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

The .vi. Chapiter.

[ The texte.] In those daies (whan the numbre of the disciples grewe) there arose a grudge among y^e Grekes against the Hebrues, because their widowes wer dispised in the daily ministra∣cion. Than the twelue called the multitude of the disciples together, and saied: it is not meete that we should leue the worde of God, and serue tables. Wherfore brethren, loke ye out among you seuen men of honest reporte, and full of the holy gost, and wisdome, to whom we may commit this busines. But we wil geue our selues continually to prayer, and to the minystracion of the woord. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Sieuē a man ful of fayth, and of the holy ghost, & Philip, and Prochorus, and Nichanor, and Timon, and Permenas, & Nicholas a conuerte of Antioch••. These seuen thei set before the apostles, and whan they had praied, they layed their handes on them.

AT the same time, whan the disciples (for so were they than named, who afterwarde were called Christians) encreased daylye moe in numbre, the Grekes that were amongest them, whiche were none other than Iewes, althoughe not borne in Iewrye, by profession yet Iewes, and borne amonge the Gentyles, begane to murmure and grudge againste the Hebrewes. The cause of this theyr grudgeyng, sprange of an affeccion or loue towardes their cuntrey folkes. For whereas the apostles carried about with them certayne women, whiche did them seruice, the Grekes were agreued that their widowes were not had in suche estimacion as that they myghte serue thapostles, and disciples, by dayly handreachinge. For suche ministery or seruice was estemed with them, to be a thinge of muche prefer∣ment. And this was the first ambicion in christes churche. And yet though the discorde amongest them was but litle or small,* 1.1 forebecause thou shouldest vnderstande how sore a good shepherde ought to be displeased therwith, the twelue apostles in continente, whan they had called together a great company of the disciples, to thintent it should be of the more authoritie that was deter∣mined with al their consētes, said in this maner to thē: we see grudgeing, what soeuer the matter meaneth, spronge amongest vs, as touching the seruice we haue at womans hande. Some ordre therfore must be taken, that we, who are appoynted to an higher office, be not in this wise often interrupted, with such light matters of charge. The lorde hath inioyned vs by an especial cōmaun∣dement, to teache the gospel. It is not therfore a thing well to be allowed, that we should lay asyde the office of preaching the gospel, that we be charged with al, and serue at tables. For like as in the bodie are sundry membres, and euery membre doth his office and duetie: euen so in suche a great multitude, trouble and cōfusion cannot be auoided, except diuers offices be distributed amongest diuers persons, after suche a sorte, that all together be referred to the profite of the whole bodye.* 1.2 For neyther seeth the iye for it selfe alone, but for all the membres. Neyther the handes laboure onely for them selues, but for y^e whole bodye. Wherfore brethren, loke out of youre noumbre, seuen men that are of honest reporte, replenished with giftes of the holy ghoste, and endowed with synguler wisdome, to whom we maye committe, hauyng your good wyll with∣all, this necessarie busines, wherin we haue been hitherto occupyed, not with∣out hindraunce to oure exercyse in the gospell. And whan we are set at more quietnesse by their diligence, than shall we apply our selues to those thynges that be long to vs for oure owne partes to do, as prayer and preaching of the gospell. They shall take charge with fedyng the bodyes, we wyll apply oure studyes to feede your soules. The whole cumpany wer wel pleased with this oracion.* 1.3 And so were seuen than chosen, with consent of all the congregacion Steuen a man in good credite, and one that largely had receiued y^e holy gost. Philip, Prochorus, Nichanor, Timon, Patmenas, and Nicholas of Anti∣och, a proselite by his profession. These seuen, whan they were chosen, wer set before thapostles, to thentent that what was done, thei should allowe the same by their authoritie. Thapostles whan they had made their prayers to god as they were accustomed, layed their handes vpon them. For according to this

approued custome, were holy ministers assigned at the beginnyng, vpon ex∣ample whiche was taken of oure maister Iesus, who was wonte to laye his hande vpon those that he blessed. But if any demaunde y^e quetion, what nede suche tites to the appoyntyng of ministers that should take charge of the ta∣ble? let him vnderstand that handling of monye, is in very dede a temporall exercise, moste cōmune among men, yet suche that would require sum speciall credit in him, y^t shalbe charged therwithall, and an vpright conscience. Wit∣nesse herof was Iudas, whome his vncleane herte, beyng corrupted wyth a∣uarice, styred hym to betray his maister. And furthermore, because that these seuen persons prescribed to other also, what was thoughte in suche busines necessarie for to be done, it was mete for them to be put in authoritie, that all other should the rather obey them, as felowes with the apostles and their fur∣therers. Moreouer the disciples feastes wer not such, as be among y^e vulgare people, but as ofte as they toke any meate, they toke it very deuoutly. Euerye broken morsell of breade, represented to them, the bodye of our lorde, euerye draught of wyne put them in remembraunce of oure lordes bloude. Fynally both the lordes bodye it selfe, and his bloude was ministred to the people by the Deacons. And if they were any tyme at leysure, besydes theyr temporall ministerie, than preached they also themselues, the gospell, as those persons that wer next of all to the apostles.

[ The texte.] ¶And the worde of God encreased, and the noumbre of the disciples multiplyed in Ie∣rusalem greatly, and a great company of the priestes, wer obedyent to the faith.

By suche maner meanes it came to passe that the doctrine of Christes gospell, was sparsed euery daye further abrode, and the disciples multiplyed at Ieru∣salem with right good successe in all their affayres. For a greate parte no•• onely of the comens receaued the gospell, but manye priestes also whiche had before conspired againste Christe and his apostles, whan they had repented themselues of theyr euil liuyng, and layed doune theyr pryde, submitted them vnto the swete yoke of the gospel.

[ The texte.] But Steuen, ful of faith and power, did great wōders and miracles, emong the people. Than there arose certain of the Synagoges, whiche is called the Synagoge of the Ly∣bertines, and Sirenites, and of Alexandria, and of Cilicia, & Asia, disputing with Sie∣uen. And they coulde not re siste the wysdome, and the spirit whiche spake.

But Steuens holines among all the deacons, glistened pryncipally. For so handeled he hymselfe in his office appoynted him, that he was moste in fa∣uoure with the whole multitude of the faythfull, for his excel••ente sobernes in behauioure: and towardes them that were rebellyous to the ghospell, he expressed so valiaunte a courage, that he was neuer by them ouercum, inso∣muche, that he wrought many and greate miracles amonge the people, in the name of Iesus, yea as one that endeuoured hymselfe to expresse the vertu∣ous steppes of thapostles. But forasmuche as exceliente vertue procureth it selfe enuie, lyke as dothe the sterne wynde draw to hym the white cloudes, cer∣tayne rose vp againste Steuen, of diuers felowshyppes, of the whiche one was called Libertines, another Cyrenites, sum of Alexandria, an other sorte of suche that came out of Cilicia, and Asia. For to these countreyes whiche were ioynyng vnto Siria, aboue al other were the Iewes dispersed: all these sortes, as though they had be of one conspiracie, arose together against Ste∣uen dysputyng with him, and yet coulde not all they, although manye in

numbre, stand in reasoning against this one yong mans wisdome, & the liuely force of his courage, for because y^e holy ghost whō he was ful of, spake in him.

[ The texte.] Than sent they men, whiche sayed: we haue heard him speake blasphemous woordes a∣gainst Moises, & against God: and they moued the people, and the elders, & the Scribes, and came vpon him, and caught him, & brought him to the councel, & brought forth false witnesse, whiche sayed: This man ceaseth not to speake blasphemous woordes againste this holy place and the law: for we heard him saie: this Iesus of Nazareth shal destroy this place, and shal chaunge the ordinaunces whiche Moyses gaue vs. And all they that sate in the coūcel loked stedfastly on him, & saw his face as it had ben y^e face of an angell.

Marke me here the maner and fashion of the wicked. Whan they had caste of al trueth, vnable to make theyr partie good in disputacion, thei fell to practise of foregeyng lyes, and beyng once put to the wurse by wisdome of the holye ghoste, they gaue themselues wholy to the practyse of diuilyshe decey∣tes. For they brought in certaine men with false witnes, that saied thei heard Steuen spo••ke blasphemous wordes against Moyses, & against god. And there was none offence among the Iewes, that more deserued deathe, than did blasphemy, and more detested with the people. Consider here, good reader, lyke inuencions againste the seruaunte, as wer before practised againste the Maister. They brought in false accusers, bycause they would not be seen in theyr owne persons, to reuenge the inwarde grief of their mindes, whiche thei had conceiued for the blancke they wer put vnto beyng menne of themselues insufficient to cope with Steuen in disputacion. An hainouse crime ••ought they out, by their false ymaginacion against him, and cloked theyr cankred malice, with a pretensed loue to religion. Than wer the people with the elders also & Scribes, by meanes of these false tale tellers, whiche had been preuelye sent in, sore moued against Steuen, insomuche as all they w^t one assent toge∣ther toke hym violently awaye,* 1.4 and haled hym before the councell. Here came they furth before them, that wer y^e hyred recordes, for to playe out their partes and to saye: this man haue neuer done breaking out into blasphemouse woor∣des, againste this place, bothe holy and with all vs honorable, and agaynste Moyses lawe that was delyuered vs of god. For we hearde hym saye, that Iesus of Nazareth woulde destroye this place, and chaunge the ordinaunces that Moyses gaue vs. But this was Steuens reporte vpon relacion of y^e apostles,* 1.5 howe Iesus had prophecied to them, that the temple and citie lyke∣wyse should be of theyr enemyes ouerthrowen, euen from the foundacion, for the peoples infidelitie. This rehersall of Steuen, craftely they wrested to a false and s••launderouse accusacion. A man myght well affirme these to bee thesame persones y^e accused Iesus, reportyng thus of his woordes: we hearde hym saiynge: I wyll destroye this temple, and sette vp an other in thre dayes. But Steuen at this sharpe and cruel accusacion, was nothing moued in his mynde for he was cleare in his conscience, insomuch that he, from the botome of his herte, appeared in his very countenaunce, to be innocent. For the minde that knoweth euel by it self, is neuer out of feare. This his stedfastnes in coū∣tenaunce put his accusers soone to rebuke, for theyr shameles falshood. For those that sate there in counsayle, beholdynge hym, and markyng well howe boldelye he toke the offence that was layed to his charge, same hym so lytle discouraged at the matter or dismayde, that his face seemed to vtter by coun∣tenaunce, sum thynge aboue mannes excellencie, and a certayne chearfulnes withall, and maiestie, besemyng for an Aungell to haue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It is not meete that we shoulde leaue the woorde of god & serue tables.
• * 1.2

  Wherefore brethren, loke ye out among you seuen of ho∣nest reporte &c.
• * 1.3

  And they chose Steuē a man ful of faith and of the holy ghost. &c.
• * 1.4

  And the•• moued the people & the elders and the Scribes
• * 1.5

  For we hearde hym saye, this Iesus of Nazareth shal destroye this place.