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PAul, and Silas, with Luke, and Timothy now loosing from Troas, came with a very fair gale to Samothracia, an Island in the Aegean Sea, not far from Thracia, and thence to Neapolis (a City on the borders of Thracia and Macedonia), and from thehce they pass'd to Philippi the chief City of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman Colony. Here on the Sabbath day,
they went out of the City to a place, where a house of prayer(a) 1.1 was appointed by the Law to be by the River side. In this place, Paul preached the Gospel to several women there met together, the men it seems refusing to hear him. And in the time of his preaching, Lydia a stranger, born in Thyatyra (a City that lay on the borders of Mysia and Lydia), a Proselyte of the Jews, had her mind enlightened by the Spirit(b) 1.2 of God, and her heart graciously inclin'd to embrace the Gospel, and to believe in Christ.
Whereupon she her self was forthwith baptized, and desiring to consecrate all within her Family to Christ, her whole hous∣hold was baptized also. Then to testifie her gratitude, she cour∣teously entertained Paul and his Companions in her house.
After this, as they went again toward the place of Prayer, a certain maid servant that was possessed with a Devil (who speaking from within her, revealed secret, and future things, and thereby gained much to her Masters) followed them, crying out, These are the servants of the most high God, who declare unto us the way of salvation. Paul not brooking that the truth should be thus rendred suspected by the Testi∣mony of the Father of Lyes, commanded the unclean Spirit, in the Name of Christ, to come out of her, and he came out immediately. The Masters of the Maid seeing their gain, which came in by her divination, now at an end, they drew Paul and Silas before the principal Rulers and Commanders of the Co∣lony there, telling them that these men being Jews, did much disquiet and disturb the City, teaching a religion contrary to theirs, and to the Roman Laws, which permitted the practice of no Worship, but what was approved by the Senate of Rome. The multitude also being by this suggestion enraged against them, the Rulers commanded them to be stript, and beaten, and cast into prison; where they were harshly used by the Gaoler, being thrust into the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks. At midnight as they were praying and singing Psalms (rejoycing that they suffered for Christs sake), there was a great Earthquake, and the prison doors were thrown open, and all the prisoners bands were loosed. The Goaler awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, and appre∣hending his prisoners had made an escape, was ready to have laid violent hands on himself, But Paul cryed out to him that he should not harm himself; for they were all there. Then he came trembling in, and fell at the Apostles feet, as one that would intreat pardon for his hard usage of them; and bring∣ing them out of the inner prison, he spake to them to this pur∣pose. Sirs, I now see and acknowledg that the doctrine taught by you is the truth of the Eternal God, and he hath by this mi∣racle testified to me, that you are his true and faithful servants. Tell me therefore I beseech you, what I must do to be saved. They
tell him, He must believe(c) 1.3 on the Lord Je∣sus Christ, which if he, and his Family (b) shall do, they shall be saved. Then they more largely opened to him and his houshold the Doctrine of the Gospel, and he to testi∣fie his love and thankfulness to them washed their stripes, and used the best remedies he could to asswage the pain,(g) 1.4 and heal the wounds and soreness, that remained to them from their scourging: Then immediately the Goaler and all his houshold, were baptized un∣to Christ, and dedicated unto his service. And further to testifie his respect and kind∣ness to the Apostles, he set meat before them to refresh them, and rejoiced exceedingly that he and his had obtained so great mercy from God, as to be brought to believe in Christ. When it was day, the Magistrates (possibly being terrified with the Earthquake, or considering how injuriously they had used the Apostles, only for casting out a Devil) sent their Serjeants to release them (yet privily) out of prison. The Goaler be∣ing glad of their release, chearfully brought them the news of it. But the Apostles refused(e) 1.5 to be thus privily released, alledging that the Rulers had without any legal tryal scourged them, who were not only innocent persons, but free men of Rome, and had the right and pri∣viledg of the Citizens thereof; and so by the Valerian Law, might not be bound; and by the Sempronian might not be scourged with∣out a legal Processe [See ch. 22.25.]. The Governours understanding this, and know∣ing that the punishment was great for any man to injure a Citizen of Rome, they came themselves, and brought them out, and be∣sought them to depart. And from the prison they went to the house of Lydia, and having spent some time in confirming and strengthning the brethren, they departed thence.
Act. 16. v. 11. Therefore loosing from Tarsus, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis:
v. 12. And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding cer∣tain days.
v. 13. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made, and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
v. 14. And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatyra, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
v. 15. And when she was baptized, and her houshold, she besought us, say∣ing,
If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
v. 16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination, met us: which brought her masters much gain by sooth-saying.
v. 17. The same followed Paul and us, and cryed, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
v. 18. And this did she many days: but Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
v. 19. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market-place unto the rulers,
v. 20, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
v. 21. And teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
v. 22. And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and comm••nded to beat them.
v. 23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jaylor to keep them safely.
v. 24. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
v. 25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
v. 26. And suddenly there was a great earth-quake, so that the founda∣tions of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and every ones bands were loosed.
v. 27. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
v. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thy self no harm, for we are all here.
v. 29. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.
v. 30. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be sa∣ved?
v. 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thin•• house.
v. 32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
v. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his straightway.
v. 34. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
v. 35. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.
v. 36. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul: The magi∣strates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
v. 37. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondem∣ned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison, and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily, but let them come themselves, and fetch us out.
v. 38. And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans.
* 1.6 * 1.7 * 1.8 * 1.9 * 1.10 * 1.11 * 1.12 * 1.13 * 1.14v. 39. And they came, and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
v. 40. And they went out of the prison, and entred into the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Ubi domus Orationis lege san∣cita est, esse, est enim 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 lege sancio. Knatchbull.
Spiritus aperit cor sed per Verbum.
v. 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Phrasis insignis, quae satis declarat, quod vera fides sit inclinatio, & in∣nixio cordis in Christum tanquam in fulcrum sustentans. Sicut Adonijah reus mortis apprehendebat cornua Alta∣ris, 1 Reg. 1.50. Ita cor metu sui reatûs contritum, apprehendit cru∣cifixum Christum ut ejus merito tu∣tumsit.
Salvaberis tu & domus tua] Fides patris-familias non salvat fa∣miliam directè sed indirectè quatenus patrem-familias impellit, ut famili∣am quoque suam in doctrinâ Evan∣gelii instituat, vel institui curet, ut credant sicut ipse. Streso.
Christiana humilitas nos non obligat ad negligendam famam vel ad admittendam infamiam cum eam legitimè possimus à nobis avertere. Nam post bonam conscientiam non est majus bonum, quod homo magis tenetur custodire, quam bona fa∣ma, vid. Prov. 22.1. Prov. 15.30. Eccles. 7.1. Phil. 4.8. Hoc fine ergo voluit Paulus honorificè e∣duci ne ad impedimentum Evange∣lii spargeretur de ipso haec infamia, quod incarceratus Philippis, formi∣dine malae conscientiae effracto car∣cere clam aufugisset.
v. 13. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Est locus Judaeorum ubi orant. Oratorium sive locus oratio∣tionis. Dic ubi consistas in quâ te quaero proseuchâ. Juven. Sat. 3.
v. 16. Puellam quandam habentem spiritum Pythonis] Epitheton Apollinis qui responsa dabat pretentibus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, unde Apollo Pythius, qui & Delphi∣cus, â loco illo celebri dicebatur, cui etiam nomen fuit Pytho, quem Graeci inter∣pretes aliquoties in Bibliis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sunt interpretati, quod ex obsessarum mu∣liercularum ventre oracula soleret edere, Hebraei 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 istud Daemonium vocare solent, q. d. utres quod mulierum eo daemone correptarum ventres instar u∣trium intumescerent.
v. 20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] licet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sit ille, qui militibus praeest tamen in mu∣nicipiis etiam civiles & urbani magistratus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dicebantur.
v. 22. Scindentes vestimenta illorum] Factum hoc ex more Romanorum, qui virgis caedendos vi spoliabant vestimentis, scindentes quae ultro detrahi non pote∣rant.
v. 27. Stricto gladio erat seipsum interempturus] Metu nimirum gravioris sup∣plicii. Solebant enim commentarienses, si effugissent vincti, eandem pati poenam quam vincti passuri erant.
v. 32. Sermonem Domini] i. e. Evangelium de Christo, ejusque beneficiis.
v. 33. Baptizatus est ipse & omnes domestici illius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 illic] Similia exem∣pla dati sine mora baptismi habemus supra c. 8. 38. & 10.48. & 16.15.
v. 37. Viros Romanos Synecdochicè in plurali dicit. Nam jus civitatis Romanae solus habebat Paulus. Civem Romanum omnino virgis caedi non licebat per leges Porcias & Sempronias; quanto minus causâ indictâ. Novit Paulus ad innocentiae & causae bonae praesidium etiam legibus uti. Grot.
v. 38. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Ita enim constituerant leges ut in cive Romano laeso ipsa po∣puli Romani majestas laesa crederetur.