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. XXII.

THE next day Claudius Lysias the Colonel, being desirous to know the bottom of the business, called the Sanhedrim or Senate of the Jews, and brought out Paul to them, to see what they could object against him. The Apostle beginning to speak for himself, declares that both during his continuance in the Jewish religion, and since his conversion to Christianity, he had walked uprightly according to his knowledg, and the light of his Conscience(a) 1.1. Ananias the high Priest being impatient to hear this, com∣manded those that stood nigh him to smite him on the mouth. Paul hereupon freely reproves him for his injustice, calling him whited wall(b) 1.2, or Hypocrite, who sitting there as a Magistrate to judg according to Law, yet openly transgress'd the Law him∣self, by commanding an innocent person, un∣heard, and uncondemned to be smitten. See Deut. 25.1, 2. He also boldly denounces Gods judgments(c) 1.3 against him for it, [see 2 Tim. 4.14.]. The standers by reprove Paul for this, as one that spake contumelious words against Gods high Priest. The Apostle replies, he did not know him, nor acknow∣ledg him to be a lawful high Priest or an High Priest of Gods appointing, but look'd upon him as an usurper, and one brought in by the sinister practices, and corrupti∣ons of that time; and therefore he might be reprehended for his faults without break∣ing Gods command, Exod. 22.28. Besides he could not own any man, to be a lawful high Priest now, seeing that Function was disannull'd, by the coming of the great High Priest Jesus, who had accomplished all that was typifyed thereby. However though he had spoken nothing but what was just, yet because to the standers by, it had a shew of reviling, therefore he declares, he should have avoided this also, had he known him to be, or could have acknowledged him to be, a lawful High Priest. The Apostle now dis∣cerning the Sanhedrim to consist partly of Pharisees (who be∣lieve the resurrection of the body, and another life after this, and the real subsistence of Angels, and the Souls and Spirits of men separated from their bodies* 1.4, &c.) and partly of Sad∣duces, (who deny all this), out of a prudent policy declares himself, (as to those points) to adhere to the Sect of the Pha∣risees,

and to be fully of their opinion. And though there were more points in question, yet he shews, that for holding of these, the Sadduces chiefly hated and persecuted him. Here∣upon there grew a heat and division between these two parties, the Doctors of the Law, (which were generally Pharisees), ta∣king his part, and pleading, that 'twas possible he might have had some extraordinary revelation by an Angel or Spirit, and therefore 'twould not become them to resist his Doctrine, lest, if it were truly revealed to him from God, they should by opposing it, fight against God himself. These two parties growing thus hot one against another, the Colonel to prevent further violence and tumult, commanded the Soldiers to take Paul away from among them, and to bring him into the Ca∣stle. The night following, the Lord appeared to the Apo∣stle in a Vision to comfort and encourage him, and told him, that as he had preached his Gospel, and defended it at Jeru∣salem, so he should do at Rome also.

Act. 22. v. 30. On the morrow, because he would have known the cer∣tainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their Council to ap∣pear; and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

Act. 23. v. 1. And Paul earnestly beholding the Council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good Conscience before God untill this day.

v. 2. And the high Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

v. 3. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judg me after the Law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the Law.

v. 4. And they that stood by, said, Revilest thou Gods high Priest?

v. 5. Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high Priest? For it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy peo∣ple.

v. 6. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadduces, and the other Pharisees, he cryed out in the Council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

v. 7. And when he had so said, there arose a dissention between the Pha∣risees and the Sadduces: and the multitude was divided.

v. 8. For the Sadduces say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

v. 9. And there arose a great cry: and the Scribes that were of the Pharisees part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit, or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

v. 10. And when there arose a great dissention, the chief Captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the Soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the Castle.

v. 11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

* 1.5 * 1.6 * 1.7 * 1.8 * 1.9 * 1.10 * 1.11 * 1.12

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Conscientia, est judicium ho∣minis de seipso, quo per comparatio∣nem sui ipsius cum Lege, & Evange∣lio, observat, & agnoscit quid in se Legi, & Evangelio sit conforme, vel contrarium; & ex his vel cum gau∣dio concludit quod Deum amicum, vel cum dolore, quod Deum inimi∣cum habeat.
• (b) 1.2

  These words of Paul must not be taken for reviling words, Mat. 5.22, 39. or words of revenge or recompencing evil with evil, but for a serious reproving this man, and a bold denunciation of Gods judgment upon him. Loquitur Christus de vin∣dictâ privatâ non de vindictâ pro∣pheticâ, & judiciali. Praeterea, pri∣vatae vindictae interdictum non adi∣mit nobis licentiam aliorum erga nos injurias detestandi, reprehendendi, & ob oculos ponendi auctorum, sine irâ & odio personae, & hoc sensu pro∣babilius sumitur haec invectiva scil. ut justa reprehensio injuriantis.
• (c) 1.3

  Id mihi verisimilius est, au∣divisse Paulum vocem emissam ab a∣liquo ex his, qui ad judicandum se∣derant (venisse enim sacerdotes & omne concilium constat ex cap. 22.) neque tamen scivisse à quonam illo∣rum vox profecta fuerat. A Ponti∣fice autem profectam non putavit, cum propter ejus authoritatem, à quâ indignum erat tam praecipitem offensionis significationem edi, tum propter simulatam sanctitatem, à qua tam iniqua vox non videbatur erup∣tura. Audivit ergo Paulus vocem in turbâ, & illi à quo emissa est, de∣nunciavit paratam esse à Domino pae∣nam. Qui autem cum Pontifice ve∣nerant, omnes ad judicandum sede∣bant. Rivetus in Isagog. ad Script. Sacr. cap. 21. Sect. 8.
• * 1.4

  See Heb. 11.13, 14. 1 Cor. 15.19.
• * 1.5

  v. 1. Ego omni conscientiâ bonâ servivi Deo ad hunc usque diem] Nunc quidem se∣cundum Christum, ante verò quantum ex Pharisaeis Magistris haurire poteram. Non quasi omni peccato sit vacuus, sed studium recti profitetur se semper habuisse, quic∣quid alii de se dicant ac sentiant. Nam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 magis re••ertur ad▪ publicam functionem, aut certe ad actiones in communi ad omnes pertinentes: ut magis hic suam publicam functionem, & actiones, quam privatos mores, contra accusatores tue∣atur.
• * 1.6

  v. 3. Percutiet te Deus] Utitur jure Prophetae. Simile illud Esaiae 50.11. & 22.17, 18. & Jer. 22.30. Paries dealbate] Egregia Similitudo ad exprimendos homines impios qui honoris aut commodi causa pios se simulant. Introrsum turpes, speciosi pelle decorâ. Pari comparatione utitur Seneca. Miseri sunt sordidi, turpes, & ad simi∣litudinem parietum suorum extrinsecus culti. Sic Christus vocat hypocritam sepulchrum dealbatum, Mat. 23.28 vid. Ezek. 13.10.
• * 1.7

  v. 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Ex calculatione Bezae tum praeerat Ananias, homo supra modum improbus, qui per vim Pontificatum invaserat nec melius ges∣sit. Vide Antiquit. Joseph. lib 20. c. 6, 7.
• * 1.8

  Sensus ergo est: Ego non agnosco in hoc homine Pontificem Dei, sed hypocri∣tam, seductorem, & veritatis persecutorem. Alioquin bene scio, Principi maledicen∣dum non esse, Exod. 22.28. Flac. Illyr.
• * 1.9

  Non agnovit eum esse Sacerdotem aut Principem Senatus qui eas dignitates pre∣tio comparásset. Didice••at enim hoc à Gamaliele Paulus, Judicem, qui honoris con∣sequendi causâ pecunias dederit revera neque judicem esse neque honorandum, sed Asini ha∣bendum loco, ut est in titulo Thalmudico de Synedrio. Grot.
• * 1.10

  v. 6. De sp•• & resurrectione] i. e. ob spem resurrectionis in judicium vocor; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Quia totius religionis caput quam Paulus prositebatur & scopus, erat resur∣rectio mortuorum. Recte de eâ se judicari dicit: nam & Christum docebat ex morte excitatum & ejus beneficio omnes fideles aliquando ex morte resuscitandos esse.
• * 1.11

  v. 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] milites. Abstractum nimirum singulare, pro concreto plurali.
• * 1.12

  v. 11. Dominus ei apparuit per Angelum, ut suprà aliquoties.