God unto him, goes on courageously in the work of his ministry at Corinth; but the unbelieving Jews were so enraged against him, that they combined together as one man, and with one accord made insurrection against Paul. Where note, What great unity and unanimity there is among wicked men, the devil's friends; he well knows that his kingdom could not long stand if it were divided. The unity of all society is their strength. Observe, 2. They accuse the apostle before Gallio the deputy, for persuading men to worship God contrary to the law of Moses. Who would not think but these men were truly pious, virtuous, and good, who were so zealous for the worship of God according to the law? and yet were they wicked men, and fiery persecutors. There is a noisy religion in the world; some men think, by crying the Church! the Church! and by pleading loud for the worship of God, as established by law, to atone for all their immoralities. Praying is good, hearing and receiving the sacrament are good, if they be joined with holy walking; but if otherwise, the howling of wolves is as acceptable to Almighty God, as the prayers of those men who call Christ Master, and the church mother, but do not the things which they have commanded; yea, the very dogs which follow them to the public assemblies, shall as soon find acceptance as themselves, if they do not obey him whom they pretend to adore. It is no matter what church a wicked man is of, for it is certain he can be saved in none. Observe, 3. What low and mean thoughts Gallio had, and all persons prejudiced against religion and the power of godliness have, of sincere christianity: If it be a question of words and names, says Gallio. As if he had said, "Do not trouble me about the niceties of your religion, decide such questions among yourselves; for I will be no judge in such matters." The great men of the world little care to trouble their heads about the matters of religion; they look upon it only as a matter of notion and speculation; whereas it is not a speculative science, but a practical art of holy living and accordingly, like Gallio, they care for none of these things. Observe, lastly, That although this Gallio had no kindness for christianity, yet God made use of him as an instrument, at this time, to preserve and screen St. Paul from the rage of his enemies, insomuch, that he drove his accusers from the judgment-seat. Thus God performed his promise to Paul, suffering no man to hurt him; but causing Gallio the governor to defend him, who his enemies were in hopes would have destroyed him. Lord, how happy and wise is it for thy servants to commit the care of themselves to thee in well-doing! If we, with a purity of intention, concern our. selves for thy glory, thou wilt certainly take care of our safety; or if any danger should come, danger itself shall do us no harm. 18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not: 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 22 And when he had landed at Cesarea, and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygía in order, strengthening all his disciples. A farther account is here given of the laborious travels of the great apostle St. Paul; namely, from Corinth to Ephesus, from Ephesus to Cesarea, from Cesarea to Antioch, &c. Where observe, 1. That St. Paul having continued a year and a half at Corinth, and planted a church there, which yet soon after sadly degenerated; he determines now to sail to Ephesus; and accordingly at Cenchrea, a haven near to that city, he shaved his head, for he had a vow; that is, the vow of a Nazarite, which he (that is, Aquila, say some; St. Paul, say others) had before taken upon him for a time, whereby he was obliged to abstain from wine, and shaving his head, and touching of the dead. But having now ac complished his vow, he shore his head, and returned to the common way of living; where the wisdom and moderation of this great apostle, in complying in indifferent things, is to be noted and imitated: To the Jews he became a Jew, that he might gain the Jews. He willingly complied with their weakness, to show that he was no contemner of their law; for which reason he caused Timothy to be circumcised, and purified himself in the temple at Jerusalem: and behold the success of this his compliance; for, by gratifying the Jews in this condescension to the prescription of the law, he brought over very many of them to the faith of Christ. Let not any suspect this for a sinful compliance with the Jews, in observing a ceremony which the gospel had abolished, nor censure it for a low and mean stoop in so great a man to the humour of the people; for though the ceremonial rites died with Christ, yet they were a long time in burying, and the Jews were indulged in the observation of them till they came to a clearer sight of their christian liberty; accordingly the apostle yielded to them for the present in indifferent things, without dissimulation or blame. Observe, 2. The apostle being now come to Ephesus, he taught in the synagogue of the Jews, and reasoned with them. Where we may note, both how close the apostle kept to his commission, in first preaching the word of life to the Jews, and also the fervent love which he bare to his own countrymen, whom though he had suffered all manner of indignities from, yet doth he give them precept upon precept, line upon line; and, with an unwearied diligence, dispenses the word of life and salvation to them. Observe, 3. Our apostle stays not long at Ephesus, but hastens to Jerusalem to keep the feast there, namely, the feast of the passover; not that he took himself obliged to observe the feasts, or any of the antiquated ceremonies: but because of the vast concourse which he knew would be at Jerusalem at the time of the feast from all quarters, and which would give him an opportunity to make Christ known to a great multitude. The ministers of the gospel, without the imputation of vain-glory, or seeking popular applause, may warrantably desire, and occasionally lay hold upon, an opportunity of dispensing the word to a numerous auditory, in hope that casting the net among many, they may inclose some. Observe, lastly, The incessant care, indefatigable diligence, and unwearied pains, of this great apostle, in travelling from place to place, and at such great distances, to preach the everlasting gospel to lost sinners. From Ephesus he sails to Cesarea, from Cesarea to Jerusalem, from Jerusalem to Antioch, from Antioch to Galatia and Phrygia. See how the care of all the churches was upon him, and how he la boured more abundantly than they all Lord, what a pattern is here of ministerial diligence and faithfulness! What pains did St. Paul take! What hazards did he run, in planting and propagating the gospel of Christ! In labours more abundant, in sufferings above measure! Well might he say, I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthens me. And blessed be God, the same power that assisted him, stands ready to succour us; and if ever he calls us to extraordinary service, he will come in with more than ordinary strength. 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught dili-. gently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. The first thing here observable, is, How the wisdom of God provided for the several churches, that in the absence of one powerful preacher they were supplied with another; when the providence of God called St. Paul from Ephesus and Corinth, it brought Apollos thither: so that what Paul planted, Apollos watered. The judicious Calvin, upon the place, piously admires the providence of God over his church, in not suffering it to be without a settled minister; but upon the removal of one, to raise up another. Observe, 2. How admirably qualified Apollos was for the work of the gospel, and excellently fitted and furnished for the places he was called to, Ephesus and Corinth, famous for philosophers and orators; accordingly he is a man of ravishing eloquence, who, by his profound knowledge in the sacred scriptures, was both apt to teach the truth, and able to maintain it. Hence learn, That scripture knowledge is the choicest qualification and highest commendation of a gospel minister. Apollos, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures: without this, he can never truly and savingly make known and discover Jesus Christ: without this, he can never rightly divide the word of truth; without this, he can never convince gainsayers, either gainsayers in opinion, or gainsayers in practice; without this, he can never instruct the people fully in their duty, nor declare to them the whole council of God. Observe, 3. The great humility of Apollos: although he was an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, yet he did not disdain farther instruction. Those that are most knowing, if humble, are most sensible of their ignorance: the knowledge of the best, while they are on this side heaven, is capable of improvements. Apollos knew much, yet Aquila and Priscilla farther enlightened him, so that he knew more. An humble man will be content to learn of the meanest woman. These poor tent-makers, Aquila and his wife Priscilla, catechize the great Apollos, and add something to the treasure of his knowledge. Observe, 4. The place where Apollos preached: in the Jewish synagogue, ver. 26. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. It was a custom among the Jews to allow a liberty for learned men, though no priests, to teach in the synagogues. Thus Paul, though of the tribe of Benjamin, and not of the tribe of Levi, was permitted to preach in their synagogues, as we read throughout this book of the Acts. In like manner we find Apollos here preaching in the synagogue: Non ut habens auctoritatem sed scientiam, says Estius; taking the advantage of that indulgence which the Jews gave him in their synagogues, to preach and spread the doctrine of Christ. Observe, lastly, That this Apollos afterwards became an eminent authorized preacher in the church of Corinth, and is called St. Paul's helper and brother; and when he came to Corinth, was so emi nent, that he proved the head of a sect and faction: One saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos. And here at Ephesus he mightily convinced the Jews, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. CHAP. XIX. AND it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy And they Ghost since ye believed? said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, That they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. The latter end of the foregoing chapter informed us how Apollos was employed at Corinth: the beginning of this acquaints us how St. Paul spent his time at Ephesus. He finds there twelve disciples, he catechizes them, lays his hand upon them, and God confers the gift of the Holy Ghost. Here observe, 1. The question put by St. Paul to the twelve disciples: Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? He doth not mean in its sanctifying operations, but in its miraculous gifts; as speaking with tongues, the gift of prophecy, and the gift of healing. Observe, 2. The disciples' answer, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost; not that they were ignorant of the essence or person of the Holy Ghost; but had not heard of the effusion of the extraordinary and miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost; for it was a received opinion among the Jews, that after the death of Haggai, Zecha riah, and Malachi, the Holy Ghost, or the spirit of prophecy, departed from Israel. And they never heard that he was returned, or of his being given anew with his miraculous gifts. Observe, 3. How the apostle sets them right; they tell him they were baptized into John's baptism. The apostle tells them, that John's baptism and Christ's were the same for substance, and had both the same end, though they differed in some circumstances. The disciples of John believed in Christ to come, the disciples of Jesus believed in Christ as already come, and were baptized in that faith; and the ordinance sealed unto both the remission of sins. Yet it being essential to christian baptism, to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, (thereby professing ourselves to be buried and risen with Christ,) and John's baptism having not this; when the disciples heard that, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, that is, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, which is the essence of christian baptism. Observe, 4. How the apostle lays his hands upon these disciples, to confirm them in the faith they were baptized into; whereupon the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost were immediately conferred on them, and they spake divers tongues, which before they understood not, and were endued with the gift of prophesying; that is, of declaring things to come, and interpreting the writings of the prophets, that they may be fit to teach and instruct others. Hence learn, That at the first planting and propagating of the gospel, the wisdom of God thought fit to furnish the preachers and dispensers of it with extraordinary gifts and miraculous powers, to qualify them for, and to give them assurance of, the success of their ministry; and also to assure those whom they preached unto, that their doctrine was from heaven. Almighty God never setting the seal of his omnipotence to a lie. Such miraculous gifts are long since ceased in the church, the cause of them, and the occasion for them, being long since ceased. 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he depart ed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 19 And this continued by the space of two years: so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. St. Paul being now come to Ephesus with a design to stay there for some considerable time; as the manner was, he enters into the synagogue, and preaches the gospel first to the Jews, and this for the space of three months; but when, instead of embracing of the gospel, they opposed it, blaspheming Christ the author, and the apostle the dispenser of it, and vehemently contending with him for preaching the gospel, (which some conceive he calls his fighting with beasts at Ephesus, 1 Cor. xv. 32.) he left the Jews and their synagogue, separating the christians that were in Ephesus from them, whom he daily instructed in a certain place, called the school of Tyrannus. Here note, 1. The vehemency of St. Paul's affection to his own countrymen the people of the Jews, notwithstanding all the opposition they made against his doctrine, and the virulent reproaches which they cast upon his person: he continues to preach in their synagogue at Ephesus for three months without ceasing; thereby keeping close to his commission, which was to preach the gospel first to the Jews, and, upon their rejection of it, to tender the word of life unto the Gentiles. Note, 2. As great an apostle and as faithful a minister as St. Paul was, yet he wanted to see the success of his labours. Many of his hearers at Ephesus believed not his word, but were hardened under it. The same sun that softens the wax, hardens the clay: the same doctrine of the gospel becomes the savour of death unto some, which is the savour of life unto others. Woe be unto that people, who by their habitual hardness, through their actual resisting the Almighty to superadd judicial hardness of impressions of God's word, do provoke the heart unto them, making their sin to be come their punishment. Note, 3. How upon this opposition, which St. Paul met with in the Jewish synagogue, he leaves it, and retires to a more private place, the school of Tyrannus, where he had more freedom, and less opposition. Learn hence, That such places of public worship, where nothing but contradiction to the pure christian doctrine can be met with, may be lawfully withdrawn from. The apostle separates himself and the disciples from the Jews' synagogue, where he had preached three months, meeting only with contradiction to his doctrine, and blasphemy against his dear Redeemer. Note, 4. How it pleased God to confirm St. Paul's ministry at Ephesus by his working miracles: and the miracles he wrought were special, that is, very extraordinary, insomuch that even handkerchiefs or aprons having but touched St. Paul's body, and being brought unto the diseased, became a miraculous means both to cure diseases and to cast out devils. Thus, according to our Saviour's promise, his apostles did greater miracles than himself, John xiv. 12. not greater in regard of the manner, but in regard of the matter of them: Christ wrought his miracles in his own name, and by his own power; but the apostles wrought theirs in the name and by the power of Christ; yet it ought to be observed and considered, that although it pleased God, at the first plautation of the gospel by the apostles, to confirm christianity by many special miracles, (as new-set plants are well watered, till they have taken fast rooting,) yet that church which wants miracles may be a true church because, 1. There is no promise made in the scriptures to the church for her perpetual enjoying the gift of miracles. That promise, Mark xvi. 17, These signs shall follow them that believe, &c. was only a temporary promise. 2. We are forbidden to expect miracles, John iv. 48. and forbidden to trust to miracles without scripture, or to regard such miracles as are wrought to confirm any doctrine that is contrary to scripture, Deut. xiii. 3. because the miracles of the last times are declared to be the signs of Antichrist, 2 Thess. ii. 9, 10. From all which it follows, that miracles are no infallible note of the true church, as the Papists would make it; who also produce St. Paul's handkerchiefs here, and St. Peter's shadow, Acts v. 15. as a warrant for their superstitious relics; but the text assures us, it was God that wrought the special miracles, not St. Paul, nor his handkerchiefs, but God by his hand. The miracles in the church of Rome, pretended to be wrought by the relics of saints and martyrs, are no better than lying wonders, 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus 18 was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. Here observe, 1. That we read not of any in the Old Testament that were bodily possessed with devils and evil spirits: but, in the New Testament, we meet with many both in our Saviour's time and also in the apostles', to the intent that the power of Christ might more signally appear in their ejection and casting out. Observe, 2. How some of the Jewish exorcists, like our jugglers, who make it their trade to wander up and down, to get a livelihood by pretending to cure discases, and cast out devils, seeing what great miracles Paul had wrought in the name of Jesus, attempted to cast a devil out of a possessed man, by using the same name, though in Jesus they believed not. But Satan was so far from obeying them, that he made the possessed man fall violently upon them and wound |