Reflections on the trial of the twelve apostles. xi. 563 and it shall be for a testimony against them. (Matt. x. 18.) And SECT. such was this repeated admonition which these holy prisoners then at the bar gave to the judges of Israel: Still they urge the divine authority of their mission; still they proclaim him as head of the 30, 31 church and world, whom these very men had so lately crucified in so outrageous and contemptuous a manner. They point to him, whom these priests and rulers had insulted on the cross, as now exalted at the right hand of God, and urge them to seek repentance and remission of sin, from him, to whom they had denied the common justice due to the meanest of men, the common humanity due to the vilest of criminals in their dving moments, giving him in the thirst of his last agonies vinegar mingled with gall. (Mat. xxvii. 34.) Thousands of the people had fallen under this charge; and Jesus the Prince had taken them under his protection. Jesus the Saviour had washed them in his blood. But by what is too frequently the fatal prerogative of greatness, these princes of Israel 33 had hearts too high for the discipline of wisdom, and were engaged. against these humble ministers of the Son of God; who nevertheless addressed them with all the respect which fidelity would allow, and could gladly have poured forth their blood for the salvation of those who so cruelly thirsted for it. They gnashed on these faithful ambassadors with their teeth, as if they would have devoured them alive; and justly will gnashing of teeth be the eternal portion of those who thus outrageously rejected the counsel of God against themselves. (Luke vii. 30.) But God raised up a guardian for the apostles, where perhaps 34 they least expected it; and the prudence of Gamaliel for a while checked the fury of his brethren: So does God sometimes use the natural good sense and temper of those who do not themselves receive the gospel, for the protection of those who are faithfully devoted to its service. Gamaliel had attentively observed former events; 35--37 which is indeed the way to learn the surest lessons of wisdom, which are to be learnt any where but from the word of God. He had seen some ruined by their seditious zeal; and let those who call themselves Christians take heed; how they rashly rise up against legal authority, lest taking the sword they perish by it. (Mat. xxvi. 52) Judiciously does he admonish the council to take heed lest 39 they be found fighters against God. May divine grace ever guard us from that fatal error into which all who oppose the gospel, whatever they may imagine, assuredly fall! They cannot indeed dissolve it, but they dash themselves in pieces against it. Be wise therefore O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth! (Psal. i. 10.) For reasons of State, the apostles were to be scourged, though 40 their judges were inwardly convinced that it was at least possible their message might be divine. Deliver us, O Lord, from that policy which shall lead us to imagine any evil so great as that VOL. VII. 4. B which 564 xi. The foreign Jews complain that their widows are neglected. SECT. which may offend thee! The punishment which these excellent men suffered was infamous, but the cause in which they endured it rendered it glorious; nor could those stripes be half so painful to their flesh, as an opportunity of thus approving their fidelity to their Lord was delightful to their pious souls: Well might they triumph in bearing the scourge for him who bore the cross, and died on it for them. Let us arm ourselves with the same mind, if in a severer sense than this we should be called for his sake to resist unto blood. SECT. xii. Acts SECT. XII. The choice of the seven deacons. Stephen preaches Christ, and after disputing with some of the Jewish societies, is brought before the Sanhedrim. Acts VI. 1—12. ACTS VI. 1. ACTS VI. 1. when the number a murmuring of the NOW in those days of which we have been AND in those days speaking, and some time after the fact last of the disciples was recorded had fallen out, the number of the disci- multiplied, there arose VI. 1. ples being multiplied, there arose a murmuring Grecians against the of the Hellenists or Grecians, that is, of those Hebrews, because converts to the gospel who being foreign Jews their widows, were negand coming from the western countries, used lected in the daily mithe Greek language in their synagogues and in their conversation, against the Hebrews, who were natives of Judea, and used the Hebrew or the Syriac tongue; because, as they were strangers at Jerusalem, and had not so much interest as the natives, some of their necessitous widows were in some degree at least neglected, in the a Grecians, that is,- -foreign Jews, &c.] This, for reasons which may be seen at large in Dr. Benson's History, appears to me by far the most probable of the seven opinions mentioned by Fabricius, (in his Biblioth. Græc. lib. iv. cap. 5. note q. Vol. III. p. 226.) as well as that which is generally allorced by all the best commentators. (See Critic. Magn. in loc.) That of Moùs. Fourmont, (Hist. Acad. Roy. Vol. III. p. 105.) that they were Syrians, depends on uncertain and improbable conjectures, either that the Acts were written in Syriae, or ελληνικαι read for εληςαι, persons belonging to Helena Queen of the Adiabeni. (See Wolf. in loc.) As there were so many Jews who used the Greek translation of the Bible, who might therefore very properly be denoted by this word, it is extremely probable, their united daily nistration. interest should be in question on such an occasion, and not merely that of those who came from Syria.-Beza interprets the word, as denoting only circumcised proselytes; but I think, without any reason. See Drus, in loc. b Their widows were neglected.] The apostles undoubtedly acted a very faithful part in the distribution of money raised by the sale of lands: (See note c on chap iv. 37. § 10. p. 549.) But as Lord Barrington well observes, (Miscell. Sacr. Abstract, p. 11. they could not do all things. Perhaps they intrusted some who had been proprietors of the estates sold, who would naturally have some peculiar regard to the necessity of their neighbours, as being best acquainted with them; and, if any suspicions arose as to the sincerity of their character, and the reasonableness of The apostles propose, that some be chose for this service. Then the twelve called the multitude not reason that we bles. 565 SECT. xii. daily ministration of the charities that were distributed to the poor members of the church. And as the apostles were concerned, thongh not alone,in that distribution, the money raised VI. 1. as above by the sale of estates having been brought to them,) they were solicitous to obviate all those reflections which might fall upon them on this occasion, as they might otherwise in some measure have affected their usefulness. And the twelve apostles having called the multi-2 of the disciples unto tude of the disciples together, communicated the them, and said, It is matter to them, and said, It is by no means proshould leave the word per or agreeable, that we, who have an office to of God, and serve ta- discharge of so much greater weight and consequence, should leave the important care of dispensing the word of God, to attend the tables of the poor, and see who are served there; and yet this we must do, in order to prevent these complaints, unless some further measures be taken by common consent. Therefore, bre-3 thren, as you easily see how inconvenient it would be to suffer this care to lie upon us, and how inevitably it would render us incapable of attending to the proper duties of our office, it is our united request to you, that you look out from among yourselves seven men of an attested character full of the Holy Spirit, and of approved wisdom, whom we may by common consent and approbation set over-this affair e, and who may make it their particular business 3 Wherefore, bre ye out thren, look of honest report, full wisdom, whom we business. their pretensions, these strangers would (cæteris paribus) be least capable of giving satisaction. c Having called the multitude of the disciples together.] Dr. Whitby has solidly proved on this head, that by these we are to understand, not (as Dr. Lightfoot imagined,) the rest of the hundred and twenty, but the whole body of Christian converts, they being the persons to whom satisfaction was then due. to work, to meddle as little as possible with d Seven men.] Mr. Mcde thinks this an allusion to the seven archangels, whom he supposes the great courtiers of heaven; and many other texts, produced in support of that rabbinical opinion, scem almost as little to the purpose as this. e Whom we may set over this affair.] I apprehend, the apostles speak here of what was to be the joint act of themselves and the whole church, as to be sure, after they had exercised the trust for a while, it would have been most indecent to have devolved it on any, but such as they should have approved. It is a maxim with me in this 566 Seven deacons are chose and ordained. SECT. to attend to the management of it. And we, 4 But we will give xii. in the mean time, being freed from this great to prayer, and to the ourselves continually incumbrance, will constantly attend to prayer, ministry of the word. VI. 4. and to the ministry of the word, which is our Acts 5 grand business, and which we could be glad to prosecute without interruption. titude: and they chose Prochorus, and Nica a proselyte of An t och. And the speech the apostles made was pleasing 5 And the saying 7 And the consequence was, that the matter of 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 a precarious conjecture. The termination of most of these names makes it probable they were Hellenists; a supposition which also agrees very well with the occasion of their election. g 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 Nicolaituns, mentioned Rev. ii. 6, 15. (See Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. iii cap. 29. and Iren. lib. i. cap. 26.) But it seems much more probable, more 6 Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number that the founder of this sect, considering Stephen works miracles, and the Jews dispute with him. 567 great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. xii. Acts number of the disci- more entirely at leisure to attend to the great SECT. ples multiplied in Jeand peculiar duties of their office, the word of rusalem greatly; and a God grew, and the number of disciples in and about Jerusalem was greatly multiplied; and in vi. 7. particular, what might seem very surprising, 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. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people, 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called And Stephen, having for some time discharged 3 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 extraordinary manner, to confirm the doctrine he taught; for, being full of grace and of power. and eminently qualified for the performance of wonderful things, he wrought many extraordi. nary miracles and great signs among the people. But, notwithstanding all the miracles that 9 were done by him, there arose some of the synathe synagogue of the gogue which is called [that] of the Libertines, as Libertines, and Cyre- having been the children of freed men, that is, nians, numerous body, as if it intimated, that, of hA great multitude of priests, &c.] We most convincing proofs of which they learn from Ezra, chap. iii. 36-39, that saw before their eyes in their own tempie. four thousand two hundred and eighty--Some would render us ox, a nine priests returned from the captivity; the number of which was now probably much increased. I see no foundation in the authority of any ancient copies, for reading with Casaubon, xai TV Lewy, and explaining it as if it were a TV TWY LEGEWY, 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 temple-ministers :) But the grace of God was able to animate and support them against all. And it is very probable the miracle of rending the veil of the temple, and the testimony of the guards to the truth of the resurrection, (which some of the chief of that order heard, and might perhaps be whispered to some others,) might contribute considerably toward their conversion, in concurrence with the miraculous gifts and powers of the apostles, the i The superior honours of an evangelist, &c.] It plainly appears from the foregoing history of the institution of the office 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. k Full of grace and of power.] So many valuable copies read x, instead of 5ws, that I thought myself obliged to follow them. See Dr. Mill in loc. 1 Libertines, |