GENEVA BIBLE 1599
The Bible of the Pilgrims who founded America and also the Bible of the Reformation.
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1 There (1) were also in the Church that was at Antioch, certain Prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and (*) Manaen (which had been brought up with (a) Herod the Tetrarch) and Saul.
(1) Paul with Barnabas is again the second time appointed Apostle of the Gentiles, not of man, neither by man, but by an extraordinary commandment of the holy Ghost.
(*) This declareth that God calleth of all sorts both high
and low.
(a) This same was Antipas, which put John Baptist to death.
2 Now as they (b) (*) ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have (c) called them.
(b) Whiles they were busy doing their office, that is, as Chrysostom expoundeth it, while they were preaching.
(*) The signifieth to execute a
public charge, as the Apostleship was; so that here is
shewed, that they preached and prophesied.
(c) The Lord is said to call (whereof this word (calling)
cometh which is usual in the Church) when he causeth that to
be, which was not, whether you refer it to the matter itself
or to any quality or thing about the matter; and it groweth
of this, because when things begin to be, then they have
some name; as God his mighty power is also declared thereby,
who spake the word, and things were made.
3 (2) Then fasted they and prayed, and laid their hands on them, and let them go.
(2) Fast, and solemn prayers were used before the laying on of hands.
4 (3) And they, after they were (*) sent forth of the holy Ghost, came down unto (d) Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
(3) Paul and his companions do at the first bring Cyprus to the subjection and obedience of Christ.
(*) Acts 14:26 .
(d) Seleucia was a city of Cilicia, so called after
Seleucus one of Alexander's successors.
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews; and they had also John to their minister.
6 So when they had gone throughout the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, being a Jew, named Barjesus,
7 Which was with the Deputy Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. He called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 (4) But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, and sought to turn away the Deputy from the faith.
(4) The devil maketh the conquest of Christ more glorious, in that he setteth himself against him.
9 Then Saul (which also is called Paul) being full of the holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
10 (5) And said, O full of all subtilty and all (e) mischief, the child of the devil, and enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the straight (*) ways of the Lord?
(5) The sorcerer which was stricken of Paul with a corporal
punishment (although extraordinarily) sheweth an example to
lawful magistrates, how they ought to punish them which
wickedly and obstinately hinder the course of the Gospel.
(e) He noteth out such a fault, as who so hath it, runneth
headlong and with great desire to all kind of wickedness
with the least motion in the world.
(*) Which are the doctrine of the Apostles, that only leadeth us to God.
11 Now therefore behold, the (f) hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, and not see the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and he went about, seeking some to lead him by the hand.
(f) His power which he sheweth in striking and beating down his enemies.
12 Then the Deputy when he saw what was done, believed, and was astonied at the doctrine of the Lord.
13 (6) Now when Paul and they that were with him were departed by ship from Paphos, they came to Perga a city of Pamphylia; then John departed from them, and returned to Jerusalem.
(6) An example in one and the selfsame company both of singular constancy, and also of great weakness.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to (*) Antioch a city of (g) Pisidia, and went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.
(*) This was another Antioch than that which was in Syria.
(g) This putteth a difference between it, and Antioch which was in Syria.
15 (7) And after the lecture of the Law and Prophets, the rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye (h) have any word of (*) exhortation for the people, say on.
(7) In the Synagogue of the Jews (according to the pattern
whereof Christian Congregations were instituted) first the
Scriptures were read, then such
as were learned were licensed by the rulers of the Synagogue
to speak and expound.
(h) Word for word, If there be any word in you; and this is
a kind of speech taken from the Hebrews, whereby is meant,
that the gifts of God's grace are in us, as it were in
treasure houses, and that they are not ours, but God's. In
like sort saith David, Thou hast put a new song in my mouth;
Psalm 40:3 .
(*) This declareth that the Scripture is given to teach and exhort us, and that they refused none that had gifts to set forth God’s glory and to edify his people.
16 (8) Then Paul stood up and beckoned with the hand, and said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken.
(8) God bestowed many peculiar benefits upon his chosen Israel, but this especially, that he promised them the everlasting redeemer.
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and (i) exalted the people when they dwelt in the land of (*) Egypt, and with a (♣) (k) high arm brought them out thereof.
(i) Advanced and brought to honor.
(*) Exodus 1:9 .
(♣)
Exodus 13:14 .
(k) Openly and with many force,
breaking in pieces the enemies of his people.
18 And about the time (*) of forty years, suffered he their (♣) manners in the wilderness.
(*) Exodus 16:1 .
(♣) Here is declared the great patience and long suffering of God before he punisheth.
19 And he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, and (*) divided their land to them by lot.
(*) Joshua 14:1 .
20 Then afterward he gave unto them (*) Judges (♣) about (l) four hundred and fifty years, unto the time of Samuel the Prophet.
(*) Judges 3:9 .
(♣) For these 450 years were not fully accomplished, but there lacked three years counting from the birth of Isaac to the distribution of the land of Canaan.
(l) There were from the birth of Isaac until the destruction of the Canaanites under the governance of Joshua four hundred and seven and forty years, and therefore he addeth in this place, this word About, for there want three years, but the Apostle useth the whole greater number.
21 So after that, they desired a (*) King, and God gave unto them (♣) Saul, the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of (m) forty years.
(*) 1 Samuel 8:5 .
(♣) 1 Samuel 9:15; 1 Samuel 10:1 .
(m) In this space of forty years must the time of Samuel be reckoned with the days of Saul; for the kingdom did as it were swallow up his government.
22 And after he had taken him away, he raised up (*) David to be their King, of whom he witnessed, saying, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which will do all things that I will.
(*) 1 Samuel 16:13 .
23 (9) Of this man’s seed hath God (*) according to his promise raised up to Israel, the Saviour Jesus;
(9) He proveth by the witness of John, that Jesus is that Saviour which should come of David.
(*) Psalm 89:21; Isaiah 11:1 .
24 When (*) John had first preached (n) before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
(*) Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:2; Luke 3:2 .
(n) John as a Herald, did not shew Christ coming afar off as the other Prophets did, but hard at hand, and entered on his journey.
25 And when John had fulfilled his (♣) course, he said, (*) Whom ye think that I am, I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoe of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
(♣) When his office drew to the end, he sent his disciples to Christ.
(*) Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; John 1:20 .
26 (10) Ye men and brethren, children of the generation of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the (*) word of this salvation sent.
(10) Christ was promised and sent properly to the Jews.
(*) That is, this message and tidings of salvation.
27 (11) For the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they (*) knew him not, nor yet the words of the Prophets, which are (♣) read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
(11) All things came to pass to Christ, which the Prophets foretold of Messiah; so that hereby also it appeareth that he is the true and only Saviour; and yet notwithstanding they are not to be excused which did not only not receive him, but also persecute him most cruelly although he was innocent.
(*) He rebuketh them for their ignorance.
(♣) Although they read the Law, yet their hearts are covered that they cannot understand, 2 Corinthians 3:14 .
28 And though they found no cause of death in him, (*) yet desired they Pilate to kill him.
(*) Matthew 27:22; Mark 15:13; Luke 23:23; John 19:6 .
29 And when they had (*) fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and put him in a sepulcher.
(*) In Christ all the promises are Yea, and Amen, 2 Corinthians 1:20 .
30 (12) But God (*) raised him up from the dead.
(12) We must set the glory of the resurrection against the shame of the cross, and grave. And the resurrection is proved as well by witnesses which saw it, and by the testimonies of the Prophets.
(*) Matthew 28:2 ; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:7; John 20:19 .
31 And he was seen many days of them, which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, which are his witnesses unto the people.
32 And we declare unto you, that touching the promise made unto the fathers,
33 God hath fulfilled it unto us their children, in that he (o) (♣) raised up Jesus, (13) even as it is written in the second Psalm, (*) Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
(o) For then he appeared plainly and manifestly as that only Son of God, when as he left off his weakness, and came out of the grave, having conquered death.
(♣) In that he was born and incarnate.
(13) If Christ had tarried in death, he had not been the
true Son of God, neither had the covenant, which was made
with David, been sure.
(*) Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5 .
34 Now as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he hath said thus, (*) I will give you the (♣) holy things of David, (p) which are faithful.
(*) Isaiah 55:3 .
(♣) Meaning, that he would faithfully accomplish the promises, which he made of his free mercy with the forefathers; and he sheweth that as the grace, which God hath given to his Son, is permanent forever, so likewise the life of the Son is eternal.
(p) The Grecians call those holy things, which the Hebrews call gracious bounties, and they are called David's bounties in the passive signification, because God bestowed them upon David. Moreover they are termed faithful, after the manner of speech which the Hebrews use, who term those things faithful, which are steady and sure such as never alter nor change.
35 (14) Wherefore he saith also in another place, (*) Thou wilt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(14) The Lord was so in grave, that he felt no corruption.
(*) Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:31 .
36 Howbeit, David after he had served his time by the counsel of God, he (*) slept, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption.
(*) 1 King 2:10; Acts 2:29 .
37 But he whom God raised up, saw no corruption.
38 (15) Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.
(15) Christ was sent to give them free remission of sins, which were condemned by the Law.
39 And from (q) all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses, by him every one that believeth, is justified.
(q) Whereas the ceremonies of the Law could not absolve you from your sins, this man doth absolve you, if you lay hold on him by faith.
40 (16) Beware therefore lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the Prophets,
(16) The benefits of God turn to the utter undoing of them that contemn them.
41 (*) Behold, ye (♣) despisers, and wonder, and vanish away; for I work a (♠) work in your days, a work which ye shall not believe, if a man would declare it you.
(*) Habakkuk 1:5 .
(♣) He reproveth them sharply because softness would not prevail.
(♠) Which is, vengeance unspeakable, for the contempt of God’s word.
42 ¶ (17) And when they were come out of the Synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles besought, that they would preach these words to them the next Sabbath day.
(17) The Gentiles go before the Jews into the kingdom of heaven.
43 Now when the congregation was dissolved, many of the Jews and (r) Proselytes that feared God, followed Paul and Barnabas, which spake unto them, and exhorted them to continue in the grace of God.
(r) Which had forsaken their heathenish religion, and embraced the religion set forth by Moses.
44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God.
45 (18) But when the Jews saw the people, they were full of (*) envy, and spake against those things, which were spoken of Paul, contraring them, and railing on them.
(18) The favor of one selfsame Gospel is unto the reprobate and unbelievers, death, and to the elect and such as believe life.
(*) They disdained that the Gentiles should be made equal with them.
46 (19) Then Paul and Barnabas spake boldly, and said, (*) It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken unto you; but seeing ye put it from you, and (s) judge yourselves unworthy of (♣) everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
(19) The Gospel is published to the Gentiles by the express commandment of God.
(*) Matthew 10:6 .
(s) By this your doing you do as it were pronounce
sentence against yourselves, and judge yourselves.
(♣) Which is, to know one only God, and whom he hath sent, Jesus Christ.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, (*) I have made thee a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be the salvation unto the end of the world.
(*) Isaiah 49:6; Luke 2:31 .
48 And when the Gentiles heard it, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord; and as many as were (t) (*) ordained unto eternal life, believed.
(t) Therefore either all were not appointed to everlasting life, or else all should have believed; but because that is not so, it followeth that some certain were ordained, and therefore God did not only foreknow but also foreordained, that neither faith nor the effects of faith should be the cause of his ordaining or appointment, but his ordaining the cause of faith.
(*) None can believe, but they whom God doeth appoint before all beginnings to be saved.
49 Thus the word of the Lord was published throughout the whole country.
50 (20) But the Jews stirred certain (u) (*) devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
(20) Such is the craft and subtilty of the enemies of the
Gospel, that they abuse the simplicity of some which are not
altogether evil men, to execute their cruelty.
(u) Such as embraced Moses his Law.
(*) He meaneth superstitious women, and such, as were led with a blind zeal, albeit the common people esteemed them godly; and therefore Luke speaketh as the world esteemed them.
51 (21) But they (*) shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
(21) The wickedness of the world cannot prevent let God to gather his Church together, and to foster and cherish it, when it is gathered together.
(*) Matthew 20:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Acts 18:6 .
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 14:8
And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
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Before, and many years after the KJV was printed, the GENEVA BIBLE was the People's Choice, but an ungodly King made it illegal to publish it any longer: http://www.reformedreader.org/gbn/igb.htm
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