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.

FRom Crete sailing back to Cilicia: At Lystra he sound (a∣mong other Disciples) Timothy born of a Father that was a Greek, though his Mother Eunice was a believing Jew, 2 Tim. 1.5. This young man had been religiously educated by the care of his pious Mother and Grandmother, being from a Child trai∣ned up in the knowledg of the holy Scriptures [2 Tim. 3.14, 15.], but was not circumcised in his infancy, after the custom of the Jews. He was well-reported of by the brethren at Lystra; and some remarkable prophecies, and predictions had passed concer∣ning him, what an eminent instrument he should prove in the Gospel, 1 Tim. 1.18. Paul intending to take him along with him, as his Companion, and to imploy him in preaching the Gospel, that his ministry might not be ineffectual among the Jews, (who knew him to be uncircumcised, and the Son of an uncircumcised Father, and thereupon would not admit him to speak in their Synagogues) he took and circumcised(a) 1.1 him. The Apostle and his Companions desired now to propagate the Gospel into the other Provinces of A∣sia, properly so called, (to wit, that part of it which lay about Ephesus) but when they had passed thorow Phrygia and Galatia, (where Paul was most kindly received and welcomed by them, even as if he had been an Angel from heaven, Gal. 4.14, 15.) they were forbidden by some revelation, or in∣ward speaking of the holy Ghost to them, for that time(b) 1.2 to go any further. For this blessed Spirit prescribed to them, what order and course they should hold in preach∣ing the Gospel, directing them to go to one people first, and then to another. Therefore being come to Mysia, they purposed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not, intending to hasten them into Macedo∣nia, to a new work; so that passing by Mysia, they came to Troas, where Paul had by night a Vision(c) 1.3 from God, and saw a man in a Macedonian habit stand by him, who prayed him to come over in∣to that countrey to help them; the like call he had not in all his travels to any other place. Hereupon he determined to pass from Asia

into Europe, concluding that God had cal∣led him to preach the Gospel in Macedonia. And here Luke seems to have join'd himself to Paul, and ever after to have been his constant Companion. For having spoken in the third person before, he speaks in the first here.

Act. 16.1. Then came he to Derbe, and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was th••re, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewesse, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

v. 2. Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

v. 3. Him would Paul have to go forth with him, and took, and circum∣cised him, because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

v. 6. Now when they had gone thorowout Phrygia, and the region of Galati••, and were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

v. 7. After they w••re come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spiri•• suffered them not.

v. 8 And they ••••••sing by Mysia, came down to Troas.

v. 9. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

v. 10. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them.

* 1.4 * 1.5 * 1.6

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Paul would not permit Titus to be circumcised being a Gentile, Gal. 2.3. nor suffer that Yoke to be imposed upon the Gentiles, which God had never imposed on them. But Timothy being descended of a Jewish Mother, he circumcised him, to remove scandal from the Jews,

  Quod non est necessarium ad sa∣lutem, factu vel omissu; aliquando tamen laciendum, vel omittendum est, cum ita conducit ad aedificatio∣nem aliorum, vid. 1 Cor. 9.19, 20. &c. sed cum factio vel omissio talium in∣cipit haberi pro cultu necessario, & Christianae libertati insidiae struuntur, & aedificatio Ecclesiae per illa non pro∣movetur sed impeditur, abroganda sunt & non facienda. Stres. in loc.
• (b) 1.2

  For afterwards Paul preached the Gospel there for about two years, See Act. 19.10.
• (c) 1.3

  Manifestationes divinae quae fi∣ebant Prophetis & Apostolis, sivè fi∣erent per visiones sivè per somnia, sivè per instinctus, &c. semper secum habebant tamen lucem Spiritus San∣cti per quam in animis ipsorum essi∣ciebantur sides, & convictio, quod manifestatio esset à Deo; sicut Angeli apparentes hominibus semper appa∣rebant cum claritate Domini, ex quâ constabat quod essent Angeli Domini, Luc. 2. v. 9. Ita divinae compella∣tiones quae fiebant Prophetis & Apo∣stolis semper erant vest••tae claritate Spiritus Sancti, ex quâ & per quam divinitas earum testata reddebatur. Stres.
• * 1.4

  v. 3. Timotheus non fuit circumcisus, quia, ut Talmudici tradunt, non erat jus matri silium circumcidere, patre invito; Patris enim potestas praevalebat. Paulus circumcisionis & usum & omissionem ex temporum & locorum utilitate metiri nove∣rat, & in his rebus dijudicandis lumine fuit perfusus majore quàm aiii Apostoli. Spe∣rabat, Timothei operâ multos ex Judaeis, nondum conversos, ad Christum posse converti.
• * 1.5

  v. 9. Vir quidam Macedo stabat] Nocturnum visum fuit per quietem à Deo im∣missum, ut in Pauli imaginatione compareret vir habitu Macedonico: vel certè, ut ait Menochius, Angelus viri Macedonis speciem & vocem assumpsit; videturque An∣gelus fuisse Tutelaris Macedoniae, Paulum invitans ut ibi Evangelium praedicaret. Confer quae sunt apud Danielem, cap. 10. v. 5.12.13.20.21.

  Adjuva nos] Angelus curator Macedonum se Macedonibus accenset. Grot.
• * 1.6

  v. 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Argumentum inde trahentes, Nempe ex illo nocturno viso. Consentientes, pariter hoc statuentes, Deum nos vocasse, &c. De Dieu.

  Ʋt autem visionem viderat, statim studuimus proficisci in Macedoniam] Mutantur per∣sonae, unde liquet Lucam hoc tempore associatum esse Paulo in Troade, quod Gro∣tius primò observat factum, cap. 20. v. 5. At illud, secundum erat tempus cum profiscerentur à Philippis Troada; nunc verò profecti sunt à Troade Philippos. Knatchbull.