Ver. 14. The will of the Lord be done] Vox vere Christianorum, saith one, Voluntas Dei, necessitas rei. A godly man says Amen to God’s Amen; and puts his Fiat Let him do it, and Placet let it be pleasing, to God’s. One said, he could have what he would of God. Why? how was that? Because whatsoever was God’s will, that was his. It is said that I shall be burned in Smithfield (said blessed Bradford), and that very shortly, Fiat voluntas Domini: Ecce ego, mitte me. Let the will of God be done, behold, me, send me, Mr Beza’s last text was the third petition of the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done,” &c. In qua deficere potius quam desinere visas est, saith he that writeth his life. (Melch. Adam.)

Ver. 15. We took up our carriages] A military term; we trussed up our fardles, made up our packs, our bag and baggage, επισκευασαμενοι, instructi et comparati ad quaevis nimirum pericula subeunda, said Beza, being ready prest and prepared to whatsoever hazard.

Ver. 16. An old disciple] A gray-headed experienced Christian, a father, 1 John 2:13. Such as those mentioned Psalms 92:12-14. A Christian hath his degrees of growth. Ye have his conception, Galatians 4:19; birth, 1 Peter 1:13; childhood, 1 Corinthians 3:1,2; youth or well grown age, when he is past the spoon, 1 John 2:13; his full grown age, Ephesians 4:13; old age, as 1 John 2:13, and here. An “old disciple,” and yet a disciple still not too old to learn. Solon said, I wax old ever learning somewhat. Julianus, the lawyer, said, that when he had one foot in the grave, yet he would have the other in the school. Chytreus, when he lay dying, lifted up himself to hear the discourse of some friends that visited him; and said that he should die with so much the better cheer if he might better his knowledge by what they were speaking of. (Melch. Adam.) With whom he should lodge] viz. When we came to Jerusalem. This Mnason was another Gaius, the host of the Church. The Waldenses were so spread in Germany that they could travel from Colen to Milan in Italy, and every night lodge with hosts of their own profession, which was a great comfort to them. (Cade of the Church.) Γηρασκω αιει πολλα διδασκομενος.

Ver. 17. Received us gladly] Gr. ασμενως, smilingly. Dat bene, dat multum, qui dat cum munere vultum. When we come to the new Jerusalem, the whole court of heaven shall meet us, and greet us with great joy.

Ver. 18. Unto James] The son of Alpheus, called by St Mark, “James the less,” and by some of the ancients, Bishop of Jerusalem.

Ver. 19. He declared partlcularly] Gr. καθ εν εκαστον, “one by one.” So Moses tells Jethro all things one by one what God had done for Israel, Exodus 18:8. We must not relate God’s lovingkindness in the lump or by wholesale, but be punctual and particular.

Ver. 20. Many thousands] Therefore not to be slighted.

Ver. 21. To remake Moses] An odious and false imputation. All that St Paul taught was, that the legal rites and customs were only shadows of things to come, but the body is of Christ, Colossians 2:17; and that Christians should know and use their freedom in wisdom and charity, Galatians 2:3 1Co 8:13.

Ver. 22. The multitude must needs come together] And be satisfied, for else that sinister opinion which they have conceived of thee will be increased, and they will take all for granted that is alleged against thee. Now a heathen sage could say (and there is much truth in it), Negligere quid de se quisque sentiat, non solum arrogantis est, sed ei dissoluti: It is a sign of a proud lewd person not to care what people think of him.

Ver. 23. A vow on them] A voluntary vow of Nazariteship, which yet is agreeable to the law’s praescript.

Ver. 24. And all may know] There is a real confutation of calumnies.

Ver. 25. And from fornication] [See Trapp on “Ac 15:20”]

Ver. 26. Purifying himself] See Augustine’s Epistles 11 and 19.

Ver. 27. The Jews which were of Asia] St Paul’s good intent had but evil success; but his conscience was his comfort, as 2 Corinthians 1:9,12. So was holy Melancthon’s; when but coarsely dealt with, and threatened with banishment, this he could say for himself, I have not sought for myself wealth, honour, pleasure, or victory over mine adversaries. This conscience I take with me, withersoever they shall drive me. Dixerunt adversarii se mihi non relicturos esse vestigium pedis in Germ.

Ver. 28. Crying, Men of Israel, help, this is the man, &c.] An admirable and graphic description of this tumult; every circumstance set forth to the life as it were. No poet could have done it with more skill and artifice. There is as good rhetoric in the Bible as in any heathen orator whatsoever. It was therefore a foolish and profane fear of Politian, Longolius, Bonamicus, and other Logodaedali, that if they should read the Scriptures, they should mar the purity of their style. “This is the man that teacheth,” &c. There is not a true word in all this outcry. So Elias was called a troubler, Luther a trumpeter of rebellion, Melancthon a blasphemer of God and his saints, Calvin a Mahometan, Zanchius an Anabaptist, a Swenckfeldian, Novatian, and what not? Arminius paved his way first by aspersing and sugillating the fame and authority of Calvin, Zuinglius, Beza, Martyr, and other champions of the truth. The Papists reported the Waldenses (those ancient Protestants) to be Manichees, Arians, Catharists, &c., as they do us to be libertines, enthusiasts, atheists, &c. Contra sycophantae morsum non est remedium. They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongue walketh through the earth, Psalms 73:9. But God will cut out such false tongues, Psalms 12:3, and broil them upon coals of juniper, Psalms 120:4.

Ver. 29. Whom they supposed] But was that sufficient ground to make such a coil, to raise such an uproar? Passions are head-long and head-strong; like heavy bodies down steep hills, once in motion, they move themselves, and know no ground but the bottom.

Ver. 30. The doors were shut] That he might not there take sanctuary.

Ver. 31. And as they went about to kill him] The devil was first a liar and then a murderer. The persecutors ever first belied the Church, and then did their worst against her. Slander is a kind of murder, and makes way for it, Ezekiel 22:9, as in the massacre of Paris. The monks had given out before that the Protestants met for no other purpose but to feast their carcases, and then (the lights being put out) to satisfy their unlawful lusts promiscuously. Thus they prepared and provoked the people to that bloody butchery, and so slew the innocent Huguenots twice; like as it is said of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, that he was thought by the people of England to be doubly murdered, viz. by detraction and deadly practice.

Ver. 32. Who immediately took soldiers] An admirable example of God’s good providence, who delighteth to reserve his hand for a dead lift, to save those that are forsa ken of their hopes. He cometh unlooked for, as it were out of an engine, απο μηχανης. They left beating of Paul] Who could better bear it, because he had felt worse fingers than theirs, when that messenger of Satan buffeted him, 2 Corinthians 12:7. And surely if the philosopher (when brayed in a mortar by his cruel Scythians) could bear it patiently, saying, Beat on Anacharsis’ wind bang, meaning his body, much more could the apostle by the force of his faith. Especially, since his suffering reached only to his flesh, his soul was untouched thereby, Colossians 1:24. Tundite Anach. folliculum.

Ver. 33. To be bound with two chains] As if he would have presently punished him. This he did to satisfy the mad multitude.

Ver. 34. For the tumult] All was on a hurry, as it was Acts 19:23-29 at Ephesus, vel ut in regno Cyclopico. Into the castle] Called Antonia, near the temple, where the soldiers kept garrison.

Ver. 35. He was borne of the soldiers] Who considered as little what a precious pack they now had upon their backs, as once the Midianitish merchants did, what a price they had in their hands, viz. Joseph, the jewel of the world and lord of Egypt.

Ver. 36. Away with him] Yea, but stay, Paul’s time was in God’s hand, who had told him that after he had been at Jerusalem he must see Rome too. In the mean time it might be some comfort to Paul to hear the same words (and perhaps by the same men) used of him, as had been before of his Master Christ, Away with him, &c. It is sufficient for the servant to be as his Lord. Art thou not glad to fare as Phocion? said he to one that was to suffer with him. Holy Ignatius took great comfort in this, that though he suffered death for Christ, yet in the day when God should make up his jewels, he should reckon not only from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, but from the blood of Zacharias to the blood of mean Ignatius. We have mentioned before that martyr that rejoiced that she might have her foot in the hole of the stocks in which Mr Philpot had been before her. When Luther thought he should die of an apoplexy, it comforted him that the apostle John had died of that disease. How much more should it do us, that we “fill up that only which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh,” Colossians 1:24, and that suffering together, we shall also reign together! ουκ αγαπας μετα Φωκιωνος αποθανουμενος. Plut. Apoph. A malady, very sudden in its attack, which arrests more or less completely the powers of sense and motion; it is usually caused by an effusion of blood or serum in the brain, and preceded by giddiness, partial loss of muscular power, etc. ŒD

Ver. 37. Canst thou speak Greek] Ay, no man better, whensoever he pleased; witness his gallant apology to Tertulhs, Ac. xxiv., and again his most accurate apology to Agrippa, Ac. xxvi., wherein (Pericles-like) fulgurabat, iutonabat, &c., he lightened one while, thundered another, did what he would with his audience, became master of their affections, being as potent in his divine rhetoric as Cicero in his human; who, as it is said, while he pleaded for Ligarius, disarmed the angry emperor and got pardon for the poor suppliant.

Ver. 38. Art not thou that Egyptian?] Of whom read Joseph. ii. 10, de Belle Jud., and Antiq. xx. That were murderers] Assassins, cut-throats. These were of the faction of Judas Gaulonites or Galileus. See Luke 13:1. (Godw. Heb. Antiq.)

Ver. 39. Of no mean city] And yet more ennobled by Paul than Paul was by it; like as Hippo was better known by Austin than Austin was by Hippo, whereof he was bishop; the island Cos by Hippocrates than Hippocrates by Cos; King Archelaus by his friend Euripides than Euripides by Archelaus.

Ver. 40. In the Hebrew tongue] i.e. In the Syriac, a daughter of the Hebrew, and the mother tongue of them who were called Hebrews.

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