Bibelkommentare

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

Had also received the word — Not only informed, but reformed: yea, so transformed the Churches were into the same image of the word from glory to glory, that they became at length conformed to Christ in holiness and righteoushess.

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And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Contended with him — They should rather have commended him: so hard it is to part with a rooted error: so ordinary it is for faithful ministers to meet with such as will dare to reprehend what they do not comprehend, and precipitate a censure.

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Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

Saying, Thou wentest in, … — This was now no fault, but in their conceit only. Ignorance is the mother of many mistakes, and miscarriages thereupon. How exceedingly was Job miscensured by his friends; Gideon and Jephthah by the Ephraimites, Judges 8:1 ; Judges 12:1 ; the two tribes and half by their brethren, Joshua 22:11-12 . Athanasius passed for a sacrilegious person, a profane wretch, a bloody persecutor, a blasphemer of God, … Cyril and Theodoret excommunicated one another for heresy, Postea comperti idem sentire, upon a mere mistake. Basil complains that he was hardly dealt with by brethren that were of the same judgment with himself, but understood him not. Augustine had suffered so long in this kind, that at length he thus resolves, Non curo illos censores qui vel non intelligendo reprehendunt, vel reprehendendo non intelligunt: I care not for those blind censurers that speak evil of what they know not, and of those they understand not. Cont. Faust. xxii. 34. Charity would teach them to take everything the best way; and not, as logicians do, sequi partem deteriorem, to pick out the worst.

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But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

But Peter rehearsed — With singular modesty he seeks to satisfy them (if reason will do it), and to quench their wild fire by casting milk upon it. Zuinglius and Oecolampadius endeavoured to do the like by Luther and his disciples, but could never effect it. In the year 1533, he wrote a very bitter epistle to the Senate of Frankfort, Qua Zuinglianos Archi-diabolos appellat, e suggestu repellendos, ditione eieciendos, wherein he calleth the Zuinglians arch-devils; and judgeth that they ought to be kept out of the pulpit, driven out of the country. a In the year 1567, at Antwerp the Lutherans joined themselves to the Papists against the Calvinists. Bucholcer, Chronol. Still Satan is thus busy, and Christians are thus malicious, that, as if they wanted enemies, they fly in one another’s faces; yea, cut one another’s throats: as the English and Scots do at this day, to the inconceivable grief of all the godly on both sides. Deus meliora.

a Scultet. Annal.

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I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

-15 See the notes on that part of the former chapter whereof this is but a repetition.

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Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:

13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Then remembered I — Very seasonably; the Holy Spirit suggesting, as a remembrancer; like as the evil spirit did to those cankered kill-Christs, Matthew 27:63 .

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Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

What was I that I could withstand God? — Whose power is irresistible, whose will is a law, yea, Voluntas Dei, necessitas rei: and God hath put a secret instinct (as into the bee, the stork, and other creatures to do their kind, so) into all his children to submit to his will, to say Amen to God’s Amen, and to put their fiat let it be done, and placet it is pleasing, to his, Acts 21:14 .

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When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

They held their peace — And by their silence showed they were satisfied: as did Jonah, by shutting up his prophecy in silence, and giving God the last. It is easier to deal with 20 men’s reasons than with one man’s will. Convince a humble man of his error or passion, and he will yield presently; whereas a proud opinionist stands as a stake in the midst of a stream; lets all the good reason you can allege pass by him, but he stands where he was. "Nay, but we will have a king," … "The word that thou speakest unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hear."

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