Antioch : and when they had gathered 5 the Multituce rogether, they delivered the epiltle.
a Paul, Barnabas, Judzs, and Silas ; which two 1af were with the former. 6 From whom they were ſent, Perſe x, +. X that this derermination of the Council might be more publick
known, as all things concerning our common Salyation ought tg
7
31 hich when they had read, they rejoyced the [| conſolation.
c It could not but much rejoyce the Genz:le-Believers, were exempted from Circumciſion, and the Ceremonial Law it gladded the Believing 7ews alſo, that the Controverſe rermined, and Concord eſtabliſhed amongſt them ; but m1; might they all rejoyce to underſtand the Grace of the Goj that we are not juſtified by the deeds of the Law, but by faith, : Chriſt, Rom. 5. 1. Tis Word allo ſignifies Exhortazion, an j; - matter of Joy to be put upon ſuch excellent duties, as our mog fu Religion recommends, and to be deterred from ſuch erroneqy: Fic? as it forbids. All that God requires of us,being on]y to eſch;y Dy and to do good, Iſa. 1. 16, 17. 1 Per. 3. 1. "4
32 And Judas and Silas being 4 prophets alf them. ſelves, exhorted the brethren with many words, ang ;
confirmed them. |
a Not properly fo called from any Gifr of foretelling things t come, Eph.g. 11. but as Doftors and Teachers in the Thy expounding Moſes and the Prophets, and ſhewing how ang whir they ſpeak concerning Chriſt ; proving out of them, that he wy the Meſſiah, as Ph1l:p had done, Chap. 8. 35, e Ste Chap, j,,.. & 18. 23. hy
33 And after they had tarried zhere fa ſpace, they werele: gog in peace from the brethren 5 uni 1h;
apoltles, |
f A competent time ; ſome make this ſpace to be ?, yea g They were diſmiſſed with earneſt Prayersfor them ; fo; by Par is meant all kind of Good, which they delired for them, as a1; 10. 13. kh Such of them as wereat Jeruſalem, who allo hq ſene them,
34 Notwithſtanding it pleaſed 7 Silas to abide there ſtill. |
; Though having performed his meſſage, he was diſcharged, irq might have returned, yet for the further benefit of that Chyrc) he continued at Antioch. : -
35 Paul alſo and Barnabas & continuedat Anticch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord /, with many others alſo.
k Judas only returned to Fernſalem, to acquaint the Apoſils with the reception their Letter had met with, and what obedience was readily given to their Decrees, / So that when theſe went away, the Church at Antioch was not left deſtitute of faithfil Paſtors. When God givs: the word, great # the multitude of Preachers Pſal. 68. rt.
36 © And ſome days afrer, Paul faid unto Barnabas Ler us go 2 again and vilit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and [ 2 how they do.
» It is not enough that they had ſown good Seed, but they mul take care leſt ir be plucked up, and Tares fown in the ſtead of it, by :he wicked one, Matth. 13. 19. A Husband-mans work is ner at an end, neither is the /aborr 7n Gods wineyard. n Not io much looking after their Bodily welfare, as how their Souls fared, whe- ther they continuel in the Faith, and Integrity of life,
c for
And Was g&. pel; ang
37 And Barnabas determined to rake with them *John, i whoſe ſurname was o Mark. : 1. o This John or Mark, was Siſters Son to Barnsbzs, as Colſ.111 4. 10, Phd
38 But Paul chought not good to take him with them, whe departed from them p from Pamphytia, and went not with them 9 to the work.
p This deferting of Paul and Barnabas by John, is mentioned, Cap. 13.13. 9g The Work unto which the Spirit had clled them, Chap. 13. 2. which was to offer Life and Salvation unto ti? Gentil-s, and to gather them into the Fold of Jeſus Chriſt. Thi Objection was very conliderable, and ought to have weighed more than this 7/u's propinquiry, or nearneſs in Blood unto Barnabas,
39 And the contention was ſo ſharp between them, chat they 7 departed aſunder one from the other : And ſo Barnabas took Mark, and failed unro s Cyprus;
r As Abraham and Lot parted, Gen. 13. 9. yet keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace; loving of, and praying tor one other ; as we may judge, being both'good Men. But they verified here what they had ſaid at Lyfra, Chap. 14. 15. we "i men of like paſſions with you ; yet God over-ruled theſe very diviſions betwixt Paul and Barnabas, tor his own Glory, and the inlargement of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, ſeveral places being by this mean bleſſed with the Goſpel. And this refle&ion upon this John Mart is thought to have made him for the future more diligent and valiant in the cauſe of the Goſpel, which occaſioned that kind Salutation from St. Paul unto him, Co!off; 4. ro. 5 An Ifland inthe AMeaicerranto Sea.
40 And Paul choſe Silas, and departed, being recom mended by the brethren unto 7 the grace of Go.
z The favour of God, as Chap. rg. 26. which the wiſcl - JOIN)»
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XVI. The A CG y 4 * Chap. de k Pit | holieſt ag wr oe x need of 10 a}l their undertakings; as alſo his| | 7 a iona the reliQs of the fimous City of Troy ; or, the Country Pet ok. . alli ance. ; fNerea Outs . 1; þ- "Ws > , 7 , , v F " Wh */ gracious Conduct an ; CE En , IN which che Ciry of A4ticonia was built. 415116
41 And he went through « Syria, and Cilicia x, con-| 9 And a viſion appeared to Pau! in che niche: There ol IR frming the churches. ſtood 2» a man, a 1/''s
Where there were ſeveral brethren by reaſon of the diſperſion] Come over into Mac 3- unto whom
that was upon Stephen's death, Chap. 11. 19. and x5. 2
p the fore-cited Letter was wrote, » putting them in mind ©
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couraging of them to perſevere in the profeſſion of it,
ing ready to anſwer any Objection that could be brought againſt
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Gi AP. AV.
Paul coming to Derbe sndLyſira, circum:iſeth Timothy, and taketh weindeavoured to ; giveth the Churches, by which 10g, that the Lord had catled 1 5r