College in full Council at Jerufalem; and that Paul * A. D. 50, and Barnabas, with fome others of their chief Clergy, 51. fhould go thither, and lay the Matter before them.

3.And being brought on their way by the church, they paffed through Phenice, and Samaria, declaring the converfion of the Gen

tiles: and they caufed great joy unto all the

brethren.

4. And when they were come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they de clared all things that God had done with

them.

thefe Jewish Zealots;

3. On this important Errand they were accordingly fent, and in their Paffage thither, acquainted the Chriftians of the feveral Countries of Phoenicia and Samaria, what Success they had in converting many Gentile People; at which they heartily rejoiced.

4. Arriving at Jerufalem, they immediately apply'd themselves to the Apostles and other eminent Governors in that Church; acquainting them firft with the Succefs of their Miniftry among ++See Ver. the Gentiles, and then in particu- 12. lar with the Dispute that had happened, and how they had oppofed in all which Proceedings, they

were highly commended † and approved of by the Apo

ftolical Affembly.

5. But there rose up certain of the fect of the Pharifees, which believed, faying, That it was needful to cir

cumcife

This is that Journey of St. Paul to Jerufalem, which he mentions, Gal. ii. 1. being just about fourteen Years after his firft Converfion. See Bishop PEARSON, An. Paul. p. 8, 9. and Dr. Whitby upon Gal. ii. 1.

† Ver. 4. Αποδέχθησαν ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας - Wire received of the Church, &c. feems a very dry Translation of a Phrafe, which properly fignifies to receive with Approbation and Applaufe; and by a small and ufual Tranfpofition in this Place, gives that Senfe as moft agreeable to the Context. For 'twas against this Approbation of the Apostles, that certain of the Seat of the Pharifees rofe up, in the next Verfe.

8. And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witnefs, giving them the holy Ghoft, even as he did

unto us:

9. And put no dif

ference between us

and them, purifying
their hearts by faith.

folute Neceffity of the whole Jewih Law along with the Chriftian Religion, in order to Salvation.

6. Upon which the Apoftles and Elders refolved to confider the Cafe, and determine it in a full Affembly.

7. In which, after much Difpute on both Sides, Peter ftood up, and thus ftated and expoftulated the Cafe. You all know, and allow (faid he) that Christ, in his Life-time, gave me the Af furance* that I fhould be the first Preacher of the Gospel to the Gentile World. And first of all to fuch Gentiles as thefe, who are profelyted to the Jewish Religion, and worship the true God.

8 & 9. And how fully he has made that Promife good, by exprefly commanding me to convert Cornelius and his Friends;

upon

whom immediately at their Converfion, God was pleased to confer the fame Gifts of his Spirit, as he did upon us at the Day of Pentecoft; thereby demonftrating, he did as freely receive them into all the Privileges of the Chriftian Religion, without Circumcifion, as he did us that had been circumcifed.

51.

tion of these Gentile Chriftians, which he by the moft A. D. 50, evident Dispensation has declared not to be neceffary? And all this out of an exceffive Zeal for the ceremonial Parts of a Law, which by the vaft Number, Coft, and Trouble of them, are at best but like a Yoke, and, in their own Nature, have no Tendency to procure inward Holiness of Life, or the perfect Pardon of Sin.

11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, we shall be faved even as they. to obtain Pardon and

12. Then all the multitude kept filence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

12. As foon as Peter had done, Paul and Barnabas stood up; and in further Confirmation of his Argument, gave the Affembly an Account, that God had beftowed the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghoft upon thofe Gentile Converts they had made in their Travels, juft as he had done in the Cafe of Cornelius; and thereby accepted them as compleat Chriftians, without the leaft Notice of any Obligation to the Jewish Law.

13. And after they had held their peace, James anfwered, faying, Men and brethren, hearken unto

13 & 14. And then James the Bishop of Jerufalem, gave the finishing Proof of what they had all three faid, by defiring the Council to compare the present Facts with the Prophecies relat14. Simeon hath declared how God at ing to the Converfion of the Genthe firft did vifit the tiles.

me.

Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

H 4

15. And

* Ver. 11. nad y Teoπov nḍnavos We fall be faved even as they. The Word xaxavo may relate, either to the Gentiles, as in the PARAPHRASE, or elle to Saul and Barnabas; and then the Senfe is, We are of the fame Sentiment with Paul and Barnabas, That Salvation is to be had by the Gofpel, not by the Law. But the firft is the most natural Conftruction.

16. After this I will 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will fet it up.

15, 16 & 17. Particularly that of Amos ix. 11, &c. wherein God promifed the great and happy Retoration of the Jewish Affairs under the Kingdom of David, i. e. The Religion of the Meffiah, by calling and gathering in the Gentile World to them, and uniting them all into one People and one Church.

17. That the refidue of men might feek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doth all these things.

18. Known unto

God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

*

18. Now (faid he) the fame Spirit of God that promifed and foretold this eminent Bleffing to the Gentile Believers, did alfo certainly determine upon what Conditions they should enjoy it; and as in his gracious and free Acceptance of thefe late Converts, he has no Way declared Circumcifion, and the Obfervance of the whole Jewish Law, to be one of thofe Conditions: 'Tis plain he intended they should be faved only by the fincere Profeffion of the Christian Religion. And therefore don't let us pretend to know the Mind of God better than he himself has declared it.

19. Wherefore my fentence is, that we trouble not

them,

which

19. Wherefore upon these Reafons we ought to determine, That the Gentile Believers are not to

be

Ver. 18. Γνωςὰ τῷ θεῷ -Known unto God are all bis Works That this Expreffion cannot merely fignify God's Foreknowledge, and Prediction of this gracious Event, is plain, because this Senfe makes nothing towards St. James's Argument; nor was it denied by any. But the Word yagna being of a large and extenfive Import in the New Testament, if it be here rendered defigned or determined, then it will give the Apoftle's Argument full, viz. That God defigned that Prophecy to be no otherwife accomplished, than as Peter had acted in the Cafe of Cornelius, &c.

which from among be thus troubled and difcouraged 4. D. 50, the Gentiles are turn- in their Chriftian Profeffion, nor 51. burdened with the Obfervation

ed to God.

of the whole Jewish Law, by Circumcifion.

20. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollution of idols, and from fornication, and from things ftrangled,

and from blood.

20. Only as the prefent State of the Church now ftands, as compofed of Jews and profelyted Gentiles, it is expedient we fhould ftill oblige thefe Converts to these four Things, as proper to keep

them at a further Distance from the idolatrous Worship they have renounced; and then, as being the moft principal Points, the Jewish Zealots infift upon it in their Law, to keep them alfo from further Clamours and Objections, viz. To avoid the Ufe of every Thing they know to be any Way confecrated to a Heathen Deity, or dedicated to an Idol. And especially from Uncleanness, and unlawful Use of Women; (by which the Heathens had made themselves, and even their Worship, so infamous and abominable) and then as eating of the Blood of Animals, or the Flesh of any Creature that was killed with the Blood in it, were forbidden the Jews in fo fpecial a Manner, and as a folemn Token of their Diftinction from all other People, they should abstain from both them likewife.

21. For Mofes of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the fynagogues every fabbath-day.

21. And by this Method we fhall beft avoid the most principal Inconveniencies, which may be objected by the Jewish Chrif tians against our Determination,

in Favour of the Gentile Converts. For though on one Side, the Gentile Converts be not obliged to the whole Jewish Law, yet will they not be left ignorant of the Writings of Mofes and the Prophets, which are conftantly read, as they used formerly to be, in the religious Affemblies they frequent. But on the other Side, these Jewish Chriftians would never endure to communicate with Men, that lived in the Practice of thefe Things that they hear every Sabbath fo folemnly condemn'd in their facred Scriptures.

22. All