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A. D. 40. the Grecians, preiching the Lord Jefus.

A. D. 41.

A. D. 42.

21. And the hand

of the Lord was with

cles along with their Doctrine, that abundance of them believed and were baptized.

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 Jerufalem; and they fent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23. Who when he
came, and had feen
the grace of God, was
glad, and exhorted
them all, that with
purpofe of heart they

would cleave unto the
Lord.

24. For he was a
good min,
and full of
the holy Ghost, and
of faith and much
people was added un-
to the Lord.

22. Which great Succefs, as foon as the Apostles at Jerufalem heard of, they fent Barnabas into those Parts, to confirm and perfect the new Converts, and to confer fuch Gifts of the Holy Ghost upon them, as the Condition of thofe Churches required.

23. Who in Purfuance of that Commiffion went through Phanice and Cyprus, and fo to Antioch, exhorting them to Patience, and immoveable Conftancy in their Profeffion.

24. And in this Office he had great Succefs, not only by his eminent Endowments of the Holy Spirit, but by the peculiar Goodnefs, +Generofity, and Sweetness of his Temper, which very much

won upon all that knew him.

25. Then departed Barnabas to Tarfus,

25. And perceiving that a great many more might there be converted, he took in the Affiftance of Saul, whom he went to look for at Tarfus, where

for to feek Saul.

he

* Ver. 20. Spake unto the Grecians - πρὸς τὰς Ελληγιςας. -to the Greek Jews, as our common Copies read it. But the Alexand. MS. the Syr. Vulg. Arab. & Æthiop. Verfions read it gòs 78's "Eλanvas, to the Greeks, i. e. uncircumcised Græcian Profelytes. And I take that to be the true Reading; becaufe Mention is made before concerning the Converfion of the Hellenists. Chap. vi. 1.

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† Ver. 24. avis d'yadis, a bounteous, merciful Perfon.

he had continued, preaching about the Parts of Syria A. D. 42. and Cilicia, for three Years after his firft Arrival.

(Chap. ix. 31 & 32.)

26. And when he

had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they affembled themfelves with the church, and taught much people; and the difciples were called Chriftians firft in An

tioch.

27. And in these days came prophets from Jerufalem unto Antioch. Things to come.

28. And there ftood up one of them named Agabus, and fignified by the fpirit, that

there

26. Having found him, and
brought him to Antioch, they re-
mained preaching there a whole
Year, and fo increased the Chrif-
tian Church, that the Converts,
who by their Enemies were wont
in Derifion to be called Nazarenes

and Galileans, and among them-
felves only Believers, Brethren, and
Faithful, were now fo encouraged,
as publickly and folemnly to take upon
*them the Name of Chriftians.

27. About this Time there ar-
rived at Antioch from Jerufalem,
feveral Difciples whom God en-
dowed with a Forefight of feveral

28. One of which, called Agabus, foretold, That about two Years after, there fhould be a dreadful Famine raging through almost

* Ver. 26. xnualioal xeisiavos, called Chriftians. That the Word Xenpalloar, fignifies the fame as I have paraphrased it, is not only highly probable from the Circumftances of the Thing, but from what the Reader may fee in Gregory's Notes, and in Dr. Stanhope on Epift. for St. Barnabas's Day. But it is much worth remarking what a very learned Perfon hath lately obferved, viz. That the Converts, who now took the Title of Chriftians upon themfelves, were (moft probably) of the Gentile Part. The believing Jews ftill adhering to the Law, and affecting to be ftill called Jews; not willing fo much as to admit the Gentile Converts (that refused to submit to Circumcifion) into their Synagogues and Affemblies. Whereupon these faid Converts, relinquifhing their Gentilism, and being neither willing, nor permitted to be ftiled Jews, went by the Name of Chriftians. See BOHMER's Differt. Juris Ecclef. Antiq. Differt. Cap. viii. 2. See also Mr. Benfon's Hift. of the first planting Chrift. Relig. Vol. I. Pag, 241.

A. D. 44.

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29. Then the dif ciples, every man according to his ability, determined to fend relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea.

30. Which also they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

almost every Part of the Roman Empire, which came to pass exactly at the Time, being the fourth Year of Claudius.

29. And this Famine being particularly hard in Judea, (where the Number of the poor Chriftians was very great) thefe Chrif tians of Antioch refolved to fend them fome Relief.

nabas and Saul with it, to give it 30. And accordigly fent Barinto the Hands of the Elders, (to whofe Care the Apostles, upon the

+ Ver. 30. Difperfion by the forementioned Perfecution, had left See Chap. the Care of the Churches of Judea,) to be distributed vi. 1, &c. by the + Deacons as they faw Occasion.

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Ver. 28. Throughout all the World - ip' dλnv für dingμένην That is Either throughout the Roman Empire (or the most Part of it;) or else throughout the whole Land of Judea. See Mr. Lardener's Credibil. of the Gofp. Hift. Page 318, &.

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The Hiftory returns to the Affairs of the Chriftians at Jes rufalem. A fresh Perfecution by Herod Agrippa, on purpose to please the Jews. James flain. Peter put in Prifon. Is delivered by an Angel. The Guard flain. Herod at Cæfarea: Makes an Oration in the Theatre; receives the fulfome Flatteries of the People; is ftruck with a Difeafe, and dies.

4. D. 44. 1. Now about that 1.

timeHerod the

1.T%

O return a little back to fome Tranfactions of Pe

king stretched forth bis ter, at Jerusalem,

hands

About

hands to vex certain of the church.

About the Time that Agabus A. D. 44. foretold the Famine (Chap. xi.

28.) Herod Agrippa began a fresh Perfecution of the

Chriftians there.

2. And he killed

James the brother of John with the fword. 3. And because he faw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded alfo. (Then were the days of unleavened bread)

further to take Peter

4. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prifon, and delivered him to four quaternions of foldiers to keep him, intending after Eafter to bring him forth to the people.

2 & 3. He first condemned and executed James the Son of Zebedee; and a little before the Passothis out of mere Vanity to please ver apprehended Peter, and all the Doctors of the Jewish Council, who ftill continued their obftinate Hatred to the Chriftians, though the common People had generally a better Efteem of them.

4. For Fear therefore, if he fhould bring Peter to his Trial in Court, during the Time of that Feftival, the People should beg for his Release, according to their Privilege, which could not have been denied them (Matth. xxvii. 15.) he refolved to continue him in Prifon till it was quite over. And to secure him the better from any Escape, fet fixteen Soldiers to guard him by Turns, four at a Time.

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A. D. 44. a light fhined in the prifon and he fmote Peter on the fide, and raised him up, faying, Arife up quickly. And

him, knocked off his Chains (without the least Disturbance of the Guard) and ordered him to make himself ready and follow him.

his chains fell off from his hands.

8. And the angel faid unto him, Gird thyfelf, and bind on thy fandals and fo he did. And he faith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9. And he went out and followed him, and wift not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he faw a vifion.

10. When they were paft the first and the fecond ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which 0pened to them of its own accord and they went out, and paffed on through one street, and forthwith the angel

11. And when Pe

ter was come to him-
felf, he faid, Now I
know of a furety, that
the Lord hath fent
his angel, and hath
delivered me out of

9. Peter did fo, but knowing himself to have been in a Sleep, did not immediately conclude this to be real, but rather a visionary Representation.

10. The Prison being in the Suburbs of the City, the Angel conducted him thro' the Watches, and fo on to the City-Gate, which though fecurely lock'd and barr'd, opened of itfelf; and after he had carried him fo far into the Street, that he knew where he was, and could fhift for himself, he left him. departed from him.

11. By this Time, Peter throughly confidered, and fully fatisfed himfelf the whole Tranfaction was real, and that God had wrought him a miraculous Deli verance by his Angel.

the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12. And when he had confidered the thing, he came to the houfe of Mary, the mother of John,whose furname was Mark,

where

12. And fo refolving to fecure himself as well as he could, went to the House of Mary the Mother of that John whofe * Surname was Mark; whither Providence feemed to have guided him, for

the

Ver. 12. John whofe Surname was Mark See Dodwell's Differt. Cyp. v. §. 11.

1

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