whit excuse him And Luke will shortly after declare that he was sent by the high Priest to persecute the faithful Therfore he was no childe he might well be counted a man Why then is his youth mentioned That euery man may consider with him selfe what great hurt he might haue done in Gods Church vnlesse Christe hadde brideled him betimes And therin appeareth a most notable token both of Gods power and also of his grace in that he tamed a fierce and wilde beast in his chiefe furie euen in a moment and in that he extolled a miserable murtherer so highly who through his wickednesse was drowned almost in the deepe pit of hell 59 Calling on Because he had vttered wordes enough before men though in vaine he turneth himselfe now vnto God for good causes and armeth himselfe with prayer to suffer all thinges For although we haue need to run vnto Gods help euerie minute af an houre during our whole warfare yet we haue greatest need to call vpon God in the last conflict which is the hardest And Luke expresseth again how furious mad they were because their crueltie was not aswaged euen when they saw the seruāt of Christ praying humbly Furthermore here is set downe a prayer of Steeuen hauing two members In the former member where he commendeth his spirite to Christ he sheweth the constancie of his faith In the other where he prayeth for his enemies he testifieth his loue towarde men Forasmuch as the whole perfection of godlinesse consisteth vpon these two partes we haue in the death of Steeuen a rare example of a godly holy death It is to be thought that he vsed many mo words but the summe tendeth to this end Lord Iesu I haue alreadie said that this prayer was a witnesse of confidence and surely the couragiousnesse and valiauntnesse of Steeuen was great that when as he saw the stones flie about his eares wherewith he should be stoned by and by when as he heareth cruell curses and reproches against his head hee yet stayeth himselfe meekely vppon the grace of Christ In like sort the Lord wil haue his seruants to be brought to nought as it were sometimes to the end their saluation may bee the more wonderfull And let vs define this saluation not by the vnderstanding of our flesh but by faith Wee see how Steeuen leaneth not vnto the iudgement of the flesh but rather assuring himselfe euen in very destruction that he shal be saued he suffereth death with a quiet mind For vndoubtedly he was assured of this Col. 3.3 that our life is hid with Christe in God Therefore casting off all care of the bodie hee is content to commit his soule into the handes of Christe For hee coulde not pray thus from his heart vnlesse hauing forgotten this life he had cast of all care of the same Psal 31.6 It behoueth vs with Dauid to commit our soules into the handes of God daylie so long as we are in the worlde because we are inuironed with a thousand deaths that God may deliuer our life from all dangers but when we must die indeed and we are called thereunto we must flie vnto this prayer that Christe will receiue our spirite For hee commended his owne Spirite into the handes of his Father to this end that hee may keepe ours for euer This is an vnestimable comfort in that wee knowe our soules doe not wander vppe and downe when they flit out of our bodies but that Christ receiueth them that hee may keepe them faithfully if wee commend them into his handes This hope ought to encourage vs to suffer death patiently Yea whosoeuer commendeth his soule to Christ with an earnest affection of faith he must needes resigne himselfe wholy to his pleasure and will And this place doth plainelie testifie that the soule of man is no vaine blast which vanisheth away as some frantike fellowes imagine dotingly but that it is an Essentiall spirite which liueth after this life Furthermore wee are taught hereby that we call vpon Christ rightly and lawfully because all power is giuen him of the Father for this cause that all men may commit themselues to his tuition 60 Kneeling down he cried This is the other part of his prayer wherein he ioyneth the loue of men with faith in Christ and surely if we desire to be gathered to Christ for our saluation we must put on this affection Whereas Steeuen prayeth for his enemies and those most deadly and euen in the very instant whē their crueltie might prouoke him vnto desire of reuenge he declareth sufficiently what affection hee beareth toward all other men And we know that we are all commanded to do the same which Steuen did Mat. 5.93.94 but because there is nothing more hard than so to forgiue iniuries that we will wish wel to those who would haue vs vndone therfore we must alwaies set Steeuen before our eyes for an example He crieth in deed with a loud voice but he maketh shew of nothing before men which was not spoken sincerely and from the heart as God himselfe doth witnesse Yet he cryeth aloud that he may omit nothing which might serue to asswage the cueltie of the enemies The fruite appeared not foorthwith yet vndoubtedly he prayed not in vaine Paule is vnto vs a sufficient testimonie that this sinne was not laide to all their charges I will not say as Augustin that vnlesse Steeuen had praied the church should not haue had Paul for this is somwhat hard only I say this that whereas God pardoned Paul it appeareth thereby that Steeuen his prayer was not in vaine Here ariseth a question How Steeuen prayeth for those which he said of late did resist the holy ghost but this seemeth to be the sinne against the Spirit which shall neuer be forgiuen We may easily answere that that is pronounced generally of all which belōgeth to many euery where Therfore he called not the body of the people rebellious in such sort that he exempted none againe I haue declared before what manner of resisting hee condemned in that place for it followeth not by and by that they sin against the holy ghost who resist him for a time When he prayeth that God will not lay the sinne to their charge his meaning is that the guiltines may not remain in them And when hee had said thus hee fell on sleepe This was added that wee may knowe that these wordes were vttered euen when he was readie to yeeld vppe the Ghoste which is a token of wonderfull constancie also this word sleepe noteth a meeke kind of death Nowe because hee made this prayer when he was at the point of death hee was not moued with any hope of obtaining pardon to bee so careful to appease his enemies but only that they might repent When this worde sleepe is taken in the scripture for to die it must bee referred vnto the bodie least any man imagine foolishly with vnlearned men that the soules doe
he offer himself in sacrifice to purge mens sinnes that hee bee punished with the hand of God that he goe downe euen vnto the very hell that hee may exalt vs vnto heauen hauing deliuered vs from destruction In sum this place teacheth plainely how men are reconciled to God howe they obtaine righteousnesse how they come to the kingdome of God being deliuered from the tyrannie of Satan and loosed from the yoke of sinne to be briefe whence they must fet all partes of their saluation Notwithstanding I will only expound those things which Luke here citeth and there be in deed two members in the former hee teacheth that Christe to the end he may redeem the church must needes be so broken that he appeare like to a man which is cast downe past hope Secondly hee affirmeth that his death shal giue life that there shal a singular triumph issue out of great despayre Wheras he compareth Christe to a lambe which suffereth it selfe to be led to be slaine and to a sheepe which offereth herself meekely to be shorne his meaning is that the sacrifice of Christe shal be voluntarie And surely this was the way to appease Gods wrath in that he shewed himselfe obedient Hee spake in deede before Pilate but not to saue his life Iohn 18.34.36 but rather that hee might willingly offer himselfe to die as hee was appointed by the Father and so might bring that punishment vpon himself which was prepared for vs. Therfore the prophet teacheth both things that Christ must needs haue suffred that he might purchase life for vs and that hee was to suffer death willingly that he might blot out the stubbornnesse of men by his obedience And hence must we gather an exhortation vnto godlines as Peter doeth but that doctrine of faith which I haue already touched is former in order 33 In his humilitie his iudgement The Eunuche had either the Greeke volume or els Luke did set downe the reading which was then vsed as he vseth to doe The prophet saith that Christe was exalted out of sorrow and iudgement by which wordes he signifieth a wonderfull victorie which immediately ensued his casting downe For if he had been oppressed with death there could nothing haue beene hoped for at his handes Therefore to the end the Prophet may establish our faith in Christe after that he had described him to be striken with the hand of God and to be subiect to be slaine he putteth vpon him a new person now to wit that he commeth vp out of the depth of death as a conqueror our of the very hell being the authour of eternal life I know in deed that this place is diuersly expounded some there bee which vnderstande by this that he was carried from the prison to the crosse other some there bee who thinke that to be taken away doth signifie as much as to be brought to nought And indeed the signification of the Hebrew word Lacham is doubtfull as is also the signification of the Greeke worde Airesthai But he which shall throughly weigh the Text shall agree with mee in that which I haue said that he passeth now from that dolefull and vnseemely sight which he had set before our eies vnto the new beginning of vnlooked for glory Therefore the Greeke interpretation differeth not much from the words of the prophet in the summe of the matter For Christs iudgement was exalted in his humilitie or casting down because at such time as he might seeme to be cast down and oppressed the father maintained his cause After this sort iudgement shall be taken in this place as in many other for right But it signifieth condemnation in the Hebrew text For the Prophet saith that after that Christ shall bee brought into great straites and shal be like vnto a condemned and lost man he shal be lifted vp by the hand of the Father Therfore the meaning of the words is that Christ must first haue suffered death before the Father shoulde exalt him vnto the glory of his kingdom Which doctrine must be translated vnto the whole bodie of the church because all the godly ought wonderfully to be lifted vp with the hand of God that they be not swallowed vppe of death But when God appeareth to bee the reuenger of his he doth not only restore them to life but also getteth to them excellent triumphes of many deathes as Christ did triumph most gloriously vpon the crosse wherof the apostle maketh mention in the second chapter to the Collossians His generation After that the prophet hath set forth the victorious death of Christe he addeth now that his victorie shall not last onely for a small time but shall goe beyonde all number of yeeres For the exclamation of the prophet importeth as much as if he should deny that the perpetuitie of Christs kingdom can be expressed by the tongue of men But interpreters haue wrested this place miserably Whereas the olde writers haue indeuoured hereby to proue the eternal generation of the worde of God against Arrius it is too far dissenting from the prophetes mind Chrysostome his exposition is neuer a whit truer who referreth it vnto the humane generation Neither doe they vnderstand the prophet his meaning which suppose that he inueigheth against the men of that age Othersome thinke better who take it to be spoken of the Churche saue onely that they are deceiued in the worde generation which they think doth signifie a posteritie or issue But the worde dor which the prophet vseth signifieth amongst the Hebrewes an age or the continuance of mans life Therefore vndoubtedly this is the prophets meaning that Christ his life shall endure for euer when as he shall bee once deliuered by his fathers grace from death although this life which is without end appertaineth vnto the whole body of the church because Christ rose not that he may liue for himselfe but for vs. Therefore he extolleth now in the members the frute and effect of that victorie which he placed in the head Wherefore euery one of the faithfull may conceiue sure hope of eternal life out of this place secondly the perpetuitie of the church is rather auouched in the person of Christ Because his life is taken from the earth This is to looke too to be a verie absurd reason that Christ doth reigne with such renowme in heauen and earth because he was cut off For who can beleeue that death is the cause of life But this was done by the wonderfull counsel of God that hell should be a ladder whereby Christ should ascend into heauen that reproch shuld be vnto him a passage into life that the ioyfull brightnes of saluation should appeare out of the horror and darknes of the crosse that blessed immortalitie shuld flow from the deep pit of death Because he humbled himselfe therefore the Father exalted him Phil. 2.10 that euery knee may bow before him c. Now must we bethinke our selues what fellowship we
the world 2 They reasoned with him Obstinacie doeth for the most part accōpanie error This was now a fault hauing in it too grosse ignorance in that they did not quietly receiue the Gentiles into their bosom vnited to them by the same Spirite of faith But they doe not only leape backe but also contend with Peter contentiously and blame him for his fact which deserued great praise They heare that the gentiles haue embraced the word of God what letteth them then from imbracing them that they may be coupled together vnder the gouernment of one God For what more holy bond can there be then when al mē with one consent are coupled ioyned to God And why should not those grow together into one body who make the Messias of God their head But because they saw the externall forme of the law broken they thought that heauen and earth did goe together And note that although Luke saide before that the apostles and brethren had heard this fame yet he spake nothing of offence but he bringeth in now as it were a new sect of men which did contend with Peter The brethren saith he heard and there an ende it followeth When Peter was come to Ierusalem those which were of the circumcision did contend with him who were vndoubtedlie vnlike to the first againe these wordes peri tomes doe not simplie signifie the Iewes but those who were too much addicted to keepe the ceremonies of the lawe For there were none of Ierusalem in Christs flock at that time saue only those which were circumcised from whom then could he distinguish those men Lastly it seemeth to be a thing vnlike to be true that the Apostles and those which were moderate beeing of the number of the faithfull did attempt this cumbate For though they had been offended yet they might haue conferred with Peter priuately haue demanded some reason of his fact By these reasons am I moued to think that those are said to be of the circumcisiō who did make so great account of circumcision that they graunted no man a place in the kingdom of god vnlesse he took vpon him the profession of the law and being admitted into the church by this holy rite did put off vncleannesse 3 Vnto men being vncircumcised This was not forbidden by the lawe of God but it was a tradition which came from the fathers And yet not withstanding Peter doth not obiect that they dealt too hardly with him in this point and that he was not bound by the necessitie of mans lawe he omitteth all this defence and doth only answere that they came first vnto him that they were offered vnto him as it were by the hande of God And here we see the rare modestie of Peter because whereas trusting to the goodnesse of the cause he might haue iustly despiced vnskilfull men who did trouble him vniustly yet doth he mildely excuse himselfe as it becommeth brethren This was no small triall in that hee was vnworthilie accused because he had obeied God faithfully but because he knew that this lawe was inioyned the whole church that euery man be ready to giue an account of his doctrine and life so often as the matter requireth he remembred that he was one of the flocke hee doth not only suffer himselfe to bee ruled but submitteth himselfe willinglie to the iudgement of the church Doctrine in deede if it be of God is placed aboue the chaunce die of mans iudgement but because the Lord will haue prophesie iudged his seruants must not refuse this condition that they proue themselues to be such as they will be accounted But we shal see anone how farre the defence both of doctrine as also of facts ought to extend For this present we must know this that Peter doeth willingly answere for himselfe when his fact is reproued And if the pope of Rome be Peter his successour why is not he bound by the same lawe Admit we graunt that this submission was voluntarie yet why doth not the successour imitate suche an example of modestie shewed vnto him Although we need no long circumstance here for if that be true whiche the Popes spue out in their sacrilegious decrees Peter did treacherouslie betray and forsake the priuiledges of their seat and so hee betraied the sea of Rome For after that they haue made the Pope the iudge of all the whole world affirming that he is not subiect to mans iudgement after that they haue lifted him vp aboue the cloudes that being free frō giuing an account his will and pleasure may stande for a reason they make him foorthwith patrone of the Apostolike seate stoutlie to defend the priuiledges thereof Of what great sluggishnesse shall Peter then be condemned if hee did loose his right giuen him of God by yeelding so cowardly Why did not he at least obiect that that he was free from the lawes and exempt from the common sort But he vseth no such preface but entreth the cause without making any delay And let vs remember that there is nothing which hindereth vs from contemning that idoll safely seeing that vsurping such vnbrideled tyrannie he hath blotted himselfe out of the number of the Bishops And Peter beginning Because this narration is all one with that which we had in the chapter next going before and because it is repeated almost in the very same wordes if any thing need to be expounded let the Readers repayre thither The purpose of Peter and all the whole summe of his speech shall appeare by the conclusion Yet before I come thither we must briefly mark that he maketh the preaching of the Gospell the cause of saluation Thou shalt heare saith he wordes wherin thou maiest haue saluation not because saluation is included in mans voice but because God offering his sonne there vnto eternal life doth also cause vs to inioy him by faith This is assuredly wonderfull goodnesse of God who maketh men ministers of life who haue nothing but matter of death in themselues and which are not only subiect to death in themselues but are also deadly to others Neuerthelesse the filthie vnthankefulnesse of the worlde bewrayeth it selfe in this point which loething true and certaine saluation offered vnto it and forsaking it when it lyeth at the feete doth imagine diuers and vaine saluations in seeking which it had rather gape beeing hungrie then to bee filled with the grace of God which meeteth it and is present 16 I remembred the worde of the Lorde Wee haue sufficiently declared in the first chapter that when Christ vttered that sentence hee did not make a comparison between two baptismes Acts. 1.5 but that he intended to declare what difference there was betweene him and Iohn For as wee distinguish the signe from his truth so it is good to distinguish the minister from the authour least mortall man challenge that which is proper to God Man hath the signe in his hand it is Christ alone which washeth and regenerateth
he maketh not Christe the chiefe authour but only the minister because as we haue alreadie said he determined to goe forwarde by degrees Notwithstanding here may a question be asked whether myracles do suffise to bee a sufficient and iust approbation or no because by this meanes inchaunters might cause their legier-demaine to be beleeued I answere that the iuggling casts of Satan doe much differ from the power of God Christ saith elswhere that the kingdome of Antichrist shall bee in wonders 2. Thes 2.9 but he addeth by and by in lying wonders If any man obiect that we cannot easily discern because he saith that they shal haue so great color that they shall deceiue if it could be the very elect I answere again that this error proceedeth only from our owne want of wit because we are so dull For God doth shew his power manifestly enough Therfore there is sufficient approbatiō of the doctrine and of the ministery in the myracles which God doth worke so that we be not blinde And whereas it is not of sufficient force among the wicked because they may now then be deceiued with the false myracles of Satan this must bee imputed vnto their owne blindnesse but whosoeuer hath a pure heart hee doeth also know God with the pure eies of his minde so often as hee doeth shewe himselfe Neither can Satan otherwise delude vs saue onely when thorow the wickednesse of our heart our iudgement is corrupt and our eies blinded or at least bleared through our owne slothfulnesse 23 Him haue yee slaine He maketh mention of the death of Christe for this cause chieflie that the resurrection might the more assuredlie be beleeued It was a thing full well knowne among the Iewes that Christ was crucified Therefore in that hee rose againe it is a great and wonderfull token of his diuine power In the meane season to the ende he may pricke their consciences with the feeling of sinne hee saith that they slue him Not that they crucified him with their owne handes but bicause the people with one voice desired to haue him put to death And although many of the hearers vnto whom he speaketh did not consent vnto that wicked and vngodlie crueltie yet doth hee iustly impute the same to the nation because all of them had defiled them selues either with their silence or els through their carelesnesse Neither hath the cloake and colour of ignoraunce any place forasmuch as he was shewed before of God This giltines therefore vnder which he bringeth thē is a preparation vnto repentance By the determinate counsell He remoueth a stumbling block because it seemeth at the first blush to be a thing verie inconuenient that that man whom God had so greatlie adorned being afterward laid open to all maner mocking doth suffer so reprochfull a death Therfore because the crosse of Christ doth commonly vse to trouble vs at the first sight for this cause Peter declareth that he suffered nothing by chaunce or because he wanted power to deliuer himselfe but because it was so determined and appointed by God For this knowledge alone that the death of Christ was ordeined by the eternall counsell of God did cut off all occasion of foolishe and wicked cogitations and did preuent all offences which might otherwise be conceiued For wee must know this that God doth decree nothing in vaine or rashly Whereuppon it followeth that there was iust cause for which he would haue Christ to suffer The same knowledge of gods prouidence is a steppe to consider the end and frute of Christ his death For this meeteth vs by by in the counsell of God that the iust was deliuered for our sinnes that his blood was the price of our death And heere is a notable place touching the prouidence of God that we may knowe that aswell our life as our death is gouerned by it Luke intreateth in deed of Christ But in his person we haue a mirror which doth represent vnto vs the vniuersall prouidence of God which doeth stretch it self throughout the whole world yet doeth it specially shine vnto vs who are the members of Christ Luke setteth downe two things in this place the foreknowledge and the decree of God And although the foreknowledge of God is former in order because God doth first see what he will determine before hee doth in deed determine the same yet doth he put the same after the counsell and decree of God to the end we may know that God would nothing neither appointed any thing saue that which he had long before directed to his end For men do oftentimes rashly decree many things because they decree them sodainly Therefore to the end Peter may teach that the counsell of God is not without reason he coupleth also therewithall his foreknowledge Now we must distinguish these two and so much the more diligentlie because manie are deceiued in this point For passing ouer the counsell of God wherewith he doth guide and gouerne the whole worlde they catch at his bare foreknowledge Thence commeth that common distinction that although God doth foresee all things yet doth he lay no necessitie vpon his creatures And in deed it is true that God doth know this thing or that thing before for this cause because it shall come to passe but as we see that Peter doth teach that God did not onely foresee that which befell Christ but it was decreed by him And hence must bee gathered a generall doctrine because God doeth no lesse shewe his prouidence in gouerning the whole worlde than in ordaining and appointing the death of Christe Therefore it belongeth to God not only to know before things to come but of his owne will to determine what he will haue done This second thing did Peter declare when hee saide That he was deliuered by the certain and determinate counsel of God Therfore the foreknowledge of god is another thing thā the wil of God whereby he gouerneth and ordereth all things Some which are of quicker sight cōfesse that god doth not onely foreknow but also gouern with his beck what things soeuer are done in the world Neuerthelesse they imagine a confused gouernment as if God did giue libertie to his creatures to follow their owne nature They say that the Sunne is ruled by the will of God because in giuing light to vs he doth his dutie which was once enioyned him by God They think that man hath free will after this sort left him because his nature is disposed or inclined vnto the free choyce of good and euill But they which thinke so doe feigne that God sitteth idle in heauen The scripture teacheth vs farre otherwise which ascribeth vnto God a special gouernment in all things in mans actions Notwithstanding it is our dutie to ponder cōsider to what end it teacheth this For we must beware of doting speculations wherewith we see many carried away The scripture will exercise our faith that we may know that we are defended
which by reason of great distaunce are hidden from other men Another reason is because Christ was promised to him peculiarly This maxime was so common amongest the Iewes that they had euer now and then the sonne of Dauid in their mouth so often as there was any mention made of Christ They bee no such arguments I confesse as doe necessarilie proue that this prophesie is to be expounded of Christ neither was that Peter his intent and purpose but first he meant to preuent the contrarie obiection whence Dauid had such skill to foretell a thing which was vnknowen Therefore he saieth That hee knewe Christe both by propheticall reuelation and also by a singular promise Furthermore this principle was of greate force amongst the better minded sort which Paule setteth downe Rom. 10.4 that Christ is the ende of the lawe No man therefore did doubt of this but that this was the marke whereat all the Prophetes did ayme to lead the Godlie vnto Christe as it were by the hande Therefore what notable or extraordinarie thing soeuer they did vtter the Iewes were commonlie perswaded that it did agree with Christe Furthermore wee must note that Peter doeth reason soundely when hee gathereth that Dauid was not ignoraunt of that which was the chiefest point of all reuelations Hee had sworne with an oth God sware not only to the ende he might make Dauid beleue his promise but also that the thing promised might be had in greater estimation And to this end in my iudgement it is here repeated that the Iewes may think with thēselues of what great weight the promise was which God did make so notable so famous The same admonition is profitable for vs also For we neede not to doubt of this but that the Lorde meant to set foorth the excellencie of the couenant by putting in a solemne othe In the meane season this is also a fit remedie for the infirmitie of our faith that the sacred name of God is set foorth vnto vs that his wordes may carrie the greater credite These wordes according to the fleshe do declare that there was some more noble thing in Christe than the fleshe Therefore Christe did so come of the seed of Dauid as he was man that he doth neuerthelesse retaine his diuinitie and so the distinction betweene the two natures is plainely expressed when as Christ is called the sonne of God according to his eternall essence in like sort as he is called the seed of Dauid according to the fleshe 32 This Iesus hath God raised vp whereof we all are witnesses 33 Hee beeing therefore exalted by the right hand of God and hauing receiued the promise of the holy Ghost of the Father he hath now shed foorth that which ye now see and heare 34 For Dauid is not ascended into heauen But he saith The Lord said vnto my Lord Sit at my right hande 35 Vntill I make thine enemies thy footstoole 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for a suretie that God hath made this Iesus Lorde and the same Christ whom yee haue crucified 32 This Iesus After that he hath proued by the testimonie of Dauid that it was most requisite that Christ should rise again he saith that hee and the rest of his fellowes were suche witnesses as sawe him with their eies after his resurrection For this texte will not suffer this worde raised vp to be drawne vnto any other sense Whereupon it followeth that that was fulfilled in Iesus of Nazareth which Dauid did foreshew concerning Christ After that he intreateth of the frute or effect For it was requisite for him to declare that first that Christ is aliue Otherwise it had been an absurd and incredible thing that he should bee the authour of so great a myracle Notwithstanding he doth therwithall teach vs that he did not rise for his own sake alone but that he might make the whole church partaker of his life hauing powred out the Spirite 33 Hee beeing therefore exalted by the right hande of God The righte hande is taken in this place for the hande or power in like sort it is taken euerie where in the scripture For this is his drifte to declare that it was a wonderfull work of God in that he hath exalted his Christ whom men thought to be quite destroyed by death vnto so great glorie The promise of the Spirit for the Spirite which was promised For he had oftentimes before promised the Spirite to his Apostles Therefore Peter doth signifie that Christe had obteined power of God the Father to fulfill the same And he maketh mention of the promise in plaine wordes to the ende the Iewes may knowe that this came not to passe sodainlye but that the wordes of the prophet were nowe verified which went long time before the thing it selfe Furthermore whereas it is saide That he obteined it of the father it is to be applyed to the person of the Mediatour For both these are trulie saide That Christ sent the Spirite from him selfe and from the Father He sent him from himselfe because hee is eternall God From the Father because in as much as hee is man hee receiueth that of the Father which he giueth vs. And Peter speaketh wisely according to the capacitie of the ignorant least any man shuld moue a question out of season concerning the power of Christ And surely forasmuche as it is the office of Christ to direct vs vnto his Father this is a most apt forme of speaking for the vse of godlinesse that Christe being placed as it were in the middest betweene God and vs doth deliuer vnto vs with his owne hande those giftes which he hath receiued at the handes of his Father Furthermore we must note this order that hee sayeth that the Spirite was sent by Christe after that he was exalted This agreeth with those sentences The Spirite was not yet giuen because Christe was not yet glorified And againe Vnlesse I goe hence the Spirite will not come Ioh. 7.39 Ioh. 16.7 Not because the Spirite began then first to be giuen wherewith the holie Fathers were endued since the beginning of the worlde but because God did deferre this more plentifull abundaunce of grace vntil suche time as he had placed Christe in his princely seate which is signified by this worde poured out as we saw a little before For by this meanes the force and frute of Christe his death and resurrection is sealed and wee doe also thereby knowe that wee haue lost nothing by Christe his departing out of the worlde because though hee bee absent in bodie yet is hee present with vs after a better sort to wit by the grace of his holie Spirite 34 For doubtlesse Dauid Although they might easily gather by the very effect which they sawe with their eyes that the principalitie was graunted and giuen to Christe yet to the ende his glory may carrie the greater credite hee prooueth by Dauid his testimonie that it was so appointed in
the Apostles did consider what particular thing their calling hadde to wit that they should keepe their standing seeing the wolues did inuade the sheepefolde The rigour of Tertullian and such like was too great who did deny indifferently that it is lawful to flie for fear of persecution August saith better who giueth leaue to flie in such sort that the churches beeing destitute of theyr Pastours bee not betrayed into the hands of the enemies This is surely the best moderation which beareth neither too muche with the flesh neither driueth those headlong to death who may lawefully saue their liues Let him that is disposed reade the 180. Ep. to Honoratus That I may returne to the Apostles if they had been scattered here and there with feare of persecution euen at the beginning all men might haue rightly called them hirelings How hurtfull and filthie had the forsaking of the place bin at the present time how greatly wold it haue discouraged the mindes of all men What great hurt should they haue done with their example among the posteritie It shall sometimes so fall out in deede that the pastour may also flie that is if they inuade him alone if the laying waste of the church be not feared if hee bee absent But and if both his flocke and hee haue to encounter with the aduersarie hee is a treacherous forsaker of his office if hee stande not stoutlye to it euen vntill the end Priuate persons haue greater libertie 2 They dressed Steeuen Luke sheweth that euen in the heat of persecution the godly were not so discouraged but beeing alwayes zealous they did those dueties which did belong to godlinesse Buriall seemeth to be a matter of small importance rather than they will foreslowe the same they bring themselues in no small hassarde of life And as the circumstance of time doth declare that they contemned death valiantly so againe wee gather thereby that they were carefull to doe this thing not without great and vrgent cause For this serued greatly to exercise their faith that the bodie of the holy martyr shoulde not bee left to the wilde beastes in whom Christe had triumphed nobly according to the glory of his Gospel Neither could they liue to Christ vnlesse they were readie to be gathered vnto Steeuen into the societie of death Therfore the care they had to burie the martyr was vnto them a meditation vnto inuincible constancie of professing the faith Therfore they sought not in a superfluous matter with an vnaduised zeale to prouoke their aduersaries Although that generall reason which ought alwayes and euerie where to be of force amongst the godly was vndoutedly of great weight with them For the rite of burying doth appertaine vnto the hope of the resurrection as it was ordeined by God since the beginning of the world to this end Wherefore this was alwayes counted cruell Barbarisme to suffer bodies to lie vnburied willingly Profane men did not know why they shuld count the right of buriall so holy but wee are not ignorant of the ende therof to wit that those which remaine aliue may know that the bodies are committed to the earth as to a prison vntil they be raised vp thence Whereby it appeareth that this duty is profitable rather for those which are aliue than for those which are deade Although it is also a point of our humanitie to giue due honour to those bodies to which wee knowe blessed immortalitie to be promised They made great lamentation Luke doth also commend their profession of godlinesse and faith in their lamentation For a dolefull and vnprosperous ende causeth men for the most part to forsake those causes wherein they were delighted before But on the other side these men declare by their mourning that they are no what terrified with the death of Stephen from standing stoutly in the approbation of their cause considering therewithal what great losse Gods church suffered by the death of one man And we must reiect that foolish Philosophie which willeth mē to be altogither blockish that they may be wise It must needs be that the Stoicks were void of cōmon sense who would haue a man to be with out all affection Certaine mad fellowes would gladly bring in the same dotings into the Church at this day and yet notwithstanding although they require an heart of yron of other men there is nothing softer or more effeminate than they They cannot abide that other men should shedde one teare if any thing fall out otherwise than they woulde wish they make no end of mourning God doth thus punish their arrogancy iestingly that I may so terme it seing that he setteth them to be laught at euen by boyes But let vs know that those affections which God hath giuen to mans nature are of themselues no more corrupt than the authour himselfe but that they are first to bee esteemed according to the cause secondly if they keepe a meane and moderation Surely that man which denieth that wee ought to reioice ouer the giftes of God is more like a blocke than a man therefore wee may no lesse lawfully sorrowe when they be taken away And least I passe the compasse of this present place Paule doeth not altogither forbidde men mourning when any of their friends is taken away by death but he would haue a difference betweene them and the vnbeleeuers because hope ought to bee to them a comfort and a remedie against vnpatience For the beginning of death causeth vs to sorrow for good causes but because we knowe that we haue life restored to vs in Christ we haue that which is sufficient to appease our sorrowe In like sort when wee are sorie that the Church is depriued of rare and excellent men there is good cause of sorrow onely we must seek such comfort as may correct excesse 3 But Saul Wee must note two thinges in this place howe greate the cruelty of the aduersaries was and howe wonderfull the goodnesse of God was who vouchsafed to make Paul a Pastour of so cruel a wolfe For that desire to lay wast the Church wherewith he was incensed did seeme to cut away all hope Therefore his conuersion was so much the more excellent afterward And it is not to bee doubted but that this punishment was laid vpon him by God after that he had conspired to put Stephen to death togither with the other wicked men that he shoulde be the ringleader of crueltie For God doeth oftentimes punish sinnes more sharply in the Elect than in the reprobate 4 And they were scattered abroad Luke declareth in this place also that it came to passe by the wonderful prouidence of God that the scattering abroad of the faithfull should bring many vnto the vnitie of faith thus doth the Lord vse to bring light out of darknes life out of death For the voice of the Gospel which was heard heretofore in one place onely doth now sound euerywhere in the meane season we are taught by this example that we must
loftines euen vnto the lowest degree And this vision was necessary for Ananias least through feare he should withdraw himselfe from that function which was enioyned him to wit to teach Paul For though he knowe that the Lorde calleth him yet he slydeth backe or at least he excuseth himselfe Therfore it was requisite that hee should haue some certaine testimonie of his calling that there should happie successe bee promised to his labour that he might take that in hand with a ioyfull valiaunt minde which the Lord commanded Furthermore as Christ animateth and confirmeth Ananias by appearing to him in the vision so he prepareth and maketh Paul readie for all thinges that hee may receiue Ananias reuerently as if he would receiue an angell comming frō heauen The Lord could haue sent Paule straightway vnto Ananias and haue shewed him his house but this was more fit for his confirmation because he knew the better that the Lorde had a care of him And also the Lorde setteth out his grace vnto vs that as he stopped Paul before so nowe he reacheth him his hande of his owne accord by his minister And in the meane season we are also taught by his example to be more readie and carefull to seeke out the lost sheepe In a vision This worde vision signifieth some sight which was set before the eyes to testifie gods presence For this is the vse of visions that the maiestie of the worde being well proued it may purchase credite amongst men Which kind of confirmation God vsed oftentimes toward the Prophetes as he saith that he speaketh to his seruaunts by a vision or by a dreame He hath in deed suffered Satan to deceiue the vnbeleeuers with false imaginations and visures But forasmuche as Satan his iuggling casts are of power only in darknes God doth lighten the minds of his children so that they assure thēselues that they need not to feare legierdemaine Therefore Ananias answereth Here am I Lord knowing in deed that it was God 11 For behold he praieth Luke sheweth that Paul gaue himself to praier those three dayes and peraduenture this was one cause why he fasted although it be certaine as I haue alreadie saide that hee suffered suche long hunger because he was after a sort depriued of sense as men which are in a traunce vse to be Christ doth assuredly speake of no short praier in this place but hee doeth rather shewe that Paule continued in this kinde of exercise vntyll hee shoulde bee more quiet in minde For besides other causes of terrour that voice mighte sound in his eares Saul Saul why persecutest thou mee And it is not to bee doubted but that the careful looking for of a perfect reuelation did maruellously trouble his minde but this was the reason why the Lorde caused him to wait three dayes that he might the more kindle in him an earnest desire to pray 12 He saw a man named Ananias It is vncertaine whither Luke do yet repete the words of Christ or hee adde this of his owne Those which take it in the person of Luke are mooued with some shew of absurditie because it is an vnlikely thing that Christ vsed these wordes Although this may be easily answered thus to wit that Christ confirmeth Ananias after this sort There is no cause why thou shouldest feare but that hee will receiue thee willingly forasmuch as he already knoweth thy shape by a vision I haue also told him thy name and whatsoeuer thou shalt do with him Yet may the reader choose whether he will 13 And Ananias answered Lord I haue heard of many of this man what hurt he hath done to thy seruants at Ierusalem 14 And heere he hath power from the Priests to binde all which call vppon thy name 15 And the Lord saide vnto him Goe because he is a chosen instrument to me to beare my name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name 13 Lord I haue heard In that Ananias obiecteth the daunger to the Lord he bewraieth his weaknesse of faith therein Therfore we see that the saints and seruants of God are afraid of death which thing keepeth them backe from doing their dutie yea it causeth them sometimes to stagger Ananias would gladly go to some other place but this is a point of a good man that he yeeldeth not so much to feare that he withdraweth himselfe from Christs obedience And therfore this is a signe of rare obedience that although through feare of death hee were somewhat slacke at the first yet hauing forgotten himselfe by and by he maketh great haste to goe whither Christ called him And yet notwithstanding he refuseth not flatly in these words to doe that which he is commaunded to do but vseth an excuse verie modestly Lord what meaneth this that thou sendest me to the hangman Therefore we may see a desire to obey mixed with feare 14 He hath power to binde We gather by these words that the fame of the persecution which Saule went about was spread farre and wide for which cause his conuersion was more famous Neuerthelesse the Lorde suffered the faithfull to bee euill intreated that the benefite of such sodain deliuerance might afterward be the more excellent We must mark that speech when he saith that the godly call vpon the name of Christ For whether you vnderstād it that in asmuch as they professed that they were Christs they reioyced therefore in him or that they vsed to flie to him for succour inuocation cannot be without sure confidence By both which the diuinitie of Christ is not onely proued but also if the second be receiued which seemeth to be more naturall wee are taught by the example of the faithfull to call vppon the name of Christ when hee is preached to vs. 15 Go because he is an elect instrument The commandement repeted the second time and also the promise of successe added taketh away all doubtfulnesse Therefore slouth shall want an excuse if it be neuer redressed after that many prickes be vsed like as we see that very manie who howsoeuer the Lorde cry vnto them continually doe not onely loyter during their whole life but doe also cherish their slothfulnes by al meanes possible If any man obiect that the Lord speaketh not at this day in a vision I answere that forasmuch as the Scripture is abundantly confirmed to vs we must heare God thence A vessel of election or as Erasmus translateth it an Elect instrumēt is taken for an excellent minister The word Instrument doth shew that mē can do nothing saue in asmuch as God vseth their industrie at his pleasure For if we be instruments he alone is the autor the force and power to doe is in his power alone And that which Christ speaketh in this place of Paul appertaineth to al mē both one and other Therefore how stoutlie soeuer euery man labor and how carefuly soeuer he behaue himself
but he thought that he saw a vision 10 And when they were past the first watche and the seconde they came to the yron gate which leadeth into the Citie which opened to them of it owne accord And when they were come out they passed through one streete and by and by the Angel departed from him 11 Then Peter returning to himselfe saide Nowe of a truth I knowe that the Lord hath sent his Angel and hath deliuered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the waiting of the people of the Iewes 6 When he was about to bring him forth It seemeth at the first blush that the Church praieth to small purpose for the day was now appointed wherein Peter should be put to death and he is within one night of death and yet the faithfull cease not to pray because they knowe that when the Lord doeth purpose to deliuer his hee taketh his time oftentimes in the last and farthest point of necessitie and that he hath in his hande diuerse wayes to deliuer Secondly we may thinke that they did not so much pray for Peters life as that the Lord would arme him with inuincible fortitude for the glory of the Gospel and that God would set the gospel of his son open to the reproches and slanders of the wicked That night he slept Al these circumstances do more set forth the wonderfull power of God for who would not haue thought that Peter was alreadie swallowed vp of death for though he drew breath as yet yet had he no chinch to creepe out at for as much as he was beset with many deathes Therefore whereas he escapeth from amidst deaths whereas hee goeth safely among the handes of his hangmen whereas the chaines are molten and are loosed whereas the yron gate openeth it selfe to him hereby it appeareth that it was a meere diuine kinde of deliuerance and it was profitable for Peter to bee thus taught by these signes that he might with more assurance forthwith declare vnto men the grace of God thus knowne Againe it appeareth by this straite keeping that Herod meant nothing lesse than to let Peter goe away aliue 7 A light shined It is to be thought that Peter alone sawe this light and that the soldiars did either sleepe so soundly or else were so amased that they neither felt nor perceiued any thing And there might be two causes why god would haue the light to shine either that Peter might haue the vse thereof and that the darkenesse might be no hindrance to him or that it might be to him a signe and token of the heauenly glorie For we reade oftentimes that the Angels appeared with glistering brightnesse euen when the Sun did shine Assuredly Peter might haue gathered by the strange light that God was present and also hee ought to haue made his profite thereof When as the Angell smiteth Peters side it appeereth hereby what a care God hath for his who watcheth ouer them when they sleepe and raiseth them when they are drousie And surely there were nothing more miserable than wee if the continuance of our prayers alone did keepe God in his watching ouer vs. For such is the infirmitie of our flesh that wee faint quaile we stand most of all in neede of his helpe when our mindes being drawne away do not seeke him Sleepe is a certaine image of death and doth chocke and drowne all the senses what should become of vs if God should then cease to haue respect to vs But forasmuch as when the faithfull goe to sleepe they commit their safetie to God it commeth to passe by this meanes that euen their sleepe doth call vpon God Whereas he saieth that immediatly after the Angel had said the word the chaines were losed we gather by this that there is power ynough in the commandement of God alone to remoue al maner lets when all waies seeme to be stopt on al sids so that if he intend to appease the motions and tumults of war although the whole world were appointed in armor their spears and swords shall forthwith fal out of their hands on the other side if he be determined to punish vs and our sinnes with war in a moment in the twinkling of an eye their minds which were before giuen to peace shal wax hot and they shall lay hand on their swords Whereas Luke setteth downe seuerally both the words of the Angel and also the course of the matter it serueth for the more certaintie of the historie that it may in euery respect appeare that Peter was deliuered by God 9 He knew not that it was true He did not think that it was a vaine or false visure as Satan doth oftentimes dilude men with iuglings but true is taken in this place for that which is done naturally and after the manner of men For we must note the contrarietie that is betweene the thing it selfe and the vision Furthermore though he thinke that it is a vision yet doth he willingly obey whereby his obedience is prooued whiles that being content with the commandement of the angel alone he doth not inquire nor reason what he must do but doth that which he is commanded to do 10 When they were past God was able to haue carried Peter away in the turning of an hand but he ouercommeth diuerse straits one after another that the glory of the miracle might be the greater So be created the world in sixe dayes Genes 1. not because he had any need of space of time but that he might the better stay vs in the meditating vppon his works for he applieth the manner of doing vnto our capacity and vnto the encrease of faith If Peter had at a sodain ben carried vnto the house where the brethren were assembled Exod. 20.11 then should one onely deliuerance haue ben acknowledged but now we see as it were with our eyes that he was deliuered more than ten times 11 Then Peter returning to himselfe It is word for word Being made in himselfe because being before astonied with a strange and vncredible thing he was as it were without himselfe But now at length as it were after a trance he knoweth that he is deliuered from death His words set downe by Luke containe a thanksgiuing For he extolleth with himselfe the benefit of God which he had tried and whereof he had tasted and he doth highly commend it with himselfe vntil he find some other witnesses He saith that the Angel was sent of God according to the common meaning of the godly who hold that the Angels are appointed to be ministers to be careful for and to take charge of their safetie For vnlesse he had bin thus perswaded he would not haue spoken of the Angel And yet he doth not commend the Angel as the autor of the graceâ— but he ascribeth al the whole praise of the worke to God alone Neither do the angels help vs to this end that they may deriue vnto themselues euen the
of a long and werisome iourney vnles he be also brought in danger of his life by those which lay in waite for him Let all the seruants of Christe set this mirrour before their eyes that they may neuer faint through the wearisomnes of straits Notwithstanding when Paul doth iourney another way that he may auoid their laying in wait he sheweth that we must haue regard of our life so farre foorth that wee throw not our selues headlong into the midst of dāgers And those who accompanie him giue no smal testimonie of their godlines and we see how precious his life was to the faithful when as a great many beeyng chosen out of diuers countries to be his companions do for his sake take a hard sharp iourney not without great charges Luke saith that Paul tarried at Philippos so long as the daies of vnleauened bread did last bicause he had at that time better opportunitie offered to teach And for as much as it was vnknown as yet that the law was disanulled it stoode him vpō to beware least by neglecting the feast day he shuld be thought among the rude to be a contemner of God Though for mine owne part I thinke that he sought principally opportunity to teache because the Iewes were then more attentiue to learne 7 And vpon one day of the Sabbothes when the disciples were come together to breake bread Paul disputed with them being about to take his iourney on the morrow and he prolonged his speech vntil midnight 8 And there were manie lightes in an vpper chamber where they were gathered together 9 And a certaine young man named Eutichus sitting in a window being fallen into a deepe sleepe as Paul disputed long time being more ouercome with sleep he fel down from the third loft downward and was taken vp dead 10 And when Paul came downe he fel vpon him imbracing him said Be not yee troubled for his soule is in him 11 And when he was gone vp and had broken bread and had eaten hauing had long conference vntill it was day he departed 12 And they brought the boy aliue and were not a litle comforted 13 But when we had taken ship we loosed to Asson thence to receiue Paule for so had he appointed being about to goe by land 7 And in one day Either doth he meane the first day of the week which was next after the Sabboth or els some certaine Sabboth Which latter thing may seeme to me more probable for this cause because that daye was more fit for an assēbly according to custome But seeing it is no new matter for the Euangelists to put one insteed of the first Mat. 26.1 Luk. 24.1 Ioh. 20.1 according to the custome of the Hebrew tongue it shal very wel agree that on the morrow after the Sabboth they came together Furthermore it were too cold to expoūd this of any day For to what end is there mentioned of the Sabboth saue only that he may note the opportunity choise of the time Also it is a likely matter that Paul waited for the sabboth that the day before his departure he might the more easily gather al the disciples into one place And the zeale of them al is woorth the noting in that it was no trouble to Paul to teach vntil midnight though he were ready to take his iourney neyther were the rest weary of learning For he had no other cause to continue his speech so long saue onely the desire and attentiuenes of his auditory To breake bread Though breaking of bread doth sometimes signifie among the Hebrewes a domestical banquet yet do I expound the same of the holie supper in this place being moued with two reasons For seeing we may easily gather by that which foloweth that ther was no smal multitude gathered together there it is vnlikely that there could any supper be prepared in a priuate house Again Luke wil afterward declare that Paul tooke bread not at supper time but after midnight Herevnto is added that that he saith not that he tooke meate that he might eate but that he might onlie tast Therefore I thinke thus that they had appointed a solemn day for the celebrating of the holy supper of the Lord among themselues which might be commodious for them all And to the end Paul might remedy after a sort the silence of longer absence he continueth his speech longer then he did commonly vse to doe That which I spake of the great number of men is gathered thence because there were many lights in the vpper chamber which was not done for anie pompe or ostentation but only for necessities sake For when there is no need it is ambition vanitie which maketh men bestow cost Furthermore it was meet that all the whole place should shyne with lights least that holy company might be suspected of some wickednes or dishonestie adde also another coniecture if the chamber had bin emptye those which were present would not haue suffered Eutichus to sit vpō a window For it had bin filthy licenciousnes in despising the heauēly doctrin to depart aside into a widow seing ther was room inough elswhere 9 When he was faln into a deep sleep I see no cause why some interpreters shuld so sore sharply condēn the drousines of the yong mā that they should say that he was punished for his sluggishnes by death For what maruell is it if seeing the nighte was so farre spent hauing striuen so long with sleepe he yeelded at length And whereas against his will and otherwise then he hoped for hee was taken and ouercome with deepe sleepe we may guesse by this that he did not settle himselfe to sleepe To seeke out a fit place wherein to sleep had bin a signe of sluggishnes but to be ouercome with sleep sitting at a window what other thing is it but without fault to yeelde to nature As if a man shoulde faint through hunger or too much wearisomnes Those who being drowned in earthly cares come vnto the word lothsomly those who being ful of meate and wine are thereby brought on sleepe those who are vigilant ynough in other matters but heare the woord as though they did not passe for it shal be iustly condemned for drousines but Luke doth in plaine words acquit Eutichus when he saith that he fel downe being ouercome with deepe sleepe after midnight Moreouer the Lord meāt not only by the sleep but also by the death of this yong man to awake stir vp the faith of his that they might more ioyfully receiue Paul his doctrine might keep it deeply rooted in their minds It was in deed at the first no small temptation but such as might haue shaken euen a most constant man full sore for who woulde haue thought that Christ had bin chiefe gouernor in that company wherein a miserable mā through a fal became dead Who would not rather haue thought this to be a signe of Gods curse But the Lord by
him a prophet as of late he called the four daughters of Philip he signifieth that it was not a common but a peculiar gift Now we must see to what ende the persecutiō which was at hand was now again shewed by Agabus As concerning Paul he was sufficiently told alreadie Therefore I doe not doubt but that this confirmation was added for other mens sake bicause the Lord meant euery where to make knowen the bonds of his seruant partly that they might know that he entred the combat willingly partly that they might perceiue that he was appointed of god to be a chāpion to fight for the gospell It was surely a profitable example of inuincible constancie seeing that he offered himself willingly and wittingly to the violence of the aduersaries and no lesse profitable is it for vs at this day that his apostleship should be confirmed with this voluntarie no lesse constant giuing ouer of his life The man who oweth this girdle It was an vsuall thing among the prophets to represen◠those thinges which they spake by signes Ies 20.2 neither did they confirme their prophesies by vsing signes through their owne motion but at the commandement of the spirit Ier. 27.2 32.7 Ez. 12.5 as when Isaias is commaunded to goe barefoot Ieremie to put a yoke vpon his necke to sel the possession and to buy it Ezechiel to digge through the wall of his house priuily and in the same night to carry foorth burthens These and such like might seeme to the common sort to be toies but the same spirite who did apply signes to his woordes did inwardly touch the hearts of the godly as if they had bin brought to the very thing it selfe So this spectacle mentioned by Luke did no lesse mooue Paul his companions then if they had seene him bound in deed The false prophets did afterward assay to delude the simple by this pollicie as Satan is in a manner Gods ape and his ministers do enuie the seruauntes of God Zedechias made himselfe hornes wherewith he promised Syria should be pushed Ananias by breaking Ieremies yoke put the people in a vaine hope of deliueraunce GOD hath suffered the reprobate to bee deluded with such delusions that he might punish their vnbeleefe But forasmuch as there was in them no force of the Spirite their vanitie did no whit hurt the faithfull This is also worthie to be noted that Agabus doth not set before their eies a dumb spectacle but he coupleth therewith the worde whereby he may shew to the faithfull the vse and end of the ceremonie 12 Both we Bicause they had not al one reuelatiō it is no maruel if their iudgements were diuers For seeing these holy men knew that ther consisted much in the life or death of one man they would not haue him to come in danger rashly And their desire is worthie praise in that they desired to prouide for the common safetie of the church by keeping back Paul But on the otherside Paul his constancie deserueth so much the more praise when as he continueth so stedfast in the calling of god For he was not ignorant what great trouble he shuld suffer by reason of his bands But because he knoweth the will of God which was his only rule in taking counsell he maketh no account of all other thinges that hee may follow it And assuredly we must bee so subiect to the will and pleasure of God that no profit no kind of reason may remoue vs from obeying him When Paul doth reprehend the brethren because they afflict his hart with weeping he doth sufficiently declare that he was not hardened but that hee was brought vnto some feeling and suffering together with them Therefore the teares of the godly did wounde his heart but that softnesse did not turne him out of the way but that hee proceeded to follow God with a streight course Therfore we must vse such curtesie toward our brethren that the beck or will of God haue alwayes the vpper hand Now Paul doth againe declare by his answere that the seruants of Christe cannot be prepared to doe their dutie vnlesse they despice death and that none can euer bee well incouraged to liue to the Lord but those who will willingly lay downe their liues for the testimonie of the truth 14 We ceased saying If they had thought that he runne rashly vnto death they would not haue ceased so Therfore they yeeld least they resist the holy Spirit whereby they vnderstand that Paul is gouerned for that which they had hearde before by the mouth of Paul that hee was drawen as it were by the bands of the Spirit was quite out of their heads by reason of the sorow which they had cōceiued but whē they be taught againe that it was the will of God that it should be so they thinke it vnlawfull for them to resist any longer and with this bridle must al our affections be kept in that nothing bee so bitter or dolefull or harde which the wyll of God may not mittigate and mollifie For so often as anye thing which is harde or sharpe doeth fall out we giue God small honor vnlesse this cogitation preuaile with vs that we must obey him 15 And after these daies hauing taken vp our burthens we went vp to Ierusalem 16 And there came togeather with vs certaine of the Disciples from Cesarea bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus an old disciple with whom we should lodge 17 And when wee were come vnto Ierusalem the brethren receiued vs gladlie 18 And on the morrowe Paul went in with vs vnto Iames and all the Elders were present 19 Whom after we had saluted he told by order all things which God had done among the Gentiles by his ministerie 20 But when they had heard they glorified the Lord and said to him Thou seest brother how many thousand Iewes there be which beleeue and they all are earnest followers of the law 21 And it hath beene tolde them concerning thee that thou teachest all the Iewes which are amonge the Gentiles to forsake Moses saying that they muste not circumcise their children nor liue accordinge to the customes 22 What is it then The multitude must needes come together for they shall heare that thou art come 23 Therefore do this which we say to thee we haue foure men which haue a vow vpon them 24 Them take and purifie thy selfe with them and doe cost on them that they may shaue their heads and that all men may knowe that those thinges which they haue heard concerning thee are nothing but that thou thy self also walkest an keepest the law 25 And as concerning those which among the Gentiles haue beleeued we haue written decreeing that they obserue no such thing but that they keepe themselues from things offered to Idols and from blood and from that which is strangled and from fornication 15 When we had taken vp our burdens Paul his companions declare that when they went about to
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
father to health by the hand of Paul who was indeed sicke of a dangerous disease And by this meanes he meant to testifie how greatly that courtesie which is shewed to menne in miserie and to strangers doth please him Although those who are holpen be vnmindfull and vnthankefull for that benefite which they haue receiued or they bee not able to recompence those who haue done good to them yet god himself wil abūdantly restore to men whatsoeuer they haue bestowed at his commandement he hath somtimes appointed to those which bee mercifull and giuen to hospitalitie some of his seruauntes which bring with them a blessing This was nowe great honour in that Publius did lodge Christ in the person of Paule Notwithstanding this was added as an ouerplus in that Paul came furnished with the gifte of healing that he might not only recompence his courtesie but also giue more then he had receiued Also wee knowe not whether he learned the first principles of faith as myracles doe for the most parte winne the rude and vnbeleeuers vnto faith Luke mentioneth the kinde of disease that hee may the better set foorth the grace of God For seeing it is an harde matter to cure a bloodie fluxe especially when the ague is ioyned therewith the olde man was cured thus sodainly only by the laying on of hands and praier not without the manifest power of God 8 And had laid his hands vpon him Paul declareth by prayer that hee himselfe is not the authour of the myracle but onely the minister least God be defrauded of his glory He confirmeth this selfe same thing by the externall signe For as we saw before in other places the laying on of hands was nothing els but a solemne rite of offering and presenting Wherefore in that Paul doth offer the man to God with his owne handes he professed that he did humbly craue his life of him By which example not only those who haue excellent giftes of the Spirite giuen them are admonished to beware least by extolling them selues they darken the glory of God but also wee are all taught in generall that we must so thanke the ministers of the grace of God that the glory remaine to him alone It is said in deede that Paule healed the man which had the bloodie flixe but it is plainely expressed by the circumstances which are added that it was God which bestowed this benefite making him the minister thereof Whereas Luke saith afterwarde that others which were sicke in the yle were cured he doth not extend it vnto all but his meaning is that the power of God which appeared euidently ynough was proued by many testimonies that the Apostleship of Paul might be thereby ratified Neither need we doubt but that Paul sought as well to cure their soules as their bodies Yet Luke doeth not declare what good he did saue only that the Barbarians gaue him and his fellowes victuall and necessarie thinges when they loosed from the hauen In the meane season wee must note that though Paul myght haue withdrawen himselfe and haue escaped many wayes yet was the will of God to him in steed of voluntarie fetters because he was often cited by the heauenly oracle to appeare before the iudgement seate of Nero to beare witnesse of Christ Againe he knew that if he should run away he could no longer haue preached the gospel but shoulde haue lurked in some corner during his whole life 11 In a ship of Alexandria By these wordes Luke giueth vs to vnderstand that the former shippe was either drowned or els so rent and beaten that it serued for no vse afterwarde whereby the greatnesse of the shipwracke doeth the better appeare And hee setteth downe expresly that the badge of the ship of Alexandria wherin they were carried to Rome was Castor and Pollux that we may know that Paul had not libertie graunted to sayle with such as were like to himselfe but was enforced to enter into a ship which was dedicated to two Idols The old Poets did feigne that Castor and Pollux came of Iupiter and Leda for which cause they are called in Greeke dio scouroi which word Luke vseth in this place as if you should say Iupiters sonnes Againe they said that they are the signe in the Zodiacke called Gemini There was also another superstition among the marriners that those firie exhalations which appeare in tempests are the very same Therefore in times past they were thought to be gods of the seas and were therefore called vpon as at this day Nicholas and Clement such like Yea as in poperie they retain the old errors changing the names only so at this day they worship these exhalations vnder the name of Saint Hermes or Saint Ermus And because if one exhalation appeare alone it is a dolefull token but if two together as Plinie writeth then they foreshewe a prosperous course To the end the mariners of Alexādria might haue both Castor and Pollux to fauour them they had both for the badge of their ship Therefore as touching them the shippe was polluted with wicked sacriledge but because Paul did not make choise thereof of his owne accord he is not polluted thereby And surely seing an Idol is nothing it cannot in fect the creatures of God but that the faithfull may vse them purely and lawfully And we must needes thinke thus that al those blottes wherewith Satan doth goe about to staine the creatures of god through his iuggling are washed away by no other means but by a good and pure conscience whereas the wicked and vngodly doe defile those thinges which are of themselues pure though they do but touch them Finally Paul was no more defiled by entring into this ship then when he did behold the altars at Athens because being void of al superstition he knew that all the rites of the Gentiles were meere illusions Againe the men could not thinke that he did agree to that profane error For if hee had bin to doe any worship to Castor and Pollux though it had bin only for fashions shake hee would rather haue died a thousand deaths then once haue yeelded Therefore because he needed not to feare any offence hee entreth the ship without any more adoe and vndoubtedly he did this heauilie and with inward sorrow because he saw the honour which is due to god alone giuen to vaine inuentions Therefore this ought to be numbred among his exercises in that he had those to be his guides who thought that they were gouerned of Idols and had committed their ship to their tuition 12 When we were come to Syracusa Luke prosecuteth the residue of the course of their sayling that they arriued first in Sicilia And after that they fet a compasse by reason of the tempest and raging of the sea and sailed ouer into Italie And as that hauen whereof Luke speaketh in this place is the most famous hauen of all Sicilia so is it farther from the coast of Italie then is
not yeeld vnto persecutions but rather be encouraged vnto valiantnes For when the faithfull flie from Ierusalem they are not afterwarde discouraged either with exile or with their present miseries or with any feare that they degenerate vnto slouthfulnes but they are as ready to preach Christ euen in the midst of their calamitie as if they had neuer suffered any trouble Moreouer Luke seemeth to note that they leade a wandering life in that they chaunged their lodgings often Therefore if we desire to be counted their brethren let vs pricke forwarde our selues so diligently that no feare or bitternesse of crosse discourage vs but that wee goe forward in shewing forth the profession of faith and that we neuer be weary of furthering the doctrine of Christ For it is an absurde thing that exile and flight which are the first exercises of martyrdome shoulde make vs dumbe and faint-harted 5 And when Philip came into the citie of Samaria he preached Christ to them 6 And the multitude gaue eare to those thinges which Philip spake hearing with one consent and seing the signes which he shewed 7 For where as many were possessed with vncleane spirits they came out crying with a lowde voyce And many that had the palsie and which were lame were healed 8 So that there was great ioy in that citie 9 And a man named Simon had beene before in the citie exercising the art magike and bewitching the people of Samaria saying that he was some great man 10 To whom they all gaue heed both small and great saying This man is the great power of God 11 And they had giuen heed vnto him because they had beene bewitched long time with his witchcraft 12 But assone as they beleeued Philip preaching concerning the kingdome of God and in the name of Iesus Christ they were baptized both men and women 13 And Simon himselfe beleeued and being baptized did cleaue to Philip and when hee sawe the signes and great powers which were done hee wondred 5 Luke saide that they all preached the word of God now he maketh mention of Philip alone both because his preaching was more fruitfull and effectuall than the preaching of the rest and also because there followed notable histories which he will adde afterwarde Hee put the citie of Samaria for the citie Samaria which was laide waste by Hircanus and built againe by Herod and called Sebaste Reade Iosephus in his thirteenth and fifteenth bookes of Antiquities When hee saieth that Philip preached Christ hee signifieth that the whole summe of the Gospel is contained in Christ The other speach which he vseth shortlie after is more perfect yet it is al one in effect Hee ioyneth the kingdome of God and the name of Christ togither but because we obtaine this goodnesse through Christ to haue God to reigne in vs and to lead an heauenly life being renewed into spirituall righteousnesse and dead to the worlde therefore the preaching of Christ containeth this point also vnder it But the summe is this that Christ doeth repaire with his grace the worlde being destroyed which commeth to passe when hee reconcileth vs to the father secondly when hee regenerateth vs by his spirite that the kingdome of God may be erected in vs when Sathan is put to flight Moreouer whereas he declared before that the Apostles did not stirre one foote from Ierusalem it is to be thought that he speaketh of one of the seauen Deacons in this place whose daughters did also prophecie 6 And the multitude gaue eare Luke declareth howe the Samaritans did embrace Philips doctrine For hee saieth that they hearde whereby they tooke some taste there was also another pricke whereby they were pricked forwarde and that was myracles at length there followed attentiuenesse This is the right going forwarde vnto faith Rom. 10.14 For those which refuse that doctrine which they haue not hearde howe is it possible that they shoulde euer come vnto faith which commeth by hearing Therefore where as they were readie to heare that was the first steppe vnto reuerence and attentiuenesse And therefore it is no maruel if faith bee so rare and almost none in the world for howe manie bee there which vouchsafe to hearken when God speaketh Whereby it commeth to passe that the more part reiecteth the truth before they knowe the same and haue not so much as lightlie tasted it And as hearing is the beginning of faith so it shoulde not be sufficient of it selfe vnlesse the maiestie of doctrine shoulde also mooue the heartes And surely whosoeuer considereth that he hath to doe with God cannot heare him contemptuously when hee speaketh and the verie doctrine which is contained in his worde shall purchase authoritie for it selfe so that attentiuenesse shall flowe of it selfe from hearing As touching myracles wee knowe that there is a double vse thereof they serue to prepare vs to heare the Gospel and to confirme vs in the faith thereof The aduerbe with one accord may be ioyned as wel with hearing as with attentiuenesse This latter doth like mee better that they were attentiue with one accord And therein doth Luke commend the force and efficacie of Philips preaching because a great number of men was sodainly wonne to heare attentiuely with one consent 7 Vncleane Spirites Hee toucheth certaine kindes briefely that wee may knowe with what myracles they were brought to attribute any authoritie to Philip. That crying wherewith the vncleane spirites cried was a token of resistance Wherefore this serued not a little to set forth the power of Christ that hee did binde the diuils with his commaundement though they resisted stubbornly 8 The ioy◠whereof he speaketh is a fruit of faith For it cannot be but that so soone as we know that God will be fauourable and mercifull our minds shal be rapt with incomparable ioy and such as doeth farre passe all vnderstanding Philip. 4.7 9 A certaine man named Simon This was such a let that it might seem that the Gospel coulde haue no passage to come vnto the Samaritans For the mindes of them all were bewitched with Simons iuglings And this amasednesse was growne to some strength by reason of long space of time Furthermore experience teacheth what a harde matter it is to pluck that error out of the mindes of mē which hath taken root through long continuance and to call them backe vnto a sound and right mind who are already hardned Superstition made them more obstinate in their error because they counted Simon not onely as a Prophet of God but euen as the spirit of God 10 For the surname great power tended to this end that whatsoeuer should otherwise be diuine might wax vile through this greatnes Therfore the power of Christ appeareth hereby more plainely in that Philip brake through these lets Which thing Luke amplifieth 11 When hee saith that they were astonyed from the least to the greatest For seeing all men of what estate so euer they were were deluded what entrance coulde the