The Acts of the Apostles — The Argument (modern spelling)

Book-level argument prefixed to The Acts of the Apostles in the 1582 Rheims New Testament (printed pp. 286–288 / Gallica PDF 316–318; offset printed + 30). Spelling normalized to the modern OT standard; the 1582 vocabulary, pronouns, and word order are kept. Proper-name spellings follow the Vulgate-Latinate form used across the edition (Hierusalem kept as the Rheims sets it). The argument opens with a decorative drop-cap T — there is no engraved evangelist portrait, for Acts is not a Gospel. Facsimile-captured; one dense scholarly clause in the seam (the aside on S. Peter and Simon Magus) is a best-effort reading flagged in notes/acts-audit.md for a possible cleaner re-read.

The Gospel having shewed, how the Jews most impiously rejected Christ (as also Moyses and the Prophets had foretold of them) and therefore Apostles to more be rejected themselves also of them: now followeth this book of the Acts of the Apostles (written by S. Luke in Rome the fourth year of Nero, An. Dom. 61) and sheweth, how notwithstanding their desertes, Christ of his mercy (as the Prophets also had foretold of him) offered himself unto that unworthy people, yea after that they had crucified him, sending unto them his twelve Apostles to move them to penance, and so by Baptism to make them of his church: and whiles al the Twelve were so occupied about the Jews: how of a persecuting Jew he made an extraordinary Apostle (who was S. Paul) and to avoid the scandal of the Jews (to whom only himself likewise for the same cause had preached) sent him, and not any of the Twelve by and by, who were his known Apostles, unto the Gentiles, who never afore had heard of Christ, and were worshippers of many Gods, to move them also (for, that likewise the Prophets had foretold) to faith and penance, and so by Baptism to make them of his Church: and how the incredulous Jews every where resisted the same Apostle and his preaching to the Gentiles, persecuting him and seeking his death, and never ceasing until he set him into the bands of the Gentiles: that so (as not only he every where, but also the Prophets afore him, and Christ had foretold) the Gospel might be taken away from them, and given to the Gentiles: even from Hierusalem (whose reprobation also by name had been often foretold) the head-city of the Jews, where it began, transferred to Rome the head-city of the Gentiles. Al this wil be evident by the partes of the book: which may be these six.

First, how Christ Ascending in the sight of his Disciples, promised unto them the Holy Ghost, foretelling that of him they should receive strength, and so begin his Church in Hierusalem: and from thence dilate it into al that Country, that is into al Jewry: yea and into Samaria also, yea unto al Nations of the Gentiles, be they never so far off. You shal receive (saith he) the virtue of the Holy Ghost coming upon you: and you shal be witnesses unto me in Hierusalem, and in al Jewry, and Samaria, and even to the utmost of the earth. Chap. 1.

Secondly, the beginning of the Church in Hierusalem, accordingly. Chap. 2.

Thirdly, the propagation of it consequently unto al Jewry, and also to Samaria. Chap. 8.

Fourthly, the propagation of it to the Gentiles also. Chap. 10.

Fifthly, the taking of it away from the obstinate Jews, and getting of it to the Gentiles, by the ministry of S. Paul and S. Barnabe. Chap. 13.

Sixthly, of taking it away from Hierusalem itself, the head-city of the Jews, and finding of it (as it were) to Rome the head-city of the Gentiles, and that, in their persecuting of Paul so far, that he appealed to Cæsar and so delivering him after a sort unto the Romans: as they had before delivered to them also Christ himself, whereas S. Peters first coming thither, was upon an other occasion, as shal be said anon. Of which Romans and Gentiles therefore, the same S. Paul being now come to Rome (the last chap. of the Acts) foretelleth the obstinate Jews there, saying: Et ipsi audient. You wil not hear, but, they wil hear. that so the prediction of Christ above rehearsed might be fulfilled: And even to the utmost of the earth. And there both S. Luke ende the book, not caring to tel so much as the fulfilling of that which our Lord had foretold (Act. 27, 24) to S. Paul, Thou must appear before Cæsar. because his purpose was no more but to shew the new Hierusalem of the Christians, where Christ would place the chief seat of his Church, as also in deed the Fathers and al other Catholics have in al ages looked thither, when they were in any great doubt: no less then the Jews to Hierusalem, as they were appointed in the old Testament. Deut. 17, 8.

And so this Book doth shew the true Church, as plainly, as the Gospel doth shew the true Christ, to such as own it and do not wilfully shut their own eyes, to wit, this to be the true Church, which beginning visibly at Hierusalem, was taken from the Jews, and translated to the Gentiles (and namely to Rome) continuing visibly, and visibly to continue hereafter also, until the fulnes of the Gentiles shal be come in: that then also Al Israel may be saved. And as it is not to be marveled at, why it telleth not of S. Peters preaching to the Gentiles, considering that his first coming thither was not, as S. Pauls, upon an other occasion working to their own reprobation, but served very well to confound Simon Magus (Eus. Hist. lib. 2. cap. 12, 13). For who also seeth not, that it maketh no mention of his preaching to any Gentiles at al, those few only Act. 10 excepted, who were the first, and therefore (lest the Gentiles should seem less cared for of God, then the Jews) Peter being the Head of al, was elected of God, to incorporate them into the church, as before he had done the Jews. God (saith he) among us chose, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. And S. James thereupon: Simon hath told how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name. But otherwise (I say) here is no mention of Peters preaching to any Gentiles: nor of the other eleven Apostles. Wil any man therefore infer, that neither Peter, nor the other Eleven preached to any Nation or city of the Gentiles? No. the meaning of the Holy Ghost was not to write al the Acts of al the Apostles, nor the preaching of Peter and his, to the Gentils, but only to the Jews: thereby to set out unto the world, the great mercy of Christ toward those unworthy Jews, and consequently their most worthy reprobation for contemning such grace and mercy, as also on the other side to shew, how readily the Gentiles in so many Nations, were converted by one Apostle only, who from Hierusalem even to Illyricum replenished the Gospel of Christ. And this parsing of the work so done, by S. Peter with the rest, doth S. Paul himself touch: That we unto the Gentiles, and they unto the Circumcision. Nevertheless before his coming to Rome, not only was the Church come to Rome (as it is evident Act. the last chap. where it was placed by S. Peter and other, as likewise by S. Peter it was placed in the first Gentils, before that S. Paul began the taking of it away from the multitude of the Jews, and the translating of it to the multitude of the Gentils) but also notable was the same Church of Rome, that S. Paul writing his Epistle to the Romans, before he came thither, saith: Your faith is renowned in the whole world. And therefore they with the rest of the Gentiles, and that Nation whereof Christ told the Jews, saying: The Kingdom of God shal be taken away from you, and shal be given to a Nation yielding the fruits thereof.