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ACTS. Chap. 2. Verse 3.
AND there appeared, unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them] The Holy Ghost sate upon the Apostles in the forme of a tongue, because he made the Apostles here preachers of the Gospell; the tongue is the instrument of preaching,* 1.1 by tongues therefore they received the gifts of tongues.
By fiery tongues the efficacy of the Apostles preaching is signified.
Vers. 44. And all that beleeved were together, and had all things common] Of the mean∣ing of the first words were together, see Beza, Mr Lightfoote in loc. Calvin interprets it not of dwelling together in one place, but of being of one heart.
* 1.2For the latter words, the Papists say this community is a kind of perfection, and thence lay a foundation for their Monasteries and Nunneries, the Libertines also in Germany and others abuse this place.
* 1.31. The property of things was distinct, though they had all things common in the use; they sold their lands, therefore they had a right to alienate them; they themselves gave to the necessities of the poore.
2. There was no obligatory precept to bind professors to this. 5. Acts v. 4.
3. There was no ordinance of the Apostles whereby men were bound to this com∣munity, many precepts rather contradict it. See 1 Cor. 16.2. 1 Tim. 5.8.
4. If men had not a propriety in their goods, then stealing would be no sinne under the Gospell. Ephes. 7.28.
Chap. 3. v. 21. Whom the heaven must receive] It is doubtfull (saith Cajetane) whether he means that Christ shall receive Heaven as a King his Kingdom, or heaven shall receive Christ, as a place receives the thing placed, both senses are true and agree to this place, but the latter is the more genume; the Syriacke renders the words thus, quem oportet Caelo Capi.
Chap. 4. v. 13. Ignorant men] Idiots, so the Greeke, and so Calvin. Beza, and the Vulgar render it.
* 1.4The Apostles are so called, 1. In respect of their state and kind of life, they were private men, not set in any publicke office. 2. By reason of their doctrine, illiterate men. 3. By reason of their dignity and esteeme, plebeians and of no account. 4. By rea∣son of their popular dialect; but that they were not idiots in knowledge, Peter and Iohn shew v. 19. and 27.28.
Chap. 6.15. Saw his face as it had been the face of an Angell] The face of an Angell signifies some excellent and heavenly thing in his countenance, viz. an Angelicall shape and majesty.* 1.5 God bestowed a new and wonderfull splendour on Steven, and as it were the beames of a glorious body, such as he gave to Moses Exod. 34.1.
Chap. 7.14. The wives of Iacobs Sonnes which came downe with him into Egypt were but nine &c. those words I have in my Annotations out of Langus, but he had ele∣ven brethren, and they all had wives for ought appeares in Scripture.
Vers. 16. Ibid. Those words the Father of Sichem, &c. to James are misplaced, they should follow the last words of that 16. v. Emor the father of Sichem, and therefore bee set in the margent against the question and answer.
Chap. 9. v. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee and Samaria] Rest in the exercises of the worship of God, had none to vexe oppose, or hinder them therein; a double effect followes this, and were edified. Every particular Church and member of the Church did grow and brought forth more fruit. The metaphor of a building agrees well, because the Church is the Temple and house of God. 1 Tim. 3.