ST. PAUL ARRESTED AT JERUSALEM 1. Were gotten] rather, 'had torn ourselves.' COOS] or Cos, a fertile island off the Carian coast, producing silks, ointments, wheat, and wines. RHODES] a city, and large island, situated S. of Caria. The famous colossus was a statue of the sun-god, 105 ft. high, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, AUG. 52 A.D. TO PENTECOST 56 A.D. (ACTS 18:23 TO ACTS 21:16) 23. Visit to Galatia. St. Paul revisits Antioch in Syria and the Churches of Galatia and Phrygia, founded in the First Missionary Journey (i.e. Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe).... [ Continue Reading ]
TYRE] The greatest maritime city of the ancient world, claiming to have been founded as early as 2750 b.c. It produced glass and purple dye, but its chief wealth came from the fact that it almost monopolised the carrying-trade of the world. The Tyrian mariners were so skilled in astronomy, and const... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCIPLES] RV 'the disciples.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PTOLEMAIS] Originally called Acco, its name was changed to Ptolemais by Ptolemy Philadelphus, when, after the death of Alexander the Great, it came into his possession. It is situated on the coast a few miles to the N. of the promontory of Carmel, and is now called Acre.... [ Continue Reading ]
PHILIP] see Acts 6:5 and Acts 8. THE EVANGELIST] Evangelists were itinerant officers, whose duty it was to break new ground, and establish new churches. They ranked below the prophets, and above the presbyters or pastors. Philip, originally a 'deacon,' has now, through the success of his missionary... [ Continue Reading ]
PROPHESY] There were female prophets under the OT.: Miriam, Exodus 15:20; Deborah, Judges 4:4; Noadiah, Nehemiah 6:14; Huldah, 2 Kings 22:14 cp. Isaiah 8:3. See Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17... [ Continue Reading ]
AGABUS] see Acts 11:28. For his symbolic action, cp. 1 Kings 22:11; Isaiah 20:2; Jeremiah 13:1; Ezekiel 4:5. For the fulfilment, see Acts 21:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK UP OUR CARRIAGES] rather, 'packed up our baggage.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT WITH THEM ONE MNASON] A more probable translation is, 'brought us to Mnason,' etc. Mnason's house was probably half-way between Cæsarea and Jerusalem. D (Latin) reads, 'and when they had come to a certain town, we lodged with Mnason, an old disciple of Cyprus, and leaving there we came to Je... [ Continue Reading ]
ST. PAUL IN JERUSALEM (CHS 21:17-28:16) 17-40. Disturbances in the Temple. St Paul arrested.... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES] The Lord's 'brother,' the acknowledged head of the Church of Jerusalem: cp. Acts 15:13, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARTICULARLY] i.e. in minute detail.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD (i.e. Jesus)] RV 'God.' 23, 24. The four men were Nazirites (see Numbers 6), and St. Paul was advised to pay for their sacrifices, and to associate himself with their Nazirite vow during the week that it had still to run (see Acts 21:27). By thus becoming a Nazirite, and defraying the sacr... [ Continue Reading ]
Apollos at Ephesus. 24. Apollos] The name is a contraction of Apollonius. He is mentioned again Acts 19:1; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:4.; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 16:12; Titus 3:13. He had been instructed and baptised by the disciples of the Baptist, and therefore regarded Jesus as... [ Continue Reading ]
See Acts 15.... [ Continue Reading ]
ENTERED, etc.] We may freely translate this difficult passage thus: 'He entered into the Temple, informing the priests that within seven days (see Acts 21:27) the days of their purification would be accomplished; and he purposed to remain with them in the Temple for a whole week, until the legal sac... [ Continue Reading ]
WROTE.. THE DISCIPLES] Christians travelling received 'letters of commendation 'to other Christian Churches, which secured them hospitality and admission to communion (cp. 2 Corinthians 3:1). HELPED THEM MUCH] RM 'helped much through grace them which had believed.' Apollos was so popular at Corinth,... [ Continue Reading ]
CONVINCED] RV 'confuted,'... [ Continue Reading ]
TROPHIMUS] see on Acts 20:4. 30. They drew him and all his companions 'out of the Temple,' i.e. out of the Court of Israel, and closed the doors of this court, ostensibly to prevent any more Gentiles from entering.... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT ABOUT TO] i.e. were seeking to. The chief captain of the band] rather, 'the tribune of the Roman cohort,' which was stationed in the fortress Antonia, adjoining the Temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
CASTLE] lit. 'encampment.' The fortress Antonia is meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAY WITH HIM] i.e. Slay him.... [ Continue Reading ]
ART NOT THOU] rather, 'Thou art not then the Egyptian,' etc. FOUR THOUSAND MEN] rather, the four thousand men of the Sicarii. The Sicarii (i.e. assassins) were the extreme members of the 'zealot' party. They carried out their 'national' policy by openly assassinating influential Jews supposed to be... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul was not without civic pride. Tarsus was the seat of a famous university, and had produced several of the most eminent Stoic philosophers. On its coins it proudly boasted itself 'Self-Governing Metropolis.' Citizenship of Tarsus was confined to a select few of the inhabitants, so that its po... [ Continue Reading ]