Acts 14:1
_And of the Greeks. Which is here put for the Gentiles. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And of the Greeks. Which is here put for the Gentiles. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The unbelieving Jews stirred up, &c. It would hence appear, that the former were not very scrupulous in the means they took to oppose the gospel. They, who would have been dreadfully scandalized to have spoken to a Gentile for any good purpose, are not very nice in having intercourse with them to i... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the word of his grace. That is, of the gospel, and the law of grace. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Perceiving that he had. It does not appear that St. Paul had any previous conversation with the man he healed on this occasion, or demanded from him any testimony of his faith. But he saw that he had faith, perhaps by inspiration, or by the confidence and eagerness the lame man may have shewn in hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they called Barnabas, Jupiter. Perhaps because he was of taller and finer stature; for, according to Nicephorus (hist. ii. 37.) St. Paul was very low in size, and much bent; hence St. John Chrysostom says of him, tricubitalis est, & c\'9clos transcendit, though not more than three cubits high,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Garlands. These might be for the victims, as they generally were crowned, or had gilded horns. Victima labe carens, præstantissima forma,_ Sistitur ante aras, _vittis præsignis et auro. ---Ovid._ --- Or they might be for the two pretended gods, as it was usual to crown their statues. (Pliny, lib.... [ Continue Reading ]
_We also are mortals. The enraptured people wished to pay divine homage, Greek: thoein, to the apostles, and therefore they indignantly reject the proffered honours. The Catholic Church has but one external sacrifice, and this she offereth to God only, and "neither to Peter nor to Paul, saith St. Au... [ Continue Reading ]
_Suffered all nations to walk in their own way. Literally, dismissed all nations, suffering them to run on in their idolatry, and other sins, not favouring them with a written law, as he did the Jews, &c. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_He left not himself without testimony. Inasmuch as the Gentiles had always the light of reason, and such lights, that the created things of this world, and from the visible effects of God's providence, they might have come to the knowledge of the true God, the creator of all things. See Romans chap... [ Continue Reading ]
_Through many tribulations. Our daily offences required the paternal chastisement of the Almighty. The concupiscence of the flesh too, which wills against the spirit, must be subdued by punishment. Woe then to you, lovers of this world, who wish to pass your lives without tribulation, enemies of the... [ Continue Reading ]
When they had ordained for them priests. [1] The Protestant translation, following the grammatical etymology of the Greek word presbyter, always puts elders. Yet they of the Church of England allow, and maintain, that by this Greek word in this, and many other places, are signified the ministers of... [ Continue Reading ]
This Antioch was a sea-port in Pamphylia. (Bible de Vence)... [ Continue Reading ]
_From whence they had been delivered, up to their ministry, and their apostolical mission by the grace of God; that is, where they had been first chosen by the direction of the Spirit of God, ordained priests and bishops, and had received power, and graces to discharge their offices of apostles. (Wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_No little time. It is not precisely known how long he remained there, nor what he did. St. Luke relates nothing of what happened from the 46th year of Christ to the 51st [from A.D. 46 to A.D. 51], in which the Council of Jerusalem was held. It is probable St. Paul spent that time carrying the gospe... [ Continue Reading ]