Ver. 16. How great things he must suffer] Opposition is (as Calvin wrote to the French king) Evangelii genius, the evil angel that dogs the gospel. And praedicare, said Luther, nihil aliud est quam derivare in se furorem totius mundi: To preach, is to get the evil will of the world.

Ver. 17. Putting his hands] Partly so to consecrate him to the Lord’s work, and partly to obtain for him the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

Ver. 18. There fell from his eyes] God also at the same time tore the covering, rent the veil that was spread over the eyes of his understanding, Isaiah 24:7. See “The Blind Eye Opened” in a discourse on Ephesians 5:8, by my entire friend Mr Dugard.

Ver. 19. With the disciples] For as he desired to cleave perpetually to the head, so to join himself to his members, to incorporate with the Church.

Ver. 20. And straightway he preached] He conferred not with flesh and blood, Galatians 1:16, but fell presently to work, and followed it close, as afraid to be taken with his task undone. Chrysostom saith of Paul, that he was insatiabilis Dei cultor, an insatiable server of God.

Ver. 21. Is not this he?] It is, and it is not: it is not Ille ego qui quondam, but ego non sum ego. He is another man than he was, and this the whole Church shall soon hear of: like as a bell cannot be turned from one side to another, but it will make a sound, and report its own motion.

Ver. 22. Proving that this, &c.] Συμβιβαζων. Proving it by comparing Scripture with Scripture, by laying one place to another, as joiners fit all the parts of their work together, that each part may perfectly agree with the other, Nehemiah 8:8. The Levites read the law, and gave the sense, causing the people to understand the reading, debant intelligentiam per Scripturam ipsam: they gave understanding through the Scriptures themselves, so Tremellius rendereth it. Parallel texts, like glasses, set one against another, cast a mutual light. The lapidary brightens his hard diamond with the dust shaved from itself; so must we clear hard Scriptures.

Ver. 23. And after many days] sc. After three years. So long he had to settle, ere God called him forth to suffer. The skilful armourer trieth not an ordinary piece with musket shot. The wise lapidary brings not his softer stones to the stithy: the good husbandman turns not the wheel upon his cummin, nor his flail upon his vetches, Isaiah 28:25. ημεραι ικαναι diebus sufficientibus. The bean-like fruit of various species of the leguminous plant Vicia. ŒD

Ver. 24. But their laying await] Some friend likely had advertised him, as a senator of Hala did Brentins, when some had conspired his death, Fuge, fuge, Brenti, cito, citius, citissime. Flee speedily, away for thy life. (Melch. Adam.)

Ver. 25. Let him down, &c.] It is not unlawful then to fly in some cases. Tertullian was too rigid in condemning all kinds of flight, in time of persecution; God hath not set us as standing marks, or butts, to be shot at.

Ver. 26. They were all afraid of him] Openheartedness is an argument of folly, Fide, diffide. Our Saviour would not lightly commit himself to any, John 2:24. Try whom you mean to trust. Paul was somewhile a probationer ere he could be admitted.

Ver. 27. And how he had preached boldly] [See Trapp on “Ac 9:21”] [See Trapp on “Ac 9:29”]

Ver. 28. And he was with them] sc. With Peter and James, Galatians 1:18,19. For the other apostles were then absent, about their Lord’s business.

Ver. 29. And he spake boldly] The soul, by the witness of the Spirit, finds increase of spiritual mettle, and is steeled against opposition. Disputed against the Grecians] These had been St Stephen’s greatest adversaries, Acts 6:1,9, and then Saul was very forward to join with them. Now that he was turned Christian, they sought his death, having first given out (as Epiphanius testifieth) that he turned merely out of discontent, because he could not obtain to wife the high priest’s daughter. Truth (saith one) hath always a scratched face. The devil was first a liar, and then a murderer. Those that kill a dog (saith the French proverb) make the world believe he was mad first. The credit of the Church must first to be taken away, and then she is wounded, Song of Solomon 5:6. Before the French massacre, it was given out that the Huguenots in their nightmeetings committed most abominable uncleannesses.

Ver. 30. To Tarsus] His own country, that he might there break the bread of life where he first drew the breath of life, as Bishop Jewel desired to do. Physician, heal thyself, that is, thine own native country, said they to our Saviour, Luke 4:23.

Ver. 31. Then had the churches rest] As when Paul was converted, the Churches rested; so, much more, when sin and Satan shall be destroyed, shall the state of the saints be most restful and blissful in heaven.

Ver. 32. As Peter passed through all quarters] Being notably active for Christ, according as it was charged upon him, Luke 22:32 “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” The most that the saints can do for Christ is not the one half of that which they could beteem him.

Ver. 33. Had kept his bed eight years] A long while surely; but what was this to an eternity of extremity in hell? Oh, take heed, and be forewarned to flee from that wrath to come. And meanwhile, every man that seeth another stricken with such chronic diseases as the palsy, and himself spared, is bound to keep a passover.

Ver. 34. And Peter said] After he had prayed for him, likely. It is the prayer of faith that healeth the sick. Thus Epaphroditus was given in as an answer to St Paul’s prayer, and Miconius to Luther’s, after he had been almost spent with a consumption. Melch. Adam in Vit. Luth.

Ver. 35. And Saron] Alias Assaron, the same perhaps with Acheron or Ekron, counted by the very heathens the devil’s house; for there Beelzebub, the prince of devils, was worshipped, 2 Kings 1:3. Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo. Virg.

Ver. 36. Full of good works and alms-deeds] For there are other good works besides almsdeeds, though many Papists, and some as silly, have shrunk up charity to a hand breadth, to giving of alms. Let our works be done in God, John 3:21, and for God, 1 Corinthians 10:31. Let there be good actions and good aims; and then they shall be the works of God, John 6:28.

Ver. 37. When they had washed] This they did to show their hope of a joyful resurrection. The heathens also, though their lives and hopes ended together, yet they washed their dead in an apish imitation of this Church custom. Faciunt et vespae faves; simlae imitantur homines.

Ver. 38. They sent unto him] As loth to lose so useful a member, so dearly missed among them. Some when they die are no more missed than the sweepings of a house or the parings of the nails. But when good people die, there is a general loss and lamentation.

Ver. 39. They brought him] Love is officious, and thinks not too much of any labour. And showing him the coats and garments] A worthy employment for a wealthy woman. The like is reported of Queen Anne Boleyn. And I knew a very gracious matron (one mistress Alice Smith of Stratford-upon-Avon) that found herself thus usually busied; being one of those few that both lived and died with honour.

Ver. 40. Put them all forth] That he might pray with more privacy and freedom. For he knew well that the prayer of faith could not heal the sick only, as Aeneas, Acts 9:34, but raise the dead too, Hebrews 11:35.

Ver. 41. Presented her alive] To her own loss for a little while; but so God might be glorified and the Church gratified, she was well contented.

Ver. 42. And many believed] So when Lazarus was raised, John 11:45. [See Trapp on “Joh 11:45”]

Ver. 43. With one Simon a tanner] Of mean rank and despicable, but religious and hospitable. Of such, and not of great ones, consisted this Church of Christ at Joppa. The poor are gospellized, ευαγγελιζονται, Matthew 11:5. The lesser fishes bite soonest. Grandior solet esse Deus in parvulis, quam in magnis. [See Trapp on “Ac 10:6”]

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