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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. XXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have, with a great deal of pleasure, attended the apostle in his
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travels throughout the Gentile nations to preach the gospel, and have
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seen a great harvest of souls gathered in to Christ; there we have seen
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likewise what persecutions he endured; yet still out of them all the
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Lord presently delivered him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+3:11">2 Tim. iii. 11</A>.
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But now we are to attend him to Jerusalem, and there into lasting
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bonds; the days of his service now seem to be over, and nothing to
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remain but days of suffering, days of darkness, for they are many. It
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is a thousand pities that such a workman should be laid aside; yet so
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it is, and we must not only acquiesce, as his friends then did, saying,
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"The will of the Lord be done;" but we must believe, and shall find
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reason to do so, that Paul in the prison, and at the bar, is as truly
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glorifying God, and serving Christ's interest, as Paul in the pulpit
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was. In this chapter we have,
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I. A journal of Paul's voyage from Ephesus to Cæsarea, the next
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sea-port to Jerusalem, some places he touched at, and his landing there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. The struggles he had with his friends at Cæsarea, who
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mightily opposed his going up to Jerusalem, but could not prevail,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:8-14">ver. 8-14</A>.
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III. Paul's journey from Cæsarea to Jerusalem, and the kind
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entertainment which the Christians there gave him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>.
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IV. His compliance with the persuasions of the brethren there, who
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advised him so far to compliment the Jews as to go and purify that it
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might appear he was no such enemy to the Mosaic rites and ceremonies as
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he was reported to be,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:18-26">ver. 18-26</A>.
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V. The turning of this very thing against him by the Jews, and the
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apprehending of him in the temple as a criminal thereupon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:27-30">ver. 27-30</A>.
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VI. The narrow escape he had of being pulled to pieces by the rabble,
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and the taking of him into fair and legal custody by the chief captain,
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who permitted him to speak for himself to the people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:31-40">ver. 31-40</A>.
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And so we have him made a prisoner, and shall never have him otherwise
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to the end of the history of this book.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ac21_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_7"> </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 Voyage to Cæsarea; Paul's Arrival at Ptolemais.</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 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and
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had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the
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<I>day</I> following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
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2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went
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aboard, and set forth.
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3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left
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hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the
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ship was to unlade her burden.
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4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said
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to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to
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Jerusalem.
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5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went
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our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and
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children, till <I>we were</I> out of the city: and we kneeled down on
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the shore, and prayed.
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6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship;
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and they returned home again.
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7 And when we had finished <I>our</I> course from Tyre, we came to
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Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We may observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. How much ado Paul had to get clear from Ephesus, intimated in the
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first words of the chapter, <I>after we had gotten from them,</I> that
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is, were drawn from them as by violence. It was a force put upon both
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sides; Paul was loth to leave them, and they were loth to part with
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him, and yet there was no remedy, but so it must be. When good people
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are taken away by death, they are, as it were, gotten from their
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friends here below, who struggled hard to have detained them if
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possible.</P>
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<P>
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II. What a prosperous voyage they had thence. Without any difficulty,
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<I>they came with a straight course,</I> by direct sailing, <I>to
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Coos,</I> a famous Grecian island,--<I>the next day to Rhodes,</I>
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talked of for the Colossus there,--<I>thence to Patara,</I> a famous
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port, the metropolis of Lycia
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>);
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here they very happily <I>found a ship sailing over into Phenicia,</I>
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the very course they were steering,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Providence must be acknowledged when things happen thus opportunely,
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and we are favoured by some little circumstances that contribute to the
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expediting of our affairs; and we must say, <I>It is God that maketh
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our way perfect.</I> This ship that was bound for Phenicia (that is,
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Tyre) they took the convenience of, <I>went on board, and set sail</I>
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for Tyre. In this voyage <I>they discovered Cyprus,</I> the island that
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Barnabas was of, and which he took care of, and therefore Paul did not
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visit it, but <I>we left it on the left hand</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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<I>sailed</I> upon the coast of <I>Syria, and</I> at length <I>landed
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at Tyre,</I> that celebrated mart of the nations, so it had been, but
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was now reduced; yet something of a trade it had still, <I>for there
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the ship was to unlade her burden,</I> and did so.</P>
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<P>
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III. The halt that Paul made at Tyre; when he had arrived there, he was
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upon the coast of the land of Israel, and found now that he could
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compass the remainder of his journey within the time he had fixed.</P>
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<P>
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1. <I>At Tyre he found disciples,</I> some that had embraced the
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gospel, and professed the Christian faith. Observe, Wherever Paul came,
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he enquired what disciples were there, found them out, and associated
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with them; for we know what is the usage with birds of a feather. When
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Christ was upon earth, though he went sometimes into the coast of Tyre,
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yet he never went thither to preach the gospel there; nor did he think
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fit to afford to Tyre and Sidon the advantages which Chorazin and
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Bethsaida had, though he knew that if they had had them they would have
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made a better improvement of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+10:13,14">Luke x. 13, 14</A>.
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But, after the enlarging of the gospel-commission, Christ was preached
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at Tyre, and had disciples there; and to this, some think, that
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prophecy concerning Tyre had reference
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:18">Isa. xxiii. 18</A>),
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<I>Her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. Paul, <I>finding those disciples at Tyre, tarried there seven
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days,</I> they urging him to stay with them as long as he could. He
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staid seven days at Troas
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:6"><I>ch.</I> xx. 6</A>),
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and here so many days at Tyre, that he might be sure to spend one
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Lord's day with them, and so might have an opportunity of preaching
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publicly among them; for it is the desire of good men to do good
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wherever they come, and where we find disciples we may either benefit
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them or be benefited by them.</P>
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<P>
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3. The disciples at Tyre were endowed with such gifts that they could
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by the Spirit foretel the troubles Paul would meet with at Jerusalem;
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for <I>the Holy Ghost witnessed it in every city,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:23"><I>ch.</I> xx. 23</A>.
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Being a thing that would be so much talked of when it came to pass, God
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saw fit to have it much prophesied of before, that people's faith,
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instead of being offended, might be confirmed. And withal they were
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endowed with such graces that foreseeing his troubles, out of love to
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him and concern for the church, especially the churches of the
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Gentiles, that could ill spare him, they begged of him <I>that he would
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not go up to Jerusalem,</I> for they hoped the decree was conditional:
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If he go up, he will come into trouble there; as the prediction to
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David <I>that the men of Keilah will deliver him up</I> (that is, if he
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<I>venture himself with them</I>); and therefore they said to him,
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<I>by the Spirit, that he should not go up,</I> because they concluded
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it would be most for the glory of God that he should continue at
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liberty; and it was not at all their fault to think so, and
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consequently to dissuade him; but it was their mistake, for his trial
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would be for the glory of God and the furtherance of the gospel, and he
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knew it; and the importunity that was used with him, to dissuade him
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from it, renders his pious and truly heroic resolution the more
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illustrious.</P>
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<P>
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4. The disciples of Tyre, though they were none of Paul's converts, yet
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showed a very great respect to Paul, whose usefulness in the church
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they had heard so much of when he departed from Tyre. Though they had
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had but seven days' acquaintance with him, yet, as if he had been some
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great man, they all came together, <I>with their wives and
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children,</I> solemnly to take leave of him, to beg his blessing, and
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to bring him as far on his way as the sea would permit them. Note,
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(1.) We should pay respect, not only to our own ministers, that are
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over us in the Lord, and admonish us, and, for their work's sake among
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us, <I>esteem them highly in love,</I> but we must, as there is
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occasion, testify our love and respect to all the faithful ministers of
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Christ, both for his sake whose ministers they are, and for their
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work's sake among others.
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(2.) We must, in a particular manner, honour those whom God hath
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singularly honoured, by making them eminently useful in their
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generation.
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(3.) It is good to train up children in a respect to good people and
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good ministers. This was particularly remarkable at Tyre, which we have
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not met with any where else, that they brought their wives and children
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to attend Paul, to do him the more honour and to receive benefit by his
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instructions and prayers; and as angry notice was taken of the children
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of the idolaters of Bethel, that mocked a prophet, so, no doubt,
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gracious notice was taken of the children of the disciples at Tyre,
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that honoured an apostle, as Christ accepted the hosannas of the little
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children.
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(4.) We should be good husbands of our opportunities, and make the
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utmost we can of them for the good of our souls. <I>They brought Paul
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on his way,</I> that they might have so much the more of his company
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and his prayers. Some refer us to
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+45:12">Ps. xlv. 12</A>,
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as a prediction of this, <I>The daughter of Tyre shall be there with a
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gift;</I> for it is probable that they made some presents to Paul at
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parting, as usual to our friends that are going to sea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:10"><I>ch.</I> xxviii. 10</A>.</P>
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<P>
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5. They parted with prayer, as Paul and the Ephesians elders had done,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:36"><I>ch.</I> xx. 36</A>.
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Thus Paul has taught us by example, as well as rule, to pray always, to
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pray without ceasing. <I>We kneeled down on the shore and prayed.</I>
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Paul prayed for himself, prayed for them, prayed for all the churches;
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as he was much in prayer so he was mighty in prayer. They prayed upon
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the shore, that their last farewell might be sanctified and sweetened
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with prayer. Those that are going to sea should, when they quit the
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shore, commit themselves to God by prayer, and put themselves under his
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protection, as those that hope, even when they leave the <I>terra
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firma,</I> to find firm footing for their faith in the providence and
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promise of God. They kneeled down on the shore, though we may suppose
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it either stony or dirty, and there prayed. Paul would <I>that men
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should pray every where,</I> and so he did himself; and, where he
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lifted up his prayer, he bowed his knees. Mr. George Herbert says,
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<I>Kneeling never spoiled silk stockings.</I></P>
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<P>
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6. They parted at last
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>When we had taken our leave one of another,</I> with the most
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affectionate embraces and expressions of love and grief, <I>we took
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ship</I> to be gone, and <I>they returned home again,</I> each
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complaining that this is a parting world. Observe how they disposed of
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themselves: "We, that had a journey before us, took ship, thankful that
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we had a ship to carry us; and those, who had no occasions to call them
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abroad returned home again, thankful that they had a home to go to."
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<I>Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out, and Issachar in thy tents.</I>
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Paul left his blessing behind him with those that returned home, and
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those that staid sent their prayers after those that went to sea.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Their arrival at Ptolemais, which was not far from Tyre
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>):
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<I>We came to Ptolemais,</I> which some think is the same place with
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Accho, which we find in the tribe of Asher,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:31">Judg. i. 31</A>.
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Paul begged leave to go ashore there, <I>to salute the brethren,</I> to
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enquire of their state, and to testify his good will to them; though he
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could not stay long with them, yet he would not pass by them without
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paying his respects to them, and he <I>abode with them one day,</I>
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perhaps it was a Lord's day; better a short stay than no visit.</P>
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<A NAME="Ac21_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_14"> </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>The Prophecy of Agabus; Paul's Adherence to His Resolution to Visit Jerusalem.</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>8 And the next <I>day</I> we that were of Paul's company departed,
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and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip
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the evangelist, which was <I>one</I> of the seven; and abode with him.
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9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did
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prophesy.
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10 And as we tarried <I>there</I> many days, there came down from
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Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
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11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and
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bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy
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Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth
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this girdle, and shall deliver <I>him</I> into the hands of the
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Gentiles.
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12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that
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place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
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13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine
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heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at
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Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
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14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The
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will of the Lord be done.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here Paul and his company arrived at length at Cæsarea, where
|
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he designed to make some stay, it being the place where the gospel was
|
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first preached to the Gentiles, and <I>the Holy Ghost fell upon
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them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:1,44"><I>ch.</I> x. 1, 44</A>.
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Now here we are told,</P>
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<P>
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I. Who it was that entertained Paul and his company <I>at
|
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Cæsarea.</I> He seldom had occasion to go to a public house, but,
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|
wherever he came, some friend or other took him in, and bade him
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welcome. Observe, those that had sailed together parted when the voyage
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was accomplished, according as their business was. "Those that were
|
|
concerned in the cargo staid where the ship was <I>to unlade her
|
|
burden</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
others, when they came to Ptolemais, went as their occasions led them;
|
|
but we that were of Paul's company went where he went, and came to
|
|
Cæsarea." Those that travel together through this world will separate
|
|
at death, and then it will appear who are of Paul's company and who are
|
|
not. Now at Cæsarea.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. They were entertained by Philip the evangelist, whom we left at
|
|
Cæsarea many years ago, after he had baptized the eunuch
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:40"><I>ch.</I> viii. 40</A>),
|
|
|
|
and there we now find him again.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He was originally a deacon, one of the seven that were chosen to
|
|
serve tables,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+6:5"><I>ch.</I> vi. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He was now and had long been an evangelist, one that went about to
|
|
plant and water churches, as the apostles did, and gave himself, as
|
|
they did, <I>to the word and prayer;</I> thus, having <I>used the
|
|
office of a deacon well, he purchased to himself a good degree;</I>
|
|
and, having been <I>faithful in a few things, was made ruler over many
|
|
things.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) He had a house at Cæsarea, fit to entertain Paul and all his
|
|
company, and he bade him and them very welcome to it; <I>We entered
|
|
into the house of Philip the evangelist, and we abode with him.</I>
|
|
Thus does it become Christians and ministers, according as their
|
|
ability is, to <I>use hospitality one to another, without grudging,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:9">1 Pet. iv. 9</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. This Philip <I>had four maiden daughters, who did prophesy,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
It intimates that they prophesied of Paul's troubles at Jerusalem, as
|
|
others had done, and dissuaded him from going; or perhaps they
|
|
prophesied for his comfort and encouragement, in reference to the
|
|
difficulties that were before him. Here was a further accomplishment of
|
|
that prophecy,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joe+2:28">Joel ii. 28</A>,
|
|
|
|
of such a plentiful pouring out of the Spirit upon all flesh that their
|
|
<I>sons and their daughters should prophesy,</I> that is, foretel
|
|
things to come.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. A plain and full prediction of the sufferings of Paul, by a noted
|
|
prophet,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. Paul and his company tarried many days at Cæsarea, perhaps
|
|
Cornelius was yet living there, and (though Philip lodged them) yet
|
|
might be many ways kind to them, and induce them to stay there. What
|
|
cause Paul saw to tarry so long there, and to make so little haste at
|
|
the latter end of his journey to Jerusalem, when he seemed so much in
|
|
haste at the beginning of it, we cannot tell; but we are sure he did
|
|
not stay either there or any where else to be idle; he measured his
|
|
time by days, and numbered them.
|
|
|
|
2. <I>Agabus the prophet came to Cæsarea from Judea;</I> this was
|
|
he of whom we read before, who came <I>from Jerusalem to Antioch,</I>
|
|
to foretel a general famine,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+11:27,28"><I>ch.</I> xi. 27, 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how God dispenseth his gifts variously. To Paul was given the word
|
|
of wisdom and knowledge, as an apostle, by the Spirit, and the gifts of
|
|
healing; to Agabus, and to Philip's daughters, was given prophecy, by
|
|
the same Spirit--the foretelling of things to come, which came to pass
|
|
according to the prediction. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:8,10">1 Cor. xii. 8, 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
So that that which was the most eminent gift of the Spirit under the
|
|
Old Testament, the foretelling of things to come, was under the New
|
|
Testament quite outshone by other gifts, and was bestowed upon those
|
|
that were of less note in the church. It should seem as if Agabus came
|
|
on purpose to Cæsarea, to meet Paul with this prophetic
|
|
intelligence.
|
|
|
|
3. He foretold Paul's bonds at Jerusalem,
|
|
|
|
(1.) By a sign, as the prophets of old did, Isaiah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+20:3"><I>ch.</I> xx. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
Jeremiah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+13:1,27:2"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 1; xxvii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
Ezekiel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+4:1,12:3"><I>ch.</I> iv. 1; xii. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
and many others. <I>Agabus took Paul's girdle,</I> when he laid it by,
|
|
or perhaps took it from about him, and with it <I>bound</I> first
|
|
<I>his own hands, and then his own feet,</I> or perhaps bound his hands
|
|
and feet together; this was designed both to confirm the prophecy (it
|
|
was as sure to be done as if it were done already) and to affect those
|
|
about him with it, because that which we see usually makes a greater
|
|
impression upon us than that which we only hear of.
|
|
|
|
(2.) By an explication of the sign: <I>Thus saith the Holy Ghost,</I>
|
|
the Spirit of prophecy, <I>So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man
|
|
that owneth this girdle, and,</I> as they dealt with his Master
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:18,19">Matt. xx. 18, 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles,</I> as the Jews in
|
|
other places had all along endeavoured to do, by accusing him to the
|
|
Roman governors. Paul had this express warning given him of his
|
|
troubles, that he might prepare for them, and that when they came they
|
|
might be no surprise nor terror to him; the general notice given us
|
|
<I>that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of
|
|
God</I> should be of the same use to us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The great importunity which his friends used with him to dissuade
|
|
him from going forward to Jerusalem,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Not only those of that place, but we that were of Paul's company, and
|
|
among the rest Luke himself, who had heard this often before, and seen
|
|
Paul's resolution notwithstanding, besought him with tears that he
|
|
would not go up to Jerusalem, but steer his course some other way."
|
|
Now,
|
|
|
|
1. Here appeared a commendable affection to Paul, and a value for him,
|
|
upon account of his great usefulness in the church. Good men that are
|
|
very active sometimes need to be dissuaded from overworking themselves,
|
|
and good men that are very bold need to be dissuaded from exposing
|
|
themselves too far. <I>The Lord is for the body,</I> and so we must be.
|
|
|
|
2. Yet there was a mixture of infirmity, especially in those of Paul's
|
|
company, who knew he undertook this journey by divine direction, and
|
|
had seen with what resolution he had before broken through the like
|
|
opposition. But we see in them the infirmity incident to us all; when
|
|
we see trouble at a distance, and have only a general notice of it, we
|
|
can make light of it; but when it comes near we begin to shrink, and
|
|
draw back. <I>Now that it toucheth thee thou art troubled,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+4:5">Job iv. 5</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The holy bravery and intrepidity with which Paul persisted in his
|
|
resolution,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He reproves them for dissuading him. Here is a quarrel of love on
|
|
both sides, and very sincere and strong affections clashing with each
|
|
other. They love him dearly, and therefore oppose his resolution; he
|
|
loves them dearly, and therefore chides them for opposing it: <I>What
|
|
mean you to weep and to break my heart?</I> They were an offence to
|
|
him, as Peter was to Christ, when, in a like case, he said, <I>Master,
|
|
spare thyself.</I> Their weeping about him <I>broke his heart.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) It was a temptation to him, it shocked him, it began to weaken
|
|
and slacken his resolution, and caused him to entertain thoughts of
|
|
tacking about: "I know I am appointed to suffering, and you ought to
|
|
animate and encourage me, and to say that which will strengthen my
|
|
heart; but you, with your tears, break my heart, and discourage me.
|
|
What do you mean by doing thus? Has not our Master told us to take up
|
|
our cross? And would you have me to avoid mine?"
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was a trouble to him that they should so earnestly press him to
|
|
that in which he could not gratify them without wronging his
|
|
conscience. Paul was of a very tender spirit. As he was much in tears
|
|
himself, so he had a compassionate regard to the tears of his friends;
|
|
they made a great impression upon him, and would bring him almost to
|
|
yield to any thing. But now it breaks his heart, when he is under a
|
|
necessity of denying the request of his weeping friends. It was an
|
|
unkind kindness, a cruel pity, thus to torment him with their
|
|
dissuasions, and to add affliction to his grief. When our friends are
|
|
called out to sufferings, we shall show our love rather by comforting
|
|
them than by sorrowing for them. But observe, These Christians at
|
|
Cæsarea, if they could have foreseen the particulars of that
|
|
event, the general notice of which they received with so much
|
|
heaviness, would have been better reconciled to it for their own sakes;
|
|
for, when Paul was made a prisoner at Jerusalem, he was presently sent
|
|
to Cæsarea, the very place where he now was
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+23:33"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
and there he continued at least <I>two years</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+24:27"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he was a prisoner at large, as appears
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+24:23"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
orders being given that he should have liberty to go among his friends,
|
|
and his friends to come to him; so that the church at Cæsarea had
|
|
much more of Paul's company and help when he was imprisoned than they
|
|
could have had if he had been at liberty. That which we oppose, as
|
|
thinking it to operate much against us, may be overruled by the
|
|
providence of God to work for us, which is a reason why we should
|
|
follow providence, and not fear it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He repeats his resolution to go forward, notwithstanding: "<I>What
|
|
mean you to weep thus? I am ready</I> to suffer whatever is appointed
|
|
for me. I am fully determined to go, whatever comes of it, and
|
|
therefore it is to no purpose for you to oppose it. I am willing to
|
|
suffer, and therefore why are you unwilling that I should suffer? Am
|
|
not I nearest myself, and fittest to judge for myself? If the trouble
|
|
found me unready, it would be a trouble indeed, and you might well weep
|
|
at the thoughts of it. But, blessed be God, it does not. It is very
|
|
welcome to me, and therefore should not be such a terror to you. For my
|
|
part, <I>I am ready,</I>" <B><I>etoimos echo</I></B>--<I>I have myself
|
|
in a readiness,</I> as soldiers for an engagement. "I expect trouble, I
|
|
count upon it, it will be no surprise to me. I was told at first
|
|
<I>what great things I must suffer,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:16"><I>ch.</I> ix. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
"I am <I>prepared</I> for it, by a clear conscience, a firm confidence
|
|
in God, a holy contempt of the world and the body, a lively faith in
|
|
Christ, and a joyful hope of eternal life. I can <I>bid it welcome,</I>
|
|
as we do a friend that we look for, and have made preparation for. I
|
|
can, through grace, not only bear it, but rejoice in it." Now,
|
|
|
|
(1.) See how far his resolution extends: You are told that I must be
|
|
bound at Jerusalem, and you would have me keep away for fear of this. I
|
|
tell you, "<I>I am ready not only to be bound, but,</I> if the will of
|
|
God be so, <I>to die at Jerusalem;</I> not only to lose my liberty, but
|
|
to lose my life." It is our wisdom to think of the worst that may befal
|
|
us, and to prepare accordingly, that we may <I>stand complete in all
|
|
the will of God.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) See what it is that carries him out thus, that makes him willing
|
|
to suffer and die: it is <I>for the name of the Lord Jesus.</I> All
|
|
that a man has will he give for his life; but life itself will Paul
|
|
give for the service and honour of the name of Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The patient acquiescence of his friends in his resolution,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. They submitted to the wisdom of a good man. They had carried the
|
|
matter as far as they could with decency; but, "<I>when he would not be
|
|
persuaded, we ceased</I> our importunity. Paul knows best his own
|
|
mind, and what he has to do, and it becomes us to leave it to himself,
|
|
and not to censure him for what he does, nor to say he is rash, and
|
|
wilful, and humoursome, and has a spirit of contradiction, as some
|
|
people are apt to judge of those that will not do just as they would
|
|
have them do. No doubt, Paul has a good reason for his resolution,
|
|
though he sees cause to keep it to himself, and God has gracious ends
|
|
to serve in confirming him in it." It is good manners not to over-press
|
|
those in their own affairs that will not be persuaded.
|
|
|
|
2. They submitted to the will of a good God: <I>We ceased,</I> saying,
|
|
<I>The will of the Lord be done.</I> They did not resolve his
|
|
resolution into his stubbornness, but into his willingness to suffer,
|
|
and God's will that he should. <I>Father in heaven, thy will be
|
|
done,</I> as it is a rule to our prayers and to our practice, so it is
|
|
to our patience. This may refer,
|
|
|
|
(1.) To Paul's present firmness; he is inflexible, and unpersuadable,
|
|
and in this they see the will of the Lord done. "It is he that has
|
|
wrought this fixed resolution in him, and therefore we acquiesce in
|
|
it." Note, In the turning of the hearts of our friends or ministers,
|
|
this way or that way (and it may be quite another way than we could
|
|
wish), we should eye the hand of God, and submit to that.
|
|
|
|
(2.) To his approaching sufferings: "If there be no remedy, but Paul
|
|
will run himself into bonds, the will of the Lord Jesus be done. We
|
|
have done all that we could do on our parts to prevent it, and now we
|
|
leave it to God, we leave it to Christ, to whom the Father has
|
|
committed all judgment, and therefore we do, not as we will, but as he
|
|
will." Note, When we see trouble coming, and particularly that of our
|
|
ministers' being silenced or removed from us, it becomes us to say,
|
|
<I>The will of the Lord be done.</I> God is wise, and knows how to make
|
|
all work for good, and therefore "welcome his holy will." Not only,
|
|
"The will of the Lord must be done, and there is no remedy;" but, "Let
|
|
the will of the Lord be done, for his will is his wisdom, and he doeth
|
|
all according to the counsel of it; let him therefore do with us and
|
|
ours as seemeth good in his eyes." When a trouble is come, this must
|
|
allay our griefs, that the will of the Lord is done; when we see it
|
|
coming, this must silence our fears, that the will of the Lord shall be
|
|
done, to which we must say, <I>Amen,</I> let it be done.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac21_26"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul's Visit to Jerusalem; Paul's Conformity to the Jewish Law.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up
|
|
to Jerusalem.
|
|
16 There went with us also <I>certain</I> of the disciples of
|
|
Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old
|
|
disciple, with whom we should lodge.
|
|
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us
|
|
gladly.
|
|
18 And the <I>day</I> following Paul went in with us unto James; and
|
|
all the elders were present.
|
|
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what
|
|
things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
|
|
20 And when they heard <I>it,</I> they glorified the Lord, and said
|
|
unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there
|
|
are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
|
|
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the
|
|
Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that
|
|
they ought not to circumcise <I>their</I> children, neither to walk
|
|
after the customs.
|
|
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come
|
|
together: for they will hear that thou art come.
|
|
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men
|
|
which have a vow on them;
|
|
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges
|
|
with them, that they may shave <I>their</I> heads: and all may know
|
|
that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee,
|
|
are nothing; but <I>that</I> thou thyself also walkest orderly, and
|
|
keepest the law.
|
|
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written
|
|
<I>and</I> concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that
|
|
they keep themselves from <I>things</I> offered to idols, and from
|
|
blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
|
|
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself
|
|
with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment
|
|
of the days of purification, until that an offering should be
|
|
offered for every one of them.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Paul's journey to Jerusalem from Cæsarea, and the company that went
|
|
along with him.
|
|
|
|
1. They <I>took up their carriages,</I> their bag and baggage, and as
|
|
it should seem, like poor travellers or soldiers, were their own
|
|
porters; so little had they of change of raiment. <I>Omnia mea mecum
|
|
porto--My property is all about me.</I> Some think they had with them
|
|
the money that was collected in the churches of Macedonia and Achaia
|
|
for the poor saints at Jerusalem. If they could have persuaded Paul to
|
|
go some other way, they would gladly have gone along with him; but if,
|
|
notwithstanding their dissuasive, he will go to Jerusalem, they do no
|
|
say, "Let him go by himself then;" but as Thomas, in a like case, when
|
|
Christ would go into danger at Jerusalem, <I>Let us go and die with
|
|
him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:16">John xi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their resolution to cleave to Paul was like that of Ittai to cleave to
|
|
David
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+15:21">2 Sam. xv. 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>In what place my Lord the king shall be, whether in death or life,
|
|
there also will thy servant be.</I> Thus Paul's boldness emboldened
|
|
them.
|
|
|
|
2. Certain of the disciples of Cæsarea went along with them.
|
|
Whether they designed to go however, and took this opportunity of going
|
|
with so much good company, or whether they went on purpose to see if
|
|
they could do Paul any service and if possible prevent his trouble, or
|
|
at least minister to him in it, does not appear. The less while that
|
|
Paul is likely to enjoy his liberty the more industrious they are to
|
|
improve every opportunity of conversation with him. Elisha kept close
|
|
to Elijah when he knew the time was at hand that he should be taken up.
|
|
|
|
3. They brought with them an honest old gentleman that had a house of
|
|
his own at Jerusalem, in which he would gladly entertain Paul and his
|
|
company, <I>one Mnason of Cyprus</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>with whom we should
|
|
lodge.</I> Such a great concourse of people there was to the feast that
|
|
it was a hard matter to get lodgings; the public houses would be taken
|
|
up by those of the better sort, and it was looked upon as a scandalous
|
|
thing for those that had private houses to let their rooms out at those
|
|
times, but they must freely accommodate strangers with them. Every one
|
|
then would choose his friends to be his guests, and Mnason took Paul
|
|
and his company to be his lodgers; though he had heard what trouble
|
|
Paul was likely to come into, which might bring those that entertained
|
|
him into trouble too, yet he shall be welcome to him, whatever comes of
|
|
it. This Mnason is called an <I>old disciple</I>--a disciple <I>from
|
|
the beginning;</I> some think, one of the seventy disciples of Christ,
|
|
or one of the first converts after the pouring out of the Spirit, or
|
|
one of the first that was converted by the preaching of the gospel in
|
|
Cyprus,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:4"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
However it was, it seems he had been long a Christian, and was now in
|
|
years. Note, It is an honourable thing to be an old disciple of Jesus
|
|
Christ, to have been enabled by the grace of God to continue long in a
|
|
course of duty, stedfast in the faith, and growing more and more
|
|
prudent and experienced to a good old age. And with these old disciples
|
|
one would choose to lodge; for the multitude of their years will teach
|
|
wisdom.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Paul's welcome at Jerusalem.
|
|
|
|
1. Many of the brethren there <I>received him gladly,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
As soon as they had notice that he was come to town, they went to his
|
|
lodgings at Mnason's house, and congratulated him on his safe arrival,
|
|
and told him they were glad to see him, and invited him to their
|
|
houses, accounting it an honour to be known to one that was such an
|
|
eminent servant of Christ. Streso observes that the word here used
|
|
concerning the welcome they gave to the apostles, <B><I>asmenos
|
|
apodechein,</I></B> is used concerning the welcome of the apostles'
|
|
doctrine,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:41"><I>ch.</I> ii. 41</A>.
|
|
|
|
They <I>gladly received his word.</I> We think if we had Paul among us
|
|
we should gladly receive him; but it is a question whether we should or
|
|
no it, having his doctrine, we do not gladly receive that.
|
|
|
|
2. They paid a visit to James and the elders of the church, at a
|
|
church-meeting
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>The day following, Paul went unto James,</I> and took us with him,
|
|
that were his companions, to introduce us into acquaintance with the
|
|
church at Jerusalem." It should seem that James was now the only
|
|
apostle that was resident at Jerusalem; the rest had dispersed
|
|
themselves to preach the gospel in other places. But still they
|
|
forecasted to have an apostle at Jerusalem, perhaps sometimes one and
|
|
sometimes another, because there was a great resort thither from all
|
|
parts. James was now upon the spot, and all the elders or presbyters
|
|
that were the ordinary pastors of the church, both to preach and
|
|
govern, were present. Paul saluted them all, paid his respects to them,
|
|
enquired concerning their welfare, and gave them the right hand of
|
|
fellowship. He <I>saluted them,</I> that is, he wished them all health
|
|
and happiness, and prayed to God to bless them. The proper
|
|
signification of salutation is, wishing salvation to you: <I>salve,</I>
|
|
or <I>salus tibi sit;</I> like <I>peace be unto you.</I> And such
|
|
mutual salutations, or good wishes, very well become Christians, in
|
|
token of their love to each other and joint regard to God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The account they had from him of his ministry among the Gentiles,
|
|
and their satisfaction in it.
|
|
|
|
1. He gave them a narrative of the success of the gospel in those
|
|
countries where he had been employed, knowing it would be very
|
|
acceptable to them to hear of the enlarging of Christ's kingdom: <I>He
|
|
declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by
|
|
his ministry,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe how modestly he speaks, not what things he had wrought (he was
|
|
but the instrument), but what God had wrought by his ministry. It was
|
|
<I>not I, but the grace of God which was with me.</I> He planted and
|
|
watered, but God gave the increase. He declared it particularly, that
|
|
the grace of God might appear the more illustrious in the circumstances
|
|
of his success. Thus David will tell others what God has done for his
|
|
soul
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+66:16">Ps. lxvi. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
as Paul here what God has done by his hand, and both that their friends
|
|
may help them to be thankful.
|
|
|
|
2. Hence they took occasion to give praise to God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When they heart it, they glorified the Lord.</I> Paul ascribed it
|
|
all to God, and to God they gave the praise of it. They did not break
|
|
out into high encomiums of Paul, but left it to his Master to say to
|
|
him, <I>Well done, good and faithful servant;</I> but they gave glory
|
|
to the grace of God, which was extended to the Gentiles. Note, The
|
|
conversion of sinners ought to be the matter of our joy and praise as
|
|
it is of the angels'. God had honoured Paul more than any of them, in
|
|
making his usefulness more extensive, yet they did not envy him, nor
|
|
were they jealous of his growing reputation, but, on the contrary,
|
|
<I>glorified the Lord.</I> And they could not do more to encourage Paul
|
|
to go on cheerfully in his work than to glorify God for his success in
|
|
it; for, if God be praised, Paul is pleased.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The request of James and the elders of the church at Jerusalem to
|
|
Paul, or their advice rather, that he would gratify the believing Jews
|
|
by showing some compliance with the ceremonial law, and appearing
|
|
publicly in the temple to offer sacrifice, which was not a thing in
|
|
itself sinful; for the ceremonial law, though it was by no means to be
|
|
imposed upon the Gentile converts (as the false teachers would have it,
|
|
and thereby endeavoured to subvert the gospel), yet it was not become
|
|
unlawful as yet to those that had been bred up in the observance of it,
|
|
but were far from expecting justification by it. It was dead, but not
|
|
buried; dead, but not yet deadly. And, being not sinful, they thought
|
|
it was a piece of prudence in Paul to conform thus far. Observe the
|
|
counsel they give to Paul herein, not as having authority over him, but
|
|
an affection for him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. They desired him to take notice of the great numbers there were of
|
|
the Jewish converts: <I>Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of the
|
|
Jews there are who believe.</I> They called him brother, for they
|
|
looked upon him as a joint-commissioner with them in gospel-work.
|
|
Though they were of the circumcision and he the apostle of the
|
|
Gentiles, though they were conformists and he a nonconformist, yet they
|
|
were brethren, and owned the relation. Thou hast been in some of our
|
|
assemblies, and seest how numerous they are: <I>how many myriads of
|
|
Jews believe.</I> The word signifies, not thousands, but <I>ten
|
|
thousands.</I> Even among the Jews, who were most prejudiced against
|
|
the gospel, yet there were great multitudes that received it; for the
|
|
grace of God can break down the strongest holds of Satan. The number of
|
|
the names at first was but one hundred and twenty, yet now many
|
|
thousands. Let none therefore despise the day of small things; for,
|
|
though the beginning be small, God can make the latter end greatly to
|
|
increase. Hereby it appeared that God had not quite cast away his
|
|
people the Jews, for among them there was a remnant, an election, that
|
|
obtained (see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:1,5,7">Rom. xi. 1, 5, 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>many thousands that believed.</I> And this account which they could
|
|
give to Paul of the success of the gospel among the Jews was, no doubt,
|
|
as grateful to Paul as the account which he gave them of the conversion
|
|
of the Gentiles was to them; for his heart's desire and prayer to God
|
|
for the Jews was <I>that they might be saved.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. They informed him of a prevailing infirmity these believing Jews
|
|
laboured under, of which they could not yet be cured: <I>They are all
|
|
zealous of the law.</I> They believe in Christ as the true Messiah,
|
|
they rest upon his righteousness and submit to his government; but they
|
|
know the law of Moses was of God, they have found spiritual benefit in
|
|
their attendance on the institutions of it, and therefore they can by
|
|
no means think of parting with it, no, nor of growing cold to it. And
|
|
perhaps they urged Christ's being <I>made under the law,</I> and
|
|
observing it (which was designed to be our deliverance from the law),
|
|
as a reason for their continuance under it. This was a great weakness
|
|
and mistake, to be so fond of the shadows when the substance was come,
|
|
to keep their necks under a yoke of bondage when Christ had come to
|
|
make them free. But see,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The power of education and long usage, and especially of a
|
|
ceremonial law.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The charitable allowance that must be made in consideration of
|
|
these. These Jews that believed were not therefore disowned and
|
|
rejected as no Christians because they were for the law, nay, were
|
|
zealous for it, while it was only in their own practice, and they did
|
|
not impose it upon others. Their being zealous of the law was capable
|
|
of a good construction, which charity would put upon it; and it was
|
|
capable of a good excuse, considering what they were brought up in, and
|
|
among whom they lived.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. They gave him to understand that these Jews, who were so zealous of
|
|
the law, were ill-affected to him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Paul himself, though as faithful a servant as any Christ ever had, yet
|
|
could not get the good word of all that belonged to Christ's family:
|
|
"<I>They are informed of thee</I> (and form their opinion of thee
|
|
accordingly) that thou not only dost not teach the Gentiles to observe
|
|
the law, as some would have had thee (we have prevailed with them to
|
|
drop that), but <I>dost teach all the Jews who are</I> dispersed
|
|
<I>among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, not to circumcise their
|
|
children nor to walk after the customs</I> of our nation, which were of
|
|
divine appointment, so far as they might be observed even among the
|
|
Gentiles, at a distance from the temple,--not to observe the fasts and
|
|
feasts of the church, not to wear their phylacteries, nor abstain from
|
|
unclean meats." Now,
|
|
|
|
(1.) It was true that Paul preached the abrogation of the law of Moses,
|
|
taught them that it was impossible to be justified by it, and therefore
|
|
we are not bound up any longer to the observance of it. But,
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was false that he taught them to forsake Moses; for the
|
|
religion he preached tended not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it.
|
|
He preached Christ (<I>the end of the law for righteousness</I>), and
|
|
repentance and faith, in the exercise of which we are to make great use
|
|
of the law. The Jews among the Gentiles whom Paul taught were so far
|
|
from forsaking Moses that they never understood him better, nor ever
|
|
embraced him so heartily as now when they were taught to make use of
|
|
him as a <I>schoolmaster to bring them to Christ.</I> But even the
|
|
believing Jews, having got this notion of Paul, that he was an enemy to
|
|
Moses, and perhaps giving too much regard to the unbelieving Jews too,
|
|
were much exasperated against him. Their ministers, the elders here
|
|
present, loved and honoured him, and approved of what he did, and
|
|
called him brother, but the people could hardly be induced to entertain
|
|
a favourable thought of him; for it is certain the least judicious are
|
|
the most censorious, the weak-headed are the hot-headed. They could not
|
|
distinguish upon Paul's doctrine as they ought to have done, and
|
|
therefore condemned it in the gross, through ignorance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. They therefore desired Paul that he would by some public act, now
|
|
that he had come to Jerusalem, make it to appear that the charge
|
|
against him was false, and that he did not teach people to forsake
|
|
Moses and to break the customs of the Jewish church, for he himself
|
|
retained the use of them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They conclude that something of this kind must be done: "<I>What
|
|
is it therefore?</I> What must be done? The <I>multitude will hear that
|
|
thou art come</I> to town." This is an inconvenience that attends men
|
|
of fame, that their coming and going are taken notice of more than
|
|
other people's, and will be talked of, by some for good-will and by
|
|
others for ill-will. "When they hear thou art come, <I>they must needs
|
|
come together,</I> they will expect that we call them together, to
|
|
advise with them whether we should admit thee to preach among us as a
|
|
brother or no; or, they will come together of themselves expecting to
|
|
hear thee." Now something must be done to satisfy them that Paul does
|
|
not teach the people to forsake Moses, and they think it necessary,
|
|
|
|
[1.] For Paul's sake, that his reputation should be cleared, and that
|
|
so good a man may not lie under any blemish, nor so useful a man labour
|
|
under any disadvantage which may obstruct his usefulness.
|
|
|
|
[2.] For the people's sake, that they may not continue prejudiced
|
|
against so good a man, nor lose the benefit of his ministry by those
|
|
prejudices.
|
|
|
|
[3.] For their own sake, that since they knew it was their duty to own
|
|
Paul their doing it might not be turned to their reproach among those
|
|
that were under their charge.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) They produce a fair opportunity which Paul might take to clear
|
|
himself: "<I>Do this that we say unto thee,</I> take our advice in this
|
|
case. <I>We have four men,</I> Jews who believe, of our own churches,
|
|
and <I>they have a vow on them,</I> a vow of Nazariteship for a certain
|
|
time; their time has now expired
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
and they are to offer their offering according to the law, when they
|
|
shave the head of their separation, a he-lamb for a burnt-offering, a
|
|
ewe-lamb for a sin-offering, and a ram for a peace-offering, with other
|
|
offerings pertinent to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+6:13-20">Num. vi. 13-20</A>.
|
|
|
|
Many used to do this together, when their vow expired about the same
|
|
time, either for the greater expedition or for the greater solemnity.
|
|
Now Paul having so far of late complied with the law as to take upon
|
|
him the vow of a Nazarite, and to signify the expiration of it by
|
|
shaving his head at Cenchrea
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+18:18"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
according to the custom of those who lived at a distance from the
|
|
temple, they desire him but to go a little further, and to join with
|
|
these four in offering the sacrifices of a Nazarite: <I>'Purify thyself
|
|
with them</I> according to the law; and be willing not only to take
|
|
that trouble, but to be at charges with them, in buying sacrifices for
|
|
this solemn occasion, and to join with them in the sacrifice." This,
|
|
they think, will effectually stop the mouth of calumny, and every one
|
|
will be convinced that the report was false, that Paul was not the man
|
|
he was represented to be, did not teach the Jews to forsake Moses, but
|
|
that he himself, being originally a Jew, walked orderly, and kept the
|
|
law; and then all would be well.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. They enter a protestation that this shall be no infringement at all
|
|
of the decree lately made in favour of the Gentile converts, nor do
|
|
they intend by this in the least to derogate from the liberty allowed
|
|
them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>As touching the Gentiles</I> who <I>believe, we have written and
|
|
concluded,</I> and resolve to abide by it, <I>that they observe no such
|
|
things;</I> we would not have them to be bound up by the ceremonial law
|
|
by any means, but only that they keep themselves from <I>things offered
|
|
to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from
|
|
fornication;</I> but let not them be tied to the Jewish sacrifices or
|
|
purifications, nor any of their rites and ceremonies." They knew how
|
|
jealous Paul was for the preservation of the liberty of the converted
|
|
Gentiles, and therefore expressly covenant to abide by that. Thus far
|
|
is their proposal.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Here is Paul's compliance with it. He was willing to gratify them in
|
|
this matter. Though he would not be persuaded not to go to Jerusalem,
|
|
yet, when he was there, he was persuaded to do as they there did,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Then Paul took the men,</I> as they advised, and the very <I>next
|
|
day, purifying himself with them,</I> and not <I>with multitude nor
|
|
tumult,</I> as he himself pleads
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+24:18"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
he <I>entered into the temple,</I> as other devout Jews that came upon
|
|
such errands did, to signify the accomplishment of the days of
|
|
purification to the priests; desiring the priest would appoint a time
|
|
when the offering should be offered for every one of them, one for
|
|
each. Ainsworth, on
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+6:18">Num. vi. 18</A>,
|
|
|
|
quotes out of Maimonides a passage which gives some light to this:
|
|
<I>If a man say, Upon me behalf the oblations of a Nazarite,</I> or,
|
|
<I>Upon me be half the shaving of a Nazarite, them he brings half the
|
|
offerings by what Nazarite he will, and that Nazarite pays his offering
|
|
out of that which is his.</I> So Paul did here; he contributed what he
|
|
vowed to the offerings of these Nazarites, and some think bound himself
|
|
to the law of Nazariteship, and to an attendance at the temple with
|
|
fastings and prayers for seven days, not designing that the offering
|
|
should be offered till them, which was what he signified to the priest.
|
|
Now it has been questioned whether James and the elders did well to
|
|
give Paul this advice, and whether he did well to take it.
|
|
|
|
1. Some have blamed this occasional conformity of Paul's, as indulging
|
|
the Jews too much in their adherence to the ceremonial law, and a
|
|
discouragement of those who stood fast in the liberty wherewith Christ
|
|
had made them free. Was it not enough for James and the elders of
|
|
Jerusalem to connive at this mistake in the Jewish converts themselves,
|
|
but must they wheedle Paul to countenance them in it? Had it not been
|
|
better, when they had told Paul how zealous the believing Jews were for
|
|
the law, if they had desired, whom God had endued with such excellent
|
|
gifts, to take pains with their people to convince them of their error,
|
|
and to show them that they were made free from the law by their
|
|
marriage to Christ?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+7:4">Rom. vii. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
To urge him to encourage them in it by his example seems to have more
|
|
in it of fleshly wisdom than of the grace of God. Surely Paul knew what
|
|
he had to do better than they could teach him. But,
|
|
|
|
2. Others think the advice was prudent and good, and Paul's following
|
|
it was justifiable enough, as the case stood. It was Paul's avowed
|
|
principle, <I>To the Jews became I as a Jew, that I might gain the
|
|
Jews,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:20">1 Cor. ix. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had circumcised Timothy, to please the Jews; though he would not
|
|
constantly observe the ceremonial law, yet, to gain an opportunity of
|
|
doing good, and to show how far he could comply, he would occasionally
|
|
go to the temple and join in the sacrifices there. Those that are weak
|
|
in the faith are to be borne with, when those that undermine the faith
|
|
must be opposed. It is true, this compliance of Paul's sped ill to him,
|
|
for this very thing by which he hoped to pacify the Jews did but
|
|
provoke them, and bring him into trouble; yet this is not a sufficient
|
|
ground to go upon in condemning it: Paul might do well, and yet suffer
|
|
for it. But perhaps the wise God overruled both their advice and Paul's
|
|
compliance with it to serve a better purpose than was intended; for we
|
|
have reason to think that when the believing Jews, who had endeavoured
|
|
by their zeal for the law to recommend themselves to the good opinion
|
|
of those who believed not, saw how barbarously they used Paul (who
|
|
endeavoured to oblige them), they were by this more alienated from the
|
|
ceremonial law than they could have been by the most argumentative or
|
|
affecting discourses. They saw it was in vain to think of pleasing men
|
|
that would be pleased with nothing else but the rooting out of
|
|
Christianity. Integrity and uprightness will be more likely to preserve
|
|
us than sneaking compliances. And when we consider what a great trouble
|
|
it must needs be to James and the presbyters, in the reflection upon
|
|
it, that they had by their advice brought Paul into trouble, it should
|
|
be a warning to us not to press men to oblige us by doing any thing
|
|
contrary to their own mind.</P>
|
|
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|
<A NAME="Ac21_27"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ac21_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_34"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_35"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_36"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_37"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_38"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Ac21_39"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac21_40"> </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 Seized in the Temple; The Tumult at Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
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<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which
|
|
were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the
|
|
people, and laid hands on him,
|
|
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that
|
|
teacheth all <I>men</I> every where against the people, and the law,
|
|
and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple,
|
|
and hath polluted this holy place.
|
|
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an
|
|
Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the
|
|
temple.)
|
|
30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and
|
|
they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the
|
|
doors were shut.
|
|
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the
|
|
chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
|
|
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down
|
|
unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers,
|
|
they left beating of Paul.
|
|
33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and
|
|
commanded <I>him</I> to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he
|
|
was, and what he had done.
|
|
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude:
|
|
and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he
|
|
commanded him to be carried into the castle.
|
|
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was
|
|
borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
|
|
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away
|
|
with him.
|
|
37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the
|
|
chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak
|
|
Greek?
|
|
38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest
|
|
an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men
|
|
that were murderers?
|
|
39 But Paul said, I am a man <I>which am</I> a Jew of Tarsus, <I>a
|
|
city</I> in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee,
|
|
suffer me to speak unto the people.
|
|
40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs,
|
|
and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was
|
|
made a great silence, he spake unto <I>them</I> in the Hebrew tongue,
|
|
saying,
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here Paul brought into a captivity which we are not likely to
|
|
see the end of; for after this he is either hurried from one bar to
|
|
another, or lies neglected, first in one prison and then in another,
|
|
and can neither be tried nor bailed. When we see the beginning of a
|
|
trouble, we know not either how long it will last or how it will
|
|
issue.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. We have here Paul seized, and laid hold on.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He was seized in the temple, when he was there attending the days of
|
|
his purifying, and the solemn services of those days,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
Formerly he had been well known in the temple, but now he had been so
|
|
long in his travels abroad that he had become a stranger there; so that
|
|
it was not till <I>the seven days were almost ended</I> that he was
|
|
taken notice of by those that had an evil eye towards him. In the
|
|
temple, where he should have been protected, as in a sanctuary, he was
|
|
most violently set upon by those who did what they could to have his
|
|
blood mingled with his sacrifices--in the temple, where he should have
|
|
been welcomed as one of the greatest ornaments of it that ever had been
|
|
there since the Lord of the temple left it. The temple, which they
|
|
themselves pretended such a mighty zeal for, yet did they themselves
|
|
thus profane. Thus is the church polluted by none more than by popish
|
|
persecutors, under the colour of the church's name and interest.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The informers against him were the Jews of Asia, not those of
|
|
Jerusalem--the Jews of the dispersion, who knew him best, and who were
|
|
most exasperated against him. Those who seldom came up to worship at
|
|
the temple in Jerusalem themselves, but contentedly lived at a distance
|
|
from it, in pursuit of their private advantages, yet appeared most
|
|
zealous for the temple, as if thereby they would atone for their
|
|
habitual neglect of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The method they took was to raise the mob, and to incense them
|
|
against him. They did not go to the high priest, or the magistrates of
|
|
the city, with their charge (probably because they expected not to
|
|
receive countenance from them), but <I>they stirred up all the
|
|
people,</I> who were at this time more than ever disposed to any thing
|
|
that was tumultuous and seditious, riotous and outrageous. Those are
|
|
fittest to be employed against Christ and Christianity that are
|
|
governed least by reason and most by passion; therefore Paul described
|
|
the Jewish persecutors to be not only wicked, but absurd unreasonable
|
|
men.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. The arguments wherewith they exasperated the people against him were
|
|
popular, but very false and unjust. They cried out, "<I>Men of Israel,
|
|
help.</I> If you are indeed men of Israel, true-born Jews, that have a
|
|
concern for your church and your country, now is your time to show it,
|
|
by helping to seize an enemy to both." Thus <I>they cried after him as
|
|
after a thief</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+30:5">Job xxx. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
or after a mad dog. Note, The enemies of Christianity, since they could
|
|
never prove it to be an ill thing, have been always very industrious,
|
|
right or wrong, to put it into an ill name, and so run it down by
|
|
outrage and outcry. It had become men of Israel to help Paul, who
|
|
preached up him who was so much the <I>glory of his people Israel;</I>
|
|
yet here the popular fury will not allow them to be men of Israel,
|
|
unless they will help against him. This was like, <I>Stop thief,</I> or
|
|
Athaliah's cry, <I>Treason, treason;</I> what is wanting in right is
|
|
made up in noise.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. They charge upon him both bad doctrine and bad practice, and both
|
|
against the Mosaic ritual.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They charge upon him bad doctrine; not only that he holds corrupt
|
|
opinions himself, but that he vents and publishes them, though not here
|
|
at Jerusalem, yet in other places, nay in all places, he teaches all
|
|
men, every where; so artfully is the crime aggravated, as if, because
|
|
he was an itinerant, he was a ubiquitary: "He spreads to the utmost of
|
|
his power certain damnable and heretical positions,"
|
|
|
|
[1.] Against the people of the Jews. He had taught that Jews and
|
|
Gentiles stand on the same level before God, <I>and neither
|
|
circumcision avails any thing nor uncircumcision;</I> nay, he had
|
|
taught against the unbelieving Jews that they were rejected (and
|
|
therefore had separated from them and their synagogues), and this is
|
|
interpreted to be speaking against the whole nation, as if no doubt but
|
|
<I>they were the people, and wisdom must die with them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+12:2">Job xii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
whereas God, though he had cast them off, yet had not <I>cast away his
|
|
people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:1">Rom. xi. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were <I>Lo-ammi, not a people</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+1:9">Hos. i. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and yet pretended to be the only people. Those commonly seem most
|
|
jealous for the church's name that belong to it in name only.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Against the law. His teaching men to believe the gospel as the end
|
|
of the law, and the perfection of it, was interpreted his preaching
|
|
against the law; whereas it was so far from making void the law that it
|
|
established it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+3:31">Rom. iii. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Against <I>this place,</I> the temple. Because he taught men to
|
|
pray every where, he was reproached as an enemy to the temple, and
|
|
perhaps because he sometimes mentioned the destruction of Jerusalem and
|
|
the temple, and of the Jewish nation, which his Master had foretold.
|
|
Paul had himself been active in persecuting Stephen, and putting him to
|
|
death for words spoken <I>against this holy place,</I> and now the same
|
|
thing is laid to his charge. He that was then made use of as the tool
|
|
is now set up as the butt of Jewish rage and malice.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) They charge upon him bad practices. To confirm their charge
|
|
against him, as teaching people against this holy place, they charge it
|
|
upon him that he had himself polluted it, and by an overt-act showed
|
|
his contempt of it, and a design to make it common. He <I>has brought
|
|
Gentiles also into the temple,</I> into the inner court of the temple,
|
|
which none that were uncircumcised were admitted, under any pretence,
|
|
to come into; there was written upon the wall that enclosed this inner
|
|
court, in Greek and Latin, <I>It is a capital crime for strangers to
|
|
enter.</I>--Josephus <I>Antiq.</I> 15. 417. Paul was himself a Jew, and
|
|
had right to enter into the court of the Jews. And they, seeing some
|
|
with him there that joined with him in his devotions, concluded that
|
|
Trophimus an Ephesian, who was a Gentile, was one of them. Why? Did
|
|
they see him there? Truly no; but they had seen him with Paul in the
|
|
streets of the city, which was no crime at all, and therefore they
|
|
affirm that he was with Paul in the inner court of the temple, which
|
|
was a heinous crime. They had seen him with him in the city, and
|
|
therefore they supposed that Paul had brought him with him into the
|
|
temple, which was utterly false. See here,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Innocency is no fence against calumny and false accusation. It is
|
|
no new thing for those that mean honestly, and act regularly, to have
|
|
things laid to their charge which they know not, nor ever thought of.
|
|
|
|
[2.] <I>Evil men dig up mischief,</I> and go far to seek proofs of
|
|
their false accusations, as they did here, who, because they saw a
|
|
Gentile with Paul in the city, will thence infer that he was with him
|
|
in the temple. This was a strained innuendo indeed, yet by such unjust
|
|
and groundless suggestions have wicked men thought to justify
|
|
themselves in the most barbarous outrages committed upon the
|
|
<I>excellent ones of the earth.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] It is common for malicious people to improve that against those
|
|
that are wise and good with which they thought to have obliged them and
|
|
ingratiated themselves with them. Paul thought to recommend himself to
|
|
their good opinion by going into the temple, he had not been so
|
|
maligned by them. This is the genius of ill-nature; <I>for my love,
|
|
they are my adversaries,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+109:4,Ps+69:10">Ps. cix. 4; lxix. 10</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have Paul in danger of being pulled in pieces by the rabble. They
|
|
will not be at the pains to have him before the high priest, or the
|
|
sanhedrim; that is a roundabout way: the execution shall be of a piece
|
|
with the prosecution, all unjust and irregular. They cannot prove the
|
|
crime upon him, and therefore dare not bring him upon a fair trial;
|
|
nay, so greedily do they thirst after his blood that they have not
|
|
patience to proceed against him by a due course of law, though they
|
|
were ever so sure to gain their point; and therefore, as those who
|
|
neither feared God nor regarded man, they resolved to knock him on the
|
|
head immediately.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. All the city was in an uproar,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
The people, who though they had little holiness themselves, yet had a
|
|
mighty veneration for the holy place, when they heard a hue-and-cry
|
|
from the temple, were up in arms presently, being resolved to stand by
|
|
that with their lives and fortunes. <I>All the city was moved,</I> when
|
|
they were called to from the temple, <I>Men of Israel, help,</I> with
|
|
as much violence as if the old complaint were revived
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+79:1">Ps. lxxix. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance, thy holy temple
|
|
have they defiled.</I> Just such a zeal the Jews here show for God's
|
|
temple as the Ephesians did for Diana's temple, when Paul was informed
|
|
against as an enemy to that
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+19:29"><I>ch.</I> xix. 29</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The whole city was full of confusion.</I> But God does not reckon
|
|
himself at all honoured by those whose zeal for him transports them to
|
|
such irregularities, and who, while they pretend to act for him, act in
|
|
such a brutish barbarous manner.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. They drew Paul out of the temple, and shut the doors between the
|
|
outer and inner court of the temple, or perhaps the doors of the outer
|
|
court. In dragging him furiously out of the temple,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They showed a real detestation of him as one not fit to be
|
|
suffered in the temple, nor to worship there, nor to be looked upon as
|
|
a member of the Jewish nation; as if his sacrifice had been an
|
|
abomination.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They pretended a veneration for the temple; like that of good
|
|
Jehoiada, who would not have Athaliah to be <I>slain in the house of
|
|
the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+11:15">2 Kings xi. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how absurd these wicked men were; they condemned Paul for drawing
|
|
people from the temple, and yet, when he himself was very devoutly
|
|
worshipping in the temple, they drew him out of it. The officers of the
|
|
temple shut the doors, either,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Lest Paul should find means to get back and take hold of the horns
|
|
of the altar, and so protect himself by that sanctuary from their rage.
|
|
Or rather,
|
|
|
|
[2.] Lest the crowd should by the running in of more to them be thrust
|
|
back into the temple, and some outrage should be committed, to the
|
|
profanation of that holy place. Those that made no conscience of doing
|
|
so ill a thing as the murdering of a good man for well-doing, yet would
|
|
be thought to scruple doing it in a holy place, or at a holy time:
|
|
<I>Not in the temple, as Not on the feast-day.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. They went about to kill him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
for they fell a beating him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
resolving to beat him to death by blows without number, a punishment
|
|
which the Jewish doctors allowed in some cases (not at all to the
|
|
credit of their nation), and called <I>the beating of the rebels.</I>
|
|
Now was Paul, like a lamb, thrown into a den of lions, and made an easy
|
|
prey to them, and, no doubt, he was still of the same mind as when he
|
|
said, <I>I am ready not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem,</I>
|
|
to die so great a death.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. We have here Paul rescued out of the hands of his Jewish enemies
|
|
by a Roman enemy.
|
|
|
|
1. Tidings were brought of the tumult, and that the mob was up, <I>to
|
|
the chief captain of the band,</I> the governor of the castle, or,
|
|
whoever he was, the now commander-in-chief of the Roman forces that
|
|
were quartered in Jerusalem. Somebody that was concerned not for Paul,
|
|
but for the public peace and safety, gave this information to the
|
|
colonel, who had always a jealous and watchful eye upon these
|
|
tumultuous Jews, and he is the man that must be instrumental to save
|
|
Paul's life, when never a friend he had was capable of doing him any
|
|
service.
|
|
|
|
2. The tribune, or chief captain, got his forces together with all
|
|
possible expedition, and went to suppress the mob: <I>He took
|
|
soldiers</I> and <I>centurions,</I> and <I>ran down to them.</I> Now at
|
|
the feast, as at other such solemn times, the guards were up, and the
|
|
militia more within call than at other times, and so he had them near
|
|
at hand, and <I>he ran down unto the multitude;</I> for at such times
|
|
delays are dangerous. Sedition must be crushed at first, lest it grow
|
|
headstrong.
|
|
|
|
3. The very sight of the Roman general frightened them from beating
|
|
Paul; for they knew they were doing what they could not justify, and
|
|
were in danger of being called in question for this day's uproar, as
|
|
the town clerk told the Ephesians. They were deterred from that by the
|
|
power of the Romans from which they ought to have been restrained by
|
|
the justice of God and the dread of his wrath. Note, God often makes
|
|
the earth to help the woman
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:16">Rev. xii. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
and those to be a protection to his people who yet have no affection
|
|
for his people; they have only a compassion for sufferers, and are
|
|
zealous for the public peace. The shepherd makes use even of his dogs
|
|
for the defence of his sheep. It is Streso's comparison here. See here
|
|
how these wicked people were frightened away at the very sight of the
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chief captain; for the <I>king that sitteth on the throne of judgment
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|
scattereth away all evil with his eyes.</I> The governor takes him into
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|
custody. He rescued him, not out of a concern for him, because he
|
|
thought him innocent, but out of a concern for justice, because he
|
|
ought not to be put to death without trial; and because he knew not how
|
|
dangerous the consequence might be to the Roman government of such
|
|
tumultuous proceedings were not timely suppressed, nor what such an
|
|
outrageous people might do if once they knew their own strength: he
|
|
therefore takes Paul out of the hands of the mob into the hands of the
|
|
law
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>):
|
|
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|
<I>He took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains,</I> that
|
|
the people might be satisfied he did not intend to discharge him, but
|
|
to examine him, <I>for he demanded of</I> those who were so eager
|
|
against him <I>who he was, and what he had done.</I> This violent
|
|
taking of him out of the hands of the multitude, though there was all
|
|
the reason in the world for it, yet they laid to the charge of the
|
|
chief captain as his crime
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+24:7"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The chief captain Lysias came with great violence, and took him out
|
|
of our hands,</I> which refers to this rescue as appears by comparing
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+23:27,28"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 27, 28</A>,
|
|
|
|
where the chief captain gives an account of it to Felix.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The provision which the chief captain made, with much ado, to bring
|
|
Paul to speak for himself. One had almost as good enter into a struggle
|
|
with the winds and the waves, as with such a mob as was here got
|
|
together; and yet Paul made a shift to get liberty of speech among
|
|
them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. There was no knowing the sense of the people; for when the chief
|
|
captain enquired concerning Paul, having perhaps never heard of his
|
|
name before (such strangers were the great ones to the excellent ones
|
|
of the earth, and affected to be so), <I>some cried one thing, and some
|
|
another,</I> among the multitude; so that it was impossible for the
|
|
chief captain to know their mind, when really they knew not either one
|
|
another's mind or their own, when every one pretended to give the sense
|
|
of the whole body. Those that will hearken to the clamours of the
|
|
multitude will know nothing for a certainty, any more than the builders
|
|
of Babel, when their tongues were confounded.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. There was no quelling the rage and fury of the people; for when
|
|
<I>the chief captain commanded that Paul should be carried into the
|
|
castle,</I> the tower of Antonia, where the Roman soldiers kept
|
|
garrison, near the temple, the soldiers themselves had much ado to get
|
|
him safely thither out of the noise, the people were so violent
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When he came upon the stairs,</I> leading up to the castle, the
|
|
soldiers were forced to take him up in their arms, and carry him (which
|
|
they might easily do, for he was a little man, and his bodily presence
|
|
weak), to keep him from the people, who would have pulled him limb from
|
|
limb if they could. When they could not reach him with their cruel
|
|
hands, they followed him with their <I>sharp arrows, even bitter words:
|
|
They followed, crying, Away with him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how the most excellent persons and things are often run down by a
|
|
popular clamour. Christ himself was so, with, <I>Crucify him, crucify
|
|
him,</I> though they could not say what evil he had done. <I>Take him
|
|
out of the land of the living</I> (so the ancients expound it), chase
|
|
him out of the world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Paul at length begged leave of the chief captain to speak to him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>As he was to be led into the castle,</I> with a great deal of
|
|
calmness and composedness in himself, and a great deal of mildness and
|
|
deference to those about him, <I>he said unto the chief captain, "May I
|
|
speak unto thee?</I> Will it be no offence, nor construed as a breach
|
|
of rule, if I give thee some account of myself, since my persecutors
|
|
can give no account of me?" What a humble modest question was this!
|
|
Paul knew how to speak to the greatest of men, and had many a time
|
|
spoken to his betters, yet he humbly begs to leave to speak to this
|
|
commander, and will not speak till he has obtained leave: <I>May I
|
|
speak unto thee?</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. The chief captain tells him what notion he had of him: <I>Canst thou
|
|
speak Greek?</I> I am surprised to hear thee speak a learned language;
|
|
for, <I>Art not thou that Egyptian who made an uproar?</I> The Jews
|
|
made the uproar, and then would have it thought that Paul had given
|
|
them occasion for it, by beginning first; for probably some of them
|
|
whispered this in the ear of the chief captain. See what false mistaken
|
|
notions of good people and good ministers many run away with, and will
|
|
not be at the pains to have the mistake rectified. It seems, there had
|
|
lately been an insurrection somewhere in that country, headed by an
|
|
Egyptian, who took on him to be a prophet. Josephus mentions this
|
|
story, that "an Egyptian raised a seditious party, promised to show
|
|
them the fall of <I>the walls of Jerusalem from the mount of
|
|
Olives,</I> and that they should enter the city upon the ruins." The
|
|
captain here says <I>that he led out into the wilderness four thousand
|
|
men that were murderers</I>--desperadoes, banditti, raparees,
|
|
cut-throats. What a degeneracy was there in the Jewish nation, when
|
|
there were found there so many that had such a character, and could be
|
|
drawn into such an attempt upon the public peace! But Josephus says
|
|
that "Felix the Roman president went out against them, killed four
|
|
hundred, and took two hundred prisoners, and the rest were
|
|
dispersed."--<I>Antiq.</I> 20. 171; <I>Wars</I> 2. 263. And Eusebius
|
|
speaks of it, <I>Hist.</I> 2. 20. It happened in the thirteenth year of
|
|
Claudius, a little before those days, about three years ago. The
|
|
ringleader of this rebellion, it seems, had made his escape, and the
|
|
chief captain concluded that one who lay under so great an odium as
|
|
Paul seemed to lie under, and against whom there was so great an
|
|
outcry, could not be a criminal of less figure than this Egyptian. See
|
|
how good men are exposed to ill-will by mistake.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Paul rectifies his mistake concerning him, by informing him
|
|
particularly what he was; not such a vagabond, a scoundrel, a rake, as
|
|
that Egyptian, who could give no good account of himself. No: <I>I am a
|
|
man who is a Jew</I> originally, and no Egyptian--a Jew both by nation
|
|
and religion; <I>I am of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia,</I> of honest
|
|
parents and a liberal education (Tarsus was a university), and, besides
|
|
that, <I>a citizen of no mean city.</I> Whether he means Tarsus or Rome
|
|
is not certain; they were neither of them mean cities, and he was a
|
|
freeman of both. Though the chief captain had put him under such an
|
|
invidious suspicion, that he was that Egyptian, he kept his temper, did
|
|
not break out into any passionate exclamations against the times he
|
|
lived in or the men he had to do with, did not render railing for
|
|
railing, but mildly denied the charge, and owned what he was.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. He humbly desired a permission from the chief captain, whose
|
|
prisoner he now was, to speak to the people. He does not demand it as a
|
|
debt, though he might have done so, but sues for it as a favour, which
|
|
he will be thankful for: <I>I beseech thee, suffer me to speak to the
|
|
people.</I> The chief captain rescued him with no other design than to
|
|
give him a fair hearing. Now, to show that his cause needs no art to
|
|
give it a plausible colour, he desires he may have leave immediately to
|
|
defend himself; for it needed no more than to be set in a true light;
|
|
nor did he depend only on the goodness of his cause, but upon the
|
|
goodness and fidelity of his patron, and that promise of his to all his
|
|
advocates, <I>that it should be given them in that same hour what they
|
|
should speak.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
7. He obtained leave to plead his own cause, for he needed not to have
|
|
counsel assigned him, when the Spirit of the Father was ready to
|
|
dictate to him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:20">Matt. x. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>The chief captain gave him license</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that now he could speak with a good grace, and with the more
|
|
courage; he had, I will not say that favour, but that justice, done him
|
|
by the chief captain, which he could not obtain from his countrymen the
|
|
Jews; for they would not hear him, but the captain would, though it
|
|
were but to satisfy his curiosity. This licence being obtained,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The people were attentive to hear: <I>Paul stood on the
|
|
stairs,</I> which gave a little man like Zaccheus some advantage, and
|
|
consequently some boldness, in delivering himself. A sorry pulpit it
|
|
was, and yet better than none; it served the purpose, though it was
|
|
not, like Ezra's pulpit of wood, made for the purpose. There he
|
|
<I>beckoned with the hand unto the people,</I> made signs to them to be
|
|
quiet and to have a little patience, for he had something to say to
|
|
them; and so far he gained his point that every one cried hush to his
|
|
neighbour, and there was made a profound silence. Probably the chief
|
|
captain also intimated his charge to all manner of people to keep
|
|
silence; if the people were not required to give audience, it was to no
|
|
purpose at all that Paul was allowed to speak. When the cause of Christ
|
|
and his gospel is to be pleaded, there ought to be a great silence,
|
|
that we may <I>give the more earnest heed,</I> and all little enough.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Paul addressed himself to speak, well assured that he was serving
|
|
the interest of Christ's kingdom as truly and effectually as if he had
|
|
been preaching in the synagogue: he <I>spoke unto them in the Hebrew
|
|
tongue,</I> that is, in their own vulgar tongue, which was the language
|
|
of their country, to which he hereby owned not only an abiding
|
|
relation, but an abiding respect.</P>
|
|
|
|
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