34 And when he had brought them cir.CCVIII.1. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the into his house, he set meat before them, and Lord, and to all that were in his house. rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magis

whom they had so barbarously used the preceding evening, we cannot tell, unless we receive the reading of the Codex Beta as genuine, viz. Ημερας δε γενομένης, συνήλθον οι σρατηγοι επί το αυτό, εις την αγοραν, και αναμνησθεντες τον σεισμον τον γεγονότα, εφοβήθησαν, και απέσειλαν τους ραβδούχους The T. X. And when it was day the magistrates came together into the court, AND REMEMBERing the eartHQUAKE THAT HAD HAPPENED, they were afraid, and they sent the serjeunts, &c. The Itula version of this same MS. has the same reading so has also the margin of the latter Syriac. If this MS. be correct, the cause of the dismissal of the apostles is at once evident; the earthquake had alarmed the magistrates, and taking it for granted that this was a token of the divine displeasure against them for their unprincipled conduct towards those good men, they wished to get as quietly rid of the business as they could; and therefore sent to dismiss the apostles. Whether this reading be genuine or not, it is likely that it gives the true cause of the magistrates' conduct.

who are accused of evil may be absolved, when the cause is heard: but unheard, no man can be condemned." Every principle of the law of nature, and the law of nations, was violated in the treatment these holy men met with from the unprincipled magistrates of this city.

Let them come themselves and fetch us out.] The apostles were determined that the magistrates should be humbled for their illegal proceedings: and that the people at large, might see that they had been unjustly condemned; and that the majesty of the Roman people was insulted by the treatment they had received.

Verse 38. They feared when they heard they were Romans.] They feared, because the Roman law was so constituted, that an insult offered to a citizen, was deemed an insult to the whole Roman people. There is a remarkable addition here, both in the Greek and Latin of the Codex Beza. It is as follows: "And when they were come with many of their friends to the prison, they besought them to go out, saying: We were ignorant of your circumstances, that ye were righteous men. And leading them out, they besought them saying, Depart from this city, lest they again make an insurrection against you, and clamour against you."

Verse 40. Entered into the house of Lydia] This was the place of their residence while at Philippi; see ver. 15.

Verse 37. They have beaten us openly-being Romans] St. Paul well knew the Roman laws; and on their violation by the magistrates, he pleads. The Valerial law forbad any Roman citizen to be bound. The Porcian law forbad any to be beaten with rods. "Porcia lex virgas ab omnium civium Romanorum corpore amovit." And by the same law the liberty of a Roman citizen was never put in the power of They comforted them, and departed.] The magistrates were the lictor. "Porcia lex libertatem civium lictori eripuit." sufficiently humbled, and the public at large hearing of this See CICERO Orat. pro Rabirio. Hence as the same author circumstance, must be satisfied of the innocency of the aposobserves, In Verrem, Orat. 5. “Facinus est vinciri civem tles. They therefore, after staying a reasonable time at the Romanum, scelus verberari." It is a transgression of the house of Lydia, and exhorting the brethren, departed; having law to bind a Roman citizen: it is wickedness to scourge as yet to go farther into Macedonia, and to preach the goshim. And the illegality of the proceedings of these magis-pel in the most polished city in the world, the city of Athens. trates, was farther evident in their condemning and punish- See the succeeding chapter. ing them unheard. This was a gross violation of a common maxim in the Roman law. Caussa cognita, possunt multi absolvi, incognita, nemo condemnari potest. Cicero. Many

66

Great and lasting good was done by this visit to Philippi: a church was there founded, and the members of it did cre

Paul and Silas preach in

THE ACTS.

several cities of Macedonia.

dia and her family: and the next in all probability were the jailor and his family. These doubtless became the instru ments of bringing many more to the faith: for the false im

dit to this profession. To them, the apostle who had suffered so much for their sakes, was exceedingly dear; and they evidenced this by their contributions to his support in the times of his necessity. They sent him money twice to Thessa-prisonment and public acquittal of the apostles by the malonica, Phil. iv. 16. and once to Corinth, 2 Cor. xi. 9. and long afterwards, when he was prisoner in Rome, Phil. iv. 9, 14, 18. About five or six years after this St. Paul visited Philippi on his way to Jerusalem; and he wrote his epistle to them about ten years after his first journey thither. The first members of the church of Christ in this place were Ly

gistrates, must have made their cause popular; and thus the means which were used to prevent the sowing of the seed of life in this city, became the means by which it was sown and || established. Thus the wrath of man praised God; and the remainder of it he did restrain. Never were these words more exactly fulfilled than on this occasion.

CHAPTER XVII.

Paul and his company passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, come to Thessalonica, where they preach the Gospel to the Jews; several of whom believe, 1-4. Others raise a mob, and bring Jason who had received the apostles, before the magistrates; who having taken bail of him and his companions, dismiss them, 5-9. Paul and Silas are sent away by night, unto Berea, where they preach to the Jews; who gladly receive the Gospel, 10–12. Certain Jews from Thessalonica hearing that the Bereans had received the Gospel, come thither and raise up a persecution, 13. Paul is sent away by the brethren to Athens, where he preaches to the Jews, 14-17. He is encountered by the Epicureans and Stoics, who bring him to the Areopagus, and desire him to give a full explanation of his doctrine, 18-20. The character of the Athenians, 21. Paul preaches to them, and gives a general view of the essential principles of theology, 22-31. Some mock, some hesitate, and some believe; and among the latter Dionysius and Damaris, 32-34.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVII. Verse 1. Passed through Amphipolis] This city was the metropolis of the first division of Macedonia, as made by Paulus Æmilius; see the note on chap. xvi. 10. It was builded by Cimon the Athenian general, who sent 10,000 Athenians thither as a colony. It stood in an island in the river Strymon, and had its name of Amphipolis, because included between the two grand branches of that river where they empty themselves into the sea, the river being on both sides of the city.

Apollonia] This was another city of Macedonia, between Amphipolis and Thessalonica. It does not appear that St. Paul stopped at any of these cities: and they are only mentioned by the historian as places through which the apostles passed on their way to Thessalonica. It is very likely, that in these cities there were no Jews: and that might have been the reason why the apostles did not preach the gospel there, for we find them almost constantly beginning with the Jews and the Hellenist Jews, living among the Gentiles, became the medium through

& 14. 1. & 16. 13. & 19. 8.

A. D. cir. 53. An. Olymp. cir.CCVIII.1.

which the Gospel of Christ was conveyed to the heathen world.

Thessalonica] This was a celebrated city of Macedonia, situated on what was called the Thermaic gulf. According to Stephanus Byzantinus, it was embellished and enlarged by Philip king of Macedon, who called it Thessalonica, the victory of Thessalia, on account of the victory he obtained there over the Thessalians: but prior to this, it was called Therma. But Strabo, Tzetzes and Zonaras, say that it was called Thessalonica, from Thessalonica, wife of Cassander, and daughter of Philip. It is now in possession of the Turks, and is called Salonichi, which is a mere corruption of the original name.

A synagogue of the Jews.] H ovvaywyn, THE SYNAgogue; for the article here, must be considered as emphatic, there probably being no other synagogue in any other city in Macedonia. The Jews in different parts, had other places of worship called proseuchas, as we have seen, chap. xvi. 13. at Thessalonica alone, they appear to have had a synagogue. Verse 2. As his manner was] He constantly offered

The unbelieving Jews

A. D. cir. 53.

A. D. cir. 53.

A. M. cir. 4057. in unto them, and three sabbath-devout Greeks a great multitude, A.M.cir.4057. An. Olymp. days reasoned with them out of the and of the chief women scriptures,

cir.CCVIII. 1.

a

b

few.

not a An. Olymp. cir.CCVIII.1.

3 Opening and alledging, that Christ must 5 But the Jews which believed not, needs have suffered, and risen again from moved with envy, took unto them certain the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered uuto you, is Christ. a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the

d

a Luke 24. 26, 46. ch. 18. 28. Gal. 3. 1. Or, whom, said he, I preach. ch. 28. 24.

e

salvation first to the Jews; and for this purpose attended dical credit and authority, to denounce the apostles as seditheir sabbath-days' meetings at their synagogues.

Verse 3. Opening and alledging] Пaparileμevos, proving by citations. His method seems to have been this: 1st. He collected the scriptures that spoke of the Messiah. 2d. He applied these to Jesus Christ; shewing that in him all these scriptures were fulfilled, and that he was the Saviour of whom they were in expectation. He shewed also that the Christ, or Messiah, must needs suffer-that this was predicted, and was an essential mark of the true Messiah. By proving this point he corrected their false notion of a triumphant Messiah; and thus removed the scandal of the cross.

Verse 4. The devout Greeks] That is, Gentiles, who were proselytes to the Jewish religion, so far as to renounce idolatry, and live a moral life, but probably had not received

tious men; and this was, very likely, the reason why they employed those in preference to any others. They were such as always attended forensic litigations, waiting for a job; and willing to defend any side of a question for money. They were wicked men of the forensic tribe.

Gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar] And after having made this sedition and disturbance, charged the whole on the peaceable innocent apostles! This is precisely the same way that persecution against the truth and followers of Christ is still carried on. Some wicked man in the parish gets a wicked attorney and a constable to head a mob, which they themselves have raised; and having committed a number of outrages, abusing men and women, haul the minister of Christ to some magistrate who knows as little of his office as he cares for the gospel; they there charge the outrages which Verse 5. The Jews which believed not, moved with envy, themselves have committed, on the preacher and his peaceable took unto them] Instead of this sentence, the most correct hearers; and the peace-maker appointed by a good king, acMSS. and Versions read simply, cocλaboμevos de di Ioudaro cording to the wise and excellent regulations of a sound con—But the Jews taking, &c. leaving out the words Zaw-stitution, forgetting whose minister he is, neither adminisTaYTES, ATEIBOUVTES, which believed not, moved with envy; ters justice nor maintains truth; but espousing the part of the these words do not appear to be genuine; there is the strong-mob, assumes, ex officio, the character of a persecutor. The est evidence against them; and they should be omitted.

circumcision.

preacher is imprisoned, his hearers fined for listening to that gospel which has not only made them wise unto salvation, but also peaceable and orderly citizens; and which would have had the same effect on the unprincipled magistrate, the parish squire, and the mob, had they heard it with the same reverence and respect. Had I not witnessed such scenes, and such prostitution of justice, I could not have described them.

Certain lewd fellows of the baser sort] This is not a very intelligible translation. The original is, Twv ayopaw Tivas avopas wavypous. The word ayopalo, which we translate the baser sort, is by Hesychius explained ev ayopa avas peço-|| Merci, those who transact business in courts of justice. The same word is used by the Jews in Hebrew letters to signify judges; and be mis agorioth shel goyim, signifies Assaulted the house of Jason] This was the place where judges of the Gentiles. These were probably a low kind of the apostles lodged; and therefore his goods were clear lawyers, what we would call pettyfoggers, or attorneys with- spoil, and his person fair game. This is a case which freout principle, who gave advice for a trifle, and fomented dis- quently occurs where the gospel is preached in its spirit and putes and litigations among the people. The Itala version of power. And even in this most favoured kingdom, the most the Codez Beza, calls them quosdam forenses, certain law- scandalous excesses of this kind have been committed, and a yers. As the Jews, from their small number, could not justice of the peace has been found to sanction the proeasily raise up a mob, they cunningly employed those un- ceedings; and when an appeal has been made to the laws, a principled men, who probably had a certain degree of juri- || grand jury has been found capable of throwing out the true bill!

Verse 6. These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also] The very character our forefathers had for preaching that gospel in every part of the land, by which the nation has been illuminated, the mob disciplined into regularity and order; and the kingdom established in

the hands of the best of monarchs.

These all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar] Persecutors always strive to affect the lives of the objects of their hatred, by accusing them of sedition, or plots against ||

the state.

Berea.] This was another city of Macedonia, on the same gulf with Thessalonica; and not far from Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great.

Verse 11.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica] Hoav EUYEVE5Epol, were of a better race, extraction, or birth, than those at Thessalonica; but the word refers more to their conduct, as a proof of their better disposition, than to their birth, or any peculiar lineal nobility. It was a maxim among the Jews, that "none was of a noble spirit, who did not employ himself in the study of the law." It That there is another king, one Jesus.] How male- appears that the Bereans were a better educated, and more volent was this saying! The apostles proclaimed Jesus polished people than those at Thessalonica; in consequence, as king, that is true: but never once insinuated that his far from persecuting: 1. They heard the doctrine of the kingdom was of this world. The reverse they always main-gospel attentively: 2. They received this doctrine with reatained. diness of mind: when the evidence of its truth appeared to them sufficiently convincing, they had too much dignity of mind to refuse their assent; and too much ingenuousness to conceal their approbation: 3. They searched the scriptures, i. e. of the Old Testament, to see whether these things were so: to see whether the promises and types corresponded with the alleged fulfilment in the person, works, and suffer

Verse 8. And they troubled the people and the rulers] It is evident that there was no disposition in either the people or the rulers, to persecute the apostles. But these wicked Jews, by means of the unprincipled wicked lawyers; those | lewd fellows of the baser sort, threw the subject into the form of law, making it a state question, in which form the rulers were obliged to notice it: but they shewed their un-ings of Jesus Christ: 4. They continued in this work ; willingness to proceed in a matter which they saw pro- they searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things ceeded from malice, by letting Jason and his companions go off on bail.

Verse 9. Taken security] Aabovтes To Ixavov, having taken what was sufficient, or satisfactory. Sufficient for the present, to prove that the apostles were upright, peaceable, and loyal men; and that Jason and his friends were the like; and would be, at any time, forth-coming to answer for their conduct. Perhaps this is the sense of the phrase in the text.

Verse 10. Sent away Paul and Silas by night] Fearing some further machinations of the Jews and their associates.

were so.

Verse 12. Therefore many of them believed] From the manner in which they heard, received, and examined the word preached to them, it was not likely they could be deceived. And as it was the truth that was proclaimed to them, it is no wonder that they apprehended, believed and embraced it.

Of honourable women which were Greeks] Probably mere heathens are meant ; and these were some of the chief families in the place. Thus we find that the preaching of Paul at Berea, was made the instrument of converting both Jews and Gentiles.