Julian Pe 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were Cæsarea. riod, 4753. astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on Vulgar Era, about 40. the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost: 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 43 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. SECTION V. St. Peter defends his Conduct in visiting and baptizing Cornelius. ACTS xi. 1-19. 1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea Jerusalem. heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5 I was in the city of Joppa, praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners and it came even to me: 6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay, and eat. 8 But I said, not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Ce sarea unto me. 12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me; and we entered into the man's house: 13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Julian Pe 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy Jerusalem. riod, 4753. house shall be saved. Vulgar Æra, 40. Julian Pe 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. SECTION VI. The Converts who had been dispersed by the Persecution ACTS xi. 19-21. as the provinces. 19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the Judea and riod, 4754. persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only". Valgar Era, 41. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. SECTION VII. The Church at Jerusalem commissions Barnabas to make • This section seems to prove, in the most decive manner, ACTS XI. 22-24. Julian Pe 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of Jerusalem riod, 4754. the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth and Antioch. Vulgar Era. 41. Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Julian Period 4755. Vulgar Æra, 42. 23 Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; and much people was added unto the Lord. SECTION VIII. Barnabas goes to Tarsus for Saul, whom he takes with him ACTS xi. 25, 26. 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Tarsus. Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch R. (Acts ix. 31, 32. diepxóμevos dià távтwv, says St. Luke,) St. Peter 8 Dr. Benson (a) endeavours to show that the Christians re- Vitringa (e) endeavours to prove, from this passage, that the word "Church" here refers to the place where a congregation of Christians assembled for worship; or, rather, to that body of people which could assemble in one place. This is but one, out of many instances, in which this learned writer, in his zeal against episcopacy, has proved nothing, by attempting to prove too much. We are not acquainted with the numbers of the Church at Antioch; but we know that at Jerusalem the thousands of converts could not be assembled in one place, yet they are still called the Church. Jalian Period, 1755. Vulgar Era, 43. SECTION IX. Herod Agrippa condemns James the Brother of John to The Codex Beza supposes that the name was given by Saul The word xpnuaroal, in our common text, which we translate "were called," signifies, in the New Testament, to appoint, warn, or nominate, by divine direction. In this sense the word is used, Matt. ii. 12. Luke ii. 26. and in the preceding chapter of this book, ver. 22. If, therefore, the name was given by divine appointment, it is most likely that Saul and Barnabas were directed to give it; and the name Christian, therefore, is from God, as well as that grace and holiness which are so essentially required and implied in the character. Before this time, the Jewish converts were simply called, among themselves, disciples, i. e. scholars, believers, saints, the church, or assembly and by their enemies Nazarenes, Galileans, the men of this way, or sect; and by other names, which are given by Bingham (ƒ). (a) Benson's planting of Christianity, 2d edit. p. 248, note. (b) Meletem. Leidensia De vita Pauli, cap. 3. sect. 5. p. 39. (c) Ap. Critici Sacri, vol. viii. p. 219. (d) Wolfius Cura Philologica, vol. ii. p. 1166. (e) See his discussion De Synag. veteri, lib. i. pars. 1. cap. 3. p. 113, &c. (f) Bingham's Eccles. Antiq. vol. i. book 1. Dr. A. Clarke in loc. 9 The situation of the Church at Jerusalem was greatly altered by the Herodian persecution. It had hitherto been directed and governed by the joint council of the apostles. But, after that event, we learn, from ecclesiastical history, that the superintendence of the Church was confided to James, the Lord's brother. It asserts that he was the first bishop of Jerusalem. The catalogues of the bishops of Jerusalem, which are extant in the early Christian writers, all place James at their head. In the first chapters of the Acts, St. Peter is constantly spoken of as the chief apostle, and the principal person in the Church of Jerusalem; but from the twelfth chapter of that book, which is the first place wherein James is mentioned with any character of distinction, he is constantly described as the chief person at Jerusalem, even when Peter was present. For when St. Peter was delivered by the angel out of prison, he bid some of the disciples go shew these things, that is, what had befallen himself, to St. James, as the head of the Church; and to the brethren, that is, the rest of the Church. Again, when St. Paul arrived at Jerusalem from his travels in preaching the Gospel to foreign countries, being desirous to give an account of the success which God had given him, the day following he went in to St. James, as the bishop of that place, and all the elders, who were next in authority to him, were present. In the synod which was held at Jerusalem, about the great question, Whether the converts from Gentilism should be circumcised, St. Peter delivers his judgment as one who was a member of the assembly: but St. James speaks with authority, and his sentence is decisive. The name of James is placed by St. Paul before Peter and John: Antioch. ACTS xii. 1-18. and part of ver. 19. 1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth Antioch. his hands, to vex certain of the church. "James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars." And From all this together, it plainly appears that the Church of In interpreting those passages of Scripture, which men of The labours of the early fathers, therefore, are in many re- The Holy Scripture only alludes to the elevation of the apostle in the passage before us. St. Peter directs his friends to go and tell James of his deliverance: James, according to the best and most generally received opinion, decided in the apostolic |