The first tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente

¶The .xii. Chapter.

[ The texte.] At the same tyme, Herode the kyng stretched furth his handes, to bere certayne of the congregacion. And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with a sworde. And because he saw that it pleased the Iewes, he proceded farther, and tooke Peter also. Than were the dayes of swete breade. And whan he had caughte him, he put hym in pryson also, and delyuered hym to ••ower quaternyons of Souldyers to be kepte, entendyng after Easter to bryng him forth to the people. And Peter was kepte in pryson. But prayer was made without ceasyng of the congregacion vnto God for him.

WHyle that Paule and Barnabas were occupied aboute thys embassade, Kyng Herode, whiche had before tyme beheaded Iohn, and sente Christ agayne to Pilate, ap∣parelled wyth a white garmente in a mockage, beeyng sorye that thys sorte of menne daylye encreased, and that the name of Iesus, Kyng of the Iewes, was well knowen in manye countreyes, thoughte it to apper∣tayne to hys duetye, that thys secte so growynge and dayly encreasyng,* 1.1 shoulde bee cleane vanquyshed: Sathanas euen than woorkyng eftesones by theym, as by hys tooles, the same thyng whiche he be∣fore went about, but yet obteyning nothyng els thereby, but that the name of Iesus was more gloryously set foorth.

Therefore Herode practysyng hys regall and absolute power, sente cer∣tayne of hys garde with weapons, to lay hande on some of the congregacyon that professed Iesus of Nazareth, Lorde of all thynges. And so he whyche in choppyng of Iohns head, had learned to behead good men, and those that freely spake the trueth, did now lykewise lay handes vpon Iames thapostle, brother to Iohn, because he in those dayes was estemed of greatest autoritie amonges thother apostles, and commaunded hym to be headed whyche stedfastly contynued in professyng the name of Iesus. And whan he percey∣ued that this cruell acte, dyd well please the Iewes, he heaped myschiefe vp∣on myschiefe, and commaunded that Peter shoulde bee taken, whiche was chiefe among the reste of thapostles, thinkyng that it woulde come to passe, that the shepehearde beyng ryd oute of the waye, the flocke myghte easily bee dispersed and scattered: vpon whiche consyderacyon the Iewes had beefore slayne our lorde Iesus, staying their handes from the apostles. He would im∣mediatly & without delay haue put Peter to death,* 1.2 but onely that their Easter day, whiche was had in greate honoure among the Iewes, was at hande, at which time the Iewes before had ben also afrayde to slea Iesus. Suche is the Iewes deuocion in kepyng theyr holy dayes. They are not afrayde to sacry∣fice an innocent mannes bloude at the peoples requeste, but they are afray∣ed to breake theyr holy daye, as thoughe that he were nothyng gyltie of mur∣der, whiche hath in harte prefixed to commyt murder. He than commaunded that Peter beyng thus taken, shoulde be caste into pryson, and for feare lest he shoulde any waye escape, lyke as Paule had, he sette sixteene harneste men to kepe him lying in bandes, to thintēt that no man myghte by force take him awaye. For he had purposed, after the holy dayes to bryng this sacrifice before the people, that euen thirsted for innocente bloud. Lyke people lyke kyng. In the meane season neyther refused Peter to goe to pryson, hauynge

knowledge before by God, that suche thynges shoulde happen, neyther made the disciples any commocion agaynste the vngodly cruelnes of thys tyraunt, hauyng well in remembraunce, howe the Lorde had commaunded, that they shoulde wyshe nothyng but well, yea to those that pursued them. Herode was not satisfyed wyth imprysonyng of Peter, ne with double chaynes, nor wyth once fower souldiers in armour, whiche in other tymes & cases were thoughte enoughe to haue the safe kepyng of one man, for this purpose verely, that his cruell entente with so great diligence, myghte muche more auayle to the set∣tyng foorth and encreasyng of the glory of our sauiour Christ. In thys wyse Peter, whome the souldiers tooke diligent hede on, kept his holy day in pry∣son. In the meane while the congregacion of the disciples, takyng not a lytle thought for their shepeherde, neuer teassed day ne nighte to pray to God, that Peter myght escape.

[ The texte.] ¶And whan Herode woulde haue brought him out vnto the people, the same night slept Peter betweene two souldiers, bounde wyth twoo chaynes, and the keepers before the doore, kepte the prison. And beholde, the angell of the Lorde was there present, & a lyght shyned in the inhabytacyon. And he smore Peter on the side, styered him vp, sayinge: aryse vp quickely. And hys cheynes fell of from hys handes. And the aungell sayd vnto hym: gyrde thy selfe, and bynde on thy sandales. And he dyd so. And he sayeth vnto him: caste thy garment about the, and folowe me. And he came out and folowed him, & wyste not that it was trueth, whiche was doen by the ••ungel, but thought he had sene a vision Whan they were past the first and y^e seconde watche, they came vnto the yron gate, that leadeth vnto the citie, which opened to them by the owne accord. And they went out, and passed thorowe out strete, and forthwith the aungell departed from hym.

And whan as Herode purposed to bryng hym forth before the people after the holy dayes were ended, as God would, and nyghre before he shoulde haue bene brought foorth,* 1.3 Peter was a slepe betwene two souldiers bounde wyth two chaynes. The rest of the souldiers watched at the pryson doore. And be∣holde thangell of god sodainly stode by Peter, and a wonderfull lyght withall made al the house bryght notwithstandyng that it was both a darke pryson, and a darke nyght also, and smyting Peter on the syde, reysed hym, saying: A∣rise speadily. And forthwyth, assone as these wordes were spoken, the chaines, fell from hys handes. Than sayed the angell, gyrde thy selfe, and put on thy shooes, and see that thou leaue no parte of thy apparell heare. Whan Peter had thys doen, than sayed the angell agayne: cast on thy cloke and folowe me. In this wise Peter folowing the Aungell hys guide began to goe foorth of the pryson, not yet perceiuing that this was in very dede done that the aun∣gell did, but supposyng that he sawe a vision, as he had before seene. But af∣ter they had passed the first and the seconde warde, they came to an yron gate that leadeth into the citie, which by it owne accorde, opened vnto them, though it had many lockes and boltes vpon it.* 1.4 And whan they were cleane foorth, they passed on vntyll they had gone throughe one strete of the citie, and than foorthwith the aungell vanishyng away, left Peter, as soodaynly as he before had comen to him.

[ The texte.] And whan Peter was come to himselfe, he sayed: Now I knowe of a suretie, that the Lorde hath sent his angell, and hath delyuered me out of the hande of Herode, and from all the waytyng for of the people of the Iewes. And as he consydered the thyng, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of one Iohn, whose sirname was Marke, where many were gathered together in prayer. As Peter knocked at the entry doore, a damosell came

foorth to harken, named i•• hoda. And whā she knew Peters voyce, she opened not the en∣try for gladnes, but tanne in and tolde how Peter stoode before the entry. And they said vnto her, thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was euen so. Than sayd they: it is hys ••ungell. But Peter contin••ed knocking: and when they had opened the doore, and saw hym, they were asto••ied. And whan he had beckened vnto them with the hand that they myght holde their peace, he tolde them by what meanes the Lorde had brought hym out of the prison. And he sayed: goe shewe these thynges vnto Iames, and to the brer••r••. And he departed, and went into an other place.

Then Peter lookyng about hym, and perfectly knowyng in what part of the citie he was, cummyng to hymselfe, sayde: Nowe I perceyue it is no dreame that is done, but the Lorde pytiynge those that be hys, hath sente hys Aungell, and hath delyuered me out of the handes of Herode, whiche had de∣creed to put me to deathe, and hath disappoynted bothe the cruell kyng, and also the earnest expectacion of the multitude.* 1.5 Than as he was in consultynge and deuising with hymselfe whither he myghte mooste safely goe, thynkyng that he woulde make hys dysciples and felowes to be partakers of thys hys ioyfull chaucne, wente to the house of Mary that was the mother of Iohn, not the same Iohn that was brother to Iames, but that was otherwise called Marke, in whose house many were assembled, praying wyth one assente, for the delyuery of theyr pastoure.

And whan Peter knocked at the wicket of the gate whyche was towardes the streate syde, a lytle mayden came foorthe softely to harken what the mat∣ter was. Her name was Rhoda. Whome Peter perceyuyng to come to the doore, wylled her spedely to open the doore. Whan she heard Peters voice, beeyng halfe amased for sooddayn ioye, did not open the doore, but runnyng backe agayne into the house, broughte theym woorde that Peter was at the doore. But they beeyng well assured howe safe Herode had caused Peter to bee kepte, aunswered to the mayden. Surely thou arte peuyshe. But whan shee contynued styffely affirmyng that it was true that shee had sayed, some of theym sayd, it is not Peter but his ghoste, or angell that speaketh lyke him. For they were of this opinion, that euery man hath an Angell to be hys keper and guyde,* 1.6 whiche often tymes woulde take mannes lykenes vpon hym. But when as Peter styll knocked, they opened the doore, and whan they sawe Peter come in, they woondred at hym. But Peter hearyng the greate noyse of those that reioyced that he was come agayne, beckened to theym with his hande, that they shoulde holde theyr peace, and harken wythoute noyse what he woulde saye, leste that any manne shoulde perceyue the matter, that had chaunced, by so straunge and vnaccustomed noyse that they made. Whan sylence was made, he shewed theym all the matter as it had chaunced in or∣dre, howe the Lorde had broughte hym out of the pryson, by the guydyng of his aungell. And looke, sayde Peter, that Iames the brother of the Lorde, be certified hereof (he was than bysshope of Hierusalem) and the reste of the brethren,* 1.7 that they maye bee partakers with vs of thys ioye. In thys wyse the good God dooeth myxte sadnesse with myrthe, and myrthe wyth sadnesse, that we shoulde not vttrely despayre. After Peter had spoken these woordes, he forthwith departed thence, and went into an other place wheras he myghte more safely bee hydde, for feare leste Herode, whose contynual endeuoure in crueltie he had experyence of, shoulde agayne espie him out.

[ The texte.] Assone as it was daye, there was no lytell to dooe emong the souldiers, what was

becum of Peter. Whan Herode had sought for him, and founde him not, he examined the kepers, and commaunded them to bee had away. And he descended from Iewry to Cesa∣rea, and there abode. Herode was dyspleased with them of Tyre and Sydon. But they came all with one accorde, and made intercession vnto one Blastus the kinges chaumbers sayne, and desired peace, because their countrey was nourished by the kynges prouysion.

But as sone as it was daye the souldiers, to whose custody he was com∣mitted, seeyng the chaynes remayne whole, and that the prysoner was esca∣ped (the doores beeyng shutte) were sore amased, maruaylyng what was become of Peter. And Herode, whan he had sente for Peter, to thyntente that he myght bryng him foorth beefore the people, and so to condemne hym to death, and founde hym not in the pryson, after examynacyon hadde of the kepers, commaunded them to warde, that he myghte at laysure put theym to execucion. But God euer mercyfully tenderyng those that loue hym, restray∣ned Herodes rage, aswell prouydyng for the safetye of the Apostles, as al∣so of the souldiers. For it was not sytting that the safegarde of Peter shoulde, be occasion that the innocentes shoulde suffer the paynes of death. And in the meane space it it befel that Herode had occasion to take hys iourney to Ce∣sarea, a citie of Palestine. He was offended with thinhabitours of Tyre and Sydon, and dyd euen than purpose in his mynde, to wage battayll agaynste theym. But they hearyng of that, repaired wyth one accorde vnto hym, and fyrste desiryng the fauoure of one Blastus, whyche was chyefe of the kynges priuie chaumbre, and obteyning the same, sued for peace, forasmuche as they thought it expedient for them to haue the frendshyppe of hym, beyng a kynge that dwelte so nere theym: Because that their ryches and welthynes in Tyre and Sydon, stoode moste by marchaundysynge, and therefore it was theyr commoditie and vauntage, to bee at league wyth the countreys that adioy∣ned nere vnto them, and that they could not wage battell, without theyr great hynderaunce, hauyng not free passage for occupiers to cary out, and bryng in marchaundises.

[ The texte.] ¶And vpon a day appoynted, Herode arayed him in his royall apparell, and set hym in his seate, & made an o••acion vnto them. And toe people gaue a shout saying: it is the voice of a God and not of a mā. And immediately the angel of the Lord smo••e hym, because he gaue not God the honour, and he was eaten of wormes, & gaue vp y^e gost. And the woord of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Paule returned to Hierusalem, when they had fulfilled their office, and toke with them Iohn whose sirname was Marke.

After these matters were p••acibly ended, whan as vpon a certayne so∣lemne feaste, or high daye, that was by vowe kepte holy for the health of the Emperour, by occasion whereof the chiefe rulers of the whole countrey were assembled thither, the seconde daye that the playes were kepte, (for they con∣tinued many dayes) Herode was speakyng vnto the people out of an hyghe place or pulpet before the people, hauyng on hym a gorgeous garmente that was very richely and coningly wouen and enbrodered, with bothe syluer and also gold: when that the brightenes of the Sunne beames shyning on the la•• and bosome of the kinges garment, by reason of reflecciō, glistered vpon euery mans iyes, that no man might abyde the bryghtenes thereof, euen as it had been lyghtening,* 1.8 the multitude with flattery made a shout thereat, praysyng hym, & sayd: the voyce of god and of no man, as though they had perceyued in him some thing to surmount mans excellency. Such flattery of the people, do∣eth often cause the kynges become tyraūtes, whan they are praised as goddes, that are scarsely worthy the name of man. And princes on the other parte flat∣ter

the people, exhibiting vnto theym shewes to gase vpon, & vncleanly plaies, and oftentymes by puttynge good menne to death, as he before had obteyned the peoples fauour by the death of Iames. And yet Herode for hys parte re∣fused not, nor abhorred this so vngodly flattery, but as a wretched person, and one that should within short space after dye, reioysed to be called god. But the vengeaunce of god immediatly lighted on hym. For streight waies in presence of the multitude, before he came downe, the aungell of god smote hym, whom; he lokyng backe sawe, because that he beynge man, had taken on hym the ho∣noure that cannot be communicate or parted with any creature, but is due vn∣to god alone. And beyng taken with a sodayne disease, whiche was as fylthy and dolorouse as anye myght be, died for the veraie payne and anguishe ther∣of, within fewe dayes after, his body beyng eaten vp with vermyne.

In this wyse whan he,* 1.9 that had persecuted the flocke of god, was rydde oute of the waye the doctrine of the gospell encreased, and spred more and more a∣brode. And Barnabas and Saule, whan their busynesse was done, that they had in hande by the consent of the brethren, and had delyuered the money to y^e apostles, and sene the same distributed to the helpyng and relyuing of y^e pore, as it was ordeyned that it shoulde, returned from Hierusalem to Antioche, bryngyng wyth them a companion, whose name was Iohn, otherwyse called by his syrname Marke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  And y^e same time Herod the kyng stretched furthe hys handes. &c.
• * 1.2

  Than were the daies of swetebread.
• * 1.3

  And be∣hold, the an∣gell of the lorde was there pre∣sent. &c.
• * 1.4

  And they went out & passed. &c.
• * 1.5

  And as he consydered the thing, he came to the house of Mary. &c.
• * 1.6

  But Peter contynued knockyng. &c.
• * 1.7

  And he de∣parted and wente into an other. place.
• * 1.8

  The voyce of god and not of a mā. &c.
• * 1.9

  And he was eaten wyth wourmes, & gaue vp the ghoste. &c.