Acts 15

Acts 15:1

CErtaine men,] Who intrded themselves without the comission or approbation. Verse. 24 The brethren,] which were converted to the Faith amongst the Gentiles Except yee be,] circumcision and other ceremonies, though they were abolished by Christs death Pil. 3. 3. Colossians 2:11. Were used for a time as things indifferent, to not offend the ewes, who were habituated in them. But these false doctors did seeke to impose them upon the Gentiles likewise as things necessary as an essentiall part of Gods worship, and a supply to the righteousnesse acquired by Christ to salvation, where upon the Apostles seeing it, did not only breake the peace of the Church, and was a great obstacle to the Gospell, because the Gentiles ahored circumcision, but did likewise oppose Christs befit Gal. 5. 2. 56. They presently applyed a remedy to it.

Acts 15:2

That Paul,] not because these two Apostles, who were every way equall to the rest, in the light & conduct of the spirit, and in Apostollicall authority, Galatians 2:6.〈◊〉. had any need of instruction or of confiration, but onely to give the weake content, who had more confidence in Peter and James, and in the Church ofJerusalem, and to oppe false doctors outhes, and to establish by common votes a general rder in the Church.

Acts 15:4

The law,] namely, the ceremoniall law.

Acts 15:5

A good while age,] namely in the beginning of the preaching of the Gospell.

Acts 15:8

which knoweth.] and therefore hath seene that the purity of the converted Gentiles faith and conscience, without the use of ceremonies, was equall to that of the believing Iewes, who by the use of the said ceremonies, were formerly prepared and instru¦cted in it, See. Acts 10:34-35.

Acts 15:9

Purifying.] having instead of the external purifications of the law of Moses,made them partakers of the purgation of their sins in the blood of Christ, and of the gifts of regeneration in newnesse of life, by the holy Ghost, which are two benefits that man obtaineth by faith.

Acts 15:10

Tempt yee,] make a rash triall without any necessity or command even with danger of sinister successe, whither God will give them the will to submit themselves to a burthen so odious unto them, and the power of bearing it, without being moved to impatience and revolt Were able,] not so much for the extreame labour there was in observing of the ceremonies, as because that the observance could never bee so perfect, but that the conscience would be involved in many scruples and anguishes: and besides, because that under them, being understood in the sence of these false Apostles, the necessity of observing the whole law was included, for to finde out ones righteousnesse before God, Galatians 5:3. which being impossible for man to do, the law was as a bond of condemnation to him, and a ministery of death, Rom. 3 20. and 4. 15. 2 Cor. 3. 7. 9.

Acts 15:13

Iames,] See upon Acts 12:17.

Acts 15:14

For his name,] the Italian, In his,] namely that may be subject unto him, bearing his name, and acknowledging, and worshipping him, for their onely true God.

Acts 15:17

That the,] there is some diversitie in the text of Aos, this passage being like many others of the new testament, taken out of the greek translation of the Sptugine which was much in use amongst the Grecians in those dayes, which for some cause not very well knowne vareth ostentimes from the hebrew, but it was sufficient to shew by it that there should be other nations, which should be called the Lords. Which is the meaning the of Amos, layd downe as well in the greek, as in the hebrew text.

Acts 15:18

Unto God,] this prophecy and other like unto it, about the calling of the Gentiles, sheweth that this was Gods counsell, which hee bringeth to passe in these dayes, therefore wee must not finde it strange, nor be offended at this novelty.

Acts 15:19

Wherefore,] since it pleaseth God to cal them to his grace and Church, it is not reasonable that wee should in the behalfe of men lay this stumbling block of the necessity of circumcision, which is so much abhorred by them. And besides, seeing God hath taken away the distinction of nations, by the communication of his coenant, we must not any more set up the marke of the former division. See Ephes.2. 14. 16.

Acts 15:20

They abstaie,] this is an Ecclesiasticall ordinance, and as they say canonicall, not so much to ule the conscience, and the inward man, as the externall actions, for the peace, comelinesse, and order of the Church of those dayes, in things which of their own nature were indifferent, as the eating of blood or strangled meat: or which the Gentiles by abu hd to be such, as to eat of the flesh which was offere to Idols. v. 2. And committing fornication. See 1 Cor 6 12, 13. and 10. 20 Rev. 2. 14. 20.

Acts 15:21

For Moses.] this is ordained for the Gentiles: for the Iewes are sufficiently instructed, by the reading and exposition of the law in their observances, and to that we doe remand them, untill thorow a greater light and encrease of faith, they leave these of that which is now of no vertue.

Acts 15:22

Chosen men,] the greek heads, or conductors, that is to say pastors, who bore office in the Church governement.

Acts 15:24

Subverting,] stirring them from their faith and quiet, and casting them into feare, pe plexities, and scruples.

Acts 15:26

Have hazzarded,] to innumerable dangers and travells, or have lad aside all care of themselves, to dedicate themselve wholly to Christs service.

Acts 15:28

To he holy Ghost,] because they did treate of Ecclesiastill orders, concerning the quietnesse and order of the Church, wherin Ecclesiastical authority hath place, the assembly used this terme, it seemed good to us, which is not used, neither in the Articles of aith, nor in the commandements which meerely concerne the conscience. And to shew that authority was with holy reason and wisedome, there is added, and to the holy Ghost, who guided the Apostles in these outward things also. 1 Cor. 7. 25. 40. The meaning is, as the spirit of God hath dicaed it to us, so we doe ordaine it to you by the authority which God hath given us.Necessary,] for the peace & cocord

Acts 15:30

The multitude,] namely the whole body of the Church.

Acts 15:31

For the consolation,] for this meanes of oncord which was given them by the Apostles. Others have it exhortation.

Acts 15:32

Prophets,] See upon Acts 13. 1.

Acts 15:33

In peace,] in good love. Or with a blessing Unto the Apostles,] namely to Ierusalem, whither the Apostles went after their voyages, and where it is likely some number of them resided continually.

Acts 15:38

Thought not good,] by discourse of reason for if there had beene any expresse revelation from God, Barnabas who was also a man inspired, would have knowne it, and peradventure Paul had espid some defect in Marke, which was concealed from Barnabas. Or that hee did not judge it reasonable to make him partaker of the reaping and harvest of the Churches, who would not bee with them at the sowing, and that for a milde and just punishment.

Acts 15:39

So sharpe,] thorow humane infirmitie, and yet with a good intention in both of them They departed,] God made use of their separation, to cause the Gospell to fructifie more as large, in diverse places.