And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. Ver. 1. _And it came to pass in Iconium_] _See Trapp on "_ Act 8:1 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Ver. 2. _Made their minds evil affected_] Envenomed (εκακωσαν) their minds with rage against the brethren, but God made peace, as the ancient copies add here, Beza from Beda. His peace that pa... [ Continue Reading ]
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Ver. 3. _Which gave testimony to the word_] It is usual with St Luke to oppose the good success of the gospel to the malicious acting... [ Continue Reading ]
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. Ver. 4. _But the multitude was divided_] εσχισθη, _Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus._ Christ came not to send peace, but a sword. Yet is not he the cause of division, but the occasion on... [ Continue Reading ]
And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use _them_ despitefully, and to stone them, Ver. 5. _And to stone them_] Stephen had the maidenhead of this kind of death: as that martyr, who was threatened with whipping, wished that he might have... [ Continue Reading ]
They were ware of _it_, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: Ver. 6. _Fled unto Lystra_] They had their Lord's good leave to do so,Matthew 10:23. He had made them, not as butts, to be perpetually shot at; but as the marks of rovers, movable... [ Continue Reading ]
And there they preached the gospel. Ver. 7. _And there they preached the gospel_] Which shows that their flying proceeded from prudence, and not from inconstance, lightness, or cowardice.... [ Continue Reading ]
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: Ver. 8. _And there sat a certain man_] This was (likely) one of those many miracles done at Lystra; a signal one, and therefore instanced.... [ Continue Reading ]
The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Ver. 9. _Perceiving that he had faith_] Not by any skill he had in physiognomy, _a_ but by special revelation; without the which, strong confidence one may have of another man's true grace, but n... [ Continue Reading ]
Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. Ver. 10. _And he leaped and walked_] Together with Paul's word there went forth a power: so there doth in all holy ordinances; Psalms 146:8; "The Lord giveth sight to the blind, he raiseth up the crooked, he loveth the rig... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. Ver. 11. _The gods are come down_] See the force of an evil custom, and of a vain conversation, received by tradition from the fathers, 1 P... [ Continue Reading ]
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Ver. 12. _He was the chief speaker_] Gr. ηγουμενος του λογου, a master of speech. Paul was another Pericles, who thundered and lightened in his orations; _a_ another Phocion, who was ειπειν δεινοτατος, saith P... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Ver. 13. _And would have done sacrifice_] So the savages of Nova Albion, as they were very much taken with our singing of Psalms and other holy exercises... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which_ when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard _of_, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, Ver. 14. _They rent off their clothes_] In token of their holy indignation and utter detestation; they knew the Lord's jealousy would soon smoke against any that shall but cas... [ Continue Reading ]
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Ver. 15. _Of like passions, &c._] Passions are here put f... [ Continue Reading ]
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Ver. 16. _Suffered all nations, &c._] That we walk not as other Gentiles, in our own ways, but know and serve the true God, is of his singular grace and favour. The ancient inhabitants of this land were as barbarous and brutish as an... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Ver. 17. _He left not himself_] Here they might object, that God in suffering men so to wander, showed not himself so kind and bounti... [ Continue Reading ]
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. Ver. 18. _Scarce restrained they the people_] SeeActs 14:13. Man's nature is marvellously prone to idolatry, and the devil helps after; for he is ειδωλοχαρης, saith Synesius; for he knows that crea... [ Continue Reading ]
And there came thither _certain_ Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew _him_ out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Ver. 19. _And there came thither_] The devil, when he is driven to his last shift, stirs up his instruments to use violence, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. Ver. 20. _He rose up_] He starts up when stoned with a _sic, sic oportet intrare; _ so heaven is gotten by pains, by patience, by violence, persecution being our... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and _to_ Iconium, and Antioch, Ver. 21. _They returned again to Lystra_] The love of Christ constrained them to imperil themselves for his glory; for the promoting whereof they loved not their li... [ Continue Reading ]
Confirming the souls of the disciples, _and_ exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Ver. 22. _We must through much tribulation_] _Plana via ad patriam coelestem est crux, _ saith Malcolm. If there be any way on horseback to... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Ver. 23. _Ordained them elders_] Giving their votes by lifting up their hands, after the fashion of the Greeks, χειροτονησαντες; whence that of Cicero, _porre... [ Continue Reading ]
And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Ver. 24. _And after they had passed through Pisidia_] At Antioch in this country they had planted a Church before. _See Acts 13:14,15_ _, &c._ Now being to return to the other Antioch in Syria (whence they had been sent out at fi... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. Ver. 26. _Recommended to the grace of God_] This shows that they set not upon the work in their o... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Ver. 27. _Preached the word in Perga_] A city of Pamphylia, much addicted to the worship of Diana, who was therehence called Perg... [ Continue Reading ]
And there they abode long time with the disciples. Ver. 28. _There they abode_] As in a receptacle of rest, a place of free profession; such as Geneva hath been for many years to the persecuted Protestants, which makes the wicked Papists give out, that it is a professed sanctuary of all manner of r... [ Continue Reading ]