• heard, and thine

accepted so far as to bring down this mercy of alms are had in re- God on thee, and thine acts of mercy are now likely membrance in the to be rewarded by God abundantly.

sight of God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33 Immediately therefore I sent to

thee; and thou hast

art come. Now there

PI thank thee (Phil. iv. 14.) for coming. And now

well done that thou we all here are ready to receive any message from fore are we all here God, and to undertake any course that God by thee present before God, shall appoint us.

to hear all things

that are commanded thee of God.

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God

persons:

is no respecter of a looks not on any one man with favour above others, merely because he is a Jew, or for any such 35 But in every personal external prerogatives, abstracted from actions eth him, and work- and qualifications.

nation he that fear

eth righteousness, is 35. But of what nation soever a man be, if he accepted with him. undertake the service of the true God, and exercise 36 The word which works of mercy and devotion, ver. 2, he shall be sure children of Israel, to be accepted by God, and rewarded with higher preaching peace by revelations and graces from him.

God sent unto the

Jesus Christ: (he is 36-38. The doctrine which hath been preached Lord of all:) thorough all Judæa by God's appointment, to wit, 37 That word, I say, that of salvation by Jesus, appointed by God to be ye know, which was published through- our King, and which was first preached in Galilee out all Judæa, and presently after John Baptist's preaching and bapbegan from Galilee, tizing; this doctrine you cannot but have heard of, after the baptism viz., concerning Jesus of Nazareth, how by the testiwhich John preached; of the Holy Ghost descending on him, and by 38 How God [e]an- the power of working miracles, God authorized him, ointed Jesus of Na- and accordingly he hath executed his office, an office zareth with the Holy of mercy, instructing and calling to repentance, curing Ghost and with pow- diseases, and casting out devils by the power of God, doing good, and heal- which was present with him.

er: who went about

ing all that were op

pressed of the devil;

mony

5 The Syriac and old Latin read, thee.

for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both

in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they

a tree:

r

put to death and crucified.

s manifested him to be conqueror over death. 41. But this manifestation was not immediately * slew and hanged on made to all the multitude of the Jews, but only to his disciples, persons whom God had inclined to leave all 40 Him God raised and follow Christ, and to receive the faith which he up the third day, 6 and shewed him preached to them, and to repose their whole trust in openly; him; for being crucified by the Jews, and taken from 41 Not to all the them, and so they left destitute and hopeless for a people, but unto wit- while, God was pleased to revive him again; and as nesses 7 chosen be- he had chosen them to be witnesses of all that Christ fore of God, even to us, who did eat and did when he was alive, so he chose them to be the drink with him after witnesses most distinctly of his resurrection, giving he rose from the them the honour to eat and drink with him, and to see him eat and drink after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach 42. Whom therefore he appointed to preach the unto the people, and gospel of Christ to the world, and to proclaim to all to testify that it is that this crucified Christ is raised to God's right hand, he which was or- to be judge of all men that shall die before, and that dained of God to be shall be found alive at the day of doom.

dead.

the Judge of quick

and dead.

43. This is he of whom all the prophets foretell, 43 To him give all that in him God would strike a new covenant with the prophets witness, mankind, of which this is the sum, that although men that through his were sinners, yet upon receiving of him, embracing lieveth in him shall his doctrine, they should by their prayers, offered to receive remission of God in his name, obtain pardon and remission.

name whosoever be

sins.

the Holy Ghost fell

44. Whilst Peter was thus speaking, the Holy Spirit 44¶ While Peter yet (either by some way of visible appearance, such as spake these words, that was on the apostles, Acts xv. 8, or else manifeston all them which ing himself in them by the effects, the same that heard the word. had attended the visible descent, Acts ii, the gift of 45 And they of the tongues, &c., ver. 46.) came down upon them, (see circumcision which believed were astover. 47, and ch. xi. 15,) and gave unto those that heard nished, as many as him (power of doing miracles, of speaking strange came with Peter, be- languages, ver. 46, to some, to others) other gifts and cause that on the graces, fitting them for several conditions in the Gentiles also was church: see ch. xix. 6.

poured out the gift

of the Holy Ghost.

45. And the Jews which had received the gospel, 46 For they heard and came with Peter, wondered extremely that on them speak with the Gentiles

t

tongues, and mag- t bless God for his great mercies to them. Thennify God. Then an

swered Peter,

6 and gave him to be made manifest, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν ἐμφανῆ γενέσθαι. before, πрokεxe porovnμévois: see note [a] ch. xiv.

7 ordained

these should not be

47 Can any man 47. Is there any doubt or question to be made of forbid water, that the baptizing of these, and receiving them into freedom baptized, which have of the congregation, to whom, although they be Genreceived the Holy tiles, God hath himself allowed that which is more Ghost as well as than baptism, viz., the descent of the Holy Ghost upon them, thereby fitting them for offices in his 48 And he com- church, in the same manner as by descent of the baptized in the name Holy Ghost we received our commission? Acts ii.

we?

manded them to be

of the Lord. Then

prayed they him to

tarry certain days.

AND the apostles

CHAP. XI.

and brethren that a Christians in Judæa heard that the people of other were in Judæa heard nations, which were not Jews, had embraced the docthat the Gentiles had trine of Christ.

also received the

word of God.

2 And when Peter

2, 3. And at Peter's coming to Jerusalem the Jewwas come up to Je- ish Christians (who, though they were converted to rusalem, they that Christianity, yet still continued constant to the obwere of the circum- servation of the Mosaical law of circumcision, of abstaining from unclean things, and the conversation

cision contended

with him,

3 Saying, Thou with men of any other nation, &c.) accused him, that wentest in to men he conversed freely with those that were not circumuncircumcised, and didst eat with them. cised, Cornelius, &c., and eat with them, which the 4 But Peter 1 Jews count absolutely unlawful.

re

hearsed the matter 4. And Peter thus made his apology, giving an exfrom the beginning, act account of all that had befallen in this matter. and expounded it

by order unto them, saying,

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

even to me:

6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I consi

dered, and saw "four

b See note [d] ch. x.

beasts and fowls, and creepers of all sorts, clean

footed beasts of the and unclean.

earth, and wild

beasts, and creeping

things, and fowls of

the air.

8 in like manner even as we ? καθὼς καὶ ἡμεῖς ; orderly, ἀρξάμενος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς.

1 began and expounded to them

7 And I heard a

d make no distinction of clean and unclean, but eat

voice saying unto freely of any which thou seest.

me, Arise, Peter;

d slay and eat.

e I have always observed this distinction, com8 But I said, Not manded by the law of Moses, and must not now so, Lord: for no- break that law, whatsoever thou seemest to command thing common or me.

unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

f It was God that made that distinction by his law to the Jews, and there is no natural turpitude in eat9 But the voice an- ing any kind of meat, save only as it is prohibited by swered me 2 again God; and therefore God, that made that law, abrofrom heaven, 'What God hath cleansed, gating it again, and making all meats clean or free to that call not thou be eaten, thou art not to think any interdict lies on any, but freely to eat of all.

common.

ven.

come unto the house

10 And this was 11. And as soon as I had seen this vision, there was done three times: a thing fell out, which made me discern to what end and all were drawn this vision was designed, not only to reveal to me the up again into healawfulness of eating all sorts of meats, but more prin11 And, behold, im- cipally of conversing with and preaching the gospel mediately there were to the Gentiles: for immediatelythree men already 12. And the Spirit of God, by a secret afflation or incitation, (see note [f] ch. viii.,) commanded me to from Cæsarea unto make no scruple, (this was the interpreting of my vision to me,) but freely to go along with them, 12 And the spi- though they were not Jews or circumcised proselytes. 80 And these six men, converted or Christian Jews, went with them, nothing doubting. Moreover along with me: and we all went into the house of these six brethren ac- Cornelius, a Gentile, but proselyte of the Jews, companied me, and though uncircumcised.

where I was, sent

me.

rit bade me

man's house:

we entered into the 13. And he told how in a vision, received from an 13 And he shewed angel in this house of his, (and might not we enter us how he had seen where an angel had been before us, sent by God iman angel in his house, mediately, as we also were?) he was commanded to which stood and said send to Joppa for Simon Peter to come to him;

unto him, Send men

to Joppa, and call for

thou and all thy

14. Who, said the angel, shall teach thee that docSimon, whose sur- trine, by believing and embracing of which thou and name is Peter; all thy family, if they believe also, shall be made heirs 14 Who shall 3 tell of everlasting salvation. thee words, whereby 15. And I had not long discoursed with them, and house shall be saved. preached the gospel of Christ, but the Holy Ghost 15 And as I began came down (see ch. x. 44.) upon Cornelius and his to speak, the Holy company, either in the same manner or with the same Ghost fell on them, effects as he did upon us apostles (Acts ii.) presently after the ascension of Christ, before we entered upon 16 Then remember- our office. ed I the word of the 16. And I could not but apply to these also what Lord, how that he Christ said to us, viz., that John Baptist's manner and

as on us at the be

ginning.

4 the second time, ἐκ δευτέρου. 3 speak words to thee, λαλήσει ῥήματα πρός σε.

said, John indeed ceremony of receiving proselytes should be much exbaptized with water; ceeded by another, which should befall us and some but ye shall be bap- others, (see note [a] ch. i.,) the descent of the Holy tized with the Holy

Ghost.

Ghost upon us.

17 Forasmuch then 17. And therefore, when God hath allowed these as God gave them Gentiles the same privilege which he bestowed on us the like gift as he after our continuing steadfast to the faith of Christ so did unto us, 4 who believed on the Lord long, attending him as his constant disciples, when Jesus Christ; what that which we look on as the solemnity of our mission was I, that I could or apostleship—the descent of the Holy Ghost-hath withstand God? been also allowed to them, it must have been a down18 When they heard these things, they right disobedience to God if I had made a scruple held their peace, and to receive them into the church, or indifferently to glorified God, say- preach unto or converse with them. ing, Then hath God 18. With this account of Peter's they were satisfied, and blessed God for that communicativeness of his goodness, that he had afforded the same mercy to 19 Now they the Gentiles as to the Jews, that if they will return, which were scatter- and amend, and receive Christ, they shall be saved, ed abroad upon the and that he had given them the grace to do so.

also to the Gentiles

granted repentance unto life.

persecution that a

rose about Stephen 19. Then the disciples that were driven from Jerutravelled as far as salem (ch. viii. 1.) went about publishing the gospel Phenice, and Cy- (see note [b] ch. viii.) to the Jews, but to none else. prus, and Antioch,

preaching the word

to none but unto the Jews only.

20 And some of

20. And some of these disciples were men that had them were men of been born in Cyprus and Cyrene, and they, when Cyprus and Cyrene, they came to Antioch, preached the faith of Christ to which, when they were come to Anti- those Jews which spake and used the Greek language och, spake unto the and Bibles.

7Grecians, preaching

the Lord Jesus.

21 And the hand

21. And God prospered their preaching of Christ,

of the Lord was with and brought in many converts to them daily.

them and a great

:

number believed,

and turned unto the

Lord.

22 Then tidings

22. And the apostles that remained at Jerusalem of these things came hearing of it, sent Barnabas to confirm them from city to city as far as Antioch.

unto the ears of the

:

church which was in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23. Who coming and seeing with what good suc

23 Who, when he cess the gospel had been preached among them (see

4 when we had believed, TiσTEVσασw.

ἐγὼ τίς ἤμην δυνατὸς κωλῦσαι τὸν Θεόν ; and MS., read ‘Eλλnvioràs, Hellenists.

6

5 who was I, able to withstand or hinder God?

speaking, λαλοῦντες. 7 Many copies, printed