_Then_ When he had passed through the regions of Syria and Cilicia; _came he to Derbe and Lystra_ At which places he had preached the gospel in his former progress. _And a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus_ As Paul (2Ti 3:10-11) speaks of Timothy as having been a witness of his sufferings... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ In order that peace might be secured among the brethren in these parts, and no unnecessary burden might be imposed upon the Gentile converts, through the arts of any Judaizing teachers; as Paul and his companions _went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep_ Committed... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia_ Greek, διελθοντες δε την Φρυγιαν, και την Γαλατικην χωραν, _having passed through Phrygia and the Galatian country_, and spoken there what was sufficient, and delivered to the churches in those parts the decrees above mentioned, in order to their establish... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ While they were in this place, undetermined, probably, to what coast of Europe they should sail, if, according to their intention, they crossed the sea; _a vision appeared to Paul in the night_ To direct them: it was not a dream, though it was by night. No dream is mentioned in the New Testame... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore, loosing from Troas, we came to Samothracia_ An island in these seas, famous for being the seat of certain religious mysteries, in equal estimation with those called Eleusinian. But it does not appear that they went ashore there, for they landed _the next day_ at _Neapolis_ A seaport town... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the sabbath we went out of the city_ The Jews usually held their religious assemblies (either by choice or constraint) at a distance from the heathen; _by a river side_ The river Strymon, which ran between Philippi and Neapolis; _where prayer was wont to be made_ That is, where the Jews and thei... [ Continue Reading ]
_As we went to prayer_ Or to the place of prayer, mentioned before; _a certain damsel met us_ (that is, met Paul and his three companions) _possessed with a spirit of divination_ Greek, εχουσαν πνευμα πυθωνος, _having a spirit of Python_, or Apollo. This title, it is generally said, was given to Apo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The same followed Paul and us_ Luke, Silas, and Timothy; _and cried, saying_ With great earnestness of voice and gesture; _These men are the servants of the most high God_, &c. A great truth: but they did not need, nor would accept of, such testimony. _And this she did many_ succeeding _days. But_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone_ Was vanished with the evil spirit that was cast out. See here of how much evil the love of money is the root! If the preaching of the gospel ruin the craft of the silversmiths, (Acts 19:24,) much more will it ruin that of the soothsaye... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the multitude rose up against them_ Excited and inflamed by these accusations; _and the magistrates_ Or the pretors; _rent off their clothes_ That is, the clothes of Paul and Silas; for such was the Roman method of proceeding in such cases. Their magistrates were wont to command the lictors _to... [ Continue Reading ]
_At midnight Paul and Silas prayed_ Doubtless, for their persecutors as well as for themselves; _and sang praises unto God_ Notwithstanding weariness, hunger, stripes, and blood; _and the prisoners heard them_ Heard a song to which they had not been accustomed, and such as had never been heard in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then he_, &c. The jailer, greatly terrified by the earthquake, and astonished at Paul's discovering his purpose to kill himself; _called for a light_ Greek, φωτα, _lights_, implying, it seems, that on this alarm several of his attendants came with torches, and were present at the inquiry which imme... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ_ Whom it is our office to preach as the great and only Saviour; and confide wholly in him for salvation; loving, obeying, and living to his glory. As Paul had preached a considerable time at Philippi, the jailer, before this, must have heard of Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
_When it was day, the magistrates_ Or pretors, being terrified, probably, by the earthquake, which had been felt all over the city, and having been informed of the miraculous opening of the prison-doors, which had changed their opinion of Paul and Silas; _sent the sergeants_ Ραβδουχους, _the rod-bea... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they went out_, &c. The servants of Christ, being honourably cleared from every crime by this public release, left the prison quietly, and went to _the house of Lydia_ With whom they had lodged before; _and when they had seen the brethren_ The disciples whom they had made; _they comforted them_... [ Continue Reading ]