Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands 19 So now, the angel of the covenant is ever at hand-" to set the prisoners free.” on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, found we no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and 25 And where, after blessing retold them, saying, Behold, ceived, are we so fitly found, as worthe men whom ye put in shipping in the temple of our God! prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other 29 Wise are they, who adopt Peter's apostles answered and said, saying-wiser still they who act We ought to obey God rather upon it. than men. The God of our 25 slew and hanged on a tree. right hand to be a Prince and to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his wit fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye Him hath God exalted with his a Saviour, for to give repentance 32" To them, who obey" his Son Jesus Christ. is also the Holy Ghost, whom 33 Nothing is so cutting as a true charge of guilt. nesses of these things: and so God hath given to them that obey him. 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles' forth a little space; and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 40 41 And 40 It was so ordered by the good providence of God that this dignified stand made on behalf of the early christians, by Gamaliel, had great weight in calming the angry feelings of their enemies *. 41 They doubtless remembered that Christ had foretold their sufferingsthey remembered also that He had foretold their reward. By the fulfilment of the one, they argued the accomplishment of the other. they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Happy thou, if thou also shalt set thy mind nobly to the work before thee the work of thy soul, thy daily care; daily bearing thy cross, and enduring the shame patiently, for the Saviour's sake. * This Gamaliel was son of the aged Simeon; whose close of life was blessed by seeing the promised salvation-the Lord's Christ. 1 CHAPTER VI. APRIL 9, AUGUST 8, Dec. 5. ST. STEPHEN, Morn. ver. 8, and ch. vii. to ver. 30. AND in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: whom they set before the apostles and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 1 The wonderful increase of the Gospel proved that its counsel was of God. Yet so prone is the human heart to wrong, that envy and discontent soon found their way even into a christian community *. 2 Their chief concern as Apostles and overseers of the Church was either by themselves or others to extend the preaching of the word; not to be occupied at the tables of charity +. Observe, that though the deacons are nominated by the disciples, the Apostles both declare their qualifica tions, and after solemn prayer, ap point them by imposition of hands Ver. 8. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose * Of the converted Jews, those of Judea were called Hebrews; those of foreign countries, Grecians-the Greek language being universally spoken. + The charity could be dispensed as well by others, duly authorized. Mark the forbearing spirit of the Apostles! They do not reprove these murmurings, but they calmly take wise measures to cut off occasion for them. Thus the frame-work of the church was completed: formed by the Apostles, the disciples, and the deacons. The deacons were to superintend the almsgiving, as well as minister by baptizing and preachingthe disciples were to spread the Gospel far and wide-and to the Apos tles was entrusted the whole polity of the church. certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. "Then they suborned men, 11 They suborned men; that is, inwhich said, We have heard duced them to give false witness. him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. 15 As a sense of guilt makes the face to shew shame, so a consciousness of virtue, as it gives to the heart a holy intrepidity, gives to the countenance a brightness not its own. When is it that the righteous is not bold as a lion ? CHAPTER VII. APRIL 10, AUGUST 9, DEC. 6, to ver. 30. DEC. 7, from ver. 30. And he THEN said the high priest, Are these things so *? said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred 7 Witness the dreadful plagues with which the Lord judged Egypt, and 7 years. And the nation to * Charran, in Mesopotamia, was called Haran. Gen. xi. 31. + From the birth of Isaac to the deliverance of Israel and of Egypt was 400 years (Gen. xv. 13); and from Abraham's first going down into Egypt, it was 430 years. the mighty hand with which He at length delivered his people. 10 Reader in every season of temptation, let Joseph's noble reflection be yours-"How can I do this wickedness, and sin against the love and favour of your God. God?" You also shall then have whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 16 and were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil intreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: and when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them but they understood not. And the next day 16 Filial piety was prompt to fulfil the wishes of the aged and the dying parent. (Gen. xlix. 29.) 19 It was with Jesus, as with Moses, in infancy. Both were preserved from their enemies miraculously. |