The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin, according to the best corrected copies of the same, diligently conferred vvith the Greeke and other editions in diuers languages; vvith arguments of bookes and chapters, annotations, and other necessarie helpes, for the better vnderstanding of the text, and specially for the discouerie of the corruptions of diuers late translations, and for cleering the controversies in religion, of these daies: in the English College of Rhemes

CHAP. XII.

Herod the first king that persecuted the Church, hauing at Hierusalem (vvhen Barnabas and Saul vvere there vvith the collation of the Antiochians) killed Iames the Apo∣stle, 3 and to please the levves imprisoned Peter vvith the minde to kil him also, but frustrate by an Angel sent of God at the continual praiers of the Church made for her cheefe Pastor,* 1.1 19 being puffed vp vvith such pride that at Casarea he refuseth not to be honoured as God: 23 is miraculously striken of Gods Angel. 24 And so after the persecutors death, the Churches preaching prospereth excedingly.

[verse 1] AND at the same time Herod the king set his hādes, to afflicte certaine of the Church. ✝ [rightJustify 2] And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn vvith the svvord. ✝ [rightJustify 3] And seing that it pleased the Ievves, he added to apprehend Peter also. And it vvas the daies of the Azymes. ✝ [rightJustify 4] Vvhom vvhen he had apprehen∣ded, he cast into prison, deliuering him to∷ 1.2 foure quaterniōs of souldiars to be kept, meaning after the Pasche to bring him forth to the people. ✝ [rightJustify 5] And Peter in deede vvas kept in prison. But ″ praier vvas made of the Church vvithout inter∣mission

vnto God for him. ✝ [leftJustify 6] And vvhen Herod vvould haue brought him forth, the same night Peter vvas sleeping be∣tvvene tvvo souldiars, bound vvith ″ tvvo chaines: and the keepers before the doore kept the prison. ✝ [leftJustify 7] And behold an Angel of our Lord stoode in presence: and light shined in the house: and striking Peters side, he raised him, saying, Arise quickely. And the chaines fel from his handes. ✝ [leftJustify 8] And the Angel said to him, Gird thee, and put on thy shoes. And he did so. And he said to him, Put thy garment about thee, & folovv me. ✝ [leftJustify 9] And going forth he folovved him, & he knew not that it vvas true vvhich vvas done by the Angel: but he thought that he savv a vision. ✝ [leftJustify 10] And passing through the first & the second vvatch, they came to the yron gate that lea∣deth to the citie, vvhich of it self opened to them. And going out, they vvent forvvard one streate: and incontinent the Angel departed from him. ✝ [leftJustify 11] And Peter returning to him self, said: Novv I knovv in very deede that our Lord hath sent his Angel, and deliuered me out of Herods hand, & from al the expectation of the people of the Ievves. ⊢

✝ [leftJustify 12] And considering, he came to the∷ 1.3 house of Marie the mother of Iohn, vvho vvas surnamed Marke, vvhere many vvere gathered and praying. ✝ [leftJustify 13] And vvhen he knocked at the doore of the gate, there came forth a vvenche to see, na∣med Rhodè. ✝ [leftJustify 14] And as she knew Peters voice, for ioy she ope∣ned not the gate, but running in she told that Peter stoode before the gate. ✝ [leftJustify 15] But they said to her, Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it vvas so. But they said, It is ″ his Angel. ✝ [leftJustify 16] And Peter cōtinued knocking. And vvhē they had opened, they savv him, & vvere astonied. ✝ [leftJustify 17] And beckening vvith his hand to them, that they should hold their peace, he told hovv our Lord had brought him out of prison, and he said, ″ Tel these things to Iames & to the brethren. And going forth he vvent ∷ 1.4 into an other place. ✝ [leftJustify 18] And when day vvas come, there vvas no litle a doe betvvene the souldiars, vvhat vvas become of Peter. ✝ [leftJustify 19] And Herod, vvhen he had sought him, and had not found, making inquisitiō of the keepers, cōmaūded them to be led avvay: & going dovvne frō Ievvrie into Caesaréa, there he abode. ✝ [leftJustify 20] And he vvas angrie vvith the Tyrians and the Si∣donians. But they vvith one accord came to him, and persua∣ding Blastus that vvas cheefe of the kings chamber, they de∣sired peace, for that their countries vvere nourished by him.

✝ [rightJustify 21] And vpon a day appointed, Herod being araied vvith kingly attire, sate in the iudgement seate, and made an oration to them. ✝ [rightJustify 22] And the people made acclamation, The voices of a God, & not of a man. ✝ [rightJustify 23] And forthvvith an Angel of our Lord∷ 1.5 strooke him, because he had not giuen the honour to God: and being consumed of vvormes, he gaue vp the ghost. ✝ [rightJustify 24] But the vvord of our Lord increased and multiplied. ✝ [rightJustify 25] And Barnabas and Saul returned from Hierusalem,* 1.6 hauing accom∣plished their * ministerie, taking vvith them Iohn that vvas surnamed Marke.

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XII.

5. Praier vvas made.] The Church praied incessantly for her cheefe Pastor, and was heard of God: and al Christian people are vvarned thereby to pray for their Bishopes and Pastors in prison.

6. Tvvo chaines.]* 1.7 These chaines are famous for miracles, and vvere brought from Hierusalem to Rome by Eudoxia the Emperesse, vvife to Theodosius the yonger, vvhere they vvere matched & placed vvith an other chaine that the same Apostle vvas tied with by Nero, & a Church foūded therevpon, named Petri ad vincula, Vvhere they are religiously kept and reuerenced vntil this day, and there is a Feast in the vvhole Church for the same, the first of August, vvhich vve call, Lammas day.

15. His Angel] If proper Angels (saith S. Chrysostom) be deputed by our Lord to such as haue only charge of their ovvne life,* 1.8 (as one of the iust said,* 1.9 * The Angel vvhich hath deliuered me from my youth vpvvard) much more are supernal Spirits at hand to helpe them vnto vvhom the charge and burden of the vvorld is committed. Chrys. in laud. Pauli. ho. 7▪ to. 3.

17. Tel Iames.]* 1.10 He vvilleth them to shevv this to S. Iames Bishop of Hierusalem and to the Christians, that they might see the effect of their praiers for him, & giue God thankes, for S. Iames no doubt published cōmon praier for S. Peter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Epistle vpō •• S. Peter and Paules day Iun. ••9.
• ∷ 1.2

  As Peters per∣son vvas more notorious then others, & ther∣fore better gar∣ded then other, for feare he should escape: so Gods proui∣dence in preser∣uing & deliue∣ring him for the longer gouern∣ment of his Church, is very maruelous.
• ∷ 1.3

  It is much for the praise of these good Christians that the assemble to Gods seruice & praier was kept in their houses in the time of persecution, & that the Apo∣stle came thi∣ther straight out of prison, as his first refuge, as now Christi∣an people doe much to their cōmendatiō, in places where Heresie doth reigne.
• ∷ 1.4

  Though God had so miracu∣lously deliue∣red him, yet he would not tēpt God by ta••ying among his per∣secutors, but ac∣cordīg to Chri∣stes cōmaunde∣ment fled for a time.
• ∷ 1.5

  Princes that take delite in the flattery and praises of the people, so much that they forget them selues to be mē, & to giue the honour to God, may be warned by this example.
• * 1.6

  Act. 11, 29.
• * 1.7

  S. Peters chai∣nes.
• * 1.8

  Patronage of Angels.
• * 1.9

  Gen. 41, 16▪
• * 1.10

  Publike praier for S. Peter the head.