Ghost, looked up fears of their fury; and doing so, he saw an appearstedfastly into hea- ance of angels about God, and Jesus God-man standven, and saw the glory of God, and ing (as in a posture of readiness to assist and help) Jesus standing on close by, or at the right hand of God. the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 56. And he proclaimed his vision, saying, Behold— 57 Then they cried 57, 58. And they dealt with him by the judgment of out with a loud voice, zeal, used among the Jews against those that departand stopped their ed from the Jewish (and set up any new) worship; ears, and ran upon and first cast him out of the gates of the city, then him with one accord, witnesses laid down 58 And cast him stoned him; and they that brought evidence against out of the city, and him, ch. vi. 13, and were therefore by law to throw stoned him and the the first stone at him, and are therefore called executheir clothes at tioners, ch. xxii. 2, put off their clothes to fit themyoung man's feet, selves for their work; and a young man called Saul whose name was undertook to look to their clothes, who consequently had a hand in the stoning of him, ch. viii. 1. Saul. a 59 And they stoned 59. And all the time that they cast stones he conStephen, calling up- tinued in prayer to God, and at the last concluded in Lord Jesus, receive these words, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. on God, and saying, AND Saul was death. And at that time there was a 1. And Saul, which was after, ch. ix., so strangely 'consenting unto his converted, and became so renowned an apostle, was then one of those that liked well the stoning of Stegreat persecution a- phen, and joined in it, ch. vii. 58. And at the same gainst the church time that they dealt thus with Stephen, they vehewhich was at Jeru- mently opposed the professing of the faith at Jerusasalem; and they were lem, and persecuted all that did so. And all such, throughout the re- but the apostles, particularly the rest of the seven gions of Judæa and deacons, and divers others, ch. xi. 19, went out of Samaria, except the Jerusalem, and were dispersed into several places apostles. through Judæa and Samaria, and as far as Phoenice and Cyprus and Antioch, ch. xi. 19; and in all those places those that were thus dispersed (being filled all scattered abroad 1 well pleased with the killing of him, συνευδοκῶν τῇ ἀναιρέσει αὐτοῦ. 2 2 And devout men with the Holy Ghost, ch. iv. 31.) preached to the [a] carried Stephen Jews, and only the apostles continued at Hierusalem, made great lament- being not yet (all) gone out from thence. to his burial, and ation over him. 2. And some proselytes that were there (see note 3 As for Saul, he [a] ch. x.) made a solemn funeral for Stephen, and made havock of the mourned at it. to every house, and church, entering in- 4. And thereupon they that were driven from Jehaling men and wo- rusalem into Judæa and Samaria, ver. 1, rested not men committed them there, but went farther off, and all the way they went to prison. published the glad tidings of the gospel, told every 4 Therefore they where what they knew of it. that were scattered abroad 3 went every the word. 5. Then Philip the deacon, not the apostle, (and where [6] preaching therefore Peter and John, ver. 15, are sent to impose hands,) went from Judæa to Samaria; and though 5 Then Philip went the Jews conversed not with them, and though in the down to the city of Samaria, and preach- first going out of the apostles, Matt. x. 5, they were ed Christ unto them. appointed not to go to any city of the Samaritans, 6 And the people yet now in this dispersion and persecution from the with one accord gave Jews at Jerusalem, ver. 1, it was thought fit to preach heed unto those the gospel unto them, and Philip accordingly preached spake, hearing and it in Sebaste, an eminent city in Samaria. things which Philip which he did. seeing the miracles 6. And all that city were persuaded by Philip to receive the faith of Christ, being convinced by the 7 For unclean spi- miracles wrought by him. rits, crying with loud voice, came out of 7. For out of many that were possessed they cast many that were pos- out devils, which at their coming out made loud acsessed with them knowledgment of the irresistibleness of the power by and many taken with which they acted: and many taken with palsiespalsies, and that were lame, were healed. : 8 And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was 9. But before this preaching and miracles of Philip a certain man, called there had been in the city one Simon, which was a Simon, which be- magician, which had done some strange things, which city used sorcery, posed and amazed the ignorant people, by which and bewitched the means he took upon him to be a divine person. foretime in the same people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from 6 the least to the greatest, saying, This man is a the divine power, which in every nation is acknowledged sometimes under one, sometimes under power of God. another name, Jehovah, Jupiter, and the like. the great 2 prepared Stephen for. 3 passed along publishing, diñλov evayyeλís. 4 a city, πόλιν. 5 before this there was, or had been in the city, a certain man, Simon by name, which used sorcery, and astonished &c. ̓Ανὴρ δέ τις ὀνόματι Σίμων, προϋπῆρχεν ἐν τῇ πόλει μαγεύων καὶ ἐξιστῶν. 6 small to great, μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου. 7 the power of God, called the Great: so the King's MS. and the ancient Greek and Latin MS. read it, duvaus Deοû † кaλovμévn peydλn: see notes [e] [ƒ] 2 Thess. ii. 4. II And to him they had regard, because that of long time he with sorceries. 12 But when b he had by sorcery, or the help of the devil, done had bewitched them such strange things that they were amazed at them, (see ver. 13,) and knew not what to think of him. they believed Philip 12. But when Philip, (one of the seven, ver. 5, and preaching the things ch. vi., called evangelist, ch. xxi. 8, because of his concerning the king- preaching the gospel here, see note [b] John xx.,) by dom of God, and the preaching the Christian faith, and doing far greater name of Jesus Christ, miracles, had converted them to Christianity, they all both men and wo- came in as proselytes to the gospel, and received baptism of him, all of all sorts. they were baptized, men. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, be was himself amazed at the miracles Philip did, holding the miracles as the people had been at his, vv. 9, 11. and signs which were done. 14 Now when the 14. And when the apostles that remained at Jeruapostles which were salem, ver. 1, heard that by Philip's preaching the at Jerusalem heard whole country of Samaria was converted and bapthat Samaria had re- tized, and knowing that Philip had no farther power, God, they sent unto they sent two of their own company, Peter and John, ceived the word of them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they 15. To confirm them, and to ordain them elders come down, or bishops, (in every city one,) by prayer and imprayed for them, that position of hands. were they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16. (For Philip had not done either of these, nor 16 (For as yet he consequently provided for the necessaries to the conwas fallen upon none of them: only they tinuance of a church; only he had preached the faith, were baptized in the and baptized them with that baptism which Christ name of the Lord commanded to be used, Matt. xxviii. 19, that in the Jesus.) name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.) 17 Then [c]laid they 17. Then Peter and John confirmed and ordained and they received them elders or bishops in all their cities, to rule or the Holy Ghost. govern them in the faith; and in doing it they used 18 And when Simon that ceremony of imposition of hands, (known among saw that through lay- the Jews, Deut. xxxiv. 9,) and thereby was bestowed ing on of the apo- on them the gift of the Holy Ghost, working of mirastles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he cles, speaking with tongues, &c. their hands on them, offered them money, 18. And Simon the sorcerer seeing those miracu19 Saying, Give me lous effects, consequent to the apostles' imposition of also this power, that hands, offered to give them money for this power. on whomsoever I lay d hands, he may red he may receive those gifts and graces of working ceive the Holy Ghost. miracles, &c. 8 was astonished, è̟lorato: see ver. 9. 20 But Peter said 9 e unto him, Thy mo- e I will not receive thy money; and thy offering it ney perish with shall bring mischief upon thyself, for thinking so thee, because thou hast thought that meanly of this apostolical privilege bestowed on us by the gift of God may Christ, which sure is not to be bought, like earthly be purchased with commodities, with the price of money. money. 21 Thou hast nei- 21. Thou shalt never have any part of this privither part nor lot in lege, nor right of dispensing or administering of these this matter: for thy holy things; for thy design in desiring this is not the the sight of God. enlarging Christ's kingdom,'but the getting an opinion 22 Repent there- of power to thyself. heart is not right in fore of this thy wick- 22. Repent therefore, and humble thyself before edness, and pray God for this wicked project of thine, (and humbly God, if perhaps the beseech his pardon; and it is not impossible but that thought of thine heart may be for- it may yet be obtained by thee.) given thee. 23. For I perceive thou art in a condition poisonous 23 For I perceive to thyself, and bitter to God, very dangerous to thee, that thou art in the and displeasing to him, and makest this proposal out [d] gall of bitterness, and in 10 the of a villainous treacherous design, not to advance [e] bond of iniquity. Christ's kingdom, but to destroy it, and accordingly 24 Then answered thou art to expect to be dealt with by God. Simon, and said, 24. And Simon besought them that they would Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of pray for him, that God would pardon this wickedness these things which of his, and not inflict on him such punishment as they ye have spoken come seemed to foretell would fall upon him. upon me. word of the Lord, 25 And they, when 25. And when they had confirmed those in the they had testified faith (bearing witness to the truth which Philip had and preached the taught) who were baptized by him, they returned to returned to Jerusa- Jerusalem, and as they went, preached the gospel to lem, and preached all the villages of Samaria, where Philip had not the gospel in many preached it, and had good success in it. villages of the Sama ritans. 26 And the angel 26. And Philip had a vision, and therein an angel of the Lord spake from heaven spake unto him, saying, Arise and go tounto Philip, saying, ward the south Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is de sert. 27 And he arose and went and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch f f one intrusted with that office of greatness, which anciently was wont to be conferred on eunuchs, that of great authori- is, the high treasurer to the queen or king's mother ty under Candace (see Ecumenius) of Ethiopia, had been at Jerusa 9 be with thee to destruction, oùv ool ein eis àñwλetav. 10 a wicked conspiracy. 11 a great officer of Candace, δυνάστης Κανδάκης. queen of the Ethio- lem to worship the God of Israel, being, it seems, a pians, who had the charge of all her proselyte of the Jewish religion, one of the lower treasure, and had sort: (see note [d] Matt. xxiii.) come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 12 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then [f] the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and 29. Then Philip was by prophetic divine afflation, or revelation, directed to go near to the chariot and join thyself to this speak to him. chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should 8 give me some direction, and tell me what it is guide me? And he that the prophet's words belong to? And he desired desired Philip that Philip he would come up and sit with him. 32 [9] The 13 place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth : 33 [h] In his hu- 33. By an assembly and by judgment, by the sanmiliation his judg- hedrim of the Jews, and the Roman procurator Pilate, ment was taken a- he was taken away; or, in his state of exinanition and way: and who shall 14 declare his genehumiliation, when he was apprehended and arraigned ration? for his life by the Jews, he was most unjustly dealt with, put to is taken from the death, being most innocent. And who shall describe the wickedness of that age that used him thus, which put him to death for coming to do good to them? h demanded of Philip, saying, I pray thee— earth. 34 And the eunuch b answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35. And on occasion of this scripture, which, 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, though it had one literal completion about the time and began at the of Isaiah's writing it, yet had another higher comple 12 And he was returning, and sitting &c., and he read, ν TE STOσtpépwv kal kabμevos— καὶ ἀνεγίν. 13 section. 14 describe, dinyhσerai: see note [c]. |