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

The .xvi. Chapter.

[ The texte.] And beholde, a certaine disciple was there, named Timotheus, a womans sonne which was a Iewesse, and beleued: but his father was a Greke. Of whom reported well, y^e bre∣thren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Hym woulde Paule, that he should goo forth w^t him, and tooke, & circumcised him, because of the Iewes whiche wer in those quarters. For they all knewe, that his father was a Greke.

ANd beholde there was a certaine disciple, whose name agreed with his dedes, and was called Timothie, as a man woulde saye, in estimacion with God, who was borne of Parentes, that were of sondry sectes. For his mother beyng nowe a widowe, was a Iewe borne, and had of late bene conuerted from the faythe and peruerse beliefe of the Iewes, vnto the true faith of Christe. And his father was a gentile. This Timothie for hys vertuous disposicion,* 1.1 and lyuing, was muche spoken of among all the bre∣thren that were at Listres, and also at Iconium. And so Paule desiring no∣thyng more than by all meanes dayly to enlarge the boundes of the gospell, searched out in euery corner, suche as might serue his turne, euen as ambici∣ous kinges are accustomed to do, whiche beyng wholy gyuen to enlarge theyr dominions, care for nothynge more, then to get mete capitaynes, and rulers, to whome they may commit their affaires. But it is not sufficient for him that is captayne, or guyed in matters of the ghospell, to haue meane qualities, nor yet to be of an vpright behauioure, but he muste haue commendacion of all good men, leste that an euil name going on him, thoughe it be false, may hurte the furthering of the gospel. Wherfore Paule was desyrous to haue Timo∣thie to beare him cumpany in his iournies, because he was good, and estemed also of all good men, to bee good and vertuous. And whan he had obteined hym, to ioyne with hym, he circumcised him, not because he thought he myght

therby obteyne saluacion, whiche onely fayth coulde doe, but le••te the Iewes shoulde make any commocion, of whome there was no small noumber in those partes, he vouchesafed rather to suffer Timothie to lese a lytle piece of skinne. (which yf he had styll kepte,* 1.2 he had not bene the better, nor yet the worse for lacke of it) then by occasion thereof, to turne awaye the Iewes myndes from the gospell, whose stubbrenesse he knewe well enough. The Gentiles were free from the burden of the lawe, by the decree that the apostles had made at Ieru∣salem Paule beeyng present: And circumcision was a profession made to ob∣serue the lawe, and as a token therof. But the Iewes were not yet openlye de∣lyuered from the yoke of the lawe, whiche ought by litle and lytle to be abolis∣shed. Wherfore seeyng that it was euident by al tokens, that Timotheus mo∣ther was a Iewe borne, and his father a paynym, by occasion whereof he had not been hytherto circumcised, Paule tyghte well perceyued that the Iewes woulde make sedicion yf they myght haue neuer so lytle a cause, and speciallie yf Timothie, whiche was halfe a Iewe borne, were not onely made pertaker of the gospell without circumcision, but also called to the office of a preacher. Wherfore Paule in those dayes did beare so muche with theym, hauyng euer respecte only to further the gospell, and to kepe men in quietnes, whiche had professed Christ the authour of all true peace.

[ The texte.] As they went through the cities, they deliuered them the decrees for to kepe, that wer ordeyned of the apostles & elders, which were at Hierusalem. And so wer the congrega∣cions stablished in the fayth, and encreased in numbre dayly.

And not only thus did he, but whatsoeuer cities they wer that he wente by, he commaunded those that of heathen wer becum christen, to kepe those thyn∣ges that had bene decreed by the apostles, and elders at Hierusalem: for the whyche purpose Iudas, and Sylas, had been sente before to Antioche, leste the Iewes should fynde any faulte therwith. And god furthered Paule in all hys businesse. For y^e congregacions of the disciples wer both establyshed in the fayth of the gospel, and dayly also augmēted, many persons beyng day by day conuerted to the fayth.

[ The texte.] Whan they had gon throughout Phrigia, and the countreye of Galacia, and wer for∣bydden of the holy ghost to preache the word in Asia, they came to Mysia, & soughte to go into Bi••hi••ia. But the spirit suffred them not. But whan they had goen through Mysia, they came downe to Etoada.

And whan they had trauayled ouer Phrygia, and Galacia, with greate profite in wynnyng many to the fayth, although thei were but a grosse, and a rude people, and were muche desyrous to take their iourneye towardes that parte whiche is properly called Asia, the holy ghoste woulde not suffer theym to preache the gospell there. And this the secrete and priuie wyl of God, obeied they, forasmuche as it is not sittyng that manne should withstand god. And so chaungeyng their entent, they turned to Mysia fast borderyng vpon that coū∣treye, which is properly called Asia. Thence they attempted to take their iour∣ney towardes Bithinia, turnyng theym northwarde. For that was a noble prouince of the Romaynes, and therfore they hoped there to haue great auaū∣tage. But the spirite of Iesus whiche was theyr guide, would not permit them to go thither, the cause why is vncertayne. Wherefore returnyng backe to∣warde the weste, whan they had goen ouer Mysia, they came to Troas. That same is a citie of Phrigia, ioynyng nere vnto the sea, and otherwyse called Antigonia.

[ The texte.]

¶And a vision appered to Paule in the nighte. There stoode a man of Macedonia & prayed hym saying: cum into Macedonia, and help vs. After he had sene this vision, im∣mediatly we prepared to go into Macedonia, beyng certifyed that y^e lord had called vs, to preache the gospel vnto them. Whē we loosed forth then from Troada, we came with a strayght course to Samothracia, and the next day to Naples, & from thēce to Philip∣pos, which is y^e chief citie in the partes of Macedonia, & a free citie. We wer in that citie abydyng certayne dayes. And on y^e Sabboth dayes we went out of y^e citie besides a riuer where men wer wont to pray. And we sate downe, & spake vnto the women which resor∣ted thyther.

There had Paule a visiō in his slepe, which shewed him whither he should goe: The vision was this. There stoode by hym a certayne man appareled lyke a man of Macedonia, which entreated hym, and sayde: Cum to Macedo∣nia, and helpe vs. And he that so appered, was the Aungell that is defendout of that countreye. And as soone as Paule had sene that vision▪ whiche hadde once or twyse before bene forbydden by y^e holy gost to preache the ghospell, we that were his cumpanions, were very glad of it. For I also that wrote thys, was in that iourneye, and by and by we prouyded al thinges to take our iour∣ney to Macedonia, beyng assured that God had called vs thyther to preache the gospell vnto theym, the whiche we doubted not, but God woulde prospet them wel. And in thys wyse leauyng Troas, and ••aylyng by Chersonesus, we ariued at Samothrace the Yland, whiche is situate directly against Chracia. And from thence the nexte daye we came to Naples, whiche is a citie on the sea syde in the marches of Thracia, and Macedonia. And from thence to the citie Philippos, whiche is a free citie, and the first that ye come vnto, whan ye go from Naples. In this citie abode we certayne dayes, lookynge for a good tyme and occasion to begynne the matter, wherfore we came. And on the sab∣both daie we walked foorth of the citie, into a certayne place wythout y^e gates that was nere to a riuer, where as a greate multitude of the people together, did customably resorte & assemble for to make their praiers. And as we were there syttyng, our talke was vnto certayne wemen that wer come thyther, and we were preachyng vnto them Iesus of Nazareth.

[ The texte.] ¶And a certayne woman (named Lydia) a seller of purple, of the citie of Thyatira, whiche worshipped God gaue vs audyence. Whose herte the lorde opened, that she attē∣ded vnto the thynges, whiche Paule spake. When she was baptised, & her houshould, she besought vs, saying: If ye thynke that I beleue on the lorde, cum into my house, and a∣byde there: And she constrayned vs.

Emonge theym was one whiche was veraye deuout, whose name was Lidia, a seller of purple, and one that was borne in the citie Thyatira, whiche is a citie in Lidia. And emong all other that hearkened vnto Paules prea∣chynge of Christe, god opened her herte diligently to heare those thynges that Paule taughte. And so after that she was Christened with all her housholde, she desyred Paule, and his companions, saying: If ye haue thought me one not vnworthye to be receyued by meane of baptisme, & your instruction, as a partaker of the ghospel, I pray you do so much also for me, as to cum into my house, and do it honour with youre presence, and take not me as an Ethnicke, as I was erewhiles, but take me as I am nowe, renewed by fayth of the gos∣pell throughe your ministery. By these woordes she entreated the Apostles to tary as gestes at her house a good space. Here is an example for preachers, that they refuse not ientylnesse profered vnto theym, by those that are newlye conuerted to Christe, yf it be readely and instauntly profered, leste they seme

not to knowledge them for theyrs. And on the other syde, they ought not to preace on them, vntyll they be desyred, lest they seeme to craue rewardes for preaching the ghospell. But he that hathe receyued a spirituall or ghostely benefyte, ought ernestly to cause those that haue so doen for hym, to receyue at his handes againe corporall benefytes, yf they shall haue nede therof.

[ The texte.] ¶And it fortuned as we went to prayer, a certaine damsell possessed with a spirite that prophecied, met vs, which brought her master and maystres, muche auauntage with propheciyng. The same folowed Paule and vs, and cryed, saying: these men are the ser∣uauntes of the moste high God, whiche shewe vnto vs the waye of saluacion. And this dyd she many dayes. But Paule not contented, turned aboute, and sayde to the spirite: I commaunde the in y^e name of Iesus Christ that thou cumme out of her. And he came out the same houre.

And it chaunced, as we wer goyng to praye, as our custome was, that a certayne damsell met vs, whiche had in her the spirit of the deuyll Pithon, whiche by propheciyng and tellyng thinges before hand, gotte greate auaun∣tage to her master and maystresse. She ouertakyng and folowyng Paule and vs, cryed saying: These me••ne are the seruauntes of the high god, whiche are cum to teache you the way•• of saluacion. And where as she contynued thus dooyng many daies, Paule beeynge dyscontented, leste that he shoulde seme to knowlege that prayse whiche the wenche beeyng possessed with a dyuell, attri∣buted vnto hym, turned to her, and sayed to the spirite: I commaunde the in the name of Iesus Christ that thou depart out of her. And the spirite lefte her immediately.

[ The texte.] And whan her mayster and maystres, sawe that the hope of their gaynes was gone, they attacked Paule and Silas, and dreue them into the market place vnto the rewlers, and brought them to the officers, saying: These men trouble our citie, saying they are Iewes, and preache ordinaunces▪ whiche are not lawfull for vs to receiue, neyther to ob∣serue seeyng that we are Romaynes. And the people ranne againste theym, and the offy∣ce••s rent their clothes, and commaunded theym to be beaten with roddes. And when they had beaten theim sore, they caste them into pryson, commaundynge the iayler of the prison to kepe theim diligently. Whiche whan he had receiued suche a commaundement, thrust them into the inner pryson, and made theyr feete fast in the stockes.

But the damsels maister and maystres, seyng that theyr baūtage was goen, toke Paul & Silas, & brought them violently into the market place before the chiefe of the citie, & there before the officers, accused theym, saying: These men whiche are cum hyther from sum straunge cuntrey, do trouble all the whole cytie: forasmuche as they beeyng Iewes borne, teache vs a newe relygion, and teache vs newe ordinaunces, whiche is not lawfull for vs to receyue, see∣yng that we lyue accordyng to the lawes of the Romaynes, whiche wyll not permitte ne suffer vs, neyther to receyue any straunge goddes, nor to practyse any newe kyndes of wurshyppyng the goddes. Upon these complayntes, the people there emōg whom the veray name of a Iewe was in great hatred, clus∣tryng all in a cage together, made assaulte vpon the Apostles. And the offi∣cers, to satysfye the people in their furye, cut a sondre theyr garmentes for wrathe, and commaunded them to be beaten with roddes. And beeyng not sa∣tysfyed with this punishement, whā they had laied many a sore stripe on theim they caste them in pryson, commaundyng the iaylour to kepe them dyligent∣ly. The iaylour whan they had so streyghtly charged hym, for the better safe∣garde, layed theim beneathe in a lower pryson: and yet was not contented, but sette them faste in the stockes. This lucke had they at theyr fyrst entryng to

preache in Macedonie. Marke here that euermore either lucre, or ambicion, or els supersticion, letteth the furtheraunce of the ghospell. But whan the worlde moste cruelly rageth in persecucion of Christes members, than especially ap∣pereth comforte from heauen.

[ The texte.] At mydnyght Paule and Silas prayed, and lauded God. And the prysoners hearde them. And sadenly there was a great ert••quake, so that the foundation of the pryson was shakē, and immediately al the dores opened, and euery mannes bandes wer loosed. When the keper of the pryson waked out of his slepe, and sawe the pryson dores open, he drewe out his swearde and woulde haue kylled hymselfe, supposing that the prysoners had bene fledde. But Paule cried w^t a loude voyce, saying: do thy selfe no harme, for we are all here.

About mydnyght Paule and Sylas, not passyng for theyr whyppyng, nor yet that they were cast into pryson, praied and song hymnes in the laude & prayse of God, thankyng hym, that he had vouchesaued to do theym beeyng hys seruauntes, suche honour, as to lette theym suffer these iniuries for hys name. And other, whiche were prysoners there, hearde theym meryly syngynge the prayse of God,* 1.3 and of hys sonne Iesus Christe, and meruayled, that they in suche aduersitie coulde be so merye. And sodaynely came a greate yearthe¦quake, insomuche that all the whole pryson was shaken euen the foundacyon and all, and all the doores of the pryson were open with the same, and all the prysoners gyues and other lyke bondes were loosed. The keper, at the greate noyse and tumblyng that was made, awaked: and whan he had starte foorth, and founde all the pryson doores wyde open, thynkyng vpon and verely ima∣gynyng that the prysoners were all gone, and hauyng in remembraunce the charge that he had of the officers, pulled out hys swearde and was aboute to kyll hymselfe, wyllyng rather to slaye hymselfe, then fyrste to suffer manye paynefull tormentes, and afterwarde at the hangmannes hande, whiche was execucioner of the towne, to suffer death. But Paule whiche laye beneth in the darke, seyng hym about suche a dede, cryed out wyth a loude voyce, that al∣though the man were astonied, yet he made hym hearken vnto hym, and sayde: Beware, holde thy handes, and hurt not thy selfe, for thou shalte haue no da∣mage by vs. For we are all here, and not one of vs fled hence.

[ The texte.] ¶Than he called for a lyght, and sprang in, and came trembling vnto Paule, and fel downe at the feete of Paul and Sylas, and brought them out, and sayd: Syrs what must I doe to be saued: And they sayd: beleue on the lorde Iesus, and thou shalt be saued, and thy housholde. And they preached vnto hym the woorde of the lorde, and to all that were in his house. And he toke them the same houre of the nyght, & washed their woundes, and was baptised, & al they of his householde streyghtway. And whan he had brought them in to hys house, he set meate before them, and ioyed, that he with all hys householde, be∣leued on God.

Whan the keper heard these wordes, he came to himselfe againe, & commaū∣ded lyght to be broughte: and seyng it to be so, & that the thynge was not done by any crafte of man▪ but by sum diuine power: consyderyng also wyth hym∣selfe, howe that Paule had sene in the darke what he was about to do, and the cause therof, went downe into the lower pryson, and fel at Paules and Sylas feete. And regarding not the charge y^t was geuen him by the officers, brought them forth of pryson, into a more commodiouse place, & sayed: Maysters what must I do to be saued? Hys mynde was to exchaunge helth for helth. Hys en∣tent was to saue theyr lyues and lykewyse he mynded to heare of theym howe he shoulde obteyne lyfe of his soule. Than they aunswered: Beleue in our lord Iesus, and thou shalt be saued with all thy householde. And there streyghte∣wayes

he called theym all together, and the apostles preached vnto theym the doctrine of the ghospell. Thou mayest here see that no tyme, ne place is vnmete to preache or to heare the ghospel. For that same darke & stynkyng prison was as a churche to the apostles. They ceased not from syngyng hymnes thoughe it were mydnyght. By preachyng the gospel in pryson a vauntage was gotten to Christe. The pryson is here as a chayre to preache the gospell in. And furth∣with the keper beyng newly enstructed in the fayth, hastened to recompense or sumwhat to rewarde his enstructour. For he anone had them asyde, and was∣shed cleane theyr woundes. The iaylour thought this to be hys duetie. And he hymselfe afterwarde with all his whole householde, had the woundes of theyr soules wasshed cleane awaye. After this so doen, he led thē into his own house where he dwelled the daye tyme, and gaue them meate to refreshe theyr bodies.

For after baptisme nexte was the communion of the table. And the keper of the pryson reioysed muche, that it had bene his chaunce to haue▪ in custodye suche prisoners, wherby both he and all the house had receiued the faith. These thynges were done in the night.

[ The texte.] ¶And whan it was daye, the officers sente the ministers, saying: let those men go: The keper of the prison tolde this saying to Paule: The officers haue sent worde to looce you. Now therfore, gete you hence, & go in peace. Than saied Paule vnto them: they haue bea∣ten vs openly vncondemned, for all that we are Romaines, & haue caste vs into pryson, & now would they sende vs away pryuely? Nay verily, but let them cum themselfes, and set vs out. When the ministers tolde these wordes vnto the officers, they feared whē they heard that they were Romaynes, they came & besought them, and brought them out, and desyred them, to departe out of the citie.

Whan it was daye the officers more diligently hauinge the matter in communicacion, after they had weyed it well, sente the ministers to the keper, commaundyng hym to let Paule and Sylas departe at their owne lybertye. The keper hearyng thys tidinges, beyng glad as well for his owne parte, as for the apostles sakes, brought this woorde to Paule, that the officers had ly∣cenced them to go at lybertie. Wherfore, (sayth the keper,) seyng it hath so well chaunced, go ye in goddes blessyng. But Paule of an earneste mynde, to make both his innocencie the better knowen, and to fynde occasion also to saue ma∣ny, made answer vnto the messengers in this wise:* 1.4 Forasmuche as they boaste themselues to be Cytezens of Rome, by theyr lawes it is forbidden to punishe any man, before he be hearde to pleade his cause, and lawfully conuicted of the same, this notwithstandynge they haue openly beaten vs beeyng Romaynes before we pleaded our matter, or were lawfully conuicted: and as though thys had been to lytle, they caste vs also, after that we had been sore beaten, into pryson. Nowe for their owne sauegarde, that they maye seme to haue done no∣thyng, but that theyr office woulde beare them in, and that it maie be thoughte that we were gilty, they woulde haue vs priuily to cōuey our selues hence to y^t intent, that men myght suppose that we brake pryson and fled awaye. No, we wyll not so do, but let them cum themselues, and delyuer vs hence by the same ryght, that they cast vs in. The ministers told to the officers, what Paule had sayed.

Who hearyng that they were citizens of Rome, came themselues to Paul, and Silas, and desired them to pardone them, in that they had doen agaynst

the custome of the Romayne lawes, beeyng compelled by the commocion of the people, and bryngyng them honourablye out of the kepers house, they de∣syred them, leste the people shoulde make any busynesse, to departe from theyr citie named Philippos.

[ The texte.] And they went out of the pryson and entred into the house of Lydia, and whan they had sene the brethren, they comforted them, and so departed.

The Apostles were contente to accomplyshe their request, and whan they were out of pryson, they went into the house of Lydia, where they had been first hosted, which Lydia with all her whole householde, had before receyued the doctryne of the ghospell. And whan they had seen her, and the rest of y^e brethrē, they comforted them, rehearsyng vnto them what had chaunced in the nyghte whiles they were in prison, exhorting them to continue in that they had begon. This doen, they lefte Philippos the citie, and went another waye.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of whome reported wel, the bre∣thren that were at Li∣stra and I∣conium.
• * 1.2

  For they all knewe y^t his father was a Greke.
• * 1.3

  Al the dore•• opened & e∣uery man•• bandes were losed.
• * 1.4

  Nay verily but let them come them∣selues and see vs out.