Paul preacheth at Athens. Anno DOMINI 54. Anno DOMINI 34. face of the earth, and hath determined | mandeth all men every where to re- 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. с 29 Forasmuch then as we are the c Isai. 10. 18. offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now com countries of the earth; His providence having assigned to each people their particular country and climate, and ordering and disposing the several changes and periods of nations. Pyle. 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath || given assurance unto all men, Or, offered in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, faith. Jesus Christ to be their Saviour and Redeemer, and has demonstrated the truth of His commission by raising him from the dead; so has He appointed the same Jesus to be the judge of all the world, and to give eternal reward or punishment to every man according to his works. Pyle. This was opposed not only to the disciples of Epicurus, who derived the origin of the human race from the mere effects of matter and motion, and to those of every where to repent:] When the world was in Aristotle, who denied that mankind had any beginning, ignorance, and had not such assurance of a future state maintaining that they had subsisted in eternal succes- of eternal rewards and punishments after this life, the sion; but was moreover opposed to the general pride arguments to repentance were weak and feeble, in comand conceit of the people of Athens, who boasted them-parison of what they now are. For, now that God hath selves to be descended from no other stock, but to be themselves original natives of their own country. Bp. Newton. 28. - certain also of your own poets] One poet, who said this, was Aratus, in a poem on the heavenly bodies; he was not an Athenian, but a native of Cilicia, St. Paul's country. Bp. Pearce. In the writings which we possess of St. Paul are quotations from the Greek poets in three different places, Acts xvii. 28; 1 Cor. xv. 33; Tit. i. 12. In each of these instances he introduces the passages with propriety and judgment, and in a manner which implies his intimacy with the Greek poets; for superficial readers, who quote merely for a display of learning, are seldom happy in their application. Michaelis. 29.-we ought not to think &c.] He here plainly points at the gross idolatry of the lower people, who thought the very idols themselves to be gods, and terminated their worship in them. Bp. Newton. 30.- the times of this ignorance &c.] The times of this ignorance God hath hitherto suffered to pass without direct interposition, making no distinct revelation of His will. - but now commandeth &c.] But, now that He intends, in great mercy, to vouchsafe to them all the free offers of pardon, and a full discovery of His divine will, He justly expects that they should repent of their past errours, and worship Him in a true and acceptable manner. And, (ver. 31,) it infinitely concerns them so to do; for, as He has now given them His only Son assured us of a future judgment, exhortations to repentance have a commanding influence over men; so that repentance, both as it is very earnestly inculcated in the Gospel, and as it derives its chief motives and enforcements from the Gospel, may be said to be one of the leading doctrines of Christ's religion. Abp. Tillotson. 31.by that man whom he hath ordained;] The human nature of our Lord, ever intimately and indissolubly united to the Divine, being, after His resurrection, taken up into heaven, was thereupon invested with the glory and dominion of the Godhead, to be from thenceforth displayed and exercised in the government of His Church, until the final act of judgment shall close the amazing scene, and put a period to the mediatorial kingdom: which, when the Son, the man Jesus Christ, shall have delivered up to the Father, then God, or the Blessed Trinity, shall be all in all, reigning and ruling to eternity, as was the case from eternity, previous to the intervention of the Christian system. By whom indeed should God judge mankind, but by that man by whom they were redeemed? He, who took upon Him the form of a servant, was crowned the King of glory, and crowned for that reason, because He became "obedient unto death." Therefore by Himself hath God sworn, that to Him, when sitting on the throne of judgment, "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that (the man) Christ Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Bp. Horne. 32. - some mocked:] Probably the Epicureans, who disbelieved a resurrection and future judgment, here asserted by St. Paul. Dr. Whitby. Perhaps among the mockers we may conclude were other philosophers, both Epicureans and Stoicks, whose tenets, though opposite to each other, were equally adverse to the reception of the Gospel. Dr. Hales. -others said,] Perhaps the disciples of Plato and the graver part of the audience. Bp. Newton. 34.- Dionysius the Areopagite,] A member of that Paul laboureth with his hands, Anno DOMINI 54. CHAP. XVIII. and preacheth at Corinth. and a woman named Damaris, and craft, he abode with them, and others with them. wrought: for by their occupation they were tent makers. CHAP. XVIII. 4 And he reasoned in the syna 3 Paul laboureth with his hands, and preach-gogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. eth at Corinth to the Gentiles. 9 The Lord encourageth him in a vision. 12 He is accused before Gallio the deputy, but is dismissed. 18 Afterwards passing from city to city he strengtheneth the disciples. 24 Apollos, being more perfectly instructed by Aquila and Priscilla, 28 preacheth Christ with great efficacy. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. Anno DOMINI 54. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook b Matt. 10.14. b AFTER these things Paul de- his raiment, and said unto them, parted from Athens, and came Your blood be upon your own heads; to Corinth; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 3 2 And found a certain Jew named a Rom. 16. 3. Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same body of magistrates who sat in the court of the Areopagus. Bp. Pearce. The members of this court were of the first class of citizens, and distinguished for their gravity, wisdom, and authority. Grotius. Chap. XVIII. ver. 1. came to Corinth ;] This famous city was at this time the residence of the proconsul of Achaia. It was commodiously situated, not only for trade, but for the command of all Greece, lying at the bottom of the isthmus that joins the Morea, anciently called the Peloponnesus, to the main land. The inhabitants were chiefly given to trading, which rendered them very wealthy; here were also several orators and philosophers residing. Dr. Wells. 2.- a certain Jew] This man and his wife were afterwards assistants of St. Paul, and had a church in their house, Rom. xvi. 3-5; 1 Cor. xvi. 19. Bp. Pearce. - (because that Claudius &c.] The Roman historian Suetonius, in his life of Claudius, mentions the fact of that emperour having expelled the Jews from Rome for tumultuous conduct. Abp. Newcome. Dio indeed says, that he did not expel them, but forbade all their religious assemblies. This was in effect an expulsion: if he would not permit them to assemble on their sabbaths, and the other days enjoined by their law, they could no longer live there as Jews. Biscoe. 3.- he abode with them, and wrought: &c.] It was the custom of the Jews, even of such as had received a better education than ordinary, which was St. Paul's case, chap. xxii. 3, to learn some trade, in order that, wheresoever they were, they might the better provide for themselves in case of necessity. And, though St. Paul in some places lived on the bounty of his converts, yet he chose not to do so at Corinth and some other places, for a reason which he gives at 2 Cor. xi. 12. While he was at Corinth, he was supplied, when his own labour did not procure him a sufficiency, by the brethren which came to him there from Macedonia, 2 Cor. xi. 9. Bp. Pearce. There was a maxim among the Jews, that he, who teaches not his son a trade, teaches him to be a thief. Bp. Tomline. 5.- when Silas and Timotheus] These two now returned from Thessalonica in Macedonia. It is not directly asserted, but it is fully implied, in the history of 7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of c 1 Cor. 1. 14. the Acts, that they joined St. Paul at Athens. For he sent a message back to them "to come to him with all speed," chap. xvii. 15; his stay at Athens was on purpose that they might join him, chap. xvii. 16; and his departure from that city was by no means hastened or abrupt. The same fact is deducible from what St. Paul says to the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. iii. 1; "We thought it good to be left at Athens alone, and sent Timotheus our brother-to establish you:" for when it is said that St. Paul sent him from Athens to Thessalonica, it is implied that he had come to Athens. There is, in this case, a conformity between the history of the Acts, and the Epistle, of a peculiar species. The epistle discloses a fact which is not directly asserted in the history, but which makes what is said in the history more significant, probable, and consistent. The history bears marks of an omission; the epistle by reference furnishes a circumstance which supplies that omission. Archdeacon Paley. was pressed in the spirit,] Meaning, that either his own spirit, or the Holy Spirit, so powerfully urged him, that he could not refrain from speaking. Dr. Whitby. The tidings brought by Silas and Timothy of the great proficiency and piety of the churches of Macedonia, 1 Thess. iii. 6, appear to have incited him, and made him more earnest to gain the Jews at Corinth. Dr. Lightfoot. 6. — he shook his raiment,] In case of great emotion and anxiety, the Jews used to throw open the upper garment, and shake it at the person with whom they were displeased, chap. xxii. 23. Bp. Mann. Your blood be &c.] Or, "your blood is upon your own heads," that is, your guilt, or the punishment of it: I am clean from your blood, not polluted with it. St. Paul means, that the guilt of rejecting his doctrine, and the punishment due to it, was theirs only, as he had done his duty with regard to them. Bp. Pearce. -I will go unto the Gentiles.] See note at chap. xiii. 46. He only means, that he would no longer preach to the Jews at that place. Dr. Whitby. 7. — entered into a certain man's house, &c.] It seems probable that this Justus had a large room in his house, fit for St. Paul's preaching to his disciples when he left the synagogue. Bp. Pearce. Paul is accused before Gallio. Anno the DOMINI 54. + Gr. sat there. A. D. 55. ending. THE ACTS. Anno DOMINI 55. ending. He strengtheneth the disciples. believed on the Lord | ment seat. And Gallio cared for synagogue, with all his house; and many of none of those things. the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace : 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judg ment seat, 13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. 14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. 16 And he drave them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judg 10.-I have much people in this city.] So they are called, because Christ saw that they were disposed to believe, and by faith become His people. Dr. Whitby. 12.-Gallio] This Gallio was the elder brother of Seneca, the famous Roman philosopher, by whom he is praised for his great mildness of disposition. Bp. Pearce. was the deputy of Achaia,] At the time when this was written, the Romans comprehended under the name of Achaia all that part of Greece which lay south of Thessaly. Gallio was the deputy-governour of this province: the Romans called such officer by the title of proconsul. Bp. Pearce. 13.-contrary to the law.] Meaning, contrary to their law, the law of Moses. Bp. Pearce. 15. of words and names,] Of doctrine and of names, as whether Jesus be the Christ, &c. Abp. New come. 17.- Sosthenes,] He is mentioned at 1 Cor. i. 1. - And Gallio cared for none of those things.] It does not appear from hence, as some have thought, that Gallio was indifferent to all religion; he seems only to have determined not to make himself a judge, to decide upon the points of variance between the Jews and Christians. Bp. Pearce. 18. Cenchrea:] Or, Cenchreæ, a seaport near to Corinth. 18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. 1 Cor. 4. 19. And he sailed from Ephesus. 22 And when he had landed at Cesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. e Jam. 4. 15. A. D. 56. 24 And a certain Jew named e 1 Cor. 1. 12. Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. for he had a vow.] This was either a vow of Nazaritism, (see Numb. vi,) which St. Paul had made to accommodate himself to the Jews, or some other vow which he had made, perhaps to express his gratitude for the Divine goodness. Beausobre. 19. came to Ephesus,] Ephesus was a famous city, the metropolis of Proconsular Asia, situated on the river Cayster, not far from the sea. It was particularly celebrated by heathen writers for its temple of Diana, which for size, furniture, and workmanship, was esteemed one of the seven wonders of the world. Dr. Wells. this feast] The feast of the passover. Bp. 21.. Pearce. 22.- and gone up, &c.] Gone up to Jerusalem, and saluted the church there. This was his fourth journey thither, about twenty-one years after his conversion, and he was now present at the passover. Bp. Pearce. 24. - at Alexandria,] A city in Egypt built by Alexander the Great. 25.-instructed in the way of the Lord;] That is, in the doctrine taught by St. John the Baptist, which was to prepare the way of the Lord, Luke iii. 4. —and taught diligently the things &c.] That is, taught with exactness, as far as his instruction had enabled him; for, by knowing only St. John's baptism, he only knew, that men were to receive "the baptism of The Holy Ghost Anno DOMINI 56. CHAP. XVIII, XIX. Anno DOMINI 56. is conferred by Paul. 26 And he began to speak boldly | We have not so much as heard in the synagogue: whom when Aqui- whether there be any Holy Ghost. la and Priscilla had heard, they took 3 And he said unto them, Unto him unto them, and expounded unto what then were ye baptized? And him the way of God more perfectly. they said, Unto John's baptism. 27 And when he was disposed to 4 Then said Paul, John verily a Matt. 3. 11. pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, baptized with the baptism of repentexhorting the disciples to receive him:ance, saying unto the people, that who, when he was come, helped them they should believe on him which much which had believed through should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. CHAP. XIX. a 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 And he went into the syna 6 The Holy Ghost is given by Paul's hands. clerk. ND it came to pass, that, while 2 He said unto them, Have ye repentance for the remission of sins," and were to believe on Jesus, that was to come after him, chap. xix. 4; and Luke iii. 3, 16. Bp. Pearce. 27.-through grace:] Through the favour of God in vouchsafing to them the knowledge of it. Dr. Whitby. Chap. XIX. ver. 1.- ·having passed through the upper coasts came &c.] Having passed through those parts of Asia Minor, which lay to the north of Ephesus, namely, Galatia and Phrygia, chap. xviii. 23, he came to Ephesus, as he had promised in chap. xviii. 21. Bp. Pearce. 2. — Have ye received the Holy Ghost] Have ye received the gifts of the Holy Ghost, since ye believed? Dr. Whitby. We have not so much as heard &c.] The expression signifies, not that they had never heard of the Spirit of God, but only that they had not heard of the giving of it, which the Apostle mentioned. So we read at John vii. 39, that "the Holy Ghost was not yet;" where is not denied the existence of the Holy Ghost, but the plentiful effusion of it. Bp. Pearson. 3.- Unto what then were ye baptized?] Hereby intimating to these ignorant disciples, that, if they were baptized according to the rule of Christ, they could not be ignorant that there is a Holy Ghost, because the Apostles were commanded to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Bp. Pearson. 4.- John verily baptized &c.] The meaning of this reply is, St. John indeed baptized you unto the expectation of the Messiah that was to come; but, before 9 But when divers were hardened, A. D. 57. and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. you enjoy the benefit of His actual coming, you must the baptism of repentance,] Exhorting men to such a reformation of life, as would qualify them for the blessings the Messiah was to bring. Pyle. 5.-in the name of the Lord Jesus.] That is, into the faith and obedience of the Christian religion, and in the form appointed by the Lord Jesus, at Matt. xxviii. 19. Bp. Mann. 8.- went into the synagogue, &c.] This was conformable to his usual custom of first proposing the Gospel to his own brethren, the Jews. Dr. Hales. 9.-when divers were hardened,] That is, would not believe, after sufficient evidence afforded them, that Jesus was the Christ." Dr. Whitby. but spake evil of that way] Not only rejected this holy religion, but railed and openly reviled it. Pyle. disputing daily &c.] Using the private room of Tyrannus as a place where he discoursed to the converts, and satisfied the doubts and answered the objections of others. Bp. Mann. Tyrannus may probably have been a teacher of philosophy or rhetorick, who had a large room in which he used to read lectures to his followers. Bp. Pearce. Paul's doctrine confirmed by miracles. THE ACTS. Anno DOMINI 57. A. D. 58. Conjuring books are burned. 10 And this continued by the space | and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I of two years; so that all they which know; but who are ye? dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 ¶ Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered 12. the diseases—the evil spirits] Observe that the diseases and evil spirits are here mentioned, as things distinct from each other. See note at Matt. iv. 24. Bp. Pearce. 13.- certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists,] Certain Jews who made a trade of strolling about with the pretence of curing possessed persons by magical arts. Pyle. 16.-naked] That is, without their upper garment, which was a gown or cloak. Bp. Pearce. 18. And many that believed came, &c.] So good an effect for the advancement of the Christian profession was produced, that those converts, who had formerly dealt in any of these magical arts, came to the Apostles, confessing and repenting of their bad practices. Pyle. 19.fifty thousand pieces] If these were the Roman silver denarii, then the whole sum is computed to amount to more than 16007. of our money. Bps. Pearce and Mann. 20. So mightily grew &c.] The Gospel is frequently in the New Testament compared to light; and it did in nothing more resemble light than in this, that, as soon as the heavenly doctrine, therein contained, arose upon the world, it darted its bright rays and diffused its quickening influence from east to west with an inconceivable rapidity. The kingdom of God came not with observation, neither could men say, "Lo here! or, lo there!" Luke xvii. 20, 21. That is, it did not establish itself, like other kingdoms, in a slow and leisurely manner, so that men might easily trace it from its rise through the several steps of its progress, but fixed itself at once almost every where, with so rapid and amazing a course, as did, as it were, leave the eyes and observations of men behind it. And still, as it went along, it gained mighty spoils from all religions, and gathered vast multitudes of every country under its banners. And it is most clear that this success of the Gospel was miraculous, and chiefly owing to the mighty operations of the Holy Spirit of God; for the natural and visible causes, which concurred to the production of this great effect, were not any ways equal to the effect produced; and therefore some supernatural and invisible cause must needs have given birth to it. The appearing causes and instruments of this wondrous 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Anno DOMINI 58. revolution were, chiefly, twelve men, of obscure birth and plain understandings, without learning, eloquence, or experience. These men set out from Jerusalem with the design of altering the settled habits, the inveterate prejudices, the established rites and religions, of all countries. They dispersed themselves through all quarters of the earth, and they succeeded every where, prevailing with great multitudes in a very short time, in every nation and kingdom, to submit to the laws, and to own the religion, of Jesus. Here was no manner of proportion between the effect and the cause, between the work which was wrought, and the instruments which wrought it; and therefore we may, and must, conclude that a Divine invisible power went along with them at every step, and miraculously blessed their endeavours. Bp. Atterbury. The word of God, which grew from very unpromising beginnings so mightily, and prevailed so speedily over the unbelieving world, was manifestly propagated in opposition to the united force and cunning of men and devils, by a power eminently superiour to both, and therefore most certainly Divine. This wonderful propagation of the Gospel, with such incredible success, and by methods so very extraordinary and peculiar, should ever be contemplated with just wonder, and ought always to be esteemed a most illustrious proof of the truth of Christianity; so that, if no other miracle had been wrought in support of it, this alone would have been sufficient to establish its truth. For, that a doctrine so unacceptable to flesh and blood, so irreconcilable with the secular interest, as well as the corrupt inclinations of mankind, so violently opposed by all the force and malice of men, should irresistibly persuade both Jew and Gentile, and draw the whole world after it by cords so strong, and yet so easy, without any outward compulsion, or prospect of advantage or reward, except what was future and invisible, but with the present and visible terrour of the greatest hardships and sufferings: this, if all other tokens had been wanting, must have been owned to be the effect of a power truly Divine. And hereby the Christian religion stands remarkably distinguished from all religious impostures, whose rise and growth have always manifestly been owing to the plausibility and agreeableness of the doc |
