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

The .v. Chapter.

[ The texte.] ¶A certayne man named ••nanias, with Saphira his wyfe, solde a possession, and kepte awaye parte of the pryce (his wyfe also being of counsell) and brought a certayne part, and layed it downe at the apostles feete. But Peter said: Ananias, howe is it, that Sa∣than hath fylled thyne herte, that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy ghost, and kepe awaie part of the pryce of the landes? Pertayned it not vnto the only•• & after it was solde, was it not in thyne owne power? why hast thou conceiued this thing in thine herte: thou hast lyed, not vnto mē, but vnto God. Whan Ananias heard these wordes, he fell downe, and geue vp that ghost. And great feare came on all them that hearde these thynges. And the young men arose vp, and put him aparte, and carryed him out, and buryed hym.

BUt lyke as Barnabas playne trueth without coloura∣ble deceite, moued many to folowe his lyberalitie, so was here an exāple to put al people in feare, that in matters of spiritual charge, one should not deceyue an other. For the holy ghost loueth playnes of hearte, and hateth al deceite & dissimulacion. In like maner Iudas among the twelue Apostles, was an example, that no man shoulde put af∣fiaunce in hymselfe, but that eche manne should with all carefull diligence, continewe in doyng his dutie.

There was of this companie, a certayne man called Ananias, one farre vn∣lyke vnto his owne name, because he throughly not consented to the gracious fauour of God. This Ananias had a wyfe called Saphira, not vnlyke vnto the housbande. Whan that Ananias, more ambicious of honour, thē desirous of perfite holynesse, sawe dyuerse persons hyghly commended of all menne, for their free & sincere lyberalitie, he solde his lande: & laied vp parte of the money, his wyfe being pryuy therunto and allowing the same, that of the two partes, wherein his money was deuided, the one shoulde purchase him prayse of the people, with an estimation also or fame of holynesse, the other woulde he kepe for himselfe, yf any nede should happen, distructing doubtlesse the holy ghoste, and more caring or prouiding for himselfe then for the whole company of his brethren, rekenyng thus with himselfe: yf other dye for hunger, I am suffici∣ently prouided for. Suche forecasting was not besemyng a man that should put his whole affiance in Christe, who promysed that they shoulde wante no∣thyng, that seketh for the kyngdome of god and the rightwysenes therof: ney∣ther was this imaginacion mete for hym whiche shoulde bee of one will wyth other, and of one mynde. Whan he had brought to the apostles feete, parte of the money, that his liuelode was solde for, Peter vnderstandyng by inspiraci∣on of the holy ghoste, whiche was in him aboundauntly, the mannes vngod∣ly dissimulacion, sayed: Ananias, where as thou hast once dedicate thy selfe to the holy ghost, and seen his power by so many tokens euidently declared, why hast thou suffered the deuill nowe eftesones to put this in thy mynde, to take by stelth awaye, parte of that money, whiche thou receyuedst for thy lyuelode, as though thou couldest face downe the holy ghost with a lye, who can in no∣wyse be deceyued, and to bryng into this companie suche a presidente, moste daungerouse? If we had constrayned thee to sell thy liuelode against thy will, some cause peraduenture it might haue been for to dissemble, nowe sence thou diddest this of thyne owne free wyll, whiche thou haste done, to what purpose auayled it to deface that thyng with hypocryse, whiche should haue bene to o∣ther an example of liberalitie? Mightest not thou haue kept thy lande in thyne owne hand, yf thou wouldest? and moreouer, after thou haddest solde it, coul∣dest not thou haue reserued the money wholy vnto thy selfe? They for theyr trueth & playne dealyng, are well commended, whiche of theyr owne free will, bringeth forth all that they haue. For we enforce no man thus to doe, yf he be not willyng to thesame. Upon what occasion than hast thou stablyshed in thy minde, thus to dissēble in this matter? It is not man that thou hast made this lye vnto, but almightie god. Yf thou thinkest that god may be deceyued, thyne opinion of him, is false and vngodly. But yf thou beleue that he is pryuie to

all thynges, eyther thou despisest his righteousnesse, or els thou thynkest that he fauoureth falsehood. Ananias than perceyuing that thapostles knewe hys falsehood, sodaynly fell downe, as one that had be stricken to the herte with a sharpe rebuke, and yelded vp the ghoste. One for an example suffered death, that many myght be therby preserued. For after that this facte was bruted abrode, it made many sore afrayed, that none durste enterpryse any suche lyke offence against the holy ghost: Young men remoued thence the dead corse, and whan they had carryed it foorth, buryed it.

He deserued not to be buryed, yet ought he thence to be remoued, lest his dead body should infecte that pure and holy companie. Here peraduenture some wyll meruayle at Peters sharpnes towardes Ananias, that but late before so ••entily entreated them, that had crucified Christe, to receyue pardon for their offences, ascribyng all that was doen to ignoraunce, and proferyng the peny∣tent person, health of soule euerlastyng. But here rebuked he this person so sharpely for witholdyng a small porcion of money, contrarye to his lyberall promyse, that there was no hope at all for him to come by pardone. For why? Iesus the Lorde, that had geuen commaundement for all men to be called by meane of baptisme, to their saluacion, pardonyng theyr offences, woulde teache by the example of violent death in a fewe persons, howe muche the of∣fence is more greuous to fall in synne after baptysme, and lyght receyued of the ghospell, not nowe of any vnaduisednes or ignoraūce, but of a wilful dis∣simulacion. And Peter knewe that the moste pestilent plague that the plaine simplicitie of the ghospell could haue, should spring of dissimulaciō & auarice, and therfore euen at the begynnyng of the churche, a notable example was o∣penly set forth, to admonishe all people, y^e none should escape, whosoeuer folo∣wed the steppes of Ananias, the vengeaūce of god, although that his offence were not in this world forthwith punished. As for the losse of the money, was not here rekened vpon, but his mystrust in God, and mocking of his holy spi∣rite. Peter hymselfe punished not the person, but for his soules health sharply he rebuked him. But bycause he neyther brast out into wepyng, nor expressed any woorde at all of repentaunce, God toke vengeaunce on hym.

And thus of goddes wonderfull mercy towardes manne, one was stricken, that many might be saued. An example of iustice was set forth towardes hym that dyed, and mercy besydes was largely powred out on many one that toke heede, at his example, to eschewe synne.

[ The texte.] And it fortuned (as it were aboute the space of thre houres after) that his wife came in, ignoraunt of that which was doen. And Peter sayd vnto her: Tell me, sold ye not the lande for so muche? And she sayed: yea, for so muche. Than Peter sayed vnto her: Why haue ye agreed together to tempte the spirite of the Lorde? Behold, the fete of thē whiche haue buried thy housband, are at the doore, and shall carry thee out. Than fel she downe strayghtway at his feete, and yelded vp the ghost. And the young men came in, and found her dead, and caryed her out, and buried her by her housbande. And great feare came on all the congregacion, and on as many as heard it.

And as it were about the space of thre howres after, beholde the wyfe of Ana∣nias, not knowing what had chaunced to her housband, (as folkes knowe la∣ter almoste then other, what euill is done at home in theyr owne house,) came in, beyng priuy to that her housbandes craftie deceyte, and in wyll ready also for her parte, to gette vayne prayse: vnto whose vngodly imaginacions, Pe∣ter aunswered, saying: tell me woman, solde ye the lande for so muche, and for

no more then this? She muche lyke to her housbande, aunswered without a∣ny shame, yea verayly for somuche haue we solde it. Than Peter sayed to her: why hast thou with thy housbande together agreed to tempte wyth a lye, not vs, but the spirite of the lorde, whom ye see workyng in vs? But forasmuche as it liked thee to be felowe wyth thy housbande in this wicked dissimulacion, thou shalt be lyke wyse partener with him in punishment.

Beholde they stande at the doore, whiche buried thy housbande, and the selfe same persons shall carry the out. She than immediatly as these woordes were spoken, fell downe and yelded vp the ghoste: In went the young menne vpon thesame, and founde the woman deade. Than they carryed her foorthe, and buried her by her housbande. A sharpe example this was, but yet profi∣tble for manne, and not ofter put in vre, than once of thapostles. And yet did not Peter, the ientileste creature that than was lyuyng, inflycte thys punishe∣ment, but as he that was inspired with the holy ghost, expressed it in woordes. For Peter than knewe by secrete inspiracion of the holy ghost, what was al∣ready doen, and what was for to be doen. God to whom all thynges be kno∣wen, wyll see thē punished, that vnder couloured falsehood, doe mocke aposto∣lyke persons, though that they be suche, as may be deceyued. For all men hath not all tymes that gyfte of the holy ghost, that Peter had at that tyme. Nowe marke howe happily of an euell occasion it succeded. Wondrefull great feare sprang through the whole Churche of the faythfull, by meanes of that deathe whiche these twoe persons ryght woorthyly suffered, yea, other also that than beleued not, were stricken with feare of this example.

[ The texte.] ¶By the handes of the apostles, were many signes and wonders shewed emong the people. And they were altogether with one accorde, in Salomons porche. And of the o∣thers durst no man ioyne himselfe to them: neuerthelesse the people magnified them. The number of them that beleued in the lorde both of men and weomen, grewe more & more: insomuche that they brought the sicke into the streates, and layed them on beddes and couches, that at y^e least way, the shadowe of Peter when he came by, might shadow some of them, and that they myght all be deliuered from theyr infirmities. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about, vnto Ierusalem, bringing sick folkes, and them whiche were vexed with vncleane spirites. And they were healed euery one.

Moreouer many and great myracles, were wrought emong the people by the apostles, wherby it myght playnly appere to all men, that this notable ef∣fecte came to passe by some dyuine power, aboue al strength of man. And as many as sticked to the ghospell, abode all with one accorde together in the porche, called Salomons porche. For than were not they desyrouse to be hyd in corners, but the tyme requyred, that the candle beeyng set vpon the candle∣sticke, shoulde gyue lyght to all that entred into the house. As for the others, which had not yet by baptysme booked themselues as souldiers, to fyght vn∣der the baner of Christes capitayne, none durst company with them. For they perceyued this sorte of people to be dedicate to God, and holy, and therfore of a certayne reuerent feare, withdrewe themselues from theyr company, lyke as the temporall sorte of men are wonte to drawe backe frome halowed thynges, whiche be for euer dedicate to the temple. For the people hated them not, but had them in an honourable reuerence, for the excellent vertue or giftes of god, whiche clerely shone in them. And notwithstandyng that the example of

Ananias & Saphira had made many one sore afrayed, that none durst frame themselues after a counterfeyte fashion vnto their coumpanie, yet after thys the multitude of the faythfull encreased euery daye, in numbre more and more, both of men and women, insomuche that commonly they would bryng forthe the sicke folkes into the stretes, and suche as were not able to go on foote by reason of great sickenes, those set they out abrode vpon couches and beddes, that agaynst Peters cūmyng, his shadowe as he passed by myght at the least∣wyse ouershadowe some of them. Ueraily in them was that promyse perfour∣med, whiche Iesus the Lorde had made, speakyng thus of hys disciples: and greater thynges than these be, shall they doe. Iesus healed some persones by touching the hemme of his garment▪ but no man healed he by touching of hys shadowe. The fame of theyr myracles, spred euery daye ferther abrode, inso∣muche that a great multitude of people, came out of the cities bordering nigh there aboute, vnto Hierusalem, bryngyng with them, those that were is sun∣dry wise diseased, and troubled of vncleane spirites, whiche were made whole euerychone. In suche a wondrefull successe of thynges mete, it were for vs to obserue howe sobre and demure the Apostles were at all times, who claymed no renoume or glory for theyr doynges, but referred all prayse that was gy∣uen them to the name of theyr maister Iesus.

[ The texte.] ¶Then the chiefe prieste rose vp, and all they that were with him (whiche is the secte of Saduceis) and were full of indignation and layed handes on the Apostles, & put them in the common pryson. But the Aungell of the Lord by nygh, opened the pryson doores, and brought to them forth, and sayed: go, and stande and speake in the temple to the people, al the woordes of this lyfe. Whan they hearde that, they entred into the temple early in the mornyng and taught. But the chiefe priest came, and they that were with hym, and called a counsell together, and all the elders of the children of Israell, and sene menne to the pryson to fet them.

After that the name of Iesus Christe began in this maner to be knowen wonderfully well with all men, and the swete odour of the ghospel, to spreade it selfe euery daye farther abrode: Byshop Annas a prelate of false religion, could not abyde the encrease of this trewe religion. Besydes all other, name∣ly they that were of the Saduceis secte, toke his part, forbycause the Apostles beare witnesse pryncypally of our maister Iesus Christes resurrection. Whiche thing caused the Phariseis, that defended the resurrection agaynste the Saduceis, to be more quiet towardes the Apostels. It had afore been de∣creed, that this busynesse, shoulde be layed on slepe, by dissemblyng therat for a time. But maliciouse enuy go••te the vpper hande of this theyr decree or counsayle, and furyousnesse in them, shooke of all feare. For the head priests, whose mynde Sathā troubled with enuy, beyng assisted with the Saduceis, set hande on the apostels, & had them to warde, laying them in no priuate pri∣son, as though they shoulde bee examyned vpon suspicion, but in a common pryson, as though they had be taken in some manifest acte of myschiefe. A pryson was chos••n oute veray strong, leste they myght by some meane escape, or els be taken awaye through some commocion of the poeple. But the holy woorde of the ghospell, can neyther be bounden, ne kepte in prison by mannes wytte and policie. For Iesus, who is the defendour of his owne elected, sen••e his Aungell, that opened by nyght the pryson doores, and brought them forth and sayed: be ye nothyng vnquieted in mynde wyth these maliciouse priestes, but rather holde on the holder, as ye haue begonne. Go your waye, and in the

temple steppe vp and preache to the people, what soeuer he gaue you in com∣maundement to preache to all nations of the world. The time was once, whan he would not suffre you to publishe him for Christe. But nowe is cumme the tyme, that he spake of to you, saying: there is nothynge hyd that shall not bee openly shewed, and what is whispered in your eare, that preache ye vpon the house toppes. The apostles beyng encouraged at this the angels exhortaciō, came into the temple early in the mornyng, and according to their accustomed manier, taught the people, whiche were many there in numbre. The high bi∣shop beyng ignoraunt what was doen by nyght of the angell, ioyned himselfe in confederacie wyth the Saduceis, and certayne other supporters of that wil∣full mynde that he was of, and came into the counsell house. Thither was cal∣led all the whole counsell of prestes, of officers and temple rulers, with all the whole ordre of elders among the people of Israell. For than were they all the sorer incensed agaynst them for theyr disobedience, and had determined to or∣deyne some crueller punishemente for theym: But here consider in the meane whyle, good reader, the malicious impudencie of the priestes, that where as they had no iuste matier to lay to the Apostles charge, yet brought they aboute in their great assembly, what euer they lusted: because theyr sentence, whyche was cursed and vngodly, shoulde appeare in that, that it was decreed by con∣sent of the whole counsell, good and ryghteous. After that the head men were sette downe eche one in his place after a stately manier, the sergeauntes were sent, to bryng forth thattached persons before them, into theyr sessions.

[ The texte.] Whan the ministers came, and founde them not in pryson, they returned and tolde, saying: the pryson truely we founde shut with all diligence, and the kepers stāding with∣out before the doores. But whan we had opened, we founde no man within. Whan the chiefe preist and the rewlers of the temple, and the hie priestes heard of this, they doub∣ted of them, wherunto this would growe.

The sergeauntes came vnto the pryson, they founde the kepers watchyng at the pryson doore. The doore was set open. But whan they were come in, none of the apostles coulde they fynde, nor any prynt or token, what way they had escaped. Than went the ministers backe agayne vnto the counsell, and tolde them what they had sene. We founde, sayde they, the pryson on euery side surely shutte, and the kepers standyng fast by the doore. But whan the doore was open and we let in, no man founde we there. All they were muche trou∣bled in theyr myndes at these tidynges, and specially the temple rewlers and the head pryestes, and as menne beyng at theyr wittes ende, dowted sore what ende should ensue of this busines.

[ The texte.] Than came one and shewed them: Beholde, the men that ye put in pryson, stande in the temple and teache the people. Then wente the ruler of the temple, with ministers, and brought them without violence. For thei feared the people, lest they should haue ben sta∣ned, and whan they had then brought them, they set them before the counsell. And the chiefe priestes asked thē, saying: did not we streightly cōmaund you, that ye should not teache in this name▪ And beholde, ye haue fylled Ierusalem with youre doctryne, and intende to brynge this mannes bloud vpon vs.

The meane time that they were in suche doubt, whiles they were trembling for feare in their consultacion, in came one y^e troubled more their myndes with

heauy tydynges, saying: beholde, the men that ye emprysoned yesterday, nowe stand in the temple, teachyng no smalle noumber of people. Than the temple∣rewlers, bycause it perteyned peculiarlye to theyr office to see that nothynge shoulde be other wise doen in the temple then ought to be, toke theyr waye, ac∣cording to the priestes commaundement, vnto the temple, with a company of seruing men, for theyr garde agaynste all assaultes or violence of the people: They founde them lyke as it was reported, standyng in the temple, and prea∣chyng Iesus to a great sorte of people. Albeit they laide no handes on them, lyke as they had doen before. For they sawe there present a great numbre of people, & were afrayed themselues lest they, yf any commocion should haue rysen among the people, should be stoned. But neyther was that companye of suche a sorte, that would make busines, neither thapostles those persons, that desyred ayde of any temporall powre. They were in themselues very stedfaste and sobre in theyr doinges, without any fearsenes at all. They behelde thoffi∣cers which led them the day before to pryson. And yet for al that, they neyther feared themselues, neyther fled away, nor brake once of their preaching of the ghospel, vntyll the offycer of the temple entreated them gently, to goe vnto the counsell. The Apostles obeyed, lest they shoulde in any wise seme to despise the publike authoritie. For theyr maister had not taught them that they shoulde whan they were called, refuse to goe, but y^t they should boldly speake, nothyng at all afrayed. In came these two fyshers to the counsell house, presented they were before a company of hygh and great officers, with no small trayne folo∣wing them. Than began Annas, the high prieste with highe authoritie, and no lesse statelines of mynde, hys oracion in this maner: did not we streightly com∣maund you at our last assembly by authority of y^e hygh powers that ye should nomore teache the people, nor make mencion priuely nor appartly to any mā, straungier or Iewe, of this name Iesus, whiche we wyll shalbe abolyshed?

And nowe wyll ye see howe contemptuously agaynst the authoritie of the whole counsell▪ ye haue not alonely kepte no sylence herein at all, but the more vehemently haue ye also preached, insomuche that ye haue fylled all Heirusa∣lem wyth your doctryne, and the rumoures of youre doynges are the meane whyle publyshed abrode, yea to the cities that border about vs. Well, ye goe about maliciously to bryng vs in hatred for the death of this man. For openly ye do preache that we slewe him, which thing cannot we deny. Ye publyshe al∣so that the selfesame persone was good and holy & well with God approued, and in his name ye worke miracles, whiche is as it were to dishonour, & con∣demne vs before the multitude, of crueltie, that haue procured suche a mans death. This was the hgyhe Byshoppes oracion, whyche contayned no honest matters to defende it selfe, only it made some afrayed with woordes of hyghe authoritie, that the trueth in dede, whiche ought to be for mans health publis∣shed to all men, should be kepte in silence for the wicked mennes glory.

[ The texte.] ¶Peter and the other apostles aunswered, and sayed: we ought more to obey God then men. The God of our fathers raysed vp Iesus, whome ye slewe, and hanged on tree, him hath God lyfte vp with his ryght hand, to be a ruler and salueour, for to geue repentaūce to Israell, and forgeuenes of synnes. And we are recordes of these thynges whiche we saye, and so is also the holy ghost, whom God hath geuen to them that obey hym. Whan they hearde this, they claue a sundre, and sought meanes to slay them.

Nowe let vs on the other parte heare a fisher, the very Archebysshop of

Christes ghospell, howe boldly, and soberly also maketh he an aunswere for all the apostles: High and bountifull Bushop, he sayeth, and ye that are rew∣lers of great authoritie, with other also the elders very wurshipfull men, that sit here in counsell together, we despyse not youre authoritie, but we preferre the authoritie of God to mannes authoritie, and so promysed we to do in that aunswere we made you, whan ye forbode vs to speake any woorde at all of Iesus name. And as I suppose there is not one in this assembly, that thin∣keth it mete that we shoulde for mannes prohibicion, take lyghte regarde to goddes commaundementes, and whyles we feare youre wrathe, renne into Goddes dyspleasure. If your commaundementes stoode with the wyll of god, we woulde with all our hertes, satisfy•• both you and hym. Nowe sence youre prohibicions doe vtterly square wyth hys commaundementes, and that we cannot satisfye both the one and ••ke the other, we had lieffer obey God, than manne. And it is not our desyre to bryng any in hatred by preachyng of Ie∣sus name, but to procure saluation to euery manne. And more it were for you expedient, rather to submitte your authoritie to the will of God, then to bryng vs hither, refusyng vtterly to saye ought, or els to doe contrary to goddes wil.

The waye is open for eche manne, to come by remyssion of his synnes, yf he a mende his lyfe, and louyngly doe embrace the trueth of the ghospel. Euen thus shall ye fynde it, as we haue shewed you heretofore: the God of oure fa∣thers, whome ye and we, and we with you doe wurshyppe, hath reysed vp from death his sonne Iesus, whome ye faste naylyng hym on a crosse, haue s••ayne. And veryly so was it decreed by the diuine counsell, so it was hereto∣fore spoken by the Prophetes, that one shoulde dye to saue the worlde. This selfe same persone, euen lyke as he was but feble in bodye, manne hath put to death, but almyghtie God hath called him to lyfe agayne: and of hys infinite power, hath him exalted to suche renowne and glorye, as to bee a guide for all menne, and the chiefest worker of mannes saluacion, but pryncipally for the children of Israell, and that all maye redily come thorowe hym to remissi∣on of synne, whiche bee contente to forsake theyr euell lyuyng, and to professe his holy name. And to these thynges that we rehearse to you, beare we re∣corde, that kepte in house wyth hym familiar companie, before he died, and af∣ter he was from death reuiued, oftentymes heard hym, sawe hym, and hand∣led hym, vntill he ascended vp (all vs beholdyng hym) to heauen. But if ye esteme our wytnes to be of small importaunce, the holy ghoste beareth wyt∣nes of the same, whome he powreth vpon all that receyue his ghospell, as ye see it in vs a ready. You heare straunge languages, you see woondrefull thynges wrought excedyng common reason. There is nought here of our owne doynges, it is Iesus holy spirite, that putteth forth his power and ver∣tue abrode by his ministers. This oracion of Peters, well besemyng for an a∣postle to make, which ought eyther for dreade of punishment to feare them, or els for the hope of saluacion that was euen at hande to allure theym, chafed theyr myndes and made them the more incensed against them, insomuch, that theyr hertes would haue braste for anger, laying theyr heades together howe they myght slea them. Than had the priestes for their parte, of a long tyme cu∣stomably vsed murther: and to cutte lyke buchers, shepe & goates in the tem∣ple, wherby they had gotten themselues nought els, but a slayght to kyl men also, the more easely. In all this their communication not a worde was heard

of diuyne scripture, nothing godly spoken for mans erudicion, no reason at all. Onely this commaund we, this is our wil & pleasure, eyther obey thesame, or els shalte thou suffre death.

[ The texte.] ¶Then stode there vp one in the councell, a Pharisey, named Gamaliel, a doctoure of lawe (had in reputacion among al the people) and commaunded the apostles to goe aside a litle space, & sayed vnto them: ye men of Israell, take hede to your selues, what ye en∣tende to do, as touching these menne. For before these daies rose vp one The••das, boa∣sting himselfe, to whome resorted a noumbre of men, aboute fower hundred which was slayne: and they al whiche beleued hym, wer scattered abrode, & brought to nought. And after this man, was one Iudas of Galile in the dayes of the tribute, and drewe awaye muche people after hym, and he also perished, and al (euen as many as harkened to him) were scattered abrode. And now I say vnto you refraine your selues from these men, and let them alone. For yf this counsell or this worke be of men, it wil cum to nought. But & yf it be of God, ye cannot destroye it lest ye be haplye founde to stryue against God.

In that councell sat one Gamaliell, a Pharisey, at whose fete Paule the apostle learned the lawe, a man in high estimacion with the whole people of Israel, both for his excellente knowleage in the lawe, & for his singuler wys∣dome. This Gamaliel, whan he sawe them so bent to vnthriftie councell, stood vp, and desyred that the apostles might for a while departe out of the councel. That doen this sayed he to them that were there sittyng: ye my brethren of Israel, procede not headlyng in your councell, neyther determine any thinge vnaduisedly, whiche afterwarde may turne remediles vnto your shame, but take good hede what ordinaunce ye make, or iudgemente ye geue of these persones. Take counsayle of thinges past, what shalbe expediente for you to determyne for the tyme to cum. I wyll reherse no auncient examples of old tyme. That as I shall reherse to you, was done sence al ye may well remem∣bre. There was of late dayes one Theudas, an enchaūter, and a false decea∣uer, who by boastyng hymselfe to the people, and promysing of prodigiouse thinges, drue to his factiouse opinion a great number of men, nigh vnto the poinct of fower hundred. But hys busie enterpryse, because it proceaded of a maliciouse stomake had an vnthriftye ende. For both he hymselfe suffered paynes of death, and as many as had taken his parte, were sum slaine & sum taken prysoners. Whan all wer thus scattered abrode, the secte was brought to nought.

After hym was Iudas of Galile, a countreyman to these persons, that ye now consulte vpon, the same tyme that the whole worlde was taxed by com∣maundement of Augustus Cesar. And this same Iudas, for as muche as he taught thynges pleasaunt to the people, that they bryng dedycate to god, ought to pay no tribute to Emperours, whiche were woorshyppers of false goddes, drew to his faccion a greate parte of the comens. And afterwarde both he y^e capitaine of this faccion was slaine, & as many as toke his parte, were scattered abrode. Wherfore this is myne aduise, that more wisely shall ye do, yf ye forbeare these persones, and let theim goe, seyng that no man hy∣therto is hurte by them. For yf this, that they haue enterprysed, or that that they goe about to bryng to passe, procede of mans witte, it shall of it selfe cum to nought. But yf god be the worker of this so woonderfull a matter, it were both an vngodly poynte in you, to mynde the destruccion of that thing which

God is the principall doer of (for what were that els but to resiste god) and be∣sydes that lacke of foresight, to goe aboute that that ye cannot bring to passe. For who shalbe able to withstand the wil of god?

[ The texte.] And to hym agreed the other: and when they had called the apostles, they bet them: and commaunded that thei should nor speake in the name of Iesus and so let thē go. And thei departed from the counsell, reioysing that they were counted worthie to suff••e rebuke for his name. And dayly in the temple, and in euery house they ceased not to teache and preache Iesus Christ.

This his councell was so estemed with the whole assemblye, that the sen∣tence of death, which they would haue pronounced on them, was differred vn∣till an other tyme. And as for this tyme, they agreed to Gamalyels councell, not that they would vtterly holde their handes of thapostles, but that after they wer al twelue called together, and beaten, they should be charged agayne vpon a strayte commaundemente, not to speake from that daye forwardes, so muche as one woorde of the name of Iesus. And so were they contented v∣pon this punishement to dimitte them, thinkyng that though they had made lyght at their thundryng woordes, and threatninges, yet would thei be better aduised what they did or said, beyng once punyshed for a warning: esteminge thapostles whiche wer, to loke vpon, abiect persons, and of the base cōminal∣tie, to be like in condicion to the rude and barbarouse people that are amended with strokes. But the liuely spirite in a preacher of the woorde of god, is wont after suche iniurious afficcions, to gather his strength together. Thapostles, because they wer well assured that the woordes y^e Iesus spake wer trewe, that they should be called before iudges, and that they shoulde be scourged in their Synagoges, and congregacions, for no euil dede, but for professing his hol∣sum name, departed from the councell, lufty in courage, and ioyous, takyng their reprocheful beatinges, whiche to other wer thought intollerable, to their prayse and glory, for as muche that god would recognyse them his apostles worthy such honour, that they might for his owne sonnes sake, spitefully be entreated. They had in remembraunce what Iesus had saied to them before: reioyce ye & be glad, for great is your reward in heauen. So litle this punish∣ment and menacing auayled the princes, to holde them abacke frō preachyng Iesus name, that thapostles toke therof the more courage to preache conti∣nuallye what thei had heard of their maister Iesus, both openly in the temple, and in euery mannes house priuily, and to bryng to eche man gladsum ty∣dynges, that this was very Messias, by whome all shoulde be saued.

Notes

• A certyne man named Ananias. &c
• Ananias, howe is it that Sathā hath fylled thyne herte that thou shouldest lie vnto y^e holy ghost. &c.
• Whan Ana∣nias hearde these woor∣des, he fell downe, and gaue vp the ghoste. &c.
• Than Peter sayed vnto her: why haue ye a∣greed toge∣ther to tempte the spirite of the lorde &c.
• And of the others durst no mā ioyne him∣selfe to thē.
• Neuerthe∣les the peo∣ple magni∣fyed theym.
• And they laied han∣des on the Apostles, & put them in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pryson.
• And they brought thē without vi∣olence.
• For they feared the people, &c.
• Beholde, ye haue fylled Hierusalem with youre doctrine.
• The God of our fathers reised vp Ie¦sus whome ye slew. and haue han∣ged on tree.
• For before those dayes rose vp one Theudas.
• And they departed from y^e coū∣sell reioy∣syng that they were coūted wor∣thy to suffer rebuke for his name.