And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the _day_ following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: Ver. 1. _We came with a straight course_] ευθυδρομησαντες. So shall all those that make "straight paths for their f... [ Continue Reading ]
And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Ver. 2. _Phoenicia_] A region of Syria: the woman of Canaan was a Syrophoenician.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. Ver. 3. _Now when he had discovered Cyprus_] _Vox nautica, _ a mariner's term; so is συνεσταλμενος, 1 Corinthians 7:29. St Paul was a great trader... [ Continue Reading ]
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. Ver. 4. _And finding disciples_] Such as Isaiah had long since foretold should leave hoarding and heaping wealth, and find another manner of employment for it, to feed and... [ Continue Reading ]
And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till _we were_ out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. Ver. 5. _And prayed_] _See Trapp on "_ Act 20:36 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. Ver. 6. _We took ship_] Leaving them on shore: we shall one day meet, and never more be separated. _O dieculam illam, &c. Euge, Deo sit laus et gloria, quod iam instet horula illa gratissima, a_ O that day!... [ Continue Reading ]
And when we had finished _our_ course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. Ver. 7. _And abode with them one day_] _Suavis hora, sed parva mora, _ short and sweet abode.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the next _day_ we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was _one_ of the seven; and abode with him. Ver. 8. _Philip the Evangelist_] He was at first but a deacon; but having well used that lower office, he was... [ Continue Reading ]
And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. Ver. 9. _Did prophesy_] That is, they had the gift of foretelling future things by divine inspiration. This was every way extraordinary.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as we tarried _there_ many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. Ver. 10. _A certain prophet_] So called _a procul fando, _ as some will have it. These New Testament prophets were next to the apostles in office; and are mentioned together with them in laying the fou... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver _him_ into the hands of the Gentiles. Ver. 11. _So shall the Jews_] Who were ever most b... [ Continue Reading ]
And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Ver. 13. _What mean you to... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. Ver. 14. _The will of the Lord be done_] _Vox vere Christianorum, _ saith one, _Voluntas Dei, necessitas rei._ A godly man says Amen to God's Amen; and puts his _Fiat_ Let him do it, and _Placet_ let it be pleasing... [ Continue Reading ]
And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. Ver. 15. _We took up our carriages_] A military term; we trussed up our fardles, made up our packs, our bag and baggage, επισκευασαμενοι, _instructi et comparati ad quaevis nimirum pericula subeunda, _ said Beza, being ready p... [ Continue Reading ]
There went with us also _certain_ of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. Ver. 16. _An old disciple_] A gray-headed experienced Christian, a father, 1 John 2:13. Such as those mentioned Psalms 92:12,14. A Christian hath h... [ Continue Reading ]
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. Ver. 17. _Received us gladly_] Gr. ασμενως, smilingly. _Dat bene, dat multum, qui dat cum munere vultum._ When we come to the new Jerusalem, the whole court of heaven shall meet us, and greet us with great joy.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the _day_ following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. Ver. 18. _Unto James_] The son of Alpheus, called by St Mark, "James the less," and by some of the ancients, Bishop of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. Ver. 19. _He declared partlcularly_] Gr. καθ εν εκαστον, "one by one." So Moses tells Jethro all things one by one what God had done for Israel,Exodus 18:8. We must not relate God'... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they heard _it_, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: Ver. 20. _Many thousands_] Therefore not to be slighted.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise _their_ children, neither to walk after the customs. Ver. 21. _To remake Moses_] An odious and false imputation. All that St Paul taught was, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Ver. 22. _The multitude must needs come together_] And be satisfied, for else that sinister opinion which they have conceived of thee will be increased, and they will take all for granted that is al... [ Continue Reading ]
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Ver. 23. _A vow on them_] A voluntary vow of Nazariteship, which yet is agreeable to the law's praescript.... [ Continue Reading ]
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave _their_ heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but _that_ thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. Ver. 24. _And all may know_] There... [ Continue Reading ]
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written _and_ concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from _things_ offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Ver. 25. _And from fornication_] _See Trapp on "_ Act 15:20 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. Ver. 26. _Purifying himself_] See Augustine's Epistles 11 and 19.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Ver. 27. _The Jews which were of Asia_] St Paul's good intent had but evil success; but his conscience was his comfort, as2 Corinthians 1:9; 2 C... [ Continue Reading ]
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all _men_ every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. Ver. 28. _Crying, Men of Israel, help, this is the man, &c._] An admirable and g... [ Continue Reading ]
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) Ver. 29. _Whom they supposed_] But was that sufficient ground to make such a coil, to raise such an uproar? Passions are head-long and head-strong; like heavy bodies d... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. Ver. 30. _The doors were shut_] That he might not there take sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Ver. 31. _And as they went about to kill him_] The devil was first a liar and then a murderer. The persecutors ever first belied the Church, and then did their worst against her... [ Continue Reading ]
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Ver. 32. _Who immediately took soldiers_] An admirable example of God's good providence, who delighteth to reserve his hand for a dead lift, to save... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded _him_ to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. Ver. 33. _To be bound with two chains_] As if he would have presently punished him. This he did to satisfy the mad multitude.... [ Continue Reading ]
And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. Ver. 34. _For the tumult_] All was on a hurry, as it was Act 19:23-29 at Ephesus, _vel ut in regno Cyclopico._ Into the castle] Call... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. Ver. 35. _He was borne of the soldiers_] Who considered as little what a precious pack they now had upon their backs, as once the Midianitish merchants did, what a price they had in their... [ Continue Reading ]
For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. Ver. 36. _Away with him_] Yea, but stay, Paul's time was in God's hand, who had told him that after he had been at Jerusalem he must see Rome too. In the mean time it might be some comfort to Paul to hear the same words (and per... [ Continue Reading ]
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? Ver. 37. _Canst thou speak Greek_] Ay, no man better, whensoever he pleased; witness his gallant apology to Tertulhs, Ac. xxiv., and again his most accurate apology to... [ Continue Reading ]
Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? Ver. 38. _Art not thou that Egyptian?_] Of whom read Joseph. ii. 10, de Belle Jud., and Antiq. xx. _ That were murderers_] Assassins, cut-throats. These... [ Continue Reading ]
But Paul said, I am a man _which am_ a Jew of Tarsus, _a city_ in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. Ver. 39. _Of no mean city_] And yet more ennobled by Paul than Paul was by it; like as Hippo was better known by Austin than Austin was by H... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto _them_ in the Hebrew tongue, saying, Ver. 40. _In the Hebrew tongue_] _i.e._ In the Syriac, a daughter of the Hebrew, and the mother tongue... [ Continue Reading ]