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A. D. 54. might filence the Pretence of fome malicious Jews, that he preached for Gain and Advantage. (See 1 Cor. ix.)

4. And he reasoned in the fynagogue every fabbath, and perfuaded the Jews, and the Greeks.

4. For in this, as in other Places, he applied himself to those of that Nation firft, preaching every Sabbath in fome or other of their Synagogues, but to very

little Purpose upon the Generality of fo obdurate and prejudiced a People.

5. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was preffed in fpirit, and teftified to the Jews that Jesus was Chrift.

5. But however, as foon as Silas and Timothy came to him from Berea (where he left them, Chap. xvii. 15, 16.) he renewed his Endeavours with a moft paffionate Concern at their Ingratitude and Infidelity, laying before them all

the clear Proofs, and undeniable Evidences from their own Prophecies, That JESUS was the true Meffiah.

6. And when they oppofed themselves, and blafphemed, he fhook his raiment, and faid unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads, I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

6. Till at last they flew into fuch an abufive and outrageous Carriage toward him, that he told them he had done his Duty, that their Destruction was from themselves; and that fince no Good was to be done upon them, he would now preach to the Gentile Corinthians (viz. to the idolatrous as well as the profelyte Gentiles,) and fo fhook his Garment at them, as a Token of his renouncing all further Conversation with them.

7. And he departed
thence, and entred
into a certain mans

house, named Juftus,
one that worshipped
God, whofe houfe

joined hard to the fy

nagogue.

8. And Crifpus the chief ruler of the fy

7 & 8. Leaving their Synagogues therefore, he preached for the future in the House of a cer

tain Jewish uncircumcis'd Profelyte; where he converted the Prefident of a Synagogue, with his whole Family, and abundance of the Corinthian Gentiles, who all received Baptism.

nagogue,

nagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his houfe: and ma- A. D. 54. ny of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized.

peace:

9. Then fpake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vifion, Be not afraid, but fpeak, and hold not thy 10. For I am with thee, and no man fhall fet on thee, to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

9 & 10. And for his Encouragement under the malicious Treatment he had, and was ftill like to find from the Jews, (efpecially now that he was preaching the Kingdom of the Meffiah to the Gentiles) Christ appeared to him in a Vifion by Night, and gave him Affurance of very great Succefs in his Miniftry there among the Gentile Part of the City; and that all Attempts of the Jews against him fhould be ineffectual.

11. And he continued there a year and fix months, teaching the word of God among them.

II. Whereupon he continued his Miniftry there a Year and a half together.

12. And when Gal12 & 13. During which Time, lio was the deputy of the Jews, in a riotous and tuAchaia, the Jews made multuous Manner feized upon infurrection with one Paul, and, upon a Court-Day, accord against Paul, brought him before Gallio the and brought him to Roman Præfect, and accufed him the judgment-feat. 13. Saying, This of Blafphemy against their Relifellow perfuadeth men gion. to worship God contrary to the law.

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A. D. 55. law, look ye to it: for I will be no judge of fuch matters.

16. And he drave them from the judg

but to trouble him and the Court with Disputes who were the Meffiah, or what was agrecable or contrary to their Jewish Law, was impertinent in them, and none of his Bufinefs to determine; and fo ordered them, with fome Refentment, to be turned out of Court.

ment-feat.

17. Then all the
*Greeks took Softhe-

nes the chief ruler of
the fynagogue, and
beat him before the
judgment - feat and
Gallio cared for none
of those things.

17. Whereupon the common People, either to fhew their zealous Refpect to the Governor, or elfe to provoke him to interpofe in this Affair, routed the Jews, and gave Softhenes, a Prefident of one of their chief Synagogues, and the principal Clamourer against Paul, fome Blows in open Court; and though this was an illegal Proceeding, yet Gallio being under a Refentment against the Jews, and taking it to be done out of no Difrefpect to himself, took no Notice of it, and let it pafs.

18. And Paul after
this, tarried there yet
a good while, and
then took his leave of
the brethren, and fail

ed thence into Syria,
and with him Prifcilla
and Aquila having
fhorn his head in Cen-

chrea: for he had a
Vow.

19. And he came
to Éphefus, and left
them there but he

himself entred into

the

18. Paul continued at Corinth fome Time after this, and then took Shipping for Syria along with Prifcilla and Aquila, who being under a religious Vow (called the Vow of the Nazarite) had his his Head fhorn at Cenchrea, the Vow being then expired. (See Numb. vi.)

19, 20 & 21. In this Voyage, Paul took Ephefus in his Way, and preached to the Jews there in their Synagogue; then left A

quila

* Ver. 17. The Greeks took Softhenes, &c.Note, Some good Manufcripts, the Copt. and Vul. Verfions leave out "Exves (the Greeks) and one MS. read 'Isaios (the Jews.) If it were the Jews that beat Softhenes, we may then suppose him to be now a Chriftian, or Favourer of the Chriftians; as fome learned Men have thought. Let the Reader judge.

the fynagogue,and rea-
foned with the Jews.
20. When they de-
fired him to tarry lon-
ger time with them,
he confented not,
21. But bade them
farewell, faying, I
muft by all means
keep this feaft that
cometh, in Jerufa-
lem; but I will re-
turn again unto you,
if God will. And he
22. And when he
had landed at Cæfarea,
and gone up and falut-
ed the church, he went

down to Antioch.

quila and his Wife there, with A. D. 55.
a Promife to return to them again
after he had been at the Paffover-
Feaft at Jerufalem, whither it was
very proper for him to go at that
Solemnity, both to vifit, and con-
fult with the Apoftles and Heads
of that principal Church, and to
prevent the Sufpicions and Preju
dices the Jews might take at his
Abfence from so great a Festival.

failed from Ephefus.

22. From Ephefus therefore he failed directly, and landed at Cafarea in Galilee; thence up to fe rufalem, where having kept this Paffover, and conferred fome

Time with the Apoftles and Church-Governors, went

to Antioch in Syria.

23. And after he had fpent fome time there, he departed and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, ftrengthening all the difciples.

24. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the fcrip tures, came to Ephefus. 25. This man was inftructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the fpirit,he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptifm of John.

23. After fome Time spent a mong the Chriftians of which Church, he paffed through Galatia and Phrygia, all along as he went, exhorting the Chriftian Converts to Patience and Conftancy in their Profeffion.

24 & 25. About this Time, A. D. 56. there arrived at Ephefus a Jew named Apollos, that was one of John Baptift's Difciples, a Perfon of great Eloquence and Learning in the Jewish Scriptures, who knew as much of the Christian Religion as could be known from John Baptift's Doctrine, and the Ends of his Baptifm, viz. The Duty of Repentance, upon a full Belief and Expectation, that the Time of the Meffiah was now come, to fave and redeem Mankind, upon the Terms of fincere Obedience and Refor

mation of Life.

K

26. Ac

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26. Accordingly as foon as he was come thither, he preached this Doctrine in the Jewish Synagogue, with a mighty Strength of Argument and Eloquence. Which noble Endowments of his, were foon ripened into a full and perfect Understanding of the Life and Religion of JESUS CHRIST, Inftructions of Aquila and Prifcilla.

took him unto them,
and expounded unto
him the way of God
more perfectly.
by the particular

27. And when he
was difpofed to pals
into Achaia, the bre

27. After which compleat Converfion to the Chriftian Faith, having a Defire to go and propagate it in the Province of Achaia or Greece, the Ephefian Church gave him Letters of Recommendation to the Chriftians there; and he did very eminent Service in those Places, both in establishing and confirming such as did believe, and in converting others.

thren wrote, exhort-
ing the difciples to
receive him who,
when he was come,
helped them much
which had believed
through grace.

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28. Especially the Jews, in whofe Affemblies he demonstrated with wonderful Clearnefs and Conviction, from the prophetical Writings, That JESUS must be the true Meffiah, the Saviour

A.

CHA P. XIX.

The CONTENTS.

He

Paul returns to Ephefus. Baptizeth feveral of John Baptift's Difciples, and confers the Holy Ghoft on them. preacheth in the Jewish Synagogues; but is forced to leave them under their Obftinacy. Preaches in the School of Tyrannus; works fpecial Miracles. Of the Jews Exorcifts; fome of them converted, and burn their magical Books. A Tumult raised against Paul by Demetrius the Shrine-maker. The Town-Clerk makes a Speech, and appeafeth it.

4. D. 57. 1. AND it came

~

to pass, that
while

I.

B

EFORE Apollos was returned from Achaia (See

Chap.

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