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. XXI.

THE Apostle now beginning to make his defence to the people, He first sets before them what manner of per∣son he was before his conversion. He was a Jew by extraction, born in the noble City of Tarsus, educated at Jerusalem, under that famous Doctor of the Law Gamaliel, (a man of great esteem among them; see Act. 5.34.), being perfectly instructed by him in the Law of the Fathers(a) 1.1, and imbued with the strictest Judaical Principles, and was a great Zelot for that way, and a bitter enemy to Christianity. And he tells them, that all the Senate, or Sanhedrim, es∣pecially the high Priest, could attest the truth of what he said; for, from them he received commission to apprehend all such Christians, as he could find in Syria, and to bring them bound to them to Jerusalem to be scourged, or otherwise punished. 2ly, He declares to them the manner of his conversion(b) 1.2, [see Chap. 2. Sect. 1.], how travelling to Damas∣cus to pursue his persecuting design, when he was come nigh to that City, a great light from Heaven shon round about him; upon which he fell to the ground, and heard these words articulately spoken to him by Christ(c) 1.3, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And they that were with him heard a voice indeed [ch. 9.7.], (as the people did, Joh. 12.19. when some said it thundred, others said an Angel spake), but understood not distinctly what was said. He further declares how Christ told him, he had provided one Ana∣nias to come unto him, and to shew him what he had designed for him to do, and suffer, for his Name sake. And thus being blinded by the brightness of the glory that shone a∣bout him, he was led by those that were with him to Damascus, and there by the Ministry of Ananias he recovered his sight. Ananias also shewed him, how God had chosen him, that he should know his will, and have the

Gospel revealed to him, and should see Jesus, and hear him speak to him from heaven, and should make known to all men(d) 1.4, the things which Jesus had already and should further make known to him. Ananias also having further instructed him, exhorted him to be baptized, and by Faith in Christs blood to wash away the guilt of all his sins, (of which Baptism is a sign and seal), and earnestly to implore grace from Christ, to sanctifie his na∣ture more and more. Paul having thus open∣ed to them the manner of his Conversion and Call, to be an Apostle; he now further shews them, how at his first coming to Jerusalem after this, (see ch. 9.26.), as he was in the Temple(e) 1.5 praying, he fell into an Exsta∣sie or Trance, and in that Exstatical Vision saw Christ, who commanded him to get him spee∣dily out of that City, because his former zeal against the Gospel, would hinder his preach∣ing of it now from being successfull. Against this, he humbly argued, that his former zeal against Christianity, (which was so remark∣able and notorious, by his imprisoning the Professors thereof, and causing them to be scourged in the Consistories of many Cities, and by his assisting in the stoning of Steven, and keeping the Garments of his accusers whilst they slew him) might be an argument to the Jews, that they were very great and cogent reasons, that had wrought such a strange change in him; and so he might in all likelyhood, be a fitter person to publish the Doctrine of Christ now, by how much the more he had opposed it formerly, [see Sect. 3. of Chap. 2.]. But this did not pre∣vail for his staying at Jerusalem, but Christ commanded him to depart from thence, tel∣ling him he would send him to preach to the Gentiles, who had not that exception against him, and would more readily receive his Do∣ctrine. Hitherto the Jews had patience to hear him, but when he mentioned the Gentiles, and that he was appointed to preach to them, they cried out, he was a Villain, and unworthy to live, and expressing their fury by throwing dust into the air, and casting off their Clothes as if they would presently stone him, the chief Commander of the Guard, bid the Soldiers carry him into the Castle, and com∣manded, that he should be scourged till he should confess what he had done, that had so enraged the Jews against him. As

they were going about to bind him, in order to the scourging of him, the Apostle declares himself a free-born Denizon of Rome, whom the Roman Laws would not permit to be so dealt with, before any sentence was legally passed upon him. When they heard this, they ceased from their design of scourging him; and the Colonel (who had himself purchased the freedom of a Citi∣zen of Rome at a great rate) was afraid he had already done more than he could well answer, in binding him, and putting Chains upon him.

Act. 22. v. 1. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

v. 2. (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence; and he saith)

v. 3. I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a City in Cili∣cia, yet brought up in this City at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the Law of the fathers, and was zealous towards God, as ye all are this day.

v. 4. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women,

v. 5. As also the high Priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring them which were there, bound unto Jerusa∣lem, for to be punished.

v. 6. And it came to pass, that as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

v. 7. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

v. 8. And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? and he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest.

v. 9. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

v. 10. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

v. 11. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus:

v. 12. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, having a good report of all the Jews, which dwelt there,

v. 13. Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, re∣ceive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

v. 14. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldst know his will, and see that just One, and shouldst hear the voice of his mouth.

v. 15. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

v. 16. And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash a∣way thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

v. 17. And it came to pass, that when I was come again to Jerusalem, 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 concern∣ing me.

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

v. 20. And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing 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.

v. 22. And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lift up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

v. 23. And as they cryed out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air.

v. 24. The chief Captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging: that he might know wherefore they cryed so against him.

v. 25. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

v. 26. When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief Cap∣tain, saying, Take heed what thou dost, for this man is a Roman.

v. 27. Then the chief Captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

v. 28. And the chief Captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free-born.

v. 29. Then straitway they departed from him which should have exami∣ned him: and the chief Captain also was afraid after he knew that he was a Roman: and because he had bound him.

* 1.6 * 1.7 * 1.8 * 1.9 * 1.10 * 1.11

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Per patriam legem non intelli∣gitur lex quam Patres à Deo per Mo∣sen acceperant, sed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quam ipsi à patribus acceperant. Pharisaeorum religionem notat, quae 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 magnam par∣tem constabat, quarum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 se fuisse olim, ait Gal. 1.14. Cumque 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ei religioni attribuit, idem dicit quod infra, c. 26.5. scil. se in∣stitutum esse in Pharisaismo, quae est accuratissima Patriae legis forma. De Dieu.

  Intelligit se in Traditionibus, & Ca∣balis Judaicis, nec non in glossis fal∣sis supra legem Mosis (quarum tum major inter Judaeos erat authoritas quam ipsius Mosis Math 5.21.) pro∣bè fuisse institutum, praecipuè in praecisis observatiunculis & regulis Pharisaeoram, c. 26.5.
• (b) 1.2

  Paulus non fuit regenitus an∣te conversionem suam in itinere Da∣masceno. Fuit enim acerbissimus ho∣stis, & persecutor Christi, & Eccle∣siae Christianae ut de se fatetur, Phil. 3.6. & 1 Tim. 1.13. Gal. 1.13. Simeon, Cornelius, &c. carebant quidem cogni∣tione veri Messiae, sed non in corde ge∣rebant acerbum odium ac amarum ho∣stilitatem contra Christum sicut Pau∣lus. Quod se ait in justitiâ legis fu∣isse irreprehensibilem non intelligen∣dum est de verâ sanctimoniâ vitae sed de superstitiosâ & rigidâ obser∣vatione ceremoniarum, & traditio∣num patriarum, ut nemo Pharisae∣orum haberet quod reprehenderet, Gal. 1.14. Streso.
• (c) 1.3

  Probabile est, Paulum ipsis cor∣poralibus suis oculis vidisse ipsum Christi corpus splendore suo in ocu∣lis Pauli coruscans. Vidit fulgur cor∣porale ex nubibus; circumfulsus est radiis Spiritus Sancti intus in consci∣entiâ, sed simul potuit ipsum Christi corpus gloriosum videre. Sicut enim vox quam audivit fuit ex ipsius ore, v. 14. ita probabile est lucem quam vidit fuisse ex ipsius Christi corpo∣re. Et loca superius allegata ex Act. 9.27. & 22.14. & 26.16. & 1 Cor. 9.1. & 1 Cor. 15.8. omni∣no videntur postulare hanc fidem, quod Paulus ipsum Christum homi∣nem viderit corporaliter. Post re∣surrectionem est visus Dominus à mul∣tis, post ascensionem à nemine, prae∣terquam à Stephano & Paulo. Sed inde non sequitur; Christi corpus fu∣isse in terrâ. Potuit enim virtute Christi, corporalis visus Pauli ita ro∣borari, ut quod in coelis erat in ter∣ris conspiceret. Sic Stephanus, sub∣latis in coelum oculis, Jesum vidit stantem ad dextram Dei, Act. 7.55.
• (d) 1.4

  Ut esset testis & praeco quod Jesus Christus, quem Judaei crucifixe∣rant, vivat & in coelis sedeat ad dex∣tram Patris in gloriâ. Hujus rei 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 testis, est Apostolus, quâ in re excellit caeteros Apostolos qui Christum quidem ideò in carne vide∣runt, Act. 10 41. 1 Joh. 1.1, 2. ut idonei Christi testes essent, sed Paulus vidit ipsum in gloriâ, & ex coelo audivit loquentem, & sese manifestan∣tem. Ergo ait 1 Cor. 9.1. Annon sum Apostolus, annon vidi Dominum Jesum? Non tantum vidit Christum exstaticè, & in visione nocturnâ, Act. 18.9. & 22.9. & 23.11. 2 Cor 12. sed &, hoc loco, corporaliter, non minus quam caeteri Apostoli.
• (e) 1.5

  Paulus Christianus precatur in Templo Judaico. Faciebant id tum temporis adhuc etiam caeteri Apostoli & Christiani, Act. 3.1. Non religione & observantiâ praecepti ceremonialis, Deut. 12.5. 2 Chron. 7.12, 13. sed quia intempestivum adhuc, & cursui Evangelii noxium erat, ab∣rumpere communionem cum Judaeis in externis cultûs exercitiis. Paulus igitur ascendit Templum ardenterque petiit (ut probabile est) ut sibi a∣pud Judaeos liceret praedicare Evan∣gelium, populum suum Christo lucri∣facere, & Ecclesiam quam vastave∣rat iterum aedificare: Inter precan∣dum raptus est in Paradisum seu ter∣tium coelum, audivitque verba▪ in∣effabilia & summas accepit revelati∣ones, 2 Cor 12.3, 4.
• * 1.6

  v. 3. Natus Tarsi] Tarsus illa, est Ciliciae Metropolis; quam Romanae civitatis jure donavit Antonius Triumvir. Et hîc, celeberrimam Scholam fuisse Strabo testatur, lib. 14. Ex hac progressus Paulus venit Hierosolymas; ita Graecam literaturam si∣mul, & Hebraicam perfectè didicit, quam multis locis in scriptis suis manifestat. Nutritus ad pedes] Docentes altiori loco positi erant, & Auditores inferiori loco per subsellia.
• * 1.7

  v. 4. Hanc sectam persecutus sum usque ad mortem] quantum scil. in me erat, Hanc viam funditùs deletum & extinctum ivi.
• * 1.8

  v. 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] i. e. Synedrium magnum.
• * 1.9

  v. 10. Deus jusserat Ananiae, quae ipse jussurus esset Paulo. Et haec jussa erant facienda Paulo.
• * 1.10

  v. 14. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Syr. Ar. & Aethiop. Constituit. te Non gravatè ••verto, sumpsit te ut cognoscas voluntatem ejus. Propriè enim 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 est, prae mani∣bus sumere id quo uti velis, sive ad rem sive ad personam referatur.
• * 1.11

  v. 22. audiverunt usque ad verbum hoc] ut qui pati non possent, Gentes fieri par∣ticipes communis salutis.