This chapter begins with St. Paul's travels to Thessalonica, the chief city of Macedonia, where this apostle gathered. famous church, unto which he wrote two excellent epistles. Coming to Thessalonica at this time, he went (as his manner was) into the synagogue, not into. private house. As Christ ta... [ Continue Reading ]
The foregoing verses acquaint us with St. Paul's preaching at Thessalonica in the Jewish synagogue, as also with the argument he insisted upon; namely, that the Messiah, according to the scriptures, was to die, and rise again from the dead; and that Jesus, whom he preached, was that Messiah. Now th... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The pious and prudential care which the brethern took of the holy apostles, and the means which they used for their preservation: THEY PRESENTLY SENT THEM AWAY UNTO BEREA. The devil seeks nothing so industriously as the lives of the ministers of the gospel; (they making the greatest... [ Continue Reading ]
The prudential care which the believing brethren took of the holy apostle, was observed before, ver. 10. His life being in danger at Thessalonica, they sent him to Berea; being pursued to Berea, they sent him to Athens, and detain Silas, and Timotheus; not that St. Paul was more fearful than the oth... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Ye men of Athens have. great number of gods, whom ye ignorantly worship: the God, therefore, whom ye acknowledge not to know, and yet profess to worship, is he that. preach unto you; for as. passed up and down in your city, beholding your altars and images,. found an alt... [ Continue Reading ]
Here begins St. Paul's famous sermon to the men of Athens; in which the first thing that occurs to our observation is, how the preacher doth adapt and accommodate his discourse to the capacity of his hearers, as also to their sentiments and opinions. His auditory consisted of philosophers, particula... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How our apostle quotes one of the heathen poets in his divine discourse. This poet was Aratus; what he attributes to Jupiter, St. Paul attributes to the true God; WE ARE HIS OFF-SPRING. Where note, for the honour of human learning and the lawfulness of making use of it in our sermo... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Though God of his infinite patience hath long borne with the world lying in darkness and ignorance; yet how, by causing his gospel to be preached to all nation, he calls and invites them to repentance, to forsake their idols, and to serve the true God." Here observe, 1. The censure of the... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are an argument or motive to enforce the foregoing duty of repentance; God requires every man, every where, and that now immediately, to forsake their idols and sinful ways; because he hath appointed. day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by his Son Christ Jesus, of which... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have the success of Paul's sermon declared; it was various and different: some of his hearers derided, others doubted, and. few believed. Those that derided and mocked, it is very probable, were Epicureans, who denied that the world was either created or governed by God; as also that there... [ Continue Reading ]