Chapter XXIV (continued, part 9)
efTect on their commercial relations made the latter glad to sue for peace, tlieir country was nojirished by the king's country—See 1 Kings 5. 11; Ezra 3. 7; Ezekiel 27.
17. Perhaps the famine (ch. 11. 2K) made them the more urgent for reconciliation. 21, 23. And upon a set day Herod . . . made an oration unto them—to the Tyrians and Sidonians especially, tlie people gave a shout, &c. —Josephus' account of his death is remarkably similar
to this. [Antiquities, x'lx.a.i.] Severa cases of such deaths occur in history. Thus was this wretched man nearer his end than he of whom he had thought to make a public
spectacle. 34. But the M-ord grew, &c—q. d., ' Not only was the royal representative ignominiously swept from the stage, while his inteiideu victim was spjired to the Church, but the cause which he and his Jewisli Instigators sought to crush was only furthered and glorified. How full of encouragement and consolation is all this to the Christian Church in every age! 25. Bornnbns and Saul returned from .Terusalem—where. It 'liiis appears, they had remained during all this porseculion. when they had fullilled their ministry—or service; that mentioned on ch. 11. 29, 30. took with them .Tolin . . . Mark —(See on v. 12), not to be confounded with the second Evangelist, as Is often done. As his uncle was P.ariiabao, so his spiritual father was Pe'er (I Peter 5. 13).
less for Peter's deliverance, and continuing, no doubt, on this the last of the days of unleavened bread,, which was their last hope, all night in prayer to God. came to hearken—not to open; for neither was it a time nor an hour of night for that, but to listen who was there, opened not for gladness, but ran in and told, &c.— How exquisite Is this touch of nature! Thou art mad one ol those exclamations which one can hardly resist on hearing what seems far 'too good to be true.' she constantly afHrmetl ('kept steadfastly afflrmlng") that it was even so. Then said they. It is his angel—his disembodied spirit, his ghost ; anything. In fact, ratlier than himself. Though thin had been the burden of their fer-
Paul and Barnabas Sent to the Gentiles. ACTS XIII. Elymas the Sorcerer Smitten with BlindnesK
CHAPTER XIII. (Chapters 13., 14.) PA UL'3 FIRST MISSIONARY JO URNEY,
summits are easily seen in clear weather from the coast. [Colonel Chesney in Hows.] 'Four reasons may have Induced them to turn in first to this island: (1.) Its nearness to the mainla':jd ; (2.) It was the native place of Barnabas, and since the time when Andrew found his brother Simon, and brought him to Jesus, and "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," family ties had not been without effect on the progress of the Gospel.
In Company with Barnabas.
Ver. 1-3. Barnabas and Saul, divinely called to LABOUR AMONG THE GENTILES, ABE SET APART AND SENT FORTH BY THE CHURCH AT Antioch. The first Seven chapters of this book might be entitled, The Church among
(3.) It could not be unnatural to suppose that the truth would be welcomed in Cyprus when brought by Barnabas and his kinsman Mark, to their own connections or friends. The Jews were numerous in Salamis. By sailing to that city, they were following the track of the synagogues; and though their mission was chiefiy to the Gentiles, their surest course for reaching them was through the proselytes and Hellenizlng Jews. (4.) Some of the Cypriotes were already Christians. Indeed, no one place out of Palestine, except Antioch, had been so lionourably associated with the work of successful evangelization. [Hows.] and when they were at Salamis—the Grecian capital of the island, on the eastern side, and not many hours' sail from Selencia. At this busy mercantile port immense numbers of Jews were settled, which accounts for what is here said, that they had more than one synagogue, in which Barnabas and Saul preached, while other cities had one only, they had . . . John (Mark) to theltminister— ' for their officer.' (See on Luke 4.
the .Texas; the next five (ch. 8.-12.), The Church in trahsition from Jews to Gentiles; and the last sixteen (ch. 13.-28.), Tfie Church among the Gentiles. [Baumgarten.] 'Though Christianity had already spread beyond the limits of Palestine, still the Church continued a stranger to format missiionary efl'ort. Casual occurrences, particularly tlie persecution at Jerusalem (ch. 8. 2), had hitherto brought about the diffusion of the Gospel. It was from Antioch that teachers were first sent forth with the definite purpose of spreading Christianity, and organizing churches, with regular institutions (oh. 11. 23). [Olshausen.] 1. there were . . . certain prophets (see on ch. 11. 27) and teachers, as Barnabas, &c.—implying that there were others there besides; but, according to what appears the true reading, the meaning is simplj' that those here mentioned were in the Church at Antioch as prophets and teachers. Simeon . . . Niger—of whom nothing is known, liuclns of Cyrene—See on ch. 2. 20. He is mentioned, Romans 16. 21, as one of Paul's kinsmen. Manaen—or Menaliem, the name of one of the kings of Israel (2 Kings
20.) With what fruit they preached here is not said. Probably their feeling was what Paul afterwards expressed at Antioch in Pisidia, v. 46. G. when they had gone rotind the Isle unto Paphos—on the opposite or west side of the island, about 100 miles by land, along the south coast; the Roman capital, where the governor resided, they found a sorcerer—one of a numerous class of impostors who, at this time of general unbelief, were encouraged even by cultivated Romans. 7. which was with the deputy—properly 'the Proconsul.' This name was reserved for the governors of settled provinces, which were placed under the Roman Senate, and is never given in the New Testament to Pilate, Felix, or Festus, who were hnt Procurators, or subordinate adminlstratoi-s of unsettled. Imperial, military provinces. Now as Augustus reserved Cyprus for himself. Its governor would in that case have been not a Proconsul, but simply a Procu-
15. 14), which liad been brought np with (or ' the foster-brother of) Herod the tetrarch—i. e., Antipas, who was himself 'brought up with a certain private person at Rome.' [Josephus, Antiquities, 17. 1, 3.] How differently did these two foster-brothers turn out—the one, abandoned to a licentious life and stained with the blood of the most distinguished of God's prophets, though not wilhout his fits of reformation and seasons of remorse; the other, a devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus and prophet of the Church at Antioch ! But this is only what may be seen in every age: "Even so. Father, for so it seemeth good in thy stght." If the courtier, whose son,
at the point of death, was healed by our Lord (John 4. 46) was of Herod's establishment, while Susanna's husband was his steward (Luke 8. 3), his foster-brother's becoming
a Christian and a prophet is something remarkable, antl Snul—last of all, but soon to become first. Henceforward
rator, had not the emperor afterwards restored It to the Senate, as a Roman historian [Die Cassius] expressly
states. In most striking confirmation of this minute accuracy of the sacred historian, coins have actually been found in the island, stamped with the names of Proconsuls, both In Greek and Latin. [Akerman's Numismatic Illus-
this book isalmostexcluslvely occupied with him; and his impress on the New Testament, on Christendom, and on
tiie world is paramount, a. As they ministered to the Lord—The word denotes the performance of official duties
trations of the New Testament.] (Grotius and Bengbl, not aware of this, have missed the mark here.) Serglns PaiUus, a prudent (or 'intelligent') man—who thirsting
of any kind, and was used to express the priestly func-
tions under the Old Testament. Here it signifies the corresponding ministrations of the Christian Church, and fasted-As this was done in other cases on special occasions {v. 3, 14, 23), it is not improbable that they had been
for truth, sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring ('earnestly
desiring') to hear the word of God. S-l'-J. B«t Elymas (or
• the wise') for so Is his name by Interpretation (the wort.
led to expect some such prophetic announcement at this
Is from the Arabic) withstood them—perceiving, proba-
time, the Holy Ghost said—through some of the proph-
ets mentioned in v. 1. Separate me—So Romans 1. 1. for the work whereunto I liave called them—by some communication, perhaps, to themselves: in th'e case of Saul at least, such a designation was indicated from tlie
bly, how eagerly the proconsul was drlnldng In the word, and fearing a dismissal. (Cf. 2 Timothy 3. 8.) Then Saul
. . . also . . . called Fenl—and henceforward Paul only ; a
softening of his former name, in accommodation to Roman
ears, and (as the word signifies 'little') probably with
first (ch. 22. 21). N. B. While tlie personality of the Holy Ghost is manifest from this language. His supreme divin-
allusion as elsewhere to his insignificance of stature and appearance (2 Corinthians 10. 1, 10). [Webster and Wilkinson.] tilled with the Holy Ghost—The Spirit com-
ity will appear equally so by comparing it with Hebrews
5.4. laid their hands on them—(See on (rh. 6. 6)—" recommending them to the grace of God for the work Whicli they had to fulfil," ch. 14. 26. sent them away—with the double call—of the Spirit first, and next of the Churcli. So
ing mightily upon him. set his eyes on him and said— Henceforward Barnabas sinks Into the background. The whole soul of his great colleague, now drawn put, as never before, shoots, by the liglitning gaze of his eye, through the dark and tortuous spirit of the sorcerer. What a picture! ftiH of all gubaety—referring to his. magic arts, and all malice—The word signifies ' readi-
clothed, tlieir mission is thus described : " They being sent
forth by the Holy Ghost." Have we not here for all time the true principle of appointment to sacred offices?
4-12. Arriving in Cyprus, they preach in the synaGOGUKS OK Salamis—At Paphos, Elymas is struck blind, and the governor of the island is converted. 4, 5. departed unto Seleucla—the seaport of Antioch, from which it lay nearly due west fifteen miles, and five from the Mediterranean shore, on the river
ness for anything,' knavish dexterity, thou child (' son') of the devil . . . enemy of all rlghteougne*8--These were not words of passion, for immediately before utter-
ing them it is said he was " filled with the Holy Ghost." [Chrysostom.] wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord, Ac-referring to his havlDR to
Orontes. thence sailed to Cyprus-whose high mountain
Paul Preaches at Anliock, ACTS XIII. thai Jesus is Christ.
to the establishment of royalty. Thus, from the Exwliis to the building of the temple were 592 years [Josephus, Antiquities, 8. 3. 1]; deduct foi'ty years in the wilderness; twenty-flve years of Joshua's rule [Josephus, AndquUies,
that hour made a trade of leading hts fellow-creatures Mtray. The Hand of the Lord Is upon tliee, and thou
Bhalt be bltnd for a season—the judgmeut being merciluUy designed to lead him to repentance. The tradition
that it did is hardly to be depended on. tliere fell on him a mist, &c.—This is In liUke's medical style. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord—so marvellously attested; of. Mark 1. 27. What fruit, if
5. 1. 29]: forty years of Saul's reign (d.2); forty of David'sand llie first four years of Solomon's reign (1 Kings 6. 1), and there remalni just 413 years; or, in round numliers, 'about 450 years.' God gave them Saul . . . of the tribe of Benjamin—That the speaker was himself of the same name and of the same tribe, has often been noticed as in
any, followed this remarkable conversion, or how long
all likelihood present to the apostle's mind while speak
after it the missionaries remained at Paplios, we know
ing. forty years—With this length of Saul's reign tuol mentioned in the Old Testament), Josephus coincides
not.
1.3-52. At Perga John Mark forsakes them—At AnTiocH, IN PisiDiA, Paul Preaches with glorious EFFECT—The Jews, enraged, expel them out of their coasts. 13. They came to Perga In Pamphylla—The
(Antiquities, 6. 14; 9). I have found David, &c.—Tills quotation is the substance of Psalm 89.20; 1 Samuel 13. U; and perhaps also of Psalm 78. 70-72. 23-35. Of this man's seed hath God, according to . . . promise, raised uitto
distance from Paphos to Attaleia, on the Gulf of Pamphy-
Isi-ael a Saviour, Jesus—The emphasis on this statement
lia (see on ch. 11. 25), sailing in a north-west direction, is not much greater than from Seleucia to Salamis on the
lies (1.) in ihe seed from which Christ sprang—David's— and the promise to that effect, which was thus fulfilled
east. Perga was the metropolis of Pamphylla, on the
(2.) on the character in which this promised Christ was given of God—" a Saviour." His personal name " Jesus'
river Cestrus, and about seven miles iuiaad from Atta-
leia. and John departing from tliem returned to Jerusalem—As Paul afterwards, peremptorily refused to take Mark with him on his second missionary journey, because "he had departed (or 'fallen off') from them and had not gone with them to the work'' (ch. 15. 38), there can be no doubt that he had either wearied of it or been deterred by the prospect of the dangers wliicli lay liefore him. (But see on ch. 15. 37, &c.) 14. departed from Perga —apparently without making any stay or doing any work
is emphatically added, as designed to express that very character. (See on Matthew 1. 21.) 36-31. children . . . of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God (Gentile proselytes), to you Is the word of this salvation sent—both being regarded as one class, as " the Jew first," to whom the Gospel was to be addressed In the first instance. For they that dwell at Jerusalem., and their rulers, because they knew him not, &c.—The apostle here speaks as If the more Immediate guilt of Christ's death lay with the rulers and people of the metropolis, to which he fondly hoped tliat those residing at such a distance as Antioch would not set their seal, found no cause of death—though they sought it, Matthew 26. 59, 60. they took him down . . . and laid him In a sepulchre Though the burial of Christ was an act of honour and love to him by the disciples to whom the body was committed, yet since his enemies looked after it, and ootained a guard of soldiei's to keep watch over it, as the remains of their own victim, the apostle regards this as the last manifestation on their part of enmity to the .Saviour, that they might see how God laughed
cf. the different language of ch. 1-t. 25, and see immediately below, came to Antloch in PlsUlla—usually so called,
to distinguish It from Antioch in Syria, from which they had started, though it actually lies in Plirygia, and almost due north from Perga. It was a long journey, and as it lay almost entireljthrough rugged mountain-passes, while 'rivers burst out at the base of huge cliffs, or dash down wildly through narrow ravines,' it must have been a perilous one. The whole region was, and to this day is. Infested by robbers, as ancient history and modern trav-
els abundantly attest ; and there can be but little doubt that to this very journey Paul many years after alludes, when he speaks amidst his "journeyings often," of his "perils of rivers" (as the word is), and his "perils oj rob-
all their precautions to scorn by " raising him from the dead." he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, &c.—i. e., by those who, having gone out and in with him in closest intimacy during all his public ministry, which lay chiefly in Galilee, and having accompanied him on his last journey to Jerusalem, could not possibly be mistaken as to the identity of the risen One, and were therefore unexceptionable and sufficient witnesses. 33, 33. God hath fulfilled the same—'hath completely ful-
hers." (2 Corinthians 11. 26.) If this journey were taken in May—and much earlier than that the passes would have beeii blocked up with snow—it would account for their not staying at Perga, whose hot streets ,ire then deserted ; 'men, women, and children, flocks, herds, camels, and asses, all ascending at the beginning of the hot seaeon from the plains to the cool basin-like hollows on the inountaii.s, moving In the same direction with our misBionaries.' [Ilows.] 15-17. Tlien Paul stood up, and becUoulng with hU hand—as was his manner on such occa-
filled.' In that he hath raised up Jesus again lit., 'raised up;' but the meaning is (notwithstanding the contrary opinion of many excellent Interpreters) "Jrom the dead ,-" as the context plainly shows, as It Is written In the second Psalm—in many MSS. 'the first Psalm;' what we call the first being regarded by the ancient Jews as only an introduction to tlie Psalter, which was considered to begin with the second, this day have I begotten thee—As the apostle in Romans 1. 4 regards the resurrection of Christ merely as the manifestation of a prior Sonship, which he afterwards, ch. 8. 32, represents as essential, it Is plain that this is his meaning here. (Sucli declarative meaning of the verb 'to be' is familiar to every reader of the Bible.) See ex. gr. John 1.5. 8, "So shall ye be," t. e., be seen to be " my disciples." It is against the whole sense of the New Testament to ascribe the origin of Clirist's Sonship to His resurrection. 34-37. now no more to return to corruption—t. e., to the grave where death reigns; and cf. Komans 6. 9, "Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him." I will give you the sure mercies of David—(Isaiah 55.3.) The word rendered "mercies" is peculiar, denoting the sanctity ot\hem.,B.a comprehending the whole riches of the new covenant; wlille tlie other word, "sure," points to the certainty with which they
Bioi-.s, cli. 21. 40; and see ch. 26. 1. Men of Israel, and ye thiit fear God—by the latter expression meaning religious proselytes, who united with the Jews in all acts of oi'dinary worship, and exalted tliem when they dwelt as strangers In Egypt^by marvellous interpositions for
tiu 111 in their deepest depression. 18-82. forty years Buffered he their manner—rather, according to what
U()|«iirs the true reading, 'cherished he tliem' (as a nurse
tlii^ infant in her bosom), after that he gave . . . judges
. . . by the space of four hundred »nd fifty years—As
lliis appears to contradict 1 Kings 6. 1, various solutions have been proposed. Taking the words as they stand in the (ireek, thus, 'after that, by the space of 4.50 years, he gave judges,' the meaning may lie, tliat about liO years elapsed from the time of the covenant with Abiaiiam
until the period of the Judges; which is historically cor-
n^ct, the word 'about' showing that chronological exactness was not aimed at. But taking the sense to be as in our version, that it was the period of the judges itself which lasted about 4.50 years, this statement also will appear historically correct, if we Include in it tlie interval Of subjection to foreign powers which occurred during the period of the Judges, and understand it to descrit>e the Whole period from the settlemenUof the tribes In Canaan
Many the Gentiles Believe. ACTS XIV. Paul and Barnabas Ihiven from Iconium.
dieting and blaspheming—There Is nothing more awful than Jewish fury and execration of the name of Jesus of
would, through David's Seed, be at lengtli all substanllated. See on John 1. 14. But how do these words prove the resurrection of Christ? 'They presuppose it; for sinoe an eternal kingdom was promised to David, the Ruler of this kingdom could not remain under the power of death. But to strengthen the indefinite prediction by one more definite, the apostle adduces Psalm 16. 10, of which Peter had given the same explanation (see on ch. 2.
Nazareth, when thoroughly roused. Then Paul and Bar« nabas waxed bold, and said, Ac.—This is in the highest style of a last and solemn protestation, it was necessary that the word should first have been spoken to you— See the direction of Christ in Luke 24. 47; also'Romans 1.
16. since ye judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life—pass sentence upon j'ourselves. For so hath the Lior<l commanded us, saying, Ac-These and other predictions must have been long before this brought vividly liome to Paul's mind in connection with his special vf>cation to tlie Gentiles. I have set thee i. e., Messiah; from which Paul inferred that he was but following out tliis destination of his Lord, in transferring to the Gentiles those "unsearchable riches" which were now by tne Jews rejected and despised, when the Gentiles lieard this, they were glad—to perceive that their accession to Christ was matter of Divine arrangement as well as apostolic effort, and glorified the word of the Lordby a cordial reception of it. and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed—a very remarkable statement, which cannot, without force, be interpreted of anything lower than this, that a Divine ordination toetemai
27. 30, 31), both apostles denying the possibility of its proper reference to David.' [Olshausen.] for David, after lie
Jia<l served Ills own generation by tlic will of God rather, 'served,' in his own generation, the will (or 'coun-
sel') of God ; j'ielding himself .an instrument for the accomplishment of God's high designs, and in this respect being emphatically "the man after God's own heart." This done, he 'fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers,
cind saw corruption.' David, therefore (argues the apostle), oould not be the subject of his own prediction, which had
Its proper fulfilment only in the resurrection of the uneorrupted body of the Son of God, emphatically God's "Holy One." 38-41. tlie forgiveness of sins—the first necessity of the sinner, and so the first experienced blessing of the
Gospel. Ijy Iilm all that believe are Justified from all things—The sense .requires that a pause in the sentence be made here: g. d., 'By him the believer is absolved fiom all charges of the law.' What follows—from wliicli ye conld not toe justified by the law of Moses—is hot an erceptional but an explanatory clause. The meaning is not, 'Tliough the law justifies from many things, it cannot
life is the came, not the effect,©/ a«y ma7i's believinp. 49-
5'i. And tlie word of the liord was published through^ out all the region—implying some stay in Antioch and missionary activity in its vicinity, the devout and hon> ourable women—female proselytes of distinction, jaundiced against the new preachers by those .Jewish ecclesiastics to whom they had learnt to look up. The potent influence of the female character both for and against the truth is seen in every age of the Church's history, expelled them—an easier thing than to refute them, shook
Justifj' from all things, but Christ makes up all deficien-
cies:' but the meaning is, 'By Christ the believer is jus-
tified from all things, whereas the law justifies from nothing.' (N. B. The deeper sense of justification, the
positive side of it, is reserved for the Epistles, addressed to
ofi' the dust of their feet against them—as directed, Matthew 10. 14. came iinto Iconium—a populous city about forty-five miles south-east from Pisldian Antioch ; at the foot of Mount Taurus; on the borders of Lycaonia, Phrygia, and Pisidia; and In later times largely contributing to the consolidation of the Turkish empire, the disciples—who, though not themselves expelled, had to endure sutferings for the Gospel, as we learn from ch. 11. 22 were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost—who not only raised them above shame and fear, as professed disciples of the Lord Jesus, but filled them with holy and elevated emotions.
tlie justified themselves : and whereas it is the resurrection of Christ here, and throughout the Acts chiefly, wliich is dwelt on, because the first thing in order to bring peace to the guilty through Christ was to establish His MesKiahship by His resurrection, in the Epistles to believers
1i\s death as the way of reconciliation is fully unfolded.) Beware, therefore, Ac.—By this awful warning of the Old Testament the apostle would fain " shut them up unto
the faith." ye will not believe thongh a man declare it unto yon i. e., even on unexceptionable testimony. The words, from Habakkuk 1. 5, were originally a merciful but fruitless warning against the approaching destruction of .Jerusalem by the Chaldeans and the Babylonish captivity. As such nothing could more fitly descril)e the more avful calamity impending over the generatioti which the apostle addressed. 42, 43. And when the Jews were gone ont of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preacheil to thcin the next sabbath—rather (according to what is beyond doubt the true reading), 'Now, as they were going out (of the synagogue) they besought'—i. e., not the Gentiles, whose case comes in afterwards, but the mixed congregation of Jews and proselytes, to whom the discourse had
Ver. 1-7. Meeting with Similar Success and .SimitAB Opposition at Iconium, Paul and Barnabas Flee for their IjIVes to Lystra and Derbe, and Preach there. 'After this detailed account of Paul's labours at PIsidlan Antioch, Luke subjoins only bnef notices of his further labours, partly because from the nature of the case his discourses must have embraced nearly the same topics, and partly because the consequences that resulted assumed quite a similar shape.' [Olshausen.] 1. they went both together Into the synagogue—9. (Z., 'Though Paul was now the prominent speaker and actor, yet in everything Barnabas went along with him.' a . . . multitude . . . of the Greeks believed—meaning probably the religious proselytes, as opposed to "the Gentiles" mentioned t'. 2. 3. Longtime therefore abode they—because In spite of opposition they were meeting with so much success, speaking boldly in the liOrd—rather, 'In dependence on the Lord,' i. e., on their glorified Head, who gave testimony to the woi-d of his grace—a notable definition of the Gospel, whose whole burden is Grace, and granted— " granting." i.e. who confirmed the Gospel by granting miraculous attestation to It. (The "and" Is wanting In the best MSS.)
1)een addressed, entreated to ha.ve another hearing of such truths; those of them, that is, who had been impressed. '.\nd after the breaking up of the sj-nagogue, many of" both classes, Jews and religious proselytes, followed Paul and Barnabas (observe, from this time forward, the inverted order of these names ; except ch. I t. It ; 13. 7 ; 12.
2) ; on which see). These had evidently been won to the Gospel by what they had heard, and fcU a clinging to their spiritual benefactors, whospealting to them—following up the discourse in the synagogue by some further words of encouragement, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God—which they had experienced through the Gospel. (Cf. ch. 11. 23.) 44-48. the next sabbath came a] most the whole city together to hear the word of God —the Intervening days having been spent in further inquiry and Instruction, and the excitement reaching the Gentiles, who now for the first time crowded, along with the usual worshippers. Into the synagogue. But wlieii the Jews—those zealots of exclusive .ludaism-saw tiie mullltudea, they were filled with envy— rather, 'indigna-
R. an assanlt made ... to stone them—rather here, 'an Impetuous movement' with a view to stoning them: for
in 2 Corinthians 11. 25, Paul says, " Once I was stoned," and that was at Lystra, as expressly related In v. 10. (Pa-
i.KY's remarks Ilorce Paulince—on this singular coincidence between the Epistle and the history are very
tion,' and broke out lu Ihelr asunl uianiter. contra-
Paul Heals a Cripple at Lystra. ACTS XIV. Paul is Stoned, and Departs the City,
striking.) fled—(See Matthew 10.23.) 6. to Lystra and Derbe—tl.eone some twenty miles to the south, the other some sixty miles to the east of Iconium, somewhere about
resented as so much less in the heathen, by how much they were outside tlie pale of revealed religion, he takes care to add that the heathen have Divine "witness" enough to leave them "without excuse." he did goodscatteiing his benetioence everywhere and in a thousand forms, rain from heaven and fi-uitful seasons—on which human subsistence and all human enjoyment depend. In Lycaonia, where, as ancient writers attest, rain is peculiarly scarce, this allusion would have all the grea ter effect, fllllngour hearts with food and gladness—a natural colloquialism, the heart being gladdened by the food supplied to the body, and -ivitli these sayings scarce restrained they tite people that they had not done sacrlAce to them—In spite of this, and Peter's repu<Uation of all such honour (ch. 10. 26), how soon did idolatrous tendencies begin to show themselves in the Christian Church, at length to be systematized and enJoined in the Church of Rome! came thitlier Jews from Antioch and Iconium—Furious zeal that would travel so far to counteract the missionaries of the Cross! persuadol the people—'the multitudes.' and having stoned Paul—See on r. 5. Barnabas they seem to have
the bases of what are called the Black Mountains and the
roots of Mount Taurus ; but their exact position has not
yet been discovered.
8-21. At Lystra, Paul Healing a Cripple, the People are scarce Restrained from Sacrificing to THEM AS Gods, but afterwards, their Minds being Poisoned, they Stone Facl, Leaving him for Dead-^ Withdrawing to Derbe, thft Preach and Teach there. There being no ment.on of the synagogue at
Lystra, It is probable there were too few Jews there to form one. 8-10. there sat there a ccrtnlit man ... a cripple from his mother's womb . . . The same heard Paul speak—in the open air and (v. 11) to a crowd of
people, who steadfastly beholding him—as he did Klyinas the sorcerer when about to work a miracle on him. and pertselving that he had faith to be healed Paul may have been led by the sight of this cripple to dwell on the Saviour's miracles of healing, and His present power; and perceiving from the eagerness with which the patient drank in his words, that he was prepared to put his own case into the Redeemer's hands, tlie Spirit
let alone; Paul, as the prominent actor and speaker, being the object of all their rage. The words seem to imply tliat it was the Jews who did this; and no doubt they took the lead (v. 19), but it was the act of the instigated and fickle multitudes along with them, drew him out of the city—By comparing this with ch. 7. 58 it will be seen that the Jews were the chief actors in this scene, as the disciples stood round about him—sorrowing. So his labours here had not been in vain : " Disciples" had l)een gathered, who now rallied around the bleeding body. And one appears to have been gained on this occasion, of far more importance than all the rest—TiMOtheus. See on ch. 16. 1-3. (It could scarcely have been at the stibsequenf visit, v. 21, for the reason given on 2 Timothy 3. 10, U; while at the third visit, cli. 16. 1-3, he was already a Christian.) he rose up—It is just possible that this recovery was natural; the insensibility occasioned by sucli treatment as lie had received sometimes passing away of itself, and leaving the patient less hurt than appeared. But certainly the impression naturally left on the mind by the words is that the restoration was miraculous; and so the best interpreters understand the words. This is confirmed by what follows—came into the city Noble intrepidity !' next day he departed with Barnabas to Dcrbe—a journey for which he could hardly be fit
of the glorified Physician came all upon him, and " with a loud voice" he bade him "stand upright upon his feet." The effect was instantaneous—he ' sprang' to his feet "and walked." 11-13. in the speech of Lycaonla—whether a corruption of the Greek tongue, which was well enough understood in this region, or the remains of some older tongue, is not known. The gods are come down to ns In tlie likeness of men—the language of a rude and unsophisticated people. But ' that which was a superstition
in Lycaouia, and for which the whole creation groaned, became a reality at Bethlehem.' [Webster and Wilkinson.] they called Barnabas, Jupiter—the father of the gods, from his commanding mien (Chrysostom thinks), and Paul , Mercurius—the god of eloquence and the messenger and attendant of Jupiter, in the heathen mytliology. the priest of Jupiter which was (i. e., whose temple stood) before their city, brouglit oxen and garlands—to crown the victims and decorate, as on
festive occasions, the porches. 14-18. when Barnabas nd Paul heard—Barnabas is put first here, apparently M having been styled the "Jupiter" of the company they rent their clothes and ran in—rather (according
to the true reading), 'ran fortli'—among the people, crying out. Sirs, why do ye these things T—This was something more than that abhorrence of idolatry which took possession of the Jews as a nation from the time of the Babylonish captivity: it was that delicate sensibility to everything which afTects the honour of God which Chris-
If his recovery had been natural. (See as to Derbe, on v. 6.) and when tliey had preached to that city and had taught many—rather, 'had made many disciples' (?>Mjrgin); but probably without suftering any persecution, as Derbe is not mentioned along with Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, 2 Timothy 3. 11.
tianity, giving us in God a reconciled Father, alone can produce; making theChristian instinctively feel himself
21-28. Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps, return to Antioch in Syria, and thus complete theib first Missionary Journey, ai, 32. they returned to Liystra, IconlHm, and Antioch, conflrming the souls, &e.—At Derlje, Paul was not far from the well-known pass which leads down from the central tableland to Cl-
to be wounded in all dishonour done to God, and filling him with mingled horror and grief when such gross in-
sults as this are offered to him. we are men of like passions, &c.—How unlike either imposture or enthusiasm is this, and how high above all self-seeking do these men of Christ show themselves to be! unto the living God—This is the most glorious and distinctive of
licia and Tarsus. But his thoughts did not centre in an earthly home. He revisited the places where he had been reviled and persecuted, but where he had left as sheep In the desert the disciples whom his Master had enabled him
nil the names of God. It is the familiar phraseology of the Old Testament, which, in such contrast with all that
to gather. They needed building up and strengthening in the faith, comforting in the midst of their inevitable
Is to be found within the literature of heathenism, is shown to be, with its sequel, the New Testament, the one Book of the true religion, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, ^nd all therein—This idea of creation, utterly unknown alike to rude and to cultivated heathenIsm, would not only define what was meant by " the living God," but open up a new world, on after reflection, to the more thoughtful part of the audienc-e. who In times pant suffisred all nations to walk in their oivn ways—t. e., without extending to them the revelation vouchsafed to the seed of Abraham, and the grace attending It: cf. ch. 17. 30; 1 Corinthians 1. 21. (Yet not without guilt on their part was this privation, Romans 1. 20, &c.) Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, tu that, <&c.—Though the beinoiisness of Idolatry is rep-
suffering, and fencing round by permanent institutrons. Undaunted therefore by the dangers that awaited them, our missionaries return to them, using words of encouragement which none but the founders of a true religion would have ventured to address to their earliest converts, that "we can only enter into the kingdom of God by passing through much tribulation." [Hows.] 23, 24. when they had ordained them elders—it^., 'chosen by show of hands.' But as that would Imply that this was done by the apostles' own hands, many render the word, as in out version, "ordained." Still, as there Is no evidence in the New Testament that the word, had then lost its proper meiLUiug, as this Is beyond doubt Its meaning in 2 Corla-
Diiisaisions about Circumcision. ACTS XV. The Consultation of the Apostlei
case, in favour of the views which Paul's whole labours weie devoted to establishing, a good while ago—probably atiout fifteen years before tills, made choice . . . that the Gentiles by my Aiouth. See on cli. 11. 21. God wiilch knoweth the hearts—implying that tlie reai question for admission to full standing in tiie visible
thinns 8. 19, and as there Is Indisputable evidence that the concurivnce of the people was requiied in all elections to sacred office in the earliest ages of the Church, it is pcr-
liaps better to understand the words to mean, ' when tliey
liad made a choice of elders,' i. e., superintended sncli choice on the part of tlie disciples, and had prayed with fnsting—irt.,
Cliurcti is the slate of the heart. Hence, though that cannot tie known t)y men, no principle of admission to Church privileges which rei'ersei this can be sound, put no dltference between us and them: Purifying their hearts by faith—" Purification" here refers to "sprinkling (of the conscience by the blood of Jesus) from dead works to serve the living God." (See on 1 Corinthians 6.
' fastings,' thus sci ting them solemnly apart.
1 his last clause confirms our interpretation of the former.
F'or if "ordination" was by prayer and fasting (see cli. l".
3), why should it be said they first "oniained elders," and
after tliat" prayed with fasting?" Whereas, if tlie first clause refer to the choice and the second to tlie ordination,
all is natural, they commended ('committed') tliem—
11.) How rich is this brief description of ttie inward revolution wrought upon the genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus! 10. why tempt ('try,' 'provoke') ye God—by standing in tlie way of liis declared purpose, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, &c. He tliat was circumcised became thereby bound to keep the whole law. (See Galatians 5. 1-G.) It was not ttien tlie mere yoke of burdensome ceremonies, but of an obligation wliich, llie more earnest and spiritual men became, the more impossible they felt it to fulfil. (See Romans .S. .5; Galatians 2. i, &c.) 11. through the grace of the Lord Jesus i.e., by ttiat only, we shall be saved even as they—
i. e., all these churches, to tlie I..ord—Jesus, when they had preached the word in Perga—now doing what, for some reason, they had not done on their former visit, but probably with no visible fruit, they went down into Attaleia—a seaport on the Gulf of Pamphylia, drawing to itself the commerce of Egypt and Syria. JJG. sailed to Antioch, from whence tliey had been l eeommended See on oh. 13. 3. 27. when they liad gntiiered tlie CImrch together, they rehearsed all tliat God had done with them, &o.—As theircall and mission had been solemn and formal, in the presence of and by the Church as well as the Holy Ghost, they dutifully, and no doubt with eager
' Circumcision in our case being no advantage,and in their case uncireumclsion no loss ; but (/nice doing all for both, and the same for each.' 1'^. Thei» all . . . gave audience to Barnabas and Paul—On fliis order of the names liere, see on ti. 15. declaring what miracles and signs God wrought among the Gentiles by them—Tliis detail of facts, immediately following up those wliich Peter had recalled to mind, would lead all wlio waited only for Divine teactiing to see tiiat God had himself pronounced tlie Gentile converts to tie disciples in as full standing as tlie Jews, without circumcision; and the attesting miracles to wliicti Paul here refers would tend, in such an assemlily, to silence oppo.sition. 13. Jauies answered, saying, &c.—Wiioever this James was (see on Galatians 1. 19), he was the acknowledged head of tbe Church at Jerusalem, and here, as president of the assembly, speaks last, winding up the debate. His decision, tliough given as liis own judgment only, could not lie of great weiglit with the opposing party, from his conservative reverence for all Jewish u.sages within the circle of Israelitish Christianity. 14-17. Simeon—a Hebrew variation of .Simon, as in 2 Peter 1. 1; iOr.) the Jewish and family name of Peter, hn I h declared how GcmI at the
jo}', convened the Church and gave in their report of "all that God had done with them," i.e., by and for tliem. and how (in particular) he liad opened the door of faith to the Gentiles—to such even as before had not been proselytes. See on ch. 11.21; and on tiie language, see 1 Corinthians Ifi. 9; 2 Corinthians 2.12; Colossians -1.3. The ascribing directly to God of such access to the Gen-
tiles is to be noted. 38. there they abode long time ('no little time'). From the commencement of the mission fill they left Antioch to go up to attend the council at .Jerusalem, some four or five years elapsed ; and as the missionary Journey would probably occupy loss tlian two years, the rest of the time would tie the period of tlieir stay at Autioch. (But see Chronological Table.)
CHAPTEE XV.
Ver. 1-.%!. Council at Jerusalem to decide on the NECESSITY OF CIHCUMCI.SION FOK THE GENTILE CONVERTS.
1, 2. certain men—See the description of them in Galatians 2. -I. Panl and Barnabas (now tlie recognized heads of the Church at Antifich) liad no ainiill dissension and disputation witli them, tliey <Ce)erniined
first—answering to Peter's own expression "a good while ago," I'. 7. did visit the Gentiles to take out of them in the exerciseof His adorable sovereignty, apeoplefor (the honour of) his name—or for His glory, to ilUs agree
(i. e., the Ciiurcli did) that Paul and Barn.') bas, and certain others of them—Titus was one, Galatians 2.1; probably as an uncircumcised Gentile convert endowed with the gifts of the .Spirit. He is not mentioned in the Acts, but only in 2 Corinthians, Galati.ans, 2 Timothy, and ttie Epistle addressed to him. [.\lford.] they determined that Paul and Bamniias should gn up to .Terusalem . . . about this question—That sucli a deputation should be formally desp.atched by the Church of Antioch was natural, as it miglit be called the mother-church of Gentile Cliristianity. 3-C. being brought on their way by the Church—a kind of official escort, they passed through Phenice—See on cli. 11. 19. and Samaria, declaring tbc conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great Joy to the brethren—As tlie converts
tlic words of the prophets— generally ; but those of Amos (ch. 9. 11) are specrifled (nearly as in the Septuagint version). Tlie point of the passage lies in tlie predicted purpose of God, under tiie new economy, that "the heathen " or " Gentiles " should be "called tiy His na me," or have "His name called upon them." Ky tlie "building again of the fallen tabernacle of David," or restoring
its decayed splendour, is meant that only and glorious recovery which it was to experience under David's "son and Lord." 18, 19. Known unto Gml are all his works fMpm the beginj»lug—He wiio announced these things so long before, and He who had now lirouglit them to pass, were one and the same; so that tticy were no novelty, wherefore, my sentence (or 'judgment') is, that we trouble not (wit li .Fewisti oliligat ions) them witieh fi'oni among the Gentiles are turnett to God—ratliei', 'are turning.' The work is regarded as in progress, and indeed was rapidly ad vaiicing. '20. But . . , that they abstain from pollutions of Idols— i. c, things polluted by having lieeii offered in sacrifice to idols. The heathen were accustomed to give away or sell portions of such animals. From such food James would enjoin the Gentile converts to alistam, lest it should seem to the Jews that they were not entirely weaned from idolatry, and from fornication—The characteristic sin of heathendom, unbluslilngly practised by all ranks and classea, aud tike lu-
In tliose p.arts were Jewish (cli. II. 19), their spirit contrasts favourably with tliat of ol tiers of their nation, and wlieik they were come to .lernsalem—Tliis was Paul's thiki) VISIT TO Jerusalem after liis conversion, and on ihli occasion took place what is related in Galatians 2. 1-10. (See
lliere.) were received of the C'hnreii, and the apostles and elders—evidently at ;i meeting fonnnlly convened for
tliis purpose : the deputation being oneso iTidut iil ial.iind from a (^hurcti of such note, they declared all things that God had done with (hem. See on ch. I (. I l-'J7. the apostles and elders cnme together to consider of thi.t but In (iresence, as would seem, of the people (c. 12, 22, '23). 7. Peter, itc. This Is the last mention of tiiin in the Acts, and one worttiy of his standing, as formally pi'ououncing, from the Divine decision of the matter already in liis own
Til* Aposllei Letters to the Gentiles. ACTS XV. Disserision between Paul and Barnabas,
ple this for the Church In all time, to lay upon you no greater burden than tliese necessary tilings . . . from wlilch if yc keep yourselves, ye sliall do well—The whole language of these prohibitions, and of v. 20, 21, implies that they were designed as concessions to Jewish feelings on the part of tlie Gentile converts, and not as things whicii were all of unchanging obligation. The only cause for hesitation arises from "fornication " being mixed up with tlie other tliree things; wliich has led many to regard the wholeas permanently prohibited. But the remarlts on v. 20 may clear this. 'The then state of heathen society in respect of all the four things seems the reason for so mixing them up. 30-33. they rejoiced for the consolation—As the same word is in the next verse properly rendered "exhorted," the meaning probably Is 'rejoiced for the exhortation
dnlgence of which on the part of the Gentile converts would to Jews, whose Scriptures branded it as an abomination of the heathen, proclaim them to be yet joined to their old Idols, and from things strangled—which had the blood in them, and from blood— i n every form, as peremptorily forbidden to tlie Jews, and the eating of which, therefore, on tlie part of the Gentile converts, would shock their prejudices. See on r. 28, 29. For Moses 0f old time batli In every city ttiem that prettcli him
, . . every Sabbath-day— thus keeping alive in every Jew those feelings which sucli practices would shock, and which, therefore, the Gentile converts must carefully respect if the oneness of both ciasses in Christ was to be practically preserved. The wisdom of these suggestions commended Itself to all present. 3iJ, 13, Judas snrnamed Barsabas—therefore not the apostle "Judas tlie brother of James" (ch. 1. 13), surnamed "Thaddeus" (Matthew 10. 3); nor can it be shown that he was a brother of "Joseph called Barsabas " (ch. 1.23). But nothing is known of him beyond what is here said, and Silas—the same as "Silvanus" in the Epistles. He became Paul's companion on his second missionary journey {v. 40). chief men among the brethren—selected purposely as such, to express the honour in which they lield tlie Ciiurch at Antioch, and the deputies they had sent to the coun-
' (margin), or advice; so wise in itself and so contrary to the imposition attempted to be practised upon tliem by the Judaizers. .Tudas and Silas being prophets themselves— t. e., inspired teachers—exhorted the brethren witli many worths (or 'much discourse '), and conilrmed tliem—opening up, no doubt, the great principle involved in the controversy now settled, of gratuitous salvation, or the purillcation of the heart by faith alone (as expressed by Peter, v. 9, 11), and dwelling on the necessity of liarniony in principle and alfection between the Gentile disciples and their Jewish brethren, were let go in peace—'with peace,' as the customary parting salutation. 34, 35. it pleased Silas ('Silas determined ') to abide there still-(The authorities against the insertion of this verse are strong. It may have been afterwards added to explain v. 40.) Doubtless the attraction to Antioch for Silas was Paul's presence there, to whom he seems to have now formed that permanent attachment which the sequel of this book and Paul's Epistles show to have existed. Paul and Baiiiabas con> tinued in Aivttoch, teacliing (to the disciples) and preaching (to those witliout) tlie word of the Lord, with many others (other labourers) also — How rich must Antiocli at this time have been in the ministrations of the Gospel ! (JFor a painful scene on this occasion between Paul and Peter, see Galatians 2. 11, &c.)
cil, and, as the matter affected all Gentile converts, to give weight to tlie written decision of this important assembly. They wei'e "prophets," v. 32 (and see on ch. U. 27), and as such doubtless their eminence in tlie Church at Jerusalem had been obtained, and they wrote . . . by them—Tliis is the first mention in the New Testament history of writing as un element In its development. And the combination here of written and oral transmission of an important decision reminds us of the first occasion of writing mentioned in the Old Testament, wlierea sirailar.oombi nation occurs. Exodus 17. 14. But whereas there
it is (lie deep difference between Israel and tlie Gentiles which is proclaimed, Acre it is the obliteration of that difference through faith in the Lord Jesus. [Baumgakten.] greeting—The only other place in the New Testament where tliis word occurs (except in the letter of Lysias, ch. 23 26) is James 1. 1, wliich seems to show that both letters were drawn up by tlie same hand. [Bengel.] the Gen-
36-40.- Dissension between Paul and Barnabas— They part company to pkosecute separate missionary TOUKS. And some days after—how long, is matter only of conjecture. Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit Our (tlie true reading is, ' the') brethren in every city where we have preached . . . and see how they do—whether they were advancing or declining, &c. : a pattern for churches and successful missionaries in every age. (' Reader, how stands it with thee?') [Bengel.] ' Paul felt tliat he was not called to spend a peaceful, though laborious life at Antioch, but that his true work was " far off among the Gentiles." ' We notice here, for the first time, a trace of that tender solicitude for his converts, that earnest longing to see their faces, which appears In the letters which he wrote afterwards, as one of the most remarkable and attractive features of his character. He thought, doubtless, of the Pisidlans and Lycaonians, as he thought afterwards at Athens and Corinlli of the Thessalonians, from whom he had been lately "taken in presence, not in heart, night and day praying exceedingly tliat he might see tlieir face and perfect that which was lacking in tlieir faith." [Hows.J Barnabas determined to take with tliem .Tolin . . . Mark—his nephew (Colossians 4. 10). But Paul thought not good to take him with them wlko departed from them i. e., who had departed ; but the word is stronger tlian this—' who stood aloof or
tile bretlireu in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicla— showing that churches then existed in Ciliciaas well as Syria, which owed their existence, in all likelihood, to Paul's labours during the interval between his return to Tarsus (ch. 9. 30) and his departure in company with Barnabas for Antioch fsee on ch. 11. 25, 26). 24-27. Porasmnch as >ve have heard tliat certain wliich went out from ns liavc troubled you with worils—without authority or eveji knowledge of the Church at Jerusalem, though they belonged to it, and probably pretended to represent its views. sul>vertingyour souls—Such strong language is evidently designed to express indignation at this attempt, by an unauthorized party, to bring the whole Christian Church under Judicial and legal bondage, our belt»ved Barnabas and Paul — Barnabas is put first here, and in v. 12, on account of his former superior position in the Church at Jerusalem (see ch. 9. 27; 11. 22)—an evidence this that we liave tlie document precisely as written, as also of the credibility of tliis precious history. Men that have hazarded (lit., ' rendered up,' as in
will they did) their lives for tlie name of our £.ord Jesus Christ—Noble testimony to those beloved men ! It was doubtless prompted more immediately by the narrative they had just listened to from their own lips, v. 12, and judiciously Inserted in this letter, to give them the higliest weight as the liearers of it, along with their own deputies. Judas and Silas shall tell yon tlie same by mouth—Mark here how considerate and tender it was to Bend men who wouM be able to say of Barnalius and Paul what could not be expected to come from themselves. 88, 29. For it seemed good to the Holy Gihost and to tu. Tho One, Inwardly guiding to and setting His seal on the decision come to; the other, the external ecclesfastical authority devoutly emliraclng, expressing, and eonveying to the cUurches that decision :—a great princi-
' turned away' from tliera —from Pamphylla, and went not with them to the work—the work yet before them. The allusion is to what is recorded in ch. 13. 13 (on which see). And th« contention was so sharp between them (such was thb 'irritation,' or ' exacerliatlon') that they departed asunder one from the other—Said they not truly to the Lystrians that they were " men of like passions with them?" (Ch. 14. 15.) But ivho WHS to blame f (1), That John Mark had either tired of the worlc or shrunk from the dangers and fatigues lliat yet lay before them, was undeniable;
Dissension between Barnab(ts and Paid. ACTS XVI. Paul's Second Missionary Jour.ia/,
and Paul coucluded that what he bad done he might, and probablywould, do again. Was lie wrong in tliis ? (See Proverbs 25. 19.) But (2), To tliis Barnabas might reply that no rule was without exception ; that one failure, in a young Christian, was not enough to condemn, him for
teach Christians, and especially Christian ministers and missionaries, to be against giving way to rash judgment and hot temper towards each other, especially whereon both sides the glory of Christ is the ground of ditlerence 1 How possil:)le is It that in such oases botli parties may, on the question at issue, be more or less in the right! How difficult is it even for the most faithful and devoted servants of Christ, differing as they do in their natural temperament even under the commanding influence of grace, to see even Important questions precisely in the same light ! And if, with every disposition to yield what
life; that if near relationship might be thought to warp his judgment, it also gave him opportunities of knowing the man better tlnan others; and that as he was himself anxious to be allowed another trial (and the result makes this next to certain), in order that he might wipe out the
effect of his former failure and show what "hardness he could now endure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," his petition ought not to be rejected. Now, since .John Mark did retrieve his character in these respects, and a reconciliation took place between Paul and him, so cordial that the apostle expresses more than once the confidence he had In him and the value he set upon his services (Colossians 4. 10, 11 ; 2Timothy 4. 11), it may seem that events showed Barnabas to be in the right, and Paul too harsh and hasty in his judgment. But, in behalf of Paul, it may well be answered, that not being able to see into tlie future he had only the unfavourable past to judge by; that the gentleness of Barnabas (ch. 4.36; 11.24) had already laid him open to Imposition (see on Galatians 2. 13), to which near relationship would in this case make him more liable; and that in refusing to take John Mark on this missionary journey he was not judging his Christian character nor pronouncing on his fltness for future service, but merely providing in the mean time against being again put to serious inconvenience and having tlieir hands weakened by a possible second desertion. On the whole, then. It seems clear that each of these great servants of Christ had something to say for himself, in defence of the position which they respectively took up; that while Barnabas was quite able to appreciate the grounds on which Paul proceeded, Paul was not so competent to judge of the considerations which Barnabas probably urged; that while Paul had but one object in view, to see tliat the companion of their arduous work was one of thoroughly congenial spirit and sufficient nerve, Barhabas, over and above tlie same desire, miglit not unreasonably be afraid for the soul of his nephew,
is unimportant, they still feel it a duty each to stand to his own point, how careful should they be to do it lovingly, each pursuing his own course without disparagement of his Christian brother! And how affectingly does the Lord overrule such difference of judgment and such manifestations of human infirmity, by making them " turn out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel ;'' as in this case is eminently seen in the two missionary par-
ties instead of one, not travelling over the same ground and carrying their dispute over all the regions of theii former loving labours, hut dividing the field between them ! and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; and Paul chose Silas (see on u. 34)—going two and two, as the Twelve and the Seventy (Mark 6. 7; Luke
10. 1). and departed, being recommended ... to tlie grace of God—(no doubt by some solemn service; see ch.
13. 3), as in ch. 14. 26. It does not follow from the historian's silence that Barnabas was not so recommended too ; for this is the last mention of Barnabas in the history, whose sole object now is to relate the proceedings of Paul. Nor does it seem quite fair (with De Wette, Meyer, Hows, Alford, Hacket, Webster and Wilkinson, &c." to conclude from this that the Church at Antioch took that marked way of showing their symyathy with Paul in opposition to Barnabas, and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches—
' It is very likely that Paul and Barnabas made a deliberate and amicable arrangement to divide the region of their first mission between them; Paul taking the con/mental, and Barnabas the insular, part of the propo.sed visitation. If Barnabas visited Salamis and Paphos, and if Paul (travelling westward), after passing through Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, went as far as Antioch in Pisidia, the whole ciicuit of the proposed visitation was actually accomplished, for it does not appear that any converts had been made at Perga and Attaleia.' [Hows.] 'This second missionary tour appears to have proceeded at first solely from the desire of visiting the churches already planted. In the end, however, it took a much wider sweep, for It brought the apostle to Europe.' [Olshausen.]
lest the refusal to allow him to accompany them on their journey might injure his Christian character and dejiri ve the Church of a true servant of Jesus Christ; and that while both sought only the glory of their common Mas-
ter, each looked at the question at issue, to some extent, through the medium of his own temperament, which grace sanctifies and refines, but does not destroy Paul, through the medium of absolute devotion to the cause and kingdom of Christ, which, warm and womanly as his affections were, gave a tinge of lofty sternness to his resolves where that seemed to be affected; Bariuxbas, through the medium of the same singleness of heart in Christ's service, though probably not in equal strength (Galatians 2.13), but also of a certain natural gonlleiicss which, where a Christian relative was concerned, led him to attach more weight to what seemed for his spiritual good than Paul could be supposed to do. In these circumstances, It seems quite possible that they might have amicably 'agreed to differ,' each taking his own companion, as they actually did. But the 'paroxysm' (as the word is), the 'exacerbation' which is expressly given as the cause of their parting, shows but too plainly, lliat human infirmity amidst the great labours of the Church at Antioch at length sundered those who had sweetly and lovingly borne together the heat ancl burden of the day during a protracted tour in the service of Christ. " Therefore let no man glory in men" (1 Corinthians 3. 21). As for John Mark, although through his uncle's warm advocacy of his cause he was put in a condition to dissipate the cloud that hUng over him, how bitter to him must have ever afterwards been the n'flection that it was his culpable conduct which gave occasion to whatever was sinful in the strife between Paul and Barnabas, and to a separation in action, though no doubt with a mutual Christian regard, between those who had till then wrought nobly together! How watchful does all this 196
Chaps. 15. 41 to 18. 22. PA UL'S SECOND MISSIONAM Y JO URNEY. Chaps. 15. 41 to 16. 5. Visitation of the churchks FORMERLY ESTABLISHED, TiMOTHEUS HERE JOINING TUB MISSIONARY PARTY. Ch. 15. 41. Itc Went through Syria and Cilicia (see on v. 23)—taking probably the same route as when despatched in haste from Jerusalem to Tarsus, he then went by land (see on ch. 9. 30). Ch. xvi. 1-5. Tlien came lie to Uerbe and Lystra ; and, behold, a certain disciple was there i. e., at Lystra (not Derbe, as some conclude from ch. 20. 4). named Tiniotheus—See on ch. 14.20. As Paul styles him "his own son In the faith" (1 Timothy 1. 2), he must have been gained to Christ at the apostle's first visit; and as Paul nays he " had fully known his persecutions which came on hlin at Lystra"
(2 Timothy 3. 10, 11), he may have been In that group of disciples that surrounded the apparently lifeless body of the apostle outside the walls of Lystra, and that at a time of life when the mind receives Its deepest inipressiong from the spectacle of Innocent suffering and undaunted courage. [Hows.] His would be one of "the souls of the disciples confirmed" at the apostle's .second visit, "exhorted to continue in the faith, and" warned "that we must tlu'ough much tribulation enter Into the kingdom
ACTS XVI.
Paul Circumciseth Timothy.
Visilatirni of the Charches, eus,
of God" (ch. 14. 21, 22). the son of a certain . . . Jewess —"The unfeigned faith which dwelt first in his griindmother Lois" descended to " his mother Eunice," and thence it passed to this youth (2 Timothy 1. 5), who " from a child knew the Holy Scriptures" (2 Timothy 3. 15). His
tion. At this time must have beei> formed " the churches of Galatia" (Galatians I. 2; 1 Corinthians 10. 1); founded, as we learn from the Epistle to the Galatians, particularly ch. 4. 19, by the apostle Paul, and which were already in existence when he was on his third missionary journey, as we learn from ch. 18. 2:3, where it appears that he was no less successful in Phrygia. Why these proceedings, so intei'esting as we should suppose, are not here detailed, it
gilts and destination to the ministry of Christ had already been attested (1 Timothj' 1. 18 ; 4. 14) ; and though some ten years after this Paul speaks of him as still j'oung (1 Tim-
othj 4. 12), "he was already well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and leonium" (f. 2), and consequently must have been well known through all that quarter, but His father was a Greek—Sucli mixed mar-
is not easy to say; for the various reasons suggested are not very satisfactory: ex.gr., that the historian had not
joined the party [Alford]; that he was in haste to bring the apostle to Europe [Olshausen]; that the main stream of the Church's development was from Jerusalem txj Rome, and the apostle's labours In Phrygia and Galatia lay quite out of the line of that direction. [Baumgarten.] and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost (speaking by some prophet, see on ch. 11. 27) to preach the word In Asia—not the great Asiatic continent, nor even the rich peninsula now called Asia Minor, but only so much of its western coast as constituted the Roman province of Asia. After they were come to Mysla—where, as being part of • Roman Asia, they were forbidden to labour {v. 8)—they assayed(or attempted)to go lnto(or ' towards') BIfhynIa —to the north-east—but tlie Spirit (speaking as before) suffered them not—probably because (1.) Europe was ripe for the labours of this missionary party ; and (2.) other Instruments were to be honoured to establish the Gospel in the eastern regions of Asia Minor, especially the apostle Peter (see 1 Peter I. 1). By the end of the first century, as testified by Pliny the governor, Bithynia was filled with Christians. 'This is the first time that the Holy Ghost Is expressly spoken of as determining the course they were to follow in their efforts to evangelize the nations, and it was evidently designed to show that whereas hitherto the diffusion of the Gospel had been carried on in unbroken course, connected by natural points of junction, it was now to take a leap to which it could not be impelled but by an immediate and independent operation of the Spirit; and though primarily, this intimation of the Spirit was only negative, and referred but to the immediate neighbourhood, we may certainly conclude that Paul took it for a sign that a new epoch was now to commence in his apostolic labours.' [Baumgarten.] came down to Troas —a city on the north-east coast of the JEgean Sea, the boundary of Asia Minor on the west; the region of which was the scene of the great Trojan war. 9, 10. a vision appeared to Paul (while awake, for it is not called a dream) in the night i There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us—.Stretching his eye across the ^gean Sea, from Troas on the north-east, to the Macedonian hills, visible on the north-west, the apostle could hardly fail to think this the destined scene of his future labours; and, if he retired to rest with this thought, he would be thoroughly prepared for the remarkable intimation of the Divine will now to be given him. This visional Macedonian discovered himself by what he said. But it was a cry not of conscious desire for the Gospel, but of deep need of it and unconscious preparedness to receive it, not only in that region, but, we may well say, throughout all that western empire which Macedonia might be said to represent. It was a virtual confession ' that the highest splendour of heathendom,' which we must recognize in the arts of Greece and in the polity and imperial power of Rome, had arrived at the end of all its resources. God had left the Gentile peoples to walk in their own ways (ch.
riages, though little practised, and disliked by the stricter Jews, in Palestine, must have been very frequent among the Jews of the dispersion, especially in remote districts, wliore but few of the Vicattered people were settled. [Hows.J Him would Pawl have to go forth with hln>
riiis is In harmony with all we read in the Acts and Epistles of Paul's affectionate and confiding disposition. He had no relative ties which were of service to him in his work; his companions were few and changing; and thougli Silas would supply the place of Barnabas, it was no weakness to yearn for the societj' of one who might become, what Mark once appeared to be, a son in the Gos-
pel. [Hows.] And such he indeed proved to be, the most attached and serviceable of his associates (Philippians 2.
19-2;?; 1 Corinthians 4. 17 ; 16. 10, U ; 1 Thessalonians 3. 1-6). His double connection, with the Jews by the mother's side and the Gentiles by the father's, would strike the apostle as a peculiar qualification for his own sphere of labour. 'So far as appears, Timothy is the first Gentile who after his conversion comes before us as a regular missionary; for what is said of Titus (Galatians 2. 3) relers to a later period.' [WlK.s.] But before his departure, Paul took and circumcised him (a rite which every Israelite might perform), because of the Jews . . . for they knew all that his father was a Greek—This seems to imply
tliat the father was no proselyte. Against the wishes of a Gentile father no Jewish mother was, as the Jews themselves say, permitted to circumcise her son. We thus see
why all the religion of Timothy is traced to the female Bide of the family (2 Timothy 1. 5). 'Had Timothy not been circumcised, a storm would have gathered round the apostle In his farther progress. His fixed line of procedure was to act on the cities through the synagogues; and to preach the Gospel to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. But such a course would have been impossible had not Timothy been circumcised. He must necessarily have been repelled by that people who endeavoured once
to murder St. Paul because they imagined he had taken a Greek into the temple (ch. 21. 29). The very intercourse
of social life would have been almost impossible, for it was still " an abomination" for the circumcised to eat with the uncircumclsed.' [Hows.] In refusing to compel Titus afterwards to be circumcised (Galatians '2. 3) at the bidding of Judaizing Christians, as necessary to salvation, he only vindicated "the truth of the Gospel" (Galatians 2. 5); in circumcising Timothy, " to the Jews he became as a. Jew that he might gain the Jews." Probably Timothy's ordination took place now (1 Timothy 4. 14; 2Timothy 1. 6); and
It was a service, apparently, of much solemnity—" before many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6. 12). And as they went throuj^h ' the cities ' they delivered the decrees . . . And so were the churches established In tite faith, and Increased in number dally—not the churches, but the number of their members, by this visit and the written evidence laid before them of the triumph of Christian liberty at Jerusalem, and the wise measures there taken