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.

SAƲL escaping in this manner at Damascus, he goes from thence to Jerusalem, to visit Peter(a) 1.1, and the other Apostles, in the fourth year after his Conversion; but essay∣ing to join himself to the Disciples there, they were all afraid of him, not believing him to be a true Disciple, and sincere Con∣vert, till Barnabas(b) 1.2 bringing him to Peter, and James the Kinsman of Christ (for of the rest of the Apostles he saw none, they being as it seems at this time gone abroad to pro∣pagate

the Gospel) declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, who had spoken to him from heaven, and that he had boldly preached in the name of Christ at Damascus with the hazard of his life, and so he was set right in their opinion, and con∣versed familiarly with them. Whilst he is here, he preaches Christ undauntedly, and disputes with the Hellenists* 1.3, (or Jews that cohabiting among the Greek Nations, used the Greek Tongue, and the Septuagints Tran∣slation of the Old Testament) proving to them that Jesus was the true Messias, who were so enraged at him, that they went about to kill him. But being in the Tem∣ple in prayer, he fell into a trance, wherein he saw Christ, who bad him make haste out of Jerusalem, for there they would not receive his Testimony. Against this, he humbly argued with the Lord, alledging, That his former zeal against Christ, and his Doctrine having been so remarkable, and notorious a∣mong the Jews in this place, it might be an argument to them, that so strange a change as this was not wrought in him but up∣on great and sufficient grounds and reasons, and so he might in all likelyhood be a more fit instrument to propagate the Gospel here, by how much the more he had opposed it formerly. But this did not prevail for staying at Jerusalem, but Christ commands him to depart from thence, telling him, he would send him to preach to the Gentiles. Saul hereupon readily obeys, and forth∣with departs from thence having stayed there only Fifteen days; several brethren that dwelt at Jerusalem accompanying him as far as Caesarea, from whence he sailed to Tarsus his own City, the Metropolis of Cilicia; and from thence was shortly after fetch∣ed by Barnabas unto Antioch, the Metropolis of Syria; being all this while not so much as known by face to the Churches of Judeae, which had embraced the Faith; only they had heard of his preaching the Doctrine of Christ, which before he had per∣secuted, and they glorified God for his Grace so powerfully ma∣nifested in him.

Act. 9. v. 26. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to joyn himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

v. 27. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared unto them, how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the Name of Jesus.

v. 28. And he was with them coming in, and going out at Jerusalem.

v. 29. And he spake boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

v. 30. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Ce∣sarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Gal. 1. v. 18. Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

v. 19. But other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lords bro∣ther.

* 1.4v. 20. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God I lie not.

v. 21. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia,

v. 22. And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea, which were in Christ.

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

v. 24. And they glorified God in me.

Act. 22. v. 17. And it came to pass, that when I was come again to Jerusa∣lem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance,

v. 18. And saw him saying unto me, Make haste and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me,

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

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

v. 21. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  He desired to go see Peter, and to have some acquaintance with him; not for any homage to his Primacy (as the Papists plead) for he maketh no distin∣ction between him, and James, and John, in point of dignity, Gal. 2.9. nay is so f••r from homaging him, that he re∣buketh him, and reproveth him, Gal. 2.11. But he desired to be acquainted ••th Peter, because he understood he was the Minister of the Circumcision, as he himself was to be of the Uncir∣cumcision, Gal 2.8. and because there had been some kind of Parallel betwixt them in their recovery; the one having denyed, and forsworn Christ, and th•• other having violently persecuted h•••• in his members.
• (b) 1.2

  Possibly there had been some ac¦quaintance in former times betwix•• Paul, and Barnabas, they being bot•• Grecizing Jews; the one of Cypras, the ••¦ther of Cilicia; and both prob••b•• brought up and educated at Jerusale•• see Act. ch. 4. v. 36••
• * 1.3

  See Sect. 9. of Chap. 1.
• * 1.4

  v. 20. Ju∣ramentum adhibet, ut Rom. 1.9 2 Cor. 1.23. Causa autem gravis erat, ut crederetur Apostolus à Christo factus non ab aliis Apo∣stolis substitutus.