_PAUL PREACHETH AT THESSALONICA; WHERE SOME BELIEVE, AND OTHERS PERSECUTE HIM: HE IS SENT TO BEREA, AND PREACHETH THERE: BEING PERSECUTED AT THESSALONICA, HE COMETH TO ATHENS, AND DISPUTETH, AND PREACHETH THE LIVING GOD TO THEM UNKNOWN, WHEREBY MANY ARE CONVERTED UNTO CHRIST._ _Anno Domini 54._... [ Continue Reading ]
AMPHIPOLIS AND APOLLONIA— Were two cities of Macedonia; the first was built by Cimon the Athenian, who sent 10,000 Athenians as a colony thither. It stood in an island of the river Strymon, and had the name of _Amphipolis,_ from the river's running on both sides of the city. The latter was a colony... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE SABBATH DAYS REASONED WITH THEM, &C.— It has been hence concluded, that St. Paul continued but threeweeks at Thessalonica: but as it evidently appears, that while he was in this city he not only wrought with his own hands to procure subsistence, (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalo... [ Continue Reading ]
ALLEDGING,— _Evidently shewing._ The proper import of the word παρατιθεμενος is, "laying a thing open before the eyes of spectators." Grotius and Elsner think, that the last words of the preceding verse should be joined to the beginning of this; thus, _opening and evincing from the scriptures,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
JASON,— It seems from Romans 16:21 that Jason was a relation of St. Paul's, and probably an Hellenistic Jew. Instead of _certain lewd fellows of the baser sort,_ Doddridge and others render it well, _some mean and profligate fellows._... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HAVE TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN— "Have caused great confusion and disturbance in every place through which they have passed.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTRARY TO THE DECREES OF CESAR, &C.— Though the Roman emperor did not pretend to be the only _king_ or _monarch,_ yet, in the conquered provinces or dependant states, there could be no king established without his consent; and it is not improbable that the title of _Lord,_ so frequently and so jus... [ Continue Reading ]
BEREA— Was another city of Macedonia, not far from Pella, the birth-place of Alexander the Great. There is a peculiar spirit and propriety in the expression, _These were more noble,_ &c. As the Jews boasted that they were _free_ and _noble_ by virtue of their descent from Abraham and the other patri... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE.— The word σαλευοντες, rendered _stirred up,_ signifies primarily_raising a storm._ It expresses a violent agitation of the sea, and admirably illustrates the rage and fury of a seditious multitude. Comp. Psalms 90:3. Isaiah 17:12. Jeremiah 46:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GO AS IT WERE TO THE SEA— Grotius supposes that St. Paul was brought down to the sea-coast, as one about to sail, and that the rumour thereof was spread; but that in reality he hastened by land to Athens. However, Raphelius has clearly and abundantly proved, that the proper translation is, _to go... [ Continue Reading ]
ATHENS:— This celebrated city, whether we consider the antiquity, valour, power, or learning of its inhabitants, has had few to rival it. It is situated in the middle of a large plain, on the gulph of the AEgean sea, which comesup to the isthmus of the Peloponnese or Morea. It is about twenty-five m... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SPIRIT WAS STIRRED IN HIM,— The word παρωξυνετο signifies that a _sharp edge_ was as it were set upon his spirit, and that he was wrought up to a great eagerness of zeal. Yet it is observable, that it did not throw him into any sallies of rage, either in words or actions; but only engaged him co... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MARKET— _The forum._ Heylin.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EPICUREANS AND—STOICS,— _The Epicureans,_ whose sect was founded by _Epicurus,_ are said to have ascribed neither creation nor providence to God; but held that the world was made by a conflux of atoms: that the gods, if there were any, were of human shape, wholived in voluptuous ease and indolen... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BROUGHT HIM UNTO AREOPAGUS,— The original word is the same with that rendered _Mars-hill,_ Acts 17:22. The name of this senate was taken from the place in which it was assembled, being a hill not far distant from the city; for the word παγος, _pagos,_ in composition, signifies a _rock, hill,_ o... [ Continue Reading ]
_ACTS 17:21_. (_FOR ALL THE ATHENIANS AND STRANGERS WHICH WERE THERE,_ &C.)— _Who sojourn there._ It is well known that the young nobility and gentry of Italy, and most of the neighbouring countries, generally studied some time at Athens; where there were the most celebrated professors in all the li... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE TOO SUPERSTITIOUS.— Dr. Doddridge renders the original, _Ye are exceedingly addicted to the worship of invisible powers;_ which, he observes, is very agreeable to the etymology of the word Δεισιδαιμονεστεροι, and has, what a version of scripture in such a case should always have, if possible,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEHELD YOUR DEVOTIONS,— Σεβασματα ;—_the objects,_ and _instruments of your worship._ This is the proper signification of the original, which has no English word exactly corresponding to it. (Comp. 2 Thessalonians 2:4.) Diogenes Laertius, in his life of Epimenides, gives us the following account... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER IS WORSHIPPED WITH MEN'S HANDS,— _Neither is served_ θεραπευεται. This refers to the foolish notion among the heathens, that the gods fed on the fumes of sacrifices. Their votaries also clothed their images with splendid garments, and _waited upon them_ in other services, ill becoming the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS, &C.— Παν εθνος ανθρωπων, _the whole generation of men._ By this expression the apostle shewed them, in the most unaffected manner, that though he was a Jew, he was not enslaved to any narrow views, but looked on all mankind in one sense as his brethren. This a... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD,— Dr. Heylin renders this verse, _That they should seek God so as to feel and find him: who is indeed already not far from any of us._ The word 'Ει, here, says he, is the same as the word οτι. See ch. Acts 26:8. The word Ψηλαφησειαν, imports, _actually feeling._ So it... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN HIM WE LIVE, AND MOVE, &C.— No words can better express that continued and necessary dependance of all derived beings, in their existence, and all their operations, on their first and almighty Cause, which the truest philosophy as well as theology teaches. The thought, in words just like thes... [ Continue Reading ]
WE OUGHT NOT TO THINK, &C.— For the observations proposed on this verse, and referred to chap. Acts 14:15. See the _Inferences_ at the end of this chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TIMES OF THIS IGNORANCE GOD WINKED AT;— The original 'Υπεριδαν, signifies _overlooked;_ that is, he did not appear to take notice of them, by sending express messages to them, as he did to the Jews, and now also to the Gentiles;—as it follows, _but now commandeth:_ and the reader will easily per... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HEARD OF THE RESURRECTION— St. Paul, from the article of the one true God in a general point of view, was sliding gently into the other grand article of the Christian faith, namely, that Jesus of Nazareth in particular, was the Lord, Saviour, and Judge of all; one principal proof whereof w... [ Continue Reading ]
DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE,— As the court of _Areopagus_ consisted of those who had bornethe office of _archon,_ and such of the nobility as were eminent for their virtue and riches; as the most rigid manners were required of its members; and even their countenances, words, and actions, were required... [ Continue Reading ]