Commentarii in sacram Actuum Apostolicorum historiam, facili et perspicua methodo conscripti a Benedicto Aretio bernensi theologo. Cum indice rerum et verborum memorabilium quae in hisce continentur.

The history in this book is varied and manifold: and therefore it would not be unreasonable to distribute it into certain members. We shall do this most conveniently in this way. There are two principal members of the whole narration. The first is general, concerning all the Apostles. The second is special, pertaining only to the journeys of Dr. Paul.

I. The general one is extended to chapter 13. The rest, thereafter to the very end, comprise the history of Paul alone. Both, however, consist of these parts. First, the infancy of the Church is described, as far as it remained within the old limits. That is, it took its beginnings among the Jews, and was increased and propagated to a just number. The principal places of this member: The conversation of Christ for 40 days. His ascension to heaven. Concerning the Apostles’ concordant persistence in one place. Concerning the election of Matthias. Concerning the poured-out Holy Spirit. Peter’s defense that they are not drunk. The fruit of the doctrine. The miracle of Peter, chapter 3. Common goods. Dangers. The history of Ananias and Sapphira. The election of the 7 deacons, chapter 6. The history of Stephen, chapter 7. Up to this point, the Church of Christ is founded and grows among the Jews, specifically in Jerusalem.

II. From chapter 8, the limits of the Church are propagated. For this word of life is disseminated to the nearest Gentiles. The beginning of that part is taken from Saul's ferocity and the burial of Stephen, so that it might be evident by what occasion the faithful were dispersed through Samaria, namely, because of the persecution stirred up by Saul. The more notable places are: concerning Philip teaching the Samaritans, concerning Simon Magus, concerning the eunuch of Queen Candace, concerning the conversion of Paul, chapter 9, concerning Peter, and the rest of his history, teaching among the Gentiles; at Lydda he heals the paralytic Aeneas, the same at Joppa raises Tabitha. He is called to Cornelius, chapter 10, and what he accomplished there. Finally, at Jerusalem he gives an account of why the grace of God is communicated to the Gentiles, chapter 11. Concerning the Church of Antioch, to which Barnabas is sent by the Apostles. Concerning the prophet Agabus. Concerning the origin of the Christian name. Concerning the return of Barnabas and Paul to Jerusalem, concerning the persecution of Herod, by which James is destroyed, chapter 12. Up to this point, it seems to have narrated certain things common to all the Apostles. Thereafter, it descends to the singular deeds of Paul.

III. From chapter 13, it deals thereafter with Paul alone; wherefore we shall observe here in order the remaining journeys of his, to which is joined that last and most grave accusation made at Jerusalem: finally, the journey to Rome. Therefore, to this third part belongs chapter 13 and 14, with part of the fifteenth. This is the first journey, which he undertook with Barnabas: to Seleucia, Cyprus, Salamis, Paphos, where he converts the Proconsul Sergius Paulus. Here Elymas Bar-Jesus the magician is refuted. They arrive at Antioch in Pisidia, where he teaches for two Sabbaths. Chapter 14: at Iconium he teaches; at Lystra he heals the lame man. Finally, he returns to Antioch. Chapter 15: the question about circumcision arises, for which Paul is sent to Jerusalem to the Apostles.

IIII. At the end of chapter 15, the second journey is instituted, which he undertook with Silas, after a dissension arose between him and Barnabas on account of Mark. And so Barnabas seeks Cyprus, having taken Mark. Paul, however, proceeds with Silas into Syria. Chapter 16: he arrives at Derbe, Lystra, where he circumcises Timothy. He does not teach in Asia: but is ordered to go into Macedonia. At Philippi, he converts Lydia, frees a girl from a Pythonic spirit: from which a not mediocre danger is stirred up against the Apostle. Chapter 17: at Thessalonica he teaches for three Sabbaths. Then also at Athens. Chapter 18: at Corinth, where he stays for a year and a half. Hence to Ephesus: from there he returns to Antioch.

V. Chapter 18: he starts the third journey through Galatia, Phrygia, etc. Chapter 19: Paul comes to Ephesus, where he baptizes those 12 men who were instructed in some way by Apollos: he stays here for two years. And he recounts what happened here worthy of memory, such as concerning the sons of Sceva, and the tumult stirred up by Demetrius. Chapter 20: from Ephesus he goes into Macedonia, thence into Troas, where he restores Eutychus. Thence he travels through Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, calls the Ephesian elders to Miletus, with whom he deals concerning the care and vigilance to be expended on the Church of Christ. Chapter 21: he pursues the rest of the journey through Chios, Rhodes, Syria, Tyre, Ptolemais, Caesarea. Hence finally he returns to Jerusalem.

VI. Chapter 22: Paul’s first defense. Since indeed all things there are perturbed at his arrival, against the most grave accusations, a defense was necessary: wherefore by deed and speech he purges himself. Chapter 23: his second defense, which he seems to have spoken from bonds before Ananias the high priest; the Spirit predicted to him that he must go to Rome. Wherefore the traps laid are revealed, so that on this occasion the Apostle might be snatched from the Jews, and conducted to Caesarea as to a place safer and more apt for the Apostle's affairs. Chapter 24: Tertullus the orator accuses Paul in the name of the Jews; Paul defends himself piously in response: Felix suspends the pending lawsuit until his successor Festus. Chapter 25: before Festus, the new judge, the same cause is ventilated. But since he offered himself as more unfair to Paul than to the Jews, he appeals from the unjust judge to Caesar. The same cause is nevertheless soon recognized by King Agrippa. Chapter 26: the Apostle defends himself before King Agrippa: and he does not find him unjust: indeed, had he not appealed to Rome, he could have been dismissed freely by his judgment. And up to this point, the matters managed at Jerusalem have been dealt with en symbouliō in council/consultation.