Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
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 pcrliaps 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 Gentiles 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
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 parties 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 Master, 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
CHAPTER XVI.
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 Timothj 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 maris 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 Gospel. [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 throujh ' 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
14. '2). They had sought to gain salvation for themselves; but those who had carried it farthest along the paths of natural development were now pervaded by the feeling that all had indeed been vanity. This feeling is the simple, pure result of all the history of heathendom. And Israel, going along the way which God had marked out for him, had likewise arrived at his end. At last he is in a condition to realize his original vocation, by becoming the guide who is to lead the Gentiles unto God, the only Author and Creator of man's redemption ; and St. Paul is in truth the very person in whom this vocation of Israel to preserve the unity of the Jewish and Gentile converts.
6-12. They break new ground in Phrygia and CtALATIA— THEIR C0UR.SE IN THAT DIRECTION BEING MYSTERIOUSLY HEDGED UP, THEY TRAVEL, WESTWARD TO TROAS, where they ARE DIVINELY DIRECTED TO MACEDONIA—THE HISTORIAN HIMSELF HERE JOINING THE MISSIONARY PARTY, THEY EMBARK FOR NEAPOLIS, and REACH PHILIPPI. 6-8. NoW when they had gone throughout Piirygla and the region of Galatiaproceediu in a north-westerly direct is now a present Divine reality, and to whom, by this mic-