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. VII.

ANanias and Sapphira(a) 1.1 his wife pretending to follow this example fraudently kept back by joynt consent part of the price for which they had sold a possession, and yet pre∣tended to lay down all the price it was sold for at the Apostles feet. For which Hypocrisie, and lying to, or in the presence of the Holy Ghost, and thinking to go undiscovered of that Spirit, which wrought so powerfully in the Apostles, and to impose upon God himself, as if he saw not what men secretly did, and presumptuously tempting him, and trying (as it were) whether he would be so severe to punish it, or no, they are stricken dead, and great fear fell on all that heard of these things.

Act. 5.1. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

v. 2. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the Apostles feet.

v. 3. But Peter said, Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye to the holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

v. 4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

v. 5. And Ananias hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

v. 6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

v. 7. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife not knowing what was done came in.

v. 8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for ••o much. And she said, Yea for so much.

v. 9. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them that have bu∣ried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

v. 10. Then fell she down straitway at his feet, and yeilded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

v. 11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

* 1.2 * 1.3 * 1.4

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  They had the for∣mality to sell their lands as others did, but had not the sincerity to part with the money, as others had: their double deal∣ing both in word and deed is fear∣fully punish∣ed with sudden death at the beginning of the Christian Church, as Nadab, and Abihu, and the Sabbath-breaker were at the beginning of the Jewish, that in future times others might beware of dissembling with God, Lightfoot. in loc.

  Nota in quibus peccaverit Ananias praecipuè. 1. Non propter Dei gloriam, & proximi utili∣tatem vendidit agrum, sed ut venaretur sibi sanctitatis, & pietatis laudem. 2. Asseverat quod to∣tum pretium deposuerit, cum tamen partem ejus maximam sibi reti••uisset. Concurrunt igitur hic Dei contemptus, ambitio, dissidentia, mendacium, hypocrisis, Freidl.

  Quod Ananias voto jam ante totum agrum Deo consecraverit, votoque illo violato sacrilegus evascrit, ex textu colligi non videtur; sed tantum quod cum per ambitionem totius pretium don••sse videri voluerit partem ejus suppresserit, quod hypocriseos erat, & mendacii, De Dieu.

  Petrus antehac majestatem, & exaltationem Christi testatus est per miraculum beneficentiae in ho∣mine clando. Nunc eam testatam reddidit per miraculum severitatis in homine hypocritâ. Inter∣pretes vulgo hunc actum comparant cum facto Pauli, Act. 13 9, 10, 11. & cum facto Eliae, 2 Reg. 1.9, 10.

  Peccatum Annaniae erat peccatum nullius necessitatis, quod facillimè potuisset omittere. Non o∣pus habebat quicquam dare, & potuisset totum retinere. Hinc videmus quod bona vendere, & da∣re omnia pauperibus, non fu••t res necessitatis in primitivâ Ecclesiâ, sed libertatis. Carebat tum tempo∣ris Ecclesia protectione Magistratûs, & propriis armis Spiritualibus se defendebat, quae cum ordinariè funt invisibilia, tunc visibilia fuerunt ad majorem terrorem impiorum, tum intra, tum extra Eccle∣si••m.
• * 1.2

  v. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Verbum factum ex 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seorsim, notat clam, & callidè quip∣piam surripere, & suffurari.
• * 1.3

  v. 3. Quare implevit Satanas cor tuum] h. e. Cur occasionem praebuisti Satanae, ut veneno suo cor tuum impleret, & ad hoc mendacium impelleret? Quare te ita re∣gi, & impelli passus es à Satana? Implere cor alterius est audacem eum reddere, implere cor suum audacem fieri. Confer Esth. 7.5. Quis est hic, qui implevit cor suum (vel quem implevit cor ejus) ad faciendum est? i. e. qui tam audacis animi sit, ut hoc facere sustineat. Vide etiam, Eccles. 8.11. Nihil enim metuit cor Spiritibus ple∣num, De Dieu.

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] i. e. in Spiritum Sanctum.

  Elipsis praepositionis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Hinc elicitur Testimonium ad demonstrandam Spiri∣tus Sancti Deitatem. v. 4. Non es mentitus hominibus tantum, sed cum primis Deo. Idem est mentiri Deo, & Spiritui Sancto. Mentiri Deo aut Spiritui Sancto is dicitur, qui sperat se Apostolos fallere posse Spiritu Sancto instructo••, Grot.
• * 1.4

  v. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, scilicet in tuâ possessione, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ad tuos usus manebat, & venundatum in tuâ erat potestate.

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 scilicet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Quid est quod potuisti, &c.