A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Acts · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
ANd it came to paſs, that after we were gotten from them; and had lanched, we came with a ſtraight courſe unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara. 2. And [finding a ſhip ſailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and ſet forth. 3. Now when we had diſcovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and ſailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ſhip was to unlade her burden. 4. And finding Diſciples, we tarried there ſeven days: who ſaid to Paul through the Spirit, that he ſhould not go up to Jeruſalem.
4. Note Was the Spirit in Paul and in them contrary? No, but the Spirit in them told them in what danger he would be at Jeruſalem, and then they in kindneſs, as Men, diſſwaded him, but not that the Spirit forbid him, but carryed him on to it, and therefore he went on.
5. And when we had accompliſhed thoſe days, we departed and went our way, and they all brought us on our way, with wives and Children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the ſhore, and prayed.
5. Note, The loving Communion of Saints and Prayer, are the mark of true Diſciples. Beza conjectureth that they are called Diſciples as meer Chriſtians, not ordered into a particular Church State: And that they are called the Brethren, when aſſociated in Church order.
6. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ſhip, and they returned home again. 7. And when we had finiſhed our courſe from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and ſaluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8. And the next day we that were of Pauls company departed, and came unto Ceſarea; and we entred into the houſe of Philip the evangeliſt (which was one of the the ſeven) and abode with him.
6. Note, Luke who was one of Pauls ordinary Company makes no mention of himſelf and his own actions and labours, as if he were nobody.
9. And the ſame man had four daughters, Virgins, which did propheſie.
9. Note, Though Women were not to ſpeak as Teachers in the Aſſemblies, they might have the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, and ſpeak by inſpiration and prediction.
10. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus. 11. And when he was come unto us, he took Pauls girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and ſaid, Thus ſaith the holy Ghoſt, So ſhall the Jews at Jeruſalem bind the man that oweth this girdle, and ſhall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
11, Note, God foretelleth his Servants ſufferings▪ not as bidding them avoid them, but as warning them to prepare.
12. And when we heard theſe things, both we and they of that place, beſought him not to go up to Jeruſalem.
12. Note, As Men, they perſweded him to avoid the danger.
13. Then Paul anſwered, What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but alſo to die at Jeruſalem for the name of the Lord Jeſus.
13. You do but become your ſelves the Author of my ſufferings: What are Bonds, and what is Life, that I ſhould not cheerfully entertain them for the name of Jeſus my Lord?
Note, The condolence and temptations of compaſſionate Friends, are oft more grievous than perſecution.
14. And when he would not be perſwaded, we ceaſed, ſaying, The will of the Lord be done.
14. We ſaw by his reſolution and unperſwadableneſs that it was Gods will; and we ſubmitted to it.
15. And after thoſe days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jeruſalem. 16. There went with us alſo certain of the Diſciples of Ceſarea, and brought with them one Muaſon of Cyprus, an old Diſciple, with whom we ſhould lodge. 17. And when we were come to Jeruſalem, the brethren received us gladly.
15. Muaſon lodged us, and the Church gladly owned us.
18. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the Elders were preſent.
18 Note, They that ſay, all the Elders were all the Biſhops of Judea, do without proof, fain Paul to have ſent word before of his coming, and deſired a Council to be gathered to entertain him; or elſe they take all the Biſhops of Judea to be very groſs Nonreſidents, that were all found the firſt day, ſo far from their Flocks;
19. And when he had ſaluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his miniſtery. 20. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord.
19. They rejoyced and thanked God for the ſucceſs of the Goſpel on the Gentiles, and ſcattered the Jews abroad.
20. And ſaid unto him, Thou ſeeſt, brother, how many thouſands of Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous of the law. 21. And they are informed of thee, that thou teacheſt all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forſake Moſes, ſaying, that they ought not to circumciſe their Children, neither to walk after the cuſtoms.
20, 21. They are told, that thou teacheſt not only the Gentiles, but the Jews to forſake Circumciſion, and Moſes Law and the Cuſtomes.
22. What is it therefore? the multitude muſt needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23. Do therefore this that we ſay to thee: we have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purifie thy ſelf with them, and be at charges with them, that they may ſhave their heads: and all may know that thoſe things whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing, but that thou thy ſelf alſo walkeſt orderly, and keepeſt the law.
22. The Multitude of Chriſtian Jews will hear of thy coming, deliver them thus from this offence; we have four Men that made the Nazarites vow to abſtain from ſome things a certain time, which is now expired, and they are to ſhave themſelves ceremoniouſly in the Temple: Go thou with them, and perform there the Legal Ceremonies of Purification, and be at the coſt of this ſolemnity on them, that the People may know, that the report of thee is not true, but that thou being a Jew doſt thy ſelf keep the Law.
Note, The Law was by Chriſt abrogated as to the uſe of the Types and Ceremonies, as ſignifying him that was to come, The Political part ceaſed when their policie was diſſolved by their ruine: And the moral natural part Chriſt continued as his Law. And the Abrogation of the reſt was not fully made known at firſt, but by degrees; and the exerciſe of it long tolerated to the Jews.
25. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded, that they obſerve no ſuch thing, ſave only that they keep themſelves from things offered to idols, and from bloud, and from ſtrangled, and from fornication.
25. We intend not this for the Gentiles, nor would bring them under the yoak of Moſes Law, &c.
26. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himſelf with them, entrod into the Temple, to ſignifie the accompliſhment of the days of purification, until that an offering ſhould be offered for every one of them.
26. Paul did as they adviſed him, and performed all the Ceremonies required, and came to the Temple to make it known, that the days of Purification were accompliſhed, till they were to offer.
27. And when the ſeven days were almoſt ended, the Jews which were of Aſia, when they ſaw him in the Temple, ſtirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28. Crying out, Men of Iſrael help: this is the man that teacheth all men every where againſt the people, and the law, and this place: and further, brought Greeks alſo into the Temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29. (For they had ſeen before with him in the city, Trophimus an Epheſian, whom they ſuppoſed that Paul had brought into the Temple.)
27. Note, Some think that God let out this affliction on Paul, for complying ſo far to pleaſe the People; as if it had been carnal Councel which he followed. But that is not to be ſuppoſed; that both the Apoſtles and Elders, and he himſelf, who was guided by the Spirit, ſhould herein err and be miſled: This would leave us uncertain of the truth of their writings. But it was the way of fulfilling Gods decree; and tells us what a task it is to have to do with ſuch Men: Whether they be pleaſed or not, we muſt ſuffer by them.
30. And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the Temple: and forthwith the doors were ſhut.
30. In blind rage they drag'd him out of the Temple as a Profaner of it.
31. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the cheif captain of the band, that all Jeruſalem was in an uprore.
31. This ſort of zeal maketh Men think it no ſin but a ſerving of God, to murder the beſt of Saints, as a Sacrifice to their Holy Temple and Ceremonies.
32. Who immediately took Souldiers, and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they ſaw the cheif Captain and the Souldiers, they left beating of Paul.
32, Note. 1. Even a Heathen Government is better than the Popular rage of blind ceremonious ſuperſtitious Zealots. 2. Heathens are oft the Protectors of Chriſtians, againſt the blind rage of thoſe that profeſs devotion to the ſame God.
33. Then the cheif Captain came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two Chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done? 34. And ſome cried one thing, ſome another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the Caſtle.
33, 34. A Heathen would hear the cauſe before he judges it, when ſuperſtitious Zealots execute before they try or hear.
35. And when he came upon the ſtairs, ſo it was that he was born of the Souldiers, for the violence of the people. 36. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
35. The Heathen Soldiers were fain by force, to carry and guard him from theſe Hypocrites.
37. And as Paul was to be led into the caſtle, he ſaid unto the cheif Captain, May I ſpeak unto thee? Who ſaid, Canſt thou ſpeak Greek? 38. Art not thou that Egyptian which before theſe days madeſt an uprore, and leddeſt out into the wilderneſs four thouſand men that were murderers?
37, 38. The tumult about him made him ſuſpect him to be an Incendiary that had lately raiſed ſedition.
39. But Paul ſaid, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarſus, a citizen of no mean city: and I beſeech thee, ſuffer me to ſpeak unto the people. 40. And when he had given him licence, Paul ſtood on the ſtairs, and beckened with the hand unto the people: and when there was made a great ſilence, he ſpake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, ſaying.
39, 40. When he had given him leave to ſpeak, and procured ſilence and audience by his Authority, which elſe the Multitude of Legal Zealots would not have granted him, he ſpake to them in the Chaldec Tongue than called the Hebrew, becauſe it was underſtood by a greater number than the Greek. This ſheweth that Greek was not then moſt common.