CHAP. IV. Five Thousand converted by the foregoing Discourse and they had wrought, being imme- 2. Being grieved 3. And they laid them that very Evening to be 4. But notwithstanding this Severity, about five thousand of V. 17. A. D. 33. 5. And it came to pass on the morrow. that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6. And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the *Εκγέν- kindred * of the high ως άρχις priest, were gathered ικό. together at Jerufalem. 7. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name have ye done this? 5 & 6. So the next Day the High Priests Annas and Caiaphas, assembled all the chief Priests and Doctors of the Law, that belong-. ed * to the great Council. There was no Occafion for the Roman Commander's Presence; for the Pretence of Sedition was waved, being wholly groundless, and a mere Invention of the Jewish Priefts, who therefore were now the only Members of this Court. 7. And ordering the two Apostles to be brought into Court, they demanded of them, by what Art they had done the Cure upon the lame Man, and by what Authority they preached to the People. 8,9 & 10. Peter being assisted by the Holy Ghost, with Readiness and Courage to speak before fo great an Assembly, gave them this respectful Answer. That as to the Cure wrought upon the poor Man, it had all the Signs of an Act of Charity and Mercy, but nothing that could look like a Crime. And as to the Power by which they did it, they profefsfed to them, and the whole Nation, it was derived from the very Jesus of Nazareth whom they had crucified, and from no other. of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11. This is the 11. Who by his Resurrection ftone which was set at from the Dead, is now become, nought by you buil what the Pfalmist described him, ders, which is now become the head of the corner. 12. Nei (Pfal. cxviii. 22.) The Saviour of Mankind, and Lord and Head of the Church, though you of the Coun cil rejected and despised him. 12. And 12. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be faved. 12. And then as to our Au- A. D. 33. thority for preaching to the People, we have it also from the same Jesus, * who has commiffioned and enjoined us to publish to the World, That there is now no other Means of Pardon Mankind, but that of embracing * and Salvation to were unlearned and 13. Now when they 13 & 14. The Council knowsaw the boldness of ing the two Apostles to have Peter and John, and been the Disciples of Jesus while perceived that they he lived and preached, and that ignorant men, they they were private plain Men, marvelled, and they brought up to no Learning in took knowledge of the Law, they could not but them that they had marvel at the great Readiness and Strength with which they spoke; and the Man they had cured standing by them, they could object nothing to the Truth and Reality of the Miracle. been with Jesus. 14. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15. But when they commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16. Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed 15 & 16. And ordering them a notable miracle hath C4 17 & 18, * Ver. 12. Whereby we must be saved or be healed. or cured, as this lame Man was, ver. 9, 10. it is the fame Word used in both Passages. Salvation, in the spiritual Sense, as being owing to Christ alone, as fole Mediator, is sufficiently proved from other Passages; tho' we should allow it in this Place to be meant of a temporal Cure. However, I have here given it the Acceptation commonly given by Interpreters. 14 4D33 A. D. 33. 17. But that it spread people, let us straight- name. 18. And they called them, and command. ed them not to speak at all, nor teach in the 19. But Peter and John answered, and than unto God, judge ye. 20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21. So when they nish them, because of 22. For the man was about forty years 17 & 18. However being resolved not to be convinced themselves, and to keep the common People from it as much as they. could, they agreed to fend for them in, and charge them, upon Pain of the utmost Punishment, to preach this Doctrine no more to any of the People. Name of JESUS. 19 & 20. To which the Apostles replied, That though they had all just Regard for their Authority, yet in the present Cafe, having an absolute Affurance of the Truth of what they taught, and a Commiffion from God to publish it, they referred it to their own Confciences, whether they could expect to be obeyed, and so told them plainly, they neither could, nor would do it. 21. The Council could do no more but repeat their Threats to them, and so dismiss them; for the common People had such a mighty Esteem, and religious Veneration for them, that they durst not arbitrarily punish them, for fear of a Tumult. 22. And that which heightened and confirmed the People's Opinion of the Cure, was, that the Length of the Distemper had put it past all natural Reforty Years old. medies, the Man being 23. And being let go, they went to their 23. The two Apostles being dismissed, went immediately to the other ten, and the rest on whom the Holy Ghost had fallen, (chap.ii.) and told them what had pafs'd د had said unto them. pass'd in the Council, and how A. D. 33. severely they were threatened. 24. And when they bad heard that, they lift up their voices to God with one accord, and faid, Lord, thou art God which haft made heaven and earth, and the sea and all that in them is. 25. Who by the mouth of thy fervant David haft said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people ima gine a vain thing? 26. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Chrift. 27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou haft anointed, both Herod, and Pontius 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30. Who thereupon addressed themselves in earnest and folemn Prayer to God the Creator and Governor of the World, acknowledging to bim, That the Sufferings of his Son Jesus Christ, by the Hands of the Jewish and Roman Governors, and the Treatment which they his Apostles and Disciples now had, and were like to meet withal in the World, were the most wise and full Accomplishment * of what He by his Spirit had foretold by his Prophet David, (Pfal. ii. 1.) concerning the Meffiah. Beseeching him withal to afssift and inspire them with fufficient Courage and Resolution, and with a Continuance of fuch miraculous Powers, as would enable them to preach and propagate the Christian Religion under all their Difficulties and Sufferings. tiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together. 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand, and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29. And now, Lord, behold their threatnings, and grant unto thy fervants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30. By stretching forth thine hand to heal: and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child JESUS. 31. And * Ver. 27 & 28. Note, These Words, For to do whatsoever thy Hand, and thy Counsel determined before to be done, may, in fit Construction, be referred to the Words, Jesus whom thou bast anointed - For to do whatsoever, &c. agreeable to Chap. x. 38. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Gboft and with Power, who went about doing Good, and bealing all that were oppressed, for God was with him. ~ |