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fion, Paul faw two Apoftles only, Peter and James. But St. Luke's words, as feems to me, imply, that all the Apoftles were then at Jerufa-` lem, though Paul faw two only, the reft for fome reasons declining to fhew themselves in perfon to him. Dr. Doddridge has this note upon ch. ix. 27. "Paul himself tells us, that upon his going up to Jerufalem, "he faw no other Apoftles, but Peter and James. Gal. i. 19. Beza "well obferves, we are quite uncertain, on what occafion, the reft were "then absent from Jerufalem. Had they been there, though Paul staid "but about a fortnight, he would no doubt have feen them." Neverthelefs the folution of this difficulty appears to me very eafy. The Apoftles were now all at Jerufalem, or near it. But they lived privately, because it was a time of perfecution. The great perfecution against the church, which began with the death of Stephen, was not yet over. The Apoftles therefore could not appear abroad without danger. And it was fufficient, that they spoke to Paul, and received him, by Peter and James. Which I take to be the true import of St. Luke's expreffion. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles.

After Peter had been at the house of Cornelius, it is faid, Acts xi. 1. And the Apostles and brethren that were in Judea, heard, that the Gentils alfo had received the word. Another proof, that all the Apostles, or moft of them, were still at Jerufalem. But I do not fuppofe, that the Apofles, like many other of the Jewish believers, were offended at what Peter had done. Or, if they were at first somewhat offended, they were foon, and eafily fatisfied, and were very willing to testify their approbation of Peter's conduct.

From the 12. chapter of the Acts we know, that James fon of Zebedee, and brother of John, and Peter, were at Jerufalem, in the year 44. or thereabout, near the end of the reign of Herod Agrippa: the former of whom was beheaded, and the other imprifoned. And at ver. 17. is mention made of another James, fuppofed to be the Lord's brother, and always refident at Jerufalem.

From the account of the Council of Jerufalem, and of the occafion of it, all the apostles appear to have been then in Judea, and at Jerufalem, or in its neighborhood, Acts xv. When therefore Paul and Barnabas bad no fmall diffenfion and difputation with them, they determined, that Paul, and Barnabas, and certain other of them, fhould go up to Jerufalem, unto the Apoftles and Elders about this question. ver. 4. And when they were come. to ferufalem, they were received of the church, and or even the Apostles and Elders.... ver. 6. And the Apostles and Elders came together, that is, met in Council, for to confider of this matter... ver. 22. Then pleafed it the Apostles, and Elders, with the whole church, to fend chofen men of their own companie, to Antioch... ver. 23. And they wrote letters by them after this manner: The Apostles, and Elders, and Brethren fend greeting. 33. And after they had tarried there a space, that is, at Antioch, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the Apostles.

ver.

In all thefe places the Apostles must intend all the Apostles, or the Apostles in general. For how can the expreffion be understood otherwife?

If it should be faid, that the Apoftles might be at the Council at Je rufalem, though feveral of them had been before in other countreys: I

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think, that would be faid without ground and reafon. It does not ap pear, that the Apostles were fent to, invited, or called in from abroad, to attend this Council. But the Chriftians at Antioch fuppofed, or rather knew, that the Apoftles were at Jerufalem, and therefore directly fent thither to them.

Indeed none of the Apoftles are exprefsly named as speakers in the debates of the Council, befide Peter and James. But all the reft may have been there. So upon divers other occafions in the Gospels, and at the beginning of the Acts, Peter only spake, though all the reft were prefent. In Gal. ii. 8. 9. 10. St. Paul giving an account of a journey to Jerusalem, fuppofed to be the fame with this to the Council, fpeaks of conferences, which he had with three, namely James, Cephas, and John, who feemed to be pillars. Here is one more mentioned as prefent at Jerufalem, befide the two before taken notice of. And there must have been others befide these three, who feemed to be pillars, or were the moft emi

nent.

The first time, that we meet with the mention of any one of the twelve, as being out of Judea, is that in Gal. ii. 11. after this Council, as is generally allowed, when Peter was at Antioch. It is very obfervable, Acts xi. 19... 22. when tidings came to the ears of the Church at Ferufalem, that many Gentils had been converted at Antioch by fome of those who were fcattered abroad by the perfecution, they fent forth Barnabas, that he fhould go as far as Antioch. None of the Apoítles went, not fo much as one, to accompany him. And afterwards ch. xiii. 1. 3. in the account of the extraordinarie miffion of Paul and Barnabas from Antioch to Cyprus, and other parts, there is no mention made of any Apoftle, as present at Antioch. And it is plain, there was not one there.

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All thefe confiderations induce me to think, that none of the twelve Apoftles left Judea to teach either Jews or Gentils in other Countreys, until after this Council.

Having now, as I apprehend, fhewn this to be very probable, I shall mention fome remarks. Whereby there may be an opportunity for anfwering objections, though feveral have been already obviated.

1. There was a fitnefle in it. It was very proper, and even expedient, that the Apoftles should stay a good while in Judea, to affert and confirm the truth of Chrift's refurrection by teaching, and by miraculous works, and do their utmost to bring the Jewish People to faith in Jefus as the

Christ.

2. As this was fit, it is likely, that they had received fome command from Chrift himself, or fome direction from the Holy Ghoft, to stay thus long in Judea.

3. There were confiderations, that would incline them to it, and induce them to do what was fit to be done, and was agreeable to the mind of Christ. One was the difficulty of preaching the gofpel in foreign countreys. This would induce them to stay in Judea, till the circumtances of things facilitated their farther progreffe, or called them to it.

Another

* Theodoret has a like argument: Eξ ὧν βάδιον καταδεῖν, ὡς ἐδέπω καταλέλοπει τὴν ἰσδάιαν ὁ θεῖος ἀποτόλος ιωάννης. Theod. Pr. in ep. ad Eph. Tom. 3. p. 290.

Another thing was their affection for the Jewish people, their countrymen, especially thofe of Judea, with whom they had been brought up, and among whom they dwelt, together with a perfuafion of the great value of the bleffing of the gospel. This laft confideration, I apprehend, would induce them to labor in Judea, with earneft defires, and fome hopes, of bringing all, or however, many, to faith in Jefus. This influenced Paul alio to a great degree, and for a good while. Nor was he without hopes of perfuading his brethren and countrey-men to what appeared to bimfelf very certain and evident. So he fays in his fpeech to the people at Jerufalem. Acts xxii. 17... 20. He affures them, that whilft he was worshipping at Jerufalem, in the temple, he had a tranfe or extafie: that he there faw Chrift, who faid to him: Make hafte, and get thee quickly out of Jerufalem. For they will not receive thy teflimonie concerning

me.

Paul pleaded, that they muft needs pay a regard to his teftimonie, who was well known to have been for fome while very zealous in oppafing his followers, and was now convinced and perfuaded. But the Lord faid unto him: Depart. For I will fend thee far hence unto the Gentils. This tranfe, or vifion, feems to have happened in the year 44. after that Paul had preached at Antioch with great fucceffe among Gentils.

Nevertheless he had an earneft defire to make one attempt more among the Jews of Judea, where was the body of that people. And if they could have been perfuaded, many abroad would follow their example. And it required an exprefs and repeated order from Jefus Chrift, in vifion, to induce him to lay afide that defign, and to proceed to preach to Gentils in remote parts.

It is a moft affectionate concern, which he expreffes for the Jewish people in divers places of the epiftle to the Romans, writ fo late as the year 58. ch. ix. 1... 5. X. 1. 2. xi. 4. if by any means, fays he, I may provoke them to emulation which are my flesh, and might fave fome of them. Nor can it be questioned, that the like fentiments prevailed in the other Apoftles. If it needs any proof, let St. Peter's difcourfes at the beginning of the book of the Acts be confulted, particularly ch. ii. 38...40. ii. 22... 26. not to refer to any other.

4. There were many advantages attending the stay of the Apostles in Judea. Many more Jews were by this means converted, than otherwife there would have been. St. Luke fays, Acts iv. 4. that the number of the men was five thousand. But when Paul came to Jerufalem fome years afterwards, James fays to him, Thou feeft, brother, how many thouJands of Jews there are which believe. xxi. 20. And it is very likely, that the Jewish believers had better, and freer principles, than otherwise they would have had. They were, it is true, for obferving the law themselves: ver. 20. but they agreed, that the Gentils were under no fuch obligations. ver. 25. Farther, by this means every step taken in planting the Chriftian Religion, and fpreading the gofpel in the world, had the fanction of all the Apostles, and of the whole church of Jerufalem.

Upon occafion of the perfecution at Jerufalem, many were scattered abroad, who went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Chrift unto them, Acts viii. 45. Now when the Apostles, which were at Jerufalem, heard, that Samaria had re

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ceived the word of God, they fent unto them 'Peter and John.

This was

the first step taken in carrying the gospel to any, beside native Jews, and profelytes to their religion. And what had been done by Philip at Samaria, was approved and ratified by all the Apostles.

The next step was preaching to Gentils, which work was folemnly allotted to Peter. And the Apostles and Elders that were in Judea, heard that the Gentils had also received the word of God. ch. xi. 1. Upon Peter's rehearsing to them the whole affair, and what had happened at the house of Cornelius at Cefarea, all were fatisfied. They glorified God, faying: Then hath God alfo to the Gentils granted repentance unto life.

ver. 18.

Soon after this, fome of those who were scattered abroad upon the perfecution, went to Antioch, and there fpake to the Greeks or Gentils, preaching the Lord Jesus. And a great number believed, and turned to the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church, which, was at Jerufalem. And they fent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. ver. 19. 22. This step therefore was also approved and ratified by the whole church of Jerufalem, including the Apostles.

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And henceforward no objections could be made by wife men against preaching to Gentils, and receiving them, but what arose from the difficulty of the work. Nevertheless fome good while after this, there was a difpute raised at Antioch by fome bigotted Jews, who afferted it to be neceffarie, that the Gentil believers should be circumcifed after the manner of Mofes. This occafioned the Council of Jerufalem. Where the controverfie was fully determined by the Apoftles and Elders. Which was a great advantage. By this means the manner of receiving Gentils was fixed and fettled beyond difpute, and beyond oppofition. Or, if any fhould be made afterwards, it could not be fuccefsful, nor very troublefome. And we may be affured, that all the Apostles, and their difciples, would be harmonious, and preach the fame doctrine to Jews and Gentils, wherefoever they went.

5. There was a neceffity of the Apoftles ftaying in Judea, till about this time. Otherwife, they could not have fufficiently teftified the doctrine concerning Jefus in Judea, nor have fully taught the Jewish people, fo as to render them inexcufable, if they did not believe, and re

pent.

If we confider the ftate of things in Judea, we may difcern, that in the year 44. the Apofties had not had an opportunity to fulfill their ministrie in that countrey. It must be evident to all from the hiftorie in the Acts, that for fome while, foon after our Lord's afcenfion, the Apostles were grievously harraffed, and hardly ufed by the Jewish Council or Rulers. Which was the more fo, becaufe of the weakneffe of Pilate's government, for fome time before he was difmifled from the province. And afterwards, about the time of his removal, Stephen was ftoned, and a great perfecution began. Which, as I apprehend, continued from the begining of the year 36. to the begining of the year 40. When the churches had reft. Of which reft undoubtedly the Apoftles made good ufe. St. Luke's words are: Then had the churches reft throughout Judea, and Galilee, and Samària, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghoft, were multiplied. ch. xí. 31.

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After which follows an account of Peter's paffing throughout all quarters, his going to Lydda, and there healing Eneas, then to Joppa, where he raifed Tabitha: and from thence to Cefarea, and there preaching to Cornelius, and his companie: and of fome other matters, reaching to ch. xi. 26. How long that reft, or peace and tranquillity continued, in all its fulneffe, we cannot fay exactly. Perhaps it lafted a year, or more. And it is not unlikely, that in that fpace of time other Apoftles, befide Peter, travelled in Judea, and the feveral parts of it, preaching the gofpel, and confirming the difciples. But upon Herod Agrippa being made King of all Judea by Claudius in the year 41. that peace would be abated, if not interrupted. From the begining of his reign, efpecially from his arrival in Judea, and during the remainder of it, the difciples must have been under many difficulties and difcouragements, Prince and People being of one mind. And toward the end of his reign he became an open and violent perfecutor, till Divine Providence fmote him, that he died. After his death Judea came to be in the hands of Roman Procurators, Cufpius Fadus, Tiberius Alexander, Cumanus, Felix, Feftus: When probably, the difciples of Jefus had for feveral years together more liberty, than they had at any time, fince the refurrection of Jefus, excepting the interval of reft and tranquillity, before taken notice of. For those Governours, or Procurators, had no orders from the Roman Emperour to perfecute or disturb any Jews. And that those Governours were not difpofed to disturb the Chriftians, may be argued from the treatment given to Paul by Felix, and Feftus, and the officers under them. Now therefore from the year 44. to the time of the Council in 49. or 50. and afterwards, the Apostles went on fulfilling their miniftrie. All of them, as I apprehend, ftaid in Judea till the time of the Council. Soon after which fome did, probably, go abroad. However, feveral of them might stay there a good while longer, and not remove, till a little before the commencement of the Jewish war in 66.

6. We may now perceive, the benefit of the early choice and call of Paul to be an Apoftle. Who having been feveral years employed and exercifed in preaching to Jews in Judea, and out of it, was ready to preach to Gentils likewife, as foon as a door was opened for applying to them at Antioch, and other places: as there was, after Peter had received Cornelius at Cefarea whilft it was not as yet fit for any of the twelve Apostles to leave the land of Ifrael.

7. We now obtain fome affiftance for interpreting thofe, expreffions of Paul: Gal, ii, 7. 8. 9. When they faw that the gospel of the uncircumcifion was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcifion was committed unto Peter. For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcifion, the fame was mighty in me toward the Gentils. And they gave unto me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Heathen, and they unto the circumcifion. And Rom, xi. 13. inasmuch as I am the Apoftle of the Gentils, I magnify my office. Thofe expreffions cannot be intended to fignify, that Paul was Apoftle of the Gentils only, and exclufive of the Jews: or that Peter and the other of the twelve, were Apostles of the circumcifion only, exclufive of the Gentils. For an Apostle is a teacher or mafter of the whole world. They were appointed to be fo by Chrift himself. Nor could their commiffion be li

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