CHAP. I. Concerning the Hebrews and Hellenists.
WHEN the Hellenists and Hebrews are distinguished, Act. VI. 1. it seems to be less obscure, than when distinction is made between the Helle∣nists and the Jews, Act. XI. 20. For that the Hellenists were Jews, almost all agree.
The reason of the distinction may be fetched, either from their Dispersion or from their Language. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Dispersion of the Greeks, Joh. VII. 35. may be plainly distinguished 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. From the Dispersion of the Ba∣bylonians. The Jews dispered by the Victories and Colonies of the Greeks, from the Jews dispersed by the Babylonian Captivity, and the Persian Dominion.
But the difference is rather fetched from their Language: They being called He∣brews, to whom the Hebrew was the Mother Tongue, that is, The Syriac, or Chaldee, they Hellenists, to whom the Greek Language was so.
Under the name of Hebrews, there is none but would place the Palestines, the Baby∣lonians, the Assyrians, the Syrians, if they knew what was the common Mother Tongue of all these Countries, especially, if they that knew all these Countries were placed by the Tamudists themselves, in effect under the same rank and alliance of customs and privileges as well as under the same Language. Hence are these and such like expressions to be met with in them.
a 1.1 Whosoever dwells in Babylon is as though he dwelt in the Land of Israel. b All forreign Land is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Heathen, except Babylon. Where by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Babylon, they* 1.2 understand all those Countries, unto which the Babylonian Captivity was carried, and led away.
And these passages they have of Syria. c 1.3 In three respects, Syria was like to the Land of Israel. It was bound to tithes, and the seventh year. You might go thither in purity: and he that bought a farm in Syria, was as though he bought one in the Suburbs of Jeru∣salem. And again, d 1.4 Syria as to some judgments is as the Land of Israel. And again, e 1.5 They bring out (the fruits of the seventh year) into Syria, but not without the Land. Note, that Syria was not reputed without the Land; but in divers things to be united with Palestine. And many passages of that nature may be produced both of Syria, and of Babylon.
Now then when our discourse is of the Hellenists, the Jews of these Countries and of this Language are to be distinguished from those: not denying nevertheless, that even among these here and there were also Hellenists: as the Synagogue of Alexandria at Jerusalem: they of Cesarea, who f 1.6 recited their Phylacteries in the Language of the Helle∣nists: and they of Antioch, of whom mention is made in that place of the Acts al∣ledged.
No body doubts, that the Syriac was the Mother Tongue of all Syria; and yet who will doubt, who hath read the History of the Syro-Grecians, that there were very many in Syria, whose Mother Tongue was Greek? And hence that knot is very easily untyed, Acts, XI. The Dispersed Disciples, that preached the Gospel, found in An∣tioch some Hellenists, that is, whose Mother tongue was Greek, among the Jews, whose Mother tongue was Syriac.