The Harmony Chronicle and Order of the New Testament, Part 2 · Acts 3
ACTS CHAP. XIX. from Ver. 23. to the end of the Chapter.
PAUL had determined to stay at Ephesus till Pentecost, because of a great and effectuall door that was opened to him, and he was earnest to imbrace that opportunity, 1 Cor. 16.9. but before his determined time of departure thence came, and as it seemeth not long before, Demetrius, with the rest of the Silversmiths raise a tumult against him as the great impairer of their profit, by crying down the worship of Diana and other Idols. These men used to make silver Temples of Diana, foreign, or little models, as it seemeth, made after that Temple fashion; which they that came to Ephesus to worship, bought, either to consecrate to the Goddesse, and to leave there in her Temple, or rather to take away with them home in memoriall of that Goddesse. Tully in Verrem speaks of Aedes Minervae posita in fano Apollinis. And Dion Cassius lib. 36. of foreign, &c. A little Temple of Iuno set upon a table looking toward the East, did of it self turn toward the North. And in lib. 40. foreign [foreign, &c.] The Eagle [saith he, meaning the Roman ensign] was a little Temple, and in it was set a golden Eagle: such a one pitched in every one of the Roman Legions, and it never stir'd out of the winter quarters, till the whole Camp did remove: this Eagle fixed on the top of a spear one man carried: the lower end of the spear being sharp that it might be stuck into the ground. So that it seems the Roman Eagles were not flying Colours like ours, but a golden Eagle meddall wise inclosed in a little fabrick like a Temple: Of such a kinde were these silver Temples of Diana of, namely a little silver shrine made after the fashion of the Temple, and the Goddesse in it.
The great Temple was reputed one of the seven wonderous fabricks of the world: It was hundreds of years in building at the charge of all Asia, before it came to its last excellency and perfection. And as hither had been the conflux of the cost of all Asia toward the building of it, so when it was built, hither was the conflux of all Asia's superstition. And as from hence it may be gathered how great a work it was to plant the Gospel in this center of Idolatry, so doth Demetrius readily observe, how great a detriment is like to accrew to him and his fellows by the Gospels destroying that Idolatry, as daily it did. Hereupon they raise a tumult against Paul, which is not only promoted by the Idolatrous Heathen, but by the Jews also, though upon another score. In the hubbub there is mention of Alexander, whom they drew out of the multitude the Iews putting him forward. And he beckened with the hand and would have made his defence unto the people, but when they knew he was a Iew, they would not hear him, ver. 33, 34. And Paul in his second Epistle to Timothy, who was at Ephesus when he wrote to him, saith, Alexander the Coppersmith did me much evil, 2 Tim. 4.14. I think there is little question to be made but that Alexander mentioned in both places is one and the same man: especially if we consider that he that Paul speaks of was of Demetrius his Profession a Coppersmith. Now whereas Luke saith the Jews put him forward, and he would fain have made a speech in his defence to the people: it is easie to guesse what the subject of this speech would have been: Namely that whereas the Heathens every where looked upon the Jews as the great opposers and enemies of their Idolatry, and the Jews and Alexander were very apprehensive, that the eyes of the Ephesians was on that Nation as the enemy of their Diana, and so they feared the tumult might have fallen upon them, they put forward Alexander to make their Apology, who if he had had liberty to have spoken would have laid load upon Paul and his company, and have excused the Jews: but thus it pleased God to provide for the Apostles safety, that the tumultuous people would not hear what Alexander would have said: which would have laid all the blame on Paul.
ACTS CHAP. XX.
Ver. 1. And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the Disciples, and imbraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,
3. And abode there three moneths: and when the Iews laid wait for him as he was about to sayl into Syria, he purposed to return thorow Macedonia.
IT was his resolution to have staied at Ephesus till Pentecost, had he had no disquieture or disturbance there, 1 Cor. 16.8. Now though it be not certain how long it was before the time that he had fixed for his departure, that the tumult there did pack him away; yet this is apparent, that when he came thence, he had the whole summer before him, and in that summer he travelled these journeys, and thus was his progresse.
1. From Ephesus he setteth for Macedonia, ver. 1. & 1 Cor. 16.5. from whence though he had been driven some five years ago by persecution, Act. 16. as he is now from Ephesus, yet had he received so many evidences of the Macedonians faith towards God, and pledges of their tendernesse and love towards himself, Philip. 4.15, 16. that he is not only resolved to venture himself again amongst them, but he holds himself ingaged to revisit them, and to bestow his pains again among them for their further proficiency in the Gospel. At his departure from Ephesus he leaveth Timothy there behinde him, though in a dangerous place and time, yet necessity by reason of false teachers that were ready to break out, so requiring it, 1 Tim. 1.3, 4.
2. By the way as he goes he makes some stay at Troas: where though he had fair successe in his Ministry, yet not finding Titus whom he expected to have met withall from Corinth, he makes not long stay there, but sets away again speedily for Macedonia, 2 Cor. 2.12, 13.
3. It was in his thoughts whilest he was at Ephesus, to have touched at Corinth in this his journey, and to have made some stay there, 2 Cor. 1.15, 16. but thus missing of Titus at Troas, and neither from him, nor yet from any other receiving intelligence how his Epistle that he had written thither took with them, he thought it best to go by, and not to call there at this time, because he doubted he should have a heavy and comfortlesse meeting with them, 2 Cor. 2.1, 2.
4. Being come into Macedonia he findes some troubles there: fightings without, either from false brethren, or from open enemies: and fears and unquietnesse within, lest all should continue at Corinth, as he had heard of it: but at the last Titus cometh and refresheth him with the desired and welcome tidings that all was well there, and that his Epistle had had that happy issue and effect among them that he longed for, 2 Cor. 7.5, 6.
5. Whilest he staieth in Macedonia and those parts, he preacheth especially in those places where he had been before, namely Thessalonica and Philippi; and now was the time also that he dispersed the Gospel as far as to Illyricum, of which he speaketh in Rom. 15.19.
6. At this time whilest he was imployed in these Macedonian climates, he writeth