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fafting,they commended them to the Lord (g),on whom 24 they believed. And after they had pailed through25 out Pifidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went 26 down into Attalia: And thence failed to Antioch (b) from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God, for the work which they fulfilled (i). 27 And when they were come and had gathered the church together, they rehearfed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith 28 unto the Gentiles (k). And there they abode long time with the difciples.

СНА Р. XV.

I AND certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and faid, Except ye be cir

cumcised after the manner of Mofes, ye cannot be faved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no fmall diffenfion and difputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, fhould go up to Jerufalem unto the apoftles and el3 ders about this queftion. And being brought on their way by the church (a), they paffed through Phenice, and Samaria, declaring the converfion of the Gentiles and they caufed great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusa

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(g) This is an inftance of prayer folemnly offered up to Chrift by the apofiles.

(h) Not the city of that name mentioned verfe 21, but another, and much more confiderable, in Syria, called great Antioch.

(i) They were there appointed in a folemn manner for the miniftry (See Chap. xiii. 2.) which they were then fulfilling accordingly. (k) Had given the Gentiles an opportunity of believing in him, and entering into his church.

(a) By the church, that is, by the whole body of Chriftians in that place. Matt. xviii. 17. Chap. viii. 3.

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lem (b), they were received of the church, and of the apoftles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the fect of the Pharifees which believed, faying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Mofes.

And the apoftles and elders came together for to 7confider of this matter. And when there had been much difputing, Peter rofe up and faid unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth (c) fhould hear the word of the gofpel, 8 and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witnefs, giving them the holy Ghost, 9 even as he did unto us: And put no difference between us and them (d), purifying their hearts by 10 faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God (e), to

put a yoke upon the neck of the difciples, which 11 neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jefus Christ, we shall be faved even as they.

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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.

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

(b) This was St. Paul's third journey to Jerufalem, about seventeen years after his converfion.

(c) Cornelius the centurion was the first Heathen convert (Chap. x.) about eight years before this time.

(d) The gift of the holy Ghoft was a proof that they were effectually purified in the fight of God by faith, and needed not circumcifion to fecure his favour.

(e) Why then will you not acquiefce in the good pleasure of God, but compel them to fubmit to greater burdens than he requires, as if you diftrufted the wisdom, or refolved to oppofe the course, of his providence.

14 Simeon (f) hath declared how God at the first did vifit the "Gentiles, to take out of them a people for 15 his name. And to this agree the words of the pro16 phets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: and I will build again the ruins there17 of, and I will fet it up: That the refidue of men might feck after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, faith the Lord, who 18 doeth all thefe things. Known unto God are all 19 his works from the beginning of the world. Where

fore my fentence is (g), that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them that they abstain from

pollutions of idols, and from fornication (b), and from 21 things ftrangled, and from blood. For Mofes of old time hath in every city them that preach him (i), being read in the fynagogues every fabbath-day. 22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to fend chofen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas;

(f) Simeon is the fame as Simon, that is St. Peter. God is faid to vifit, when he bleffeth, as well as when he punisheth. Gen. xxi. 1. Luke i. 68. xix. 44.

(g) I declare my opinion, I give my vote. Obferve here, that this important queftion was determined according to St. James's opi nion, who feems to have prefided in this meeting, as bishop of Je ́rufalem, even in the presence of St. Peter, who you fee claimed no authority or preheminence over his brethren. Much lefs can the bishop of Rome claim any, although he could make out his fucceffion to St. Peter ever so plainly.

(h) From fuch kind of marriages, as being forbidden by the law of Mofes, were reckoned pollutions in the opinion of the Jews. (i) Our bleffed Saviour hath exprefly and fully declared the lawfulness of eating any kind of meat without exception (Matt. xv. 17.) which ought to remove from our minds all fcruples about eating any manner of whole fome food: and St. James plainly meant his reftriction for those times, whilft Jewish prejudices remained in their full ftrength; as the Jews might have been apt to take offence, had they feen Chriftians indulge themselves in meat forbidden by Mofes.

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namely, Judas, furnamed Barfabas, and Silas, chief 23 men among the brethren. And wrote letters by them after this manner; The apoftles, and elders, and brethren fend greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. Forafmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, fubverting your fouls (k), faying, Ye must be circumcifed, and keep the law; to whom we gave no fuch 25 commendment: It feemed good unto us, being affembled with one accord, to fend chofen men unto 26 you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives, for the name of our 27 Lord Jefus Chrift. We have fent therefore Judas and Silas, who fhall alfo tell you the fame things by 28 mouth. For it feemed good to the holy Ghoft (1),

and to us, to lay upon you no greater burthen than 29 thefe neceffary things; That ye abftain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things ftrangled, and from fornication: from which if ye 30 keep yourselves ye fhall do well. Fare ye well. So when they were difmiffed, they came to Antioch : and when they had gathered. the multitude together, 31 they delivered the epiftle. Which when they had 32 read, they rejoiced for the confolation (m). And Ju

das and Silas being prophets (n) alfo themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed

(k) Difturbing and unfettling your minds.

(2) It feemed good to the holy Ghoft, to exempt them from the yoke of the ceremonial law, by defcending on them equally as on circumcifed Jews, Verfe 8. And therefore it feemed good to us alfo, who are bound to govern ourselves in all things by the directions of the bleffed Spirit.

(m) For the comfort they had in knowing that they were delivered from the neceffity of circumcifion, and the other ceremonies of the law.

(n) The word Prophet is not only ufed for one who foretold things to come, but for a teacher, who by the immediate affistance of the holy Ghoft, inftructed men in the way of falvation.

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33 them. And after they had tarried there a fpace, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the 34 apoftles. Notwithstanding it pleafed Silas to abide 35 there ftill. Paul alfo and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others alfo.

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And fome days after, Paul faid unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren, in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and 37 fee how they do. And Barnabas determined to take 38 with them John, whofe furname was Mark (o). But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was fo sharp between them (p), that they departed afunder one from the other: and fo Barnabas took Mark, and 40 failed unto Cyprus; And Paul chofe Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the 41 grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

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CHA P. XVI.

1 THEN came he to Derbe and Lyftra: and behold, a certain difciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewels, 2 and believed (a); but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at 3 Lyftra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcifed him, be

(0) St. Mark the Evangelift. See Chap. xiii. 5.

(p) The difference between them on this point was carried fo far, that they feparated from each other. This paffage fhews us, that the beft of men are not free from the warmth of fudden paffion and refentment, though it is the duty of all to ftrive against it.

(a) His mother was a convert from Judaifm; but his father was a Gentile.

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