SECT. CLXXXVII.-Peter and John imprisoned, are delivered by an Angel.—Acts v. 17—–42.

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In proportion as these sentiments increased the people, and were strengthened daily by the performance of new miracles on the part of the Apostles, the rage of the High Priest party grew more and more intense, and they "laid their hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison 3. It may seem remarkable, what St. Luke here intimates, that the High Priest was in the company, if not of the society, of the Sadducees, which one would not expect to meet with in that station*; but it has already been shown that the Sadducees were now the fiercest adversaries against the Apostles, because that they preached "through Jesus the resurrection from the dead;" and, indeed, the Chief Priests and leading men among the Jews were at this time, for the most part, Sadducees in their hearts, although they were forced to conceal it from the people on account of the unpopularity of their opinions. In vain, however, did their infatuated enemies shut the doors against the servants of God; the firmest bars, the strongest bolts, have no power when God is resolved to open them. The counsels against heaven can never prosper'! "The Angel of the Lord by 4 Archdeacon Paley. $ Dr. Whitby.

3 Dean Howard.

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Bishop Pearce.

7 Dr. Cave.

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night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth," and restored them to the Temple, where, in the morning, they were found engaged as usual in their appointed work of preaching Jesus Christ. The Chief Priests were perplexed with amazement and doubts at these things, and debated among themselves what should be the consequences'; and they sent for the Temple guard to bring them again "before the council;" but, it is added, "without violence, for they feared the people lest they should have been stoned." After a bold defence made by Peter, "a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law," had in reputation among all the people, began to suspect, as it would appear, that the rulers might be engaged in a struggle with God, and advised a milder and more forbearing line of conduct towards the disciples. This Gamaliel was the master at whose feet St. Paul studied in his youth, and is said to have been the son of Simeon, who took the infant Jesus in his arms when He was first presented in the Temple'. He was called Rabban Gamaliel, a title of the highest eminency, and given, as the Jews say, to only seven persons; which sufficiently shows the reputation he had among the people. As he "commanded to put the Apostles forth a little space," it is thought he

8 Dean Howard.

1 Dr. Hales.

"Bishop Mann.
2 Dr. Whitby.

was at this time already president of the Sanhedrim, in which dignity he continued till his death, about eighteen years before the destruction of the city. He now pleaded for the Apostles; but not out of any love to their persons or doctrine; for he is known to have been a most zealous Jew, in proof of which he approved and authorized, as president, a prayer to be used in the synagogues in which they prayed against the Gospel and the professors of it3. The purport of his speech to the Sanhedrim on this occasion, was to warn them to take heed to themselves "what to do as touching these men;" for he reminds them of two insurrections which had taken place “before these days." One of them, under a man named Theudas, Thaddeus, or Judas (for, as we see, the Apostle Jude was called by both names, we may therefore conclude them to be mous); the son of Hezekias, who, "boasting himself to be somebody," had, in a former day, "set himself up for the king of the Jews;" and the other under one "Judas of Galilee, who drew away much people after him," encouraging them not to pay tribute to the Romans as a mark of slavery, which they, who had God for their Master, ought not to acknowledge'. Both these events are recorded to have occurred as related by the Jewish historian, Josephus'; and

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Bishop Pearce. Archbishop Usher.

the inference deduced from them by Gamaliel, is, "Now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but, if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it." To this view the Sanhedrim consented. The

Apostles were therefore beaten, and let go after having been "commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus;" but, although scourging was a servile and ignominious punishment, they were so far from being deterred by it, and ashamed of it, that they rejoiced and blessed God for the honour of suffering in so glorious a cause.

SECT. CLXXXVIII.-Seven Deacons chosen.-Acts vi. 1-7.

THE unwearied zeal and perseverance of the Apostles added considerably to the Church, so that "the number of disciples was multiplied;" and the labour of teaching the new converts, and of confirming those that had been already made, engrossed so much of their time and thoughts as to render them incapable of devoting sufficient attention to those duties which related to the temporal well-being of the society'. Accordingly, when "there arose a murmuring" between those converts who are here called "Grecians," or Jews, who belonged to other countries, and who were only, as it were, strangers to Jerusalem; and "the Hebrews,"

or Jews converted, who were natives of Judæa3, from a supposed partiality of the latter, who were much the most numerous, and "because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration," it was determined that this business should be left no longer to irresponsible persons, subject only to the uncertain superintendence of the Apostles; but should be confided to a new order of men, called Deacons, similar to what was already known to exist among the Jews; for there belonged to every synagogue three deacons, to whom the charge and care of the poor was entrusted. All that had been brought into the common stock hitherto had been placed into the Apostles' hands, and they had been burthened with the care and trouble of the disposal of it "Wherefore," say they to the disciples, "look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." This total negation on the part of the Apostles, of all interference with the pecuniary concerns of the society, and even with the selection of persons appointed to conduct them, was undoubtedly the most effectual measure which prudence could suggest to honesty for totally removing every possibility of obloquy and suspicion. But it was such a measure as interested men could not have consented to 2; Bp. Mann. 9 Dr. Stack. 1 Dr. Lightfoot. 2 Dr. Graves.

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