believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Observe here, 1. The antiquity of the gospel, or of the doctrine of reconciliation, by Jesus Christ: it was preached to the patriarchs, and by the prophets to the ancient Israelites: The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ. Thence learn, That there is but one way to salvation, namely, reconciliation with God through the blood of Christ: and this was declared to the children of Israel, as well as unto us to them more darkly, to us more clearly. They went to heaven then the same way that believers do now, namely, by faith in the Lamb of God, who was to be slain; we by faith in him as already slain. Observe, 2. The dignifying title given to Christ: He is Lord of all. 1. He is Lord of all, as God together with the Father and the Holy Ghost; the absolute and supreme Lord of all the whole creation, and unto whom all creatures are subject. 2. He is Lord of all as Mediator, Lord of all men, whether Jews or Gentiles; he is Lord of his church, Lord over saints and sinners. Hypocrites and sincere christians, all are his subjects by obligation, some by voluntary consent, and by an absolute obedience unto his commands. Observe, 3. The argument by which the apostle proveth Christ to be Lord of all, as Mediator; namely, from his divine unction, ver. 38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost: and with power: that is, endued the human nature of Christ with the fulness of the graces of his Holy Spirit, and consecrated him to the work and office of a Mediator. Observe, 4. How Christ faithfully executed this office which he was anointed to: he went about doing good all the time he was on earth, healing diseases, and casting out devils; for God was with him, in the fulness of his Deity, as he was his eternal Son; and in power, grace, and favour, as he was Man and Mediator. Here note, 1. The great work and business of our Saviour's life; it was to do good, namely, to the souls and bodies of men, to promote the temporal happiness of the one, the spiritual and eternal happiness of the other. Note, 2. Our Saviour's diligence and indefatigable industry in this work of doing good; he made it the great business and constant employment of his life: He went about doing good; that is, seeking out all oppor tunities of being useful and beneficial to mankind. Observe, 3. The evidence and testimony which the apostle produces for all that he affirmed concerning Christ: We are witnesses of all things which he did in the land of Judea, and in Jerusalem. Christ took the twelve apostles as it were into his family, that by their familiar converse, and constant conversation with him, they might be enabled to testify of him :1. Touching his death, that he was slain, and hanged on a tree; dying an ignominious and shameful, as well as a dolorous and painful, death. 2. Concerning his resurrection, that God raised him from the dead: though he was laid, he was not lost, in the dust. God would not suffer the beloved of his soul to rot in the grave, but raised him up, and showed him openly. And, 3. As to the final judgment, the apostles were commanded to preach and testify to the people, that Jesus Christ was ordained of God to be the judge both of quick and dead; that is, of all that are in their graves, and of all that shall be found alive at his coming. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 believed were astonished, as many And they of the circumcision which as came with Peter, because that on 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 ? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. Observe here, 1. What a miraculous power of the Holy Ghost did accompany St. Peter's ministry at this time, thereby giving him an assurance of the future conversion of the Gentiles, to the great wonder and astonishment of the Jews, who thought the promise of sending down the Holy Ghost belonged only to the house of Israel. Accordingly, while Peter was thus preaching to Cornelius and his friends, the Holy Ghost by his wonderful gift of tongues de at eating and conversing with the Gentiles, and especially for admitting them into gospel communion without circumcision. Whereas although God forbade marriages with the Gentiles, he never forbade commerce and conversation with them. No conversation with the Gentiles, in order to the gaining of the Gentiles unto God, was ever forbidden by God; but only such as might withdraw the Jews from God, and corrupt them by idolatry. scended on them, though Gentiles; CHAP. XI. This chapter gives us an account, how the promise AND that were in Judea heard that Observe here, 1. How the Jews, apprehending that Christ and his grace had been only promised and confined to themselves, the call and conversion of the Gentiles became a dreadful stumbling-block unto them, even to the believing as well as the unbelieving Jews. Hercupon observe, 2. How they contended with Peter for mine 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5 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 which when I had fastened n came even to me: 6 Upon the eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted 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 Cesarea 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; 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the 15 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. Observe here, 1. How far St. Peter was from pretending to a superiority over the rest of the apostles: he did by no means think himself so far above them, as to disdain to render an account of his actions to them, but with great sincerity and humility rehearsed and related the whole matter of fact, to their entire and joint satisfaction. Observe, 2. How he acquaints the apostles with the vision he had seen, in which he was commanded to make no distinction of clean and unclean; because there was no natural turpitude in any kind of meat, save only as it was prohibited by God; and that God, who having made the law about difference of meats, had now abrogated it, and made all meats clean, and free to be eaten. Observe, 3. How he gives them the interpretation of this vision, and acquaints them with the end for which this vision was designed; namely, not so much to reveal to him the lawfulness of eating all sorts of meats, as to acquaint him with his liberty and duty to converse with and preach the gospel to the Gentiles; whom he was no longer to look upon as unclean, though they were not circumcised; but as Theirs and fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Observe, lastly, The conclusion which St. Peter drew from the premises : 66 Seeing God hath made the Gentiles equal in grace with the believing Jews; secing the Holy Ghost came down upon them in the same manner, and with the same effects, as he did upon us apostles; I could not reasonably deny them baptism, and by baptism admission into the gospel-church : for having the grace signified by baptism, they ought to have baptism, the seal of that grace; they that have the inward, are not to be denied the outward baptism; they that were baptized with the Holy Ghost (as Cornelius and his family were) might and ought to be baptized with water, as Cornelius was; for had I denied them church-communion for want of the ceremony of circumcision, it had certainly been a downright resistance of, and disobedience against, God." Thence learn, That it is a downright opposition to the will of God, to shut them out of the church, and to debar them from the sanctifying graces of God's Holy Spirit, but communion of it, who have received the differ from us in external rites and ceremonies only. 19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 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. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose the Lord. 24 For he was a good of heart they would cleave unto man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith and much people was added unto the Lord. Observe here, 1. That Antioch becomes the Jerusalem of the Gentile christians; that is, the chief place whither the Gentile converts resorted; as Jerusalem, before the dispersion by persecution, was resorted to by the Jews, and made the principal seat of their residence. Observe, 2. How God overruled the persecution and dispersion occasioned by St. Stephen's death, for dis seminating and scattering the gospel as far as Antioch, verse 19. They which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Antioch, preaching the word. Thus has the blood of the martyrs all along been the seed of the church; and what the devil and his instruments have designed for the extirpation, God has constantly overruled for the propagation of the gospel. Observe, 3. The great success which the ministers and ministry of the gospel had at Antioch: The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed. By the hand of the Lord, is meant the power and assistance of the Lord, which did accompany them in dispensing of his word, and enabled them to work miracles for the confirmation of it. The hand is the organ or instrument of working in man: when it is attributed to God, it denotes his power and help; the hand of God was manifested in the miracles which they wrought, and in faith and conversion, which the sight of those miracles produced. Learn bence, That faith and conversion are wrought by the hand of the Lord; they are his work; study and endeavour is the minister's, the blessing and success is God's; when he takes the sword of the Spirit into the hand of the Spirit, then shall it work wonders. Observe, 4. How the joyful tidings of the success of the gospel at Antioch, being heard and understood by the apostles that remained at Jerusalem, they send Barnabas to confirm the new converts at Antioch in the christian faith. Learn thence, That the news of any sinner's, much more of many sinners', conversion unto God, by the preaching of the gospel, is matter of great delight and rejoicing to the ministers of Christ. Observe, 5. The holy and honourable character which the Spirit of God gives of Barnabas; He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith; and much people were added unto the Lord. By a good man, is meant a kind and charitable man; he having actually sold his estate, and laid it at the apostles' feet, for the benefit of the poor, as Acts v. 36, 37. informs us; and his good works accompanying his good preaching, his good life seconded his sound doctrine, was a great mean of the conversion of so many, and that much people were added to the Lord. Observe lastly, The holy exhortation which Barnabas gave these new converts at Antioch: He exhorted them, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord; that is, with a firm and fixed resolution of will to keep close to the profession of the truth of Christ, whatever tribulation or distress they might meet with. Young converts need exhortation and counsel, to establish and confirm them in the faith of the gospel, and to encourage them to hold fast to Christ. 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to bled themselves with the church, pass, that a whole year they assemand taught much people. And the disciples were called christians first in Antioch. Observe here, A further instance of the piety of that good man. Barnabas having a great zeal and fervent desire that the gospel might be more and more propagated, he went to Tarsus to seek out Saul, that they might join together in the work of Christ : and having found him, he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they instructed the church in that city, and taught much people. O how happy is it for the church of Christ, when her ministers, laying aside all private interest, do unitedly apply themselves to promote the common interest of christianity, by propagating the gospel far and near! Observe farther, How the believers, both Jews and Gentiles, were united in one common name at Antioch; the Jews had hitherto called them Nazarites and Galileans, and they called themselves disciples, believers, brethren, and those of the church; but now in this place, Antioch, they were first called christians; a very great honour conferred upon this Gentile city, which exalted her now above Jerusalem itself. At Antioch, a Gentile city, Christ set up his standard for the Gentiles, and displayed his banner, and puts his own name upon the despised Gentiles. They who before were counted dogs, and the offscouring of all things, have now the venerable name of Christ imposed upon them: The disciples were called christians first at Antioch. Note lastly, That the disciples did not call themselves christians first at Antioch, much less did their enemies give them that name; but they had it by divine authority imposed upon them. God would have Christ's disciples called christians: 1. As scholars, who receive their denomination from their master; they are taught to learn of and imitate Christ, whose name they bear. 2. As the word chris tians signifies anointed ones, it puts them in mind of their divine unction, which they have received from the holy One, whereby they are made kings and priests unto God. We are at this day called Reformed christians. God grant that we may not cheat ourselves with an empty and insignificant name; but let us fill up that glorious title, and be reformed in our lives, as well as in our religion, beautifying our holy profession by an holy and becoming conversation; otherwise an unbaptized Heathen, at the great day, will not change estate with many baptized christians. 27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them, named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Observe here, 1. That the wisdom of God, at the first planting of the Christian church, did confer upon some of its members extraordinary gifts; as the gift of tongues, the gift of miracles, the gift of prophecy, and the like. Accordingly, at this time, certain persons who had the gift of prophecy, and did foretell things to come, being now at Antioch, by revelation from the Spirit of God, foretold that there would shortly be a great famine over all Judea, and several other parts of the world; which exactly came to pass in the reign of the emperor Claudius. Where note, That as it is God's prerogative to foreknow future things, so it is his prerogative to enable others to foretell future things. This famine was here foretold, not by judicial astrology, but by divine revelation: that God, who provided for the patriarchs, by means of Joseph's foreseeing the famine in Egypt, provided now for the christians, by Agabus's foretelling the famine which came upon Judea: Agabus stood up, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all Judea. As God's omnipotence is exerted for his church's protection, so is his omniscience employed for its sustentation and preservation; yea, all his attributes are engaged for her benefit and advantage. Observe, 2. The full proof and evidence which the new converts at Antioch gave of the truth of their conversion to the christian religion; namely, their charity and alms seasonably sent to the succour and relief of their fellow-mem. bers in Christ which were in Judea. These were become very poor, by reason of the extraordinary malice and long persecution of the Jews against them. And the seasonable succour now sent them from Antioch, was a singular comfort to them, and a sweet-smelling sacrifice unto God. Observe, lastly, The wise regulation of their ability. This is the true standard of chacharity: Every man gave according to his rity: we are to give alms of such things as we have, and according to what we have.-Christian prudence must direct us in the exercise of christian charity; that must direct us in finding out fit and proper objects for our charity, that we may give most to them that have most need. Prudence must also direct us in timing of our charity, that we do not put our poor brethren off with frivolous excuses and tedious delays. And it must direct us in the measure of our charity, that it doth not exceed the bounds of our estates. Few indeed are guilty of error on that hand: but it is impossible but there may be an error in the excess, as well as in the defect, of our christian charity. To prevent both evils, let the practice of these primitive christians be a pattern for our imitation, who deter mined, every one according to his ability, to send relief unto the brethren, and send it by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. CHAP. XII. St. Luke, the writer of this history, having related what success the apostles had at Antioch; he now returns to Judea, and declares what persecution the church met with at Jerusalem; where St. James was beheaded, and St. Peter imprisoned, but by an angel miraculously delivered, as this chapter informs us. NOW about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to vex certain of the church. Observe here, 1. Satan, the grand enemy of the church of God, never wants instruments for carrying on his persecuting designs against the church; he had many Pharaohs in the Old-Testament times, bitter |