even to fight against and to fight against God himself; and ye will never God. 40 And to him they prosper in that enterprise.

40. And they took his advice, and sending for the agreed and when : they had called the apostles in again into the court, they appointed them apostles, and beaten to be scourged, (a punishment of a reproachful conthem, they com- tumelious nature, ver. 41,) and giving them charge manded that they not to preach the faith of Christ any more, they reshould not speak in leased them.

the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 And they de

sence of the coun

41. And this was matter of comfort and rejoicing parted from the pre- to the apostles, (according to that of Matt. v. 12,) that cil, rejoicing that they were advanced to that degree of honour and they were "counted blessedness, as to be scourged for preaching of Christ. worthy to [k] suffer

shame for his

name.

42 And daily in

42. And they divided their time betwixt the temthe temple, and 15 in ple more openly, and the upper room more privately, every house, they and continued constantly in one of those places, either and preach Jesus instructing those that had already received the faith, or preaching it new to those that had not received it.

ceased not to teach

Christ.

AND in those days, a when the number

CHAP. VI.

a the number of Christians increasing, the Jews that of the disciples was understood Greek, and used the Greek Bible in their multiplied, there arose a murmuring of congregations, complained of unequal dealing, viz., 1 the [a] Grecians a- that there was little care of their widows (see note [a] gainst the Hebrews, 1 Tim. v.) in proportion or comparison with the Hebecause there wid- brews, in the daily distribution or provision that was ows were neglected made for the poor: (see note [a] Luke viii.)

in the daily minis

tration.

serve tables.

2. And the twelve apostles calling the church to2 Then the twelve gether, said unto them, We have resolved or decreed called [6] the multi- (see note [c] John viii.) that it is no way fit or reatude of the disciples sonable that we should neglect the preaching of the unto them, and said, It is not reason that gospel, and undertake the care of looking to the poor. we should leave the 3. Therefore do you nominate to us seven men, who word of God, and have approved themselves to be faithful trusty persons, the most eminent of the believers among you, 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out that we may consecrate or ordain them to this office of deacons in the church, and intrust them with the among you seven men of honest re- task of distributing to them that want out of the stock port, [c] full of the of the church; and in the choice of them let it also be Holy Ghost and wis- observed, that they be persons of eminent gifts, and dom, whom we may knowledge in divine matters, see ver. 10, (who conover this sequently may be fit to be employed by us in preach

3

appoint business.

4

14 vouchsafed to be dishonourably used, kaтNğiwlŋσav àτiμ. olkov: see note [c] ch. i. I the Hellenists.

15 in some house, κat' 3 2 thought fit, åpeσtóv. seven men of

you, that are approved, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά. 4 for this use, ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας raúrns: see note [f] Titus iii.

4 But we will give ing the word, and receiving proselytes to the faith by ourselves continual- baptism, ch. viii. 5. 12.)

ly to prayer, and to

the ministry of the 4. And by that means we shall be less disturbed or interrupted in our daily employment of praying, and

word.

5 And the say- preaching the gospel.

ing pleased the whole 5. And the thing was thus agreed on by those multitude: and they other that associated with the apostles. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of pitched upon Stephen first, a very worthy person, the Holy Ghost, and that was richly instructed in the doctrine of Christ, Philip, and Procho- and was by the Holy Ghost's coming upon him fitted rus, and Nicanor, with elocution and all other abilities to preach the and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas gospel, and Philip

a proselyte of Antioch :

and when they had

:

6. These seven, the whole number of disciples that associated with them, presented to the twelve apo6 Whom they set stles, and they, that is, the apostles, by prayer and before the apostles imposition of hands, (see note [f] 1 Tim. v.,) conseprayed, they laid crated or ordained them to this office of deacons. 7. And the faith of Christ was propagated, and a 7 And the word of very great number of men in Jerusalem associated God increased; and with the apostles, every day more and more; and disciples multiplied many of the Jewish priests received the gospel thus in Jerusalem great- preached by the apostles.

their hands on them.

the number of the

ly; and a great com- 8. And Stephen, the deacon, being endued with pany of the priests great abundance of Christian knowledge, and also were obedient to the with the power of working miracles, did great won8 And Stephen, full ders and miracles

faith.

of faith and power, 9. And as he preached the faith of Christ, some did great wonders men of that synagogue which was called by the and miracles among name (because perhaps built at the charges) of the the people. Libertines, (that is, those which were the sons of 9 Then there arose certain of the them which being Jews had been made free denisons synagogue, which is by the Romans, or were born of Jewish parents, in called the synagogue cities which had those privileges under the Romans, of the Libertines, and such as Tarsus, (see note [e] ch. xxii.,) where Paul Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them was born, who was an active person in this business, of Cilicia and of Asia, ch. vii. 58; some, I say, of those Jews,) and of those disputing with Ste- that dwelt in Cyrene and Alexandria and in Cilicia phen. and Asia, opposed Stephen, and contradicted him. IO And they were 10. And he spake with so much knowledge and not able to resist the conviction of argument, and with so great excellence wisdom and the spi- of elocution, that they were no way able to deal with rit by which he spake. II Then they sub- him.

orned men, which

11. And being overcome by his reasons and power said, We have heard of speaking, they betook themselves to other viler him speak blasphe-arts, and hired some men to accuse him falsely, and mous words against Moses, and against to make complaint to the sanhedrim, that they had heard him speak dishonourably of the Jewish religion.

God.

5 continue in, προσκαρτερήσομεν τῇ. 6 they prayed, and laid, "poσevέáμevoi èπéo.

12 And they stirred

12. And having incensed the sanhedrim against up the people, and him, and also the people at Jerusalem, they apprehended and carried him before the sanhedrim.

the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

13 And set up false

13. And brought those witnesses which they had witnesses, which hired or suborned, ver. 11, to give in their testimony; said, This man ceas- which was thus: This Stephen is continually a foreeth not to speak blasphemous words telling destruction to the temple, and threatening the against this holy change of all the Mosaical rites.

place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the "customs which Moses delivered us.

brites, ceremonies, which Moses delivered us.

15 And all that 15. And all the judges that were present in the sat in the council, sanhedrim, as they looked on him, saw a great splenlooking stedfastly on dour about him, just as it is when an angel appeareth.

him, saw his face as

it had been the face

of an angel.

CHAP. VII.

THEN said the 1. And the chief priest asked him, Whether this, high priest, Are these whereof he was accused, ch. vi. 14, of foretelling the things so? destruction of this people, and religion of the Jews,

were true or no?

2 And he said, 2. And fitting his speech to the point in hand, (that Men, brethren, and is, to prove the approaching destruction of the temfathers, hearken; The God of glory ple, by shewing the little merit and great provocations appeared unto our of that people, and the no reason why they should father Abraham, be preferred before other nations, the free choice, and when he was in Mes- thereupon free promise of God, being the only ground opotamia, before he of all the mercy that befell them,) he said, I beseech

dwelt in Charran,

you to give audience; The one eternal God of heaven and earth appeared, and spake to our father Abraham, whilst he was in Mesopotamia, (as that (see Judith v. 3.) in a wider notion contains that whole region on the other side of Euphrates from Canaan, ver. 2, Syria, *Chaldea, Mesopotamia, and Babylonia,) that is, whilst he was in the place of his birth, Ur of the Chaldees, Gen. xv. 7, and xi. 31, before the time that his father Terah and he dwelt in Haran, Gen. xi. 31, (where in the way from Ur to Canaan they stayed some years, till Terah's death, ver. 32.)

* Ur in Mesopotamia fuit in via e Tigri Nisibem. Ammian.

shew thee.

3 And said unto 3. And when he appeared, he commanded him, him, Get thee out of saying, The country where thou art is overrun with thy country, and from thy kindred, all villany; and therefore, that thou mayest keep thyand come into the self free from their idolatries, and other vices accomland which I shall panying them, I command thee to forsake that place, and thy father's house, Gen. xii. 1, and remove into another land, which I shall appoint and direct thee to, viz., the land of Canaan, which though now possessed by others, yet I will give unto thee, and to thy seed entirely, Gen. xiii. 14; and by thy readiness to take this journey on this command, I shall discern thy obedience to me.

4 Then came he out of the land of 4. Then, in obedience to that command, he went the Chaldæans, and out of that country of his (and his father Terah with dwelt in Charran: him, as far as Haran, Gen. xi. 31); and after he had and from thence, dwelt in Haran some years, according to God's comdead, he removed mand, he removed into Canaan, Gen. xii. 5.

when his father was

dwell.

none inheritance in

4.

him into this land, 5. And there he pitched his tent, and built an wherein ye now altar, vv. 7, 8, (but was soon fain to remove into Egypt, ver. 10, and there to sojourn,) having received 5 And he gave him a promise of God, that he would give him this whole it, no, not so much land of Canaan, ch. xii. 7, for him and his seed to posas to set his foot on: sess, when as yet he had no child, nor likelihood yet he promised that to have any, nor any kind of estate in the land, but he would give it to was a stranger or sojourner there, Gen. xvii. 18, and him for a possession, XX. 1, and xxi. and to his seed after and xxiii. 34, him, when as yet he 6. And, Gen. xv. 13, God spake to him again conhad no child. cerning this matter, that before this promise should 6 And God spake be performed to him, his posterity should first sojourn on this wise, That in Canaan, and then go down to sojourn in Egypt, journ in a strange and there should suffer, and be for some time oppressland; and that they ed like slaves, till the end of four hundred years from should bring them the time of the birth of Isaac (not from the time of into bondage, and the going into Egypt), until the time that the iniquity [a] four hundred of the seven nations, all concluded there (as Amos ii. 9, 10.) under the general name of the Amorites, which inhabited this promised land, should be filled up, and so they fit for God in justice to destroy them, and give away their land from them, Gen. xv. 16.

his seed should so

entreat them evil

years.

7. And then in the fourth generation (Gen. xv. 16.) 7 And the nation to whom they shall after Jacob, (Moses and Aaron, which brought them be in bondage will out, being the sons of Amram, the son of Cohath, the I judge, said God: son of Levi, one of Jacob's sons that went down with and after that shall him into Egypt,) when the time comes of bringing in this them out of their Egyptian slavery, and giving them this land, I will, saith God, Gen. xv. 14, lay heavy punishments on the Egyptians, and by that means

they come forth, and

serve me

place.

8 And he gave him make them release thy posterity; and so they shall the covenant of cir- come and possess this land, and serve me in it.

cumcision: and so

Abraham begat Isa8. And God made a covenant with him, and apac, and circumcised pointed circumcision as a seal of it; and accordingly him the eighth day; Abraham, when Isaac was born, circumcised him the and Isaac begat Ja- eighth day; and Isaac begat and circumcised Jacob, cob; and Jacob be- and Jacob his twelve sons, the heads of the twelve gat the twelve patri- tribes, of which this people consisted.

archs.

9 And the patri- 9. And those sons of Jacob were much displeased archs, 'moved with with one of their brethren, viz., Joseph, and sold him envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but when he was there, God protected, into Egypt: but God was with him, and provided for, and advanced him miraculously.

him favour and wis

10 And delivered 10. And when he was cast into prison there, God him out of all his brought him out, and at the same time brought him afflictions, and gave into favour and estimation, for deep wisdom, with dom in the sight of Pharaoh the king of Egypt: and he intrusted the Pharaoh king of affairs of his whole household, yea and the whole Egypt; and he made kingdom, to his managery.

him governor over

house.

Egypt and all his 11. At this time of Joseph's power with Pharaoh there came a terrible famine upon Egypt and Canaan II Now there came for seven years' space, and our father Jacob and his land of Egypt and children, being then in Canaan, were like to have Chanaan, and great perished for want of food.

a dearth over all the

tenance.

affliction: and our 12, 13. And Jacob, understanding that, though fathers found no sus- the famine was as great at present in Egypt as in 12 But when Jacob Canaan, yet there was a magazine of corn reserved heard that there was from the former years' plenty, and so there was now corn in Egypt, he sufficient for themselves and to sell to others, sent his sent out our fathers sons twice into Egypt to buy corn; and though the first time Joseph dealt a little harshly with them, yet the second time he made himself known to be their was made known to brother, and made it known also to Pharaoh.

first.

13 And at the second time Joseph

made known unto

Pharaoh.

his brethren; and Jo- 14. And by Pharaoh's appointment, Joseph sent seph's kindred was for his father and brethren, and their wives and children, which, reckoning in some of their children born 14 Then sent Jo- in Egypt, together with Joseph and his sons, and seph, and called his sons' sons, made up seventy-five persons. father Jacob to him, 15. And accordingly Jacob went down to him with and all his kindred, his whole family; and he and all his sons died there. [b] threescore and 16. And Joseph and some (say the ancients) of his 15 So Jacob went brethren, being first buried in Egypt, were after, at down into Egypt, the Israelites' going out, removed to Sichem, Jos. xxiv. and died, he, and our 32, and buried in the field bought by Jacob of the 16 And were [c]car- children of Hamor; and Jacob himself never buried ried over into Sy- in Egypt, but by his sons carried and buried, Gen. 1. 'chem, and laid in 13, in the field of Machpelah, bought by Abraham of

fifteen souls.

fathers,

1 being enraged, (nλwσavtes.