d They detire nothing elſe to embolden them, but God's owning them and their work. e Miracles were then neceſſary, as being the ſeal bf their Commiſſion from God ; they defire ro have this Patent with chem, to ſhew as oft=n as occaſion ſerved. By the Power and Authority of Chriſt; for Chriſt alone they ſought: ro ad- Vance -_ magnifie, and nct themiclves by all the wonders they Wrougnre,
31 And when they bad prayed *, the place was
* ſhaken f where they were aſſembled together ; and they were all filled g with rhe holy Ghoſt, and they ſpake the word of God with boidneſs 5,
} Miraculouſly moved up and down on the waves of the Sea, to evidence God's preſence with them, and acceprance of them and their prayers 1n an extraordinary menner. g According to their con- ations, whether Apoſtles (tor whom theſe prayers were eſpecially made) or private believers. + This was the grace they asked, wer. 29. Cod gave itthem, and with it all other graces necefſary for them ; In their difficulties and wants, the greateſt and holieft inthe Church *God, muſt goto God to be ſupplied, and prayer is the moſt ſucceſs- ful means, * ;
|. 32: And the multitude of them that believed, * were © Ofone heart, and of one ſoul f : neither ſaid any of chem, that ought of the things which he poſietſed,was his own &
ut they had all things common.
2 ASif one heart and one ſoul, had moved that multitude ; to - ure there was one {pirit in them all, that is, the Spirit of God, ning ole grace they agreed in all truths, and in hearty afteQions
1 765 one another. & Infomuch, they were as willing, that *t they had might be enjoyed by their necefſitous brethren, as themſelves ; The community of goods was not commanded,
1 tat libaty, and was chofen as moſt expedicnt at ſuch a time
2
—_—_ A
—
| meet with divers terminations or endings.
had need.
p 5ubmitted them to the Apoſtles diſpoſal ; this metaphor is uſed, : Cor. 15. 27. Me hath pur all things wader his fees, q The poor mans want, 15 the fitteſt meaſure for our relief,
35 And Joles r, who by the apoſtles was ſurnamed s Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The ſon of con- folation) a t Levite, and of the countrey of Cyprus z.
r Some read Joſeph; the Hebrew names when turned into Greek, s Full of Contolation ; not. onely in that he gave fo liberally towards the relief of the poor, parting with his poſſeſſions for them ; bur that he excelled inpro- pounding inward and Spiritual comfort unto poor andrich; being of a mild diſpoſition, and fitted to handle gently fuch wounds as the terrors of the Law had made. # Tho? a Lewite, he mighrhave Land either in the right oc his Wife, or given to him and his Anceſtors ; as we read was to Phineas, Joſh. 24. ut. otherwiſe the Lord was the Levites portion in an eſpecial manner. 7 The Jews being diſperſed all over the known World ; fome dwelt in Cypris, as Foſes?, parents, Sal's parents dwelt at 72/7, rho at this time both Saul and Foſes dwell in Ferufalcm.
37 Having « land, fold zz, and brought the money, and laid :z ary rhe apolttes feer.
x This 1s aa inſtince of what was ſaid, wer. 34, 35. and Feſes pro- bably is inſtanced in it, either becauſe he fold a greater quantity of Land, as having large poſiefions; or as being one of the fiift thar was rematkable in this kind of charity. y vid. ver. 35,
C HARV.
Aninias and Sipphira his Wife ſell:ag their poſſeſſion, 11g it at the Avca ftles feet, yet for lying and Hypocriſie ar? prnijhed with a ſudden Death, I 10. Fear falls upon all, 11. The Apoſtles work many wonders ;; raiſe the ſick, aud caſt out Deviis ; to the increaſe of the Cherch, 12—16. The high Prieſt, moved with indignation, apprehenas and Imprifors the Apoſtles, they were delivered by the cinnil of the Lord, and Commanacd to go and Preach in the Temple openly, 17—20, They are fercht our and broug ht before the Council, and examined: They defend themſelves, ana teſtifie of Chriſt, his ReſurreFion and Aſſintion, 21 ——=J2. The Council intending to flay them Gamalie] ael:yers them ; they are beaten, and rijoyce thereat, and every where daily preach Jeſus Chriſt, 33— 42. I Ur a 2 certain man named Ananias with Sapphira
his wife, ſold b a Pollcfſion.
4 A dreadful inſtance of God's indignation againſt Hypocriſie and Sacritege, which we have an infallible teſtimony of; which is the more remarkable, becauſe ſuch fins eſcape the puniſhment from men, either as not known, or not difliked ; yet the damnation of ſuch as are guilty of them, flumbereth nor, 2 Per. 2. 3, I: being the glory of God ro ſearch out matters farther than men can, or liſt to do. 5 Ar: Eſtate, Houſe, or Farm.
2 And kept back c part of the price, his 4 wife alſo be- ing privy to it, and e brought a certain part, and laid is f. at the apoſtles feet. | 9, |
c When they had vowed the whole to God and his ſervice, whicka made it a robbing of God; whatſoever pretence they might pcf- ſibly have, of detaining ſome part for their own neceſſities in old age, or time of fickne!s ; arguing a great diſtruſt in that God, whom, when they had made a vow, they pretended ro give them- ſelyes and their ſubſtance unto, 4 Her ſubjeCtion to her husdand, nor excuſing her partaking in his fin and puniſhment. e Thetwwam- bition carried them thus far; they would ſeem devout, charitable, 6. add their coverouſack hindred them from going farther,f wid. Chap. 4. 35-
4 Rur
C778, 04 2 2nd fi) -
a ” I
”X
ew - _ x" --* - -*% y OP 3 : one E. Fd FA OOER. 7 IR 4A. — C a - pn . 4