ACTS CHAP. XIV.
AT Iconium they continue long, and with good effect, but at last they are in danger of stoning, and thereupon they slip away to Lystra and Derbe Cities of Lycaonia, and to the region that lieth round about: That region Strabo describeth lib. 12. where among other particulars he tels that Derbe lay coasting upon Isauria, and in his time was under the dominion of Amyntas. At Lystra or Derbe Paul converteth Lois and Eunice, and Ti∣mothy, and as some will tell you, here, or at Iconium he converteth Tecla. For healing a Creeple they are first accounted Gods, but presently by perswasion of some Jews, Paul is stoned, but being reputed dead, recovereth miraculously. From thence they go to Derbe, and return to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, and ordain Elders in those Churches. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ver. 24. is unproperly rendred here Per suffragia creantes Presbyteros: for so they could not do; there not being a man in all these Churches fit to be chosen a Mini∣ster, or qualified with abilities for that Function, unless the Apostles by Imposition of hands bestow the Holy Ghost upon them, which might inable them: For the Churches being but newly planted, and the people but lately converted, it would be hard to find any among them so thoroughly completed in the knowledge of the Gospel as to be a Mi∣nister: but by the Apostles hands they receive the Holy Ghost, and so are inabled. It is true indeed, the Greek word in the first sense denoteth suffrages, but that is not the only sense. And so doth the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the proper sense signifie laying on of hands, yet there was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ordination that was without it. Maym. in Sanhedr. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 How is ordination to be for perpetuity? Not that they lay their hands on the head of the Elder, but call him Rabbi, and say, Behold thou art ordained. &c.