came, and had seen note [d] Heb. xiii., and note [e] Acts xviii.) was glad, the grace of God, was and advised them cordially and steadfastly to hold fast glad, and exhorted them all, that with to Christ. purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a 24. For Barnabas was a very pious person, a begood man, and full liever that had many excellent gifts and graces, and of the Holy Ghost by his means also the gospel was received by very and of faith: and much people was many. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole Paul and Barnabas, for the space of a year, reyear they assembled sorted to the place of public assemblies, and instructed themselves with the and confirmed all that came. church, and taught And the disciples, or much people. And those that received the faith of Christ, being formerly the disciples were called Nazarites or Galilæans, instead of those names, [a] called Christians first in Antioch. were styled Christians, and that first in Antioch of 27¶ And in these any place. to Antioch. up one of them named days came prophets 27. And some of the chief men, possibly bishops from Jerusalem un- of Judæa, that had also the gift of prophecy, came by appointment of the church of Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And there stood 28. And one of them, named Agabus, by revelation Agabus, and signi- from the Spirit of God, foretold that there should fied by the spirit that shortly be a great famine over all Judæa, (see note there should be great [e] Matt. xxiv., and note [a] Luke ii,) which accorddearth throughout ingly came to pass in the reign of the emperor Clau all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar. dius: see 1 Cor. xvi. 1. 29 Then the disci- 29. And all the Christians in all places, according ples, every man ac- to their abilities, resolved to send relief to the Chriscording to his ability, tians in Judæa in this time of dearth, (and among determined to send relief unto the bre- them Helen, queen of the Adiabeni, saith Eusebius, thren which dwelt in lib. 2. c. 12.) bought a great deal of corn out of Egypt, and sent it to be distributed to them that were 30 Which also they in want: see Jos. Ant. lib. 20. cap. 2. Judæa: did, and sent it to [b] the elders by the 30. And this liberality from other parts of the hands of Barnabas church was by Paul and Barnabas brought and put into the hands of the bishops of Judæa. and Saul. 8 assembled in the church, συναχθῆναι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησία. 1 NOW about that his hands to vex cer CHAP. XII. 1. About this time, an. Ch. 43, Agrippa, grandchild time Herod the king to Herod the Great, having obtained a great part of [a] stretched forth his grandfather's dominions, and so calling himself by tain of the church. his name, Herod, went about, that is, resolved to per2 And he killed secute the Christians, especially the apostles at JeruJames the brother of salem, thereby to gratify the Jews. John with the sword. 3 And because he 2 2. And in that persecution he put James the aposaw it pleased the stle, the son of Zebedee, to the sword, beheaded him. Jews, he proceeded 3. And perceiving that the Jews gave their votes further to take Pe- and consent to his death, and expressed their good ter also. (Then were liking of it, (see note [c] John viii.,) he proceeded and apprehended Peter also. And it was about the 4 And when he had time of the passover of the Jews when he appreapprehended him, he hended him. the days of unlea vened bread.) put him in prison, and delivered him to 4. And having imprisoned him, he set sixteen four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, four at a time, two to be always soldiers to keep him; by him and chained to him, (see note [e] ch. xxviii.,) intending after East- and two to guard the door, ver. 6, meaning, after the er to bring him forth feast of the passover, to bring him forth to the Jews, to the people. 5 Peter therefore and, if they thought fit, to put him to death also. made [b] without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod 6. And the night before Herod intended to bring would have brought him into the assembly, before the people, to have him forth, the same their suffrage to put him to death, (see vv. 3. 11,) night Peter was sleeping between two Peter was sleeping soldiers, bound with two chains and the 5 keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, "the 7. And an angel came to him, and the light with angel of the Lord which he appeared shone in the prison, and the angel came upon him, and smote Petera light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, a Gird a Make thyself ready to go out immediately, put on thyself, and bind on thy outer garment (see note [r] Matt. v.) and thy 1 put forth his hands to mischief, ἐπέβαλεν τὰς χεῖρας κακῶσαι. 2 apprehend, σvλλaßeir, 3 earnest or continual prayer was. 4 was about to bring, ἔμελλεν προάγειν. 5 watchmen at the door: for the King's MS. reads, púλakes рós. angel of the Lord came upon, ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη. * watch, τὴν φυλακήν. 7 an thy sandals. And so sandals, and follow me. And Peter did as he was bid. he did. And he saith And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, 9. And he followed him out, but as yet knew not and followed him; that this was really done, but thought he had been in and wist not that it a dream or trance. was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. IO When they were came unto the iron 10. And the prison being in the suburbs, after they past the first and the were out of the prison they passed through two watches second ward, they or wards, which stood every night without the gates, and at last came to the gate which enters into the city, gate that leadeth unto the city; which an iron gate, which opening to them of its own acopened to them of cord, they passed through it; and when they had his own accord and passed together through one street the angel left they went out, and Peter by himself. passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. II And when Peter 11. And Peter being perfectly awake out of the was come to him- trance, and knowing that he was so, (as he did not self, he said, Now I ver. 9,) he said to himself, that now it was clear that know of a surety, God had sent his angel to deliver him from the hands sent his angel, and of Herod, and from the malice of the Jews, who verily hath delivered me expected to have had him brought out to them that out of the hand of day, ver. 6. that the Lord hath Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12 And when he had [c] considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many ba place where many Christians at this time of were gathered toge- night met together to pray, and were now performing ther praying. 8 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the 'gate, a damsel came to [d]hearken, named Rhoda. 14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told that office. 8 9 10 to answer. how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she "conAnd they being moved with her earnest affirming stantly affirmed that it was even so. "Then of it, and yet being confident that Peter was in prison, said they, It is thought she had affirmed it, not from knowing Peter's 12 [e] his angel. voice, but from hearing mention of Peter's name, and tinued knocking: thereupon concluded, that though Peter himself could and when they had not be there, yet there was some messenger sent from opened the door, and him which mentioned his name. 16 But Peter con saw him, they were 16. But whilst they thus debated, Peter continued astonished. 17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, knocking d Go shew these d Let this be known to the bishop of Jerusalem and things unto James, all the Christians there, (see note [a] 1 Cor. xv., and and to the brethren. note [e] Gal. ii.) And immediately he departed from And he departed, and went into an- them to a place of more safety. other place. 18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he 13 examined the keepers, and commanded 14 that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode. 20 And Herod 15 was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one e carried away as malefactors to punishment. But Peter went down accord to him, 'and, f and having gratified Blastus, the king's chamberhaving made Blastus lain, and got him to be their friend, they requested the king's chamberlain their friend, de- Herod that he would be friends with them, as with sired peace; because persons whose whole subsistence was from his favours. 11 with asseverations affirmed, düoxvpíšeтo. 12 a messenger of his. 13 questioned the watch, ἀνακρίνας τοὺς φύλακας. if them to be carried away, ἀπαχθῆναι. *15 had an intention to make war, ἦν θυμομαχῶν. their country was nourished by the king's country. 21 And upon a set 21. And upon this occasion, Herod, having apday Herod, arrayed pointed a day to hear and consider that business, in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and being arrayed made an oration 16 unto them. 22 And the people 17% gave a shout, say 8 cried out by way of acclamation, He speaks more ing, It is the voice like a god than a man. of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediate 23. God sent a disease upon him (see this whole ly the angel of the story in Josephus, and out of him in Eusebius Eccl. Lord smote him, be- Hist. lib. 2. cap. 10.) because he prided himself in cause he gave not God the glory: and this acclamation of the people, and disclaimed not eaten of that blasphemous flattery of theirs: and he was eaten— worms, and gave up he was the ghost. 24 But the word 24. And the gospel thrived and had many pro of God grew and selytes, many were daily converted to it. multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled 19 btheir minis h their business in carrying provision for the relief try, and took with of the poor Christians, (ch. xi. 19,) and took them John, whose surname was Mark. CHAP. XIII. 1 NOW there were 1. And there were at that time in Antioch some in the church that eminent persons or bishops of the churches of Syria was at Antioch cer- of that age, (see note [c] 1 Cor. xii.,) and of them teachers; as Barna- some having the gift of prophecy, (see note [e] ch. bas, and Simeon that xv.,) as Barnabas tain prophets and was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they minis 2. And as they were upon a day of fast performing tered to the Lord, their office of prayer to God (see note [] Luke i.) and fasted, the Holy the Holy Spirit of God, by some afflation or revelation, Ghost said, Separate Barnabas and (see note [ƒ] ch. viii.) commanded them to ordain or Saul for the work consecrate Barnabas and Saul to the apostleship, to whereunto I have which God had already designed them. me called them. 16 to the people, édnunyópe.. 18 the administration, diakovíav. 17 shouted, The voice of God, ἐπεφώνει, Θεοῦ φωνή. 1 Now there were some in Antioch, belonging to the church that then was, prophets and doctors, ἦσαν δέ τινες ἐν ̓Αντιοχείᾳ κατὰ τὴν οὖσαν ἐκκλησίαν προφῆται καὶ διδάσκαλοι. 2 foster-brother of Herod, σúvτpоOOS TOû 'Hp. |