The Apostolical History, Chapter 6 · Section 17 – Section 18
SECT. XVII.
THE Apoſtle intending to go directly from Corinth into Syria, to carry the Alms of the Macedonian and Achaian Chriſtians to Judea; he was advertiſed, that the Jews (who hated his Doctrine and perſon, and knew of his purpoſe) laid wait for him, to intercept the moneys he carried, and poſſibly to take away his life. Whereupon he thought it beſt, to return into Macedonia, (from whence he came), and from thence to paſs into Aſia. Sopater of Beroea went along with him as far as Aſia, never parting from him; but Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tychicus, Trophimus, and Timothy, (who it ſeems upon ſome occaſion or other was come unto him from Epheſus), went with him through Macedonia, and then leaving him, went before to Aſia, and expected him and his company at Troas; who accordingly came thither, with Luke and Sopater, not long after from Philippi, and ſtayed there ſeven days. On the eighth day, which was the firſt day (a)Ex hoc loco, item ex 1 Cor. 16.2, demonſtratur quod tranſlatio Sabbathi, quarto legis moralis praecepto ſanciti, ex ultimo in primum diem hebdomadis, non ſolum fundata ſit in conſuetudine Chriſtianae Eccleſiae, ſed etiam in expreſſà ordinatione Apoſtolicâ; unde & ille dies vocatur foreign Apoc. 1.10. i. e. in honorem Domini celebratus. Quartum praeceptun legis Moralis non eſt abrogatum, ſed etiam Chriſtianos ad …bſervandum Sabb…thum hebdomadarium obligat. Authore… hujus mutationis …uiſſe ipſos Apoſtolo… Chriſti (qui Spiritum infallibilitatis habuerunt) p…ter ex h…c loco, & locis mox, alleg…tis▪ Habuit Sabbathum, & etiamnum habet, duplices fines. 1. Morales, ut eſſet tempus Deo ſacrum, quod negotiis mundanis ſubſtractum, impenderetur Deo laudando, cognoſcendo, invocando, &c. 2. Ceremoniales; ſic Sabbathum Judaicum fuit rememoratio iſtius quietis divinae, qu… ab operibus Cre…tionis ceſſavit; ſic fuit ſignum foederis quod cum Iſraelitis pepigit, Exod. 31.13. Ezek. 20.12, 20. Item ſignum quietae poſſeſſionis térrae Canaan, poſt liberationem ex ſervili labore Aegypti, Deut. 5.15. ſic etiam typus aeternae quietis in coelo, Iſa. 66.22, 23. ut explicatur, Heb. 4.9. Sic etiam monitorium quieſcendi & ceſſandi à peccatis, Iſa 56.2 & …8.13. Praeſertim autem erat typus iſtius quietis, quà Chriſtus ſeptimo die hebdomadis quievit in ſepulchro à laboribus Paſſionis. Quo…am autem iſtae ceremoniales praefiguration…s per adventum Chriſti aliquâ ex parte impletae ſunt, poſt adventum Chriſti Sabbathum caret ſinibus Sacramentalibus, quos in Veteri Teſt…mento habuit, & praecipuè non eſt Typus Chriſti & mortis ipſiu…, & propter hanc cauſ…m à ſeptimo die hebdomadis in primum tranſl…tum eſt, ut ſciremus Chriſtum non exſpectari, ſed veniſſe, non amplius moriturum, ſed mortuum eſſe, & ex morte reſurrexiſſe. Etſi ergo Sabbatum non ampliu… eſt figura, & Typus quietis Chriſti in ſepulchro, vel quietis in terrâ Canaan poſt exitum ex Aegypto, nec amplius eſt jugum legis ad acuendum Spiritum ſervitutis, tamen etiamnum eſt tempus honori Dei, curandae ac nutriendae animae, reſiciendo corpori, exercendae miſerecordiae ſ cratum. Vide plura ſuper hac re apud Streſionem in loc.of the week the Diſciples being gathered together to break bread, and receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, Paul preached unto them, and being to go away next day continued his exhortation till midnight. Eutichus, a young who ſate in a window, being ſurprized with ſleep, fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead *Sic Chriſtus, Mat 9.24. Filiola non est mortua ſed dormit, i. e. ad tempus tantum receſſit anima, & mox re…ibit. At ubi…erat anim…? In manu Dei vel Angelorum qui morientium animas dicuntur portare, Luk. 16.22. etſi non fuit in coelum aſportata, tamen fuit in manu Angeli cuſtodita. Vid. Act. 37. hiſtoriam de Tabi…ha.; Paul falling on him, (in imitation of the Prophets, Elijah and Eliſha, 1 Kings 17.21. & 2 Kings 4.34.), quickly perceived his Soul (which was departed) through the power of God (on which he believed) reſtored to him again, and therefore bad them not trouble themſelves. The Diſciples ſeeing this Miracle, were not a little comforted; becauſe not only life was reſtored to the Youth again, but the Doctrine of the Goſpel which Paul preached, was exceedingly confirmed thereby.
Act. 20.3. And there abode three months: and when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to ſail into Syria, he purpoſed to return thorow Macedonia.
v. 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.
v. 5. Theſe going before, tarried for us at Troas:
v. 6. And we ſailed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we abode ſeven days.
v. 7. And upon the firſt day of the week, when the diſciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his ſpeech until midnight.
v. 8. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
v. 9. And there ſat in a window a certain young man, named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep ſleep, and as Paul was long preaching, he ſunk down with ſleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
v. 10. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him, ſaid, Trouble not your ſelves, for his life is in him.
v. 11. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, ſo he departed.
v. 12. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
v. 6. Post dies Azymorum] Paulus vocatorum ex Gentibus libertatem tuebatur; ipſe tamen, dies Judaeorum feſtos obſervabant. Vide Act. 18.21. 1 Cor. 16.8.v. 7. foreign pro▪ foreign, & Sabbatorum pro Sabbati. Enallage numeri. Ʋnus Sabbatorum, eſt primus hebdomadae dies à Sabbato proximus, qui nobis Dominicus dicitur. Is dies conventûs, Chriſtianis proprius, 1 Cor. 16.2. dies foreign, Apoc. 1.10. Juſtinus de eadem die Apolog. 2. foreign.SECT. XVIII.
FRom Troas Paul went on foot to Aſſos, a Sea-port-Town in Aſia, ſending his companions by ſhip thither before him, who when he came thither took him in. Thence they all ſailed together to Mitylene, and the next day arrived at Samos, and having tarried a little at Trogyllium, the day following they came to Miletus, paſſing by, and not touching at Epheſus. For the Apoſtle being deſirous to be at Jeruſalem, at the Feaſt of Pentecoſt, (that he might in that concourſe have a larger opportunity of ſpreading the Goſpel), would not now call at Ephe…us, leſt he ſhould be detained too long by the Brethren there. Wherefore he ſent for the Elders of that Church to come to him to Miletus. They being come, He in a very grave and ſerious diſcourſe ſets before them, in the firſt place, The uprightneſs of his Converſation, and the faithfulneſs of his Miniſtry among them, and how he had behaved himſelf with all humility of mind, and had expreſs'd much tenderneſs of affection to them, and that amidſt many hazzards and dangers from the Jews, who conſpired againſt his life; that he kept nothing back from them, that he thought uſeful for them to know; but had both publickly and privately preached, both to Jews and Gentiles the neceſſity of Repentance, and Converſion to God, and of Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. He tells them, he was now going to Jeruſalem, not undertaking that Journey raſhly or inconſiderately, but being incited to it by the ſtrong impulſe of the Spirit of God(a)Vinctus Spiritu] i. e. Ductu, & impulſu Spiritûs Sancti ad hoc iter tam efficaciter impulſus, ac ſi vinculis iſtuc traheretur. Vid. Act. 16.6, 7, &c. 19.21, &c. 13.4. Mat. 4.1.. Neither knew he what particular ſufferings the Lord would there call him to undergo, or what would be the iſſue of them, whether life or death. Only this he found, that in every City (through which he paſſed), thoſe that had the gift of Propheſie, (as many in the Churches had at that time), foretold him, that bonds and afflictions did wait for him, and attend him. But none of theſe things moved him, no not loſs of life it ſelf, if he might ſerve Chriſt faithfully in the office which he had intruſted him with, and publiſh his Goſpel, wherein the free grace of God is ſo eminently manifeſted. And as for them, his dear friends, (among whom he had ſo long convers'd, and to whom he had preached the Goſpel, by which the Kingdom of God is ſet up in the hearts of men), he tells them, they were never like to ſee his face again. And ſeeing he had faithfully ſhewed to them the way to ſalvation, the fault was not in him if any of them periſhed, ſee Act. 18.6. Ezek. 3.18. He then exhorts them, to have a great regard to their Paſtoral charge, and to take heed to themſelves, (that their life and converſation be holy and unblameable), and to the whole flock over which the Holy Ghoſt(b)Spiritus Sanctus eſt vicarius Chriſti in terris, qui Chriſti nomine Eccleſiam docet, & regit, Joh. 16.13, 14. Et ex hac poteſtate vicariatûs Eccleſiae miniſtros vocat, dotat, mittit, praeficit. Ergo Christus eſt Rex Eccleſiae, Spiritus Sanctus vicarius hujus Regis, Pastores, ſervi, viſibilia ac audibilia inſtrumenta hujus vicarii. Eſt argumentum quo & perſonalitas, & divinitas Spiritus Sancti lucidè demonſtratur. Streſo., (from whom all faithful Miniſters have principally their call and authority*See Act. 13.2, 3.), had made them Overſeers, that they feed the Church of God with ſound Doctrine, and give them a good example. Which exhortation he inforceth by two arguments. 1. Becauſe of the ineſtimable price with which this flock was bought; Chriſt, God-man having purchaſed it with his own blood. 2. Becauſe of the danger that the flock was like to be in, after his departure, partly from Wolves (that is, falſe Teachers, or profeſſed perſecuting enemies), partly from ſubtil crafty Hereticks, who ſhould ariſe from among themſelves. He exhorts them therefore, to be careful, remembring, how for the ſpace of three years he had taken much pains in preaching the Goſpel among them, and had with tears, night and day, (as occaſion offered it ſelf*See 2 Tim. 1.3. 1 Theſſ. 1.9. 2 Theſſ. 3.9.), warned them to take heed of ſuch ſeducers, and to cleave to the truth. Laſtly, He takes his ſolemn leave of them, commending them to the protection and guidance of God, and to the directions delivered in his Goſpel, which if they adhered to, he tells them, will be able to inſtruct and build them up, and bring them to that glorious inheritance which God hath provided for all his Saints; the promiſes whereof may abundantly encourage them in their work In concluſion, he profeſſeth his innocency from that ſordid ſin of Covetouſneſs, and appeals to them, whether by his own manual labour he had not maintained himſelf, and thoſe that were with him, (ſee Act. 18.3.). And thereby he had taught them, that by ſo labouring as he did, (when the caſe required it), they ſhould be ſo far from being chargeable or burdenſom to others, that they ſhould ſupport, and relieve the poor and weak in eſtate; and this much rather, than by exacting wages drive any, that were tenacious, from embracing the Goſpel. For according to that ſaying of our Saviour, (not recorded in the Goſpels, though poſſibly it may be gathered from Luk. 6.38. & 16.9.), It is more bleſſed to give than to receive. When he had thus ſpoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them, and when he had ſo done, they with great expreſſions of ſorrow accompanied him to the ſhip, being more eſpecially grieved at thoſe words of his, That they ſhould ſee his face no more. From Ver. 13, to the end.
Act. 20. v. 13. And we went before to ſhip, and ſailed unto Aſſos, there intending to take in Paul: for ſo had he appointed, minding himſelf to go afoot.
v. 14. And when he met with us at Aſſos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
v. 15. And we ſailed thence, and came the next day over againſt Chios, and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium: and the next day we came to Miletus.
v. 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.
v. 17. And from Miletus he ſent to Epheſus, and called the Elders of the Church.
v. 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.
v. 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:
v. 20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have ſhewed you, and have taught you publikely, and from houſe to houſe.
v. 21. Teſtifying both to the Jews and alſo to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
v. 22. And now behold, I go bound in the ſpirit unto Jeruſalem, not knowing the things that ſhall befall me there:
v. 23. Save that the holy Ghoſt witneſſeth in every City, ſaying, That bonds and afflictions abide me.
v. 24. But none of theſe things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my ſelf, ſo that I might finiſh my courſe with joy, and the miniſtry which I have received of the Lord Jeſus, to teſtifie the Goſpel of the grace of God.
v. 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.
v. 26. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
v. 27. For I have not ſhunned to declare unto you all the counſel of God.
v. 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 blood.
v. 29. For I know this, that after my departing ſhall grievous wolves enter in among you, not ſparing the flock.
v. 30. Alſo of your own ſelves ſhall men ariſe, ſpeaking perverſe things, to draw away diſciples after them.
v. 31. Therefore watch, and remember that by the ſpace of three years, I ceaſed not to warn every one night and day with tears.
v. 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.
v. 33. I have covered no man ſilver, or gold, or apparel.
v. 34. Yea, you your ſelves know, that theſe hands have miniſtred unto my neceſſities, and to them that were with me.
v. 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, than to receive.
v. 36. And when he had thus ſpoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.
v. 37. And they all wept ſore, and fell on Pauls neck, and kiſſed him,
v. 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.