Chapter XXIV (continued, part 11)
(2 Corliithlans 12. 14; 13. 1). Seen on 2 Corinthians 1. 15,
10, whicn miKhtseem inconsistent with this. The jiassii^ 2U5
ACTS XIX.
Jewish Exorcists Beaten by the Devil.
Demetrius Haiseth an Uproar against Paul,
across was quite a short one (see on ch. IS. 19). Towards the close of this long stay at Ephesus, as we learn from 1 Corinthians 16. 8, he wrote his Fibst Epistle to the CoRiNTHiAN.s ; also (though on this opinions are divided) the Epistle to the Galatians. (See Introduction to those Epistles.) And just as at Corinth his greatest success was after his withdrawal to a separate place of meeting (ch. 18. 7-10), so at Eplipsus. so tUat all they which dwelt in (the Roman province of) Asia heard the word of the liOrd Jesus, both Jews aiitl Greeks This is the "great door and effectual opened unto him" while resident at Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 16. 9, which induced him to make it his headquarters for so long a period. The unwearied and varied character of his labours here are best seen in his own subsequent address to the elders of Ephesus, ch. 20. 17, &c. And thus Ephesus became the 'ecclesiastical centre for the entire region, as indeed It remained for a very long period.' [BaumgarTEN.] Churchesarose at Colosse, Laodicea, and Hieropolis eastward, either through his own labours or those of his faithful helpers whom he sent out in different directions, Epaphras, Archippus, Philemon (Colossians 1. 7; 4. 12-17; Philemon 23). 11, 13. God wrought special ('no ordinary') miracles toy the hand of Paul—implying that he had not been accustomed to work such. So that from his body were brought nuto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, &c.—Cf. ch. 5. 15, 16, verjdifferent from the magical acts practised at Ephesus. " God wrought these miracles" merely "by the hands of Paul;" and the very exorcists (v. 13), observing that the name of Jesus was the secret of all his miracles, hoped, by aping him in this, to be equally successful ; while the result of all in the "magnifj'ing of the Lord Jesus" (v. 17) showed that In working them the apostle took care to hold up Him whom he preached as the source of all the miracles which he
.Jesus Christ over the powers of darkness. The workers of evil were put to scorn, lilie Baal's priests on Cannel, and the word of God mightily grew and prevailed, [Hows.] m, H'i. After tliesc things were ended ('completed')—implying something like a natural finish to his long period of labour at Ephesus. Paul purposed . . . when lie had passed through Macedonia and Acliala, to go to Jerusalem . . . After I have been there I must see Rome also—Mark here the vastness of the apostle's missionary plans. They were all .fulfilled, though he "saw Rome" only as a prisoner. So he sent into Macedonia Timotlieus and Erastus—as his pioneers, in part to bring "them into remembrance of his ways which were in Christ" (1 Corinthians 4. 17 and 1 Corinthians 16.
10), partly to convey his mind on various matters. After a brief stay he was to return (1 Corinthians 16. 11). It is very unlikely that this Erastus was "the chamberlain of the city" of Corinth, of that name (Romans 16. 2.3). he himself stayed In (the province of) Asia for a season
i. e., at Ephesus, its cliief city. (Asia is mentioned iu contrast with Macedonia in the previous clause.) 23. the same time—of Paril's proposed departure, about that (' the") way—So the new religion seemed then to be designated (ch. 9. 2; 22. 4 ; 24. 14). 24-26. silver shrines for ('of') Diana—small models of the Ephesian temple and of the shrine or ohapel of the goddess, or of the shrine and statue alone, which were purchased by visitors as memorials of what they had seen, and were carried about and deposited in houses as a charm. (The models of the chapel of our Lady of Loretto, and such like, which the Church of Rome systematically encourages, are such a palpable imitation of this heatlien practice that it is no wonder it should be regarded by impartial judges as Christianity I^aganized.) gain to tlie craftsmen—the master-artificers. Wliom he called together witli the workmen of like occupation —rather, 'with the workmen (or fabricators) of such articles,' meaning the artisans employed by the master-artlficera,
nTouc/Zit. 13. vagabond Jews—simply, ' wandering Jews,' who went from place to place practising exorcism, or the art of conjuring evil spirits to depart out of the possessed. That sucli a power did exist, for some time at least, seems implied in Matthew 12. 27. But no doubt this would breed imposture; and the present case is very different from that referred to in Luke 9. 49, 50. We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth—a striking testimony to the power of Christ's name in Paul's mouth. 14—17. seven sons of . . . Sceva . . . chief of the priests —head, possibly, of one of the 24 courts, the .evil spirit answered, Jesus I know(' recognize') and Paul I know (know intimately)—in contrast to them, wliom he altogether disowns — but who are yel And the man In whom the evil spirit was—Mark the clear line of demarkation here between "Wte ei'il spirit which answered and said" and "the man in whom the evil spirit was." The reality of such possessions could not be more clearly expressed, leaped on them ... so that they fled naked and wounded—This was so appalling a testimony at once against those profane impostors and in favour of Paul and the Master whom he preached, that we wonder not it spread to "all the Jews aud Greeks at Ephesus, that fear fell on them," and that " the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." 19, iiO. ninny that believed came and confessed . . . their deeds— tlie dupes of magicians, &c., acknowledging how shamefully they had been deluded, and how deeply they had allowed themselves to be implicated in such practices. JIany of them
all who manufactured any kind of memorial of the temple and its worship for sale, ye see and hear—the evi» dences of it were to be seen, and the report of it was In everybody's mouth, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath turned away much people—Noble testimony this to the extent of Paul's influence! saying that they be no gods which are made with hands—The universal belief of the people was that they were gods, though the more intelligent regarded them only as habitations of Deity, and some, probably, as mere aids to devotion. It is exactly so in the Church of Rome. 27. So that not only thiii onr craft is in danger, but, &c. q. d., ' that indeed is a small matter; but there is something far worse.' So the masters of the poor Pythoness put forward the religiotta revolution which Paul was attempting to effect at Phllippi, as tlie sole cause of their zealous alarm, to cloak
tlie self-interest which they felt to be touched by his success (ch. 16. 19-21). In both cases religious zeal was the hypocritical pretext ; self-interest, the real moving cause of tlie opposition made, also the temple of the great goddess Diana . . . despised, and her magniticence
. . . destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worsliippctli—It was reckoned one of the wonders of the world. It was built about 550 B. c, of pure white marble, and though burned b.v a fanatic on the night of the birth of Alexander the Great, b. c. 356, was rebuilt with more splendour than before. It was 425 feet long, by '220 broad, and the columns, 127 in number, were sixty feet in hclglit, eacli of them the gift of a king, and thIrty-sIx of them enriched with ornament and colour. It was what the Bank of England Is in the modern world, the larger portion of the wealth of Western Asia being stored up in It. It was constantly receiving new decorations and additional buildings, statues, and pictures by the most celebrated artists, and kindled unparalleled admiration, enthusiasm, and superstition. Its very site is now a matter of uncertainty. The little wooden Image of DIaua was as primitive and rude as its shrine was sumptuous; not like the Oreek Diana, In the form of an imposiuf;
. . . which use^I curlousarts—The word signifies tilings
' overdone ;' significantly applied to arts in whli-li laborious but senseless incantations are practised, brought their books—containing the mystic formularies—and burned them before all—The tense, here used graphically, expresses progress and continuance of the conflagration, counted the price . . . and found It fifty thousand pieces of 8llv*r—about £2000 (presuming it to be the drachma, tlie current coin of the lieviuit, of about
lOd. value). Erom their nature they would be costl.y, and books then bore a value above any standard we are familiar with. The scene must have been long nememoered at Ephesus, as a strong proof of honest conviction
Oil the part of the sorcerers aud a striking triumph of
Tfte Tumult Quieted by tJie Tovm-clerk, ACTS XX. Paul Goeth into Macedonia.
not be spoken against, &c.—Like a true legal man, he urges that such was notoriously the constitution and fixed character of the city, with which its very existence was
huntress, but quite Asiatic, in the form of a many-
breasted female (emblematic of tlie manifold ministra-
tions of Nature to man), terminating in a shapeless block. Like some other far-famed idols, it was believed to liave
all but bound up. Did they suppose that all this was going to be overturned by a set of itinerant orators? Ridiculous! What did they mean, then, by raising sucli a stir 7 For ye Iiave brought liitlier these men, wliich are neitlier robbers of cliurches—'temple-plunderers,' or sacrilegious persons, nor blasphemers of your goddess—Tliis is a remarkable testimony, showing that the apostle liad, in preaching against idolatry, studiously avoided (as at Athens) insulting the feelings of those whom he addressed—a lesson this to missionaries and ministers in general. If Demetrius have a matter (of complaint) against any man, the law Is open—rather,
fallen from heaven (v. 35), and models of it were not only
sold in immense numbers to private persons, but set up
for worship in other cities. [Hows.] What power must have attended the preaching of that one man by whom
the de«*-hblow was felt to be given to their gigantic and witching superstition ! 28, 39. Cireat Is Diaita of tlie Epheslans—the civic cry of a populace so pioud of their temple that they refused to inscribe on it the name of Alexander the Great, though he oflered them the whole
spoil of his Eastern campaign if they would do it. [iSTBABO in Hows.] having caugitt Gaius and Aristarchus—disappointed of Paul, as at Thessaloiiica (ch.
' the assizes (or court-days) are being holden.' and there are deputies lit., 'proconsuls' (see on ch. 13. 7), i. e., probably, tlie proconsul and his council, as a court of appeal, if ye inquire—
17.5,6). They are mentioned ch. 20. 4; 27.2; Romans 16.
23; 1 Corinthians 1.14; and probably 3 John 1. If it was in the house of Aquila and Priscilla that he found an asylum (see 1 Corinthians 16. 9), that would explain ^lomans 16. 3,4, where he says of them that "for his life they laid down their own necks." [Hows.] rushed . . . tuto tUe theatre—a vast pile, whose ruins are even now a wreck of immense grandeur. [Sik C. Fellowes, Asia Minor, 1839.] 30-34:. when Paul would have entered in (with noble forgetfulaess of self) unto the people
' have .any question.' concerning other matters—of a public nature. For we (the public author-
ities) are in danger of being called in question—by our superiors.
Ver. 1-12. Paul fulfils his pukfose of pkoceedinq AGAIN TO Macedonia and Greece—Returning thence, ON HIS route for JERUSALEM, HE REVISITS PHILIPPI and Troas—His ministrations at Troas. This section of the apostle's life, though peculiarly rich in matter, is related with great brevity In the History. Its details must be culled from his own Epistles. 1, it. departed after Pentecost, 1 Corinthians 16. 8. to go into M.xcedonia—in pursuance of tlie first part of his plan, ch. 19. 21 From his Epistles we learn (1.) that, as might have been expected from Its position on the coast, he revisited Troas, 2 Corinthians 2. 12. (See on ch. 16. 8.) (2.) That while ou his former visit he appears to liave done no missionary work there, he now went expressly " to preach Christ's Gospel," and found "a door opened unto him of the Lord" there, wliich he entered so effectually as to lay the foundation of a church there, 6, 7. (3.) That he would have remained longer there but for his uneasiness at the non-arrival of Titus, whom he had despatched to Corinlh to finish tlie collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16. 1, 2; 2 Corinthians 8. 6), but still more, that he might bring him word what effect his first Epistle to that Church had produced. (He had probably arranged that they should meet at Troas.) (4.) That in this state of mind, afraid of something wrong, he "took leave" of the brethren at Troas, and went from thence into Macedonia. It was, no doubt, the city of Philippi that he came to (landing at Nicopolis, its seaport, see ou ch. 16. 11,
(the demo4, t. e;, the people met in public assembly), the disciples suffered him not—The tense used implies only
that they were uii/tgr their efforts to restrain him; which might have been unavailing but for what follows. And certain of the chief of Asia—li/., "And certain also of the Asiarchs.' These were wealthy and distinguished citizens of the principal towns of the Asian province, chosen annually, and ten of whom were selected by the proconsul to preside over the games celebrated in the month of Maj' (the same month which Romanism dedi-
cates to the Virgin). It was an office of the higliest hon-
our, and greatly coveted. Certain of tliese, it seems, were favourably inclined to the Gospel, at least were Paul's "lisuds," and knowing the passions of an Athesiau mob, excited during the festivals, "sent (a message) to him desiring him not to adventure himself into the the-
atre." they drew Alexander out of tl»e multitude, tlie Jews putting him forward—rather, 'some of the mul-
titude urged forward Alexander, the Jews thrusting him
forward.' As the blame of such a tumult would natu-
rally be thrown upon the Jews, who were regarded by the Romans as the authors of all religious disturbances, they seem to have put forward this man to clear them of all responsibility for the riot. (Bengel'S conjecture, that
this was Alexander tlie coppersmith, 2 Timothy 4. 14, has
little to support it.) toecltoned witli tlie hand—cf. ch. 13.
16; 21. 40. would have made his defence—'oflered to speak in defence.' But when tliey knew lie was a Jew,
12), as appears by comparing 2 Corinthians 11. 9, where "Macedonia" is named, with Philippians 4. 15, where it appears that Philippi is meant. Here he found the brethren, whom he had left on his former visit in circumstances of such deep interest, a consolidated and thriving Church, generous and warmly attached to their father in Christ; under the superintendence, probably, of our historian, "the beloved physician" (see on ch. 16. 40). All that is said by our historian of this Macedonian visit is tliat "he went over those parts and gave them much exhortation."
all with one voice, for tite space of two hours, cried out. Great is Diana, &c.—Tlie very appearance of a Jew had the opposite effect to that intended. To prevent him obtaining a hearing, they dx'owned his voice in one tumultuous shout in honour of their goddess, which rose
to such frantic enthusiasm as took two hours to e.xhaust
itself. 35-41. when the town-clerlt—keeper ol the puli-
lic archives, and a magistrate of great autliority. lind appeased (' calmed') the people (' the multitude')—which
(5.) Titus not having reached Philippi as soon as the apos-
the very presence of such an officer would go far to do. he said , . , what man . . . kitoweth not titat tlie city of the Ephesians Is a worshipper of the great goildess Diana lit., 'the neocoros or warden.' The word means 'temple-sweeper;' tlien, 'temple-guardian.' Thirteen
tle, "his flesh had no rest, but lie was troubled on every side: without were fightings, within were fears" (2 Corinthians 7. 5). (6.) At length Titus arrived.to thejoy of the apostle, the bearer of better tidings from Corinth than he liad dared to expect (2 Corinthians 7.6, 7, 13), but chequered by painful intelligence of tlie efforts of a hostile party to undermine his apostolic reputation there (2 CO-
cities of Asia had an interest in tlie temple, but Ephesus was honoured with the charge of it. (Various cities have claimed this title with reference to the I'irj/iiioicertain
riiitliians). (7.) Under the mixed feelings which this produced, he wrote—from Macedonia, and probably Pliilippi
saints.) [Webster and Wilkinson.] and of tlie image which fell down from Jupiter—
' from the sky' or ' from beaven.' See on «. 27. ' Witli this we may compare various legends cuncerntngliaagesand picturesin tlie Romish Church, such as the traditional likenesses of Clirist, which were said to be " not nnuie with hands." ' [Weh-
—Jiis SECOND Epistle to the Corinthians (see Introduction to 2 Corinthians) ; despatching Titus with it, and along with him two other unnamed deputies, expressly chosen to take up and bring their collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem, and to whom he bears thf l)eauiit'u) testimony, that they were "the glory of Cnrlst" (2 Oo-
iiTEil and WiLKIIfSON.] Seeing that these things can-
• 207
Paul G)eth to Macedonia. ACTS XX. On his way to Jerusalem, he Reaches Milelm.
haps to announce and prepare for the apostle's coining, tarried for us at Troas. And we sailed . , . from Plill> ippl after tlie days of unleavened bread—(i. e., the Passover). This, compared with 1 Corinthians 16. 8, shows that the three months spent at Corinth {v. 3) were the winter months, came to Troas—for the third and last time. (Hee on ch. IB. 8, and on t'. 1.) in five days— As it r/iiglit have been done in two days, the wind must I !ive been adverse. The vivid style of one now present will be here again observed, where we abode seven days—i. p., arriving on a Monday, they stayed over tlie Jewish sabbath anil the Lord's Day following; occupying himself, doubtless, in refreshing and strengthening fellowship with the brethren during the interval. 7. upon the llrst day of the weel<, wlien tile disciples came togetlier — This, compared with 1 Corinthians 16. 2, and other similar allusions, plainly indicates tluit tlie Christian observance of the day afterwards distinctly called " tlie Lord's Day," was already a fixed practice of tlie churches. Paul preaclied—('discoursed'). The tense implies continued action—'kept discoursing.' 8. tliere were many liglits in tlie upper vliainl>er—not a mere piece of grapliic detail by an eye-witness [Hackett, Hows], but meiUioii-d, probably, as increasing the heat and contributing to drowsiness [Webster and Wilkinson], as the next clause seems to show. 9. in a (' the') window—or window-seat, or I'ecess. fell down from tlie third loft
rinihians 8.22,23). (8.) It must have been at tliis lime tliat he penetrated as far as to the confines of " lUyricum," lying along the shores of the Adriatic (Romans l.!. I'J). He would naturally wish that liis second Letter to the Corinthians should have some time to produce ils proper eflect ere he revisited them, and this would appear ii convenient opportunity for a north-weslern circuit, which would enable him to pay a passing visit to the churches at Thessalonica and Berea, though of this we have no record. On liis way soutliward to Greece, he would preach the Gospel in tlie intermediate regions of Epirus, Tlxessaly and Baeotia(see Romans 15. ID), though of tliis we have no record, he came into Greece—or Acliaia, in pursuance of the second part of his plan, cli. 19. 21. 3. And tliere abode three months—Thougli the province only is here mentioned, it is the city of C'orimth that is meant, as the province of "Macedonia," v. 1, meant the city of Philippi. Some rough work he anticipated on his arrival at Corinth (.2 Corintliians 10. 1-8, 11 ; IX 1-10), tliougli he had reason to expect satisfaction on the wliole; and as we know there were other churches iu Achaia besides that at Corinth (2 Corinthians 1. 1; 11. 10), he would have time enough to pay them all a brief visit during the three months of his stay there. This period was rendered further memorable by the despatch of the Ki'Istle to the Romans, written during his stay at Corinth, and sent by
" Plioebe, a servant('deaconess')of the Church at Cenchrea" (see on ch. 18. 3), a lady apparently of some standing and substance, whp was going thither on private business. (See on Romans 16. 1 and Introduction to Kpistles to Romans.) And >vhen the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria—He had intended to embark, probably at Cenchrea, the eastern harbour of tlie city, for Palestine, on his route to Jerusalem, the third part of his plan, ch. 19. 21. But having detected some conspiracy against his life by his bitter Jewish enemies (as at Damascus, ch. 9. 22-25, and Jerusalem, ch. 9. 2!», 30), he changed his plan, and determined " to return" as he had come, " through Macedonia." As he was never more to return to Corinth, so this route would bring him, for the last time, face to face with the attached disciples o( Berea,
(' story')and was taken up dead—
' Tlie window projected (according to the side of the room where it was situated)
eitliijr over the street or over tlie interior court; so that In either case he fell on tlie hard earth or pavement below.' 10-ia. Paul . . . fell on Iilni—like Elislia, 2 Kings
4. 34. his life is in him—now restored ; cf. Mark 5. 39. broken bread and eaten—with what a mixture of awe and joy alter such an occurrence! and eaten—denoting a common repast, as distinguished from the breaking of the eucharistic bread, and talked a long while, even till break of day. How lifelike this record of dear Christian fellowship, as free and gladsome as it was solemn ! (See Ecclesiastes 9. 7.) 13-38. Continuing his route to Jerusalem, hb REACHES Miletus, whence he sends for the elders OF Ephesus—His farewell address to them. 13, 14. we , . . sailed (from Troas) unto Assos; there to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot— ' to go by land.' (See on Mark 6.
Thessalonica and Philippi. 4, 5. tliere accompanied him into (the province of) Asia, Sopater of Berea—Tlie true reading, beyond doubt, is, 'Sopater [the son] of Pyrrhus of Berea.' Some think this mention of his father was to distinguish liim from Sosipater (the same name in fuller form), mentioned Romans 10. 21. But that they were tlie same person seems more probable, of the Thessalonlans, Aristarchus—See on ch. 19. 29. anA Secundus— ofwhom nothing el.se is known. Gains of Derbe—Tliough the Gaius of ch. 19. 29 is said to be of " Macedonia," and this one "of Derbe," there is no sulKcient reason for supposing them difTerent persons; on the contrary, Romans
33.) In sailing southward from Troas to Assos, one has to round Cape Lectum, and keeping due east to run along
tiie northern shore of the Gulf of Adramyttium, on which it lies. This is a sai-1 of nearly forty miles ; whereas by land, cutting right across, in a south-easterly direction, from sea to sea, by that excellent Roman road which then existed, the distance waS' scarcely more than half. The one way Paul wished his companions to take, wliile he himself, longing perhaps to enjoy a period of solitude, took the other, joining the ship, by appointment, at Assos. came to MItylenc—the capital of tlie beautiful and classical islaixl of Lesbos, which lies oppo-
16.23, cf. with 3 John 1, wlien; there is hardly any reason to doubt that the same Gaius is aildressed, seems to show that though he spent an important part of his Christian
life away from his native Dt^rbe, he had latterly retired to some place not very far from it. and Tlinotlkcus—not probably of Derbe, as one miglit suppose from this verse, but of Lystra (see on ch. 16. 1); both being so associated in his early connection with tlie apostle that tin: mention of the one in the previous clause would recall the otlu^r on the mention of his name, and of Asia, Tj'elklcus and Trophlmus—The latter was an Kpliesian, and prol)al)ly the former. They seem to have put themselves, from this time forward, at the apostle's disjjosal, and to the very last been a great comfort to 111 m. (Kphesians 0. 21. 22 ; Co- }ossians 4.7, 8; ch. 21.29; 2 Timothy 4.12, 20.) From the iTicntion of the places to whicli eacii of these companions b(;longed, and still more tlie oider in wliicli they oCcur, we are left to conclude that tliey were deputies from their respective churches, charged wit h taking up and bringing on the collection for the poor saints at Jerusal(>m,
site the eastern shore of the ^Egean Sea, about thirty miles soutli of Assos; in whose harbour they seem to have lain
for the night. 15, IG. came the next day over agaihst Chios— now Scio: one of the most beautiful of those islamls between which and the coast the sail is .so charming. They appear not to have touched at it. next day we arrived ('touched' or 'put in') at Samoa—another Island coming quite close to the mainland, and about as far south of Chios as it is south, of Lesbos, tarried (for the night) at Trogyllium—an anchorage on the project., ing mainland, not more than a mile from the southern extremity of the Island of Samos. next day we came to Miletus—on the mainland; the anciei.it capital of Ionia, ni'ar the mouth of the Meander. For Paul hud determined to sail by (or '.sail past ') Kpliesus—He was right opposite to it when approach in;; Chios, because he would not spend tlme iii Asia (tlie .'\sian province of wlihrli Ephesus was the chief city); for lie hasted, if. . . possible ... to be at •Teriisnlem the day of Pentecost—as a suitable season for giving; in the great coUeotluu from all
first at Berea, next at Thessalonica, then at Philippi [Mown], where we gather thai our historian himself rejoined t/ieparh/ (from the resumption at v. 5 of the "ire," dropped at ch. 16.17), by whom tiie I'liilippian coUecl imi would natuially bo brought on a, 0. TheNe^oliij; btlorc—pci208
FaiU's Address to the Elders of Epliesus. ACTS XX. He Commits to them the Care of God! s Flock.
self, on which all the clinrges against him turned; (2) the Biinien of thai Gospel which lie preached— Grace ; it was "the Gospel of Ihe Grace of God." 25-37. 1 know tliat yc all . . . shall see my face no more—not an inspired prediction ol what was certainly to be, but wliat the apos-
tlie western churches, for keeping the feast, and clearing
Jils apostolic position witii the Church, then repn sen ted in
large number at Jerusalem. The words imply that there was considerable ground to doubt if he would attain this
object—for more than three of the seven weeks from Passover to Pentecost had already e.xpired—and they are inserted evidently to explain why he did not on<-e more
tle, in his peculiar circumstances, fully expected. WlieUier, Iherefore, he ever did see them again, is a question to be decided purely on its own evidence, lam pure from tlie blood of all men—;Ch. 18. 6 ; and cf. 1 Samuel 12.
visit Ephesus. 17. from Miletus lie sent to EyUesiis, and called the ciders of the church—jVs he was now some forty miles south of Ephesus, we might tliiiik that more time would be lost by sending thus far for tlieelili-rs tocome to him, than by going at once to Ephesus itsi lf, when so near it. But if unfavourable winds and stormy weatlier had overtaken them, his object could not hav.e been attained, and perhaps he was unwilliug to run the
3, 5; Ezekiel 3. 17-21; 33. 8,9.) For I have not shunned to dccliire all the counsel of God—God's way of Salvation, anil His kingdom of souls saved by His Son Jesus Christ. See Lukii 7. 30. 28. Take heed . . . unto yourselves—Cf. 1 Timothy 3. 2-7; 4. 16 ; 6. U. and to tlic flock —Cf. Hebrews 13. 17. Observe here how X\\e personal is put before the priMoral care, over . . . which tlie Holy Ghost hath made you—Cf. John 20. 22, 23; Ephcsians 4.
risk of detention at Ephesus by the slate of the Church, and other causes. Those here called "ciders" or "presbyters," are in u. 28 called " bi.'ihop.i." (See nole there.) The identity of presbyters and bishops in tJ)e >\'w Testament is beyond all reasonable dispute. 18. Te Itiiuiv
8, 11, 12; Revelations 3. 1. (Ch. 14. 23 shows that the apos-
tle did not mean to exclude /t«»na/i ordination.) overseerg —or, as tlie same word is everywhere else rendered in our version, ' bishops.' ' The English Version has hardly dealt fair in this case with the sacred text, In rendering the word "overseers," whereas it ought here, as in all other places, to have been 'bishops,' in order that the fact of elilersaiid bishops h.aving been originally and apostoUcally sy nonj-inous, might be apparent to the ordinary English reader, which now it is not.' [Alfobd.] The distinction between these oflices cannot be certainly traced tilt the second cenltiry, nor was it established till late in that century, to fctd t3»e C'liurcli of God—or, ' the Church of the Ijord.' Which ol these two readings of the text is the true one, is a question which has divided the best critics. The evidence of MSS. preponderates in favour of 'tub LoKD;' soiueof the mostaneieut Versions, tliough net all, so read; and Athanasius, the great champion of llie supreme Divinity of Christ early in the fourth century, sajs the expression ' Church of God
. . . after what manner I have been xi'lth you at all seasons, &c.—For the Christian integritjand tidelity of
his whole official intercourse with them he ap;)<-als to themselves. 19. Serving the Lord (Jesus) with nil Jiumillty . . . and many tears and temptations—Sell-exaltation was unknown to him, and ease of niind: Pie "'sowed in tears," froia anxieties both on account of the converts for whom he "travailed in birth," and of the Jews, whose bitter hostility was perpetnallj' plotting against him, interrupting his v/ork and endangering his
life. !40. kept back—timidly withheld from fear of consequences, notliing tliat was profitable—editlcatiou directing all. have tauglit yoti publicly, and from Itouse to house—Did an apostle, whose functions were of so wide a range, not feel satisfied without private as well as public ministrations? How then must jpasto-s feel? [Bengel.] 31. testifying both to Jews and Greeks (labouring under a common malady, and recoverable only by a common treatment) repentance toward God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ—See on ch. 5. 31. Repentance, as distinguished from faith, is that state of the " honest and good heart" which arises from a discovery of one's contrariety to the righteous demands of the Divine law. This Issiiidtobe "towards God," because seeing Him to be the party dishonoured by sin, it feels all its acknowledgments and compunctions to be properly due to Him, as the great Lawgiver, and directs them to Him accordingly; condemning, humbling Itself, and grieving before Him, looking also to Him as Its onlj' Hope of deliverance. Kaith
' is unknown to the Scriptures. Which reading, theu, does the internal evidence favour? As 'Church of God ' occurs nine times elsewhere In Paul's writings, and 'Church of the Lord' nowhere, the probability, it issaid, is, that he used his wonted phraseology herealsi). Butif he did, it is extremely dilScult tosee how so many early transcribers should have altered it into the quite unusual phrase, 'Church of the Lord ;' whereas, if the apostle did use this latter expression, and the historian wrote it so accordingly, it is easy to see how transcribers might, from being so accustoned to the usual phrase, write it 'Church of God.' On the whole, therefore, we accept the second reading as most probably the true one. But see what follows, which he linth purcliased (' made his own,' 'acquired') with his own blood —'His own' is emphatic: q. d., 'That glorified Lord who from the right hand of power in the heavens is gathering and ruling li.e Church, and by His Spirit, through human agency, hath set you over it, cannot be indifferent to iUs welfare in your hands, seeing He hath given for it His own most precious blood, thus making it His own by the dearest cf all ties.' The transcendent sacredness of the Church of Christ is thus made to rest on the Dignity of
Is said to be " lowards our Lord Jexus ChrLit," because in that frame of mind just described it eagerly credi Is the testimony of relief divinely provided in Christ, gladlj' embraces the overtures of reconciliation in Him, and dii-ects
all its expectations of salvation, from its first stage to it.s
last, to Him as tlie one appointed Medium of all grace from God to a sinful world. Thus we have here a i)rief summary of all Gospel preaching. And it is easy to see why repentance is here put before faith; for the former must of necessity precede the latter. Tliere is a repentance subsequent to faith, the fruit of felt pardon and restora-
its Lord and the consequent preciousness of that blood which He shed for it. And as the sacrilicial atoning cr.aracter of Christ's dcatu is here plainly expiressed, so His supreme dignity is implied as clearly by the second reading as it is expressed by the first. Wliat a motive to paStoral fiiJieliUj is here furnished ! 89, 30. after' my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among yon—Two classes of coming enemies are here aniiounced, the one more external to themselves, the other bred in the bosom of their own community; both were to be teachers, but the one, "grievous wolves," not sparing, i. e., making a prey of tlie (lock; the ol her, simply sectarian "perverters" of tile truth, with the view of drawing a party after them. I'erhaps the one pointed to that subtle poison of Oriental Gnosticism which we know to have very eaUy infected tlie Asiatic cliurches ; the other to such Judaizing tendencies as we know to have troubled nearly all the early cliurches. See the Ejiistles to the Epliesians, ColoS' tians, uud 'I'imothy, also those to the seven churches oX
tion. It was tliis which drew the teai'S wilh which the Saviour's feet were once so copiously moistened. (Luke
7. 37, as, 47; and cf. Ezekiel 16. Ci) But that is not the light in which It Is here presented. 83,23. And now, beliold,
I ("I " is emphatic here) bound in tlie Spirit—ef. ch. 19.
21. This Internal pressure, unattended with any knowledge of "what was to befall him there," was the result of that higher guidance which shaped all his movements.
Save that tlie Holy Ghost witnesseth In every city, <i:c. —by prophetic utterances from city to city, as ch. 11.4;
21. 10, 11. Analogous premonitions of coining events are not unknown to the general method of God's providence. Tliey would tend to season the ai)ostle's spirit. 'H. But none of these things move me, neitlier, &.C.—In this noble expression of absolute dedication to the service of Christ and preparedness for the worst that could befall him In such a cause, note (P "lis Jealousy for the peculiar diaracler of his mission, as imnteUiaU'lj/ Jrom Christ Him-
PkIuI Journeyeth to Jerusalem, ACTS XXI. ivhere he Addrvsseth the Elden.
were taken along with their parents, but must have joined in this act of solemn worship. See on Epliesians
Asia (chs. 2. and 3). But watchfulness against all that tends to injure and corrupt the Cliurch is the duty of its pastors in every age. 31. l>y tUe space of three years speaking in round numbers; for it was nearer tliree tlian two years. I ceased not to warn every mie night and day with tears—What an appeal to be able to make! 'And if this was an apostle's part, how much more a pastor's!' [Bengel.] 3!J-35. I commend you to God— the almighty Conservator of His people, and to the word of his grace—that message of His pure grace (v.
6. 1. 7. when we had tinlshed our course ('compleliug the voyage") from Tyre, we came (which they would do the same day) to Ptolemais—anciently called Aceho (Judges 1. 31), now St. Jean d'Acre, or Acre, and saluted the brethren, and abo<le, &c.—disciples gathered probably as at Tyre, on the occasion mentioned ch. II. 19. 810. next day We [that were of Paul's company] departed —(The words in brackets are omitted in the best MSS. They were probably added as the connecting words at the head of some church lessons.) and came to Csesarea—
24) by the faith of which He keeps us (1 Peter 1.5). which
(i. e., God) Is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance, &c.—Observe how Salvation—not only in its
run along the coast, southward, of some thirty miles. Philip the evangelist— a term answering apparently very much to our missionary IHovfS], by whose ministry such joy had been dilTused over Samaria, and the Ethiopian eunuch had been baptized, ch. 8. one of the seven (deacons)—who had "purchased to himself a good degree"
initial stages of pardon and regeneration, but in all its subsequent stages of " up-building," even to Us consummation
in the final inheritance—is here ascribed to the "ability" of God to bestow it, as in Romans 16. 2-3; Ephesians 3. 20; particularly Jude 24; and cf. 2 Timothy 1. 12, where the same thing is ascribed to Christ, among all them wlilch are sanctified—Sauctificalion is here viewed as the final character and condition of the heirs of glory, regarded as one saved companj'. these bonds—doubtless holding them up, as before Agrippa in chains, ch. 26. 29. have ministered unto my necessities, and to them tliat were with mc—See ch. 18. 3; and 1 Corinthians 4. 12; 9. 6, written from Ephesus ; also 1 Thessaloniaus 2. 9. that so labouring (as I have done, for others, as well as myself) ye ought to support the weak, and to remember tlie words of the Liord Jesus, liow he ('how Himself) said, It is more blessed to give than to receive, &c.—Th is golden saying, snatclied from oblivion, and here added to the Church's abiding treasures, is apt to beget the wish that more of what issued from those Lips wliicli "dropped as an honeycomb," had been preserved to ns. But see on John 21. 25. 36-38. he luieeled ilown and prayed witli them all, Ac—Nothing can be more toucliing than these three concluding verses, leaving an indelible impression of rare ministerial fidelity and alTectiou on the apostle's part, and of warm admiration and attachment on the part of these Ephesiau presbyters. Would to God that such Bcenes were more frequent in the Cliurch !
(1 Timothy 3. 13). He and Paul now meet for the first time, some twenty-five years after that time, the same man Iiad four daughters . . . whiclk did prophesy fulfilling Joel 2. 28 (see ch. 2. 18). This is mentioned, it would seem, merely as a higli distinction divinely conferred on so devoted a servant of the Lord Jesus, and proljably indicates the high tone of religion in his family, tarried there many ('a good many') days — Finding himself in good time for Pentecost at Jerusalem, he would feel it a refreshing thing to his spirit to hold Christian communion for a few days with such a family, there came down from Judea (the news of Paul's arrival having spread) a certain prophet . . . Agabus—no doubt the same as in cli. 11. 28. 11-14:. So shall the Jews bind the man that owneth this girdle, &c.—For though the Romans did it, it was at tlie Jews' instigation, v. 33; ch.
28. 17. Such dramatic methods of announcing important future events would bring the old prophets to remembrance. (Cf. Isaiah 20. 2, &c. ; Jeremiah 13. 1, and EzekieJ
5. 1, &c.) This prediction and that at Tyre (v. i) were intended, not to prohibit him from going, but to put his courage to tlie test and when he stood the test, to deepen and mature it. we and titey at that place (the Cesarean Christians) besought him (even with tears, v. 13) not to go to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, AVhat mean ye to weep and to break mine heart, <Sc.—Beautiful union of manly resoluteness and womanly tenderness, alike removed fronr mawkishness and stoicism! 1 am ready not to be bound only—7. d., ' If that is all, let it come.' but to die, ike.—It was well he could add this, for he had that also to do. 15, 10. we took up our carriages ('our baggage'), and went up to Jerusalem—for the Jijih time after his conversion, thus concluding his third misxion-
Ver. 1-16. Sailing from Ephesus, tuey land at Tykk, and thence sailing to Ptolemai-s, they pkoceed by land to ciesakea and jekusalem. 1. we were gotten ('torn') from tliein—expressing the difficulty and pj-in of the parting, wltli a straiglit course running bel'ore the wind, as ch. 10. II. ujilo Cous ('t^os') —an island due south from Miletus, whicli lliey would reach in about six hours, and coming close to tlie mainland, tlie day following unto Rliodrs—anotlier island, some fifty miles to tlie soutli-east, of brilliant classic memory and beauty, thence unto Patara—a town on the magnificent mainland of Lycia, almost due east from Rhodes. It was the seat of a celebrated oracle of Apollo.
ai-y lour, which proved his last, so far as recorded ; for thougli he accomplislied t-iie fourth and last part of the missionary plan sketched out, ch. 19.21—"After I have been at Jerusalem, I must also see Rome"—it was as "a prisoner of Jesus Clirist." went with us . . . and brought witik tliem (ratlier, 'brought us to ) on* >Inason of Cyprus, an old disciple, &c.—not an agrU disciple, but probalily 'a disciple of old standing,' perhaps one of the 3000 converted on the day of Pentecost, or, more likely
it. And iliiding asliip (their -former one going no farther, probably) to Phoenicia—.See on ch. 11. 19. went abroadOne would almost think tliis extracted from a Journal of the voyage, so graphic are its details. 3. when we . . . discovered ('sighted,' as the phrase is) Cyprus, we left It on tiie left hand—i. e., steeretl south-east of it, leaving it on the north-west, sailed into (' unto')!^yrla, and landed at Tyre—tlie celebrated seat of maritime commerce for East and West. It might be reached from Patara in aliout two days, there the ship was to unlade lier bui-den which gave the apostle time for what follows, 't-0. linding disci|>les (' finding out the disciples')—implying some
still, drawn to the Saviour Himself during His lifetime. He had conie, probably, willi tlie otlier Cyprians (eh. Jl.
20), to Aiitiocli, "pi( acliiug the lA)rd Jesus unto the (Jrecians," and now he appears settled at Jerusalem.
17-10. Paul keports the events of his Thikd Mi.sSIONARY JoUltNEY—In THE TE.MPLE, PURIFYING HIMKELF FROM A JKWI.SH VOW, HK IS SEIZED BY A MOB AND BEATUN TO THE DANGER OF HIS LIFE—TlIK UPKO.\K BECO.MJNG UNIVERSAL, THE HOMAN CoMMAND.\NT HAS HIM BROUGHT IN 1'1I.4.INS TO THE FORTItE.SS, FROM THE STAiHS OF WHICH HE IS PER.MITrED TO ADDRKSS THE PEOPLK. The apostle was full of anxiety about tliis visit to Jerusalem, from the numerous prophetic intimalious of danger awaiting him, and having reason to expect the presence at tliis ft ast of the very parties from whose virulent rage he had once and again narrowly escaped with his life. Hence we tliul liiin asking tlie Roman Christians to wres-
searcli. Tliey would expi'ct such, from what is recorded, ch. 11. 19. Perhaps they were not many; yet there were gifted ones among tliem. wlio said to Paul . . . that he should not go to .Jerusalem—See on <'h. 2t). 23; also on t<. 11-11. tiiey all brouglit us on our way with wives and children . . . and we knrrlcil down on the shore and prayed, &c.—See on cli. 20. ,'i()-3.S. Observe
tle with him in prayer, " for the Lord Jesus Christ's s&ke.
iifcre that the children of these Tyrian disciples not only
Paid Assaulted in the Temple. ACTS XXII. Sis Defence from the Stairs of the Forlrest.
and for the love of the Spirit, that he might be delivered /rwi tnem that believed not in Judca," as well as "that his
Ver. 1-30. Paul's defenck from the .stairs of thb FORTRESS— The kage of the audience burstino FORTH, THE COMMAJtDANT HAS HIM BROUGHT INTO THE FOltTTOBE examined BY SCOURGING, BUT LEARNING THAT HE IS A Roman, he orders his release and commands THE Sanhedrim to try him. l, 3. when they heard
Bervice which he had for Jerusalem (the great collection
for the poorsaints there) might be accepted of the saints," Romans 15. 30, 31. 17-19. the bretliren received iis gladly—the disciples generally, as distinguished from
the official reception recorded in ti. 18. Paul went In with U8 unto James ; and all tlie elders were present —to "report himself" formally to the acknowledged head of the Church at Jerusalem, and his associates in
. . . the Hebrew tongue (see on ch. 21. 40) they kept the more silence—They could have understood him in Greek, and doubtless fully expected the renegade to address them in that language, but the sound of their holy mother-tongue awed them Into deeper silence. 3. a Jew of Tarsus, brought up in this city, at the feet (see on Luke 10. 39) of Gamaliel—(See on ch. 5. 24)—a fact of great importance in the apostle's history, standing in the same relation to his futui'e career as Moses' education In the Egyptian court tq the work for which he was destined,
office. See on ch. 15. 13. Had any other of the apostles been in Jerusalem on that occasion, it could hardly fail
to have been noted, he declared particularly (in detail) nrhat God had wrouglit among the Gentiles by Ills ministry—as on previous occasions, ch. 14. 27; and see Romans 15.15; no doubt referring to the insidious and systematic efforts of the Judaizing party in a number of
places to shrivel the Church of Christ into a Jewish sect, and his own counter-procedure. aO-35. they glorified the Iiord, &c.—constrained to justify his course, notwithstanding the Jewish complexion of the Christianity of Jerusalem, they are informed . . . that thou teachest
tlie perfect manner of the law of the fathers—the strictest form of traditional Judaism, zealous ('a zealot') toward God as ye all are this day—his own murderous zeal against the disciples of the Lord Jesus being merely reflected in their present treatment of himself. 4. I persecuted, &c.—See on ch. 9. 1, 2, 5-7. the high priest
all the Jews which are among the Gentiles (those reSiding in heathen countries) to forsake Moses, &c.—This calumny of the unbelieving Jews would lind easy credence amon^ the Christian zealots for Judaism, we have four men (Christian Jews, no doubt) which have a vowperhaps kept ready on purpose, be at chax-ges with them i. e., defray the expense of the sacrifices legally required of them, along with his own, which was deemed a mark of Jewish generosity, touching tlie Gentiles . . . we have written and concluded tliat they observe no such thli\gs, &c.—This shows that with all their conciliation to Jewish prejudice, the Church of Jerusalem was taught to adhere to the decision of the famous council held there (ch. 15). 3G. to signify (i. e., announce to the
(still alive) doth bear me witness, and all tlie estate of the elders—the whole Sanhedrim. 8. Jesus of Nazareth—('The Nazarene.') See on ch. 9. 5. 9-11. the men, &C.—See on ch. 9. 7, &c. 13. Ananias, a devout man, according to tike law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there—One would not know from this description of Ananias that he was a Christian at all, the apostle's object being to hold him up a.s unexceptionable even to the most rigid Jews. 13-15. The God of our fathers hath chosen thee—studiously linking the new economy upon the old, as but the sequel of it; both havfng one glorious Author, that thou shouldest sec that
('the') Just One—cf. ch. 3. 14; 7.52. and hear the voice of his mouth—in order to place him on a level with the other apostles, who had "seen the (Risen) Lord." be baptized and wash away thy sins—This way of speaking arises from baptism being the visible seal of remission, calling on the name of the Lord—rather, ' Iiaving called,' i. e., after having done so; referring to the confession of Christ which preceded baptism, as ch. 8. 37. 17-31.
priest) the accomplishment of the days of purification, &c.—See on Numbers 6. 13-21. 27-30. the Jews of Asia—in all likelihood those oi Ephesus (since they i-ecognized Tropiiimus apparently as a townsman, d. 29), em-
bittered by tlieir discomfiture, ch. 19. 9, &c. Trophlmus —See on cli. 20. 1. took Paul, and drew him out of the temple ; and forthwith the doors were shut—that the murder they meant to perpetrate might not pol-
lute that holy place. 31. tidings came lit., ' went up,'
it came to pass, &c.—This thrilling dialogue between the glorified Redeemer and his chosen vessefl is nowhere else related. When I was come again to Jerusalem—on the occasion mentioned ch, 9. '26, &c. while I prayed in the temple—He thus calls their attention to the fact that after his conversion he kept up his connection with the temple as before, get quickly out of Jerusalem (cf. ch. 9. 29), for they will not receive tliy testimony . . . And I said, Lord, they know, &c. : q. d., ' Can it be. Lord, that they will resist the testimony of one whom they knew so well as among the bitterest of all against thy disciples, and whom nothing short of resistless evidence could have turned to Thee'.'' Depart, for 1 will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles q. d., 'Enough; thy testimony is not to be thrown away upon Jerusalem ; the Gentiles, afar off, are thy peculiar sphere.' 33, 33. gave him audience to this word . . . then . . . Away with sucli a fellow from the earth, &c.—Their national prejudices lashed into fury at the mention of a mission to the Gentiles, they would speedily have done to him as they did to Stephen, but for the presence and protection of the Roman officer. 34-'36. examined by scourging according to the Roman practice, that he might know wherefore they cried so—Paul's speech being to him in an unknown tongue, he concluded from the horror which
i. e., to the fortress of .Vntonia, where the commandant resided. See on v. 32. This part of the narrative is particularly graphic, the cliief cai>tain— ' the chiliarch,' or tribune of the Roman coliort, whose full number was 1,000 men. 33. commanded him to be boiuid with two chains—See on ch. 12. 34. some cried one thing—The
difficulty would be so to state his crimes as to Justify their proceedings to a Roman olRcer. to be carried Into the castle—rattier, perhaps, ' the barracks,' or that part of the fortress of Antonia appropriated to the soldiers. 'The fort was built by Herod on a high rock at the north-west corner of the great temple area, and called after Mark Antony. 35, 36. Away with him—as before of his Lord, Luke 23. 18; John 19. 15. 37-40. Art not thou that Egyptian, (fee.—Tlie form of the question implies that the answer is to be in the negative, and is matter of some surprise: q. d., 'Tliou art not then,' Ac? madest an uproar, &c.—The narrative Is given in Josephus {.Tctvi.th War, ii, 8. B; and 13. 5), tliougli his two allusions and ours seem to refer to ditTerent periods of the rebellion, acitlzen of no mean city—See on ch. 16. 37. stood on the •tatrs—'What nobler spectacle than that of Paul at this moment! There he stood, bound with two chains, ready to make his defence to the people. The Roman commander 8it.s liy, to enforce order hy liis presence. An enraged populace look up to him from below, yet in the midst of so many dangers, how self-possessed Is he, how tranquil !' [Chky.sostom (or in his name) in Hacket.] a
It kindled in the vast audience that he must have been guilty of some crime. Paul said to the centurion that stood by—to superintend the torture and receive the confession expected to be wrung from him. Is it lawful foi you to scourge a man that Is a Roman, itc.—.See on ch.
fp-cat silence—tlie people awed at the permission given hlra by the commandant, and .seeing liitn silting as a listener, in the Hebrew tongue-the Ky ro-Clialdaic, the vernaculyr tongue of the Palestine Jews since the captivity
16. .37. 37-39. Art thou a Koman I — show! ng that his being of Tarsus, which h(^ liail told him before (ch. 21. 39) did not necessarily imply that he was a Koman citizen, With a great sum obtained 1 this freedom—Koman cit-
PauPs Defence before the Sanhedrim. ACTS XXIII. He is Encouraged by a Vui'ffn,
izenship was bought and sold in the reign of Clandins, we know, at a high price: at a subsequent date, for next to nothing. But to put in a false claim to this privilege was a capital crime. I was [free] born {'born to it')—by purchase, or in reward of services, on the part of his father or some ancestor, chief captain feared, &c.—See on ch.
their opinions, but only to explain it away as sonictliing not worth raising a noise about. (The following words, " Let us not fight against God," seem not to belong to the original text, and perliaps are from ch. 5.39. In this ca.se, either tlie meaning is, 'If he has had some Divine communication, wliat of Diatf or, the conclusion of the sentence may have been drowned in the hubbul), wliich the next verse .shows to have been intense.) 10. tlie chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled to pieces . . . comm.-vnded the soldiers to go down and take him by force, &c.—Tills shows that the commandant was not liimself present, and lurther, that instead of the Sanhedrim trying thecau.se, the proceedings quickly consisted in the one party attempting to seize the pris-
16. 38. 30. coinmandeil tlie chief priests and all tlielr coimcil to appear— i. e., the .Sanliedrim to be formally convened. Note here the power to order a Sanhedrim to try this case, assumed by the Roman officers and acquiesced in on their part.
Ver. 1-10. Paul's defence before the Sanhedrij: DIVIDES THE RIVAL FACTIONS, FROM WHOSE VIOLENCE THE COMMANDANT HAS THE APOSTLE REMOVED INTO THE FORTRESS. 1. Paul, earnestly beholding the council with a look of conscious integrity and unfaltering cour-
ilv oner, and the other to protect him.
15 \ 11-35. In the fortress Paul is cheered by a night VISION — An infamous conspiracy to assassinate him is providentially defeated, and he is despatched BY night with a letter FROM TIIE COMMANDANT TO Felix at CaesAREA, by whom arrangements ARE MADE FOR A HEARING OF HIS CACSH 11. the night following— his heart perhaps sinking, in tlie solitude of his barrrack-ward, and thinking perhaps that all the predictions of danger at Jerusalem were now to be fulfilled in his death there, the Lord
age, perhaps also recognizing some of his early fellow-
pupils. I have lived In all good conscience before God until this day, etc.—The word has an indirect reference
to the ' polity' or " commonwealth of Israel," of which he would signify that he had been, and was to that hour, an honest and God-fearing member. 2. t!ie high priest . . . commanded ... to smite him on the mouth—a metliod of silencing a speaker common in the East to this day. [H.\CKET.] But for a judge thus to treat a prisoner on liis
(i. e., Jesus) stood by him . . . Be of good clieer, Paul
for as thou hast testitied of me In Jerusalem, so must tho<» also at Rome q, d., 'Thy work in Jerusalem
trial, for merely prefacing his defence by a protest.ition of his integrity, was infamous. 3, 4. God shall smite thee—as indeed He did ; for he was killed by an assassin during the Jewish war. (JoSKFnvs, Jewish War, ii. 17.9.) thou whlted wall— e., hypocrite (INIatthew 23. 27). Tliis epithet, however correctly describing the man, must not be defended as addressed to a judge, though the remonstrance which follows—"for sittest thou," &c.—ouglit to have put him to shame. 5. I wist mot that he was the high priest—All sorts of explanations of this have been given. The high priesthood was in a state of great confusion and constant change at this time (as appears from JoSEi'HUS), and tiie apostle's long absence from Jerusalem, and perhaps the manner in wliich he was habited or the seat he occupied, with other circumstances to us unknown, may account for such a speech. But if he was thrown off his guard by an insult wliicli touched him to the quick, ' wiiat can surpass tlie grace with wliich lie recovered his self-possession, and the frankness with which he acknowledged his error? If his conduct in yielding to the momentary impulse was not tliat of Christ himself under a similar provocation (John 18. 22, 23), certainly the manner in which he atoned for his fault was Christ-like.' [Hacket.] 0-9. when Paul perceived (from the discussion which plainly had by this time arisen between the
is done, faithfully and well done; but thou art not to die here; thy purpose next to "see Rome" (ch. I'J. 21) shall not be disappointed, and there also must thou bear witness of Me.' As this vision was not unneeded now, so we shall find it cheering and upholding him througliout all that befell him up to his arrival there. 12-14. bound themselves with a curse . . . that they would neither eat . . . till they had killed Paul—Cf. 2 Samuel 3. 35; 1 Samuel 14. 24. 15. Now ... ye with the council signify to the chief captain ... as though, &c.—That tliese high ecclesiastics fell in readily with this infamous plot is clear. What will not unscrupulous and hypocritical religionists do under the mask of religion ? The n.arrative bears unmistakaljle internal marks of truth, or ever he come near—Their plan was to as.sassinate him on hia way down from the barratdts to the council. The case was critical, but He who had pledged His word to him that he should testify for Him at Rome provided unexpected means of defeating this well-laid scheme. 16-'32. Paul's sister's son—See on ch. 9. 30. If he was at this time residing at Jerusalem for his education, like Paul himself, he may have got at the schools those hints of the conspiracy on which ho so promptly acted. Then Paul called one of the centurions—Though divinelj' assured of safety, he never allows this to interfere with the duty he owed to his own life and the work he had yet to do. (See on ch. 27. 22-25, 31.) took him by the hand—This shows that he must have been quite in his boyhood, and throws a pleasing light on the kind-hearted impartiality of thisotTicer. antl now are they reaily, looking for a promise frofm thee—Tlius, as is so often the case with God's iieople, not till the last moment, when the plot was all prepared, did deliverance come. !43, 34. two hundred soldiers—a formidal^le guard for such an occasion ; but Roman odicials felt their honour concerned in the preservation of the public peace, and the danger of an attempted rescue woulil seem to require it. The force at Jerusalem was large enough to spare this convoy, the thlr(\ hour of the night—nine o'clock, beasts to set Paul on—as relays, and to carry baggage, unto Felix, the govertior—the procurator. See on ch. 24. 24, '25. 3530. t'laudlus—the Roman name lie would lake on purchasing his citi/.cnslilp. Liyslns—his Greek family name, the most excellent governor—an honorary title of office. I'.ame I with an army— rather, 'with the military.' perceiveil to be accused of questions of their law, &c.— Amidst all his dilhcnlty in getting at the charges laid against Paul, enougli, no doubt, came out to satisfy lilm that the whole was a question of relij^ioii, and that there was no case for a civil tribunal. gavt> commandment to
parties) that the one part were Sadducees, and tlie other Pharisees, he cried out (raising his voice above both parties), I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee
(the true reading seems to be, 'the son of Pharisees,' i. e., belonging to a family who from father to son had long been such)—of the hope and resurrection of the dcnd
(t. e., not the vague hope of immortality, but the definite
expectai'iOn of the resurrection) I am called in question —By this adroit stroke, Paul engages the whole Pharisaic section of the council in his favour; the doctrine of a resurrection being common to both, though they would to-
tally diiTer in their application of it. This was, of course, quite w:irrantable, and the more so as it was already evident that no impartiality in trying his cause was to be
'.coked from such an assembly, the Sadducees say . . . there is no r»'Surreetlon, itelther angel, nor spirit—See on LuliO 20.37. the scribes ... of the Piiarisees' part
. . strove, saying. We tlnd no evil In this man, but as to those startling things which lie brings to our ears)'
If a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him—referring, perhaps, to his trance in the temple, of which he had told them, ch. '22.17. They put this favourable construction upon his proc(!edings fnr no otlier reason than that they had found him one of their own parly. Tliey care not to Inquire into the truth of what he alleged, over and above
Pavrs Defence before Felix ACTS XXIV. on the Doctrine of the Resurrtction.
Jerusalem on the evening of the same day (ch. 22. 23, 31);
Ma accusers ... to say l>efore tliee—This was not done when he wrote, but would be ere the letter reached. 31,
10, 11, 12, 13. The remaining peiiod referred to (ch. 24. 1). [Meyer.] This short period is mentioned to show how unlikely it was that lie should have had time to do what was charged against him. for to worship—a very different purpose from that imputed to him. 1^2,13. they neither found me . . . neither can they prove the things, &c.—After specifying several pai ticulars, he challenges proof ofany one of the charges brouglit against him. So much for the charge of «eci£iton. 11,1.5. But (his I con-
3-Z. bi-onglit hlin to Antlpatris—nearly torty miles.l'rom Jerusalem, on the way to Cfe.sarea ; so named by Herod in honour of his father, Antipater. On the morrow tUey
(Ibe infantry) left tlie liorse—themselves no longer needed as a guard. The remaining distance was about twenty-five or twenty-six miles. 34, 35. asked of wJiat province lie was—the letter describing him as a Roman
citizen. I will Iiear tliee—The word means, 'give thee a full hearing.' to be kept in Herod's j«dgment-l»nll
fess to thee (in which Felix would see no crime) that after the way they call heresy (lit., and better, 'a sect'), so worship I the God of my fathers (' the aiicesti'al
' praitorinm,' the palace built at CfEsarea by Herod, and now occupied by the Roman procurators; in one of the buildings attached to which Paul was ordered to be kept.
God'). Two arguments are contained here : (1.) Our nation
is divided into what they call 'sects'—the sect of llii;Pharisees.and thatof theSadducees—all thedilt'erence between them and me is, that I belong to neither of these, but