The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

§. And brought him to the Apostles.

That is, to Peter and James the less: for other of the Apostles, he himself relateth that he saw none, Gal. 1. 18. What was become of the rest of the twelve, is not de∣terminable: it is more than probable they were not now at Jerusalem, otherwise it is hard∣ly possible for Paul not to have seen them in fifteen days abode there: It is likely they were preaching and setling Churches up and down the Country, and Peter and James the two most peculiar Ministers of the Circumcision, abode at Jerusalem, to take

care of the Church there: For that these were so, and in what particular, the dispensa∣tion of their Ministry differed, we shall take occasion to shew afterward; only here we cannot omit to take notice of that temper as I may so call it, which the Text holdeth out against the Primacy and Prelacy that is held by some to have been among the Apostles: For whereas some conceive James to have been Bishop of Jerusalem, this Text sets Peter in the same form and equality with him in that place: and whereas it is conceived again, that Peter was Prince of the Apostles, this Text hath equalled James with him.

• 1. And thus that persecution that began about Stephen had lasted till this very same time of Pauls coming to Jerusalem, for so it is apparent, both by the fear and suspitious∣ness of the Disciples at Jerusalem, as also by the very clausure of the Text, Vers. 31. Then had the Churches rest.
• 2. The length of this persecution by computation of the times as they have been cast up before, seemeth to have been about three years and an half, the renowned number, and time so oft mentioned and hinted in Scripture.
• 3. The company of Disciples or believers continued still at Jerusalem, for all the per∣secution, as to the generality of them; as was said before: only the Ministers or Preach∣ers were scattered abroad, all of them except the twelve Apostles.
• 4. Some of those Preachers were by this time returned back again, the heat of the per∣secution abating, as it is apparent▪ by Barnabas now being at Jerusalem: and of some such men, is it properest to understand the word Disciples, Vers. 26. Saul assaied to join himself to the Disciples.
• 5. Therefore the absence of the ten Apostles from Jerusalem was not for fear of the persecution, but for the dispersion of the Gospel and setling of the Churches.