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.

ACTS. CHAP. IX. Vers. 28.

Great dearth throughout all the World; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

THAT this famine was in the second of Claudius, we have shewed before, not only out of Dion the Roman Historian, but even by necessary collection from other things. Now whether it proceeded from want of Rain, or from what other cause, it is not determinable: it appeareth by Suetonius that it came to this height through a continued sterility of the ground, which it seemeth had been some years together. This year was Helena the Queen of the Adiabeni, present at Jerusalem, and her presence there was a happiness to the City, for from Cyprus and Alex∣andria, she sent for Provisions, and distributed them among the people, when divers had perished of famine before.

Vers. 30. Sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

§. Pauls rapture into the third Heaven.

Although it be not mentioned in this Chapter that Paul went up to Jerusalem, but was sent only with provisions to the poor brethren in Judea: yet have we also pro∣ved before, that at this journey he had his trance in the Temple, Acts 22. 17. and in

that trance he was rapt up into the third Heaven. The story of which he himself rela∣teth, 2 Cor. 12. 2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body I can∣not tell, &c. And there he relateth also the story of the messenger of Satan, buffeting him, and himself praying, and God giving him a gracious answer: all which we shall ex∣plain, by Gods permission, in another place.

In this trance God bids him get out of Jerusalem, and gives him commission to go preach among the Gentiles, Acts 22. 18, 21. And so he returneth from Jerusalem to Antioch, where we shall have him the next year.

§. 2. Peter not this year at Rome.

This year the Romanists have brought Peter to Rome, and made this the first year or beginning of his Episcopacy there. For thus Baronius, That Peter came to Rome this se∣cond year of Claudius the Emperor, it is the common Opinion of all men. And to this purpose he alledgeth Eusebius his Chronicle, and Jerome de scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, and conclu∣deth that others have written the same things concerning the time, that there can be no doubt left of it.

It may be tolerated to insist a little the more largely upon the examination of this opi∣nion, not for that it is of any such great import in its own nature, as for that it is made of so great by them for their own advantage. For were it granted that Peter was Bi∣shop of Rome, and that he went thither in this year, yet what great matter were there in this, in common sense and reason? But because unreasonable men have from hence, or upon this foundation built the supremacy of the Pope, the great delusion of the world, let the same common sense and reason equally and impartially judge of the pro∣bability or improbability of this thing, in these two parts into which this tenet doth fall of it self.

• 1. Whether it be probable that Peter was Bishop of Rome at all.
• 2. Whether it be possible that he could come thither this year according as they them∣selves have laid his progress, and that he should set up an Episcopacy there.

Weigh the first by these;

First, Peter was Minister of the Circumcision, why then should he go settle himself to live and die among the uncircumcised? He might indeed have preached to the uncircum∣cised as he travailed up and down, as Paul did to the circumcised, being the Minister of the uncircumcision, but to take up his abode and residence, and there to settle, to live and die among them; was a thing neither probable in the eyes of other men, nor justifi∣able in him himself.

Secondly, If Peter were at Rome in the sense and extent that the Romanists will have it, then hath the Scripture omitted one of the greatest points of salvation that belongeth to Christianity: For how many main points of Faith hath Popery drawn out of this one conclusion, that Peter was Bishop of Rome; as the Primacy of the Pope, the infallibility of his Chair, his absolute power of binding and loosing, no salvation out of the Church of Rome, and divers other things, which all hang upon the Pin forenamed: And it is utterly incredible; 1. That the Holy Ghost that wrote the Scriptures for mans salvati∣on, should not express or mention a thing that containeth so many points of salvation. 2. That Luke that undertook to write the Acts of the Apostles, should omit this one act of Peter, which is made of more consequence than all the actions of all the Apostles be∣side. It is above all belief, that he that would tell of Phillips being at Azotus, and go∣ing to Caesarea, Chap. 8. 40. Sauls going to Tarsus, Chap. 9. 30. And Barnabas his going thither to him, and divers other things of small import, in comparison, should omit the greatest and most material, and of the infinitest import that ever mortal mans journy was (for to that height is the journy of Peter to Rome now come) if there had ever been such a thing at all.

Thirdly, It is as incredible, that Paul sending salutations to so many in Rome, and again from so many there, should omit to have named Peter at one time or other if he had been there. What was become of Peter in these reciprocal kindnesses and salutations of the Saints one to another; was he a sleep, or was he sullen, or what shall we make of him, or was he not indeed at Rome at all?

But not to insist upon this question whether Peter were at Rome at all, which hath been proved negatively by many Authors, and by many undeniable Arguments; let us look a little upon this foundation of his being there, which hath been laid, namely, his coming thither this year, which is the second thing to be taken into consideration.

And about this point, there have been divers simple Ignoramus's in former time, who so they held this first Article of the Roman Creed, That Peter was Bishop of Rome five and twenty years, and died in the last year of Nero, and so believed as the Church believed, they never cared to bring the head and heels together, or to observe how the times agreed, but have easily swallowed this camel of sensless computation, that Peter went from the Councel of Jerusalem, Acts 15. to Rome, and there sate Bishop five and twenty years, which expired in the last of Nero; whereas, betwixt the Councel at Jerusalem, and the last of Nero there were but twenty years in all, if there were so many: But nimbler wits, that cannot be caught in so plain and apparent a trap as this, have found out a quainter and more curious date from which to begin the Chair of Peter at Rome than this, and that is from the Story in the twelfth of the Acts of the Apostles. Where Peter being apprehen∣ded by Herod after his murder of James the great, and being delivered by an Angel, and having acquainted the Disciples with his delivery, they being together in John Marks house, he is said, to depart to another place, which they say, (and you must believe it, or they will take it very ill) was to Rome, and this was (say they) the second year of Claudius. A long journey believe it, to run to Rome, to avoid danger at Jerusalem: and Rome but a mad place to set up an Episcopacy in at this time, as hath been plain in the preceding, and will be also in the subsequent story of it. But that we may see, if not the impossibility, yet the utter improbability of that his journy in this second of Claudius, if that were the journy in the twelfth of the Acts, it will not be impertinent to insert a story out of Josephus concerning Agrippa's return from Rome to Jerusalem, where he slew James, and imprisoned Peter.