Acts xii. 24. 12.  Furthermore, when Paul, with other disciples, his fellow-travellers, came to Jerusalem, and “declared to James and the elders, what things God had wrought by his ministry among the Gentiles—­They glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many” myriads (or ten thousands) “of believing Jews there are, and they are all zealous of the law”—­Acts xxi. 20.  Our translation seems herein very defective, rendering it how many thousands; whereas it should be, according to the Greek, how many ten thousands:  and these myriads seem to be in the church of Jerusalem, seeing it is said of them, ver. 22, “The multitude must needs come together, for they will hear that thou art come.”  Now considering this emphatical expression, not only thousands, but ten thousand:  not only ten thousand in the singular number, but ten thousands, myriads, in the plural number:  nor only myriads, ten thousands, in the plural number, but how many ten thousands; we cannot in reason imagine but there were at least three ten thousands, viz:  thirty thousand believers, and how all they should meet together in one congregation for all ordinances, let the reader judge.  Thus far of the proof, from the multitude of believers in the church of Jerusalem.

Except.  But the five thousand mentioned Acts iv. 4, are no new number added to the three thousand, but the three thousand included in the five thousand, as Calvin and Beza think.

Ans. 1.  Then it is granted that five thousand one hundred and twenty, besides an innumerable addition of converts, were in Jerusalem; which if such a number, and multitudes besides, could for edification meet in one place, to partake of all the ordinances, let the reader judge.

2.  Though Calvin and Beza think the three thousand formerly converted to be included in this number of five thousand, Acts iv. 4, yet divers both ancient and modern interpreters are of another mind, as Augustine.  There came unto the body of the Lord in number three thousand faithful men; also by another miracle wrought, there came other five thousand.[110] These five thousand are altogether diverse from the three thousand converted at the first sermon:  so Lorinus, Aretius, and divers others.

3.  Besides a great number of testimonies, there are reasons to induce us to believe, that the three thousand are not included in the five thousand, viz:  1.  As the three thousand mentioned in Acts ii. 41, did not comprehend the one hundred and twenty mentioned Acts i. 15, so it holds in proportion that the three thousand mentioned there, are not comprehended here in Acts iv. 4.  Besides, 2.  This sermon was not by intention to the church, or numbers already converted, but by occasion of the multitude flocking together to behold the miracle Peter and John wrought on the “man that was lame from his mother’s womb;” as Acts iii. 10-12; so that ’tis more than probable that the five thousand mentioned Acts iv. 4, are a number superadded besides the three thousand already converted.