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. III.

DUring this time of their abode together, Peter rose up, and made a motion to the rest of the disciples there present, that one should be chosen into Judas's place; who having formerly had the honour to be one of Christs Apostles had by his late treachery against his Lord, and Master* 1.1 (being guide(a) 1.2 to them that took him, as the Holy Ghost(b) 1.3 had long ago predicted by the mouth of the Prophet David, Psal. 41.9.) fallen from that digni∣ty; He tells them that this Judas received from the chief Priests and the Rulers of the Jews a reward for his Treason, yet it did not at all profit him, but only gave occasion to them, with that money, to purchase the Porters field* 1.4 called from thence Aceldama, to his everlasting infamy. He farther shews, that this wretched man having through re∣morse, and anguish of Spirit for that his hainous fact, hanged himself,* 1.5 the rope, or that to which it was fastned breaking, he fell down headlong, and burst asunder, and his bowels gushed out(c) 1.6, and so he went to his own place(d) 1.7. These things having thus happened to Judas, he exhorts them to chuse another into his room, shewing the necessity of such a choice for the fulfilling those Scriptures, viz. Psal. 65.25. and 109.8.(e) 1.8; which foretold he should be spoiled of what he had so wretchedly got, and that his office should be void and conferred on another. And he further declares unto them what manner of Person was to be chosen namely one of those, who had followed Jesus from the time that he was baptized by John, and began to gather disciples (at which time the Baptist gave such a publick testimo∣ny of him, that some of his own disciples, and several others began to follow him) unto the day of his Ascension, that so he might be a more competent and authentick witness, not only of his Doctrine and Miracles, and the other actions of his life, but of his Re∣surrection also(f) 1.9.

The Apostles agreeing to this motion, put two men in election viz. Barsabas and Mathias, and praying unto God to direct the Lot, and to shew which of them he was pleased to chuse, and appoint to this office, the Lot fell on Mathias, and he was accor∣dingly numbred among the Apostles* 1.10.

Acts 1. v. 15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of th•• Dis••i∣ples, and said, (The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty.)

v. 16.* 1.11 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

v. 17. For he was numbred with us, and had obtained p••rt of this mini∣stery.

v. 18.* 1.12 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gush∣ed out.

v. 19. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem, insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

v. 20. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolat•• and let no man dwell therein: And his bishoprick let another take.

v. 21. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

v. 22. Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

v. 23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was called Justus, and Matthias.

v. 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, which knowest the heart•• of all men, shew wh••ther of these two thou hast chosen.

v. 25.* 1.13 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression f••ll, that he might go to his own place.

v. 26. And they gave forth their l••ts, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbred with the eleven ap••stles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 26.47, 48:
• (a) 1.2

  Non est gravius peccatum quam aliis esse 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 peccati: vae Ministri, vae Parentibus, vae Magistratibus, qui hoc faciunt.
• (b) 1.3

  Ergo Spiritus Sanctus est vera persona, et non qualitas, & ex propriâ scientiâ praedicit. Nam futurorum prae∣dictio Deitatis signum est infallibile, Isa. 44.6, 7. & 41.22, 23. & quamvis di∣citur, Joh. 16.13. ab a••io audire ista fu∣tura, quae nobis praenunciat, tamen hoc non ita intelligendum, quasi opus habeat a Patre aliquid discere, quid ipse nesci∣at, sed quod revelationem suam quam dat hominibus, instituat secandum vo∣luntatem Patris, & Filii, revelans ea, quae Pater, & Filius volunt revelari. Haec enim est voluntaria oeconomia tri∣um Personarum inter se.
• * 1.4

  See Zech. 11.13.
• * 1.5

  See my Harmony of the four Evan∣gelists, chap. 6. Sect. 15
• (c) 1.6

  Simile exemplum habemus in hi∣storiâ ecclesiasticâ de Arrio haeretico, qui fecedens ad onus ventris deponendum, dicitur crepuisse, & omnia viscera effu∣disse.
• (d) 1.7

  In locum suum, & factis suis dig∣num, quémque malitiâ suá meritus est. Sicut in unaquâque Repub. est Carcer, & locus supplicii erectus in terrorem improborum, ita Deus etiam impiis prae∣paravit Infernum, Mat, 25.41.
• (e) 1.8

  In utroque psalmo agit David de Aulicis Saulis. Sicut enim David in pas∣sionibus, & persecutione suâ fuit Typus passionis Christi, ut patet passim ex hi∣storiâ Evangelistarum; ita isti ••ulici Sau∣lis qui Davidem persequebantur fuere typ••istorum Sacerdotum & aliorum ho∣stium, qui Christum persecuti sunt: Et speciali••èr iste Doeg, pastor pecudum Saulis, qui Davidem prodidit, fuit typus Judae, quem Christus Apostolum, & Pa∣storem ovium suarum elegerat, sed qui Christum prodidit. Et haec est rati•••• quod isti textus, qui alioquin de hosti∣bus Davidis propriè loquuntur, hic ad Judam accommodantur. Duo autem sunt quae David D••••gi, & hostibus suis impre∣catur, atque duo sunt, quae in hâc suâ imprecatione de Judâ vat ••matur, nem∣pe quod spoltatus omnibus bonis quae per avaritiam, fraudem, & furta corraserat, depositus erit ab officio.
• (f) 1.9

  Articulus de resurrectione Christi includit omnes alios articulos fidei de Christo. 1 Cor. 15.13. Si enim resurrexit, mortuus est, si mortuus est, natus est, &c. Est etiam signum, quod pro peccatis no••ris exactè satisfecit. Deus enim sponsorem nostrum non exolvisset vincul•••• mortis, nisi lytum sufficiens ab eo accepisset.
• * 1.10

  Apostoli non habent suc∣cessore••. Apostolat••s enim fuit officium extraordinari••m ad primam Ecclesiae. ••onstitutionem ••re∣ctum. ••tr••s.
• * 1.11

  v. 16. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Pa•• erat, Judae simile quid e∣venire, quale Achitopheli evenerat, cujus perfidiam Judas erat imitatus. Sic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ••aepi•• sumi diximus ad Mat. 1.22. Grot.
• * 1.12

  v. 18. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] i. e. monu∣mentum ••••e∣leris sui reli∣quit.
• * 1.13

  v. 25. Ad lo∣cum propri∣um] i. e. qui ipsi melius conveniebat, quàm Apostolica functio.