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. IX.

THe number of Believers now increasing at Jerusalem, there arose (as it commonly happens among a multitude) a murmuring of the Hellenists(a) 1.1 (that is such Jews as were dispersed among the Grae∣cians, and were born, or lived in Heathen Countries, and used the Greek Translation of the Old Testament, and the Greek Tongue, yet savouring something of the Hebrew Phrases and manner of speaking) against the Hebrews (who were such Jews as inhabited Judea, and spake the Syriack Language) because their Widdows* 1.2 were neglected, and received less, than the Widdows of the Hebrews, in the daily distribution of the Churches moneys. The Apostles desiring to have the poor well provided for, yet being them∣selves taken up with dispensing the word, (the food of the soul,) and so not at leisure to attend that other service; by their ad∣vice, and the suffrages of the Church, there were Seven men of good report for wisdom and the endowments of the Spirit, cho∣sen out of the Hundred and Eight, mentioned before, ch. 1. to be Stewards of the Churches stock(b) 1.3, unto which they were ordained by the imposition of hands(c) 1.4. Among those Stephen, and Philip were the most eminent, whose story is particularly related. Thus the Gospel went on successfully, and the num∣ber of the Disciples increased daily, yea some of the Priests(d) 1.5 themselves (formerly bitter enemies to Christ) now embraced the faith, and were joined to the Church.

Act. 6. v. 1. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplyed, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the He∣brews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

v. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

v. 3. Wherefore brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the holy Ghost, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

v. 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer, and to the ministery of the word.

v. 5. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen a man full of faith, and of the holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

v. 6. Whom they set before the Apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

v. 7. And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples mul∣tiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obe∣dient to the faith.

* 1.6

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Horum plerique Hebraica non intelligebant. Quorum fuit & Philo, quanquam Judaeus ex Judaeis ortus.
• * 1.2

  Quod vi∣duae Helleni∣starum aut ae∣grotae, aut in∣fantibus one∣ratae, minus acciperent quam viduae in Judaeâ na∣tae. Id autem accidebat quod (ut vi∣detur) Apo∣stoli ad hanc distributio∣nem uteban∣tur Judaeis in Judaeâ natis.
• (b) 1.3

  Exem∣plo scilicet eorum qui in synagogâ di∣cebantur 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Epiphanio 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Totum primae Ecclesiae regimen conformatum fuit ad formam Synagogae. Quae bene se habebant nihil opus erat mutari, Grot.
• (c) 1.4

  Signum mandati ministerii.
• (d) 1.5

  Casaubonus existimat vocem 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hic deesse. Legendum igitur 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ut sen∣tentia sit, Multam populi turmam credidisse, & aliquos etiam è sacerdotibus. Nam insolens (in∣quit) videtur, ut dicatur sacerdotum multa turba doctrinam Christi veram propter hoc factum esse amplexa.

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nihil nonnunquam praeter eos qui, in numero aut turbâ, designat. Quomodo 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Luc. 19 39. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Sic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 omnes praeter elassium principes dicebantur. Vide Joh. 12.42. Heinsius.
• * 1.6

  v. 5. Cum Nicolaus dicitur fuisse ab Antiochiâ proselytus, intellige 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. cir∣cumcisum, & legi, suâ voluntate, subditum. Hic est Nicolaus à quo nomen traxêre Nicolaitae, Apoc. 2.6.15. à Patribus memorati, Iren. lib. 1. c. 27. Euseb. hist, l. 3. c. 29. vid. Grot.

  This Sect mis-construed the Doctrine of Christian community, to all licentiousness: but whether it began to be so mis-construed by Nicolas himself, or some of his followers, as the Sadduces abused the good Doctrine of Sadoc to a damnable Here∣sie, it is difficult to determine, Lightf.