ACTS CHAPTER 17 ACTS 17:1 Paul preaching in the synagogue at Thessalonica, some believe, both Jews and Greeks. ACTS 17:5 The unbelieving Jews raise an uproar. ACTS 17:10 Paul and Silas are sent to Berea: the Berean Jews are commended for searching the Scriptures. ACTS 17:13 The Jews of Thessalonica... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HIS MANNER WAS; who was faithful unto him that had called him, and took all occasions to do his Master's work. OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES; the law and the prophets, which they owned to be of Divine authority; and from the Holy Scriptures alone, all knowledge in the things of God and of our salvation m... [ Continue Reading ]
OPENING the scriptures which he had quoted. The very entrance into God's word giveth light, PSALMS 119:130. AND ALLEGING, THAT CHRIST MUST NEEDS HAVE SUFFERED; making the truth concerning our Saviour, which he preached, so plain to the eye of their understanding, as any thing which is exposed to the... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSORTED WITH PAUL AND SILAS; were so affected towards them, as that they were willing to take the same part or lot with them. The word imports the nearest and most intimate friendship and union; even such as is conjugal. DEVOUT GREEKS; such of that nation as were become proselytes, who had renounc... [ Continue Reading ]
BELIEVED NOT; or were not convinced, or persuaded by St. Paul's sermons and arguments. MOVED WITH ENVY, or zeal; which, as fire in the chimney, its due place, is useful and necessary; but when scattered abroad, and out of its place, is most dangerous and destructive. LEWD FELLOWS; such as stand in m... [ Continue Reading ]
Being withdrawn, to avoid the popular rage against them, they charge innovation upon them, as knowing how jealous rulers are of any alteration. Thus whatsoever mischief befell the state, or whatsoever was odious and abominable, was in the primitive times still charged upon the Christians. The enemie... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH RECEIVED; privily, and with design. CONTRARY TO THE DECREES OF CAESAR: the Romans, before they were brought under their emperors, (and after that), did not suffer any to be called king without their allowance and approbation; which was also much valued by such unto whom that honour was bestowed... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TROUBLED THE PEOPLE; hearing something to have been done against the Roman state, under whom they were, and not knowing what it might come to, or how it might be construed. AND THE RULERS; for fear of an insurrection and tumult.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD TAKEN SECURITY; either being satisfied with their answer, or having bail for their appearance, if need were; the word only hinting their being satisfied, or contented, as MARK 15:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEREA; a city of Macedonia, not far from Pella and Thessalonica. WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE JEWS; they went still first unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel; in which Paul's invincible love, which he speaks of, ROMANS 9:2,3, does manifestly appear. The Jews had every where endeavoured his... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews of Berea did excel those of Thessalonica, not so much in birth as in disposition: they were not so prejudiced and obstinate; they patiently heard Paul; they seriously thought upon what he had said, and compared it with the Scriptures. And thus God gave them the preparation of the heart; and... [ Continue Reading ]
God blessing his own gifts, and giving still unto them that had, and made use of them. And would we also _lay aside all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save our souls,_ JAMES 1:21, we should find the hand of the Lord not to b... [ Continue Reading ]
As the waves are stirred with the wind; a fit metaphor to represent the fickle multitude by, that, as the sea, now rolls one way, then another; or as tottering buildings, that shake with every wind.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GO AS IT WERE TO THE SEA; that they might give over the pursuit of him; or, at least, be disappointed if they did pursue him, being he went on foot to Athens. BUT SILAS AND TIMOTHEUS ABODE THERE STILL; the fury of the persecutors not being so hot against them as against Paul, who was more known o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT CONDUCTED PAUL; who accompanied, and had undertaken to secure him. ATHENS; the Greece of Greece, or the eye of Greece; as Greece was accounted the eye of the world; and yet, with all its learning, did not attain to saving knowledge, until Paul came and preached it. Satan's malice still cau... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SPIRIT WAS STIRRED IN HIM; moved, and sharpened, being highly affected with divers passions: 1. With grief, for so learned, and yet blind and miserable a place. 2. With zeal, and a holy desire to instruct and inform it. 3. With anger and indignation against the idolatry and sin that abounded... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE DISPUTED HE IN THE SYNAGOGUE WITH THE JEWS; as ACTS 17:2, still giving the Jews, if there were any, the priority; or, having by that means an opportnnily to speak unto the proselytes of the Gentiles, who are the _devout persons_ here meant: see ACTS 13:43. IN THE MARKET, because of the con... [ Continue Reading ]
Both these sects of philosophers were the most opposite to Christianity of all others: 1. The _Epicureans_ (so called from one Epicurus) did generally deny, that the world was made, or that it is governed, by God; as also, that there were any rewards or punishments for men after death, holding noth... [ Continue Reading ]
The city of Athens was divided into five wards, or parts; one of which was called AREOPAGUS, from the temple of Mars, which stood upon a hill in it: nigh unto which temple, or in some part of it, was their chiefest court kept; and here they judged of all religious affairs: here they condemned Diagor... [ Continue Reading ]
The greatest objection which these men had against the gospel was, that it was strange and new. That it is not new was apparent, it having been in the Old Testament (as the ripe fruit is in the blossom) so long ago; and their own superstitions were but so many apish imitations of God's worship. And... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGERS WHICH WERE THERE; which must needs have be a considerable number, Athens being then a famous haven town and university; and these strangers might easily take this itch after news from the natives, who are noted for it by Theophrastus, Demosthenes, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; MARS HILL: SEE POOLE ON "ACTS 17:19". TOO SUPERSTITIOUS; sometimes this word is taken in a good sense; many then, as now, taking superstition to be religion. But it is often taken in a bad sense: thus Theophrastus says, that a truly pious man is a friend of God; ode deisidaimwn kolax yeou,... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVOTIONS; any thing unto which Divine worship and honour is given. TO THE UNKNOWN GOD: it is storied, that in a plague time, when the Athenians had wearied themselves with their supplications unto all the gods of their country, they were advised by Epaminondas (a devout man amongst them) to erect a... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD THAT MADE THE WORLD; this seems to be directed against the Epicureans, who held, that the world was without beginning. DWELLETH NOT IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS; as if he could be tied to them, or circumcised by them: yet God did in some respect dwell in his temple, where he did manifest himself m... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THOUGH HE NEEDED ANY THING; God is not worshipped or served by holy men, because he wants their service, or any thing that can be offered unto him by them; but because it is their duty and advantage to be employed in his service and worship, PSALMS 50:10,11. LIFE, AND BREATH; THE BREATH OF LIFE,... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH MADE OF ONE BLOOD: 1. To teach all charity and compassion towards one another, being so nearly allied to one another. 2. As also to admire God more in that variety that appears in men's shapes and voices, but especially in the dispositions of their minds; whenas they all come from one stock an... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD: the apostle tells these philosophers, to whom he spake, the true use of their philosophy, to improve their knowledge of natural things, to beget in them by it an admiration of the God of nature; for as from him, so for him are all things, ROMANS 11:36. IF HAPLY THEY M... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIM WE LIVE, &C.; he is the God that made us, that preserves us, and not we ourselves; he keeps us as in the hollow of his hand, and compasseth our paths. Our breath is in our nostrils, and when we send it forth we have none to take in again, unless God furnish us with it, as out of his own hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE THE OFFSPRING OF GOD; this is spoken by the apostle in a poetical expression, according unto what he had cited. We are indeed the children, and in our souls bear the image of God. But as many as have the Spirit of adoption, they partake of God's holiness, and imitate his goodness, and are mor... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TIMES OF THIS IGNORANCE GOD WINKED AT; to prevent an objection, lest any should think that they might continue in their unbelief, and fare as well as their progenitors, God is said to have overlooked them; as if he had counted them unworthy of his care and providence, and therefore he did not co... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH APPOINTED A DAY, IN THE WHICH HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD: that God will judge the world his enemies have with trembling acknowledged, but when God will judge the world he hath concealed from his friends; yet the time is already set, PSALMS 96:13 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10, and we ought to be daily prep... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME MOCKED; the Epicureans, whom Paul had spoken against in his doctrine of the resurrection from the dead, and judgment to come. OTHERS SAID, WE WILL HEAR THEE AGAIN OF THIS MATTER; it is thought the Stoics, who did not think the resurrection to be impossible, but did acknowledge rewards and punis... [ Continue Reading ]
Leaving what he had said to God's blessing and their consideration.... [ Continue Reading ]
CLAVE UNTO HIM, in more than ordinary friendship; they were as glued to him; great was their love to the apostle, by whom their eyes were opened, nay, by whose ministry they were raised from the dead. DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE; one of that great council mentioned ACTS 17:19, whose conversion might ha... [ Continue Reading ]