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amongst them the prophecies, and accounts given many ages before of the coming of Christ; and therefore from their corner of the world, he was to be published in all other parts: he being the Sun of righteousness risen in Judea, from whence he should dart his rays into other places and countries m"

But after his resurrection, he gave commission to his apostles", Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized (Gentile as well as Jew) shall be saved: for then Christ was no more a messenger sent to the Jews, but a king sitting at the right hand of God°.

Note here, That the Jews, because they were wont to be circumcised, are often called by the name of the circumcision, and the Gentiles by the uncircumcision: the Gentiles are also called Greeks, either because the language of the Greeks was the more general language then in use; or because of all the Gentile world, the Greeks were best known to the Jews, ever since the countries near Judea (such as the Lesser Asia and Egypt) were subject to the Macedonian or Grecian kings.

This doctrine of the Gentiles' interest in the Gospel of salvation was such, as the apostles themselves, for about seven years after Christ's death, and the brethren who were at Jerusalem, were not satisfied in; nor was it as yet revealed unto them by the Holy Ghost: for, although Christ bade them teach all nations, and told them, that they should be witnesses unto him unto the uttermost parts of the earth'; yet at first they seem to have understood this, of their preaching to the Jews dispersed amongst all nations, and through the earth: and so

m

n Mark xvi. 15.

Orig. contra Celsum, 1. 6. fere ad finem.
Idem in Acts xxi. 37. and Rom.
r Acts i. 8.

• Grot. in Matt. xv. 24. 9 Matt. xxviii.

i, 16.

they who were scattered abroad, (who were doubtless some of those extraordinary inspired persons, of which an account has been given in the seventh general remark aforegoing on the Acts,) are said to preach the word to none but unto the Jews only; but Peter, at his return to Jerusalem, relating the history of Cornelius, they glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto lifes.

This was done about seven years after Christ's ascension into heaven.

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Next we have an account of the spreading of Christianity in other parts, besides the country of the Jews; for as it was before observed, that the persecution under which Stephen suffered was turned by God to good, it being the occasion of dispersing the first Christians, and thereby of propagating the faith in several places of the country of the Jews; so also some of those that were scattered up and down went to other parts out of Judea, and came at length to Antioch, a city of Syria, about two hundred and eighty miles from Jerusalem, and there the Gospel was planted. The city of Antioch was a place remarkable for a great number of Jews, who inhabited there ever since the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, and enjoyed great privileges and immunities, and the same freedom of the city with the Greeks", by the favour of the succeeding kings of Syria; insomuch, that several of the Gentiles became proselytes to them; which might be some reason why those Jews, who were converted Christians, and hunted out of their own country, resorted thither. When the account of

Chap. xi. 1-19.

Acts xi. 19. $ Baudrand in Damascus, which, he says, is in the midway between Antioch and Jerusalem, 140 miles from each. u Josephus, Wars, book vii. chap. 21. Gr. cap. 3.

the church of Christ being planted at Antioch was brought to the apostles at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to establish and confirm them. Those who received the faith of Christ, were before called amongst themselves the brethren, disciples, believers, and saints; but by the Jews, the sect of the Nazarenes, and Galileans, from Nazareth in Galilee, where Christ abode; but now at Antioch they first obtained the honourable name of Christians, from Christ their master', which, as it should seem, was fixed upon them in an open solemn manner, as the word we render called imports in the original 2. This was about ten years after Christ's ascension.

Soon after this there happened a famine, which had been foretold by Agabus, a Christian convert; and the brethren at Antioch shew the fruit of their Christian profession, by sending relief to their fellow-Christians at Jerusalem".

About the same time Herod Agrippa, grandson to Herod the Great before mentioned, having obtained of the Romans the government of Judea and Samaria, as well as Galilee, with the title of king, began a persecution of the Christians, especially at Jerusalem, the better to please the Jews; and also out of his own zeal for the Jewish laws and rites, he being a most strict observer of them; and having beheaded James the Apostle, (called James the Great, whether because of his age or stature, or some peculiar favour conferred on him, is uncertain,) he apprehended Peter also; but God delivered him, and shortly after Herod died miserably so the Gospel flourished, and many were converted.

In the next place, the xiiith and xivth chapters

x Acts xxiv. 5.

y Chap. xi. 19, &c. * Χρηματισαι, an Antiochian term for a solemn publication; St. Luke, the writer of this book, being a native of Antioch. Mr. Gregory's Notes,

chap. xxxvi.

a

Chap. xi. 27, &c.

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b Joseph. Antiq. book

acquaint us, how Barnabas and Paul were chosen by the direction of the Holy Spirit at Antioch, and in a solemn manner ordained to preach the Gospel amongst the Gentiles in several countries. They did betake themselves first to the Jews, and, being rejected by them, then to the Gentiles, converting many by their doctrine and miracles; and at length returned to Antioch, and gave an account of their ministry.

The next thing recorded is the dispute which happened at Antioch, that occasioned some disturbance; namely, since many Gentiles, and particularly those of them who had been proselytes of the gate, were converted as well as Jews, whether those Gentile converts were obliged to be circumcised, and in other respects to keep the law of Moses; which the converted Jews would still suppose necessary; for although they were convinced by the powerful evidence of the Gospel, yet they still retained a very high veneration for the institutions of their great master Moses, and their old customs in which they had been brought up; which they would impose on the Gentile converts also. Upon this it was determined, that such a course should be taken, as was, by God's appointment, observed for avoiding schism among the Jews, (and they were the people who made up a great number of those first converts.) They were in such case to repair to the Sanhedrim, or great council, and be determined by the same. In like manner, the church at Antioch appointed Barnabas and Paul to repair to those of the apostles and elders, who were then at Jerusalem, (the only Christian Sanhedrim;) for which also some think there was a revelation by the Spirits. Here a council is held, and Paul and Barnabas declare what miracles God had wrought by them among the Gentiles for their

d Chap. xv. 1, &c.

8-14.

VOL. II.

e Acts xxi. 20, 21. ↑ Deut. xvii.

8 From Gal. ii. 2.

M

conversion; a plain evidence, that they were accepted by God without circumcision, or other Mosaic rites; especially since, as St. Peter declared, God bestowed on them, as well as the converted Jews, the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost. of the Holy Ghost. At length it was determined, that the Gentile Christians were not bound to the Jewish Mosaical ordinances, as circumcision, and the rest; only that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. Which injunçtions the apostles might lay on the Gentile converts, because they are agreeable to the precepts which the Jews suppose were given to the sons of Noah", and which they obliged the proselytes of the gate to submit to; which, therefore, it was as necessary for them to do now they were become proselytes to Christianity. And besides this, by observing the apostles' injunctions, they would forbear giving too great offence to the Jewish converts, (which would have been an hindrance to their Christian unity,) by their eating those things which the Jews made conscience to abstain from, as being expressly forbidden in their law, however they might be esteemed indifferent in themselves; namely, meats which had been offered to idols, that they might not so much as seem to partake in the idolatry; or blood, which is called the life, as containing the vital spirits, whereby they were cautioned against murder'; or things strangled, for the avoiding of eating blood"; and also that they should abstain from fornication, which the Gentiles allowed themselves in before" their conversion, and accounted as no crime, especially whilst they accompanied only with those women who prostituted their

i See remark k Exod. n Grot.

See general remark iv. on the Pentateuch. iii. on the Gospels concerning proselytés, num. 4. xxxiv. 15. 1 Levit. xvii. 10. m Levit. xvii, 13:

in Acts xv. 20.

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