainely that force of Satan in stirring vp the minds of men that they obserue no shew of iudgment in persecuting the gospel But though the godly be more hardly handled for defending the truth of Christ than are the wicked for their wickednes yet it goeth wel with the godly because they triumph gloriously before god his angels in all iniuries which they suffer They suffer reproch and slander but because they know that the marks of Christ are in greater price more esteemed in heauen than the vaine pompes of the earth the more wickedly and reprochfully the world doth vex them the greater cause haue they to reioyce For if prophane writers did so honor Themistocles that they preferred his prison before the seat court of Iudges how much more honorably must we think of the son of god whose cause is in hand so oftē as the faithful suffer
faith with preaching doctrine after that he hath brieflie spokeÌ„ of faith hee doth by way of expositioÌ„ shew the true and lawful way of beleuing Therfore in steed of that inueÌ„tion of intangled faith wherof the papists bable let vs holde faith infolded in the word of God that it may vnfold to vs the power of Christ 33 He was baptised and all his houshold Luke doth again coÌ„mend the godly zeale of the keeper that he did consecrate all his whole house to the Lord wherein doth also appeare the grace of God in that he brought al his whole family vnto a godly coÌ„sent And we must also note the notable exchange he was of late about to murther himself because hee thought that Paul the rest were escaped but now laying aside al feare he bringeth them home So that we see how faith doth animate and incourage those to behaue themselues stoutly who before had no hart And surelie when we droupe through feare doubtfulnes there is no better matter of boldnes then to be able to cast al our cares into Gods bosome that no daÌ„ger may terrify vs froÌ„ doing our dutie whiles that we looke for an end at Gods hand such as he shal see to be most profitable 34 He reioyced that he beleeued The external profession of faith was before commended in the Iayler now the inward fruit therof is described When he did lodge the Apostles was not afraide of punishment but did courteously interteine them in his own house otherwise then hee was inioyned by the magistrate he did testifie that his faith was not idle And that ioy wherof Luke speaketh in this place is a singuler good thing which euery man hath from his faith There is no greater tormeÌ„t then an euil conscience for the vnbeleeuers though they seeke by all meanes to bring themselues into a certain amasednes yet because they haue no peace with God they must needs quake and tremble But admit they perceiue not their present torments yea they rage and playe the mad men through mad and vnbrideled licentiousnes yet are they neuer quiet neither do they inioy quiet ioy Therefore sincere and quiet stable ioy proceedeth from faith alone when we perceiue that God is merciful to vs. In this respect Zacharias saith Reioyce and be gladde O daughter Sion behold thy king commeth Yea this effect is euery where in the scripture attributed to faith that it maketh the soules ioiful Therfore let vs know that faith is not a vaine or dead imagination but a liuely sealing of the grace of God which bringeth perfect ioy by reason of the certainty of saluation whereof it is meet that the wicked be voyde who doe both flie from the God of peace disturbe al righteousnes 35 And when it was day the magistrates sent the apparitors saying Let these men goe 36 And the keeper of the prison tolde these woordes to Paule The magistrates haue sent to loose you Now therefore going out depart in peace 37 And Paul said to them After that they haue beaten vs openly before our cause was knowen seeing that we be Romaines they haue cast vs into prison now they cast vs out priuily No surely but let them come themselues fetch vs out 38 And the apparitours told these wordes to the magistrates who feared after that they heard that they were Romanes 39 And they came and besought them and when they had brought them out they requested them that they would depart out of the citie 40 And comming out of the prison they entred in vnto Lydia when they had seen the brethren they comforted them and departed 35 When it was day The question is how it came to passe that the Iudges did so sodainly change their purpose The day before they had commaunded that Paul Silas should be bound with fetters as if they meant to punishe them cruelly now they let them goe free At least if they had heard them it might haue bin that the knowledge of the cause had brought them to be more gentle and better minded But it appeareth that forasmuch as the matter stood as yet stil in one state they wer brought vnto repentance of their owne accorde I answere that there is no other thing here set downe but that which falleth out most commoÌ„ly when sedition is once raised For not onely the mindes of the common people begin to rage but also the tempest carrieth away the gouernours also no doubt peruersly for we know that of Virgill And as amidst a mightie route when discord oft is bred And baser froward minded men with furious rage are led Foorthwith flies fire and stones are floung madnes doth tooles supplie Then if on the sodain they doe any one espie Whom loue to common wealth and iust desarts haue reuerent made They hush and eeke attentiue stand to heare what will be said He gouerns both their will and rage With wordes their wrath he doth aswage Therefore there can be nothing more vnseemely than that in a whot tumult the iudges should be set on fire with the people but it falleth out so for the most part Therfore wheÌ„ those officers saw the people vp they thought ther was cause enough why they should beat the apostles with rods But now they are caused with shame and infamie to suffer punishement for their lightnes Peraduenture also when they enquire of the beginning of the tumult they find those who had deceiued the people in the fault therefore when they had found out that Paul and Silas were innocent they let them goe though too late By which example those which beare rule are taught to beware of too much hast Againe we see howe carelesly Magistrates fâ—â—tter themselues in their owne offences which they know full well they haue committed especially when they haue to doe with vnknowen and base persons When these men graunt free libertie to Paul and Silas to depart they are not ignorant that they had before done them iniurie yet they thinke it will be sufficient if they do not continue to do them iniurie still and to bee more cruel vpon theÌ„ The apparitors are called Rabdouchoi of the staues which they did bear wheras the ensignes of the Seargeants were hatchets bound about with rods After that they haue beaten vs openly Their defence consisteth vpon two points that they raged against and cruelly intreated the body of a man that was a Roman secondly that they did that contrary to the order of law We shall see afterward that Paul was a citizen of Rome But it was straitly prouided by Portius lawe by the lawes of Sempronius and also by many moe that no man should haue power of life or death ouer any citizen of Rome but the people Notwithstanding it may seeme to bee a strange thing that Paul did not maintain his right before he was beaten with rods for the iudges might honestly excuse themselues by his silence but it is to be thought that he was
that the order of nature was broken when as religion was pulled in peeces among them that that diuersitie which is among them is a testimonie that godlinesse is quite ouerthrowen because they are fallen away from God the father of al vpon whom al kinred dependeth To dwel vpon the face of the earth Luke doth briefly gather as hee vseth to doe the summe of Paul his sermon And it is not to be doubted but that Paul did first shew that men are set here as vpon a Theatre to beholde the woorkes of God and secondly that he spake of the prouidēce of God which doth shew foorth it selfe in the whole gouernment of the world For whē he saith that god appointeth the times ordained before and the bounds of mens habitations his meaning is that this worlde is gouerned by his hand and counsel and that mens affaires fall not out by chaunce as profane men dreame And so we gather out of a fewe words of Luke that Paul did handle most weighty matters For whē he saith that the times were ordained before by him he doth testifie that he had determined before men were created what their condition and estate should be When we see diuers changes in the world when we see realmes come to ruine lands altered cities destroyed nations laid wast we foolishly imagine that either fate or fortune beareth the swinge in these matters But God doth testifie in this place by the mouth of Paul that it was appointed before in his counsel how long he would haue the state of euery people to continue and within what boundes he woulde haue them contained But and if he haue appointed thē a certain time and appointed the bounds of countries vndoubtedly he hath also set in order the whole course of their life And we must note that Paul doeth attribute to God not onely a bare foreknowledge and colde speculatiō as some men doe vndiscretely but he placeth the cause of those things which fall out in his counsel and becke For he saith not that the times were onely foreseen but that they were appointed and set in such order as pleased him best And when he addeth also that God had appointed from the beginning those thinges which he had ordayned before his meaning is that he executeth by the power of his spirit those thinges which he hath decreed in his counsell according to that Our God is in heauen Psal 115.3 he hath done whatsoeuer he would Now we see as in a campe euery troupe and bande hath his appointed place so men are placed vpon earth that euery people may be content with their bounds that among these people euery particular person may haue his mansion But though ambition haue oftentimes raged and many beyng incensed with wicked lust haue past their boundes yet the lust of men hath neuer brought to passe but that God hath gouerned al euents from out his holie sanctuarie For though men by raging vppon earth doe seeme to assault heauen that they may ouerthrow Gods prouidence yet they are inforced whether they will or no rather to establish the same Therfore let vs know that the world is so turned ouer through diuers tumults that God doth at length bring al things vnto the end which he hath appointed 27 That they might seeke God This sentence hath two members to wit that it is mans duetie to seeke God Secondly that God himself cōmeth foorth to meet vs and doth shew himself by such manifest tokens that we can haue no excuse for our ignorance Therfore let vs remēber that those men doe wickedly abuse this life that they be vnworthy to dwel vpon earth which doe not apply their studies to seeke him As if euery kinde of bruite beastes should fal from that inclination which they haue naturally which should for good causes be called monstrous And surely nothing is more absurd then that men shuld be ignorant of their Authour who are indued with vnderstanding principallie for this vse And we must especially note the goodnesse of God in that he doth so familiarly insinuate himselfe that euen the blinde maye grope after him For which cause the blindnesse of menne is more shamefull and vntollerable who in so manifest and euident a manifestation are touched with no feeling of Gods presence Whithersoeuer they cast their eies vpward or downward they must needs light vppon liuely and also infinite images of Gods power wisedome and goodnesse For God hath not darkly shadowed his glory in the creation of the worlde but he hath euery where ingrauen such manifest markes that euen blind men may knowe them by groping Whence wee gather that men are not onely blind but blockish when being holpen by such excellent testimonies they profit nothing Yet here ariseth a question whether men can naturally come vnto the true and merciful knowledge of GOD. For Paul doth giue vs to vnderstande that their owne sluggishnes is the cause that they cannot perceiue that God is present because thogh the shut their eies yet may they grope after him I answere that their ignorance and blockishnesse is mixed with such frowardnes that being void of right iudgement they passe ouer without vnderstanding al such signes of Gods glory as appeare manifestly both in heauen and earth Yea seing that the true knowledge of god is a singular gift of his faith by which alone he is rightly knowne commeth onely from the illumination of the Spirit it followeth that our minds cannot pearce so farre hauing nature onely for our guide Neither doeth Paule intreat in this place of the habilitie of men but he doth onely shew that they be without excuse when as they be so blinde in such cleare light as he saith in the first Chapter to the Romans Therefore though mens senses faile thē in seeking out God yet haue they no cloake for their fault Rom. 1.20 Cap. 14.17 because though he offer himselfe to be handled and groped they continue notwithstanding in a quandarie Concerning which thing we haue spoken more in the fouerteenth Chapter Though he be not farre from euery one of vs. To the end he may the more touch the frowardnesse of men hee saith that God is not to bee sought through many crookes neither need we make any long iourney to find him because euery mā shal find him in himself if so be it he wil take any heed By which experience we are conuict that our dulnesse is not with out fault which we had from the fault of Adam For thogh no corner of the world be void of the testimonie of gods glory yet wee neede not goe without our selues to lay hold vpon him For hee doth affect and moue euery one of vs inwardly with his power in such sort that our blockishnesse is like to a monster in that in feeling him we feele him not In this respect certain of the Philosophers called man the little worlde bicause he is aboue all other creatures a token of gods glory
Helpe They crie out as if they were in extreame danger and they call vpon all men to helpe them as if all religion were in hazard Whereby we see with what furious hatred they were inflamed against Paul onely because in shewing that the full and perfite truth is found in Christ he taught that the figures of the Law had an end Now whereas they conceiue a false opinion hauing seene Trophymus they do more bewray by this headlong lightnes how venemous they be They accuse Paul of sacrilege Why because he brought into the Temple a man which was vncircumcised But they laid a most cruell crime to the charge of an innocent through a false opinion Thus the boldnesse of those men vseth commonly to bee preposterous who are carried away with an opinion conceiued before But let vs learne by such examples to beware of the distemperature of affections and not to let light preiudices haue the raine least we runne headlong vpon the innocent being carried with blind force 30 And the Citie was moued Wee see in this place the vanitie of the common people which count Paul a condemned man before euer they heare him Whereas the citie is moued about godlines it is no maruell but this is a point of peruerse zeale and mad rashnes in that they set themselues against Paule before they knowe his matter For in this corruption of nature frowardnes is ioined with foolishnes so that those will readily of their owne accord make haste to maintaine an euil cause who can hardly be moued with many exhortations to do well This is a hard case that the whole world should be armed against vs at a sodaine through the perswasion of a fewe but seeing it pleaseth the Lorde it should bee so let euery one of vs prepare himselfe by this and such like examples to suffer all manner assaults and to beare and abide albrunts 31 And as they sought to kill him it was told the captaine of the band that all Ierusalem was on an vprore 32 Who tooke with him streightway soldiars and vnder captaines and ranne downe vnto them But they when they saw the chiefe captaine and the soldiars left smiting of Paul 33 Then the chiefe captaine drew neere and tooke him and commanded him to be bounde with two chaines and hee asked what he was and what hee had done 34 And some cried one thing and some another among the people And when he could not know the truth by reason of the tumult he commanded him to be carried into the campe 35 And when he came to the staires it happened that he was carried of the soldiars because of the violence of the multitude 36 For the multitude of people followed crying Away with him 37 And when Paul began to be carried into the campe he saith to the captaine May I speake to thee who said canst thou speake Greeke 38 Art not thou that Egyptian which before these dayes madest an vprore and leddest into the wildernes fower thousand men which were murderers 39 And Paul saide I verely am a man which am a Iewe borne in Tharsus a citizen of no vile Citie of Cilicia But I beseech thee suffer me to speake to the people 40 And when he had giuen him leaue Paul standing vpon the staires beckoned with the hand vnto the people and when there was made great silence he spake in the Hebrew tongue saying 31 As they sought to kill him Assuredly the force of satan appeareth therein in that he driueth the people headlong into such rage that whē they haue shut the doares of the Temple being not content with meane punishment they conspire to put Paul to death Wee must thus thinke with our selues that Sathan doth pricke forward the enimies of godlinesse least their rage how cruell and troublesome so euer it be trouble vs. On the otherside appeareth the wonderfull goodnes of God when as he raiseth vp the chiefe captaine at a sodaine that hee may deliuer Paul from death He himselfe thought vpon no such thing but he came to appease the tumult which was raised among the people but the Lord sheweth a more euident token of his prouidence because Paul his life was deliuered from such present danger without mans counsell Thus doth he suffer the faithful not only to labor but to be almost oppressed that hee may deliuer them from death more wonderfully Luke calleth him the chiefe captaine of the band improperly seing euery chiefe captain was set ouer a thousand which doth also appeare by the text where he saith that the chiefe captaine tooke with him vndercaptaines 32 And when they saw the chiefe captaine Those whose furie neither the maiestie of God ne yet the reuerence of the temple could once stay begin to relent when they see a prophane man Wherby it appeareth that theye were set on fire rather with barbarous crueltie than zeale Nowe whereas the chiefe captaine bindeth Paul with chaines hee declareth thereby sufficiently that he came not to ease him The vnbeleeuers wold attribute this to fortune but the Spirit hath depainted out vnto vs the prouidence of God as in a table reigning amidst the confused vprores of men And though this be very hard that this holy minister of God is so shamefully handled yet the equitie of the chiefe captaine is to be commended if hee bee compared with the Iewes Hee bindeth him with chaines as if he were some euill doer or some wicked person yet doth he vouchsafe to heare him when he is bounde whom they did beat vnmercifully neither doeth hee determin to handle him hardly before he knew his cause Yea this was the best way to mitigate their cruelty because they thought that Paul should be punished immediatly 34 Some cried one thing and some another The madnesse of the raging people doth bewray it selfe on euery side They make horrible outcries whereof one is contrary to another Neuerthelesse they desire with one consent to haue him put to death who was conuict of no offence In the meane season we need not doubt but that they were blinded with a color of holy zeale but the truth of the cause wel known maketh mē truly zealous as it maketh them true martyrs of God but rage bewraieth diuellish madnes Whereas mention is made in this place of the campe or fortresse we must know that the soldiars which were placed to gard the City had a place which was trenched fortified on euerie side which they might defend as if it were a castle from which they might beat backe all assaultes if any sedition were raised For it had not been good for them to haue been dispearsed here and there in diuers Innes seeing the people were treacherous and the Citie troublesome And wee gather by this that the place was high because Luke saith that when they came to the steps Paul was carried of the soldiers And whether the soldiers did lift vp Paul on high that they might bring him safe to the station or campe
bridle his lust so that he dare goe no further 11 I appeale vnto Caesar After that he hath professed that hee doth not refuse to die if hee bee found giltie hee freely vseth such helpes as he coulde finde at the hands of men Wherefore if wee bee at any time brought into like straits we must not be superstitious but we may craue help of the lawes and pollitike order Because it is written that magistrates are made and appointed by God to the praise of the godly Neither was Paul afraid to goe to law vnder an vnbeleeuing iudge Rom. 13.3 1. Pet. 2.14 for hee which appealeth commenceth a new action Therfore let vs know that God who hath appointed iudgement seats doth also graunt libertie to his to vse the same lawfully Therfore those mistake Paul 1. Cor. 6.1 who think that he doth flatly condemne the Corinthiās bicause they require help of the magistrate for defence of their right seeing he reproueth in that place a manifest fault to wit because they could suffer no wrong and because they were too much set vpon sueing one another whereby they caused the gospell to be euill spoken of 12 Festus hauing talked with the councell The gouernours did vse to haue certain of the chief citizens which did attend vpon them sate with them in iudgement that they might decree nothing without the consent of the councell Furthermore it doth seeme that Festus pronoūced this with indignation when hee said interrogatiuely hast thou appealed to Caesar to wit because it greeued him that he coulde not doe the Iewes such a pleasure as he desired though I leaue that indifferent because it is neither of any great importance and it leaneth only to a coniecture 13 And after certaine dayes king Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea to salute Festus 14 And when they had stayed there many dayes Festus rehearsed Pauls cause to the king saying There is a certaine man left in bonds of Felix 15 About whom when I came to Ierusalem the high priestes and Elders of the Iewes enformed me requiring iudgement against him 16 To whom I answered It is not the custome of the Romanes for fauour to deliuer any man that he should perish before he that is accused haue his accusers face to face and haue licence to answere for himselfe concerning the crime laid against him 17 Therefore when they were come hither without delay on the morow I sate on the iudgement seat and commaunded the man to be brought 18 Against whom when the accusers stood vp they brought none accusation concerning such things as I supposed 19 But they had certain questions concerning their “ Or Religion superstition against him and concerning one Iesus which was dead whom Paul affirmed to bee a liue 20 And because I doubted of this question I asked him if he would goe to Ierusalem and there be iudged of these things 21 And when Paul had appealed that he might be kept vnto the knowledge of Augustus I commanded him to be kept vntil I might send him vnto Caesar 13 And after certaine dayes This long narration tendeth to this end that we may know that though the handeling of the cause were broken of yet were Pauls bands famous and that he was neuerthelesse brought out of prison that he might make profession of his faith dispute touching the Gospell before a famous auditorie and againe that though he were contemned yet was he not counted a wicked person least the glory of Christ shuld be abased by his slaunder and reproch yea that he had more libertie to preach the gospell being in prison then if hee had liued free in a priuate house King Agrippa and Bernice It is certaine that this Agrippa was sonne to Agrippa the elder whose filthie and detestable death was set downe in the twelfth chapter When this man was made king of Chalcis in his vncles steed after the decease of his father hee did afterward obtaine a more large dominion Bernice of whom mentiō is made in this place was his owne naturall sister which was first married to Herod king of Chalcis her vncle and did keep her self widdow a certaine season after his death yet she did not liue honestly chastly during that time for her too great familiaritie with her brother Agrippa was suspected And to the end she might not be counted an incestuous person she married with Polemon king of Cilicia Notwithstāding because she gaue herself more to lust than chastitie she forsooke him The historiographers doe no where say that she was her brothers wife and Iosephus in his life assigneth her a dominion of her owne in a part of Galilee Therefore it is to be thought that forasmuch as they were hardened in their wickednesse they dwelt together not regarding what men did say yet did they abstain from marriage least their incestuous marriage shoulde bewray and also augment their crime Neither is it any maruell that hee came for honours sake to salute the gouernour who did reigne only at the wil and pleasure of another and did depend vppon the necke and fauour of the Emperour of Rome which he was to retain and nourish by meanes of the gouernour 14 When many dayes Therefore when after some time was spent they wanted matter of talk as idle men vse to inuent somewhat whereon they may talke mention was made of Paul for Luke meant to note that when he said that after many dayes wer idly spent Festus told the king of a certaine man which lay bound And although hee doth heere both touch the malice of the Priests and also make a shew of wonderfull equitie on his part yet in that hee shortly after cleareth the partie which was accused he condemneth himselfe vnawares when as he cōfesseth that he was enforced to appeale that he might not be carried to Ierusalem But when Festus commendeth the Romanes he sheweth what doth beseeme iudges And if nature did tel profane men thus much that they must admit no such fauour as may oppresse the giltlesse howe muche more must iudges who haue the light of the word of God be carefull to auoide all corruption 18 They laid no such crime to his charge I maruell why Festus doeth say that there was no suche crime obiected to Paul as hee supposed seeing he was accused of sedition but we may againe coniect by this yea plainly know that their accusations were so vaine that they ought not to haue been brought before the iudgement seat as if a man did vtter a slaunderous speech vnaduisedly For which cause he saith that the state of the cause did consist in questions of the law Therefore wee see that he putteth a difference betweene those offences which were wont to be punished by mans lawes and the controuersie which was betwene Paul and the Iewes not that religion ought to bee corrupted freely or that their malapartnesse is tollerable who ouerthrowe the worship of god with their owne inuentions but because the
brought vnto the spirituall marriage of Iesus Christ 26 That after examination had We cannot tell whether the gouerner in acquitting Paul before them doth seek by this pollicie to entice him to let his appeale fall For it was a thing credible that he might easily be persuaded to lay away feare and to submit himself to the iudgement and discretion of a iust iudge especially if Agrippa should giue his friendly consent To what end soeuer he did it he condemneth himselfe of iniquitie by his owne mouth in that he did not let a giltlesse man go free whom hee is now ashamed to sende vnto Caesar hauing nothing to lay against him This did also come to passe by the wonderfull prouidence of God that the Iewes themselues shold giue a former iudgment on Pauls side Paraduenture the Gouernor goeth subtilly to worke that hee may picke out what the kinge and the chiefe men of Cesarea doe think that if it so fal out that Paul be set at liberty he may lay the blame on their neckes For he woulde not haue the priests to bee his enemies for nothing vpon whom a good part of Ierusalem did depend and that was the best way that he could take in writing to Caesar to intermingle the authoritie of Agrippa But the Lord to whō it belongeth to gouern euents contrary to mans expectatiō had respect vnto another thing to wit that when the clowdes of false accusations were driuen away Paul might more freely auouch sound doctrine CHAP. XXVI 1 AND Agrippa said vnto Paul Thou art permitted to answere for thy selfe Then Paul stretched foorth his hand and aunswered for himselfe 2 I thinke my selfe happy O king Agrippa because I shall answere this day before thee of al the things wherof I am accused of the Iewes 3 Seeing thou art most expert in all those customes and questions which are among the Iewes Wherfore I beseech thee heare me patiently 4 My life which I haue led from my youth which was at the first in mine owne nation at Ierusalem know all the Iewes 5 Who knew me before since the beginning if they would testifie that after the most straight sect of our religion I liued a Pharisee 6 And now I stand subiect to iudgement for the hope of the promise which God made to our fathers 7 Whereunto our twelue tribes seruing God instauntly day and night hope to come for which hope O king Agrippa I am accused of the Iewes 8 Why doth it seeme to you a thing incredible if God raise the dead 2 We haue declared to what end Paul was brought before that assembly to wit that Festus might write vnto Cesar as he shoulde bee counsailed by Agrippa and the rest Therefore he doth not vse any plain or vsuall forme of defence but doeth rather apply his speech vnto doctrine Luke vseth in deed a worde of excusing yet such a one as is nothing inconuenient whensoeuer there is any account giuen of doctrine Furthermore because Paul knew well that Festus did set light by al that which should be taken out of the law and prophets he turneth himselfe vnto the king who he hoped would be more attentiue seeing he was no stranger to the Iewish religion And because hee had hitherto spoken to deaf men He reioyceth now that he hath gotten a man who for his skil and experience can iudge aright But as hee commendeth the skill and knowledge which is in Agrippa because he is a lawfull iudge in those matters whereof he is to speake so he desireth him on the other side to heare him patiently For other wise contempt and loathsomnesse shuld haue been lesse excuseable in him Hee calleth those points of doctrine which were handeled among the Scribes questions who were wont to discusse religion more subtilly By the word customes he meaneth those rites which were common to the whole nation Therefore the summe is this that king Agrippa was not ignorant either in doctrin either in the ceremonies of the law That which he bringeth in or concludeth wherefore I pray thee heare me patiently as I saide euen nowe doeth signifie that the more expert a man is in the Scripture the more attentiue must hee bee when the question is about religion For that which we vnderstand doth not trouble vs so much And it is meete that we be so careful for the worship of god that it doe not grieue vs to hear those things which belong to the defining therof and chieflie when we haue learned the principles so that we may readily iudge if we list to take heed 4 My life which I haue led Hee doeth not as yet enter into the state of the cause but because hee was wrongfully accused and burdened with many crimes leaste kyng Agrippa shoulde enuie the cause through hatred of the person hee doeth first auouch his innocencie For we know that when a sinister suspitiō hath once possessed the minds of men all their senses are so shut vppe that they can admit nothing Therefore Paul doeth first driue away the clowdes of an euill opinion which were gathered of false reports that he may be heard of pure and well purged eares By this we see that Paul was enforced by the necessitie of the cause to commend his life which he had lead before But he standeth not long vppon that point but passeth ouer straightway vnto the resurrection of the dead when he saith that he is a Pharisee And I think that that is called the most straight sect not in respect of holines of life but because there was in it more naturall sinceritie of doctrine and greater learning For they did boast that they knew the secret meaning of the scripture And surely forasmuch as the Sadduces did vaunt that they did sticke to the letter they fell into filthie and grosse ignorance after they had darkened the light of the scripture The Essenes contenting themselues with an austere and straight kinde of life dyd not greatly care for doctrine Neither doth that any whit hinder because Christ inueigheth principally against the Pharisees as being the worst corrupters of the scripture Mat. 23.13 For seeing they did chalenge to them selues authoritie to interprete the scripture according to the hidden secrete meaning hence came that boldnesse to change and innouate wherewith the Lord is displeased But Paul doeth not touch those inuentions which they had rashly inuented and which they vrged with tyrannous rigour For it was his purpose to speake only of the resurrection of the dead For thogh they had corrupted the law in many points yet it was meete that the authoritie of that sect should be of more estimation in defending the sound and true faith then of the other which were departed farther from naturall puritie Moreouer Paul speaketh only of the common iudgement which did respect the colour of more subtile knowledge 6 For the hope of the promise Hee doth now discend into the cause to wit that he laboureth for the principall point of