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

The .xx. Chapter.

[ The texte.] ¶After that the rage was ceased, Paule called the disciples vnto him, and tooke hys leaue of them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And whā he had gone ouer those partes, and had geuen them a long exhortacion, he came into Grece, and there abode thre monethes. And whan the Iewes layd wayte for him, as he was about to sayle into Si∣ria, he purposed to returne through Macedonia. There accoūpanied him into Asia, So∣sipater of Berrea: & of Thessalonia, Atistareus and Secundus, & Ga••us of Derba, and Timotheus: and out of Asia, Tichieus, and Trophimus. These going before, taried vs at Troas. And we sayled away from Philippos after the dayes of swete breade, & came vnto them to Troas in fyne dayes, where we abode seuen dayes.

AFter that this commocion was cleane ceassed, Paule called the disciples together, and exhorted them stedfastly to continue in those matters, that they had taken in hande, concernyng their fayth in Christ: than he enbraced them, and bad them farewell, and so departed towarde Macedonia. And after that he hadde walked ouer the parties of Macedonia, and had geuen exhor∣tacion at large to the congregacions wheresoeuer he chaunced to meete wyth any of them, wylling them to continue in the puritie of the ghospell, and that they should profite therin, he came to that part which is properly called Grece, in whiche Grece, Achaia is situated: Where, after that they had continued by the space of three monethes, and were aboute to departe thence and to sayle into Syria, he perceyued that the Iewes had layed awayt to hurt him in that iourney by water, he therfore thoughte it better to take shyppyng at an other hauen, and to returne to Macedonia agayne, and from thence to sayle to Sy∣ria, where as he firste ariued, whan he came to Macedonia. At this iourneye Sosipater of Berrea sonne vnto Pyrthus, and besydes him Aristarchus, and Secundus, beeyng both of them Thessalonians, and besydes these, also Ca∣ius of Derba, & Timothie were with vs. And besides them Tichicus & Tro∣phimus, bothe of them beeyng of Asia. These men whyles that Paule taryed in Macedonia, had goen before to make ready all thinges that were necessari, to entre the sea without daungier, and taried oure commyng at Troas. We passed by Macedonia, and so came to Philippos: From thence, after the daies of swete breade, whiche folowe easter, immediatly we departed, and wythin fyue dayes we came vnto them at Troas, where we taried seuen dayes.

[ The texte.] ¶And vpon one of the Sabboth dayes, whan the disciples came together for to breake bread, Paul preached vnto thē, ready to depart on the morow: and cōtinued y^e preaching vnto mydnight. And there wer many lightes in the chāber where we wer gathered toge∣ther, & there sate in a windore a certayne young man named Eutichus, beyng fallen into a depe slepe. And as Paule was preaching, he was more ouercome with slepe, & fel down from the thyrd lofte, and was taken vp deade. But when Paule wente downe he fell on hym, and embraced hym, and said: make nothing a do, for his life is in him. So whan he was come vp agayne, & had broken the bread and eaten, and talked a long while (euē tyll the morning) at the last he departed. And they brought the young man alyue, and were not a lytle coumforted.

There chaunced a wondrefull notable thing. For vpō one of the Sabboth dayes, whan the disciples were assembled, as theyr custome was, to breake

breade, Paule playing eache where the parte of a good pastour, refreshed their myndes with preachyng of scriptures, and forasmuch as he was purposed the nexte daye to departe thence, he continued so preachyng vnto theym vntyll it was ferre foorth nightes. And leste that nyght myghte haue bene occasion to breake of this delectable and pleasaunt sermon, there were many candelles in the sollare wheras we were than assembled. Among the multitude there was a certayne younge manne, whose name was Eutichus, that sate in one of the wyndores. This young man by reason that Paul continued talkyng so long, wexed slepie, and at the last so sore came the slepe vpon hym, that he fell flat∣lyng downe to the grounde three floores hyghe: by and by men ranne to him, but he was founde deade, and brought into the house. Whan as Paul percey∣ued that, he came downe, & after the ensample of the prophete Hely, he bended his body, and lay vpon him, as thoughe that he dyd by enbracyng, cherishe or kepe warm•• the deade bodye. Whan he had so done, he turned hymselfe to the disciples, that were muche troubled with this sodeyne chaunce, and sayde: be ye nothyng troubled with this chaunce, there is yet lyfe in hym: for the bodye is not cleane deade. Whan he had thus comforted theym, he wente agayne vp into the sollare, and brake the breade, and eate thereof: and after this, whan he had agayne so long commoned with them that it began to be lyght, and that the breake of daye appeared, he toke his leaue of them, and so at length depar∣ted. So paynefull a thyng is it, for a moste louyng father to departe from his dere chyldren. And they that remayned with the young manne, broughte hym aliue and whose into the sollare agayne. Whych thyng dyd not a litle refreshe the myndes of all that were there presente. For it was not sittyng, that that same worde that bryngeth health to all men, shoulde haue bene occasion of the young mannes death.

[ The texte.] ¶And we went afore to shyppe, & leused vnto Asson, there to receyue Paul. For so had he appoynted, & would himselfe go on foote. When we were cum together at Assō, we toke him, & came to Mitilenes. And we sayled thence, & came y^e nexte day ouer agaynst Chios. And the nexte day we arryued at Samos, and taried at Trogillion. The nexte daye we came to Mileton: for Paul had determined to sayle ouer by Ephesus, because he woulde not spende the tyme in Asia, for he hasted (if it wer for him possyble) to kepe at Ierusalē the day of Penthecost. And frō Mileton he sent messēgers to Ephesus, and called the el∣ders of the congregacion.

And we, whan we had taken shippyng at Troas, sayled to Asson, whyche is a citie nere to the sea syde within the countrey of Troas. For Paul had so determined that we shoulde go thyther before by water, and he would folowe by lande, either because it was more safer so to dooe, or els that he myghte salute the moe by the waye. And after that we mette togyther at Asson, and had receyued Paule into the shyppe, we came all together to Mitilene, whiche is a citie on the sea syde in the Yle of Lesbus. Thence departed we and the nexte daye after, we came agaynste Chios Ylande. Lykewyse agayne the daye folowyng, we arryued at the Ylande of Samos, and from thence sayled to Trogillion, that is a citie on the sea banke of Asia, directly agaynst Samos. There taryed we the same nyghte, and the nexte daye after, came to Mileton, whiche is a citie in Caria. And althoughe that we in oure saylyng by the coastes of Asia, shoulde fyrste come to Ephesus, then to Trogillion or

Mileton, yet Paule had purposed with himselfe to passe by Ephesus, lest that he shoulde spende awaye the time tarying in Asia, yf it should haue chaunced that he coulde not safely, for watche beyng layd for him, sayle into Siria. For he hastened to kepe his witsontide in Ierusalem, yf he possibly myght so do. Yet leste that he shoulde seme eyther not to regarde, or els to hate the Ephesi∣ans, he sent from Mileton, some that should wil thauncient curates of the cō∣gregacion of Ephesus, whom he had left charged with thesame congregacion, to come vnto him.

[ The texte.] ¶Which whā they were come to him, he sayd vnto them: ye know frō the first day that I came into Asia, after what maner I haue ben w^t you at al seasons, seruing y^e lord w^t all humblenes of mynde. And with many feares, and temptacions, whiche haue happened vnto me by the lyinges in awayte of the Iewes. Because I would kepe backe nothyng▪ that was profitable vnto you. But to shew you & reache you openly, & throughout euery house, witnessing both to the Iewes, & also to the Grekes, the repentaunce y^t is towarde God: And the fayth towardes our lorde Iesus.

To whome after they were come, he spake in thys wise. Brethren, I shall not nede to reherse vnto you my vpright behauiour in preaching the ghospel. It is not vnknowen vnto you your selues, whiche haue sene the same, howe I haue behaued my selfe among you, all the whyle euen from the first daye that I came into Asia, vntill this houre: and that I sought not myne owne glorye, or lucre, but that I haue obeyed the cōmaundement of our Lorde Iesus Christ in preaching his gospel, and haue in al thinges bene cōformable vnto his wil, inasmuche as I folowed his steppes, who made lowe, humbled hymselfe, and deliuered himselfe to be afflicted & tormented, and to dye, that he might clense & establyshe his churche. Euen so lykewyse hath bene my conuersacion in setting foorth the gospell, with all humilitie or lowlynesse, yea and also shame, whiche I haue suffred of the enemyes of the gospel, with often teares whiche I haue shed beyng careful for the congregacion, with muche affliccion, or trouble that I haue bene in, through the deceytes of the Iewes, that cannot abide that the benefite of the gospel should be cōmunicated and partened vnto the Gentiles. And yet none of al these mischaunces haue troubled my minde so greatly, that I haue at any tyme for feare of affliccion, let passe any thyng that apperteined to your health, neither yet haue I spared, though it were with daungier of my lyfe, to open vnto you any thyng that myght be profitable for you, and to in∣structe you both openly in the synagoges, and also priuely within mēnes hou∣ses, as occasion hath serued: not preachyng vnto you, as the Iewes myndes were that I should haue done, that is to say, circumcisiō, obseruing of sabboth dayes, and washynges, but repentaunce for your lyfe that ye did leade before, which god requireth in all men, that he maye saue all men: and full confidence in our lorde Iesus Christe, whose gospell whosoeuer beleueth, shall be saued whether he be a Iewe, or a Greke, whether circumcised, or els vncircumcised. And therefore thesame fauour and grace whiche is indifferently profered vnto all men, I haue indifferently preached vnto all men, not hauyng respect to the person, state, or degre of any manne, nor beeyng feared or discouraged by the malice of the Iewes, who for the settyng foorth and magnifying of the lawe, doe withstande the gospell: nor yet dryuen from it by the fiercenes of the Gen∣tiles, whiche do so stiffelye vpholde and maynteyne the supersticion whiche

they haue receyued of theyr forefathers. For thatsame affliccion, and perse∣cucion in whiche I was here, dyd moue me, rather because I sawe that the cō∣gregacion was in some daungier, leste any man beyng offended with mine ad∣uersitie, might be alienated and turned awaye from the ghospell, then because that I passed for y^e shame that I was put to, or for the sorowes or woe whyche I suffred and endured. And in case I did at any tyme eschewe perill or daun∣gier, I dyd it rather for your pleasure, to satisfye your appetites, hauyng re∣specte to your profit, then because I cared or passed any thyng for the losse of myne owne lyfe.

[ The texte.] ¶And now beholde I go bound in the spirit vnto Hierusalē, not knowyng the thynges that shall come on me there, but that the holy gost witnesseth in euerye citie saying: that bondes and trouble abyde me. But none of these thynges do moue me, neyther is my life deare vnto my selfe, y^t I might fulfyl my course with ioye, & the ministraciō of the word whiche I haue receiued of the lorde Iesu, to testifye the ghospell of the grace of god.

And I am very glad that I haue so done. Yea and nowe, thoughe I bee free in bodye and not in any bandes, yet beyng in spirite or mynde, as it were, in holde, I take my iourney towardes Hierusalem, where I am not verye cer∣teyne what wyll become of me, but onely because that the holy ghost in euerye citie, partely by mouthes of the prophetes, and partely in myne owne mynde, doeth sygnifie vnto me, that it shall come to passe that I shalbe bothe fettered and tormented. Whiche thing though I bothe beleue and knowe certaynelye, shall chaunce vnto me, yet none of al these thinges make me afrayed to execute the dutie of an apostle, whiche I am called vnto, though I shoulde be assured to abyde the paynes of death for my labour. For it is not this lyfe that I so muche regarde, whiche cannot perishe beyng vnder the tuicion of Christe, but more do I esteme my maysters commaundemente, then my lyfe: and that I may ende this my course in preachyng the ghospel, as cherefully, as I haue hi∣therto ioyfully abyden it. Nothing is there that more deliteth me, then that the ghospell maye be furthered by my affliccions. I haue delite in nothyng els but styll to runne forwardes in the race of the gospell, wherein the lorde hath set me, vntyll that I come to the marke, beyng well assured that I shall accor∣dyngly be rewarded at his handes, whyche is mayster of the game, whan he shall see tyme at his owne pleasure, who is without deceite. I auaunced not my selfe vnto this office, but the lorde Iesus set me in this roume, for to preach aswell to the Iewes, as also to the Gentiles these mooste gladsome tydynges, whiche is, that it hath pleased god frely to saue euery man by beleuyng in the ghospell. Wherfore willyngly and with all my herte wyll I nowe fulfyl this my vocacion, not regardyng whether I lyue or dye.

[ The texte.] And now behold, I am sure that henceforth ye all (thorow whom I haue goen preaching the kyngdōe of god) shal se my face no more. Wherefore I take you to recorde this daye, that I am pure frō the bloud of all men. For I haue spared no labour: but haue shewed you al the counsel of god. Take hede therfore vnto your selues & to all the flocke, among whō the holy gost hath made you ouersears, to rule the congregacion of god, whiche he hath purchased with his bloud.

As long as I conueniently myght, I was present with you, and holpe to∣wardes

your saluacion, teachyng, admonishyng, exhortyng, comfortynge & re∣bukyng, as I sawe occasion, with ofte recourse to see you. But nowe am I cer∣tayne by inspiration of the holye ghoste, that ye shall neuer more see me in this worlde agayne, neither ye Ephesians, nor yet any others that are inhabitours of the lesse Asia, vnto whom I haue already preached the kyngdome of God. I haue done my duetie with all diligence, and vprightly. Wherfore seyng that I muste departe from you without any hope of returne, this do I proteste be∣fore you all, that yf any man peryshe eyther by hys owne, or els by others de∣faulte, I am not gylty of theyr death. I haue shewed euery man the true way to euerlastyng lyfe. I haue opened vnto you the wyll of God, howe he is myn∣ded to saue mankynde, and what they muste do that continue in stedfast belefe towarde oure lorde Iesus, in suche wise that no man can saye for excuse of him∣selfe, that he knewe it not. I my selfe haue gyuen you ensaumple, both doyng, and also sufferyng al that I myght, to haue you continue in puritie of the gos∣pell. No mannes death can be imputed to me. And nowe it ariseth not of my free wyll that I muste hence departe frome you, nor yet do I for feare of anye persecucion conuey my selfe awaye, but wittingly and willyngly goe I to vn∣doubted daungier of my lyfe, beeyng so wylled by the spirite of Christ. Wher∣fore what ye cannot come by through my presence, that muste ye supplye wyth youre owne dylygence. See that your owne hertes fayle you not, or els that your foote slyde not backe from those thynges, that ye haue well entred into, but ye that are the elders, and vnto whom I haue cōmytted cure of this flocke, watche, partely for your own behalfes, lest ye be seduced by false apostles, and partely for the flockes sake, whyche ye haue taken in hande to feede. I haue vprightly executed myne office, that was assygned and deputed to me of oure lorde. Take ye lyke care and thought, and with semblable good wyll and vprightnes of behauiour, for the flocke that the holy ghost hath made you bis∣shoppes of, that is to saye, ouerseers, to take diligent hede that Christes shepe lacke no holsome foode, and not to playe the partes of woulues, but of faith∣full shepeherdes, towarde goddes owne congregacion, whiche ye muste not neglygently looke vpon, forasmuche as god did set so muche store by it, that he purchased it by the bloud sheddyng of his onely begotten sonne. Ye must ther∣fore beware that in no wyse the ware whiche god hath so derely boughte, maye perishe or miscary through your negligence.

[ The texte.] ¶For I am sure of this, that after my departyng, shal greuous woulues enter in among you, not sparing y^e flocke Moreouer, of your own selues shall mē arise speaking peruerse thynges to drawe disciples after thē. Therfore awake, and remēbre, that by the space of iii. yeares, I ceased not to warne euery one of you, both night and day with teares.

I do not warne you of these thynges aforehande so earnestly for nothyng. For tight certaynly assured I am, that you shall not still haue Paules wyth you, but after my departyng, fierce rauenyng woulues shall prease in among you, as it were in to foldes destitute of the shepeherde, whyche shall not spare the flocke, but shall assaye by all meanes to disperse and scatter the congrega∣cion. Than it is to bee feared, leste that suche as are weake, beeyng euen ouer∣throwen with aduersitie, will forsake the ghospell. But yet is there another daunger muche greater then this, that I haue already spoken. There shall

come not onely from foreyn places, whiche by feare, by threatnyng, by decyt∣full perswasions, and by fayned & cloked holinesse, shall endeuour themselues to corrupte your pure lyuing, and to withdrawe youre lybertye, that ye haue by the ghospell of Iesus Christe: but also euen amonge your selues shall cer∣tayne men aryse, whiche betraying this concorde and vnitie of myndes, that ye are nowe in, shall speake wicked and pernicious thinges, and suche thinges as shall much swerue from the syneere veritie of the ghospell: And suche spea∣kers shall not meane, entende, or labour, y^e Christes flocke may be safely preser∣ued vnto him, but to haue dysciples in their owne name to folowe their tay∣les, to the entente that they maye seme to be no small fooles; as thoughe they were afeard lesse they shoulde seme preachers nothing excellente, but altoge∣ther vnlearned, vnlesse they should teache some new straunge poinetes of doc∣tryne, of their owne brayne. But denylishe is that newe inuencion, whan men shall adde vnto the gospell, whiche of it selfe is sufficient. He that is a pastour or shepherd in dede, had rather that Christ had dysciples, then himselfe to haue disciples. And of him doeth a good pastoure receyue meate wherewith to fede them. But these men for to get themselues renoume, and for their owne pry∣uate and worldly lucre, make of Christes disciples, theyr owne dysciples, and wyll be thought to be founders of the doctrine of the ghospell, whereof we in very dede are but stewardes and ministers. Wherfore the greater the daun∣gier is that is at hande, so muche the more dilygently watche ye, hauyng styll in mynde howe that I (whan I was in Asia by the space of thre yeres) ceassed not daye and nyght to admonishe and warne euery one of you with teares.

[ The texte.] ¶And nowe brethren▪ I commende you to god, and to the wo••••d of his grace, whiche is ••able to buylde farther, and to geue you an inheritaunce among at them which are sanc∣tified. I haue desired no mans siluer, golde, or bestut••. Yea, you your selues ••••ow y^t these handes haue ministred vnto my necessities, and to thē that were with me. I haue shewed you all thinges, howe that so labouring, ye ought to receyue the weake, and to remembre the worde of the Lord Iesu, howe that he sayed it is more blessed to geue then to rece••ue.

And thus brethren, because I must parforce departe from you, I commite you all to god (who wyll not forsake his flocke) and to preachinge the woordes of his ghospell, wherin whatsoeuer parsones doe syncerely and vprightlye vse themselues, and doe rather sette forth the franke bountie, & goodnesse of god, whiche he freely geueth to all men, then the iustice of the lawe: them wyll the fauour of God helpe forewarde in thesame. I for my parte accordynge to my duty, haue cast the foundacion: but god, that worketh all these thinges by me, may buylde on it, that the same whiche is begonne, maye according to his wyl, be finished, and lyke as it hath hitherto chaunced vnto you, by professyng the ghospell to bee the sonnes of God by adopcion, so ye continuyng in this godly purpose▪ maye atteyne to y^e heritage whiche is promysed vnto all suche, as are sanctified by the grace of god, whether they be Iewes, or els Gentyles. Ye haue seen howe carefull I haue been, what trauayle I haue taken, ye haue seen what perilles I haue susteyned for your sakes, sekyng of you no rewarde for it, neyther honour, neither aduauntage of gaynes, in somuche, that I haue not receyued so muche as necessaries at your handes, whiche the other apo∣stles abrode doe, and I both lawfully and also with good conscience myghte haue receyued. I neuer desired golde, or syluer, or apparell of any manne. For (as it is not vnknowen vnto you all) these handes of myne haue sufficientlye ministred all thynges that eyther I or my felowes with me neded. I myghte

haue taken these thinges of you, knowyng that a labourer is worthy his wa∣ges and hiere, but I thought it better to loke for all my rewarde at gods hād: and I endeuoured my selfe by all meanes to geue you a ryghte pexfite ensam∣ple, that ye which haue by succession receyued the charge of the flocke, may per∣ceyue it to be the dutye of a good shepeherde, that whereas he refuseth no la∣boure to profyte his flocke, yet that he absteyne from receyuyng reward of any man, because of the weake, leste that any man be the more lothe, or maye beare the wurse wyll to the ghospell, for that he is compelled to fynde his curate, or els lest any manne passe lesse on the woordes of the pastours, because that he maye thinke them in his daungier, forasmuche as they receyued benefite at his hande. For the nature of men is suche, that they, (after what sorte I can not tell,) set lesse by them to whome they haue been any thing beneficiall. And although it be right, that they whiche bestowe the rychesse and treasures of the ghospell on you, be holpen againe of you, with youre temp••rall goodes, whiche be so vyle in respecte of the other, that there is no comparison betwene them, yet I knowyng many weake persones to bee emong you, woulde not gyue any man occasion to ymagine euyll of vs. Endeuoure your selues to fo∣lowe this myne ensample as nere as ye maye, hauyng styll in minde, what our lorde Iesus sayde: It is better to gyue then to receyue.

[ The texte.] And whan he had thus spoken, he kneled downe and prayed with them all. And they all wepte sore, and fell on Paules necke, and kyssed hym, sorowyng moste of all for the woordes whiche he spake, that they shoulde see his face no more. And they conueyed him vnto the ship.

Whan Paule had thus sayed, he kneled downe as his custome was, & all they lykewyse dyd thesame and made their prayers. Than euery man wepte excedyngly, insomuche that they toke hym about the necke, and kyssed him, as takyng gredely the fruicion of hym that streyghtwayes shoulde bee pluc∣ked awaye from them: for euery man was sorye in his mynde for his depar∣ture, but moste specially for one woorde that Paule had spoken whan he saied that they shoulde see his face neuer more in the worlde. Whan this was doen, they brought him all a longe to the shyppe (as theyr duetye was,) and loked after him, whyles he sayled, as farre as they coulde see him.

Notes

• And to re∣membre the woordes of the Lord Iesu.