Satan and men seeing faith is vnderpropped and supported with the eternall truth of God although heauen fal our saluation is safe which hath God to be the author and keeper thereof because God doeth defende the kingdome of Christ it can neuer bee ouerthrowne with any violence because the doctrine of the Gospel is grounded in God howsoeuer men resist or shake the same yet shall it neuerthelesse continue firme Againe although the wicked attempt whatsoeuer they can and seeke al meanes to destroy the church although they furiously striue against Christ and his Church so much as they are able yet they shall not preuaile because it is the propertie of God to bring the counsels of men to naught and by this meanes doeth he punish their rashnesse We see that both members are well applied to faith But in the meane season there is no cause why the seruauntes of Christ should be lesse diligent in maintaining the truth why they should suffer the Church to decay through their fault why they shoulde carelesly winke at their wickednesse who endeuor to turne all thinges topsie turuie 36 There arose one Theudas If we credit Iosephus Gamaliel altereth in this place the true course of the historie For hee reporteth that Iudas Gaulanites who was borne in Gamala at such time as Quirinius or Cyrenius was Proconsull did raise a tumult with his adherentes because they woulde not haue their goods taxed and that Theudas at such time as Cuspius Fadus was Procuratour did boast that hee was a Prophet of God And Fadus was sent into Iudea by Claudius Caesar The former hystorie is recorded in the eighteenth booke of Antiquities and the other in the twentith But I thinke that when Luke saith After him was there one Iudas he meant not to note the course of time as if he were the latter but forasmuch as Gamaliel brought in two like examples he might put the one in place of the other without hauing respect of time Therefore the worde post is as much as Moreouer or besides Furthermore euen these examples wherewith Gamaliel confirmeth his opinion doe not sufficiently agree with the present cause For because they did not by and by resist Iudas that sedition which he had raised was the occasion of many murthers and at length he was vanquished with hand and weapon Theudas also had done farre more hurt vnlesse he had beene put to flight in time by Cuspius Fadus But Gamaliel hath respect vnto this alone that men haue vnlucky successe when as they auance themselues vnaduisedly and that commeth to passe by the iust iudgement of God But because the Priestes refuse to harken when God giueth them good coūsel they are worthy to be made amased by mā with friuilous reasons wauering hither thither through foolish perplexitie Furthermore if wee cast the time wee shall finde that it was twelue yeeres at least after the death of Christ before the Apostles were beaten For vnto the fiue yeeres which remained of the gouernement of Tyberius we must adde three and one halfe which Caligula reigned Fadus was not sent by Claudius into Iudea before the second or thirde yeere of his reigne Gamaliel rehearseth not the act within a day or two after Therefore that space of time is complete whereof I spake Wherefore the constancie of the Apostles was the more excellent who though they bee so euill rewarded for those longe paines which they had endured yet are they not discouraged neither doe they cease to holde on as they had begunne That he was some great man Some bookes haue Saying that hee was some bodie yet both carrie one sense For he boasted that he was such a Prophet that hee coulde drie vp Iordan that those which were with him might goe ouer drie foote Neuerthelesse we see howe farre Gamaliel is from true knowledge who compareth the holy Ministers of Christ vnto seducers and robbers although hee mitigateth his words afterwarde and inclining towarde the better part leaueth it indifferent whether they haue taken this matter in hande hauing God for their authour or noe Yet hee speaketh doubtfullie because hee prouideth onely for quietnesse all enquirie being set a parte This is onelie to bee allowed in his speech that hee feareth the wicked from wicked boldnesse because there is nothing more to be feared than to striue against God 40 And they obeyed him And when they had called the Apostles hauing beaten them they commaunded them that they shoulde not speake in the name of Iesus and they let them goe 41 Therefore they went reioycing from the face of the councell because they were counted worthy to suffer reproch for his name 42 And they did not cease daily in the Temple and in euery house to teach and preach Christ Iesus 40 Hauing beaten them they commaunded He saieth that Gamaliel his counsel was allowed yet the Apostles are beaten and forbidden to preach Hereby wee gather how great the rage of the enimies was who being now pacified or at least mitigated doe yet notwithstanding rage immoderatlie And it appeareth also what euill successe those doubtfull counsels haue wherein men alone are respected and the trueth of God set aside Gamaliel obteineth thus much that the liues of the Apostles may be saued but in the meane season the sonne of God is blasphemed slaundered in their person The truth of the Gospel is buried in eternall silence so much as in the enimies lyeth God surely doth by this meanes wonderfully spread abroad his worde yet that counsel ceaseth not to be euill Which we must note for this cause because most men at this day doe thinke that they doe not a little obey God if they saue the liues of those men which come in hazard for the doctrine of the Gospel or somewhat appease the enimies who are otherwise bloodie in the meane season they are not afraide to driue them vnto the wicked deniall of Christ the confessing of whom is farre more precious in the sight of God then the life of all men But what could they doe who casting away all care of godlinesse go about to redeeme Gods fauour with the dutie of courtesie 41 Then they went reioycing Wee must not thinke that the Apostles were so senselesse but that they felt some shame and did also lament when they felt the punishment for they had not quite put of nature but when they considered the cause then ioy gat the vpper hande So the faithfull must bee two manner of wayes affectioned so often as they suffer persecution for the Gospel they must bee touched with the bitternesse of punishmentes yet so that they ouercome this sorrowe with spirituall ioy For they shoulde haue chaunged their minde and striken saile by and by vnlesse they had beene strengthened and encouraged by that ioie And it is not to be doubted but that euen death was sweet and pleasant to Peter on this fashion which notwithstanding the Lord doth testifie shal be bitter vnto him Let vs therefore learne that
a light offence which was a most great and grieuous crime being full of such hainos offences as I haue alreadie declared Othersome doe thinke that this was nothing so because they see many hypocrites escape scotfree daily which do no lesse mocke God than did Ananias yea because they themselues being most grosse contemners of God are yet notwithstanding vnpunished for their wickednesse But as God hath powred out visible graces vppon his Church in the beginning to the ende we may know that hee will be present with vs by the secrete power of his spirite yea hee shewed that openly by externall signes which wee feele inwardly by the experiment of faith so hee declared by the visible punishment of two howe horrible a iudgement remaineth for all hypocrites which shall mocke God and his Church And there came great feare This was the Lordes purpose by punishing one to make the rest afraide that they might reuerently beware of all hypocrisie And that which Luke saieth that they feared doeth appertaine vnto vs also For God meant to giue all ages a lesson at that time that they may learne to deale syncerely and vprightly with him In the meane season the punishment of this wicked person ought to haue encouraged the godlie heereafter to consecrate their goods more freely to God and the poore because they might gather howe precious almes was in the sight of God seeing the profaning thereof was so punished 7 And there was passed about the space of three houres when his wife came in ignorant of that which was done 8 And Peter said vnto her Tell me solde yee the fielde for so much shee answered Surely for so much 9 And Peter said vnto her What is this that yee are agreed togither to tempt the Spirit of the Lord Behold the feete of those which haue buried thy husband are at the doore which shall carry thee out 10 And immediatly she fell downe at his feete and gaue vp the ghost Furthermore when the yonge men came in they found her deade and when they had caried her out they buried her beside her husband 11 And there came great feare vpon all the Church and vpon all which hearde these things 7 That punishment wherewith the Lord punished Sapphira conteineth no newe thing saue onely that the example was the more confirmed thereby And it came to passe by the certaine prouidence of God that the Church shoulde see apart the obstinate wickednes and trecherous mind of them both Seeing their faults were alike they might hau◠ben known togither but this was more fit and profitable for the church that they might seuerally bewray their owne wickednes Neither was Sapphira prouoked by the sight of her husband to dissemble as it falleth out oftentimes that the fault could be ascribed to shamefastnes but of her owne accord and being pricked forward by no other meanes shee seemeth to be no better than her husband Moreouer their wickednesse in lying was like for as much as shee may see by Peter his interrogation that that their guile was found out 8 Tell me We see that God doeth not by and by punish her but first he trieth the matter throughly least he should send vengeance vpon any saue the obstinate those which will not be pardoned For although Sapphira did know that the matter was hidden she ought to haue bene striken with this question of Peter no otherwise than if she had ben cited to appeare before the iudgement seat of God She hath a time granted her to repent yea this is as it were a pleasant inuiting vnto repentance But shee in holding on so carelesly doeth declare that shee was vncureable because shee is touched with no feare of God And heereby are wee taught to labour diligently to bring sinners into the way For the spirite of God keepeth this moderation but when as stubbernnesse and the stubberne contempt of God is added vnto the offence it is now high time to punish Therefore those men are too arrogant who are displeased with the immoderate rigour of God It is rather our duetie to consider how we shall in time to come stande before the iudgement seat of God Although this is too much to despise his holie power maiestie if we will haue him mocked freely without any punishment Moreouer so many circūstances which before I haue gathered do sufficiently proue that Ananias and Sapphira were not worthie of one death only For first of all hypocrisie is of it self very abhominable to God secondly whereas they are determined to lie vnto God this ariseth of great contempt in that they do not reuerēce fear Christ being the chief gouernor of those amongst whom they were it is vngodlines ioyned with impudencie because so they can escape shame and reproch amongst men before whom they were determined to vaunt brag they passe not to denie their manifest wickednesse vnto God Whereas they do stubbernly denie their offence this doth as it were make vp the heape and measure And whereas innumerable hypocrites do no lesse mocke God and the church daylie who notwithstanding are not punished with death I haue alreadie shewed why this ought to seeme to bee no inconuenient thing For as much as God is the only iudge of the world it belongeth to him to punish euery man at his pleasure when how it seemeth good to him Wherefore wee may not prescribe vnto him a certaine meane maner of punishmēt But the greatnes of the spiritual iudgement which is as yet hid hath been set before vs in the bodily punishment of two as in a mirrour For if we consider what it is to be cast into eternall fire we shall not iudge that this is the greatest euill and punishment of all to fal downe dead before men Looke the tenth chapter of the first to the Corinthians 1. Cor. 10.5 9 To tempt the spirit He vttereth the same thing in other words which he had said before to wit that they did mock god vnreuerently and contemptiblie But he saide that they tempted the Spirite because they had cunningly packt their fraud as if the Spirite of God were not the knower of the harts For it was a point of too great carelesnes seing the one made the other priuy to their wickednes to make their match between themselues hauing as it were excluded God For the scripture saith that God is tempted either when his power is taken from him or the knowledge of all thinges is denied him Furthermore he meaneth that Spirit which gouerned the Church by the Apostles For when Christe sayeth When the Spirite commeth he shal iudge the world he noteth no other kind of authority than that which he exerciseth by the ministerie of the church 11 And there came feare Hee saith againe that the punishment of one was a lesson for all But he plainely expresseth in this place a double feare He saith that the church feared because the faithfull doe neuer so perfectly fear God but that
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
other fortitude but a certain rash and immoderate fiercenesse Therefore there was in Paul wonderful force of the Spirit who standing amidst such beastes which sought to pull him too and fro stoode firme in the sound synceritie of the Gospel and did valiantly withstand and endure as well the dogged malapertnes of the former sect as the pride and craftie cauillings of the other And hereby we see more plainly what small agreement there is betweene the heauenly wisedome and the wisedome of the flesh For though the whole multitude were offended with the gospel yet the Philosophers were captaines and standerd-bearers in assaulting the same For that did principally appeare in them which Paul himselfe speaketh of the wisedome of the flesh that 1. Cor. 1.11 It is an enimy to the crosse of Christ so that no man can be fit to learn the principles of the Gospel vnlesse he first abandon the same Other some said Luke setteth before vs two sorts of men which both were farre from godlinesse and yet the one sort is worse than the other Those who are desirous to heare that againe which they call newe first they are mooued not with any right desire to learne but with vaine curiositie Secondly they thinke vnhonourablie of the worde of God in that they count it prophane noualtie Yet because they giue eare and that being in doubt vntill they may know farther of the matter they are not quite past hope But the rest who proudly refuse that which is offered yea condemne it reprochfully do shut the gate of saluation against themselues For this railing did proceede from monstrous pride what meaneth this Babler Because they neither vouchsafe to heare Paule also reprochfully refuse him as if he were some common iester Moreouer they do not loath his doctrine through rash zeale but do openlie tread vnder foot that which is brought vnto them concerning religion though as yet they know it not because these are ashamed to learn any thing of a base and obscure fellowe who had hitherto professed themselues to be teachers of all the whole world A declarer of new diuels They doe not take diuels in euill part as the Scripture vseth to do but for the lesser gods or angels who they thought were in the midst betweene the highest God and men whereof Plato maketh mention oftentimes As touching the summe of the matter we must note that those things which Paul spake concerning Christ and the resurrection seemed to them to be new diuels Whence we gather that our faith is principally distinguished and discerned from the superstitions of the Gentiles by these marks because it setteth forth Christ to be the sole mediatour because it teacheth vs to seeke for saluation only at his hands because it commādeth vs to seeke remission of our sins in his death wherby we may bee reconciled to God because it teacheth that men are renewed fashioned againe by his spirit who were before prophane slaues to sin that they may begin to liue righteously holilie Again because frō such beginnings as do plainly declare that the kingdome of God is spiritual it lifteth vp our minds at length vnto the hope of the resurrection to come For as concerning other things though the Philosophers do not reason purely yet they say somwhat Yea they speak much concerning eternal life the immortality of the soul but as touching faith which sheweth free reconciliation in Christ regeneration whereby the Spirit of God doth restore in vs the image of God concerning calling vpon God and the last resurrection not a word 19 They brought him to Mars street Though this were a place appointed for iudgement yet Luke doth not meane that Paul was brought before the seat of the iudges that he might plead his cause before the iudges of Mars street But that hee was brought thither where was most commonly a great assēblie of people that the serious disputation might be had before a great and famous audience And admit we graunt that he was brought before the iudgement seat yet the end doeth declare that he was not presented to the iudges but that hee had free libertie to speake as before an audience And that which followeth shortly after touching the nature and conditions of the men of Athens doth sufficiently declare that their curiositie was the cause that Paul had such audience giuē him that he had such a famous place granted him to preach Christ in that so many came togither For in any other place it had bin a crime worthy of death to speake in the market or in any other publike place hauing gathered a companie of people togither but there because those who did carrie about trifles had libertie granted thē to prate by reason of the immoderate desire they had to heare newes Paul was permitted to intreat of the misteries of faith being requested Gaue themselues to nothing else The two vices which Luke reciteth do almost alwaies go togither For it falleth out seldome that those who are desirous of noualties are not also bablers For that saying of Horace is most true Flie a demander of questions for the same is also a blab And surely wee see that curious men are like rent Barrels Furthermore both vices came of idlenes not only because the Philosophers spent whol dayes in disputing but because the common sort was too much set vpon noualty neither was there any crafts man so base there which would not thrust in himself to set in order the state of Grecia And surely that which Luk saith here is witnessed by al writers both Greeke Latin that there was nothing more light couetous or froward than that people Wherefore there could neuer be any certaine gouernment set downe in that Citie which was notwithstanding the mystres of sciences Therfore in principal power they had notwithstanding no long liberty neither did they euer cease off from attempting things making many hurliburlies vntil they brought themselues al Grecia to vtter ruine For whē their state was decaied yet did not they forsake their boldnes Therefore Cicero doth laugh at their folly because they did no lesse fiersely set forth their decrees then than whē they were lords ouer Grecia Now though there were smal hope to do any good among curious mē yet Paul did not neglect the opportunity if peraduenture he might gain some of a great cōpanie to Christ Neither was this any small praise for the Gospel in the most noble place of the Citie and as it were in a common Theatre to refute and openly to reproue all forged and false worshippings which had reigned there euen vntill this day 22 And standing in the midst of Mars street he saith Men of Athens I see you in all things as it were more superstitious 23 For passing by beholding your maner of worshippings I found also an altar wherein was written To the vnknowen God Therefore whom you worshippe ignorantly him doe I preach vnto you 24 God who
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
remeÌ„brance of things to come Wherfore the oracle was not superfluous Those former things whereby he was taught that God cared for him ought to haue sufficed to nourish his hope and to haue kept hym from fainting but because in great dangers Satan doth oftentimes procure new feares that he may thereby if he cannot altogether ouerwhelme Gods promises in the hearts of the godly at least darken the same with cloudes it is needfull that the remembrance of them bee renued that faith beeing holpen with new proppes and stayes may stand more stedfastly But the summe is that Paul may behaue him selfe boldly because hee must bee Christe his witnesse at Rome also But this seemeth to bee but a colde and vaine consolation as if he shoulde say Feare not because thou must abide a sorer brunt for it had beene better accordyng to the fleshe once to die and with speede to ende his dayes then to pine awaye in bandes and long time to lie in prison The Lord doth not promise to deliuer him no he saith not so muche as that he shall haue a ioyfull end only he saith that those troubles and afflictions wherewith hee was too sore oppressed alreadie shall continue long But by this we gather better of what great importance this confidence is that the Lord hath respect vnto vs in our miseries though hee stretch not foorth his hand by and by to helpe vs. Therefore let vs learn euen in most extreeme afflictions to stay our selues vppon the woord of God alone and let vs neuer faint so long as hee quickneth vs with the testimonie of his fatherly loue And because Oracles are not nowe sent from heauen neither doeth the Lorde himselfe appeare by visions wee must meditate vpon his innumerable promises whereby he doth testifie that he will be nigh vnto vs continually If it be expedient that an angel come downe vnto vs the Lord will not denie euen this kinde of confirmation Neuerthelesse we must giue this honour to the word that being content with it alone wee wait patiently for that helpe which it promiseth vs. Moreouer it did profite some nothing to heare Angeles which were sent downe from heauen but the Lord doth not in vaine seale vp in the hearts of the faithfull by his Spirite those promises which are made by him And as he doth not in vaine beate them in and often repeat them so let our faith exercise it selfe diligentlye in the continuall remembrance of them For if it were necessarie that Pauls faith should bee oftentimes set and shoared vp with a new help there is none of vs which needeth not many moe helps Also our minds must be armed with patience that they may passe through the long and troublesome circuits of troubles and afflictions 12 And when it was day By this circumstaunce Luke sheweth howe necessary it was for Paul to gather new and fresh strength of faith that he might nor quake in most great and sodaine danger For being told of this so desperate madnesse of his enemies he could not otherwise think but that he should loose his life This vow whereof Luke speaketh was a kinde of curse The cause of the vow was that it might not be lawful for them to change their purpose nor to cal back that which they had promised There is alwaies in deed in an oath a secret curse if any man deceiue or forsweare but sometimes to the end men may the more bind themselues they vse certaine formes of cursing and they make themselues subiect to cruell torments to the ende they may be thee more afraid This historie doeth teache that zeale is so blooddy in hypocrites that they weigh not what is lawfull for them but they runne carelesly whither soeuer their lust doth carry them Admit we graunt that Paul was a wicked man and worthie to die yet who had giuen priuate men leaue to put him to death Now if any man had asked why they did so hate Paul they would quickly haue answered because he was a reuolt schismatike but it was but a foolish opinion and an opinion conceiued of an vncâ—rtaine report concerning this matter which had rashly possessed their minds The same blindnesse and blockishnes doth at this day prick forward the Papists so that they thinke nothing vnlawfull for them in destroying vs. Hypocrisie doth so blinde their eies that as men freed from the lawes of God and men they are carried by their zeale sometimes vnto trecherie sometimes vnto guile sometime vnto intollerable crueltie finally to attempt whatsoeuer they will Moreouer we see in this historie how great the rashnesse of the wicked is They bind themselues with a curse that they will eat no meat till they haue slaine Paul as if his life were in their hands Therefore these brainsick men take to them selues that which the Lord doth so often in Scripture say is his to wit Deut. 32.39 to haue the life and death of those men whom hee hath created in his hande Moreouer there bee not onely two or three who are partners in this madnesse but more then fortie Whence wee doe also gather how willing and bent men are to doe mischief seeing they runne together thus on heapes Furthermore seeing Satan doeth driue them headlong into their own destruction how shamefull is then our sluggishnesse when as wee scarce moue one finger in maintaining the glory of God Wee must vse moderation that wee attempt nothing without the commaundement of God but when God calleth vs expresly our loitring is without excuse 14 They came to the chiefe priestes Seeing that the priests agree to such a wicked and vngodly conspiracie by this they proue that there was in them neither any feare of God neither yet any humanitie They doe not only allowe that which is brought before them concerning the murthering of the man by laying awaite but also they are readie to be partners in the murder that they may deliuer him into the handes of the murtherers whom they woulde haue made away some way they passe not howe For what other thing was it to take a man out of the handes of the iudge and to slea him then like murtherers to rage euen in the very place of iudgement The priests surely would neuer haue alowed suche a wicked purpose if there had been in them any droppe of godly and right affectioÌ„ or of humane feeling Moreouer they did what they could to bring destruction vpon all the people and themselues also But the Lord did by this means disclose their wicked impietie which lay hid vnder a colour of honour 16 Paul his sisters sonne Wee see in this place how the Lord doth crosse the purposes of the vngodlye Hee permitteth them to attempt many thinges and he suffereth their wicked indeuours but at length hee sheweth euen in the twinckling of an eye that hee doth from heauen deride whatsoeuer men go about vpon earth There is no wisdome sayeth Salomon there is no counsell against the Lorde
Whereto that of Isaias doth aunsweare Take counsel togeather Pro. 21.30 Esa 8.10 and it shall come to nought speak the worde and it shall not stande This is set before our eyes to be considered in this present historie as in a glasse The matter was almost dispatched that Paul shoulde come out on the morrowe to be slaine as a vowed sacrifice But the Lord doth shewe that his life is most safely kept so that whatsoeuer men goe about all is in vaine As for vs let vs not feare but that his prouidence whereof he shewed some token then reacheth euen vnto the defending of vs because this promise continueth sure Luk. 21.18 There shall not an hayre fall from your heads c. Moreouer it is woorth the noting that hee woorketh sometimes by meanes vnlooked for to saue those that be his that hee may the better exercise our faith who would haue thought that a boy woulde haue disclosed their laying await which those who were partners in the conspiracie thought was knowen to none but to themselues Therefore let vs learn to leane vnto and stay our selues vpon the Lord though we see no ordinary way to saue our selues who shal find a way euen through places where nothing can passe 17 And when Paul had called vnto him one of the Centurions he saieth Bring this young man vnto the chiefe captaine for he hath a certaine thing to shewe him 18 And he tooke him and led him vnto the chiefe captaine and said Paul the prisoner called me vnto him and desired me to bring this young man vnto thee who hath somewhat to say to thee 19 And the chief captaine tooke him by the hand and went aside with him and asked him what is it that thou hast to say to me 20 And he said the Iewes haue cōspired together to desire thee that thou bring foorth Paul into the councell to morrow as if they would know somewhat more certainly of him 21 But doe not thou obey them for more then forty of them lay in wait for him who haue bound themselues with a curse that they will neither eate nor drink vntill they haue slaine him And now they be readie waiting that thou shouldst promise 22 Therfore the chief captain let the young man goe and commaunded him tell no man that thou hast told me these things 23 And when he had called vnto him two vnder captaines he said make readie two hundred souldiars that they may goe to Cesarea and horse men seuentie and two hundreth “ Or Iauelings with dartes at the thirde houre of the night 24 And make readie beasts that they may set Paul thereon and bring him safe to Foelix the gouernour 17 Calling vnto him Paul was not so desirous of life but he would haue made hast to die if the Lord had thought it good so to bee but because he knoweth that he serueth Christ vppon that condition that he may no lesse liue then die to him he doth not neglect to auoid the danger which was reuealed to him And though he be fully persuaded that God is the keeper of his life yet hee doeth not wait vntill God put foorth his hand out of heauen to worke a myracle but doth rather vse the remedy which is offered him nothing douting but that it is appointed by God Thus must all the ministers of Christ deale that being furnished with inuincible constancie so farre as their calling requireth they feare not danger and yet that they cast not away themselues through rashnesse Let them call vpon the name of the Lorde cheerefully euen amidst the pikes and yet let them not contemne those helpes which are offered Otherwise they shall be iniurious to God in that they are not only not moued with his promises but also despice the means which he hath appointed for their deliuerance 19 Taking him by the hand In that the chiefe captaine did shewe himself so courteous to the young man in that he lead him by the hand into a secret place in that he vouchsafed to heare him so gently all this must be attributed to the grace of God who promised to giue his people fauour in the sight of the Egyptians who vseth to mollifie harde hearts to tame fierce spirites and to fashion those vnto al humanitie whom he hath determined to vse as meanes to helpe those that be his A man trained vp in the warres might no lesse haue giuen this young man the repulse whom he knew not then haue despiced Paul his sute Therefore the Lord who hath in his hand the hearts of men did frame the profane man to giue eare vnto him Also it was well that he knewe before how furiously they raged against Paul that hee might the more willingly succour a miserable and forsaken man Those who are in authoritie are taught by this example what a great vertue curtesie is If it had bin an hard matter to come to him he might through ignorance haue deliuered Paul to the Iewes to bee put to death So often times Magistrates doe fall into many and great offences through their owne pride because they will not admit those who woulde giue them good counsell Calling vnto him And here we see the prouidence of God yet more manifestly For though this bee the drift of the chiefe captaine to preuent a publike vprore whereof he should haue giuen an account before the Gouernour yet hee executeth the counsell of God in deliuering Paul For he was to gather souldiars together also the citie must needs be stripped of the garrison and the voyage required some cost Therefore we must so consider the wisedome of the chiefe captaine that our faith lift vp her eyes into heauen and vnderstand that God doth guide the heart of a profane man by a secret instinct and that hee is at length a guide to Paul and the souldiars that hee may come safe to Cesarea The third houre of the night was the end of the first watch Therefore it is all one as if the chiefe captaine did commaunde that the souldiars be in readinesse at the second watch Exod. 3.21 Luke calleth those who carried dartes Lancearios who being more lightly weaponed were placed in the winges when as the souldiars which pertained vnto the legions were more fit for set warre 25 And he wrote a letter after this sort 26 Claudius Lysias to the most mightie Ruler Foelix sendeth greeting 27 This man beeing taken of the Iewes and almost killed of them did I rescue comming vppon them with souldiars after that I knewe that hee was a Romane 28 And beeing desirous to knowe the cause for which they did accuse him I brought him into their councell 29 Whom I perceiued they accused of questions of their lawe hauing in him no crime worthie of death or of bonds 30 And when I was certified of the laying await of the Iewes I sent him streight way vnto thee and gaue commandement to his accusers that they shoulde tell those things before
was destitute of mans helpe Therefore it was a signe of an euill conscience in that seing they were men of great experience exercised in publike affaires and skilfull in matters pertaining to courts they hyre a Rhetorician Eloquence is I confesse the gift of God but in this matter they went about nothing else but to deceiue the iudge therewith And Luke declareth this therefore that wee may know that the Iewes did omit nothing whereby they might oppresse Paule and that they might not onely prooue him giltie but so dash him out of countenance that he might not be able to defend himselfe and so let vs consider that it came to passe by the wonderfull prouidence of God that Paul did so stoutly endure such sore assaultes Wherefore if it so fall out at any time that a godly man being alone be beset with a great number of enimies let him call to minde this historie and let him bee of good courage Psal 27.3 As Dauid doeth likewise exhort vs by his owne example If tentes were pitched about mee I will not feare because thou art with me 2 Seeing wee liue in great peace Tertullus vseth a preface nothing appertinent to the matter because hee commendeth Felix his wisedome and vertues that hee may purchase fauour Therefore it is a filthie and flattering Exordium not that I am of their minde who reprehende Tertullus for speaking the iudge faire and for seeking to winne his fauour For it is not alwayes disagreeing with the right and lawfull forme of pleading to commende the iudge and there may reasons be brought on both sides as they say touching this matter But I mislike nothing but this which is altogither corrupt For the Rhetorician doth insinuate himselfe vnder false praises that hee may darken the matter which is called in question For to what ende doeth he speake of peace and a wel ordered state saue onely that Felix may think that the safetie of Iudea consisteth in condemning Paul and that he may examine the matter no further Moreouer it appeareth by Iosephus how couetously cruelly and voluptuously Felix behaued himselfe in that prouince The vnworthy and tragicall murthering of the highest Priest Ionathas because he set himselfe against his dissolute tyranny was alreadie past and finally almost at the very same time Claudius Caesar was enforced with the complaints of the whole nation to put Festus in his place and to call him to answere for himselfe Therefore we see how shamefullie this oratour did lie And seeing all Pauls aduersaries sing the same song we see that they bee blinded with hatred and malice and that they trecherously betray the state of their countrie neither doe they passe what befall them so Paule may die the death Where Erasmus translateth it Many thinges are well done the olde interpreter seemeth to come nearer vnto Paule his meaning who saieth that catorthomata are wrought which signifieth as much as reformations or dressings Therefore Tertullus commendeth the industrie of Felix because he had cleansed Iudea from many corruptions and he restored many things which would otherwise haue decayed To wit to the ende he may the more greedily seeke to purchase the fauour of the nation which he knew was otherwise offended with him by the death of one man 5 For wee founde this man Tertullus dooth aime at a double marke The first is this that Paul may be deliuered to the Iewes because they be very skilfull in matters which concerne the worship of God and the Lawe of Moses But and if hee denie this hee layeth to his charge a crime worthie of death because hee procured contention among the people They knewe that the Romanes did hate nothing more therefore they vrge that the sorest against Paule This doeth Tertullus amplifie when hee saieth that Paul had moued the Iewes throughout the whole worlde But I wonder why hee addeth that he is the authour or chiefe of the sect of the Nazarites which we know was rather a praise than a dispraise among the Iewes I thinke that they meane not those who according to the olde and lawfull custome of the Lawe did consecrate themselues to God but those troublesome murtherers who did also vaunt and boast that they were zealous men Some thinke that Nazarites are heere put for Christians which may verie well bee But if wee like the former exposition better hee doeth craftilie laye to Paule his charge that hee was one of that secte which the Romaines did hate For where as these zealous men woulde aboue all other haue beene counted for notable obseruers of the Lawe they aduanced a colour of zeale as a banner to stir vp the minds of the common people Neuerthelesse these good men who are so zealous ouer their libertie doe not spare the chiefest maintainers thereof so they may cause Paul to be hated by meanes of them They would haue commended the Nazarites as couragious defenders of the Lawe if it had not bin in this matter but now as if they did infect the whole world they seeke to bring vpon Paul great reproch by saying that he is one of them Moreouer they slaunder Paul impudently for no man did thinke that he was guiltie of that crime Therefore they lay to his charge no lesse wickedly than maliciously a crime which they take vp at their foote and inuent without all colour But such is the carelesse security of hypocrits that they thinke they may do whatsoeuer they will so they colour their doings with zeale 6 Who went about to pollute the Temple It was a light and almost a friuolous accusation to lay this to his charge before the Romane Gouernour who could haue wished that the Temple had bin turned topsituruie But because nothing was more fit for procuring vprores than the polluting of the Temple he doth craftily accuse Paul thereof as if hee should say that it was no thankes to him that Ierusalem was not on an vprore and that hee carried such a firebrande as might haue procured sore hurt if hee had not beene preuented Also he includeth that other thing that because Paul had offended in matters of religion it did belong properly to the Iewes to giue iudgement in that matter And here hee complaineth also of the chiefe captaine Lysias because hee robbed them of their right Therefore his drift is to obtaine at the hands of the Ruler that he wil restore to them that which Lysias had taken from thē This is also not voide of subtiltie in that Tertullus doeth discredite the chiefe captaine because hee dealt more courteously toward Paul than the Priests would he should and glauncingly hee bringeth him in suspition because hee dare not openly accuse him But the question is whether they could hope that the Gouernour would graunt them so much seing the Romane magistrates alone were to sit vppon life and death I answere that hee maketh in this place some semblance of equitie as if they were purposed to handle him more gentlie than hee deserued For though
sense shal be that The gouernour came shortly after to Cesarea least the Iewes shoulde be importunate vppon him vnder colour of his long tariance The other reading which is more vsuall among the Grecians shall haue another meaning Though he stayed long inough at Ierusalem to heare the matter yet did hee not harken to their requestes who woulde haue Paule brought thither whence we may gather a probable coniecture that hee alreadie knew of their laying await 7 Manie and greeuous crimes So long as Paule liued vnder the Lawe his integritie was well knowne and famous Againe when hee was conuerted to Christ he was a singular patterne of innocencie Yet wee see howe he is subiect to many slanders cruel false accusations And this is almost alwaies the estate of the seruants of Christ wherfore they must be the more couragious to passe valiantly through euill report and good report neither let them thinke it strange to bee euill reported of where they haue done good In the meane season they must do their indeuour that they may not onely haue a cleare conscience before God but that they may be verie well able to defende themselues before men when they haue time and place For Paul doth not faile in his cause but couragiously setteth the defense of his innocencie against their false crimes Furthermore let vs note that the wicked can neuer bee bridled but they will speake euill of good men and will impudently slaunder them for they resemble the nature of Satan by whose spirite they are led Therefore where as wee be commanded to stoppe the mouth of the wicked it must not be so taken as if hee shall be free from all backbiting whosoeuer shall behaue himselfe vprightly but that our life may aunswere for vs and may wipe away al blots of false infamie So we see the aduersaries of Paul though they had a fauourable iudge yet their slaunders were all in vaine seing he did defende and auouch his innocencie by his deedes And yet it is likely that they wanted not false witnesses neither were they slacke in suborning them but because the Lorde giueth his seruauntes inuincible strength so that the brightnesse of honestie doeth driue away their vaine clouds they are ashamed and at length they depart from the iudgement seat with this infamie that they were false accusars But the defense of Paul doeth shewe what things the Iewes laide principally to his charge The first crime was vngodlinesse against God that he ouerthrew the Lawe and polluted the Temple the other rebellion against Cesar and the Romane Empyre because hee raised tumultes euerie-where Hee was holpen by the singular grace of God to aunswere and refute both who maketh the innocencie of his as bright as the morning 9 And Festus being willing to doe the Iewes a pleasure aunswered Paule and saide wilt thou goe vp to Ierusalem and there bee iudged of these things before me 10 But Paule saide I stande before Caesars iudgement seate where I must bee iudged To the Iewes haue I done no wronge as thou thy selfe knowest full well 11 And if I do iniurie or haue committed any thing worthie of death I refuse not to die but if there be nothing of these thinges whereof they accuse mee no man can deliuer me to them I appeale to Caesar 12 Then spake Festus with the Councell and saide Hast thou appealed to Caesar To Caesar shalt thou goe 9 And Festus Whether Festus knew somwhat of their laying awaite which we may well coniect or whether hee were altogither ignorant thereof he dealeth vniustly with Paul and we see how soone those are drawne vnto all corruption which are not guided by the spirite of God For Festus doeth not openly contemne or hate Paul but ambition and peraduenture also desire of gain got the vpper hand so that for pleasing the other part he doth vniustly bring him in danger of death also it is likely that he was enticed with the smel of som reward to harkē so courteously to the priestes Notwithstanding I maruell that he giueth Paul leaue to choose and doth not rather according to this authoritie commaund them to carry him whether he would or no. Surely wee gather that he was kept backe with feare least he should infringe the priuilege of the citie of Rome which was a very odious crime Notwithstanding he studieth craftilie to persuade Paul not to refuse to be iudged at Ierusalem For he was not ignorant of that which indeed came to passe that a citizen of Rome might lawfully appeale so that he could then goe no farther Neuerthelesse it was no thanke to him that hee was not deliuered into the hands of murtherers 10 I stand at Caesars iudgement seat Because Paul seeth that hee is betraied into the handes of the Iewes through the ambition of the gouernour he obiecteth the priuiledge of the citie of Rome Hee had submitted himselfe modestly if he had cmomaunded him to do that which was iust and equall Nowe because the gouernour doeth not his duetie willingly necessitie compelleth the holy man to defend himself by law and by this meanes the Lorde deliuereth him nowe againe euen when he was almost giuen ouer into the hands of the enemies And wheras he desireth to haue his matter handled before Caesars iudgement seat he doth not therefore make the doctrine of the Gospell subiect to the iudgement of a profane and wicked man but beeing readie to giue an account of his faith euery where he appealeth from that court where he could no longer hope for equitie Furthermore though the Citizens of Rome did retaine their priuiledge yet the order was then altered because the Cesars had taken into their owne handes the iudging of the people as if they would bee good maintainers and patrons of common libertie To the Iewes haue I done Because those whose consciences do accuse them and which mistrust their matter flie vnto certaine odde excuses and exceptions Paul turneth away from himself this opinion And surelie the ministers of Christ ought to haue no lesse care to make their innocencie knowen then to saue their life If Paul had flatly denied to answere for himselfe the enemies would haue triumphed and the doubtfulnesse of an euill conscience should haue been obiected to him to the reproch of the Gospell But now when he citeth the gouernour himselfe to be a witnesse of his integritie and doth refuse no punishment if hee shall be found gyltie he cutteth of all occasion of slaunderous reportes Therefore he sheweth that he doth not seek to saue himselfe by turning his back but flieth vnto the fortresse of a iust defence that he may ther saue himselfe from iniurie seeing his aduersaries haue hitherto handeled him vniustly and now refusing to deale with him any longer by law they goe about to haue him murthered Neither doth Paul go behinde the Presidents back to tell him that he doth vniustly in that he doth so dally with his accusers and therewithal he doth as it were
man being a Romane cared not for Moses lawe therefore hee speaketh so disdainfully when he saith that they did striue about their superstition Though this word deisidaimonia bee taken of the Grecians as well in good as euill part to wit because the choice of worshippings of false gods were common in al places Notwithstanding his meaning is that he careth not what maner religion the Iewes haue And no maruell if a man which was an Ethnick and had not learned that the rule of godlinesse must bee fet from the mouth of God know not how to distinguishe between the pure worship of God and superstitions Wherefore we must hold fast that marke whereby wee may discerne the one from the other that there is no godlines but that which is grouÌ„ded in the knowledge of faith least we grabble in darknesse Moreouer the Romans were so drunkeÌ„ with prosperous successe that they thoght that they were more acceptable to God then any other as at this day the Turks by reason of their manifolde victories deride the doctrine of Christ This was a lamentable case that a man being an vnbeleeuer and idolater sitteth as iudge amidst the Iewes to giue iudgement of the sacred oracles of God according to his ignorance but all the fault was in Paul his aduersaries who did not care for the maiestie of God so they might satisfie and obey their owne madnesse Nothwithstanding there rested nothing for Paul to doe but to cleare himselfe of those crimes which were laide against him So at this day though inwarde brawles which are among Christans doe defame the name of Christe and his Gospell among the Turkes and Iewes yet the defender of holy doctrine are vnworthily blamed which are enforced to enter the combate Of one Iesus It is not to bee doubted but that Paul intreated both grauely and with such vehemencie as became him of the resurrection of Christe But Festus by reason of his pride thought it no meet matter for him to occupie his head about Hee doth not in deed openly deride Paul but he sheweth plainly how negligently he hard him when he disputed of Christ Wherby we see how little preaching auaileth yea that it auaileth nothing at all vnlesse the Spirit of God doe inwardly touch the harts of meÌ„ For the wicked do lightly passe ouer whatsoeuer is spoken as if a man should tell them a tale of Robin Hood Wherfore there is no cause why the carelesnesse of many shoulde trouble vs at this day seeing Paul preuailed nothing with Festus But this place doth witnesse that many speeches did passe in the handeling of the matter whereof Luke maketh no mention For he had spoken nothing as yet of Christe and yet this latter narration doth shewe that Paul intreated seriouslye before the Iewes of his death and resurrection Which coulde not bee but hee must needes intreate of the principall pointes of the Gospel Therefore I gesse that Paul did so handle the matter that when he had refuted the false accusations of the Iewes wherewith they went about to burden him before the gouernour hauing gotten a fit occasion hee began afterward to speake freely of Christ 22 And Agrippa said vnto Festus I would also my self hear the man To morow saith he thou shalt heare him 23 And on the morrow when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great pompe and was entred into the common hall with the chiefe captaines and the principall men of the citie at Festus commaundement Paul was brought 24 And Festus saith king Agrippa and all men which are present with vs yee see this man about whome all the multitude of the Iewes hath called vppon mee both at Ierusalem and heere crying that hee ought not to liue any longer 25 Yet haue I found that he hath committed nothing worthie of death And because hee hath appealed vnto Augustus I haue determined to sende him 26 Of whom I haue no certaine thing to write vnto my Lord. Wherefore I haue brought him foorth vnto you and chiefly vnto thee O king Agrippa that after examination had I may haue somewhat to write 27 For it seemeth to me an vnmeet thing to send a prisoner and not to shew the crimes whereof he is accused 22 I would also By this we may gather that Agrippa did so desire to hear Paul that he was ashamed to make his desire knowen least Festus should thinke that he came for some other end then to salute him And it may be that not only curiositie did moue him to be desirous to heare Paul but because he did hope to profite by hearing him Notwithstanding we may easily gather by this how cold his desire was because hee suffered many dayes to passe before he sheweth any signe of his desire because he was more in loue with earthly commodities which he counted better Neither durst he make any wordes neither did he passe for vttering any speech vntill such time as Festus did of his owne accorde will him so to doe So that the holy minister of Christ is brought foorth as on a stage that a profane man may cheare vppe his guest saue onely that Festus wil be holpen with the aduise of Agrippa and his company that he may let Caesar vnderstand how diligent hee is But the matter was turned to another end by the secrete prouidence of God neither neâ—d we doubt but that such report went abroad as made much for the confirmation of the godly and it may be also that some of the hearers were touched and did conceiue seed of faith which did afterward bring foorth frute in due time But admit none of them did embrace Christe sincerely from his heart this was no small profit that the vnskilfulâ— were appeased after that the malice of the enemies was discouered that they might not be enflamed with such hatred against the gospel impietie was made ashamed and the faithfull did gather newe strength so that they were confirmed more and more in the gospel 23 And on the morrow Agrippa and his sister do not come like humble disciples of Christ but they bring with them such pompe and gorgeousnesse as may stop their eares and blind their eyes and it is to bee thought that like hautinesse of minde was ioyned with that gorgeous great pompe No maruell therefore if they were not brought to obey Christ Notwithstanding it seemeth that Luke maketh mention of the pompe that we might know that in a great assembly and before choise witnesses whose authority was great Paul had leaue graunted not onelie to plead his matter as a partie defendant but also to preach the gospel For he commeth foorth as in the person of a teacher that he may set foorth the name of Christ So that the trueth of God brake out of his bands which was foorthwith spread abroad euery where with a free course yea it came euen vnto vs. By this word phantasia Luke vnderstaÌ„deth that which wee call commonly preparation or pompe But there must other furniture bee
Esai 9.2 Ibid. 60.2 The people which walked in darknesse sawe great light And againe Behold darkenesse shall couer the earth and a myst the people but the Lord shall be seene vpon thee Againe Behold those which are in darknesse shall see light Againe I haue made thee a light of the Gentiles Ibid. 42.16 6. 49.6 And it appeareth by many oracles that the light of life should come out of Iudea and should be spread abroad among the Gentiles 24 And as Paul answered for himselfe Festus saith with a lowd voice Paule thou art beside thy selfe much learning doth make thee madde 25 And Paul said I am not mad most noble Festus but speake forth the words of truth and sobrietie 26 For the king knoweth of these things before whom I also speake freely For I thinke that none of these thinges are hidden from him for this was not done in a corner 27 King Agrippa beleeuest thou the Prophetes I know that thou beleeuest 28 And Agrippa said vnto Paul Thou briefely perswadest me to become a Christian 29 And Paul saith would to God that not onely thou but also all which heare mee this day were both almost and altogither such as I am except these bonds 30 And when he had thus spoken the king arose and the Gouernour and Bernice and those which sate with them 31 And when they were gone apart they talked togither betweene themselues saying This man doth nothing worthie of death or bonds 32 Then Agrippa said to Festus This man might haue bin loosed if hee had not appealed vnto Cesar 24 Festus said with a lowd voice This outcrie which Festus doth make doth shewe how much the truth of God preuaileth with the reprobate to wit though it bee neuer so plaine and euident yet is it troden vnder foote by their pride For though those things which Paul had alleaged out of the Lawe and Prophetes had nothing in them which was any thing like to madnesse but were grounded in good reason yet he doth attribute the same to madnesse not because hee seeth any absurditie but because hee refuseth those thinges which hee doeth not vnderstande Nothing was more foolish or more vnsauourie than the superstitions of the Gentiles so that their high Priestes were for good causes ashamed to vtter their mysteries whose follie was more than ridiculous Festus doeth graunt that there was learning packed in Paules speech neuerthelesse because the Gospell is hidden from the vnbeleeuers 2. Cor. 4.3 whose mindes Sathan hath blinded hee thinketh that hee is a brainsicke fellowe which handleth matters intricarlie So that though hee cannot mocke and openly contemne him yet hee is so farre from being mooued or inwardly touched that hee counteth him a man which is frensie and of madde curiositie And this is the cause that he cannot away to marke what hee saieth least hee make him madde also As manie at this day flie from the worde of God least they drowne themselues in a Labarinth and they thinke that we be madde because wee mooue questions concerning hidden matters and so become troublesome both to our selues and also to others Wherefore being admonished by this example let vs begge of God that hee will shewe vs the light of his doctrine and that he will therewithall giue vs a taste thereof least through obscuritie and hardnesse it become vnsauourie and at length proude loathsomnesse breake out into blasphemie 25 I am not madde Paul is not angrie neither doeth hee sharpely reprehende Festus for his blasphemous speech yea hee speaketh vnto him with great submission For it was no place for reprehension and it became him to pardon the ignorance of the man seing hee did not set himselfe face to face against God Also he had respect vnto his person For though hee were vnworthie of honour yet was hee in authoritie And yet for all that hee doeth not therefore giue place to his blasphemie but hee defendeth the glorie of the word of God Whereby wee doe also see that not caring for himselfe hee did onelie take thought for his doctrine For he doeth not vaunt of his wit hee doeth not labour in defense of his wisedome but hee is content with this defense alone that hee teacheth nothing but that which is true and sober Furthermore the truth is set against all manner fallacies and fraud sobrietie against all manner friuolous speculations and thornie subtilties which are onely seeds of contention Paul doeth in deede refute Festus his errour yet wee may gather by this which is the best manner of teaching to wit that which is not onely cleane from all fallicies and deceit but also doth not make the mindes of men drunken with vaine questions and doth not nourish foolish curiositie nor an intemperate desire to know more than is meete but is moderate and good for sound edification 26 For the King knoweth of these thâ—nges Hee turneth himselfe vnto Agrippa in whom there was more hope And first hee saieth that hee knewe the hystorie of the thinges but hee calleth him streightway backe to the Lawe and the Prophetes For it was to small end for him to knowe the thing which was done vnlesse hee did knowe that those thinges which had beene spoken before of Christ were fulfilled in the person of Iesus which was crucified And whereas Paule doeth not doubt of Agrippa his faith hee doeth it not so much to praise him as that hee may put the Scripture out of all question least hee be enforced to stande vppon the verie principles Therefore his meaning is that the Scripture is of sufficient credite of it selfe so that it is not lawfull for a man that is a Iewe to diminish any iot of the authoritie thereof And yet Paule doeth not flatter him for though hee did not reuerence the Scripture as became a godly man yet he had this rudiment from his childhoode that hee was perswaded that nothing is contained therein besides the Oracles of God As the common sort of men though they do not greatly care for the word of God yet they acknowledge and confesse generally and confusedly that it is the word of God so that they are letted with some reuerence either to reiect or to despise the same 28 And Agrippa saide vnto Paule The Apostle preuailed thus farre at least that hee wronge out of king Agrippa a confession though it were not voluntarie as those vse to yeelde who can no longer resist the trueth or at least to shewe some token of assent Agrippa his meaning is that hee will not willingly become a Christian yea that he will not bee one at all and yet that hee is not able to gainesay but that he is drawne after a sort against his wil. Wherby it appeareth how great the pride of mans nature is vntill it bee brought vnder to obey by the Spirit of God Interpreters expound this en olige diuersly Valla thought that it ought to be translated thus Thou dost almost make me a Christian Erasmus doth traÌ„slate
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
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
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