eternal life, believed. 49. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 5o. But the Jews ftirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised a perfecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coafts. 51. But they fhook off the duft of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52. And the difciples were filled with joy, and with the holy Ghost. A b ND it came to pafs in Iconium, that they went both together into the fynagogue of the Jews, and fo fpake, that a great multitude both of the Jews, and alfo of the Greeks, believed. 2. But the unbelieving Jews ftirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds devil-affected against the brethren. 3. Long time therefore abode they fpeaking boldly in the Lord, which gave £ teftimony unto the word of his grace, and granted figns and wonders e a See on Ver. 45. bt Acts 18. 6. See on Mat. to of the Houfe of Ifrael: the Land is not able to bear all his Words. e See on Acts 4. 29. ft Mar. 16. 20. They went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with Signs following. Acts 19. 11. God wrought Special Miracles by the Hands of Paul. † Heb. 2. 4. God alfo bear ing them witnefs with Signs and Wonders, and with divers Miracles, and Gifts of the holy Ghoft, according to his own Will. not from all Eternity abfolutely decreed the everlasting Destruction of the greatest Part of Mankind, without any regard to the Sins of Men, as I am fure that God is a good and holy Being. No good Man would do fo, much lefs would God, who is infinite Goodness. It would be more agreeable to the Original, and to the Context, to tranflate the Words, difpofed, or prepared for Eternal Life, than to render them ordained to Eternal Life. For the Greek Word fignifies not only to ordain, but to difpofe and fet in Order, to place in Rank and File, as an Army is, &c. So that the Meaning is, that fuch Jews as were well-difpofed, and free from Prejudice, and fuch religious or worshipping Profelytes, Ver. 43. as believed in God, and were candidates for Eternal Life, believed. Their Minds were prepared, by improving the divine Grace already vouchsafed then, they therefore joyfully received the Word, and believed. 4. But the multi be done by their hands. de of the city was divided and part held Year of our ith the Jews, and part with the apoftles. Lord 46. And when there was an affault made both the Gentiles, and alfo of the Jews, with their rulers, k ufe them defpitefully, and to ftone them, 6. They ere ware of it, and fled unto Lyftra and Derbe, cities of ycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7. And there they preached the gofpel. 8. And there fat certain man at Lyftra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mothers womb, who never had walked. 9. The fame heard Paul fpeak: who ftedfaftly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10. Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11. And when the people faw what Paul had done, they lift up their voices, faying in the fpeech of Lycaonia, The " gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief Speaker. 13. Then the priest of Jupiter which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done • facrifice with the people. 14. Which when the apoftles, Barnabas and Paul heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15. And faying, Sirs, why do ye thefe things? n Mm 4 we † 2 Tim. 3. 11. See on Acts great Faith, no, not in Ifrael. Mat. 13.45. h See on Mat. 10. 23. i Acts 8, 4. They that were fcattered abroad, went every where preaching the Word. Acts 11. 19. They which were scattered abroad upon the Perfecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, 1o preaching the Word to none but the Jews only. Phil.1.12. I would 10 9. 28. Believe ye that I am able to do this? they faid unto him, yea, Lord. 5 + Ifa. 35. 6. Then fhal the Lame Man leap as an Hart. † Acts 28. 6. After they had looked a great while, and faw no harm come to him, they changed their Minds, and faid that he was a God. 。. Dan. 2. 46. Then the King that ye fhould understand,Brethren, Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his the Things which have happened to me, have fallen out rather unto the,, furtherance of the Gospel. 15 Face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should off an Oblation, and sweet Odours † A&s 3. 2. A certain Man to him.. lame from his Mothers Womb, was carried P See on Mat. 26. 65. 9 † Acts 10. 26. Peter took him Mat. 8.-10. Verily I fay 20 up, faying, Stand up; I my self als unto you, I have not found fo lo am a Man, eir hands. was divided 4. But the multi and part held and part with the apoftles, e was an affault made both Year of can nd alfo of the Jews, with their rulers, rected the wipe & 533 (1) we also are men of like paffions with you, and fe preach unto you, that ye fhould turn from thefe vanities unto the living god, which Jam. 5. 17. Elias was a Man fubject to like Paffions as we are.→→→ b Deut. 32. 21. They have moved me to Jealoufie with that which is not God, they have provoked me to anger with their Vanities 1 Sam. 12. 21. Turn ye not afide; for then fhould ye go after vain Things, which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vein. 1 King. 16.13. Provoking the Lord God of Ifrael to anger with their Vanities. Pfal. 4. 2. O ye Sons of Men, how long will ye love Vanity? Pfal. 3.1. 6. I have hated them that regard lying Vanities: but I trust in the Lord. Ifa. 41. 24. Behold, ye [Idols] are of nothing, and your Work of nought: an abomination is he that chufeth you. Jer. 8. 19. ΙΟ 20 made heaven, and earth, and the is none other God but one. 1 Cor. 10, 19. What fay I then? that the Idol is any thing, or that which is offered in Sacrifice to Idols is any sthing Eph. 4. 17. This I fay therefore and teftifie in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the Vanity of their Mind. I Thef. 1. 9. Ye turned to God from Idols, to ferve the living and true God. d Gen. 1. 1. In the Beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. Neh. 9. 6. Thou, even 15 thou art Lord alone, thou haft made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, with all their Hoft,the Earth, and all things that are therein, the Seas, and all that is therein, and thou preferveft them all, and the Hoft of Heaven worshippeth thee. † Pfal. 33.6. By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made: and all the Hoft of them by the Breath of his Mouth. Pfal. 124. 8. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth. *Pfal. 146. 5, 6. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whofe hope is in the Lord his God: which made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that therein isA&ts 17. 24 God that made the Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven Images, and with their Vanities? Jer, 10. 8. They are altogether brutifh and foolish the Stock is a Doctrine 25 of Vanities. Jer. 14.22. Are there any among the Vanities of the Gentiles that can caufe Rain ?- Róm. 1. 21. When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither 30 were tha kul, but became vain in their Imaginations, and their fool ith Heart was darkned. 1 Cor. 8: 4. -We know that an Idol is n0 thing in the World, and that there 35 2 World, (1) Thefe Words have no relation to any good or bad Difpofitions in Men; but they are an argument ufed by the Apoftles to perfwade the Lycaonians to defift from their Intention to offer Sacrifices to them. The Meaning of them cannot be, we Apoftles are as bad Men as you Lycar onians are; and therefore they cannot adminifter any Comfort to People who indulge their finful Lefts and corrupt Paffions, and will not be prevailed with to forfake their Sins; but the Senfe of them is this. We are Men as ye are, fubject to the fame Affions, Sufferings, and e ven to Death it felf, as ye are; and therefore it is abfurd for you to offer Sacrifice to us, or to give us that honour and Worship, which is only the to the living and true God, who made Heaven and Earth, and the Sea, and all things that are therein. fu |