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This history ascribes it wholly to God; and it bears evident marks of coming from him; it resembles his conduct in other instances, since he causes the sun to shine and the rain to descend upon one part of the earth, as well as another; and the most valuable blessings of life are the most common. The early design of communicating the gospel of Christ to the heathens which appeared amongst the first teachers, is itself no inconsiderable proof of the divine origin of our religion.

Acts xi. 1. to the end.

Peter, having baptised Gentiles and admitted them into the Christian church, is called to account for his conduct, when he returns to Jerusalem, by those Christians who were zealous observers of the law of Moses, and in his own vindication rehearses to them the whole matter from the beginning, with which they are satisfied. In the remaining part of the chapter we have an account of the progress of the gospel in foreign countries, and of a remarkable prediction that was delivered.

1. And the apostles and brethren that were in in Judæa heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

The gospel of Christ is here called the word of God, because it contained an account of a revelation from heaven; and in the same sense the scriptures of the Old and New Testament may be called the word of God likewise, because they contain authentic accounts of such revelations, although not themselves inspired.

2. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the

circumcision contended, or, lated," with him,

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3. Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

This the maxims of the elders, but not the law of Moses, declared to be unlawful. From the conduct of these Jewish Christians it is plain that they did not consider Peter as under the direction of inspiration in all his actions; otherwise they would not have ventured to censure his conduct in this instance; nor does Peter himself seem to be conscious of having such inspiration; for he appeals not to his authority as an apostle, but to the particular instructions which he had received on this subject.

4. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, rather," then Peter began and laid the matter before them in order," saying,

5. I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners, "by four strings," and it

came even to me.

6. Upon the which when I had fastened my eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and creeping things and fowls of the air.

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7. And I heard a voice, saying unto me, Arise, Peter, slay and eat.

8. But I said, Not so, Lord; for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed that call not thou common.

10. And this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into hea

ven.

11. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Cæsarea

unto me.

12. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting; moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.

13. And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood, and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14. Who shall tell thee words, or, "tell thee things," whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved, " may be saved."

The salvation here promised to Cornelius from hearing the words of Peter, could not be final salvation, or the happiness of a future life; for that he might, no doubt, have secured by persevering in the prayers and the alms which had already recommended him to the divine notice; but it must be something which, in his present condition, he was not in the way to obtain ; and, therefore, to be saved, must signify here deliverance from his heathen state, a state of great disadvantage and danger, and introduction to the privileges of the gospel dispensation. This salvation he could not obtain without the knowledge of the gospel; the other might be secured without it, although, no doubt, it would be highly conducive to that end.

15. And as I began to speak, or, " after I had begun to speak," the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

That is, in flames of fire, as on the day of Pentecost, intended to represent the approach of God to perform a miracle, by bestowing the gift of tongues.

16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John, indeed, baptised with water, but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

This was the language of Jesus to his apostles after his resurrection; and if this baptism with the Spirit, or pouring out of the Spirit, was a proof of their being accepted as disciples of Christ, in the first instance, it was equally so on the present occasion,

17. Forasmuch, then, as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God?

To have refused to receive as brethren those upon whom God bestowed the same marks of favour, would have been to oppose the designs of God, and an instance of great presumption.

18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, "they had no more to say," and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Repentance does not here signify reformation of conduct, but merely a change of opinion from heathenism to Christianity. These Jews bless God for inclining the Gentiles, contrary to their expectations, to such a change. The words, "unto life," have generally been supposed to refer unto eternal life, to the prospect of which Gentiles were raised by the profess ion of Christianity; but as the Jews spoke of the Gentiles as dead, they would naturally express a recovery from that state by a restoration to life. pentance unto life, then, will mean no more than a change of mind which produces life. Agreeably to this interpretation the apostle Paul exhorts Gentiles to yield themselves to God, as those who are alive from the dead.

19.

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Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, a country which lay to the north-west of Judea, and Cyprus, a large island in the Levant or Mediterranean sea, and Antioch in Syria, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

This was the practice of the first teachers of Christianity; but what had lately occurred at Cæsarea induced them to extend their labours.

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