The apostolical history containing the acts, labours, travels, sermons, discourses, miracles, successes, and sufferings of the Holy Apostles from Christ's ascention to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus : a brief description whereof is here inserted : also, a narration of the particular times and occasions upon which the apostolical epistles were written, together with a brief analytical paraphrase of them : to which is added (for the better understanding of this history) a map of the Apostle Paul's travels ... / by Samuel Cradock.

SECT. X.

STephen being thus chosen to be one of the first Deacons, and being a man full of Faith, and power* 1.1 to work Miracles, he accordingly does many wonders among the people, and stoutly defends the cause of Christ against several persons of the Sy∣nagogue of the Libertins(a) 1.2, and of some other Synagogues, that disputed with him, who when they were not able to resist the wisdom, and spirit, by which he spake, they falsly accus'd him, and bringing him before the Council, set up false witnesses(b) 1.3 a∣gainst him, who declared they heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God, and that he should say that Jesus would destroy the Temple, and City* 1.4, and change the Customs, and Rites which Moses had instituted,(c) 1.5 and commanded from God.

v. 8. And Steven full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

v. 9. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the syna∣gogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with Steven.

v. 10. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

v. 11. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blas∣phemous words against Moses, and against God.

v. 12. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the Coun∣cil:

v. 13. And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.

v. 14. For we have heard him say, That this Jesus of Nazareth shall de∣stroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Per 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 intelliguntur Incitati∣ones, & impulsus Spiritûs Sancti ex qui∣bus poterant observare praesentiam, & promptitudinem Spiritûs ad perpetra∣tionem miraculorum. Vide phrasim Scripturae, Jud. 14.6, 19. & 15.14. 1 Sam. 10.10. Cum Spiritus per hos vo∣lebat facere miraculum non solebat ex∣terno verbo prom••ssionem edere, sed ir∣ruoba•• in eos, i. e. Aliquo motu, & inci∣tatione aliquâ praesentiam, & prompti∣tudinem suam ad miraculum ipsis insi∣nuabat & sic promissionem miraculi ip∣sis dabat. Cum homines huic promissi∣oni credebant, & illius fiduciâ miracu∣lum edebant, fiebat miraculum. Cum autem ejusmodi incitationes Spiritus non fiunt, etiamsi adsit fides, miracula tamen non fiunt. Tales igitur virtutes, i. e. tales impulsus, & incitationes Spi∣ritus crebras fuisse super Stephanum di∣cit Evangel••sta, quibus Stephanus cre∣dens & confidens, multa in populo fecit miracula, quibus doctrinam suam confirmavit, vid. 1 Cor. 12.28. Stres.
• (a) 1.2

  Illi qui Stephanum adorti sunt fuerunt homines de Synagogis seu Scholis, studiosi, scilicet qui in Academiâ Hierosolymitanâ, vel instituebant, vel instituebantur. Erat Hierosolymae Acade∣mia constans diversis collegiis & variarum nationum Judaei hic erexerant collegium aliquod pro suâ quaque juventute. Libertini vocantur filii eorum Judaeorum qui à Pompeio abducti, & in ser∣vitutem venditi, à Tiberio manumissi erant, iisque concessum partem urbis inhabitare. Judaeus er∣go manumissus vocabantur libertus, filius autem liberti Libertinus, vid. Stres. in loc.

  Libertini Romae multi Judaicae religionis. Eorum fuit Cicilius ille in quem est divinatio Ciceronis. Tocitus Annal. 2. ait, Quatuor millia libertini generis, superstitione Judaicâ infecta, missa in Sardiniam. Horum sumptu structa Hierosolymis haec synagoga, & positi in eâ magistri eruditi.
• (b) 1.3

  Mixing true and false things together, as those, who bare witness against Christ. Stephen might speak of the desolation of the City, and destruction of the Temple, from Dan. 9.26.27. and Christs own praediction, Luk. 19.43.44. Mat. 23.37. He might speak that the Ceremonies and Shaddows must vanish, now the Substance is come, and of the disanulling of the Mosaical rites to give way to a more excellent spiritual Worship, and yet not speak these things with any abomination of the Temple or the Service thereof, as they possibly suggested.
• * 1.4

  Vide similem accusationem, Jeremiae, c. 26.9.11.
• (c) 1.5

  Unde observamus quam facilè corda hominum externis ceremoniis ad haereant in cultu. Nulla acrior contentio ecclesiam exercuit, quam quae est de Sacramentis, & externis ceremoniis. Ratio est, quia homines, ad verum, internum, & spiritualem cultum minimè proclives sunt, tamen ad colendum Deum obligati, in externo ceremoniarum cultu, qui corporalis est, & animalis, adeo∣que naturali homini possibilis ac facilis, acquiescunt, & in eo fiduciam ponunt, Streso in loc.