was used, and who therefore used the Greek version of the Scriptures'. In fact Saul was himself a Hellenist, and the more zealous he was now against them the more increased were they against him as an apostate 2. "And they went about to slay him," so that he who had so lately contrived with them the death of Stephen is now forced by them to fly in order to escape a similar fate. When the brethren knew this, they brought him down to Cesarea, on the sea shore, and thence shipped him off to Tarsus, his native city in Cilicia. But before he went on this expedition, he states that, "while he prayed in the temple he was in a trance, and saw the Lord saying unto him, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And he said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee; and when the blood of thy martyr was shed, I also was standing by and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." From this period the history is silent about Saul for an interval of about five years, in which doubtless he applied himself with diligence to the work to which he was "sent," and was engaged in the service of 1 Bishop Pearce. 2 Dr. Lightfoot. 3 Bishop Pearce. his Heavenly Master, but with what success we are no where informed +. The change in the sentiments of one so eminent as Saul, had deprived the enemies of Christ of their most active agent, and doubtless the example of so remarkable a convert had had its influence amongst the Jewish people generally, and made them more attentive and less bitter to the new sect: and as the peaceableness and quiet piety, which are the distinctive marks of the Christian character, showed themselves more and more, these causes seem to have combined to produce, for a time, at least, a cessation of the rage of persecution; "for then had the Churches rest throughout all Judæa, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied "." SECT. CXCV.-Peter, Æneas, and Tabitha.— PETER availed himself of this season of calm to make a journey "throughout all quarters," during which, among other good deeds, he used the power committed to him by Christ in the healing of Æneas, a man long stricken with palsy; and in the raising up from the dead "a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is by interpretation, Dorcas, a woman full of good works and almsdeeds The reason why the 4 Dr. Robinson. 6 99 sacred author gives this interpretation of her Syriac name seems to be, that she, being a Grecian Jewess, was called by the first name by the Jews, and by the second among the Greeks' both names signify in their respective languages the antelope, an animal remarkable for beautiful eyes; for it was always common among the Eastern nations to give to females the names of such animals as were objects of their delight. We should do well to observe, in the narrative of these transactions, first, the important difference there is between the manner in which the miracle upon Æneas is wrought by St. Peter, and that in which Christ performed His works of Divine power and goodness. "Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole, arise, and make thy bed." The different characters of the servant and the Son, the creature and the God, are every where apparent. The other is, that Peter put forth all the mourners around the body of Dorcas in imitation of our Lord'; "and kneeled down and prayed, and said, Tabitha, arise." arise." These things were done at Lydda and at Joppa, two places, about ten miles apart; and the latter the nearest sea-port to Jerusalem, and about forty miles from it3. 66 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron turned unto the Lord," "and it was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And it came to pass that Peter tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.' SECT. CXCVI.-Peter and Cornelius the Centurion.- THE profession of a soldier is generally thought to be unfavourable to religion; but, undoubtedly, true religion never appears to greater advantage than it does in that character; and it pleased God to accept a person of the military profession as the first-fruits of the Gentile world. As it may be remembered it had also pleased Him that the first voice that was raised in attestation of the Divinity of the Son should be the bold, fearless exclamation of the soldier at the cross, "Truly this was the Son of God!" "There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band." A Roman band, or cohort, consisted of about a thousand men, and in every such band there must have been ten centurions. This was probably called "the Italian band," as being chiefly composed of Italians, and was hence honourably named in distinction to those troops which were raised from the provinces of the empire. Cesarea was the usual residence of the Roman governor, and "the Italian band" was probably his body guard. Cornelius, though by race and education a Gentile, yet as to religion was not an idolater, Bishop Horne. 5 Bishop Pearce. ⚫ Dr. Hales. but a worshipper of the true God, the God of Israel; for the Scripture tells us that he was "a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house"." Piety, like the sun, communicates itself to all around it. The manners of a family are often in great measure guided by those of the master. His principles and practices frequently diffuse themselves through the house, and the piety or profaneness, the sobriety or intemperance, the sloth or diligence of servants, discover to the world the nature of that fountain from which they flow. "A devout man" is the term used throughout the Acts of the Apostles, to denote an uncircumcised Gentile convert who had renounced idolatry, and worshipped the true God without submitting to the whole ceremonial law. Cornelius was undoubtedly a man of an admirable piety, and it is hard to imagine how he came by it, for that he was not so much as a proselyte is apparent from the cavil raised at Jerusalem against Peter, in that "he went in to men uncircumcised, and did eat with them." He was probably what was called a sojourning stranger'. Cornelius pleased God through his faith in the promise of Christ to come, as all just men under the law did. He had probably heard of Christ's preaching, and of His having been crucified at |
