CHAPTER XIX. _Paul, coming to Ephesus, finds certain disciples who had not_ _received the gift of the Holy Ghost, knowing only the baptism_ _of John, but receive it through the imposition of his hands_, 1-7. _He preaches for three months in the synagogues_, 8. _Many being hardened, he leaves t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:2. _HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST_] It is likely that these were Asiatic Jews, who, having been at Jerusalem about twenty-six years before this, had heard the preaching of John, and received his baptism, believing in the _coming_ Christ, whom John had proclaimed; but it appears that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:4. _THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH SHOULD COME_ _AFTER_] John baptized them with the baptism of repentance; this was _common_ to all the baptisms administered by the Jews to proselytes; but telling them that they should believe on him who was coming, was _peculiar_ to John's bap... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:5. _WHEN THEY HEARD THIS_, c.] As there is no evidence in the New Testament of persons being _rebaptized_, unless this be one, many criticisms have been hazarded to prove that these persons were not _rebaptized_. I see no need of this. To be a _Christian_, a man must be baptized in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:6. _THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, AND PROPHESIED._] They received the miraculous gift of different languages; and in those languages they _taught_ to the people the great doctrines of the Christian religion; for this appears to be the meaning of the word προεφητευον, _prophesied_, as it is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:8. _SPAKE BOLDLY - THREE MONTHS_] We have often remarked that St. Paul, in every place, made his first offers of salvation to the _Jews_; and it was only when _they_ rejected it, that he turned to the _Gentiles_; see Acts 18:6. And the same line of conduct he pursues here: he goes to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:9. _WHEN DIVERS WERE HARDENED_] τινες, When _some_ of them were hardened; several no doubt felt the power of Divine truth, and yielded consent. Our term _divers_, one of the most _bald_ in our language, has too general a meaning for this place. Behold the effect of the word of God! It... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:10. _BY THE SPACE OF TWO YEARS_] The schoolhouse of Tyrannus was his regular chapel; and it is likely that in it he taught _Christianity_, as Tyrannus taught _languages_ or _sciences_. _ALL THEY-IN ASIA HEARD THE WORD_] Meaning, probably, the Proconsular Asia, for the extent of which... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:11. _GOD WROUGHT SPECIAL MIRACLES_] Δυναμεις τε ου τας τυχαυσας, Miracles of no _ordinary_ kind, i.e. extraordinary miracles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:12. _HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS_] Σουδαρια η σιμικινθια, Probably the _sudaria_ were a sort of handkerchiefs, which, in travelling, were always carried in the hand, for the convenience of wiping the face; and the _simikinthia_ were either the sashes or girdles that went about the loins. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:13. _CERTAIN OF THE VAGABOND JEWS, EXORCISTS_] Τινες απο των περιερχομενων Ιουδαιων εξορκιϚων; _Certain of the Jews who went_ _about practicing exorcisms_. _Vagabond_ has a very bad acceptation among us; but, literally, _vagabundus_ signifies a _wanderer_, one that has no settled place... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:14. _SEVEN SONS OF ONE SCEVA, A JEW, AND CHIEF OF THE_ _PRIESTS_] The original Ιουδαιου αρχιερεως, dignifies a _Jewish high_ _priest_; but it is not probable that any sons, much less seven sons of a Jewish _high priest_, should be strolling exorcists: it is therefore likely that υιοισ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:15. _JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW_] In the answer of the demoniac, the verb in varied: τον Ιησουν γινωσκω, και τον Παυλον επιϚαμαι· ὑμεις δε τινες (τινος) εϚε. I acknowledge Jesus, and am acquainted with Paul; but of whom are ye? Ye belong to neither; ye have no authority. And he soo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:16. _AND THE MAN IN WHOM THE EVIL SPIRIT WAS_, c.] Thus we find that one man was more powerful than these _seven brothers_ so that he stripped them of their upper garments, and beat and wounded the whole! Was not this a proof that he derived his strength from the evil spirit that dwelt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:17. _THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS WAS MAGNIFIED._] They saw that there was a sovereign power in the name of Jesus, which could not be imitated by these lying exorcists: they therefore reverenced this name, and despised those pretenders. _Exorcisms_ or _adjurations_ of evil spirits were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:19. _WHICH USED CURIOUS ARTS_] ταπεριεργα. From the use of this word in the Greek writers, we know that it signified _magical_ arts, _sorceries, incantations_, c. Ephesus abounded with these. Dio Cassius, speaking of the Emperor Adrian, says, Ὁ Αδριανος περιεργοτατος ην και μαντειαις... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:20. _SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD, AND PREVAILED._] The Codex Bezae reads this verse thus: "So mightily grew the word of the Lord, and prevailed; _and the faith of God increased and_ _multiplied_." It is probable that it was about this time that St. Paul had that conflict which he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:21. _PAUL PURPOSED IN THE SPIRIT_, c.] Previously to this he appears to have concerted a journey to Macedonia, and a visit to Corinth, the capital of Achaia, where he seems to have spent a considerable time, probably the whole winter of A.D. 58 see 1 Corinthians 16:5; and afterwards t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:22. _SO HE SENT INTO MACEDONIA_] He desired _Timothy_ to go as far as Corinth, 1 Corinthians 4:18, and after that to return to him at Ephesus, 1 Corinthians 16:11; but he himself continued in Asia some time longer; probably to make collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem. _Erastu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:23. _NO SMALL STIR ABOUT THAT WAY._] Concerning the _Gospel_, which the apostles preached; and which is termed _this way_, Acts 9:2, where see the note.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:24. _SILVER SHRINES FOR DIANA_] It is generally known that the temple of Diana at Ephesus was deemed one of the _seven wonders_ of the _world_, and was a most superb building. It appears that the _silver shrines_ mentioned here were small portable representations of this temple, which... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:25. _BY THIS CRAFT WE HAVE OUR WEALTH._] The word ευπορια not only signifies _wealth_, but also _abundance_. It was a most lucrative trade; and he plainly saw that, if the apostles were permitted to go on thus preaching, the worship of Diana itself would be destroyed; and, consequently... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:26. _THIS PAUL HATH PERSUADED AND TURNED AWAY MUCH PEOPLE_] Prom the mouth of this heathen we have, in one sentence, a most pleasing account of the success with which God had blessed the labours of the apostles: not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, they had persuaded an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:27. _THE TEMPLE OF THE GREAT GODDESS DIANA_] From a number of representations of the Ephesian goddess Diana, which still remain, we find that she was widely different from _Diana_ the _huntress_. She is represented in some statues all covered over with _breasts_, from the shoulders do... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _THE WHOLE CITY WAS FILLED WITH CONFUSION_] Thus we find the peace of the whole city was disturbed, not by an _apostle_ preaching the Gospel of Christ, but by one interested, unprincipled knave, who did not even plead _conscience_ for what he was doing; but that it was by this craft he and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _CERTAIN OF THE CHIEF OF ASIA_] Τινες των Ασιαρχων; Some of the _Asiarchs_. The _Asiarchs_ were those to whom the care and regulation of the public games were intrusted: they were a sort of _high priests_, and were always persons of considerable riches and influence. These could not have b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _SOME - CRIED ONE THING, AND SOME ANOTHER_] This is an admirable description of a tumultuous mob, gathered together without law or reason; getting their passions inflamed, and looking for an opportunity to commit outrages, without _why_ or _wherefore-principle_ or _object_. _FOR THE ASSEM... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _THEY DREW ALEXANDER OUT OF THE MULTITUDE, THE JEWS_ _PUTTING HIM FORWARD_] From this and the following verses it is pretty evident that this Alexander was brought forward on this occasion by the Jews, that he might make an oration to the multitude, in order to exculpate the _Jews_, who w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _WHEN THE TOWN - CLERK_] ογραμματευς, Literally, the _scribe_. The Syriac has [Syriac] _reisha damedinato_, the _chief_ or _prince of the city_. The later Syriac has, _the scribe of the_ _city_. Some think that the word _recorder_ would do better here than _town-clerk_; and indeed it is ev... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _THESE MEN - ARE NEITHER ROBBERS OF CHURCHES_] ιρεσυλους; Spoilers of sacred places. As his design evidently was to appease and conciliate the people, he fixed first on a most incontrovertible fact: These men have not spoiled your temples; nor is there any evidence that they have even blas... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _IF DEMETRIUS - HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY MAN_] If it be any breach of law, in reference to Demetrius and the artists, _the_ _law is open_, αγοραιοι αγονται; these are the terms of law, public courts, times of sessions or assize; or, rather, _the judges are_ _mow sitting_: so the words may... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _BUT IF YE INQUIRE ANY THING CONCERNING OTHER MATTERS_] In which the safety of the state, or the national worship, is concerned, know that such a matter is not the business of the mob; it must be heard and determined _in a lawful assembly_, εν τη εννομῳ εκκλησιᾳ, one legally constituted,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:40. _FOR WE ARE IN DANGER_, c.] Popular commotions were always dreaded by the Roman government and so they should by all governments; for, when _might_ has nothing to direct its operations but _passion_, how destructive must these operations be! One of the Roman laws made all such comm... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 19:41. _HE DISMISSED THE ASSEMBLY._] την εκκλησιαν. Another proof that the word εκκλησια, which we generally translate _church_, signifies an _assembly_ of any kind, good or bad, legal or illegal. 1. _How forcible are right words_! From the conduct of this prudent, sensible man, we may... [ Continue Reading ]