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. XII.

STephen becoming thus the Protomartyr, and first, that under the Gospel sealed the Doctrine of Christ with his blood, he was carried to his burial by devout men, who made great Lamen∣tation(a) 1.1 over him. But the spite and cruelty of the Jews was not quenched by the blood of Stephen, but rather inflamed. For immediately after this, they raised a great persecution against the whole Church at Jerusalem, wherein Saul (the young man before mentioned) was very active. This mans Parents were both Jews, so that he was an Hebrew of the Hebrews; he was of the Tribe of Benjamin born* 1.2 at Tar∣sus(b) 1.3 in Cilicia; by Sect a Pharisee, and the Son of a Pharisee* 1.4, and studied at that time (as it seems) at Jerusalem, and frequented the School of Gamaliel a famous Doctor among the Pharisees. He was a ve∣ry strict observer of the Law of Moses, and of the Traditions delivered to the Fathers, but a bitter, and fierce enemy against the Doctrine of Christ, and all those that owned him, and professed to believe in him. This man having received Commission from the Chief Priests impowring him to do this wretched work, made miserable havock of the Church: for entring into Houses, he ha∣led thence both men and women, that be∣lieved in Christ, and bound them, and put them in Prison, and often caused to be bea∣ten and scourged in the Synagogues; and used all scourged in the Synagogues; and used all rigid means to make them deny Christ, and blaspheme him (as it seems) he himself did [1 Tim. 1.13.]: And such as were constant to the faith, he forced to fly to heathen Cities, and then pursued them thither also.

Act. 8. v. 1. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad thorowout the Regions of Judea, and Samaria, except the Apostles.

v. 2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great la∣mentation over him.

v. 3. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entring into every house, and hailing men and women, committed them to Prison.

Phil. 3. v. 5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the flock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee.

v. 6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church: touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Act. 22. v. 3. I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zea∣lous towards God, as ye all are this day.

v. 4. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering in∣to prisons both men and women.

v. 19. And I said, Lord, they know I imprisoned and beat in every syna∣gogue them that believed on thee,

v. 20. And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

Act. 26. v. 9. I verily thought with my self, that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth:

v. 10. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison; having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

v. 11. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Gal. 1. v. 13. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

v. 14. And profited in the Jews religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

v. 23. But they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith, which once he destroyed.

Act. 9. v. 13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

v. 21. But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came hi∣ther for that intent that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  See Gen. 50.10. Deut. 34.8. 2 Chron. 35.24, 25.
• * 1.2

  He had a double Name, Saul as he was an Hebrew by birth; and Paul as he was a Roman, being born at Tarsus, a free City of the Romans: His Edu∣cation was in the Schools of Tarsus; which as Strabo reporteth, lib. 14. was then famous for the study of Philosophy, and the Liberal Sciences. Here he at∣tained the Greek Language and Learn∣ing, and grew expert in their Philoso∣phy and Poems, his skill wherein he sheweth, in alledging Epimenides, Ara∣tus, Menander. From thence he was sent to Jerusalem for the study of Di∣vinity and of the Jewish Law. In his youth, he learned the handicraft Trade of making Tents.
• (b) 1.3

  This City had among other pri∣viledges obtained of the Roman Empe∣ror Augustus the freedom of the City of Rome, because that in his wars against Brutus and Cassius they held with him, and had suffered much, See Act. 21.39.
• * 1.4

  Act. 23.6.