PROLEGOMENA.

alone. To inquire into the rest is the trait of a curious person rather than a religious one.

The more notable places of the present history.

The principal place is concerning justification through faith, which they treat in almost every sermon, such as Stephen in chapter 6, Peter before Cornelius in chapter 10, and the same Peter at Jerusalem in chapter 11. To this place belong the places concerning the person of Christ, such as his resurrection, his ascension, and his merits. Also places which concern the person of the Apostles, such as the gifts of the Holy Spirit by which they were rendered capable for such a duty, and concerning their calling and ordinary election, chapter 1.

Places which concern the ministry, such as concerning the fruit of the ministry, chapters 2, 8, 9, 10, 16; concerning the calling of the Gentiles to salvation, chapters 8, 10, 13, 18; concerning the abrogation of the law and circumcision, chapter 15. All these look to the fact that Christ Jesus rose from the dead, and by his merit grace and the remission of sins is given to us by God.

Then there are other places of confirmation, by which the doctrine of the Apostles is confirmed. They are almost threefold, for they confirm their own things through scripture, through constancy in persecution, and through miracles.

The place of scripture is copious. For whatever is proposed, they do not hesitate to confirm with the scriptures, as Peter proves the fall of Judas from scripture in chapter 1. He likewise proves the outpouring of the Holy Spirit from scripture in chapter 2. Thus, he shows the resurrection of Christ from the Psalms; he shows the law and circumcision to be useless for salvation by the scriptures in chapter 15.

In persecutions, they console themselves with scripture. Here one may see how scripture is to be cited, how it is to be explained, and from where its understanding is to be sought. The sobriety in citing places of scripture pertains here, lest we decline immoderately toward allegories; likewise, how the speech of teachers is to be tempered to the capacity of the hearers. In Paul, we see him not abhorring at times the testimonies of the prophets. Below, in chapter 17, at Athens, he cites the testimony of Aratus. Thus, in 1 Cor. 15, that of Menander. To Titus, chapter 1, that of the Cretan Simonides. In the sermons of others, we find nothing of the sort. The most firm defense, therefore, is through the sacred scriptures, which it is fitting to employ everywhere.

Then, in persecutions, they build up by confession with perpetual constancy: there is no cross, no tyranny so great, which might move them from their conviction even by a hair's breadth. We shall have here four notable persecutions. The first is in chapter 4, where the Apostles are imprisoned, yet they are freed. The second in chapter 5, where the help of God is present again. The third in chapter 8, which Saul makes harsher, but his own conversion soon mitigates it. The fourth in chapter 12, is stirred up by Herod, and James dies in the confession of the truth, while the rest are freed. Then there are special persecutions, such as Paul being stoned, traps being laid for him through Asia, his being captured in Jerusalem, others conspiring for his death, his finally being led to Rome, and his dying in the confession of the truth. The rest all performed the same. Thus, they sealed the doctrine with their own blood.

Thirdly, miracles are added, as appendices to Apostolic doctrine. This place is also very copious. For each one has his own miracles, and sometimes the power of performing miracles is attributed to all commonly.

Singular ones are, as in Peter, Stephen, Philip, and Paul. Peter's miracles are first in chapter 3, where he heals the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. 2. He kills Sapphira and Ananias with one word in chapter 5. 3. At Lydda, he also restores a certain Aeneas in chapter 9. 4. At Joppa, he restores Tabitha to life at the prayers of the faithful in chapter 9. 5. He is miraculously freed from prison, the soldiers not sensing it, in chapter 12. 6. His shadow also heals many in chapter 5.

II. Those of Stephen are encompassed in one word in chapter 6, verse 8. He performed miracles and many signs among the people; therefore, he also cured the lame and the sick, like Peter.

III. Those of Philip are explained briefly in chapter 8, verse 7. That he cured many demoniacs, lame, and paralytics in Samaria, where he first taught the Gospel after the Ascension of Christ. Of the same Philip, it is written miraculously in chapter 8, that the Spirit of the Lord snatched him from the eunuch, who had already been baptized, and he was found at Azotus.

IIII. Paul's miracles are illustrious. First, his entire calling is miraculous in chapter 9. From an enemy, he is rendered a defender of the Church, and that suddenly, and on the very path of persecutions. 2. At Lystra, he healed a lame man in chapter 14. 3. He blinded Elymas the sorcerer with a bare word in chapter 15 referring to chapter 13. 4. At Lystra, he is stoned and soon rises to life unharmed in chapter 14. 5. At Philippi, he frees a girl from an unclean Pythonic spirit in chapter 16. 6. His handkerchiefs are carried to the sick so that they may get better. You have the same regarding Peter's shadow in chapter 5. 7. He restores Eutychus who had fallen from the window in Troas in chapter 20. 8. He shakes off a viper unharmed into the fire in chapter 28. 9. He frees Publius's father from fever and other illness in chapter 28. These and all similar things he employed for the confirmation of the doctrine, that Christ Jesus the Son of God rose from the dead, and in his name penitents obtain salvation and eternal life. Then there are common testimonies, which attribute to all the Apostles this power of performing miracles, as in chapter 2, verse 43: many miracles and signs were performed through the Apostles; and chapter 5, verse 12: by the hands of the Apostles, miracles and many things were performed among the people. Wherefore, what he reported singularly concerning Peter and Paul, let us understand of the others also, such as Andrew, Bartholomew, Matthew, Matthias, and others.