A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
AFter theſe things, Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priſcilla, (becauſe that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome) and came unto them.
2. That Claudius baniſhed all Jews from Rome is certain: but the cauſe is uncertain. Suetonius ſaith, It was their Tumults by the impulſe or imitation of Chriſt (or ſome read it of one Creſtus.) It is not unlike that the Jews rage at Rome againſt the Goſpel made them Tumultuous againſt Chriſtians: and thereupon both ſorts were baniſhed under the name of Jews: And ſo there could then be no Church left and tolerated at Rome, but Gentiles only. For it is doubtleſs that the Chriſtian Jews were baniſhed.
3. And becauſe he was of the ſame craft, he abode with them, and wrought (for by their occupation they were Tent-makers.)
3. Note, Men ſeparated to the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, may labour for their Living, if needful.
4. And he reaſoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath, and perſwaded the Jews, and the Greeks.
4. Note, Still the Jews Synagogue was his Preaching place to gather the beginnings of a Church.
5. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was preſſed in Spirit, and teſtified to the Jews, that Jeſus was Chriſt.
5. He was extraordinarily moved in Spirit more openly and earneſtly to teſtifie to the Jews that Jeſus is the Chriſt, to leave them without excuſe.
6. And when they oppoſed themſelves, and blaſphemed, he ſhook his raiment, and ſaid unto them, Your bloud be upon your own heads; I am clean: from hence forth I will go unto the Gentiles.
6. And when they gainſayed and railed and blaſphemed Chriſt, he renounced and deſerted them by the Ceremony of ſhaking off the duſt as a witneſs, that their deſtruction was of themſelves and not by his neglect to convince them. And thencefore he reſolved to leave their Synagogue and teach the Gentiles.
7. And he departed thence, and entred into a certain mans houſe, named Juſtus, one that worſhipped God, whoſe houſe joyned hard to the Synagogue.
7. Note, Its like this Juſtus was a Proſelyte: If not he was one that had learnt at leaſt to worſhip the true God.
8. And Criſpus the cheif Ruler of the Synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his houſe: and many of the Corinthians, hearing believed, and were Baptized.
8. Note, 1. Still we ſee houſholds are Converted and Baptized together; the Rulers power and Gods bleſſing prevailing with them. 3. Though the Synagogue drove away Paul, the Ruler followed him.
9. Then ſpake the Lord to Paul in the night by a viſion, Be not afraid, but ſpeak, and hold not thy peace: 10. For I am with thee, and no man ſhall ſet on thee, to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
9. Note, It is an ungrounded Expoſition of them that ſay that theſe were Gods People as pious men before (though ſome Proſelytes might be ſuch,) or that God only foreknew their Converſion, and did not decree to cauſe it. God had many there whom he decreed to Convert; and therefore will have Paul to Preach to them, and will ſecure him from Perſecutions.
11. And he continued there a year and ſix months, teaching the word of God among them.
11. Note, 1. Great works muſt have anſwerable time and labour. 2. There is mention of Paul, Silas, Timothy, Aquila, Luke▪ and many other ſuch at Corinth: but of no one that was ſole Biſhop over the reſt.
12. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made inſurrection with one accord againſt Paul, and brought him to the judgment-ſeat,
12. They carryed him by force before the Roman Proconſul to be judged.
13. Saying, This fellow perſwadeth men to worſhip God contrary to the law.
13. Note, Who would think but theſe men were very godly men themſelves who were ſo zealous againſt worſhipping of God contrary to the Law. And yet they were meer blind ungodly malignant Peſecutors.
14. And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio, ſaid unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong, or wicked lewdneſs, O ye Jews, reaſon would that I ſhould bear with you: 15. But if it be a queſtion of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of ſuch matters.
14. The Roman Law enabled not Gallio to decide the Jewiſh Controverſies, but to puniſh men that wronged one another, or committed any Wicked lewdneſs.
Note, If Chriſtian Magiſtrates were all as wiſe as theſe Heathens and would not lend fiery Legalliſts their Swords, nor become the Executioners of the fury of blind proud zealots, the buſineſs would be ſoon over, and be but a ſcuffle among themſelves.
16. And he drave them from the Judgement-ſeat. 17. Then all the Greeks took Soſthenes, the cheif Ruler of the Synagogue, and beat him before the judgement-ſeat: and Gallio cared for none of thoſe things.
16, 17. Note, Its like theſe Greeks were Chriſtian Converts: They did ill in exerciſing revenge.
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.
18. Note, It is uncertain whether it was Paul or Aquila, that is ſaid to cut his hair: but it ſeemeth liker to be Aquila. The Vow of Nazarites was not to cut their Hair, ſometime during life, and ſometime for a certain time: when it was ended they cut their Hair.
19. And he came to Epheſus, and left them there: but he himſelf entred into the Synagogue, and reaſoned with the Jews.
19. Note, His renouncing the Jews at Corinth, was not a forſaking them elſewhere.
20. When they deſired him to tarry longer time with them, he conſented not: 21. But bade them farewel, 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.
22. He went up from Caeſarea to Jeruſalem and after returned to Antioch.
23. And after he had ſpent ſome time there, he departed, and went over all the Countrey, of Galatia and Phrygia in order, ſtrengthening all the Diſciples.
23. To inſtruct and encourage thoſe before Converted, as well as to gather more.
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 diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the Baptiſm of John.
24, 25. He was well acquainted with the Scriptures, and believed ſo much of Chriſt as John had Preached, and was Baptized with his Baptiſm, but wanted yet much of the further knowledge of Chriſt, and of the Chriſtian Baptiſm.
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.
26. Note, An Eloquent Teacher mighty in the Scriptures, yet diſdaineth not to be better inſtructed by a Tent-maker and his Wife.
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.
27. They wrote to them to entertain and encourage him; who when he was come proved a great helper to them that already by the Grace of God were made Believers.
28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, ſhewing by the Scriptures, that Jeſus was Chriſt.
28. For by the advantage of great acquaintance with the Scriptures, and his Eloquence, he was too hard for the contradicting Jews, and clearly proved to them from the Sciptures which they own, that Jeſus is the true Meſſiah or Chriſt.