The Acts Of The Holy Apostles, Written By Luke …

1 The Acts Of The holy Apostles, Written By luke The Evangelist The Argument Christ, after his ascension, performed his promise to his Apostles, and sent them the holy Ghost, declaring thereby, that he was not only mindful of his Church, but would be the head and maintainer thereof forever. Wherein also his mighty power appeareth, who notwithstanding that Satan and the world resisted so much against this noble work, yet by a few simple men of no reputation, replenished all the world with the sound of his Gospel. And here in the beginning of the Church, and in the increase thereof, we may plainly perceive the practice and malice which Satan continually useth to suppress and overthrow the Gospel; he raiseth conspiracies, tumults, commotions, persecutions, slanders, and all kind of cruelty.

2 Again we shall here behold the providence of God, who overthroweth his enemies enterprises, delivereth his Church from the rage of tyrants, strengtheneth and encourageth his most valiantly and constantly to follow their captain Christ, leaving as it were by this history a perpetual memory to the Church, that the cross is so joined with the Gospel, that they are fellows inseparable, and that the end of one affliction, is but the beginning of another. Yet nevertheless God turneth the troubles, persecutions, imprisonings and temptations of his to a good issue, giving them as it were, in sorrow, joys; in bonds freedom; in prison, deliverance; in trouble, quietness; in death, life. Finally, this book containeth many excellent sermons of the Apostles and disciples, as touching the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.

3 The mercy of God. Of the grace and remission of sin through Christ Jesus. Of the blessed immortality. An exhortation to the ministers of Christ s flock. Of repentance, and fear of God, with other principal points of our faith; so that this only history in a manner may be sufficient to entrust a man in all doctrine and religion. 1 Acts 5 Acts 2 .. 9 Acts 3 .. 16 Acts 4 .. 19 Acts 5 .. 25 Acts 6 .. 30 Acts 7 .. 33 Acts 8 .. 41 Acts 9 .. 46 Acts 10 .. 51 Acts 11 .. 57 Acts 12 .. 60 Acts 13 .. 63 Acts 14 .. 70 Acts 15 .. 74 Acts 16 .. 80 Acts 17 .. 85 Acts 18 .. 90 Acts 19 .. 94 Acts 20 .. 99 Acts 21 .. 104 Acts 22 .. 108 Acts 23 .. 112 Acts 24 .. 116 Acts 25 .. 120 Acts 26 .. 123 Acts 27 .. 127 Acts 28 .. 132 2 3 4 Acts 1 3 luke tieth this history to his Gospel. 9 Christ being taken into heaven, 10 the Apostles, 11 being warned by the Angels, 12 to return, 14 and gave themselves to prayer.

4 15 By Peter s motion, 18 into Judas the traitors place. 26 Matthias is chosen. 1 I have made the (1) former treatise, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to (a) (*) do and teach, (1) A passing over from the history of the Gospel, that is, from the history of the sayings and doings of Christ, unto the acts of the Apostles. (a) The acts of Jesus are the miracles and doings which shewed his Godhead, and his most perfect holiness and example of his doctrine. (*) Whereby is meant Christ s doctrine and his miracles declared for the confirmation of the same. 2 Until the day that he was taken up, after that he through the holy Ghost, had given (*) commandments unto the ( ) Apostles, whom he had chosen. (*) To preach the Gospel. ( ) Who as they were called by God, so had they their consciences assured by his holy Spirit. 3 (2) To whom also he presented himself alive after that he had suffered, by many (b) infallible tokens, being seen of them by the space of forty days, and speaking of those things which appertained to the (*) kingdom of God.

5 (2) Christ did not straightway ascend into heaven after his resurrection, because he would thoroughly prove his resurrection, and with his presence confirm his Apostles in the doctrine, which they had heard. (b) He calleth those infallible tokens, which are otherwise turned necessary, now in that which Christ spake, and walked, and ate, and was felt of many, these are sure signs and tokens that he truly rose again. (*) Whereby God reigneth in us. 4 (*) And when he had (c) ( ) gathered them together, he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, ( ) which said he, ye have heard of me. (*) luke 24:49 . (c) They were dispersed here and there, but he gathereth them together that they might altogether be witnesses of his resurrection. ( ) Because they should be all witnesses of his ascension.

6 ( ) John 14:25; John 15:26; John 16:7 . 5 (*) For John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized (d) with the ( ) holy Ghost within these few days. (*) Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; luke 3:16; John 1:26; Acts 2:2; Acts 11:16; Acts 19:4 . (d) Either of the Father, or of me; so that either the Father or Christ is set here against John, as the holy Ghost is against the water, as things answerable the one to the other. ( ) That is, with those spiritual graces which Jesus only giveth by his Spirit. 5 6 (3) When they therefore were come together they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou (*) at this time (e) restore the kingdom to Israel? (3) We must fight before we triumph; and we ought not curiously to search after those things, which God hath not revealed. (*) This declareth man s impatience who cannot abide quietly till God s appointed time comes, but would have all things accomplished according to their affections, read Zechariah 6:14.

7 (e) To the old and ancient state. 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the (*) times, or the (f) seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power, (*) For this passeth our capacity, and God reserveth it to himself. (f) That is, the fit occasions that serve to doing of matters which the Lord hath appointed to bring things to pass in. 8 (*) But ye shall receive power of the holy Ghost, when he shall come on you; and ye shall be ( ) witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the ( ) uttermost part of the earth. (*) Acts 2:2 . ( ) To stand in the face of the whole world which signifieth that they must enter into heaven by afflictions, and therefore must fight before they get the victory. ( ) Hereby they might learn that the Messiah was not only for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles.

8 9 (*) (4) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was ( ) taken up, for a cloud took him up out of their sight. (*) luke 24:51 . (4) After that Christ had promised the full virtue of the holy Ghost, wherewith he would govern his Church, although he should be absent in body, he took up his body from us into the heavenly tabernacles, there to continue until the latter day of judgment, as the Angels witness. ( ) Whereby they knew certainly whether he went. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went, behold, (*) two men stood by them in white apparel, (*) Which were Angels in men s form. 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye (*) gazing into heaven? This Jesus which is taken up (g) from you into heaven, shall ( ) so come, as ye have seen him go into heaven. (*) And seeking him with carnal eyes.

9 (g) That is, out of your sight. ( ) As the true redeemer to gather us unto him. 12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount that is called the mount of Olives, which is near to Jerusalem, being from it a (*) Sabbath (h) day s journey. 6 (*) Which was two miles, according to the Jews tradition, albeit it was not so appointed by the Scriptures. (h) About two miles. 13 (5) And when they were (i) come in, they went up into an upper chamber, where abode both Peter and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas James brother. (5) Ecclesiastical assemblies to hear the word, and to make common prayer, were first instituted and kept in private houses by the Apostles. (i) They went into the house, which the Church hath chosen at that time to be a receipt for the whole assembly.

10 14 These all (k) continued with (l) one (*) accord in (m) ( ) prayer and supplication with the (n) ( ) women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his (o) brethren. (k) The Greek word signified an invincible constancy, and steadiness. (l) It is to good purpose, that this concord is mentioned; for those prayers are most acceptable to God which are made with agreeing minds and wills. (*) A lively patron to learn how to dispose ourselves to receive the gifts of the holy Ghost. (m) The disciples prayed for the sending of the holy Ghost, and also to be delivered from present dangers wherewith they were beset. ( ) Partly to obtain the holy Ghost, and partly to be delivered from the present dangers. (n) For it was behoovable to have the wives confirmed, who were afterward to be partakers of the dangers with their husbands. ( ) Or, wives. (o) With his kinsfolks.