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

The .xiiii. Chapter.

[ The texte.] ¶And it fortuned in Iconium, that they went bothe together into the Synagoge of the Iewes, and so spake, that a great multitude bothe of the Iewes, and also of the Grekes beleued. But the vnbeleuing Iewes, styrted vp, and vnquyered the myndes of the Gen∣tiles against the brethren. Long tyme abode they there, and quit themselues boldly with the▪ helpe of the lorde, whiche gaue testimony vnto the worde of his grace, and graunted signes and woonders to bee dooen by their handes. But the multitude of the citie was deuided: and parte helde with the Iewes, and parte with the Apostles.

BUt ••han as they were come to Iconium, they went to∣gether as their custome was, into the Synagoge of the Iewes, & there they preached also the ghospell of Iesus Christe, lyke as they had before done at Antioche, inso∣much that a great numbre aswell of Iewes, as of Greci∣ans, were conuerted to the faith. Here againe likewyse y^e Iewishe malice was occasion of sedicion. For y^e Iewes that woulde not obey the ghospell, beyng not contente to perishe themselues, except they might drawe many with them to damnacion, stirred vp & corrupted the myndes of the gentiles, againste them y^t did beleue. But the gospel increased and waxed stronger, aswell by aduersitie, as by pro∣speritie. Wherefore Paule & Barnabas continued a long space in this fyghte at Iconium, valiantly settyng foorth the matter, by the helpe of god, whiche bare witnesse (whiche was greater than any testymony of man) to thys hys free gift, that he exhibited to al men through his ghospell. For power he gaue to these his preachers of the ghospel, that were but weake persons, and out of reputacion, to woorke signes and wonders, to thentent that it mighte bee knowen therby, to bee the very handye woorke of god. So by meane of the Iewes, the citie Iconium was diuided in two partes, of whiche th••ne fauou∣red the vnfaythfull Iewes, the other thap••stles.

[ The texte.] Whan there was an assaulte made bothe of the Gentiles, and also of the Iewes with their rewlers, to do them violence, and to stone them, they were ware of it, and fled vnto Listra, and Derba, cities of Licaonia, and vnto the regyon that lieth rounde aboute, and there preached the gospel. And all the multitude was moued at their doctrine, but Paul and Barnabas taried stil at Listra.

And at the last, whan they that were of the gentiles, adioyning themselues to the Iewes, and gouernoures of the citie, went about to laye violent han∣des on thapostles, that they might punish and stone them, they hauing know∣lege of the matter, f••ed to Listra, a citie in Licaonia, whiche is parte of Pam∣philia and from thence to Derba. In the meane space they walked ouer all coastes of the countrey that were neare, sowing in euery place, seede of the ghospell, so that in this their flyght the apostles dyd not so muche procure their owne health, as spreade abrode the ghospel.

[ The texte.] ¶And there sate a certaine man at Listra, weake in his feete, beyng a creple from his mothers wombe, and neuer had walked. The same heard Paul preache. Who beholding him, and perceiuing that he had faith to be whole, said with a loude voice: stand vpright on thy feete. And he stert vp, & walked. And whan the people saw what Paule had doen, they lift vp their voyces, saying in the speche of Licaonia: Goddes are come down to vs in the likenes of menne. And they called Barnabas Iupiter, & Paul Mercurius, because he was y^e preacher. Than Iupiters prieste, whiche dwelt before their citie, brought o••en and garlandes vnto the porche, and would haue doen sacrifice with the people.

There was the same time in Listra a certaine manne, whose legges were so feble and impotent, that he continually satte still, nothing hable to walke and was lame euen from his mothers wombe, neyther could he go of all the dayes in his life before. This man among the other multitude, hearde Paule speakyng of Christe, and Paule looking vpon this man, perceyued by his countenaunce, howe earnest and desirous he was to heare hym, because he trusted, that by the name of Iesus whiche he had hearde preached, he shoulde obtayne health of his limmes, and said vnto him with a loude voyce: Stande vp on thy feete, and with that worde this lame man leaped vp and was wel hable to go. But whan the multitude saw this wo••••••e (for there was no man but he knew this lame creature, and that with one woorde he was restored vnto his health) they spake with loude voyces in their owne countrey lan∣guage of Licaonia, and said: doubtlesse the gods haue taken on them the like∣nes of men,* 1.1 and haue descended from heauen vnto vs. And the people of Li∣caonia did so muche more perswade themselues that it was so, because there went commonly certaine talkes of Iupiter, and Mercurius how they being gods, tooke on them the lykenesse of men, and were receiued as gestes of Li∣caon, of whome it appereth that they were called Licaonians. Wherefore they called Barnabas by the name of Iupiter, because he shewed in hys countenaunce great grauitie and auncientnes, and Paule they called Mer∣curie, because he was the spokesman: for the Gentiles were of this opinion that Mercurius was the messengier of the goddes and the president of elo∣quence. And Iupiters prieste, who dwelled in the subburbes of the citie of Listra, brought oxen and garlandes to y^e gate of the house, where the apostles were lodged, to thintente that he woulde haue dooen sacrifice vnto them. For they supposed that Iupiter was most delighted with sacrifising of oxen. And aswell the priestes, as also the beastes that were killed in sacrifice, had wont to weare garlandes. And a great number of all estates indifferently one with an other, folowed hym.

[ The texte.] Whiche whan the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rente their clothes, and ran in emong the people, crying and saying: Syrs, why dooe ye this? We are mortal men like vnto you, and preache vnto you, that ye should tourne from these vanities vnto the liuing God, whiche made heauen and earth, and the sea, and al thinges that are therin: the whiche in times past, suffered all nacions to walke in their owne waies. Neuerthe∣lesse, he left not himselfe without witnesse, in that he shewed his benefites from heauē in geuing vs cayne and fruitful seasons filling our hertes with foode and gladnes.

But whan Paule and Barnabas had enquired what the matter ment, and learned how they were taken as goddes, and that the priest hastened to sacrifice vnto them, they woulde no longer abyde so greate blasphemye a∣gainst god, to haue that same honoure that was due to god onely, applyed to manne, but cuttyng their garmentes as the Iewes manner was in so∣rowe, they with haste came foorth to the multitude cryinge, and sayde: syrs what meane ye? Why doe you thus? We are no goddes, but mortal men as ye bee, ready and apte to fall into lyke mischaunces as you are, and we dooe not onely not desire thus to bee honoured of you, but rather we came hyther to you for this purpose, that by oure counsell ye maye turne to the true ly∣uyng god, that made heauen, and yearth, and the sea, and all thinges what∣soeuer is conteyned therein, leauing these false goddes, whome ye haue hy∣therto with heathen sacrifice woorshipped, whiche in dede are nothing els,

but eyther men that be nowe dead, or els ymages voyde of lyfe, or finally e∣uil spirites. For there is but one god the maker and gouernour of al thinges. His wyll is now to be knowen and worshipped of all nacions in the worlde, that all men through him maye obtaine lyfe euerlasting. For in times paste, he, winking as it were, at mennes factes, permitted all nacions to lyue e∣uery one after his owne trade, to the ende that after it were once euidente that man coulde not be saued by his owne meanes, all men might bee saued, if they would beleue in god, & the ghospel taught by his sonne. And although the moste parte of menne through erroure, hath lefte the true God, wurship∣ping ymages of diuerse thinges in stede of God, or thinges that were crea∣ted in stede of their creatoure, yet he by and by dyd not reuenge hymselfe on them, as he iustly might haue done, nor ceased not to prouoke them to know, and loue him, by his continuall benefites.

* 1.2For he that made the worlde to the vse of man, doeth make both fruitful, and plentifull the grounde, by sending downe rayne from heauen, and cau∣seth yerely increase of fruites to suffice aboundantly to the vse of mannes life, refreshyng vs plentyfully with soondry kyndes of meates, and stir∣ryng our hertes, to myrthe, with pleasaunte wynes. For ye haue not re∣ceyued these benefites of Iupiter, Ceres, or Bacchus, whome ye haue hy∣therto wurshipped, but of the same god whome we preache vnto you. Than although the apostles had so plainely shewed the trueth in the hearing of all the multitude, yet they coulde scarcely stay their handes, from doyng sacrifice vnto them.

[ The texte.] ¶Thither came certaine Iewes from Antioche and Iconium: whiche (whan they had obtained the peoples consent, and had stoned Paule) drew him out of the citie, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit as y^e disciples stode rounde about him, he arose vp and came into the citie. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derba.

In the meane space while these thinges were done at Listres, certayne per∣sones beyng Iewes borne, that repined against the ghospell, came thyther from Antioche that is in Pisidia, and from Iconium: whiche Iewes, when they had turned many of the people to their minde and opinion, that is to say when they had caused them to lay violent handes vpon the apostles whyche thing they had also attempted afore at Iconium, they stoned Paule and drew him out of the citie, thinking that he had ben dead. Thus is mans fortune sodaynly chaunged. They were but a litel before taken for gods, and should haue had sacrifice done vnto them, but now Paule being stoned, was cast out of y^e citie. For they were more angry with him, because he by reason of his elo∣quence, entised manye to folowe Christe. Then the disciples compassed him a∣bout there as he was cast, and left for dead, and woulde haue buried the corps. But Paule cumming to himselfe againe, arose priuely, and entred into y^e citie, and the next daye fled to Derba with Barnabas, whither they first of all had purposed to haue gone.

[ The texte.] And whan they had preached to the cytie, and had taught many, they returned againe to Lystra, and to Iconium and to Antioche, and strengthned the disciples soules again, & exhorted them to continue in the faith, affirming that we must thorow muche tribulaci∣on, entre into the kingdome of god.

And whan they had preached the gospell there in that citie, and had taught many thinges, and (as a man woulde say) had cast the seede of the ghospell abrode, they returned to Listres, Iconium, and Antioche making the myndes

of the disciples stedfast in the fayth, as many as they had conuerted to Christ, and geuing them exhortacion to continue in the fayth, and that they woulde not for any scare be withdrawen from the truste whiche they had once put in our lorde Iesus, nor should not be moued because they heard saye that Paule was stoned at Listres forasmuche as Christ had tolde his disciples, that this was the way, that through muche trouble they shoulde entre into the kyng∣dom of heauen: So that Paule toke more thought, lest those that were weake in the faith shoulde be alienated from Christ, seyng how sore he was vexed of the wicked Iewes, then that he himselfe passed so muche on it, geuing exam∣ple to Bisshoppes that they ought to folowe thrifty husbande men, whiche thinke it not sufficient to plant, or ••o sow except they do also their diligence, that the same that beginneth to growe, may come to his full typing.

[ The texte.] ¶And whan they had ordeined them elders by eleccion, in euery congregacion, and had prayed and fasted, they commended them to the lorde, on whom they beleued.

And forasmuche as it was requisite to the setting forwardes of the ghospell, that the apostles shoulde trauail through many countreyes, they set priestes or auncientes, who were chosen by the voyces of the comens of euery citie, to ouersee them, and to supply the towmes of the apostles in their absence, and so whan they had vsed generally prayer and fastinge, they commytted them to god▪ that they might profite in him, whome they had once professed,

[ The texte.] ¶And whan they had gon through out Pisidia, they came to Pamphilia, and whan thei had preached the worde of God in Perga, they went downe into the citie of Attalia, and thēce departed by shippe to Antioche, frō whence they were committed vnto the grace of God, to the worke whiche they fulfilled.

These thinges were doen in Antiochia, whiche is a citie in Pisidia, and whan they had walked ouer that cuntrey, they likewise went throughe Pam∣philia, sowing the gospell in euery place, where as it was not sowed alredy, and strengthening them that already beleued, vntyll they returned to Per∣ga. And whan they had there also set all matters in ordre, they came to At∣talia, whiche is a Citie of Pamphilia, sumwhat neare the sea. From thence againe they toke shypping to Antioche in Syrya, whence they firste came, whan the office of preaching to the Genttiles was committed vnto them by the elders, and when by laying of handes vpon them, by prayer, and by fa∣sting, they were commytted to the grace of god, that throughe his helpe it might happely come to passe, that they had taken in hande.

[ The texte.] ¶When they were cum, and had gathered the congregacion together, they rehearsed al that God had done by them, and how he had opened the doore of faith vnto y^e Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Wherfore whan they were retourned thither, as men accoumptable for theyr dooynges, they called together the congregacion of the faythfull, and opened vnto them all suche thinges as it had pleased god to worke by them, shewing them that the fauoure of god had futthered their endeuour, and how he had geuen occasion to call the Gentiles to the faith, by whiche they myght obtaine saluacion without the obseruing or keping of the heauy & burdenous commaundementes of the lawe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  And they called Bar∣nabas Iupi∣ter, & Paule Mercurius. &c.
• * 1.2

  In geuyng vs raine and fruitfull seasons. &c.