Acts

4 But we will give it their particular business to attend to the man- SECT. ,ourselves continual- agement of it. And we, in the mean time, be- xii. ly to prayer, and to the ministry of the ing freed from this great incumbrance, will constantly attend to prayer, and to the ministry vi.4 of the word, which is our grand business, and which we could be glad to prosecute without interruption.

word.

5 And the saying And the speech the apostles made was pleas- 5 pleased the whole ing to all the multitude, who were called togethmultitude: and they er upon this occasion; and having deliberchose Stephen, a man full of faith and ated a little upon the choice that was to be of the Holy Ghost, made, they elected seven, to be set apart to the and Philip, and Pro- office of deacons, whose names were as folnor, and Timon, and lows, There was Stephen, a man full of faith Parmenas, and Nic- and of the Holy Spirit,f of whose heroic charolas a proselyte of acter and glorious end we shall presently have

chorus, and Nica

Antioch:

occasion to speak; and Philip, who long con-
tinued an ornament and blessing to the church,
being at length raised to a yet higher character;
and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and
Parmenas, and Nicolas, who was not a Jew
born, but a proselyte of Antioch, whom they
were the more willing to fix in this office, as
his peculiar relation to the Grecians would
make him especially careful to remedy any
neglect of them, which might insensibly have
prevailed. These were the persons in whom

controversies about church order and govern- a precarious conjecture. The termination
ment, or any other circumstantial points that of most of these names makes it probable
have unhappily divided the Protestant world. they were Hellenists; a supposition which
Yet I hope I shall give no offence by ob- also agrees very well with the occasion of
serving, that no just argument can be drawn their election.
from the actions of the apostles, with their
extraordinary powers and credentials to
the rights of succeeding ministers destitute
of such powers and credentials. It would
however have been happy for the church in
every age, had its ordinary ministers taken
the same care to act in concert with the people
committed to their charge, and to pay all
due deference to their natural rights, which
the apostles themselves, extraordinary as
their commission and office was, did on this
and other occasions. The three grand canons,
that all things should be done decently, in
charity, and to edification, duly attended to,
would supersede the necessity of ten thou-
sand which have been made since, and per-
haps, if rightly weighed, would be found
absolutely to vacate a great part of them.

Stephen, a man full of faith, &c.] Mr. Fleming (in his Christology, Vol. II. p. 166) endeavours to prove, that Stephen was one of the seventy; but it seems quite

8 Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.] Some ancient writers tell us. that he fell into error in the decline of life, and became the founder of the sect of the Nicolaitans, men"tioned Rev. ii. 6, 15; (See Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. iii. cap. 29; and Iren. lib. i. cap. 26.) But it seems much more probable, that the founder of this sect, considering how common the name was, might be some other person so called, or else (as Mr. L'Enfant conjectures,) that some of his words or actions being misinterpreted might be the occasion of seduction, under the authority of so venerable a name as his. We may observe by the way, that it is evident the word proselyte here signifies, one who by circumcision had entered himselfinto the body of the Jewish people; for none imagine Nicolas to have been what is commonly called a proselyte of the gate, no uncircumcised person being yet admitted into the Christian church.

74

SECT.

Acts

The church increases, and many of the priests believe. they chose to repose this confidence; and ac- 6 Whom they set. xii. cordingly they presented them before the apostles: and when they had before the apostles; And they, having prayed that a divine blessing prayed, they laid vi. 6 might attend all their ministrations and care, their hands on them. laid [their] hands upon them, that so they might not only express their solemn designation to the office, but might confer upon them such extraordinary gifts as would qualify them yet more abundantly for the full discharge of it.

7

8

7 And the word of God increased;

And the consequence was, that the matter of complaint being thus removed, and the apos- and the number of tles more entirely at leisure to attend to the the disciples multigreat and peculiar duties of their office, the plied in Jerusalem word of God grew, and the number of disciples greatly; and a great in and about Jerusalem was greatly multiplied; company of the priests were obediand in particular, what might seem very sur ent to the faith. prising, a great multitude of priests became obedient to the faith, notwithstanding all those prejudices, which they had imbibed against this new doctrine, from the scorn with which the great and the noble generally treated it, and the loss of those temporal advantages which they might be called to resign out of regard to it.

And Stephen, having for some time discharg- 8 And Stephen, ed the office of a deacon with great honour and fidelity, was raised by divine Providence and Grace to the superior honours of an evangelist and a martyr, and was enabled, in a very

A great multitude of priests, &c.] We of rending the veil of the temple, and the learn from Ezra, chap. iii. 36-39, that testimony of the guards to the truth of the four thousand two hundred and eighty resurrection, (which some of the chief of nine priests returned from the captivity; that order heard, and might perhaps be the number of which was now probably whispered to some others,) might conmuch increased. I see no foundation in tribute considerably toward their conver. the authority of any ancient copies, for reading with Casaubon, xa av egs and explaining it as if it were na TVES TOY spacer, and some of the priests. It is indeed wonderful, that a great multitude of them should embrace the gospel, considering what peculiar resentments they must expect from their unbelieving brethren, and the great losses to which they must be exposed in consequence of being cast out of their office; (as it is not to be imagined, that, when Christians were cast out of the synagogues, they would be retained as tempie ministers: But the grace of God was the lower rank. able to animate and support them against The superior honours of an evangeall. And it is very probable the miracle list, &c.] It plainly appears from the

sion, in concurrence with the miraculous gifts and powers of the apostles, the most convincing proofs of which they saw before their eyes in their own temple. Some would render ous ox, a numerous body, as if it intimated, that, after mutual conferences with each other, they agreed to come over in a body; which might be the case; but, as the original does not determine that positively, I have kept to what seemed a more literal version: For which reason also I cannot, with Hein sius, render ox pear, many priests of

Stephen works miracles, and the Jews dispute with him. 75

wonders and mira

ple.

9 Then there a

Acts

vi.

full of faith and extraordinary manner, to confirm the doctrine secT. power, did great he taught; for, being full of grace and of power, xil. cles among the peo- and eminently qualified for the performance of wonderful things, he wrought many extraordinary miracles and great signs among the people. But, notwithstanding all the miracles that 9 rose certain of the were done by him, there arose some of the synasynagogue, which is called the synagogue, gogue which is called [that] of the Libertines, as of the Libertines, having been the children of freed men, that is, and Cyrenians, and of emancipated captives or slaves, and [some] Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, of the Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them and of Asia, disput. who were natives of Cilicia and Asia, who ening with Stephen. deavoured to prevent the success of his preaching, by disputing with Stephen," and arguing with him concerning his doctrine. though they had an high opinion of their own sufficiency to manage the dispute, yet such was the force of his reasoning, that they were not able to stand against the wisdom and Spirit with which he spake; the divine Spirit itself guiding his thoughts and animating his expressions, which raised him far above the strength of his natural genius, and made him indeed a wonder

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.

foregoing history of the institution of the of fice, that it was not as a deacon that he preached; but the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit he received, eminently qualified him for that work: And no doubt, many Christians, not statedly devoted to the ministry, and whose furniture was far inferior to his, would be capable of declaring Christ and his gospel to strangers in an 'edifying and useful manner, and would not fail accordingly to do it, as Providence gave them a call and opportunity.

And 10

(who are mentioned both by Josephus, Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 3; [al. 5] § 5; and Suetonius, Tiber. cap. 36) are spoken of by Tacitus, Annal. lib. ii. cap. 85, as of the libertine race, who might easily constitute one of the 480 synagogues said to have been at Jerusalem. (See Mr. Lardner's Credibility, Part I Book i. chap. 3; §4.) When so natural a solution offers, it is hardly worth while to inquire after Altingius's Nethinim,

,לעברתין or Cademan's

i. e. persons speaking Hebrew, or the *Full of grace and of power.] So many libertines, whom Maius (agreeably indeed valuable copies read ag, instead of to the Syriac), supposes to have built this is, that I thought myself obliged to follow them. See Dr. Mill in loc.

synagogue. But the curious reader may, if he pleases, see a farther account of their opinions, and that of some others, in Wolfius's notes on this verse. Dr. Hammond and Mr. Biscoe (chap. iv. §4, p. 103) take them to have been such Jews as were free citizens of Rome: but I do not remember to have seen the word libertini used in that sense.

Libertines, as having been the children of freed men, &c.] Grotius, Salmatius, Basnage, Vitringa, and many other illus. trious writers generally agree in the interpretation given in the paraphrase; for the illustration of which most of them remind us, that great numbers of Jews, taken captive by Pompey, and carried in- Disputing with Stephen.] As the most to Italy, were (as Philo tells us, Oper. considerable synagogues in Jerusalem had p. 1014) set at liberty, and obtained their each a kind of academy or college of young freedom from their masters. Their children students belonging to it, instructed under therefore would be libertini in the proper some celebrated rabbi, it is no wonder sense of that word: agreeably to this, the such nurseries should afford disputants, Jews banished from Rome by Tiberius like these spoken of here.

76

He is apprehended and brought before the Sanhedrim.

SECT. to all that heard him.

xii. and Luke xxi. 15.)

Acts

12

(Compare Mat. x. 20.

Then, as they found they were incapable of 11 Then they sub-
defending themselves by fair argument, they orned men which
had recourse to a most mean and dishonest said, we have heard
him speak blasphe-
fraud; for they suborned men to depose and mous words against
say, We heard him, even this very Stephen, Moses, and against
speak blasphemous words against Moses, and God.
[against] God himself," the great author of that

religion which Moses taught us by command
from him.

And as the law required that a blasphemer 12 And they stir-
should be stoned, (Lev. xxiv. 16) they stirred red up the people,
and the elders, and
up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, es- the scribes, and
pecially those who were in stations of authori- came upon him, and
ty, against him; and setting upon [him,] they vio- caught him, and
lently seized and dragged him away with them, brought him to the
and brought [him] to the Sanhedrim which was
then sitting; and there, in presence of their
highest court of judicature, they prosecuted
the affair to an issue, which will be described
in the following sections.

council.

verse

IMPROVEMENT.

WE see how difficult it is, even for the wisest and best of 1,4 men, to manage a great multitude of affairs, without inconvenience and without reflection: It will therefore be our prudence not to engross too much business into our own hands, but to be willing to divide it with our brethren, with our inferiors, allotting to each their proper provinces, that the whole may proceed with harmony and order.

1 Let us be solicitous that nothing may be done through partiality; especially let those avoid it who are intrusted with the distribution of charities: It is a solemn trust for which their characters at least are to answer to the world now, and they themselves must ere long account for it to God. Let them therefore be willing to be informed of the truth of particular cases, willing to compare a variety of them, and then select such as in their consciences they are persuaded it is the will of God they should in present circumstances regard, and in such or such a proportion prefer to the rest.

3 In religious societies it may be highly proper, that after the example here given in the apostolic age, deacons, or persons to perform this office, should be elected by the society, in concurrence with their ministers. It is their business to serve tables.

Blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.] See note on chap.

vi. in the beginning of the next

tion.

sec

Reflections on the choice of deacons, and the duty of ministers. 77 Happy those societies who make choice of men of an attested char- SECT. acter, and of those who appear by the virtues and graces of the xii. Christian temper to be in that sense full of the Holy Spirit!

While these good men are dealing forth their liberal contributions (by which, while Christ has any poor members remaining, verse we are still to testify our love to him), let ministers devote them- 4 selves with all attention to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Let those, who would administer the word with comfort and success, remember of how great importance it is, that it be watered with prayer, falling upon it as the former and as the latter rain; and especially see to it, that, by the constant exercise of lively devotion in secret, in their families, and on other proper social occasions, they keep their graces vigorous and active; that, living continually in such a state of nearness to God, they may be qualified to speak in his name with that dignity, tenderness, and authority, which nothing but true and elevated devotion can naturally exprsss, or can long retain.

Let us adore that efficacy of divine grace, whereby a multitude 7 of the Jewish priests were made obedient to the faith; and let us heartily pray, that, if there are any who claim a sacred character, and yet, out of regard to worldly honour or interest, oppose the power and purity of the gospel, they may be convinced by the influence of the blessed Spirit, that they can have no interest in contradiction to the truth, and that they are happy in purchasing, at the highest price, that gospel which may enrich them for ever.

In whatsoever station we are fixed, whether in the world or the 9 church, let us always remember our obligation to plead the cause of the gospel, and to render a reason for the hope that is in us. If this engage us in disputation with men of corrupt minds, we must still hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, knowing that he is faithful that has promised. (Heb. x. 23.)

And

The vilest charge may, as in this instance, be fixed upon the 11 most worthy men; piety may be defamed as blasphemy, and that which is the true love of our country as treason against it: But there is one supreme Lawgiver and Judge, who will not fail, sooner or later, to plead the cause of injured innocence. when we read of this vile attack that was made by perjury on the character and life of Stephen, we may take occasion to adore that wise and powerful Providence which so remarkably exerts itself to defend our reputation and our lives from those false and venomous tongues which, were it not for that secret invisible restraint, might, like a two edged sword, so quickly destroy both.