Ver. 1. Now there were, &c.] Bishop Ridley expounded the Acts and Paul’s Epistles every morning in his family, giving to every man a New Testament, hiring them besides with money to learn by heart certain principal chapters, but especially this thirteenth chapter of the Acts. Herod’s foster brother] Puer collactaneus, συντροφος, one that had sucked of the same milk with Herod Antipas, who beheaded the Baptist. The love of foster brothers in Ireland (saith Camden) far surpasseth all the loves of all men. But Manaen hated all for Christ.
Ver. 2. As they ministered] λειτουργαυντων. The Greek Scholiast hath it, κηρυττοντων, “as they preached,” which is the chief office of a minister, and his highest honour. Others interpret it, “as they prayed,” so the Syriac and Arabic. The Papists only, “as they sacrificed,” to countenance their abominable idol of the mass.
Ver. 3. Laid their hands on them] So separating and consecrating them to the work, as they did of old the beast for sacrifice, by laying their hands thereon.
Ver. 4. Sailed to Cyprus] This island was anciently for its wealth called Macaria, that is, The Blessed. The people therein generally lived so at ease and pleasure, that thereof the island was dedicated to Venus, who was at Paphos especially worshipped, and much filthiness committed; yet thither are these apostles directed by the Holy Ghost, and a great man (with many others) converted to the faith. The Romans were invited by the wealth of the place to overrun it, Ita ut ius eius insulae avarius magis quam iustius simus assequuti, saith Sextus Rufus. But Christ (of his free grace) without any such motive, seized upon it by his gospel, and gathered a Church in it.
Ver. 5. At Salamis] A city of Cyprus, at the east side of it, over against Syria.
Ver. 6. Whose name was Barjesus] The son of Jesus; so he had called himself, as if of nearest alliance to our Saviour. The Syriac hath it Barshuma, the son of name or renown.
Ver. 7. Which was with the deputy] The greater opposites to the truth have been ever the greatest courtiers. The Arians in their age. And of them the Jesuits learned it, and of them the Arminians, as Utenbogardus in the Low Countries, and Canterbury here.
Ver. 8. But Elymas] Elymais is a part of Persia, the proper country of the magicians given to devilish arts. The devil daily commits the sin against the Holy Ghost, by opposing the known truth.
Ver. 9. Who also is called Paul] Here Saul is first called Paul, for memory (it is probable) of the first spoils he brought into the Church, not the head, but the heart of this Sergius Paulus. The popes likewise change their names at their enthronization, to show, saith the Gloss, ad permutationem nominis, factam mutationem hominis. But if they change at all, it is for the worse, as Pius Secundus, Sextus Quintus, &c. Pope Marcellus would needs retain his old name, to show his constancy, and that in his private estate he had thoughts worthy of the popedom. Set his eyes on him] As if he would have looked through him. After which lightning followed that terrible thunder crack, Acts 13:10. Bajazet, of his fiery looks, was surnamed Gilderun, or lightning. In Tamerlane’s eyes sat such a rare majesty, as a man could hardly endure to behold them without closing his own; and many with talking with him, and often beholding them, became dumb. The like is reported of Augustus. And of St Basil it is reported that when Valens the Arian emperor came unto him, while he was in his holy exercises, it struck such a terror into the emperor that he reeled and had fallen had he not been upheld by those that were near him. Godly men have a daunting presence. Greg. Orat. de Laudib. Basilii.
Ver. 10. O full of all subtilty and all mischief] Gr. ραδιουργια, maleficiency, thou that by long dealing hast gotten a dexterity in evil doing. This was plain dealing, such as Master Philpot, martyr, used to Morgan, and other popelings that set upon him; such as Maris, the blind bishop of Bithynia, used to Julia n the Apostate. For when Julian had said to him, Behold, thou art blind; thinkest thou that the Galilean thy God careth for thee? Maris replied, O tu impie Apostata! gratias ago Deo meo, qui me caecum reddidit, ne vultum tuum videam ita ad impietatem prolapsum: O thou wicked apostate! I bless my Lord Christ who hath made me blind, that I might not see thy cursed countenance. When Servetus condemned Zuinglius for his harsh handling of him, he answers, In aliis mansuetus ero; in blasphemiis in Christum non ita: In other things I will use mildness, but not in dealing with those that blaspheme Christ. Mihi sane Auxentius erit diabolus quamdiu Arianus, said Hilary, I shall think Auxentias to be no better than a devil so long as he continues an Arian. Enemy of all righteousness] The adulterer is an enemy to chastity, the drunkard to sobriety, &c., but he that hindereth others from heaven is an enemy to all righteousness. To pervert the right ways] To dig them up, to ditch them over (διαστρεφων), so as th ey are not passable. The conversion of great men is of great consequence. Hence Paul was so loth to lose the proconsul. Epist. in Servet.