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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>A C T S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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It is some rebuke to Barnabas that after he left Paul we hear no more
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of him, of what he did or suffered for Christ. But Paul, as he was
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recommended by the brethren to the grace of God, so his services for
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Christ after this are largely recorded; we are to attend him in this
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chapter from place to place, wherever he came doing good, either
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watering or planting, beginning new work or improving what was done.
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Here is,
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I. The beginning of his acquaintance with Timothy, and taking him to be
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his assistant,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. The visit he made to the churches for their establishment,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:4,5">ver. 4, 5</A>.
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III. His call to Macedonia (after a restraint he had been under from
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going to some other places), and his coming to Philippi, the chief city
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of Macedonia, with his entertainment there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:6-13">ver. 6-13</A>.
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IV. The conversion of Lydia there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:14,15">ver. 14, 15</A>.
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V. The casing of an evil spirit out of a damsel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:16-18">ver. 16-18</A>.
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VI. The accusing and abusing of Paul and Silas for it, their
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imprisonment, and the indignities done them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:19-24">ver. 19-24</A>.
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VII. The miraculous conversion of the jailer to the faith of Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:25-34">ver. 25-34</A>.
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VIII. The honourable discharge of Paul and Silas by the magistrates,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:35-40">ver. 35-40</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ac16_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul's Adoption of Timothy.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain
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disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman,
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which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father <I>was</I> a Greek:
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2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at
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Lystra and Iconium.
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3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and
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circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters:
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for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
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4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the
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decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and
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elders which were at Jerusalem.
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5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and
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increased in number daily.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Paul was a spiritual father, and as such a one we have him here
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adopting Timothy, and taking care of the education of many others who
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had been begotten to Christ by his ministry: and in all he appears to
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have been a wise and tender father. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. His taking Timothy into his acquaintance and under his tuition. One
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thing designed in the book of the Acts is to help us to understand
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Paul's epistles, two of which are directed to Timothy; it was therefore
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necessary that in the history of Paul we should have some account
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concerning him. And we are here accordingly told,
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1. That he was a disciple, one that belonged to Christ, and was
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baptized, probably in his infancy, when his mother became a believer,
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as Lydia's household was baptized upon her believing,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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Him, that was a disciple of Christ, Paul took to be his disciple, that
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he might further train him up in the knowledge and faith of Christ; he
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took him to be brought up for Christ.
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2. That his mother was a Jewess originally, <I>but believed in
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Christ;</I> her name was <I>Eunice,</I> his grandmother's name was
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<I>Lois.</I> Paul speaks of them both with great respect, as women of
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eminent virtue and piety, and commends them especially for their
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unfeigned faith
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+1:5">2 Tim. i. 5</A>),
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their sincerely embracing and adhering to the doctrine of Christ.
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3. That his father was a Greek, a Gentile. The marriage of a Jewish
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woman to a Gentile husband (though some would make a difference) was
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prohibited as much as the marriage of a Jewish man to a Gentile wife,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+7:3">Deut. vii. 3</A>.
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Thou shalt no more <I>give thy daughter to his son than take his
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daughter to thy son;</I> yet this seems to have been limited to the
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nations that lived among them in Canaan, whom they were most in danger
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of infection from. Now because his father was a Greek he was not
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circumcised: for the entail of the covenant and the seal of it, as of
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other entails in that nation, went by the father, not by the mother; so
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that his father being no Jew he was not obliged to circumcision, nor
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entitled to it, unless when he grew up he did himself desire it. But,
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observe, though his mother could not prevail to have him circumcised in
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his infancy, because his father was of another mind and way, yet she
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educated him in the fear of God, that though he wanted the sign of the
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covenant he might not want the thing signified.
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4. That he had gained a very good character among the Christians: he
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was <I>well reported of by the brethren</I> that were at Lystra and
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Iconium; he had not only an unblemished reputation, and was free from
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scandal, but he had a bright reputation, and great encomiums were given
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of him, as an extraordinary young man, and one from whom great things
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were expected. Not only those in the place where he was born, but those
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in the neighbouring cities, admired him, and spoke honourably of him.
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He had a name for good things with good people.
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5. That Paul would have him <I>to go forth with him,</I> to accompany
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him, to give attendance on him, to receive instruction from him, and to
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join with him in the work of the gospel--to preach for him when there
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was occasion, and to be left behind in places where he had planted
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churches. Paul had a great love for him, not only because he was an
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ingenious young man, and one of great parts, but because he was a
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serious young man, and one of devout affections: for Paul was always
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<I>mindful of his tears,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+1:4">2 Tim. i. 4</A>.
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6. That Paul took him and circumcised him, or ordered it to be done.
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This was strange. Had not Paul opposed those with all his might that
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were for imposing circumcision upon the Gentile converts? Had he not
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at this time the decrees of the council at Jerusalem with him, which
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witnessed against it? He had, and yet circumcised Timothy, not, as
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those teachers designed in imposing circumcision, to oblige him to keep
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the ceremonial law, but only to render his conversation and ministry
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passable, and, if it might be, acceptable among the Jews that abounded
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in those quarters. He knew Timothy was a man likely to do a great deal
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of good among them, being admirably qualified for the ministry, if they
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were not invincibly prejudiced against him; and therefore, that they
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might not shun him as one unclean, because uncircumcised, he took him
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and <I>circumcised him.</I> Thus <I>to the Jews he became as a Jew,
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that he might gain the Jews,</I> and <I>all things to all men, that he
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might gain some.</I> He was against those who made circumcision
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necessary to salvation, but used it himself when it was conducive to
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edification; nor was he rigid in opposing it, as they were in imposing
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it. Thus, though he went not in this instance according to the letter
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of the decree, he went according to the spirit of it, which was a
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spirit of tenderness towards the Jews, and willingness to bring them
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off gradually from their prejudices. Paul made no difficulty of taking
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Timothy to be his companion, though he was uncircumcised; but the Jews
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would not hear him if he were, and therefore Paul will humour them
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herein. It is probable that it was at this time that Paul laid his
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hands on Timothy, for the conferring of the gift of the Holy Ghost upon
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him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+1:6">2 Tim. i. 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. His confirming the churches which he had planted
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>):
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<I>He went through the cities</I> where he had <I>preached the word of
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the Lord,</I> as he intended
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+15:36"><I>ch.</I> xv. 36</A>),
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to enquire into their state. And we are told,</P>
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<P>
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1. That they delivered them copies of the decrees of the Jerusalem
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synod, to be a direction to them in the government of themselves, and
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that they might have wherewith to answer the judaizing teachers, and to
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justify themselves in adhering to the <I>liberty with which Christ had
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made them free.</I> All the churches were concerned in that decree, and
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therefore it was requisite they should all have it well attested.
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Though Paul had for a particular reason circumcised Timothy, yet he
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would not have that drawn into a precedent; and therefore he
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<I>delivered the decrees</I> to the churches, to be religiously
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observed; for they must abide by the rule, and not be drawn from it by
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a particular example.</P>
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<P>
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2. That this was of very good service to them.
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(1.) The churches were hereby <I>established in the faith,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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They were confirmed particularly in their opinion against the imposing
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of the ceremonial law upon the Gentiles; the great assurance and heat
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wherewith the judaizing teachers pressed the necessity of circumcision,
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and the plausible arguments they produced for it, had shocked them, so
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that they began to waver concerning it. But when they saw the
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testimony, not only of the apostles and elders, but of the Holy Ghost
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in them, against it, they were established, and did not longer waver
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about it. Note, Testimonies to truth, though they may not prevail to
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convince those that oppose it, may be of very good use to establish
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those that are in doubt concerning it, and to fix them. Nay, the design
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of this decree being to set aside the ceremonial law, and the carnal
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ordinances of that, they were by it established in the Christian faith
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in general, and were the more firmly assured that it was of God,
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because it set up a spiritual way of serving God, as more suited to the
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nature both of God and man; and, besides, that spirit of tenderness and
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condescension which appeared in these letters plainly showed that the
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apostles and elders were herein under the guidance of him who is love
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itself.
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(2.) They <I>increased in number daily.</I> The imposing of the yoke of
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the ceremonial law upon their converts was enough to frighten people
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from them. If they had been disposed to turn Jews, they could have done
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that long since, before the apostles came among them; but, if they
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cannot be interested in the Christian privileges without submitting to
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the Jews' yoke, they will be as they are. But, if they find there is no
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danger of their being so enslaved, they are ready to embrace
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Christianity, and join themselves to the church. And thus the church
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<I>increased in numbers daily;</I> not a day passed but some or other
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gave up their names to Christ. And it is a joy to those who heartily
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wish well to the honour of Christ, and the welfare of the church and
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the souls of men, to see such an increase.</P>
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<A NAME="Ac16_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul Invited into Macedonia; The Conversion of Lydia.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of
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Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word
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in Asia,
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7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into
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Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
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8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
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9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man
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of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia,
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and help us.
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10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured
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to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had
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called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
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11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course
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to Samothracia, and the next <I>day</I> to Neapolis;
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12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that
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part of Macedonia, <I>and</I> a colony: and we were in that city
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abiding certain days.
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13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side,
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where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto
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the women which resorted <I>thither.</I>
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14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the
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city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard <I>us:</I> whose heart
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the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were
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spoken of Paul.
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15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought
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<I>us,</I> saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,
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come into my house, and abide <I>there.</I> And she constrained us.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. Paul's travels up and down to do good.
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1. He and Silas his colleague went throughout Phrygia and the region of
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Galatia, where, it should seem, the gospel was already planted, but
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whether by Paul's hand or no is not mentioned; it is likely it was, for
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in his epistle to the Galatians he speaks of his <I>preaching the
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gospel to them at the first,</I> and how very acceptable he was among
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:13-15">Gal. iv. 13-15</A>.
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And it appears by that epistle that the judaizing teachers had then
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done a great deal of mischief to these churches of Galatia, had
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prejudiced them against Paul and drawn them from the gospel of Christ,
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for which he there severely reproves them. But probably that was a
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great while after this.
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2. They were forbidden at this time to preach the gospel in Asia (the
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country properly so called), because it did not need, other hands being
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at work there; or because the people were not yet prepared to receive
|
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it, as they were afterwards
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+19:10"><I>ch.</I> xix. 10</A>),
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when <I>all those that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord;</I>
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or, as Dr. Lightfoot suggests, because at this time Christ would employ
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Paul in a piece of new work, which was to preach the gospel to a Roman
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colony at Philippi, for hitherto the Gentiles to whom he had preached
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were Greeks. The Romans were more particularly hated by the Jews than
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other Gentiles; their armies were the <I>abomination of desolation;</I>
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and therefore there is this among other things extraordinary in his
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call thither that he is forbidden to preach the gospel in Asia and
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other places, in order to his preaching it there, which is an
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intimation that the light of the gospel would in aftertimes be directed
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more westward than eastward. It was the Holy Ghost that forbade them,
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either by secret whispers in the minds of both of them, which, when
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they came to compare notes, they found to be the same, and to come from
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the same Spirit; or by some prophets who spoke to them from the Spirit.
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The removals of ministers, and the dispensing of the means of grace by
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them, are in a particular manner under a divine guidance and direction.
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|
We find an Old-Testament minister forbidden to preach at all
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:26">Ezek. iii. 26</A>):
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<I>Thou shalt be dumb.</I> But these New-Testament ministers are only
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forbidden to preach in one place, while they are directed to another
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|
where there is more need.
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3. They would have gone into Bithynia, but were not permitted: <I>the
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|
Spirit suffered them not,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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They came to Mysia, and, as it should seem, preached the gospel there;
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|
for though it was a very mean contemptible country, even to a proverb
|
|
(<I>Mysorum ultimus,</I> in Cicero, is <I>a most despicable man</I>),
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|
yet the apostles disdained not to visit it, owning themselves debtors
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|
both <I>to the wise and to the unwise,</I>
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:14">Rom. i. 14</A>.
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In Bithynia was the city of Nice, where the first general council was
|
|
held against the Arians; into these countries Peter sent his epistle
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:1">1 Pet. i. 1</A>);
|
|
|
|
and there were flourishing churches here, for, though they had not the
|
|
gospel sent them now, they had it in their turn, not long after.
|
|
Observe, Though their judgment and inclination were to go into
|
|
Bithynia, yet, having then extraordinary ways of knowing the mind of
|
|
God, they were overruled by them, contrary to their own mind. We must
|
|
now follow providence, and submit to the guidance of that pillar of
|
|
cloud and fire; and, if this <I>suffer us not</I> to do what we assay
|
|
to do, we ought to acquiesce, and believe it for the best. <I>The
|
|
Spirit of Jesus</I> suffered them not; so many ancient copies read it.
|
|
The servants of the Lord Jesus ought to be always under the check and
|
|
conduct of the <I>Spirit of the Lord Jesus,</I> by whom he governs
|
|
men's minds.
|
|
|
|
4. They <I>passed by Mysia,</I> or passed <I>through it</I> (so some),
|
|
sowing good seed, we may suppose, as they went along; and they came
|
|
down to Troas, the city of Troy, so much talked of, or the country
|
|
thereabouts, which took its denomination from it. Here a church was
|
|
planted; for here we find one in being,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:6"><I>ch.</I> xx. 6, 7</A>,
|
|
|
|
and probably planted at this time, and in a little time. It should seem
|
|
that at Troas Luke fell in with Paul, and joined himself to his
|
|
company; for henceforward, for the most part, when he speaks of Paul's
|
|
journeys, he puts himself into the number of his retinue, <I>we</I>
|
|
went,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Paul's particular call to Macedonia, that is, to Philippi, the
|
|
chief city, inhabited mostly by Romans, as appears,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The vision Paul had,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Paul had many visions, sometimes to encourage, sometimes, as here, to
|
|
direct him in his work. An angel appeared to him, to intimate to him
|
|
that it was the will of Christ he should go to Macedonia. Let him not
|
|
be discouraged by the embargo laid upon him once and again, by which
|
|
his designs were crossed; for, though he shall not go where he has a
|
|
mind to go, he shall go where God has work for him to do. Now observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The person Paul saw. There stood by him <I>a man of Macedonia,</I>
|
|
who by his habit or dialect seemed so to Paul, or who told him he was
|
|
so. The angel, some think, assumed the shape of such a man; or, as
|
|
others think, impressed upon Paul's fancy, when between asleep and
|
|
awake, the image of such a man: he dreamt he saw such a one. Christ
|
|
would have Paul directed to Macedonia, not as the apostles were at
|
|
other times, by a messenger from heaven, to send him thither, but by a
|
|
messenger thence to call him thither, because in this way he would
|
|
afterwards ordinarily direct the motions of his ministers, by inclining
|
|
the hearts of those who needed them to invite them. Paul shall be
|
|
called to Macedonia by a man of Macedonia, and by him speaking in the
|
|
name of the rest. Some make this man to be the tutelar angel of
|
|
Macedonia, supposing angels to have charge of particular places as well
|
|
as persons, and that so much is intimated
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+10:20">Dan. x. 20</A>,
|
|
|
|
where we read of the <I>princes of Persia and Grecia,</I> that seem to
|
|
have been angels. But there is no certainty of this. There was
|
|
presented either to Paul's eyes or to his mind a man of Macedonia. The
|
|
angel must not preach the gospel himself to the Macedonians, but must
|
|
bring Paul to them. Nor must he by the authority of an angel order him
|
|
to go, but in the person of a Macedonian court him to come. A man of
|
|
Macedonia, not a magistrate of the country, much less a priest (Paul
|
|
was not accustomed to receive invitations from such) but an ordinary
|
|
inhabitant of that country, a plain man, that carried in his
|
|
countenance marks of probity and seriousness, that did not come to
|
|
banter Paul nor trifle with him, but in good earnest and with all
|
|
earnestness to importune his assistance.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The invitation given him. This honest Macedonian <I>prayed him,
|
|
saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us;</I> that is, "Come and
|
|
preach the gospel to us; let us have the benefit of thy labours."
|
|
|
|
[1.] "<I>Thou hast helped many;</I> we have heard of those in this and
|
|
the other country to whom thou hast been very useful; and why may we
|
|
not put in for a share? O come and help us." The benefits others have
|
|
received from the gospel should quicken our enquiries, our further
|
|
enquiries, after it.
|
|
|
|
[2.] "It is thy business, and it is thy delight, to help poor souls;
|
|
thou art a physician for the sick, that art to be ready at the call of
|
|
every patient; O come and help us."
|
|
|
|
[3.] "We have need of thy help, as much as any people; we in Macedonia
|
|
are as ignorant and as careless in religion as any people in the world
|
|
are, are as idolatrous and as vicious as any, and as ingenious and
|
|
industrious to ruin ourselves as any; and therefore, O come, come with
|
|
all speed among us. <I>If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on
|
|
us, and help us.</I>"
|
|
|
|
[4.] "Those few among us that have any sense of divine things, and any
|
|
concern for their own souls and the souls of others, have done what can
|
|
be done, by the help of natural light; I have done my part for one. We
|
|
have carried the matter as far as it will go, to persuade our
|
|
neighbours to fear and worship God, but we can do little good among
|
|
them. <I>O come come, thou over, and help us.</I> The gospel thou
|
|
preachest has arguments and powers beyond those we have yet been
|
|
furnished with."
|
|
|
|
[5.] "Do not only help us with thy prayers here: this will not do; thou
|
|
must come over and help us." Note, People have great need of help for
|
|
their souls, and it is their duty to look out for it and invite those
|
|
among them that can help them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The interpretation made of the vision
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
|
|
They <I>gathered assuredly from this that the Lord had called them to
|
|
preach the gospel</I> there; and they were ready to go wherever God
|
|
directed. Note, We may sometimes infer a call of God from a call of
|
|
man. If a man of Macedonia says, <I>Come and help us,</I> Paul thence
|
|
gathers assuredly that God says, Go an help them. Ministers may go on
|
|
with great cheerfulness and courage in their work when they perceive
|
|
Christ calling them, not only to preach the gospel, but to preach it at
|
|
this time, in this place, to this people.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Paul's voyage to Macedonia hereupon: He <I>was not disobedient to
|
|
the heavenly vision,</I> but followed this divine direction much more
|
|
cheerfully, and with more satisfaction, than he would have followed any
|
|
contrivance or inclination of his own.
|
|
|
|
1. Thitherward he turned his thoughts. Now that he knows the mind of
|
|
God in the matter he is determined, for this is all he wanted; now he
|
|
thinks no more of Asia, nor Bithynia, but <I>immediately we endeavoured
|
|
to go into Macedonia.</I> Paul only had the vision, but he communicated
|
|
it to his companions, and they all, upon the credit of this, resolved
|
|
for Macedonia. As Paul will follow Christ, so all his will follow him,
|
|
or rather follow Christ with him. They are getting things in readiness
|
|
for this expedition immediately, without delay. Note, God's calls must
|
|
be complied with immediately. As our obedience must not be disputed, so
|
|
it must not be deferred; do it to-day, lest thy heart be hardened.
|
|
Observe, They could not immediately go into Macedonia; but they
|
|
immediately endeavoured to go. If we cannot be so quick as we would be
|
|
in our performances, yet we may be in our endeavours, and this shall be
|
|
accepted.
|
|
|
|
2. Thitherward he steered his course. They <I>set sail</I> by the first
|
|
shipping and with the first fair wind <I>from Troas;</I> for they may
|
|
be sure they have done what they had to do there when God calls them to
|
|
another place. They <I>came with a straight course,</I> a prosperous
|
|
voyage, <I>to Samothracia;</I> the <I>next day they came to
|
|
Neapolis,</I> a city on the confines of Thrace and Macedonia; and at
|
|
last they landed at <I>Philippi,</I> a city so called from Philip king
|
|
of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great; it is said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)
|
|
|
|
to be,
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>The chief city of that part of Macedonia;</I> or, as some read
|
|
it, <I>the first city,</I> the first they came to when they came from
|
|
Troas. As an army that lands in a country of which they design to make
|
|
themselves masters begin with the reduction of the first place they
|
|
come to, so did Paul and his assistants: they began with the first
|
|
city, because, if the gospel were received there, it would the more
|
|
easily spread thence all the country over.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was a colony. The Romans not only had a garrison, but the
|
|
inhabitants of the city were Romans, the magistrates at least, and the
|
|
governing part. There were the greatest numbers and variety of people,
|
|
and therefore the most likelihood of doing good.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The cold entertainment which Paul and his companions met with at
|
|
Philippi. One would have expected that having such a particular call
|
|
from God thither they would have had a joyful welcome there, as Peter
|
|
had with Cornelius when the angel sent him thither. Where was the man
|
|
of Macedonia that begged Paul to come thither with all speed? Why did
|
|
not he stir up his countrymen, some of them at least, to go and meet
|
|
him? Why was not Paul introduced with solemnity, and the keys of the
|
|
city put into his hand? Here is nothing like this; for,
|
|
|
|
1. It is a good while before any notice at all is taken of him: <I>We
|
|
were in that city abiding certain days,</I> probably at a public house
|
|
and at their own charge, for they had no friend to invite them so much
|
|
as to a meal's meat, till Lydia welcomed them. They had made all the
|
|
haste they could thither, but, now that they are there, they are almost
|
|
tempted to think they might as well have staid where they were. But so
|
|
it was ordered for their trial whether they could bear the pain of
|
|
silence and lying by, when this was their lot. Those eminent and useful
|
|
men are not fit to live in this world that know not how to be slighted
|
|
and overlooked. Let not ministers think it strange if they be first
|
|
strongly invited to a place, and then looked shyly upon when they come.
|
|
|
|
2. When they have an opportunity of preaching it is in an obscure
|
|
place, and to a mean and small auditory,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
There was no synagogue of the Jews there, for aught that appears, to be
|
|
a door of entrance to them, and they never went to the idol-temples of
|
|
the Gentiles, to preach to the auditories there; but here, upon
|
|
enquiry, they found out a little meeting of good women, <I>that were
|
|
proselytes of the gate,</I> who would be thankful to them if they would
|
|
give them a sermon. The place of this meeting is out of the city; there
|
|
it was connived at, but would not be suffered any where within the
|
|
walls. It was a place <I>where prayer was wont to be made;</I>
|
|
<B><I>proseuche</I></B>--<I>where an oratory or house of prayer was</I>
|
|
(so some), a chapel, or smaller synagogue. But I rather take it, as we
|
|
read it, where prayer was appointed or accustomed to be. Those that
|
|
worshipped the true God, and would not worship idols, met there to pray
|
|
together, and, according to the description of the most ancient and
|
|
universal devotion, <I>to call upon the name of the Lord.</I> Each of
|
|
them prayed apart every day; this was always the practice of those that
|
|
worshipped God: but, besides this, <I>they came together on the sabbath
|
|
day.</I> Though they were but a few and discountenanced by the town,
|
|
though their meeting was at some distance, though, for aught that
|
|
appears, there were none but women, yet a solemn assembly the
|
|
worshippers of God must have, if by any means it be possible, on the
|
|
sabbath day. When we cannot do as we would we must do as we can; if we
|
|
have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and
|
|
resort to them, <I>not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
|
|
together,</I> according as our opportunities are. This place is said to
|
|
be <I>by a river side,</I> which perhaps was chosen, as befriending
|
|
contemplation. Idolaters are said <I>to take their lot among the smooth
|
|
stones of the stream,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+57:6">Isa. lvii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
But these proselytes had in their eye, perhaps, the example of those
|
|
prophets who had their visions, one by the <I>river of Chebar</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+1:1">Ezek. i. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
another by <I>the great river Hiddekel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+10:4">Dan. x. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thither Paul and Silas and Luke went, and <I>sat down,</I> to instruct
|
|
the congregation, that they might the better pray with them. They
|
|
<I>spoke unto the women who resorted thither,</I> encouraged them in
|
|
practising according to the light they had, and led them on further to
|
|
the knowledge of Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The conversion of <I>Lydia,</I> who probably was the first that was
|
|
wrought upon there to believe in Christ, though not the last. In this
|
|
story of <I>the Acts,</I> we have not only the conversion of places
|
|
recorded, but of many particular persons; for such is the worth of
|
|
souls that the reducing of one to God is a great matter. Nor have we
|
|
only the conversions that were effected by miracle, as Paul's, but some
|
|
that were brought about by the ordinary methods of grace, as Lydia's
|
|
here. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Who this convert was that there is such particular notice taken of.
|
|
Four things are recorded of her:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Her name, <I>Lydia.</I> It is an honour to her to have her name
|
|
recorded here in the book of God, so that <I>wherever the scriptures
|
|
are read there shall this be told concerning her.</I> Note, The names
|
|
of the saints are precious with God, and should be so with us; we
|
|
cannot have our names recorded in the Bible, but, if God open our
|
|
hearts, we shall find them <I>written in the book of life,</I> and this
|
|
is better
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:3">Phil. iv. 3</A>)
|
|
|
|
and more to <I>be rejoiced in,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+10:20">Luke x. 20</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Her calling. She was <I>a seller of purple,</I> either of purple
|
|
dye or of purple cloth or silk. Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] She had a calling, an honest calling, which the historian takes
|
|
notice of to her praise; she was none of those women that the apostle
|
|
speaks of
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+5:13">1 Tim. v. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>who learn to be idle, and not only idle, &c.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] It was a mean calling. She was <I>a seller of purple,</I> not a
|
|
wearer of purple, few such are called. The notice here taken of this is
|
|
an intimation to those who are employed in honest callings, if they be
|
|
honest in the management of them, not to be ashamed of them.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Though she had a calling to mind, yet she was a worshipper of God,
|
|
and found time to improve advantages for her soul. The business of our
|
|
particular callings may be made to consist very well with the business
|
|
of religion, and therefore it will not excuse us from religious
|
|
exercises alone, and in our families, or in solemn assemblies, to say,
|
|
We have shops to look after, and a trade to mind; for have we not also
|
|
a God to serve and a soul to look after? Religion does not call us from
|
|
our business in the world, but directs us in it. Every thing in its
|
|
time and place.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) The place she was of--<I>of the city of Thyatira,</I> which was a
|
|
great way from Philippi; there she was born and bred, but either
|
|
married at Philippi, or brought by her trade to settle there. The
|
|
providence of God, as it always appoints, so it often removes, <I>the
|
|
bounds of our habitation,</I> and sometimes makes the change of our
|
|
outward condition or place of our abode wonderfully subservient to the
|
|
designs of his grace concerning our salvation. Providence brings Lydia
|
|
to Philippi, to be under Paul's ministry, and there, where she met with
|
|
it, she made a good use of it; so should we improve opportunities.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) Her religion before the Lord opened her heart.
|
|
|
|
[1.] She worshipped God according to the knowledge she had; she was one
|
|
of the devout women. Sometimes the grace of God wrought upon those who,
|
|
before their conversion, were very wicked and vile, publicans and
|
|
harlots; <I>such were some of you,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:11">1 Cor. vi. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
But sometimes it fastened upon those who were of a good character, who
|
|
had some good in them, as the eunuch, Cornelius, and Lydia. Note, It is
|
|
not enough to be worshippers of God, but we must be believers in Jesus
|
|
Christ, for there is no coming to God as a Father, but by him as
|
|
Mediator. But those who worshipped God according to the light they had
|
|
stood fair for the discoveries of Christ, and his grace to them; for
|
|
<I>to him that has shall be given:</I> and to them Christ would be
|
|
welcome; for those that know what it is to worship God see their need
|
|
of Christ, and know what use to make of his mediation.
|
|
|
|
[2.] She heard the apostles. Here, where prayer was made, when there
|
|
was an opportunity, <I>the word was preached;</I> for hearing the word
|
|
of God is a part of religious worship, and how can we expect God should
|
|
hear our prayers if we will not hearken to his word? Those that
|
|
worshipped God according to the light they had looked out for further
|
|
light; we must improve <I>the day of small things,</I> but must not
|
|
rest in it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What the work was that was wrought upon her: <I>Whose heart the Lord
|
|
opened.</I> Observe here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The author of this work: it was <I>the Lord,</I>--the Lord Christ,
|
|
to whom this judgment is committed,--the Spirit of the Lord, who is the
|
|
sanctifier. Note, Conversion-work is God's work; it is he <I>that
|
|
works in us both to will and to do;</I> not as if we had nothing to do,
|
|
but of ourselves, without God's grace, we can do nothing; nor as if God
|
|
were in the least chargeable with the ruin of those that perish, but
|
|
the salvation of those that are saved must be wholly ascribed to him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The seat of this work; it is in the heart that the change is made,
|
|
it is to the heart that this blessed turn is given; it was the heart of
|
|
Lydia that was wrought upon. Conversion-work is heart-work; it is a
|
|
<I>renewing of the heart, the inward man, the spirit of the mind.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) The nature of the work; she had not only her heart touched, but
|
|
her heart opened. An unconverted soul is shut up, and fortified against
|
|
Christ, <I>straitly shut up,</I> as Jericho against Joshua,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+6:1">Josh. vi. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ, in dealing with the soul, knocks at the door that is shut
|
|
against him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:20">Rev. iii. 20</A>);
|
|
|
|
and, when a sinner is effectually persuaded to embrace Christ, <I>then
|
|
the heart is opened for the King of glory to come in</I>--the
|
|
understanding is open to receive the divine light, the will opened to
|
|
receive the divine law, and the affections opened to receive the divine
|
|
love. When the heart is thus opened to Christ, the ear is opened to his
|
|
word, the lips opened in prayer, the hand opened in charity, and the
|
|
steps enlarged in all manner of gospel obedience.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What were the effects of this work on the heart.
|
|
|
|
(1.) She took great notice of the word of God. Her heart was so
|
|
<I>opened that she attended to the things that were spoken by Paul;</I>
|
|
she not only gave attendance on Paul's preaching, but gave attention to
|
|
it; <I>she applied to herself</I> (so some read it) <I>the things that
|
|
were spoken by Paul;</I> and then only the word does us good, and makes
|
|
an abiding impression upon us, when we apply it to ourselves. Now this
|
|
was an evidence of the opening of her heart, and was the fruit of it;
|
|
wherever the heart is opened by the grace of God, it will appear by a
|
|
diligent attendance on, and attention to, the word of God, both for
|
|
Christ's sake, whose word it is, and for our own sakes, who are so
|
|
nearly interested in it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) She gave up her name to Jesus Christ, and took upon her the
|
|
profession of his holy religion; <I>She was baptized,</I> and by this
|
|
solemn rite was admitted a member of the church of Christ; and with her
|
|
<I>her household</I> also was baptized, those of them that were infants
|
|
in her right, for if <I>the root be holy so are the branches,</I> and
|
|
those that were grown up by her influence and authority. She and her
|
|
household were baptized by the same rule that Abraham and his household
|
|
were circumcised, because the seal of the covenant belongs to the
|
|
covenanters and their seed.
|
|
|
|
(3.) She was very kind to the ministers, and very desirous to be
|
|
further instructed by them in <I>the things pertaining to the kingdom
|
|
of God: She besought us saying "If you have judged me to be faithful to
|
|
the Lord,</I> if you take me to be a sincere Christian, manifest your
|
|
confidence in me by this, <I>come into my house, and abide there.</I>"
|
|
Thus she desired an opportunity,
|
|
|
|
[1.] To testify her gratitude to those who had been the instruments of
|
|
divine grace in this blessed change that was wrought upon her. When her
|
|
heart was open to Christ, her house was open to his ministers for his
|
|
sake, and they were welcome to the best entertainment she had, which
|
|
she did not think too good for those of whose spiritual things she had
|
|
reaped so plentifully. Nay, they are not only welcome to her house, but
|
|
she is extremely pressing and importunate with them: <I>She constrained
|
|
us;</I> which intimates that Paul was very backward and unwilling to
|
|
go, because he was afraid of being burdensome to the families of the
|
|
young converts, and would study <I>to make the gospel of Christ without
|
|
charge</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:18,Ac+20:34">1 Cor. ix. 18; Acts xx. 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
that those who were without might have no occasion given them to
|
|
reproach the preachers of the gospel as designing, self-seeking men,
|
|
and that those who were within might have no occasion to complain of
|
|
the expenses of their religion: but Lydia will have no nay; she will
|
|
not believe that they take her to be a sincere Christian unless they
|
|
will oblige her herein; like Abraham inviting the angels
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+18:3">Gen. xviii. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>If now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away from thy
|
|
servant.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] She desired an opportunity of receiving further instruction. If
|
|
she might but have them for awhile in her family, she might hear them
|
|
daily
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:34">Prov. viii. 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
and not merely on sabbath days at the meeting. In her own house she
|
|
might not only hear them, but ask them questions; and she might have
|
|
them to pray with her daily, and to bless her household. Those that
|
|
know something of Christ cannot but desire to know more, and seek
|
|
opportunities of increasing their acquaintance with his gospel.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_24"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Expulsion of an Evil Spirit; Persecution of Philippi.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel
|
|
possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her
|
|
masters much gain by soothsaying:
|
|
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men
|
|
are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way
|
|
of salvation.
|
|
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned
|
|
and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus
|
|
Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
|
|
19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was
|
|
gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew <I>them</I> into the
|
|
marketplace unto the rulers,
|
|
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men,
|
|
being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
|
|
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive,
|
|
neither to observe, being Romans.
|
|
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the
|
|
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat <I>them.</I>
|
|
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast
|
|
<I>them</I> into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
|
|
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the
|
|
inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Paul and his companions, though they were for some time buried in
|
|
obscurity at Philippi, yet now begin to be taken notice of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. <I>A damsel that had a spirit of divination</I> caused them to be
|
|
taken notice of, by proclaiming them to be the servants of God.
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The account that is given of this damsel: She was <I>pythonissa,
|
|
possessed with</I> such <I>a spirit of divination</I> as that damsel
|
|
was by whom the oracles of Apollo at Delphos were delivered; she was
|
|
actuated by an evil spirit, that dictated ambiguous answers to those
|
|
who consulted her, which served to gratify their vain desire of knowing
|
|
things to come, but often deceived them. In those times of ignorance,
|
|
infidelity, and idolatry, the devil, by the divine permission, thus led
|
|
men captive at his will; and he could not have gained such adoration
|
|
from them as he had, if he had not pretended to give oracles to them,
|
|
for by both his usurpation is maintained as the god of this world. This
|
|
damsel <I>brought her masters much gain by soothsaying;</I> many came
|
|
to consult this witch for the discovery of robberies, the finding of
|
|
things lost, and especially to be told their fortune, and none came but
|
|
with the rewards of divination in their hands, according to the quality
|
|
of the person and the importance of the case. Probably there were many
|
|
that were thus kept for fortune-tellers, but, it should seem, this was
|
|
more in repute than any of them; for, while others brought some gain,
|
|
this <I>brought much gain to her masters,</I> being consulted more than
|
|
any other.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The testimony which this damsel gave to Paul and his companions: She
|
|
<I>met them</I> in the street, as they were going to prayer, to the
|
|
house of prayer, or rather to the work of prayer there,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
They went thither publicly, every body knew whither they were going,
|
|
and what they were going to do. If what she did was likely to be any
|
|
distraction to them, or a hindrance in their work, it is observable how
|
|
subtle Satan is, that great tempter, in taking the opportunity to give
|
|
us diversion when we are going about any religious exercises, to ruffle
|
|
us and to put us out of temper when we need to be most composed. When
|
|
she met with them she followed them, crying, "<I>These men,</I> how
|
|
contemptible soever they look and are looked upon, are great men, for
|
|
they <I>are the servants of the most high God,</I> and men that should
|
|
be very welcome to us, for <I>they show unto us the way of
|
|
salvation,</I> both the salvation that will be our happiness, and the
|
|
way to it that will be our holiness."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now,
|
|
|
|
(1.) This witness is true; it is a comprehensive encomium on the
|
|
faithful preachers of the gospel, and makes their feet beautiful,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+10:15">Rom. x. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though they are <I>men subject to like passions as we are,</I> and
|
|
<I>earthen vessels,</I> yet,
|
|
|
|
[1.] "They are <I>the servants of the most high God;</I> they attend on
|
|
him, are employed by him, and are devoted to his honour, as servants;
|
|
they come to us on his errands, the message they bring is from him, and
|
|
they serve the purposes and interest of his kingdom. The gods we
|
|
Gentiles worship are inferior beings, therefore not gods, but these men
|
|
belong to the supreme <I>Numen, to the most high God,</I> who is over
|
|
all men, over all gods, who made us all, and to whom we are all
|
|
accountable. They are his servants, and therefore it is our duty to
|
|
respect them, and harken to them for their Master's sake, and it is at
|
|
our peril if we affront them."
|
|
|
|
[2.] "They <I>show unto us the way of salvation.</I>" Even the heathen
|
|
had some notion of the miserable deplorable state of mankind, and their
|
|
need of salvation, and it was what they made some enquiries after.
|
|
"Now," saith she, "these men are the men that show us what we have in
|
|
vain sought for in our superstitious profitless application to our
|
|
priests and oracles." Note, God has, in the gospel of his Son, plainly
|
|
shown us the way of salvation, has told us what we must do that we may
|
|
be delivered from the misery to which by sin we have exposed
|
|
ourselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
But,
|
|
|
|
(2.) How came this testimony from the mouth of one that had a spirit of
|
|
divination? Is Satan divided against himself? Will he cry up those
|
|
whose business it is to pull him down? We may take it either,
|
|
|
|
[1.] As extorted from this spirit of divination for the honour of the
|
|
gospel by the power of God; as the devil was forced to say of Christ
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+1:24">Mark i. 24</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.</I> The truth is
|
|
sometimes magnified by the confession of its adversaries, in which they
|
|
are witnesses against themselves. Christ would have this testimony of
|
|
the damsel to rise up in judgment against those at Philippi who
|
|
slighted and persecuted the apostles; though the gospel needed no such
|
|
testimony, yet it shall serve to add to their commendation that the
|
|
damsel whom they looked upon as an oracle in other things proclaimed
|
|
the apostles God's servants. Or,
|
|
|
|
[2.] As designed by the evil spirit, that subtle serpent, to the
|
|
dishonour of the gospel; some think she designed hereby to gain credit
|
|
to herself and her prophecies, and so to increase her master's profit
|
|
by pretending to be in the interest of the apostles, who, she thought,
|
|
had a growing reputation, or to curry favour with Paul, that he might
|
|
not separate her and her familiar. Others think that Satan, who can
|
|
transform himself into an angel of light, and can say anything to serve
|
|
a turn, designed hereby to disgrace the apostles; as if these divines
|
|
were of the same fraternity with their diviners, because they were
|
|
witnessed to by them, and then the people might as well adhere to those
|
|
they had been used to. Those that were most likely to receive the
|
|
apostles' doctrine were such as were prejudiced against these spirits
|
|
of divination, and therefore would, by this testimony, be prejudiced
|
|
against the gospel; and, as for those who regarded these diviners, the
|
|
devil thought himself sure of them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Christ caused them to be taken notice of, by giving them power to
|
|
cast the devil out of this damsel. She continued <I>many days</I>
|
|
clamouring thus
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>);
|
|
|
|
and, it should seem, Paul took no notice of her, not knowing but it
|
|
might be ordered of God for the service of his cause, that she should
|
|
thus witness concerning his ministers; but finding perhaps that it did
|
|
them a prejudice, rather than any service, he soon silenced her, by
|
|
casting the devil out of her.
|
|
|
|
1. He was <I>grieved.</I> It troubled him to see the damsel made an
|
|
instrument of Satan to deceive people, and to see the people imposed
|
|
upon by her divinations. It was a disturbance to him to hear a sacred
|
|
truth so profaned, and good words come out of such a wicked mouth with
|
|
such and evil design. Perhaps they were spoken in an ironical bantering
|
|
way, as ridiculing the apostles' pretensions, and mocking them, as when
|
|
Christ's persecutors complimented him with <I>Hail, king of the
|
|
Jews;</I> and then justly might Paul be grieved, as any good man's
|
|
heart would be, to hear any good truth of God bawled out in the streets
|
|
in a canting jeering way.
|
|
|
|
2. He <I>commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. He turned</I>
|
|
with a holy indignation, angry both at the flatteries and at the
|
|
reproaches of <I>the unclean spirit, and said, I command thee in the
|
|
name of Jesus Christ to come out of her;</I> and by this he will show
|
|
<I>that these men are the servants of the living God,</I> and are able
|
|
to prove themselves so, without her testimony: her silence shall
|
|
demonstrate it more than her speaking could do. Thus Paul shows <I>the
|
|
way of salvation</I> indeed, that it is by breaking <I>the power of
|
|
Satan, and chaining him up, that he may not deceive the world</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+20:3">Rev. xx. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
and that this salvation is to be obtained <I>in the name of Jesus
|
|
Christ</I> only, as in his name the devil was now cast out and by no
|
|
other. It was a great blessing to the country when Christ by a word
|
|
cast the devil out of those in whom he frightened people and molested
|
|
them <I>so that no man might pass by that way</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+8:28">Matt. viii. 28</A>);
|
|
|
|
but it was a much greater kindness to the country when Paul now, in
|
|
Christ's name, cast the devil out of one who deceived people and
|
|
imposed upon their credulity. Power went along with the word of Christ,
|
|
before which Satan could not stand, but was forced to quit his hold,
|
|
and in this case it was a strong hold: <I>He came out the same
|
|
hour.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The masters of the damsel that was dispossessed caused them to be
|
|
taken notice of, by bringing them before the magistrates for doing it,
|
|
and laying it to their charge as their crime. The preachers of the
|
|
gospel would never have had an opportunity of speaking to the
|
|
magistrates if they had not been brought before them as evil doers.
|
|
Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That which provoked them was, that, the damsel being restored to
|
|
herself, <I>her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
See here what evil <I>the love of money is the root of!</I> If the
|
|
preaching of the gospel ruin the craft of the silversmiths
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+19:24"><I>ch.</I> xix. 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
much more the craft of the soothsayers; and therefore here is a great
|
|
outcry raised, when Satan's power to deceive is broken: the priests
|
|
hated the gospel because it turned men from the blind service of dumb
|
|
idols, and so the hope of their gains was gone. The power of Christ,
|
|
which appeared in dispossessing the woman, and the great kindness done
|
|
to her in delivering her out of Satan's hand, made no impression upon
|
|
them when they apprehended that they should hereby lose money.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The course they took with them was to incense the higher powers
|
|
against them, as men fit to be punished: <I>They caught them</I> as
|
|
they went along, and, with the utmost fury and violence, <I>dragged
|
|
them into the marketplace,</I> where public justice was administered.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They brought them <I>to the rulers,</I> their justices of peace,
|
|
to do by them as men taken into the hands of the law, the
|
|
<I>duumviri.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) From them they hurried them <I>to the magistrates,</I> the
|
|
prætors or governors of the city, <B><I>tois
|
|
strategois</I></B>--<I>the officers of the army,</I> so the word
|
|
signifies; but it is taken in general for the judges or chief rulers:
|
|
to them they brought their complaint.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The charge they exhibited against them was that they were the
|
|
troublers of the land,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
They take it for granted that these men are Jews, a nation at this time
|
|
as much an <I>abomination to the Romans</I> as they had long ago been
|
|
to the Egyptians. Piteous was the case of the apostles, when it was
|
|
turned to their reproach that they were Jews, and yet the Jews were
|
|
their most violent persecutors!
|
|
|
|
(1.) The general charge against them is <I>that they troubled the
|
|
city,</I> sowed discord, and disturbed the public peace, and occasioned
|
|
riots and tumults, than which nothing could be more false and unjust,
|
|
as was Ahab's character of Elijah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+18:17">1 Kings xviii. 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Art thou he that troubleth Israel?</I> If they troubled the city, it
|
|
was but like the angel's troubling the water of Bethesda's pool, in
|
|
order to healing-shaking, in order to a happy settlement. Thus those
|
|
that rouse the sluggards are exclaimed against for troubling them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The proof of this charge is their teaching customs not proper to
|
|
be admitted by a Roman colony,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Romans were always very jealous of innovations in religion. Right
|
|
or wrong, they would adhere to that, how vain soever, which they had
|
|
received by tradition from their fathers. No foreign nor upstart deity
|
|
must be allowed, without the approbation of the senate; the gods of
|
|
their country must be their gods, true or false. This was one of the
|
|
laws of the twelve tables. <I>Hath a nation changed their gods?</I> It
|
|
incensed them against the apostles that they taught a religion
|
|
destructive of polytheism and idolatry, and preached to them to turn
|
|
from those vanities. This the Romans could not bear: "If this grow upon
|
|
us, in a little while we shall lose our religion."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The magistrates, by their proceedings against them, caused them to
|
|
be taken notice of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. By countenancing the persecution they raised the mob upon them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The multitude rose up together against them,</I> and were ready to
|
|
pull them to pieces. It has been the artifice of Satan to make God's
|
|
ministers and people odious to the commonalty, by representing them as
|
|
dangerous men, who aimed at the destruction of the constitution and the
|
|
changing of the customs, when really there has been no ground for such
|
|
an imputation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. By going on to an execution they further represented them as the
|
|
vilest malefactors: <I>They rent off their clothes,</I> with rage and
|
|
fury, not having patience till they were taken off, in order to their
|
|
being scourged. This the apostle refers to when he speaks of <I>their
|
|
being treated at Philippi,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+2:2">1 Thess. ii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
The magistrates commanded that they should be whipped as vagabonds, by
|
|
the lictors or beadles who attended the prætors, and carried rods
|
|
with them for that purpose; this was one of those three times that Paul
|
|
was beaten with rods, according to the Roman usage, which was not under
|
|
the compassionate limitation of the number of stripes not to exceed
|
|
forty, which was provided by the Jewish law. It is here said that
|
|
<I>they laid many stripes upon them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
without counting how many, because they seemed vile unto them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+25:3">Deut. xxv. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now, one would think, this might have satiated their cruelty; if they
|
|
must be whipped, surely they must be discharged. No, they are
|
|
imprisoned, and it is probable the present purpose was to try them for
|
|
their lives, and put them to death; else why should there be such care
|
|
taken to prevent their escape?
|
|
|
|
(1.) The judges made their commitment very strict: They <I>charged the
|
|
jailer to keep them safely,</I> and have a very watchful eye upon them,
|
|
as if they were dangerous men, that either would venture to break
|
|
prison themselves or were in confederacy with those that would attempt
|
|
to rescue them. Thus they endeavoured to render them odious, that they
|
|
might justify themselves in the base usage they had given them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The jailer made their confinement very severe
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Having received such a charge,</I> though he might have kept them
|
|
safely enough in the outer prison, yet <I>he thrust them into the inner
|
|
prison.</I> He was sensible that the magistrates had a great
|
|
indignation against these men, and were inclined to be severe with
|
|
them, and therefore he thought to ingratiate himself with them, by
|
|
exerting his power likewise against them to the uttermost. When
|
|
magistrates are cruel, it is no wonder that the officers under them are
|
|
so too. <I>He put them into the inner prison,</I> the dungeon, into
|
|
which none were usually put but condemned malefactors, dark at
|
|
noon-day, damp and cold, dirty, it is likely, and every way offensive,
|
|
like that into which Jeremiah was let down
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+38:6">Jer. xxxviii. 6</A>);
|
|
|
|
and, as if this were not enough, <I>he made their feet fast in the
|
|
stocks.</I> Perhaps, having heard a report of the escape of <I>the
|
|
preachers of the gospel out of prison, when the doors were fast
|
|
barred</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+5:19,12:19"><I>ch.</I> v. 19; xii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
he thought he would be wiser than other jailers had been, and therefore
|
|
would effectually secure them by fastening them in the stocks; and they
|
|
were not the first of God's messengers that had their feet in the
|
|
stocks; Jeremiah was so treated, and publicly too, in <I>the high-gate
|
|
of Benjamin</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+20:2">Jer. xx. 2</A>);
|
|
|
|
Joseph had his <I>feet hurt with fetters,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:18">Ps. cv. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Oh what hard usage have God's servants met with, as in the former days,
|
|
so in the latter times! Witness the Book of Martyrs, martyrs in queen
|
|
Mary's time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_27"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ac16_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_29"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ac16_30"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ac16_31"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ac16_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac16_34"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul and Silas in Prison; Conversion of the Philippian Jailer.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto
|
|
God: and the prisoners heard them.
|
|
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
|
|
foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the
|
|
doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
|
|
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and
|
|
seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would
|
|
have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
|
|
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no
|
|
harm: for we are all here.
|
|
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came
|
|
trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
|
|
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be
|
|
saved?
|
|
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
|
|
shalt be saved, and thy house.
|
|
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all
|
|
that were in his house.
|
|
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed
|
|
<I>their</I> stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
|
|
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat
|
|
before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the designs of the persecutors of Paul and Silas baffled
|
|
and broken.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The persecutors designed to dishearten and discourage the preachers
|
|
of the gospel, and to make them sick of the cause and weary of their
|
|
work; but here we find them both hearty and heartened.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. They were themselves hearty, wonderfully hearty; never were poor
|
|
prisoners so truly cheerful, nor so far from laying their hard usage to
|
|
heart. Let us consider what their case was. The prætors among the
|
|
Romans had rods carried before them, and axes bound upon them, the
|
|
<I>fasces and secures.</I> Now they had felt the smart of the rods,
|
|
<I>the ploughers had ploughed upon their backs, and made long
|
|
furrows.</I> The many stripes they had laid upon them were very sore,
|
|
and one might have expected to hear them complaining of them, of the
|
|
rawness and soreness of their backs and shoulders. Yet this was not
|
|
all; they had reason to fear the axes next. Their master was first
|
|
scourged and then crucified; and they might expect the same. In the
|
|
mean time they were in the inner prison, their feet in the stocks,
|
|
which, some think, not only held them, but hurt them; and yet, <I>at
|
|
midnight,</I> when they should have been trying, if possible, to get a
|
|
little rest, they <I>prayed and sang praises to God.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They prayed together, prayed to God to support them and comfort
|
|
them in their afflictions, to visit them, as he did Joseph in the
|
|
prison, and to be with them,--prayed that their consolations in Christ
|
|
might abound, as their afflictions for him did,--prayed that even their
|
|
bonds and stripes might turn to the furtherance of the gospel,--prayed
|
|
for their persecutors, that God would forgive them and turn their
|
|
hearts. This was not at an hour of prayer, but at midnight; it was not
|
|
in a house of prayer, but in a dungeon; yet it was seasonable to pray,
|
|
and the prayer was acceptable. As in the dark, so out of the depths, we
|
|
may cry unto God. No place, no time, amiss for prayer, if the heart be
|
|
lifted up to God. Those that are companions in suffering should join in
|
|
prayer. <I>Is any afflicted? Let him pray.</I> No trouble, how
|
|
grievous soever, should indispose us for prayer.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>They sang praises to God.</I> They praised God; for we must
|
|
<I>in every thing give thanks.</I> We never want matter for praise, if
|
|
we do not want a heart. And what should put the heart of a child of God
|
|
out of tune for this duty if a dungeon and a pair of stocks will not do
|
|
it? They praised God that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for
|
|
his name, and that they were so wonderfully supported and borne up
|
|
under their sufferings, and felt divine consolations so sweet, so
|
|
strong, in their souls. Nay, <I>they not only praised God, but they
|
|
sang praises to him,</I> in some psalm, or hymn, or spiritual song,
|
|
either one of David's, or some modern composition, or one of their own,
|
|
as <I>the Spirit gave them utterance.</I> As our rule is that the
|
|
afflicted should pray, and therefore, being in affliction, they prayed;
|
|
so our rule is that the merry should sing psalms
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+5:13">James v. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and therefore, being merry in their affliction, <I>merry after a godly
|
|
sort, they sang psalms.</I> This proves that the singing of psalms is a
|
|
gospel ordinance, and ought to be used by all good Christians; and that
|
|
it is instituted, not only for the expressing of their joys in a day of
|
|
triumph, but for the balancing and relieving of their sorrows in a day
|
|
of trouble. It was at midnight that they sang psalms, according to the
|
|
example of the sweet psalmist of Israel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:62">Ps. cxix. 62</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>At midnight will I rise to give thanks unto thee.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Notice is here taken of the circumstance that <I>the prisoners
|
|
heard them.</I> If the prisoners did not hear them pray, yet <I>they
|
|
heard them sing praises.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] It intimates how hearty they were in singing praises to God; they
|
|
sang so loud that, though they were in the dungeon, they were heard all
|
|
the prison over; nay, so loud that they woke the prisoners: for we may
|
|
suppose, being at midnight, they were all asleep. We should sing psalms
|
|
with all our heart. The saints are called upon to sing aloud upon their
|
|
beds,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+149:5">Ps. cxlix. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
But gospel grace carries the matter further, and gives us an example of
|
|
those that sang aloud in the prison, in the stocks.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Though they knew the prisoners would hear them, yet they sang
|
|
aloud, as those that were not ashamed of their Master, nor of his
|
|
service. Shall those that would sing psalms in their families plead, in
|
|
excuse for their omission of the duty, that they are afraid their
|
|
neighbours should hear them, when those that sing profane songs roar
|
|
them our, and care not who hears them?
|
|
|
|
[3.] The prisoners were made to hear the prison-songs of Paul and
|
|
Silas, that they might be prepared for the miraculous favour shown to
|
|
them all for the sake of Paul and Silas, when <I>the prison-doors were
|
|
thrown open.</I> By this extraordinary comfort with which they were
|
|
filled it was published that he whom they preached was <I>the
|
|
consolation of Israel.</I> Let the prisoners that mean to oppose him
|
|
hear and tremble before him; let those that are faithful to him hear
|
|
and triumph, and take of the comfort that is spoken to the prisoners of
|
|
hope,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+9:12">Zech. ix. 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. God heartened them wonderfully by his signal appearances for them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) There was immediately a great earthquake; how far it extended we
|
|
are not told, but it was such a violent shock in this place <I>that the
|
|
very foundations of the prison were shaken.</I> While the prisoners
|
|
were hearkening to the midnight devotions of Paul and Silas, and
|
|
perhaps laughing at them and making a jest of them, this earthquake
|
|
would strike a terror upon them, and convince them that those men were
|
|
the favourites of Heaven, and such as God owned. We had <I>the house of
|
|
prayer shaken,</I> in answer to prayer, and as a token of God's
|
|
acceptance of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:31"><I>ch.</I> iv. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here <I>the prison shaken.</I> The Lord was in these earthquakes, to
|
|
show his resentment of the indignities done to his servants, to testify
|
|
to those whose confidence is in the earth the weakness and instability
|
|
of that which they confide, and to teach people <I>that, though the
|
|
earth be moved, yet they need not fear.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The prison-doors were thrown open, and the prisoners' fetters were
|
|
knocked off: <I>Every man's bands were loosed.</I> Perhaps the
|
|
prisoners, when they heard Paul and Silas pray and sing psalms, admired
|
|
them, and spoke honourably of them, and said what the damsel had said
|
|
of them, Surely, <I>these men are the servants of the living God.</I>
|
|
To recompense them for, and confirm them in, their good opinion of
|
|
them, they share in the miracle, and have <I>their bands loosed;</I> as
|
|
afterwards God gave to Paul all <I>those that were in the ship with
|
|
him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+27:24"><I>ch.</I> xxvii. 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
so now he gave him all those that were in the prison with him. God
|
|
hereby signified to these prisoners, as Grotius observes, that the
|
|
apostles, in preaching the gospel, were public blessings to mankind, as
|
|
they <I>proclaimed liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
|
|
prison-doors to those that were bound,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:1">Isa. lxi. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Et per eos solvi animorum vincula--and as by them the bonds of souls
|
|
were unloosed.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The persecutors designed to stop the progress of the gospel, that
|
|
no more might embrace it; thus they hoped to ruin the meeting by the
|
|
river side, that no more hearts should be opened there; but here we
|
|
find converts made in the prison, that house turned into a meeting, the
|
|
trophies of the gospel's victories erected there, and the jailer, their
|
|
own servant, become a servant of Christ. It is probable that some of
|
|
the prisoners, if not all, were converted; surely the miracle wrought
|
|
on their bodies, in loosing their bands, was wrought on their souls
|
|
too. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+36:8-10,Ps+107:14,15">Job xxxvi. 8-10; Ps. cvii. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
But it is only the conversion of the jailer that is recorded.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He is afraid he shall lose his life, and Paul makes him easy as to
|
|
this care,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:27,28"><I>v.</I> 27, 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He <I>awoke out of his sleep.</I> It is probable that the shock of
|
|
the earthquake woke him, and the opening of the prison-doors, and the
|
|
prisoners' expressions of joy and amazement, when in the dark they
|
|
found their bands loosed, and called to tell one another what they
|
|
felt: this was enough to awaken the jailer, whose place required that
|
|
he should not be hard to wake. This waking him out of his sleep
|
|
signified the awakening of his conscience out of its spiritual slumber.
|
|
The call of the gospel is, <I>Awake, thou that sleepest</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+5:14">Eph. v. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
like that of
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jon+1:6">Jonah, i. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He saw the prison-doors open, and supposed, as well he might, that
|
|
the prisoners had fled; and then what would become of him? He knew the
|
|
Roman law in that case, and it was executed not long ago upon the
|
|
keepers out of whose hands Peter escaped,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+12:19"><I>ch.</I> xii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was according to that of the prophet,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+20:39,42">1 Kings xx. 39, 42</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Keep this man; if he be missing, thy life shall go for his life.</I>
|
|
The Roman lawyers after this, in their readings upon the law, <I>De
|
|
custodia reorum--The custody of criminals</I> (which appoints that the
|
|
keeper should undergo the same punishment that should have been
|
|
inflicted on the prisoner if he let him escape), take care to except an
|
|
escape by miracle.
|
|
|
|
(3.) In his fright <I>he drew his sword,</I> and was going <I>to kill
|
|
himself,</I> to prevent a more terrible death, and expected one, a
|
|
pompous ignominious death, which he knew he was liable to for letting
|
|
his prisoners escape and not looking better to them; and the
|
|
extraordinarily strict charge which the magistrates gave him concerning
|
|
Paul and Silas made him conclude they would be very severe upon him if
|
|
they were gone. The philosophers generally allowed self-murder. Seneca
|
|
prescribes it as the last remedy which those that are in distress may
|
|
have recourse to. The Stoics, notwithstanding their pretended conquest
|
|
of the passions, yielded thus far to them. And the Epicureans, who
|
|
indulged the pleasures of sense, to avoid its pains chose rather to put
|
|
an end to it. This jailer thought there was no harm in anticipating his
|
|
own death; but Christianity proves itself to be of God by this, that it
|
|
keeps us to the law of our creation--revives, enforces, and establishes
|
|
it, obliges us to be just to our own lives, and teaches us cheerfully
|
|
to resign them to our graces, but courageously to hold them out against
|
|
our corruptions.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Paul stopped him from his proceeding against himself
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
|
|
|
|
He <I>cried with a loud voice,</I> not only to make him hear, but to
|
|
make him heed, <I>saying, Do not practise any evil to thyself; Do
|
|
thyself no harm.</I> All the cautions of the word of God against sin,
|
|
and all appearances of it and approaches to it, have this tendency,
|
|
"<I>Do thyself no harm.</I> Man, woman, do not wrong thyself, nor ruin
|
|
thyself; hurt not thyself, and then none else can hurt thee; do not
|
|
sin, for nothing else can hurt thee." Even as to the body, we are
|
|
cautioned against those sins which do harm to it, and are taught to
|
|
<I>hate our own flesh, but to nourish and cherish it.</I> The jailer
|
|
needs not fear being called to an account for the escape of his
|
|
prisoners, for <I>they are all here.</I> It was strange that some of
|
|
them did not slip away, when the prison-doors were opened, and they
|
|
were loosed from their bands; but their amazement held them fast, and,
|
|
being sensible it was by the prayers of Paul and Silas that they were
|
|
loosed, they would not stir unless they stirred; and God showed his
|
|
power in binding their spirits, as much as in loosing their feet.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He is afraid he shall lose his soul, and Paul makes him easy as to
|
|
this care too. One concern leads him to another, and a much greater;
|
|
and, being hindered from hastening himself out of this world, he begins
|
|
to think, if he had pursued his intention, whither death would have
|
|
brought him, and what would have become of him on the other side
|
|
death--a very proper thought for such as have been snatched as a brand
|
|
out of the fire, when there was but a step between them and death.
|
|
Perhaps the heinousness of the sin he was running into helped to alarm
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Whatever was the cause, he was put into a great consternation. The
|
|
Spirit of God, that was sen to convince, in order to his being a
|
|
Comforter, struck a terror upon him, and startled him. Whether he took
|
|
care to shut the prison-doors again we are not told. Perhaps he forgot
|
|
this as the woman of Samaria, when Christ had impressed convictions on
|
|
her conscience, <I>left her water-pot</I> and forgot her errand to the
|
|
well; for <I>he called for a light</I> with all speed, and <I>sprang
|
|
in</I> to the inner prison, <I>and came trembling to Paul and
|
|
Silas.</I> Those that have sin set in order before them, and are made
|
|
to know their abominations, cannot but tremble at the apprehension of
|
|
their misery and danger. This jailer, when he was thus made to tremble,
|
|
could not apply to a more proper person than to Paul, for it had once
|
|
been his own case; he had been once a persecutor of good men, as this
|
|
jailer was--had cast them into prison, as he kept them--and when, like
|
|
him, he was made sensible of it, <I>he trembled, and was
|
|
astonished;</I> and therefore he was able to speak the more feelingly
|
|
to the jailer.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) In this consternation, he applied to Paul and Silas for relief.
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] How reverent and respectful his address to them is: <I>He called
|
|
for a light,</I> because they were in the dark, and that they might see
|
|
what a fright he was in; <I>he fell down before them,</I> as one amazed
|
|
at the badness of his own condition, and ready to sink under the load
|
|
of his terror because of it; he fell down before them, as one that had
|
|
upon his spirit an awe of them, and of the image of God upon them, and
|
|
of their commission from God. It is probable that he had heard what the
|
|
damsel said of them, that they were <I>the servants of the living God,
|
|
who showed to them the way of salvation,</I> and as such he thus
|
|
expressed his veneration for them. He fell down before them, to beg
|
|
their pardon, as a penitent, for the indignities he had done them, and
|
|
to beg their advice, as a supplicant, what he should do. He gave them
|
|
a title of respect, <I>Sirs,</I> <B><I>kyrioi</I></B>--<I>lords,
|
|
masters;</I> just now it was, <I>Rogues</I> and <I>villains,</I> and he
|
|
was their master; but now, <I>Sirs, lords,</I> and they are his
|
|
masters. Converting grace changes people's language of and to good
|
|
people and good ministers; and, to such as are thoroughly convinced of
|
|
sin, the very feet of those that bring tidings of Christ are beautiful;
|
|
yea, though they are disgracefully fastened in the stocks.
|
|
|
|
[2.] How serious his enquiry is: <I>What must I do to be saved?
|
|
First,</I> His salvation is now his great concern, and lies nearest his
|
|
heart, which before was the furthest thing from his thoughts. Not, What
|
|
shall I do to be preferred, to be rich and great in the world? but,
|
|
<I>What shall I do to be saved? Secondly,</I> He does not enquire
|
|
concerning others, what they must do; but concerning himself, "What
|
|
must I do?" It is his own precious soul that he is in care about: "Let
|
|
others do as they please; tell me what I must do, what course I must
|
|
take." <I>Thirdly,</I> He is convinced that something must be done, and
|
|
done by him too, in order to his salvation: that it is not a thing of
|
|
course, a thing that will do itself, but a thing about which we must
|
|
strive, wrestle, and take pains. He asks not, "What may be done for
|
|
me?" but, "What shall I do, that, being <I>now in fear and
|
|
trembling,</I> I may <I>work out my salvation?</I>" as Paul speaks in
|
|
his epistle to the church at Philippi, of which this jailer was,
|
|
perhaps with respect to his trembling enquiry here, intimating that he
|
|
must not only ask after salvation (as he had done), but <I>work out his
|
|
salvation with</I> a holy <I>trembling,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+2:12">Phil. ii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Fourthly,</I> He is willing to do any thing: "Tell me what I must
|
|
do, and I am here ready to do it. Sirs, put me into any way, if it be
|
|
but the right way, and a sure way; though narrow, and thorny, and
|
|
uphill, yet I will walk in it." Note, Those who are thoroughly
|
|
convinced of sin, and truly concerned about their salvation, will
|
|
surrender at discretion to Jesus Christ, will give him a blank to write
|
|
what he pleases, will be glad to have Christ upon his own terms, Christ
|
|
upon any terms. <I>Fifthly,</I> He is inquisitive what he should do, is
|
|
desirous to know what he should do, and asks those that were likely to
|
|
tell him. <I>If you will enquire, enquire ye,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:12">Isa. xxi. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that set their faces Zionward must ask the way thither,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+50:5">Jer. l. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
We cannot know it of ourselves, but God has made it known to us by his
|
|
word, has appointed his ministers to assist us in consulting the
|
|
scriptures, and has promised <I>to give his Holy Spirit to those that
|
|
ask him,</I> to be their guide in the way of salvation. <I>Sixthly,</I>
|
|
He <I>brought them out,</I> to put this question to them, that their
|
|
answer might not be by duress or compulsion, but that they might
|
|
prescribe to him, though he was their keeper, with the same liberty as
|
|
they did to others. He brings them out of the dungeon, in hopes they
|
|
will bring him out of a much worse.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) They very readily directed him what he must do,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were always ready to answer such enquiries; though they are cold,
|
|
and sore, and sleepy, they do not adjourn this cause to a more
|
|
convenient time and place, do not bid him come to them the next sabbath
|
|
at their meeting-place by the river side, and they will tell him, but
|
|
they strike while the iron is hot, take him now when he is in a good
|
|
mind, lest the conviction should wear off. Now that God begins to work,
|
|
it is time for them to set in as <I>workers together with God.</I> They
|
|
do not upbraid him with his rude and ill carriage towards them, and his
|
|
going beyond his warrant; all this is forgiven and forgotten, and they
|
|
are as glad to show him the way to heaven as the best friend they have.
|
|
They did not triumph over him, though he trembled; they gave him the
|
|
same directions they did to others, <I>Believe in the Lord Jesus
|
|
Christ.</I> One would think they should have said, "Repent of thy
|
|
abusing us, in the first place." No, that is overlooked and easily
|
|
passed by, if he will but believe in Christ. This is an example to
|
|
ministers to encourage penitents, to meet those that are coming to
|
|
Christ and take them by the hand, not to be hard upon any for
|
|
unkindness done to them, but to seek Christ's honour more than their
|
|
own. Here is the sum of the whole gospel, the covenant of grace in a
|
|
few words: <I>Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
|
|
saved, and thy house.</I> Here is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The happiness promised: "<I>Thou shalt be saved;</I> not only
|
|
rescued from eternal ruin, but brought to eternal life and blessedness.
|
|
Though thou art a <I>poor man,</I> an under-jailer or turnkey, mean and
|
|
of low condition in the world, yet this shall be no bar to thy
|
|
salvation. Though a great sinner, though a persecutor, yet thy heinous
|
|
transgressions shall be all forgiven through the merits of Christ; and
|
|
thy hard embittered heart shall be softened and sweetened by the grace
|
|
of Christ, and thus thou shalt neither die for thy crime nor die of thy
|
|
disease."
|
|
|
|
[2.] The condition required: <I>Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.</I>
|
|
We must admit the record that God hath given in his gospel concerning
|
|
his Son, and assent to it as faithful, and well <I>worthy of all
|
|
acceptation.</I> We must approve the method God has taken of
|
|
reconciling the world to himself by a Mediator; and accept of Christ as
|
|
he is offered to us, and give up ourselves to be ruled and taught and
|
|
saved by him. This is the only way and a sure way to salvation. No
|
|
other way of salvation than by Christ, and no other way of our being
|
|
saved by Christ than by believing in him; and no danger of coming short
|
|
if we take this way, for it is the way that God has appointed, and he
|
|
is faithful that has promised. It is the gospel that is to be preached
|
|
to every creature, <I>He that believes shall be saved.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] The extension of this to his family: <I>Thou shalt be saved, and
|
|
thy house;</I> that is, "God will be in Christ a God to thee and to thy
|
|
seed, as he was to Abraham. Believe, and salvation shall <I>come to thy
|
|
house,</I> as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+19:9">Luke xix. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those of thy house that are infants shall be admitted into the visible
|
|
church with thee, and thereby put into a fair way for salvation; those
|
|
that are grown up shall have the means of salvation brought to them,
|
|
and, be they ever so many, let them believe in Jesus Christ and they
|
|
shall be saved; they are all welcome to Christ upon the same
|
|
terms."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) They proceeded to instruct him and his family in the doctrine of
|
|
Christ
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>):
|
|
|
|
They <I>spoke unto him the word of the Lord.</I> He was, for aught that
|
|
appears, an utter stranger to Christ, and therefore it is requisite he
|
|
should be told who this Jesus is, that he may believe in him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+9:36">John ix. 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, the substance of the matter lying in a little compass, they soon
|
|
told him enough to make his being baptized a reasonable service.
|
|
Christ's ministers should have the word of the Lord so ready to them,
|
|
and so richly dwelling in them, as to be able to give instructions
|
|
offhand to any that desire to hear and receive them, for their
|
|
direction in the way of salvation. They spoke the word not only to him,
|
|
but to <I>all that were in his house.</I> Masters of families should
|
|
take care that all under their charge partake of the means of knowledge
|
|
and grace, and that the word of the Lord be spoken to them; for the
|
|
souls of the poorest servants are as precious as those of their
|
|
masters, and are bought with the same price.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(5.) The jailer and his family were immediately baptized, and thereby
|
|
took upon them the profession of Christianity, submitted to its laws,
|
|
and were admitted to its privileges, upon their declaring solemnly, as
|
|
the eunuch did, that they believed that <I>Jesus Christ is the Son of
|
|
God:</I> He was <I>baptized, he and all his, straightway.</I> Neither
|
|
he nor any of his family desired time to consider whether they should
|
|
come into baptismal bonds or no; nor did Paul and Silas desire time to
|
|
try their sincerity and to consider whether they should baptize them or
|
|
no. But the Spirit of grace worked such a strong faith in them, all on
|
|
a sudden, as superseded further debate; and Paul and Silas knew by the
|
|
Spirit that it was a work of God that was wrought in them: so that
|
|
there was no occasion for demur. This therefore will not justify such
|
|
precipitation in ordinary cases.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(6.) The jailer was hereupon very respectful to Paul and Silas, as one
|
|
that knew not how to make amends for the injury he had done to them,
|
|
much less for the kindness he had received from them: He <I>took them
|
|
the same hour of the night,</I> would not let them lie a minute longer
|
|
in the inner prison; but,
|
|
|
|
[1.] He <I>washed their stripes,</I> to cool them, and abate the smart
|
|
of them; to clean them from the blood which the stripes had fetched. It
|
|
is probable that he bathed them with some healing liquor, as the good
|
|
Samaritan helped the wounded man by <I>pouring in oil and wine.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He <I>brought them into his house,</I> bade them welcome to the
|
|
best room he had, and prepared his best bed for them. Now nothing was
|
|
thought good enough for them, as before nothing bad enough.
|
|
|
|
[3.] He <I>set meat before them,</I> such as his house would afford,
|
|
and they were welcome to it, by which he expressed the welcome which
|
|
his soul gave to the gospel. They had spoken to him the word of the
|
|
Lord, had broken the bread of life to him and his family; and he,
|
|
having reaped so plentifully of their spiritual things, thought it was
|
|
but reasonable that they should reap of his carnal things,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:11">1 Cor. ix. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
What have we houses and tables for but as we have opportunity to serve
|
|
God and his people with them?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(7.) The voice of rejoicing with that of salvation was heard in the
|
|
jailer's house; never was such a truly merry night kept there before:
|
|
<I>He rejoiced, believing in God, with all his house.</I> There was
|
|
none in his house that refused to be baptized, and so made a jar in the
|
|
harmony; but they were unanimous in embracing the gospel, which added
|
|
much to the joy. Or it may be read, <I>He, believing in God, rejoiced
|
|
all the house over;</I> <B><I>panoiki</I></B>--he went to every
|
|
apartment, expressing his joy. Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] His believing in Christ is called believing <I>in God,</I> which
|
|
intimates that Christ is God, and that the design of the gospel is so
|
|
far from being to draw us from God (saying, <I>Go serve other gods,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+13:2">Deut. xiii. 2</A>)
|
|
|
|
that it has a direct tendency to bring us to God.
|
|
|
|
[2.] His faith produced joy. Those that by faith have given up
|
|
themselves to God in Christ as theirs have a great deal of reason to
|
|
rejoice. The eunuch, when he was converted, <I>went on his way
|
|
rejoicing;</I> and here the jailer rejoiced. The conversion of the
|
|
nations is spoken of in the Old Testament as their rejoicing,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+67:4,96:11">Ps. lxvii. 4; xcvi. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
For, <I>believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of
|
|
glory.</I> Believing in Christ is rejoicing in Christ.
|
|
|
|
[3.] He signified his joy to all about him. Out of the abundance of the
|
|
joy in his heart, his mouth spoke to the glory of God, and their
|
|
encouragement who believed in God too. Those who have themselves tasted
|
|
the comforts of religion should do what they can to bring others to the
|
|
taste of them. One cheerful Christian should make many.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac16_40"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul and Silas Released.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants,
|
|
saying, Let those men go.
|
|
36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The
|
|
magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go
|
|
in peace.
|
|
37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly
|
|
uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast <I>us</I> into prison; and
|
|
now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come
|
|
themselves and fetch us out.
|
|
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and
|
|
they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
|
|
39 And they came and besought them, and brought <I>them</I> out, and
|
|
desired <I>them</I> to depart out of the city.
|
|
40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into <I>the house
|
|
of</I> Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted
|
|
them, and departed.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Orders sent for the discharge of Paul and Silas out of prison
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:35,36"><I>v.</I> 35, 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. The magistrates that had so basely abused them the day before gave
|
|
the orders; and their doing it so early, <I>as soon as it was day,</I>
|
|
intimates that either they were sensible the terrific earthquake they
|
|
felt at midnight was intended to plead the cause of their prisoners, or
|
|
their consciences had smitten them for what they had done and made them
|
|
very uneasy. While the persecuted were singing in the stocks, the
|
|
persecutors were full of tossings to and fro upon their beds, through
|
|
anguish of mind, complaining more of the lashes of their consciences
|
|
than the prisoners did of the lashes on their backs, and more in haste
|
|
to give them a discharge than they were to petition for one. Now God
|
|
caused his servants to be <I>pitied of those that had carried them
|
|
captives,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:46">Ps. cvi. 46</A>.
|
|
|
|
The magistrates sent <I>sergeants,</I>
|
|
<B><I>rabdouchous</I></B>--<I>those that had the rods,</I> the vergers,
|
|
the tipstaves, the beadles, those that had been employed in beating
|
|
them, that they might go and ask them forgiveness. The order was,
|
|
<I>Let those men go.</I> It is probable that they designed further
|
|
mischief to them, but God turned their hearts, and, as he had made their
|
|
wrath hitherto to praise him, so the remainder thereof he did restrain,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+76:10">Ps. lxxvi. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. The jailer brought them the news
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The magistrates have sent to let you go.</I> Some think the jailer
|
|
had betimes transmitted an account to the magistrates of what had
|
|
passed in his house that night, and so had obtained this order for the
|
|
discharge of his prisoners: <I>Now therefore depart.</I> Not that he
|
|
was desirous to part with them as his guests, but as his prisoners;
|
|
they shall still be welcome to his house, but he is glad they are at
|
|
liberty from his stocks. God could by his grace as easily have
|
|
converted the magistrates as the jailer, and have brought them to faith
|
|
and baptism; but God hath <I>chosen the poor of this world,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:5">James ii. 5</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Paul's insisting upon the breach of privilege which the magistrates
|
|
had been guilty of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
Paul said to the sergeants, "<I>They have beaten us openly,
|
|
uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison</I> against all
|
|
law and justice, and <I>now do they thrust us out privily,</I> and
|
|
think to make us amends with this for the injury done us? <I>Nay,
|
|
verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us our,</I> and own that
|
|
they have done us wrong." It is probable that the magistrates had some
|
|
intimation that they were Romans, and were made sensible that their
|
|
fury had carried them further than the law would bear them out; and
|
|
that this was the reason why they gave orders for their discharge. Now
|
|
observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Paul did not plead this before he was beaten, though it is probable
|
|
that it might have prevented it, lest he should seem to be afraid of
|
|
suffering for the truth which he had preached. Tully, in one of his
|
|
orations, against Verres, tells of one Ganius, who was ordered by
|
|
Verres to be beaten in Sicily, that all the while he was under the lash
|
|
he cried out nothing but <I>Civis Romanus sum--I am a citizen of
|
|
Rome;</I> Paul did not do so; he had nobler things than this to comfort
|
|
himself with in his affliction.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He did plead it afterwards, to put an honour upon his sufferings and
|
|
upon the cause he suffered for, to let the world know that the
|
|
preachers of the gospel were not such despicable men as they were
|
|
commonly looked upon to be, and that they merited better treatment. He
|
|
did it likewise to mollify the magistrates towards the Christians at
|
|
Philippi, and to gain better treatment for them, and beget in the
|
|
people a better opinion of the Christian religion, when they saw that
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Paul had a fair advantage against their magistrates, might have brought
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his action against them and had them called to an account for what they
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had done, and yet did not take the advantage, which was very much to
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the honour of that worthy name by which he was called. Now here,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) Paul lets them know how many ways they had run themselves into a
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premunire, and that he had law enough to know it.
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[1.] They had <I>beaten</I> those that were Romans; some think that
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Silas was a Roman citizen as well as Paul; others that this does not
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|
necessarily follow. Paul was a citizen, and Silas was his companion.
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Now both the <I>lex Procia</I> and the <I>lex Sempronia</I> did
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|
expressly forbid <I>liberum corpus Romani civis, virgis aut aliis
|
|
verberibus cædi--the free body of a Roman citizen to be beaten
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|
with rods or otherwise.</I> Roman historians give instances of cities
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|
that had their charters taken from them for indignities done to Roman
|
|
citizens; we shall afterwards find Paul making use of this plea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+22:25,26"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 25, 26</A>.
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To tell them they had beaten those who were the messengers of Christ
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|
and the favourites of Heaven would have had no influence upon them; but
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|
to tell them they have abused Roman citizens will put them into a
|
|
fright: so common is it for people to be more afraid of Cæsar's
|
|
wrath than of Christ's. He that affronts a Roman, a gentleman, a
|
|
nobleman, though ignorantly, and through mistake, thinks himself
|
|
concerned to cry <I>Peccavi--I have done wrong,</I> and make his
|
|
submission; but he that persecutes a Christian because he belongs to
|
|
Christ stands to it, and thinks he may do it securely, though God hath
|
|
said, <I>He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of my eye,</I> and
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|
Christ has warned us of the danger of <I>offending his little ones.</I>
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|
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[2.] They had beaten them <I>uncondemned; indicta causa--without a fair
|
|
hearing,</I> had not calmly examined what was said against them, much
|
|
less enquired what they had to say for themselves. It is a universal
|
|
rule of justice, <I>Causâ cognitâ possunt multi absolvi,
|
|
incognitâ nemo condemnari potest--Many may be acquitted in
|
|
consequence of having had a hearing, while without a hearing no one can
|
|
be condemned.</I> Christ's servants would not have been abused as they
|
|
have been if they and their cause might but have had an impartial
|
|
trial.
|
|
|
|
[3.] It was an aggravation of this that they had done it openly, which,
|
|
as it was so much the greater disgrace to the sufferers, so it was the
|
|
bolder defiance to justice and the law.
|
|
|
|
[4.] They had <I>cast them into prison,</I> without showing any cause
|
|
of their commitment, and in an arbitrary manner, by a verbal order.
|
|
|
|
[5.] They now <I>thrust them out privily;</I> they had not indeed the
|
|
impudence to stand by what they had done, but yet had not the honesty
|
|
to own themselves in a fault.</P>
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|
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<P>
|
|
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|
(2.) He insists upon it that they should make them an acknowledgment of
|
|
their error, and give them a public discharge, to make it the more
|
|
honourable, as they had done them a public disgrace, which made that
|
|
the more disgraceful: "<I>Let them come themselves, and fetch us
|
|
out,</I> and give a testimony to our innocency, and that we have done
|
|
nothing worthy of stripes or of bonds." It was not a point of honour
|
|
that Paul stood thus stiffly upon, but a point of justice, and not to
|
|
himself so much as to his cause: "Let them come and stop the clamours
|
|
of the people, by confessing that we are not the troublers of the
|
|
city."</P>
|
|
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<P>
|
|
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|
III. The magistrates' submission, and the reversing of the judgment
|
|
given against Paul and Silas,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:38,39">
|
|
<I>v.</I> 38, 39</A>.
|
|
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|
1. The magistrates were frightened when they were told (though it may
|
|
be they knew it before) that Paul was a Roman. They feared when they
|
|
heard it, lest some of his friends should inform the government of what
|
|
they had done, and they should fare the worse for it. The proceedings
|
|
of persecutors have often been illegal, even by the law of nations, and
|
|
often inhuman, against the law of nature, but always sinful, and
|
|
against God's law.
|
|
|
|
2. They <I>came and besought them</I> not to take advantage of the law
|
|
against them, but to overlook the illegality of what they had done and
|
|
say no more of it: they <I>brought them out</I> of the prison, owning
|
|
that they were wrongfully put into it, and desired them that they would
|
|
peaceably and quietly <I>depart out of the city.</I> Thus Pharaoh and
|
|
his servants, who had set God and Moses at defiance, came to Moses, and
|
|
<I>bowed down themselves to him, saying, Get thee out,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+11:8">Exod. xi. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
God can make the enemies of his people ashamed of their envy and enmity
|
|
to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+26:11">Isa. xxvi. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Jerusalem is sometimes made a burdensome stone to those that heave at
|
|
it, which they would gladly get clear of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+12:3">Zech. xii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet, if the repentance of these magistrates had been sincere, they
|
|
would not have desired them to depart out of their city (as the
|
|
Gadarenes desired to be rid of Christ), but would have courted their
|
|
stay, and begged of them to continue in their city, to show them the
|
|
way of salvation. But many are convinced that Christianity is not to be
|
|
persecuted who yet are not convinced that it ought to be embraced, or
|
|
at least are not persuaded to embrace it. They are compelled to do
|
|
honour to Christ and his servants, <I>to worship before their feet, and
|
|
to know that he has loved them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:9">Rev. iii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and yet do not go so far as to have benefit by Christ, or to come in
|
|
for a share in his love.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The departure of Paul and Silas from Philippi,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
They went out of the prison when they were legally discharged, and not
|
|
till then, though they were illegally committed, and then,
|
|
|
|
1. They took leave of their friends: they <I>went to the house of
|
|
Lydia,</I> where probably the disciples had met to pray for them, and
|
|
there they <I>saw the brethren,</I> or visited them at their respective
|
|
habitations (which was soon done, they were so few); and they
|
|
<I>comforted them,</I> by telling them (saith an ancient Greek
|
|
commentary) what God had done for them, and how he had owned them in
|
|
the prison. They encouraged them to keep close to Christ, and hold fast
|
|
the profession of their faith, whatever difficulties they might meet
|
|
with, assuring them that all would then end well, everlastingly well.
|
|
Young converts should have a great deal said to them to comfort them,
|
|
for <I>the joy of the Lord will be</I> very much <I>their strength.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. They quitted the town: <I>They departed.</I> I wonder they should do
|
|
so; for, now that they had had such an honourable discharge from their
|
|
imprisonment, surely they might have gone on at least for some time in
|
|
their work without danger; but I suppose they went away upon that
|
|
principle of their Master's
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+1:38">Mark i. 38</A>).
|
|
|
|
<I>Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, for
|
|
therefore came I forth.</I> Paul and Silas had an extraordinary call to
|
|
Philippi; and yet, when they have come thither, they see little of the
|
|
fruit of their labours, and are soon driven thence. Yet they did not
|
|
come in vain. Though the beginnings here were <I>small, the latter end
|
|
greatly increased;</I> now they laid the foundation of a church at
|
|
Philippi, which became very eminent, had its bishops and deacons, and
|
|
people that were more generous to Paul than any other church, as
|
|
appears by his epistle to the Philippians,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:1,4:25"><I>ch.</I> i. 1; iv. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let not ministers be discouraged, though they see not the fruit of
|
|
their labours presently; the seed sown seems to be lost under the
|
|
clods, but it shall come up again in a plentiful harvest in due
|
|
time.</P>
|
|
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