Page 652
VERS. V.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
Their Rulers, and Elders, and Scribes were gathered together in Ierusalem.
IN Jerusalem, admits of a double construction. Either as the City may be set in oppo∣sition to the Country: or the Town it self to the Temple.
I. If we admit the former and that these had gathered themselves from the adjacent Towns to meet in Jerusalem; then we may suppose them assembled rather upon the ac∣count of some Solemnity of the day, than meerly to take cagnizance of the cause of Peter and John. It is a question whether they all knew of their Imprisonment which was done the Evening before, and probably while they were absent, their commitment was made and that act done by some chief of the Priests, the Captain of the Watches, and by the Sadducees, not by a just Sanhedrin.
If we will grant therefore that the lame Man was healed that day in the Afternoon, on which the Holy Ghost had been poured out upon the Disciples in the Fore-noon, then on this very day it behoved every male to appear before the Lord in the Temple with some oblation or other. For, whereas the day of Pentecost fell then on the Jewish Sabbath, and this day (that being supposed) was the second day after that, it was the day 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of appearing in the Temple, which probably might occasion these Rulers and Elders meet∣ing together in the City at this time.
II. But if we take Jerusalem in this place, in opposition to the Temple, it remembers us of the Tradition concerning the Sanhedrin's removal from the Temple to the City, which Jewish Authors tell us of. o 1.1 The Sanhedrin removed from the Room Gazith to the Taberne, and from the Taberne into Jerusalem, &c. Where we may observe the same con∣tradistinction between the City and the Temple: For in the Temple was both Gazith, and the Taberne, or Shops. This removal happened forty years before the destruction of Jeru∣salem. p 1.2 Forty years before the destruction of the City, the Sanhedrin removed—For when they observed the strange encrease of Murderers amongst them, that they grew too many to be called in question, they suid 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 it is best for us to remove from place to place. Upon which very words it is best for us to remove, I cannot but remember that passage in Josephus, q 1.3 On the Feast which is called Pentecost, the Priests, according to custom, entring into the inner Temple by night, to perform the Service, perceived first, as they said, a certain motion and crack, and then a sudden voice, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, let us remove from hence. Which words whether they agree amongst themselves, and fall in with the time now before us, let the Reader himself consider and judge. That passage in Chap. V. 25. gives some hint that the Sanhedrin at this time sate in the City and not in the Temple; which the Reader may al•••• consider.
III. I hardly believe any one will doubt but that by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Rulers, Elders, and Scribes, must be understood the Great Council: but to di∣stinguish these particularly, I can hardly say whether it be more nice, or more difficult. We might say that by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Rulers, might be meant Gamaliel the President, and Simeon his Son, the Vice-President: By the Elders, the rest of the body of the Sanhe∣drin; by the Scribes, either the two Registers, or those wise men 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 who judged before the Sanhedrin, or both. But I wave being too curious.