WHILE APOLLOS WAS AT CORINTH - It is probable that he remained there a considerable time. PAUL, HAVING PASSED THROUGH THE UPPER COASTS - The upper, or more elevated regions of Asia Minor. The writer refers here particularly to the provinces of Phrygia and Galatia, Acts 18:23. These regions were cal... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT? - Have ye received the extraordinary effusions and miraculous influences of the Holy Spirit? Paul would not doubt that, if they had “believed,” they had received the ordinary converting influences of the Holy Spirit - for it was one of his favorite doctrines that th... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO WHAT - Unto what faith or doctrine. What did you profess to believe when you were baptized? UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM - See the notes on Acts 18:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN VERILY BAPTIZED - John did indeed baptize. WITH THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE - Having special reference to repentance, or as a profession that they did repent of their sins. See the notes on Matthew 3:6. SAYING UNTO THE PEOPLE - The design of his preaching was to tarn the people from their sins,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HEARD THIS - When they heard what Paul had said respecting the nature of John’s baptism. THEY WERE BAPTIZED ... - As there is no other instance in the New Testament of any persons having been rebaptized, it has been made a question by some critics whether it was done here; and they have s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN PAUL LAID HIS HANDS ... - See the notes on Acts 8:17. AND THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES - See the notes on Acts 2:4; Acts 10:46. AND PROPHESIED - See the notes on Acts 2:17; Acts 11:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE MEN - The whole number.... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSUADING THE THINGS - Endeavoring to persuade them of the truth of what was affirmed respecting the kingdom of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN DIVERS - When some were hardened. WERE HARDENED - When their hearts were hardened, and they became violently opposed to the gospel. When the truth made no impression on them. The word “harden,” as applied to the heart, is often used to denote “insensibility, and opposition to the gospel.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS CONTINUED - This public instruction. BY THE SPACE ... - For two whole years. SO THAT ALL - That is, the great mass of the people. WHICH DWELT IN ASIA - In that province of Asia Minor of which Ephesus was the principal city. The name Asia was used sometimes to denote that single province. See... [ Continue Reading ]
SPECIAL MIRACLES - Miracles that were remarkable; that were not common, or that were very unusual (οὐ τὰς τυχών ou tas tuchōn). This expression is Classical Greek. Thus, Longinus says of Moses that he was no common man - οὐχ ̓ ὁ τύχων ἀνήρ ouch ho tuchōn anēr.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT FROM HIS BODY - That is, those handkerchiefs which had been applied to his body, which he had used, or which he had touched. An instance somewhat similar to this occurs in the case of the woman who was healed by touching the hem of the Saviour’s garment, Matthew 9:20.UNTO THE SICK - The sick... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VAGABOND JEWS - Greek: Jews going about - περιερχομένων perierchomenōn. The word “vagabond” with us is now commonly used in a bad sense, to denote “a vagrant; a man who has no home; an idle, worthless fellow.” The word, however, properly means “one wandering from place to place, without any se... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE SCEVA - Sceva is a Greek name, but nothing more is known of him. CHIEF OF THE PRIESTS - This cannot mean that he was high priest among the Jews, as it is wholly improbable that his sons would be wandering exorcists. But it denotes that he was of the sacerdotal order. He was a Jewish chief pries... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS I KNOW - His power to cast out devils I know. Compare Matthew 8:29. PAUL I KNOW - Paul’s power to cast out devils, Acts . Acts 19:12. BUT WHO ARE YE? - What power have you over evil spirits? By what right do you attempt to expel them? The meaning is, “You belong neither to Jesus nor Paul, an... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAPED ON THEM - Several such instances are recorded of the extraordinary power and rage of those who were possessed with evil spirits, Mark 5:3; Mark 9:29; Luke 9:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS WAS MAGNIFIED - Acquired increasing honor. The transaction showed that the miracles performed in the name of the Lord Jesus by Paul were real, and were performed in attestation of the truth of the doctrine which he taught. Impostors could not work such miracles; and they w... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR DEEDS - Their actions; their evil course of life. The direct reference here is to the magical arts which had been used, but the word may also be designed to denote “iniquity” in general. They who make a profession of religion will be willing to confess their transgressions, and no man can have... [ Continue Reading ]
CURIOUS ARTS - Arts or practices requiring skill, address, cunning. The word used here (περίεργα perierga) denotes properly “those things that require care or skill,” and was thus applied to the arts of “magic, jugglery, and sleight of hand” that were practiced so extensively in Eastern countries.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD - So powerfully. It had such efficacy and power in this wicked city. That power must have been mighty which would thus make them willing not only to cease to practice imposition, but to give up all hopes of future gains, and to destroy their property. On this instruc... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THESE THINGS WERE ENDED - After the gospel was firmly established at Ephesus, so that his presence there was no longer necessary. PURPOSED IN THE SPIRIT - Resolved in his mind. WHEN HE HAD PASSED THROUGH MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA - In these places he had founded flourishing churches. It is probab... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMOTHEUS - Timothy. He was a proper person to send there to visit the churches, as he had been there before with Paul, when they were established, Acts 16:3; Acts 17:14. AND ERASTUS - Erastus was chamberlain of Corinth (Romans 16:23), or, more properly, the treasurer of the city (see the notes on t... [ Continue Reading ]
NO SMALL STIR - No little excitement, disturbance, or tumult τάραχος tarachos. Compare Acts 17:4. “About that way.” Respecting the doctrines of Christianity which Paul preached. See the notes on Acts 9:2; Acts 18:26; Acts 19:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SILVERSMITH - The word used here denotes “one who works in silver” in any way, either in making money, in stamping silver, or in forming utensils from it. It is probable that the employment of this man was confined to the business here specified, that of making shrines, as his complaint Acts . Act... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE WORKMEN OF LIKE OCCUPATION - Those who were in his employ, and all others engaged in the same business. As they would be all affected in the same way, it was easy to produce an excitement among them all. SIRS - Greek: Men. BY THIS CRAFT - By this business or occupation. This is our trade.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SEE AND HEAR - You see at Ephesus, and you hear the same in other places. THROUGHOUT ALL ASIA - All Asia Minor; or perhaps the province of which Ephesus was the capital. See the notes on Acts 2:9. THIS PAUL HATH PERSUADED - We have here the noble testimony of a pagan to the zeal and success of... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT NOT ONLY ... - The grounds of the charge which Demetrius made against Paul were two: first, that the business of the craftsmen would be destroyed usually the first thing that strikes the mind of a sinner who is influenced By self-interest alone; and, second, that the worship of Diana would c... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE FULL OF WRATH - Were greatly enraged - probably at the prospect of losing their gains. GREAT IS DIANA ... - The term “great” was often applied by the Greeks to Diana. Thus, in Xenophon (Ephes. i.), he says, “I adjure you by your own goddess, the great (τὴν μεγάλην tēn megalēn) Diana of the... [ Continue Reading ]
CONFUSION - Tumult; disorder. GAIUS - He had lived at Corinth, and had kinky entertained Paul at his house, 1 Corinthians 1:14; Romans 16:23. ARISTARCHUS - He attended Paul to Rome, and was there a prisoner with him, Colossians 4:10. WITH ONE ACCORD - Tumultuously; or with one mind or purpose. IN... [ Continue Reading ]
WOULD HAVE ENTERED IN UNTO THE PEOPLE - Probably to have addressed them, and to defend his own cause.... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN OF THE CHIEF OF ASIA - τῶν Ἀσιαρχῶν tōn Asiarchōn. Of the Asiarchs. These were persons who presided over sacred things and over the public games. It was their business to see that the proper services of religion were observed, and that proper honor was rendered to the Roman emperor in t... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME THEREFORE CRIED ONE THING ... - This is an admirable description of a mob, assembled for what purpose they knew not; but agitated by passions, and strifes, and tumults. AND THE MORE PART KNEW NOT ... - The greater part did not know. They had been drawn together by the noise and excitement, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY DREW ALEXANDER - Who this Alexander was is not known. Grotius supposes that it was “Alexander the coppersmith, who had in some way done Paul much harm 2 Timothy 4:14; and whom, with Philetus, Paul had excommunicated. He supposes that it was a device of the Jews to put forward one who had be... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THEY KNEW - When they perceived or ascertained. THAT HE WAS A JEW - There was a general prejudice against the Jews. They were disposed to charge the whole difficulty on Jews - esteeming Christians to be but a sect of the Jews. They were, therefore, indiscriminate in their wrath, and unwill... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE TOWN-CLERK - ὁ γραμματέυς ho grammateus. The scribe; the secretary. This word is often used in the Bible, and is commonly translated “scribe,” and is applied to “public notaries in the synagogues; to clerks; to those who transcribed books, and hence, to men skilled in the law or in an... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THEN ... - Since no one can call in question the zeal of the Ephesians on this subject, or doubt the sincerity of their belief, and since there can be no danger that this well-established worship is to be destroyed by the efforts of a few evil-disposed Jews, there is no occasion for this tumu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE ... - Demetrius and his friends. The blame was to be traced to them. WHICH ARE NEITHER ROBBERS OF CHURCHES - The word “churches” we now apply to edifices reared for purposes of Christian worship. Since no such churches had then been built, this translation is unhappy, and is not at all demand... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY MAN - Have a complaint of injury; if injustice has been done them by anyone. THE LAW IS OPEN - See the margin. Ἀγόραιοι Agoraioi ἄγονται agontai, that is, ἡμέραι hēmerai. There are court-days; days which are open, or appointed for judicial trials, where such matters... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF WE INQUIRE - If you seek to determine any other matters than that pertaining to the alleged wrong which Demetrius has suffered in his business. OTHER MATTERS - Anything respecting public affairs; anything pertaining to the government and the worship of Diana. IN A LAWFUL ASSEMBLY - In an ass... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE CALLED IN QUESTION - By the government; by the Roman authority. Such a tumult, continued for so long. a time, would be likely to attract the attention of the magistrates, and expose them to their displeasure. Popular commotions were justly dreaded by the Roman government; and such an assembly... [ Continue Reading ]
DISMISSED THE ASSEMBLY - τὴν ἐκκλησίαν tēn ekklēsian. The word usually translated “church.” Here it is applied to the irregular and tumultuous “assemblage” which had convened in a riotous manner.... [ Continue Reading ]