1._And Saul. _Luke setteth down in this place a noble history, and a history full well worthy to be remembered, concerning the conversion of Paul; after what sort the Lord did not only bring him under, and make him subject to his commandment, when he raged like an untamed beast but also how he made... [ Continue Reading ]
2.And Luke describeth therewithal that he was furnished with weapons and power to do hurt, when as he saith that he had _obtained _letters of the highest priest, that he might bring all those bound to Jerusalem whom he should find professing the name of Christ. There is mention made of women, that i... [ Continue Reading ]
3._As he was in the way. _In craving epistles of the high priest, he ran headlong against Christ willingly; and now he is enforced to obey whether he will or no. This is surely the most excellent mercy of God, in that that man is reclaimed unto salvation contrary to the purpose of his mind, whom so... [ Continue Reading ]
4.And therefore Luke saith that he _fell to the ground. _For what other thing can befall man, but that he must lie prostrate and be, as it were, brought to nothing, when he is overwhelmed with the present feeling of God’s glory? And this was the first beginning of the bringing down of Paul, that he... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Who art thou, Lord? _We have Paul now somewhat tamed, but he is not yet Christ’s disciple. Pride is corrected in him, and his fury is brought down. But he is not yet so thoroughly healed that he obeyeth Christ; he is only ready to receive commandments, who was before a blasphemer. Therefore, this... [ Continue Reading ]
6.The fruit of that reprehension followeth, wherewith we have said it was requisite that Paul should have been sore shaken, that his hardness might be broken. For now he offereth himself as ready to do whatsoever he should command him, whom of late he despised. For when he asketh what Christ would h... [ Continue Reading ]
7._And the men. _He speaketh now briefly of the companions of Paul, that they were witnesses of the vision. Yet it seemeth that this narration doth not in all points agree with that of Paul, which we shall see in the 22nd chapter, (Acts 22:9.) For he will say there, that his companions were terrifie... [ Continue Reading ]
8._He was raised up from the earth. _Luke addeth now, that he was taken with so great fear that he could not rise of himself; and not that only, but he was also blind for a time, that he might forget his former wit and wiliness. (580) When as he saith, that _after that his eyes were opened, he saw n... [ Continue Reading ]
9.Whereas he saith, that he neither ate nor drank for the space of three days, that is to be counted a part of the miracle. For although the men of the east country endure hunger better than we, yet we do not read that any did fast three days, save only those who had want of victual, or who were con... [ Continue Reading ]
10.We have said before that this man was rather chosen than any of the apostles, that Paul, having laid away the swelling of his arrogancy, might learn to hear the least, and that he [might] come down from too great loftiness even unto the lowest degree. And this vision was necessary for Ananias, le... [ Continue Reading ]
11._For, behold, he prayeth. _Luke showeth that Paul gave himself (585) to prayer those three days; and peradventure this was one cause why he fasted, although it be certain, as I have already said, that he suffered such long hunger, because he was after a sort deprived of sense, as men which are in... [ Continue Reading ]
12._He saw a man, named Ananias. _It is uncertain whether Luke do yet repeat the words of Christ, or he add this of his own. Those which take it in the person of Luke are moved with some show of absurdity, because it is an unlikely thing that Christ used these words. Although this may be easily answ... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Lord, I have heard. _In that Ananias objecteth the danger to the Lord, he betrayeth his weakness of faith therein. Therefore we see that the saints and servants of God are afraid of death, which thing keepeth them back from doing their duty; yea, it causeth them sometimes to stagger. Ananias wou... [ Continue Reading ]
14._He hath power to bind. _We gather by these words, that the fame of the persecution which Saul went about (590) was spread far and wide; for which cause his conversion was (591) more famous. Nevertheless, the Lord suffered the faithful to be evil entreated, (592) that the benefit of such sudden d... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Go; because he is an elect instrument. _The commandment repeated the second time, and also the promise of success added, taketh away all doubtfulness. Therefore sloth shall want an excuse, if it be never redressed after that many pricks be used; like as we see that very many, who howsoever the L... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And because. _Paul could not do this, and have Satan quiet, and the world to yield to him willingly; therefore Luke addeth, that he shall be also taught to bear the cross. For the meaning of the words is, I will accustom him to suffer troubles: to endure reproaches, and to abide all manner [of]... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Having laid his hands upon. _We have said elsewhere that this was a solemn, and, as it were, an ordinary thing amongst the Jews, to lay their hands upon those whom they did commend to God. The apostles translated that custom taken from sacrifices to their use, either when they gave the visible g... [ Continue Reading ]
18._There fell from his eyes as it had been scales. _The blindness of Paul, as we have said before did not proceed from fear alone or from amazedness; but by this means was he admonished of his former blindness, that he might quite abandon that boldness and vain confidence wherewith he was puffed up... [ Continue Reading ]
20.Luke declareth now how fruitful Paul’s conversion was, to wit, that he came abroad by and by, (600) and did not only profess that he was a disciple of Christ, but did also set himself against (601) the fury and hatred of the enemies, by defending the gospel stoutly. Therefore, he who of late ran... [ Continue Reading ]
21._They were all amazed. _This is added, that we may know that the power of God was acknowledged. For seeing that the zeal of Paul against the gospel was openly known, they saw no other cause of such a sudden change but the hand of God. And, therefore, this is also one fruit of the miracle, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
22._And Saul waxed stronger. _Luke doth not only in this place commend the bold zeal of Paul in confessing the faith of Christ, but also he telleth us that he had strong reasons to convince the Jews. He waxed strong, saith he, that is, he got the victory in disputation; his confession did carry with... [ Continue Reading ]
23._When many days were fulfilled. _He saith that many days were expired, that we may know that Paul had some space of time granted him wherein he might do good. For although the Jews did resist him even from the first day, yet the Lord did not suffer the course which he had begun well to be broken... [ Continue Reading ]
25._The disciples having taken him by night. _There is a question moved here, whether it were lawful for the disciples to save Paul thus or no? and also, whether it were lawful for Paul to escape danger by this means or no? For the laws say that the walls of cities are holy, [sacred,] and that the g... [ Continue Reading ]
26._When Saul was. _These were yet hard entrances (617) for Paul, who was as yet but a freshwater soldier, in that, when he had hardly escaped the hands of the enemies, the disciples would not receive him. For he might have seemed to have been so tossed to and fro, as it were, in mockery, that he co... [ Continue Reading ]
27._When Barnabas had taken him. _Whereas the disciples fled so fast from Paul, that was, peradventure, a point of too great fearfulness, (621) and yet he speaketh of none of the common sort, but of the apostles themselves. But he doth either extenuate or lighten their fault, because they suspected... [ Continue Reading ]
28.Luke saith afterwards that Paul _went in and out with the disciples, _which speech signifieth amongst the Hebrews familiarity, as the inhabitants of cities are said to go in and out at the gates of the city. Therefore after that Paul was commended by the testimony of Barnabas, he began to be coun... [ Continue Reading ]
29._He disputed with the Grecians. _Erasmus noteth well in this place that those are here called Grecians, not which came (624) of Grecians, but rather those Jews who were scattered throughout divers parts of the world. Those men were wont to come together (625) to Jerusalem to worship. And it is to... [ Continue Reading ]
30.In that he went to Tarsus, he did it undoubtedly to this end, that he might carry the doctrine of the gospel thither, because he hoped that he should have some favor and authority in his country, where he was famous; yet was he brought thither by the brethren, that they might deliver him from the... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Then the Churches. _Luke’s meaning is, that the enemies of the gospel were greatly provoked by Paul’s presence. For why was there such peace made suddenly by his departure, save only because the very sight of him did provoke the fury of the enemies? And yet this is no reproach to him, as if he h... [ Continue Reading ]
32.Luke setteth down how the Church was increased by miracles. And he reciteth two miracles: That a man who had been bedrid eight years, having the palsy, was suddenly healed; and that a certain woman was raised from death. First, he saith, that as Peter walked throughout all, he came to Lydda. And... [ Continue Reading ]
34._Jesus Christ maketh thee whole. _It is certain that the apostles would never have attempted the doing of miracles, unless they had been first certified of the will of God, whereupon the effect did depend. For they had no such power of the Spirit given them that they could heal whatsoever sick pe... [ Continue Reading ]
35._And all those. _His meaning is, that the miracle was published abroad, and was known throughout the whole city. For when the Scripture saith _all_, it doth not comprehend every one how many so ever it noteth; but it putteth all for the more part, or for many, or for the common sort of men. There... [ Continue Reading ]
36.There followeth a more famous token of Christ’s power, by how much it is more hard to restore life to a dead body, than to restore health to a man that is sick. But Luke doth first commend the person of Tabitha on whom the miracle was showed, and that with a double title; to wit, that she was Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
37._It happened that she was sick. _He saith in plain words that she was sick, that he may the more plainly express her death which followed. To the same end he saith that the corpse was washed and laid in an upper chamber; therefore, these circumstances serve to make the miracle to be believed. Whe... [ Continue Reading ]
38._The disciples, which had heard, _The washing of the corpse showeth that the disciples knew not what would come to pass, for by this means they make the corpse ready to be buried. Yet this is some token of hope, that they lay her in an upper chamber, and send to Peter. Furthermore, they murmur no... [ Continue Reading ]
39._And Peter arose. _It is doubtful whether the messengers declared to Peter the (matter and) cause why they fet [sent for] him; yet it is more like to be true, that they requested him absolutely that he would come to work a miracle. But there ariseth another question, whether he knew God’s purpose... [ Continue Reading ]
40._When they were all put forth. _When as he taketh a time to pray, he seemeth as yet to doubt what will be the end. When he healed AEneas he brake out into these words, without making any stop, _AEneas, Jesus Christ make thee whole. _But as the operation of the Spirit is not always alike and the s... [ Continue Reading ]
41.Luke repeateth, again, in the end that she was showed openly to the disciples; whence we gather that she was raised again, rather for other men’s sake than for her own. Brain-sick fellows, (641) who dream that the soul of man is only a blast which vanisheth away until the day of the resurrection,... [ Continue Reading ]
42._And many believed. _Now appear manifold fruits of the miracle, for God comforted the poor, a godly matron was restored to the Church, in whose death it suffered great loss, and many are called unto the faith; for although Peter were [had been] a minister of so great power, yet he keepeth not the... [ Continue Reading ]
43.When as he saith that Peter dwelt with a tanner, we may hereby gather of what manner of men the church of Joppa did consist, for if the chieftains of the city had been converted to Christ, some one of them would have lodged Peter; for it had been too cruel a thing to suffer an apostle of Christ t... [ Continue Reading ]