A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
NOw when they had paſſed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Theſſalonica, where was a Synagogue of the Jews. 2. And Paul, as his manner was went in unto them, and three ſabbath-days reaſoned with them out of the Scriptures, 3. Opening and alledging, that Chriſt muſt needs have ſuffered, and riſen again from the dead: and that this Jeſus whom I Preach unto unto you, is Chriſt.
2, 3. Note, Paul began his Prea…hing uſually in the Jews Synagogue, becauſe they were moſt prepared by expectation of the Meſſiah, and underſtood his language: for it is not certain, that the miraculous gift of unlearnt tongues, was it which he uſed in his ordinary Preaching, and not only on extraordinary inſpirations.
4. And ſome of them believed, and conſorted with Paul and Silas: and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the cheif women not a few.
4. And being convinced by proof out of the old Teſtament, that Chriſt muſt ſuffer and riſe again, many believed; ſome Jews, but more of the Proſelites and chief Women.
5. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baſer ſort, and gathered a company, and ſet all the city on an uprore, and aſſaulted the houſe of Jaſon, and ſought to bring them out to the people.
5. Note, The rabble are fit inſtruments for perſecution; for they have ſufficient ignorance and malignity, and will rage againſt reaſon: But its Legaliſts that incite them.
6. And when they found them not, they drew Jaſon, and certain brethren, unto the Rulers of the city, crying, Theſe that have turned the world up ſide down are come hither alſo? 7. Whom Jaſon hath received: and theſe all do contrary to the decrees of Ceſar, ſaying, That there is another King, one Jeſus.
6, 7. Note, 1. Were it not for the falſe pretence of Sedition againſt Rulers, to engage their ſafety, and honour in jealouſie againſt Chriſt and Religion, the Devil would be poſed in his Accuſation of the Faithful. 2. The name of King Jeſus falſly Expounded, is it that is uſed to engage Princes againſt Chriſt.
8. And they troubled the people, and the Rulers of the city, when they heard theſe things. 9. And when they had taken ſecurity of Jaſon, and of the other, they let them go.
8. Note, So Solicitous are men of their own ſafety, from the Rulers power, that all puts them into trouble, which ſeemeth to bring them into any danger. Fears raiſe Commotions.
10. And the brethren immediately ſent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea? who coming thither, went into the Synagogue of the Jews.
10. Note, 1. It is good to reſerve Perſecuted Miniſters for further work, when Satan would deſtroy them. 2. Again the Apoſtles make the Jews Synagogue their Preaching place.
11. Theſe were more noble then thoſe in Theſſalonica, in that they received the word with all readineſs of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily, whether thoſe things were ſo.
11. Theſe were more ingenious rational ſober Jews, and did not meet the Goſpel with rage, but thought it worthy their ſerious enquiry, whether the Scriptures did foretell of the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt, and whether Pauls proofs of Chriſtianity were valid.
12. Therefore many of them believed: alſo of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men not a few.
12. This preparation of a ſober enquiry after truth, is a reaſon rendred, why many of them believed. As did many Men and Women of note.
13. But when the Jews of Theſſalonica had knowledge that the word of God was Preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither alſo, and ſtired up the people.
13. Note, Satan ſends about his Meſſenger as Chriſt did his: To ſtir up the People.
14. And then immediately the brethren ſent away Paul, to go as it were to the ſea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there ſtill.
14. Note, Not becauſe Paul was more fearful than the reſt, but that he was more uſeful and more maliced.
15. And they that conducted Paul, brought him unto Athens: and receiving a Commandment unto Silas and Timotheus, for to come to him with all ſpeed, they departed.
15. Paul paſſing by many Countries between, was conducted to Athens, the great Seat or Univerſity of Philoſophy, to Greece and all the Learned World.
16. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens; his Spirit was ſtirred in him, when he ſaw the city wholly given to idolatry.
16. He was much moved, to ſee ſuch abundance of Statues, Images and Altars in the City.
17. Therefore diſputed he in the Synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout perſons, and in the Market daily with them that met with him.
17. Therefore he did not only diſpute for Chriſtianity in the Sinagogue with the Jews, and devout Worſhippers (who when converted, were uſually the firſt Members of the Churches) but alſo with the Heathens where he met them, againſt their Idolatry.
18. Then certain Philoſophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountred him: and ſome ſaid, What will this babbler ſay? other ſome, He ſeemeth to be a ſetter forth of ſtrange Gods? becauſe he Preached unto them Jeſus, and the Reſurrection.
18. The Epicureans a looſe ſenſual Sect, and the Stoicks a ſtricter Sect encountred him; and ſome of them deſpiſing him as an unlearned Babler: Others thought that he Preacht ſome God (by the Name of Jeſus and the Reſurrection) not known to them before, Note, The Athenians were not only for liberty for every one to worſhip what God he would, but thought it the height of Religion to take in and worſhip the Gods of all Nations: And to pleaſe them all, and build them Altars.
19. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, ſaying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou ſpeakeſt, is? 20. For thou bringeſt certain ſtrange things to our ears: we would know therefore what theſe things mean.
19. They brought him to the Court of Judicature, who were to be Judges, before any new God was to be received, that they might hear what God it was that he Preached.
21. (For all the Athenians, and ſtrangers which were there, ſpent their time in nothing elſe, but either to tell or to hear ſome new thing.)
21. The very learning and daily buſineſs of the Athenian Philoſophers, Students and Sojourners, was but to know News, and tell it, whether Speculative or Hiſtorical: (And what elſe is all learning, that ſerveth not to Holineſs and Heaven.
22. Then Paul ſtood in the midſt of Marshill, and ſaid, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too ſuperſtitious.
22. Ye are on pretence of being very Religious, addicted to worſhip multitudes of Gods.
23. For as I paſſed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inſcription, TO THE UNKOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye… ignorantly worſhip, him declare I unto you.
23. Whatever was the occaſion of that Inſcription, you confeſs you worſhip an unknown God, I would therefore make known to you that only God, whom you muſt worſhip.
24. God that made the world, and all things therein, ſeeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in Temples made with hands: 25. Neither is worſhipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing ſeeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
24, 25. Bring not down that God that made and owneth all the World, imaginarily to your Temples and Images, or think that he needeth, or you can give him any thing, who giveth us all things.
26. And hath made of one bloud all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the Earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation:
26. And hath made all Men of one human nature (propagated from one root) and ordered them into their ſeveral Countries, and bounded habitations determined by him.
27. That they ſhould ſeek the Lord, if haply they might feell after him, and find him,
27. Making it their duty to ſeek to know him as their Maker by his works, and as their Benefactor by his Mercies, which palpably declare him, that they might ſerve love and worſhip him, as their God.
27.28. Though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain alſo of your own poets have ſaid, For we are alſo his offſpring.
27, 28. He is as neer us as our Souls are to our Bodys; Being indeed more than a Soul to all the World: For it is In him that we live and move and have our Being; As your Poet Aratus faith, For we are his off-ſpring: for of him, and through him, and to him are all things, and no Parent ſo much cauſeth us as God doth, nor doth the Soul ſo much to our life, motion and being as God doth.
29. Foraſmuch then as we are the offſpring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or ſilver, or ſtone graven by art and mans device.
29. Our Souls being the beſt Image of God our Maker, we muſt not ſo much debaſe him as to make Images of him of Gold, Silver or Stone, as if he was like ſuch ſhapes.
30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
30. And as man ſeemeth by forbearance a while to connive at faults, ſo God hath not in the time of this ignorance, either puniſhed the World as ſuch deſerveth, nor ſent them from Heaven that notice of his diſpleaſure, and that call to Repent and amend as now he doth, but left them moſtly to the Light of Nature and the diſcoveries of his Works and Providence: But now in hatred of Sin and Mercy to Sinners, he hath ſent a ſpecial Meſſenger to the World, to call all to Repentance, and offer them pardon thereupon.
31. Becauſe he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteouſneſs, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given aſſurance unto all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the dead.
31. For he hath certainly determined to judge the World with Righteouſneſs, by that Man whom he hath ordained to be the Saviour of the Faithful and the Judge of all which (though it ſeem incredible to moſt, that a man ſhould be ſo advanced to be King and Judge of all the World, yet) God hath given certain proof of, by evidence ſufficient to evince it to true reaſon, in that he hath raiſed him from death to life, (and taken him up to Heaven.)
32. And when they heard of the Reſurrection of the dead, ſome mocked: and others ſaid, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33. So Paul departed from among them.
12, 13. Note, The Reſurrection ſeemed ſo incredible that ſome (Epicureans its like) ſcoft at it.
Note, Paul did wiſely in Preaching the true God to them firſt, and reproving their Idolatry, and only concluding with the notice of Chriſt. And yet no ſort of men more contemned his Doctrine than the Learned Athenians. Self-conceit and the prepoſſeſſion of their vain though extolled Learning moſt powerfully kept out the Truth: And it did not pleaſe God there to work Miracles to convince them.
34. Howbeit, certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionyſius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
34. This famous Univerſity yeilded few Converts: But thoſe few were precious to God.