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. I.

BArnabas and Saul having carried the Alms sent from the Disciples in Antioch to their Brethren in Judaea in the time of the dearth (as we have seen Sect. 8. of Chap. 2.), returned to the Church at Antioch again; in which there were at that time se∣veral Prophets(a) 1.1 and Teachers, and among others one very eminent, viz. Manaen, who was a person of that high rank and quality, that he had been brought up with Herod An∣tipas, and yet contemning the world, had em∣braced the Gospel, and thought it no dis∣paragement to him to be a Teacher there. Thus God manifests the freedom of his Grace, in effectually calling some of all sorts and ranks of men to a participation of the bene∣fits offerr'd in and by his Son.

Barnabas and Saul had not been long in that City, before the holy Ghost on a day when the Church fasting and praying, by some instinct or revelation to one or more of the Prophets and Teachers there, commanded that these two, viz. Barnabas and Saul should be separated(b) 1.2 from the service of that Church (where there were for the present Teachers enough) and sent to preach the Gospel in other parts. The Church here∣upon with prayer and fasting commended them to God, and by imposition of hands(c) 1.3 set them apart to this particular employment. Thus having recei∣ved their Commission from the holy Ghost, they set forth for the work to which they were designed(d) 1.4, taking John Mark along with them, to be assistant to them, and a fellow-labourer in the work of the Lord, and to be by them sent to any part of their charge, whither they themselves could not go. Having begun their journey, they first

came to Seleucia a port in Syria and from thence sailed to Cyprus(e) 1.5, Barnabas's own Country [Act. 4.36.], and at Salamis one of the Cities of that Island, they first began to preach the Gospel in the Synagogues of the Jews. For though these two holy men were sent to the Gentiles, yet were they so far from forbearing to preach to the Jews, that they constantly began with them first in all places where they came. And travelling over that Island as far as Paphos, they there found a false Prophet a magical Jew [See Act. 19.13. & Mat. 24.24.], called Bar-jesus(f) 1.6, and sirnamed Elymas or Magus, who opposed them, and particularly endeavoured to hinder and di∣vert Sergius Paulus (who govern'd that Island for the Romans) from hearing them and from embracing the faith. Saul seeing the wick∣edness and malice of this man and having a great incitation of the Spirit of God upon him, looked earnestly on him, and spake to him to this purpose, O thou vile sorcerer, who like the Devil by whom thou workest, shewest thy self and an enemy to the truth and to all goodness; wilt thou not cease to lay false imputations on the gospel, and the way of salvation to hinder and discourage men from embracing of it? It is most just that thou that shuttest the eyes of thy mind so perversly against the light of the Gospel, shouldst lose thy outward sight; and therefore by the immediate power of God it shall be taken from thee for some time; and immediately Elymas was struck blind and was not able to go without leading. The Governour seeing this miracle, and hearing the Doctrine of the Gospel opened and explained, and perceiving it accompanied with so much power, was converted to the Faith. And from this time forward Saul was always called Paul(g) 1.7, which name possibly was first given him by the houshold of Sergius Paulus. So that though he was called Saul, so long as he con∣vers'd among the Jews, Syrians and Arabians, yet afterwards, when he was by Gods special Call principally sent to the Gen∣tiles, viz. to the Greeks and Romans, he then had the name of Paul given unto him, that being a name more agreeable unto them. From Paphos, Paul and his company went to Perga in Pamphilia, a Country in Asia the less, at which place John Mark(h) 1.8 (possibly being weary of those travels or having and earnest desire to visit his mo∣ther and friends) left them (which Paul took very ill) and returned to Jerusalem, where he stayed till Paul and Barnabas came thither again: in whose place (it seems) Paul took Titus, for he was with him, when after he had finished this peregrination, he went up to the Council at Jerusalem.

Act. 13.1. Now there wee in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers: as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen which had been brought up with He∣rod the tetrarch, and Saul.

v. 2. As they ministred to the Lord and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Sepa∣rate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them.

v. 3. And when they had fasted, and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

v. 4. So they being sent forth by the holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia, and from thence they sailed unto Cyprus.

v. 5. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their Mi∣nister.

v. 6. And when they had gone thorow the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus.

v. 7. Which was with the deputy of the countrey Sergius Paulus, a pru∣dent man: who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

v. 8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) with∣stood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

v. 9. Then Saul (who also is called Paul) filled with the holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

v. 10. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

v. 11. And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and he went about, seeking some to lead him by the hand.

v. 12. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

v. 13. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphilia: and John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

* 1.9 * 1.10

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Prophetae dicuntur qui prae∣diti erant dono interpretandi Scrip∣turas Propheticas ex revelatione Spi∣ritsis Sancti; & nonnulli eorum eti∣am praediti erant dono praedicendi futura, quae scire Ecclesiae intererat, qualis erat Agabus, Doctores sunt qui in Scholis sive Ecclesiâ, doctri∣nam sacram tradunt & alios erudiunt, qui Eph. 4.11. à Pastoribus distin∣guuntur.
• (b) 1.2

  Cum non dixerit Spiritus San∣ctus segregate Domino, sed mibi, osten∣dit unam esse potestatem & virtutem.
• (c) 1.3

  Fuit haec ceremonia antiqui∣tus usitata cum alicui aliquid bonum apprecarentur, & alicui benedicerent. Gen. 48.14. non quod in ceremoniâ aliqua vis esset, sed quod esset visibile signum cordialis ac sincerae compre∣cationis vel benedictionis, Stres.

  This is the first ordination of El∣ders since the Gospel, that was used out of the Land of Israel. No bet∣ter reason I suppose can be given of this present action, than that the Lord did hereby set down a platform of ordaining Ministers in the Church of the Gentiles for future times, Lightf.
• (d) 1.4

  Non opus habebant vocatione & missione ut possent paaedicare lige∣timè Evangelium; erant enim antea vocati & missi, & diu jam functi erant ministerio: sed opus habebant speci∣ali vocatione & missione ad praedican∣dum Gentibus, Stres.
• (e) 1.5

  Haec olim Macaria dicta ob beatam rerum omnium corporalium abundantiam, sed nunc demum beata facta per communicationem Evange∣lii. In hac Insula erat inclytum illud Templum Paphiae Veneris de quo multa Tacitus lib. 2. hist. In hanc tamen corruptissimam & impurissi∣mam insulam Deus omnium primo Evangelium suum misit, & Ecclesias ibi plantavit. Est enim Cyprica Ec∣clesia prima ex transmarinis. Non est ergo currentis sed miserentis Dei, Rom 9.
• (f) 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Filius salutis, qui salutis sanitatisque adferendae artem prositetur.
• (g) 1.7

  Hoc loco imprimis coepit esse Gentium Apostolus, itaque etiam sor∣titur nomen Gentibus usitatum.
• (h) 1.8

  Reditum hujus Johannis Marci ad officium quod deseruerat, ejusque cum Paulo reconciliationem, vid. 2 Tim. 4.11. Phil. 2.4.
• * 1.9

  v. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vocare hic est destinare: praeteritum passivum usurpatur in significatione activâ.
• * 1.10

  v. 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] adversum te. Manus enim Dei dicitur super eum esse, quem protegit, at contra vel adversus illum quem punit. vid. Psal. 80.17. & 1 Sam. 12.15.