A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
ANd after the uprore vvas ceaſed, Paul called unto him the Diſciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. 2. And vvhen he had gone over thoſe parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 3. And there abode three months:
1. Note, He ſpared no labour to ſave Souls and gather Churches.
And vvhen the Jevvs laid vvait for him as he was about to ſail into Syria, he purpoſed to return through Macedonia. 4. And there accompanied him into Aſia, Sopater of Berea; and of the Theſſalonians, Ariſtarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Aſia, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5. Theſe going before tarried for us, at Troas.
3. Note, The Jews though neerer in Religion than the Heathens, yet perſecuted the Chriſtians, when the Heathens gave them liberty of Religion (till Nero's time) even as the Papiſts do the Reformed whom Turks tolerate. 2. Timothy was not now fixed Biſhop of Epheſus, who travelled with Paul.
6. And vve ſailed avvay from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days, vvhere vve abode ſeven days. 7. And upon the firſt day of the vveek, vvhen the Diſciples came together to break bread, Paul Preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrovv, and continued his ſpeech until midnight.
7. On the Lords day when the Chriſtians met as they uſed to do, to Eat a Supper together, and the Lords Supper after it, Paul being to depart on the morrow, was the longer in Preaching to them, even till Midnight.
8. And there vvere many lights in the upper Chamber vvhere they vvere gathered together. 9. And there ſat in a vvindovv a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep ſleep: and as Paul vvas long Preaching, he ſunk dovvn vvith ſleep, and fell dovvn from the third loft, and vvas taken up dead. 10. And Paul vvent dovvn, and fell on him, and embracing him, ſaid, Trouble not your ſelves; for his life is in him.
8. Note, This accident was to prepare for his delivery.
11. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long vvhile, even till break of day, ſo he departed.
11. Note, Grace with Perſecution made Chriſtians willing of long Exerciſes of Religion.
12. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
12. Note, Had he dyed ſome would have ſaid, This is the effect of Chriſtianity; Others, this is the fruit of Conventicles, and night Meetings; Others, this is the fruit of long and and unſeaſonable Preaching: and they would have been hardened by the ſcandal.
13. And vve vvent before to ſhip, and ſailed unto Aſſos, there intending to take in Paul: for ſo had he appointed, minding himſelf to go a foot.
13. Note, It was theſe poor labouring foot Preachers that Planted the Catholick Church, and not Mitred Pompous Princes and Lords, or the worldly crew.
14. And vvhen he met vvith us at Aſſos, vve took him in, and came to Mitylene. 15. And vve ſailed thence, and came the next day over againſt Chios; and the next day vve arrived at Samos, and taried at Trogyllium; and the next day vve came to Miletus.
16. For Paul had determined to ſail by Epheſus, becauſe he would not ſpend the time in Aſia: for he haſted, if it were poſſible for him, to be at Jeruſalem the day of Pentecoſt. 17. And from Miletus he ſent to Epheſus, and called the Elders of the Church.
17. Note, They that tell us that by the Elders of the Church is meant all the Dioceſane Biſhops of Aſia, ſhould tell us, 1. Why Luke would not tell us ſo? 2. Why all Aſia is called a Church in the ſingular number when we never find the Churches of Judea, Gallatia, or any other Country ſo called one Church? 3. Why the Churches of all Aſia are ſummoned as the Church of Epheſus? 4. What proof there is of Metropolitane Churches ſinglularly named in thoſe days? 5. How it would ſtand with Pauls great haſt to Congregate all the Biſhops of Aſia? And whether it was done in a day or two? 6. Whether Paul that ſtayed two or three years at Epheſus did Preach through all Aſia from houſe to houſe, warning every one night and day with tears? 7. VVhether this be not good evidence of many Elders then at Epheſus alone? 8. Why there is no word of making ſome one the Ruler of all the reſt as their Biſhop?
18. And when they were come to him, he ſaid unto them; ye know from the firſt day that I came into Aſia, after what manner I have been with you at all ſeaſons, 19. Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews.
18. Ye know at what rates of danger and ſuffering I have ſerved God for your ſalvation, humbly bearing all, &c.
20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have ſhewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from houſe to houſe,
20. Not fraudulently concealing any thing profitable to you, nor teaching unprofitable things; but inſtructing you both in the publick Aſſemblys and from houſe to houſe as I had opportunity.
21. Teſtifying both to the Jews, and alſo to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
21. The ſum of my Preaching hath been to draw all men, to Repent and turn from ſin and vanity to God as their God, by a lively Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as the way to the Father.
22. And now behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jeruſalem, not knowing the things that ſhall befal me there: 23. Save that the holy Ghoſt witneſſeth in every city, ſaying, that bonds and afflictions abide me.
22. And now I am going to Jeruſalem, by the miſſion of Gods ſpirit who directeth my way, in expectation of bonds; not knowing juſt what and how I ſhall ſuffer, but that where ever I come, the Holy Ghoſt in others that are Prophets tells me that bonds and afflictions muſt befall me.
24. But none of theſe things move me, neither count I my life deare unto my ſelf, ſo that I might finiſh my courſe with joy, and the miniſtery, which I have received of the Lord Jeſus, to teſtifie the Goſpel of the grace of God.
24. But the expectation of ſuffering ſhaketh not my Faith or Reſolution: For it can but amount to their taking away my life: And I account not my life dear, if I may lay it down in ſo good a cauſe, and for ſo great a benefit, as is the finiſhing of the race or courſe of Life which God hath aſſigned me to with joy, as one that is paſt danger and ready to receive the Crown, and the full performance of the Commiſſion which I have received of the Lord, to proclaim and teſtifie the Goſpel of Grace for the gathering of the Church and ſaving of ſouls.
Note, 1. Suffering muſt not ſhake the truſt or reſolution of a Chriſtian, eſpecially a Miniſter of Chriſt. 2. We ſhould not only endeavour to finiſh our courſe of Chriſtianity and Miniſtry with Fidelity, but alſo with joy. 3. Good beginnings are not enough without well finiſhing our Courſe. 4. Life muſt not be thought too dear to lay down for ſo deſirable an end. 5. Martyrs may end their courſe with joy.
Queſt. How ſhould we finiſh our courſe with joy? Anſw. 1. Take God and Heavenly Glory for your all or only happineſs, and believe it firmly. 2. Give up your ſelves wholly to his Love and Service without reſerves. 3. Live on the Mediation of Chriſt by Faith.
25. And now behold, I know that ye all among whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God, ſhall ſee my face no more.
25. Note, O hear your Teachers as thoſe that ſhortly ſhall ſee their Faces on Earth no more.
26. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the bloud of all men. 27. For I have not ſhunned to declare unto you all the counſel of God.
26. You are my Witneſſes, that if any periſh it is not long of me, for want of Teaching; for I have not concealed from you any Truth neceſſary to your Salvation committed to my truſt.
28. Take heed therefore unto your ſelves, and to all the flock, over the which the holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchaſed with his own bloud.
28. Uſe your greateſt care and watchfulneſs and labour, firſt about your ſelves (that your judgments may be ſound, your hearts holy, and your lives exemplary) and then for all the Flock (that one Flock at Epheſus) over which the Holy Ghoſt, by his inward qualifying and exciting you, and by his outward call, by the Flock and the Ordainers, hath made you ſo many Biſhops or Overſeers: ſpare for no diligence to feed and guide this Church of God, which Chriſt the Son of God hath ſo much loved, as to purchaſe it with his own Blood.
Note, 1. The work of the Miniſtry is not Imperiouſneſs and Idleneſs, but a great care and labour for our own Souls and all the Flock, whoſe great danger and neceſſities require it. O, wo, wo, wo, to idle worldly ungodly Treacherous Biſhops and Miniſters! 2. He is no true Miniſter as to his own Conſcience and Salvation, who is not made ſuch by the Holy Ghoſt, though his acts may be valid to the guilty People. 3. Chriſts Blood hath purchaſed the Church in a fuller ſence then he is ſaid to die for all. 4. The blood of Chriſt may be called the blood of God. 5. The reaſon before mentioned make me think that it is the one Church of Epheſus, and not all in Aſia that had all theſe Biſhops. Its called here the [Flocke and the Church] in the ſingular number; and I remember not that any Church under the Goſpel is ſo called, ſave only a ſingle Church, and the Univerſal Church, and not a Collection of many Churches.
29. For I know this, that after my departing ſhall grievous wolves enter in among you, not ſparing the flock.
29. I foreknow that dangerous Hereticks and Tyrannical Dominerers will enter, who as Wolves, may be known by the miſchiefs which they do to the Flock.
30. Alſo of your own ſelves ſhall men ariſe, ſpeaking perverſe things, to draw away Diſciples after them.
30. Even out of your own Church (if not of you Biſhops that hear me) ſhall ſome ariſe, that ſhall vend unſound and novel Doctrines, purpoſely to draw Di…ciples to admire and follow them: O then, what Church can be ſecure from ſuch hurtful Miniſters and corruptions.
31. Therefore watch, and remember that by the ſpace of three years, I ceaſed not to warn every one night and day with tears.
31. Remember my example and imitate it, left it condemn you, &c. Note, Did Paul warn every one night and day with Tears, in a Dioceſs of many hundred Pariſh Churches.
32. And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are ſanctified.
32. And now Brethren, I have no greater Benediction for you, nor Counſel to you, but that God may be your God, your All, your Guide, Protector and Reward, and the word of his Grace may be your Rule, your Employment, and your Truſt; which is ſufficient in its kind, by the help of the Spirit to build you yet higher in Faith, Love and Comfort, and to ſecure you of the Inheritance among the Sanctifyed which it promiſeth.
33. I have coveted no mans Silver, or Gold, or apparel.
33. Note, The worldly ſelf-ſeekers that cannot ſay this, are not ſuch as Chriſt will own or bleſs.
34. Yea, you your ſelves know, that theſe hands have miniſtred unto my neceſſities, and to them that were with me.
34. Note, Worldly Labour for worldly Love is ſordid in a Miniſter, but in neceſſity it is l…udable,
35. I have ſhewed you all things, how that ſo labouring ye ought to ſupport the weak; and to remember the words of the Lord Jeſus, how he ſaid, It is more bleſſed to give then to receive.
35. Note, This labouring of Paul is exemplary to Miniſters when neceſſary. 2. If Miniſters muſt labour to have to give to the relief of others, how much more others that have not ſuch Avocation as the Miniſterial work. They live wickedly like Sodomites that live idly without any labour profitable to others, meerly becauſe they are rich and in no need themſelves.
3. It is uncertain whether Paul cite this ſaying of Chriſt, as verbally told him, though not written, or whether he ſpake it only as the ſenſe and not the words which are recorded. 4. To be a Giver is more honourable than to be a Receiver.
36. And when he had thus ſpoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.
36. Note, Prayer is a meet way of parting with our Friends, and ſhewing our love to them, commending them to God. All things are ſanctifyed by it.
37. And they all wept ſore, and fell on Pauls neck, and kiſſed him, 38. Sorrowing moſt of all for the words which he ſpake, that they ſhould ſee his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ſhip.
37. Note, Thus love cauſeth ſorrow here, and thus we part at laſt with our Friends with tears and grief, with whom we lived with joy. But we ſhall meet again with greater joy, and never part.