A commentarie of M. Doctor Martin Luther vpon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galathians first collected and gathered vvord by vvord out of his preaching, and novv out of Latine faithfully translated into English for the vnlearned. Wherein is set forth most excellently the glorious riches of Gods grace ...

The argument of that booke which containeth the Actes of the Apostles.

We must therefore diligently consider the force of this argu∣ment, which is so often repeated in the Acts. Which booke is written to confirme and establish this argument: For it teacheth nothing else but that the holy Ghost is not geuen by the lawe, but by the hearing of the gospell. For when Peter preached, the holy ghost forthwith fel vp∣on all those that heard him, and in one day three thousand which were present at the preaching of Peter, beleeued & receaued the holy ghost. Act. 2. So Cornelius receaued the holy ghost, not by his almes which he gaue: but when Peter had opened his mouth and was yet in speaking, the holy Ghost fell vpon all them which with Cornelius heard the worde. Act. 10. These are manifest arguments, experien∣ces, and diuine workes, which can not deceaue vs.

And Luke wryteth of Paule in the 15. of the Actes, that where he had preached the gospell together with Barnabas among the Gen∣tiles,

and was returned to Ierusalem, he set him selfe against the Pha∣riseis and disciples of the Apostles which vrged circumcision and the keping of the law as necessary to saluation: whose mouthes he so stop∣ped (saith Luke) in shewing what things he and Barnabas had done amongest the Gentiles that the whole church was amazed at the hea∣ring therof, especially whan they heard that God had wrought so ma∣ny and so greate miracles and wonders by them among the Gentiles: and when they which bare a zeale to the lawe did greatly wonder how it could be y^t the vncircūcised Gentiles, not doing the law nor the wor∣kes therof, nor hauing the righteousnes of the law, should notwithstan∣ding attaine to this grace, to be iustified and receaue the holy Ghost as well as the Iewes that were circumcised: here Paule and Barnabas did alledge nothing els but manifest experience: wherwith they were so confounded that they had nothing to reply againe. By this meanes Paulus Sergius the Lieutenaunt, and all those cities, regions, kinge∣domes and countreis where the Apostles had preached, by the onely preaching of faith did beleue, without the law and the workes therof.

In the whole booke then of the Actes there is nothing els handled in effect, but y^t it behoueth as wel Iewes as Gētiles, as wel righteous as vnrighteous to be iustified by faith alone in Christ Iesus, w^tout the law and the workes therof. The which thinge doth appeare as well by the preaching of Peter, of Paule, of Stephen, of Philip and the other A∣postles, as also by the examples of the Gentiles and Iewes. For as God gaue the holy ghost to the Gentiles which liued without the law, by the preaching of the Gospell, so did he geue the same to the Iewes: yet not by the law nor by the ceremonies and sacrifices commaunded in y^e law, but by the onely preaching of faith. Now, if the law had ben able to iustifie, and the righteousnes of the law had bene necessary to saluation, then doubtles the holy ghost had not bene geuen to the Gen∣tiles which kept not the law. But experience it selfe doth plainly wit∣nesse that the holy Ghost was geuen vnto them without the law: and this did the Apostles, both Peter, Paule, Barnabas, & others see: ther∣fore the law doth not iustifie, but faith onely in Christ, which the Gos∣pell setteth forth.

These thinges are diligently to be marked because of the aduersa∣ries, who do not consider what is handled in the Acts of the Apostles. I my selfe in times past also reade this booke when in deede I vnder∣stoode in it nothing at all. Therefore when thou hearest or readest in the Actes of the Apostles, or wheresoeuer it be in the scriptures,

this worde Gentiles thou must there thinke that it is not to be vnder∣stand literally of the common nature of the Gentiles, but it carrieth w^t it a spiritual meaning, and is to be taken, not for those which are vnder the law, as were the Iewes (as before is said in the second chapter: VVe by nature Ievves &c.) but for those which are without the lawe. Wherfore to say y^t the Gentiles are iustified by faith, is nothing els, but that they which obserue not the law nor doe the workes therof, which are not circumcised, which sacrifice not, &c. are iustified and re∣ceaue the holy Ghost. By what meanes? Not by the law and the wor∣kes therof (for they haue no law): but freely and without any other meanes sauing onely the hearing of the Gospell.

So Cornelius and his frendes whom he had called to his house, doe nothing, neither looke they vpon any workes going before, and yet as many as are present, receaue the holy Ghost. No man speaketh but Peter: they sitting by doe nothing: they thinke not of the law, much lesse doe they keepe it: they sacrifice not: they care not for the recea∣uing of circumcision, but only are bent to heare that which Peter spea∣keth. He by his preaching brought the holy Ghost into their heartes as it were visibly: For they spake vvith tonges and glorified God.

But some man may here cauill and say: who knoweth whether it were the holy ghost or no? Wel, let him cauil. Sure it is that the holy Ghost so bearing witnesse doth not lie, but hereby sheweth that he ac∣cepteth the Gentiles for righteous, & iustifieth them by no other mea∣nes then by the onely voice of the Gospell or hearing of faith in Christ preached. We may see also in the Actes how greatly the Iewes mar∣ueiled at this newe and straunge thinge. For the faithfull which were of the Circumcision and came with Peter to Caesarea seing the gifte of the holy Ghost to be poured out also vpon the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, were amazed. Also they that were at Ierusalem complained of Peter for that he went into men vncircumcised & did eate with them: but when they heard the matter declared by Peter in order as it was done touching Cornelius, they marueiled, and glorified God saying: Then hath God also geuen saluation to the Gentiles.

This report and fame then, that God hath geuen saluation also to the Gentiles, was not onely at the first intolerable, but also a greate offence euen to the beleuing Iewes: which they could not easily shake of: for they had this prerogatiue aboue all other nations, that they were the people of God: the adoption, the glory, the worship, &c. be∣longed to them. Rom. 9. Moreouer, they did exercise them selues in the

righteousnes of the law: they laboured all the day long: they bare the burthen and heat of the day. Moreouer, they had the promises for kee∣ping of the law: therfore they could not but murmure against the Gen∣tiles and say: Behold the Gentiles come but euen now, and haue not suffered any heate or borne any burden: notwithstanding they haue the same righteousnes and holy Ghost without labour, which we by labour, & by the heate and burthen of the day could not obtaine. They haue laboured in deede, but that was but one hower, and by this la∣bour they are more refreshed then weried. Wherefore then hath God tormented vs with the lawe, if it auaile nothing to the obtaining of righteousnes? He now preferreth the Gentiles before vs, which haue bene so long burdened with the yoke of the law. For we which are the people of God, haue bene vexed all the day long: but they which are not the people of God, neither haue any lawe nor haue done any good at all, are made equall with vs.

And hereupon the Councell of the Apostles, through great necessi∣ty, was assembled at Ierusalem to satisfie and pacifie the Iewes, who though they beleued in Christ, yet was this opinion notwithstanding deepely rooted in their hearts, that the law of Moses ought to be kept. There Peter vpon his owne experience, set him selfe against them say∣ing: If god haue geuen the same grace vnto y^e Gentiles, which he hath geuen vnto vs that haue beleued in the Lord Iesus Christ, who am I that I should forbid God? Againe: God vvho knovveth their hearts, bare them vvitnesse in geuing vnto them the holy Ghost, euen as he did vnto vs. And he put no difference betvvene vs and them, purifi∣ing their heartes by faith. Novv therfore vvhy tempt ye God to lay a yoke on the disciples neckes vvhich neither our fathers nor vve vvere able to beare? &c. With these wordes Peter at once ouerthrow∣eth the whole law. As if he would say: We will not keepe the law: for we are not able to keepe it: but we beleue through the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ to be saued as they doe. So Peter here is altoge∣ther occupied in this matter, that God hath geuen to the Gentiles the selfe same grace that he hath geuen to the Iewes. As though he would say: When I preached to Cornelius, I learned by mine owne experi∣ence, that the holy Ghost was geuen without the law, to the Gentiles by the only hearing of faith. Therfore in no case are they to be burde∣ned with the law. To conclude, since it is certaine that neither we nor our fathers were euer able to fulfill the law, it behoueth you also to re∣iect this opinion, that righteousnes and saluation commeth by the law.

And this did the beleeuing Iewes by litle and litle: but the wicked which by this preaching were offended, at the length were altogether hardened.

Notes

• Actes. 2.41.
• Actes. 10.44.45
• Actes. 15.5.6.7.
• Paulus Sergi∣us the lieute∣naunt.
• The Ievves and Gentiles are iustified by faith onely.
• The Gentiles iustified by faith.
• Acts. 11.3.
• Verse. 18.
• The murmu∣ring of the Ievves against the Gentiles.
• Mat. 20.
• The Councell of the Apo∣stles.
• Act. 11.17.
• Actes. 15. Acts. 15.8.9.1••.
• 1. Cor. 1.••.
• That the holy Ghost is geuen by the onely hearing of faith.