II husband.

12

And great fear came upon all the church (e), and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apoftles were many figns and wonders wrought among the people; (and they 13 were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the reft (f) durft no man join himself to them: 14 but the people magnified them. And believers were

the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men 15 and women). Infomuch that they brought forth the fick into the ftreets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the leaft the fhadow of Peter pas16 fing by might overshadow fome of them. There came alfo a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerufalem, bringing fick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean fpirits: and they were healed every one.

17

Then the high priest rofe up, and all they that were with him (which is the fect of the Sadducees)(g), 18 and were filled with indignation, And laid their

hands on the apoftles, and put them in the common 19 prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened

the prifon doors, and brought them forth, and faid, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people (h) 21 all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together,

(e) Upon every christian.

(f) After this the hypocritical and prevaricating party, being terrified by the miraculous punishment of Ananias and Sapphira, was entirely broken; and the generality of the people were more and more fixed in their admiration and refpect for the apostles, and more earnest in their zeal for christianity.

(g) This is a ftrong defcription of the corrupt ftate of the Jews, when the fect of the Sadducees had fo great an influence in their councils.

(h) Preach boldly the doctrine of the refurrection, and the life everlafting; notwithflanding the rage of the Sadducees, who denied both. See Matt. iii. 7. A&ts xxiii. 8.

and

and all the fenate of the children of Ifrael, and fent 22 to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they 23 returned, and told, Saying, The prifon truly found we shut with all fafety, and the keepers ftanding without before the doors: but when we had opened, we 24 found no man within. Now when the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things (i), they doubted of them where25 unto this would grow. Then came one and told them, faying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prifon, are standing in the temple, and teaching the 26 people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: (for they feared 27 the people, left they fhould have been ftoned). And when they had brought them, they fet them before 28 the council: and the high prieft afked them, Saying, Did not we ftraitly command you, that you fhould not teach in this name? and behold, ye have filled Jerufalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

29

The

Then Peter and the other apoftles answered and 30 faid, We ought to obey God rather than men. God of our fathers raised up Jefus, whom ye flew, 31 and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Ifrael, and forgivenefs of fins. 32 And we are his witneffes of these things; and fo is

alfo the holy Ghoft, whom God hath given to them 33 that obey him. When they heard that, they were 34 cut to the heart, and took counfel to flay them. Then ftood there up one in the council, a Pharifee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of law, had in reputation among all the people (k), and commanded to put the apoftles (i) They were perplexed with amazement and doubts concerning these things, and debated among themfelves what would be the confequence of them.

(k) Gamaliel was St. Paul's tutor. Chap. xxii. 3.

4

35 forth

widows were neglected in the daily miniftration (b). 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the difciples unto them, and faid, It is not reafon that we should 3 leave the word of God, and ferve tables.

Where

fore, brethren, look ye out among you feven men of honeft report, full of the holy Ghoft and wisdom, 4 whom we may appoint over this bufinefs. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the 5 miniftry of the word. And the faying pleased the whole multitude: and they chofe Stephen, a man 'full of faith and of the holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parme6 nas, and Nicolas, a profelyte of Antioch (c): Whom they fet before the apoftles: and when they had pray7ed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the difciples multiplied in Jerufalem greatly; and a great company of 8 the priests were obedient to the faith (d). And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

9

Then there arofe certain of the fynagogue, which is called the fynagogue of the Libertines (e), and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, io and of Afia, difputing with Stephen. And they were not able to refift the wifdom and the fpirit by I which he fpake (f). Then they fuborned men which faid, We have heard him fpeak blafphemous

(b) Because their widows did not receive a due share in the diftribution of the common fock.

(c) See Matt. xxiii. 15.

(d) A great number even of the priests, thofe inveterate enemies and perfecutors of our Lord, were converted and became chriftians.

(e) By Libertines we are not to understand diforderly perfons (as the word is now commonly ufed) but the fons of flaves who had obtained the freedom of the city of Rome.

(f) Obferve here the effect of the promise made, Matt. x. 20. Luke xxi. 15.

12 words

35 forth a little space, And faid unto them, Ye men of Ifrael, take heed to yourselves, what ye intend to 36 do as touching these men. For before thefe days rofe up Theudas, boafting himself to be fome body, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was flain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were fcattered, and brought to 37 nought (1). After this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing (m), and drew away much people after him: he alfo perifhed, and all, even as 38 many as obeyed him, were difperfed. And now I fay unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone for if this counsel, or this work be of men, it 39 will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye can

not overthrow it; left haply ye be found even to 40 fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they fhould not fpeak in the name of Jefus, and let them go.

41

And they departed from the prefence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to fuf42 fer fhame for his name (n). And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceafed not to teach and preach Jefus Chrift.

CHA P. vi.

AND in thofe days, when the number of the difciples was multiplied, there arofe a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews (a), because their

(1) See John v. 43.

(m) Probably the fame taxing that is fpoken of Luke ii. 1. (n) On his account. In teftimony of their belief in him.

(a) The Hebrews here meant were Jews, natives of Judea, converted to chriftianity. The Grecians were likewife Jews converted to chriftianity, but from other countries; and for their use the fcriptures had been tranflated from Hebrew into Greek, which was become the general language of the world.