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Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
on the Whole Bible
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Matthew Henry |
A C T S.
CHAP. XVIII.
In this chapter we have,
I. Paul’s coming to Corinth, his private converse with Aquila and
Priscilla, and his public reasonings with the Jews, from whom, when
they rejected him, he turned to the Gentiles,
II. The great success of his ministry there, and the encouragement
Christ gave him in a vision to continue his labours there, in hopes of
further success,
III. The molestations which after some time he met with there from the
Jews, which he got pretty well through by the coldness of Gallio, the
Roman governor, in the cause,
IV. The progress Paul made through many countries, after he had
continued long at Corinth, for the edifying and watering of the
churches which he had founded and planted, in which circuit he made a
short visit to Jerusalem,
V. An account of Apollo’s improvement in knowledge, and of his
usefulness in the church,
| Paul Visits Corinth. |
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1 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.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and
wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded
the Jews and the Greeks.
5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul
was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus
was Christ.
6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook
his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own
heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
We do not find that Paul was much persecuted at Athens, nor that he was
driven thence by any ill usage, as he was from those places where the
Jews had or could make any interest; but this reception at Athens being
cold, and little prospect of doing good there, he departed from Athens,
leaving the care of those there who believed with Dionysius; and thence
he came to Corinth, where he was now instrumental in planting a church
that became on many accounts considerable. Corinth was the chief city
of Achaia, now a province of the empire, a rich and splendid city.
Non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum–It is not permitted
every man to see Corinth. The country thereabouts at this day is
called the Morea. Now here we have,
I. Paul working for his living,
1. Though he was bred a scholar, yet he was master of a handicraft
trade. He was a tent-maker, an upholsterer; he made tents for the use
of soldiers and shepherds, of cloth or stuff, or (as some say tents
were then generally made) of leather or skins, as the outer covering of
the tabernacle. Hence to live in tents was to live sub
pellibus–under skins. Dr. Lightfoot shows that it was the custom
of the Jews to bring up their children to some trade, yea, though they
gave them learning or estates. Rabbi Judah says, “He that teaches not
his son a trade is as if he taught him to be a thief.” And another
says, “He that has a trade in his hand is as a vineyard that is
fenced.” An honest trade, by which a man may get his bread, is not to
be looked upon by any with contempt. Paul, though a Pharisee, and bred
up at the feet of Gamaliel, yet, having in his youth learned to make
tents, did not by disuse lose the art.
2. Though he was entitled to a maintenance from the churches he had
planted, and from the people to whom he preached, yet he worked at his
calling to get bread, which is more to his praise who did not ask for
supplies than to theirs who did not supply him unasked, knowing what
straits he was reduced to. See how humble Paul was, and wonder that so
great a man could stoop so low; but he had learned condescension of his
Master, who came not to be ministered to, but to minister. See how
industrious he was, and how willing to take pains. He that had so much
excellent work to do with his mind, yet, when there was occasion, did
not think it below him to work with his hands. Even those that are
redeemed from the curse of the law are not exempt from that sentence,
In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread. See how careful
Paul was to recommend his ministry, and to prevent prejudices against
it, even the most unjust and unreasonable; he therefore maintained
himself with his own labour that he might not make the gospel of Christ
burdensome,
2 Cor. xi. 7,
&c. 2 Thess. iii. 8, 9.
3. Though we may suppose he was master of his trade, yet he did not
disdain to work at journey-work: He wrought with Aquila and
Priscilla, who were of that calling, so that he got no more
than day-wages, a bare subsistence. Poor tradesmen must be thankful if
their callings bring them in a maintenance for themselves and their
families, though they cannot do as the rich merchants that raise
estates by their callings.
4. Though he was himself a great apostle, yet he chose to work with
Aquila and Priscilla, because he found them to be very intelligent in
the things of God, as appears afterwards
(v. 26),
and he owns that they had been his helpers in Christ Jesus,
Rom. xvi. 3.
This is an example to those who are going to service to seek for those
services in which they may have the best help for their souls. Choose
to work with those that are likely to be helpers in Christ Jesus. It is
good to be in company and to have conversation with those that will
further us in the knowledge of Christ, and to put ourselves under the
influence of such as are resolved that they will serve the Lord.
Concerning this Aquila we are here told,
(1.) That he was a Jew, but born in Pontus,
v. 2.
Many of the Jews of the dispersion were seated in that country, as
appears
(2.) That he was lately come from Italy to Corinth. It seems he often
changed his habitation; this is not the world we can propose ourselves
a settlement in.
(3.) That the reason of his leaving Italy was because by a late edict
of the emperor Claudius Cæsar all Jews were banished from Rome;
for the Jews were generally hated, and every occasion was taken to put
hardship and disgrace upon them. God’s heritage was as a speckled
bird, the birds round about were against her,
Jer. xii. 9.
Aquila, though a Christian, was banished because he had been a Jew; and
the Gentiles had such confused notions of the thing that they could not
distinguish between a Jew and a Christian. Suetonius, in the life of
Claudius, speaks of this decree in the ninth year of his reign, and
says, The reason was because the Jews were a turbulent
people–assiduo tumultuantes; and that it was impulsore
Christo–upon the account of Christ; some zealous for him, others
bitter against him, which occasioned great heats, such as gave umbrage
to the government, and provoked the emperor, who was a timorous jealous
man, to order them all to be gone. If Jews persecute Christians, it is
not strange if heathens persecute them both.
II. We have here Paul preaching to the Jews, and dealing with them to
bring them to the faith of Christ, both the native Jews and the
Greeks, that is, those that were more or less proselyted to the
Jewish religion, and frequented their meetings.
1. He reasoned with them in the synagogue publicly every
sabbath. See in what way the apostles propagated the gospel, not by
force and violence, by fire and sword, not by demanding an implicit
consent, but by fair arguing; they drew with the cords of a man, gave a
reason for what they said, and gave a liberty to object against it,
having satisfactory answers ready. God invites us to come and reason
with him
(Isa. i. 18),
and challenges sinners to produce their cause, and bring
forth their strong reasons,
Isa. xli. 21.
Paul was a rational as well as a scriptural preacher.
2. He persuaded them—epeithe. It denotes,
(1.) The urgency of his preaching. He did not only dispute
argumentatively with them, but he followed his arguments with
affectionate persuasions, begging of them for God’s sake, for their own
soul’s sake, for their children’s sake, not to refuse the offer of
salvation made to them. Or,
(2.) The good effect of his preaching. He persuaded them, that is, he
prevailed with them; so some understand it. In sententiam suam
adducebat–He brought them over to his own opinion. Some of them
were convinced by his reasonings, and yielded to Christ.
3. He was yet more earnest in this matter when his fellow-labourers,
his seconds, came up with him
(v. 5):
When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, and had brought
him good tidings from the churches there, and were ready to assist him
here, and strengthened his hands, then Paul was more than before
pressed in spirit, which made him more than ever pressing in his
preaching. He was grieved for the obstinacy and infidelity of his
countrymen the Jews, was more intent than ever upon their conversion,
and the love of Christ constrained him to it
(2 Cor. v. 14):
it is the word that is used here, it pressed him in spirit to
it. And, being thus pressed, he testified to the Jews with all
possible solemnity and seriousness, as that which he was perfectly well
assured of himself, and attested to them as a faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah
promised to the fathers and expected by them.
III. We have him here abandoning the unbelieving Jews, and turning from
them to the Gentiles, as he had done in other places,
v. 6.
1. Many of the Jews, and indeed the most of them, persisted in their
contradiction to the gospel of Christ, and would not yield to the
strongest reasonings nor the most winning persuasions; they opposed
themselves and blasphemed; they set themselves in battle
array (so the word signifies) against the gospel; they joined hand
in hand to stop the progress of it. They resolved they would not
believe it themselves, and would do all they could to keep others from
believing it. They could not argue against it, but what was wanting in
reason they made up in ill language: they blasphemed, spoke
reproachfully of Christ, and in him of God himself, as
To justify their infidelity, they broke out into downright
blasphemy.
2. Paul hereupon declared himself discharged from them, and left them
to perish in their unbelief. He that was pressed in spirit to
testify to them
(v. 5),
when they opposed that testimony, and persisted in their opposition,
was pressed in spirit to testify against them
(v. 6),
and his zeal herein also he showed by a sign: he shook his
raiment, shaking off the dust from it (as before they shook off
the dust from their feet,
ch. xiii. 51),
for a testimony against them. thus he cleared himself from them, but
threatened the judgments of God against them. As Pilate by washing his
hands signified the devolving of the guilt of Christ’s blood from
himself upon the Jews, so Paul by shaking his raiment signified what he
said, if possible to affect them with it.
(1.) He had done his part, and was clean from the blood of their souls;
he had, like a faithful watchman, given them warning, and thereby had
delivered his soul, though he could not prevail to deliver
theirs. He had tried all methods to work upon them, but all in vain, so
that if they perish in their unbelief their blood is not to be required
at his hands; here, and
he plainly refers to
It is very comfortable to a minister to have the testimony of his
conscience for him, that he has faithfully discharged his trust by
warning sinners.
(2.) They would certainly perish if they persisted in their unbelief,
and the blame would lie wholly upon themselves: “Your blood be upon
your own heads, you will be your own destroyers, your nation will
be ruined in this world, and particular persons will be ruined in the
other world, and you alone shall bear it.” If any thing would
frighten them at last into a compliance with the gospel, surely this
would.
3. Having given them over, yet he does not give over his work. Though
Israel be not gathered, Christ and his gospel shall be glorious:
Henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles; and the Jews cannot
complain, for they had the first offer, and a fair one, made to them.
The guests that were first invited will not come, and the provision
must not be lost; guests must be had therefore from the highways and
the hedges. “We would have gathered the Jews
would have healed them
(Jer. li. 9),
and they would not; but Christ must not be a head without a body, nor a
foundation without a building, and therefore, if they will not, we must
try whether others will.” Thus the fall and diminishing of the Jews
became the riches of the Gentiles; and Paul said this to their faces,
not only because it was what he could justify, but to provoke them
to jealousy,
Rom. xi. 12, 14.
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7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s
house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house
joined hard to the synagogue.
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on
the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing
believed, and were baptized.
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.
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the
word of God among them.
Here we are told,
I. That Paul changed his quarters. Christ directed his disciples, when
he sent them forth, not to go from house to house
(Luke x. 7),
but there might be occasion to do it, as Paul did here. He departed out
of the synagogue, being driven out by the perverseness of the
unbelieving Jews, and he entered into a certain man’s house, named
Justus,
v. 7.
It should seem, he went to this man’s house, not to lodge, for he
continued with Aquila and Priscilla, but to preach. When the Jews would
not let him go on peaceably with his work in their meeting, this honest
man opened his doors to him, and told him he should be welcome to
preach there; and Paul accepted the proposal. It was not the first time
that God’s ark had taken up its lodging in a private house. When Paul
could not have liberty to preach in the synagogue, he preached in a
house, without any disparagement to his doctrine. But observe the
account of this man and his house.
1. The man was next door to a Jew; he was one that worshipped
God; he was not an idolater, though he was a Gentile, but was a
worshipper of the God of Israel, and him only, as Cornelius. That Paul
might give the less offence to the Jews, though he had abandoned them,
he set up his meeting in this man’s house. Even when he was under a
necessity of breaking off from them to turn to the Gentiles, yet he
would study to oblige them.
2. The house was next door to the synagogue, it joined close to
it, which some perhaps might interpret as done with design to draw
people from the synagogue to the meeting; but I rather think it was
done in charity, to show that he would come as near to them as he
could, and was ready to return to them if they were but willing to
receive his message, and would not contradict and blaspheme as they had
done.
II. That Paul presently saw the good fruit of his labours, both among
Jews and Gentiles.
1. Crispus a Jew, an eminent one, the chief ruler of the
synagogue, believed on the Lord Jesus, with all his house,
v. 8.
It was for the honour of the gospel that there were some rulers, and
persons of the first rank both in church and state, that embraced it.
This would leave the Jews inexcusable, that the ruler of their
synagogue, who may be supposed to have excelled the rest in knowledge
of the scriptures and zeal for their religion, believed the gospel, and
yet they opposed and blasphemed it. Not only he, but his house,
believed, and, probably, were baptized with him by Paul,
2. Many of the Corinthians, who were Gentiles (and some of them persons
of bad character, as appears,
such were some of you), hearing, believed, and were baptized.
First, they heard, for faith comes by hearing. Some perhaps came
to hear Paul under some convictions of conscience that the way they
were in was not right; but it is probable that the most came only for
curiosity, because it was a new doctrine that was preached; but,
hearing, they believed, by the power of God working upon them;
and, believing, they were baptized, and so fixed for
Christ, took upon them the profession of Christianity, and became
entitled to the privileges of Christians.
III. That Paul was encouraged by a vision to go on with his work at
Corinth
(v. 9):
The Lord Jesus spoke to Paul in the night by a vision; when he
was musing on his work, communing with his own heart upon his
bed, and considering whether he should continue here or no, what
method he should take here, and what probability there was of doing
good, then Christ appeared very seasonably to him, and in the
multitude of his thoughts within him delighted his soul with divine
consolations.
1. He renewed his commission and charge to preach the gospel: “Be
not afraid of the Jews; though they are very outrageous, and
perhaps the more enraged by the conversion of the chief ruler of their
synagogue. Be not afraid of the magistrates of the city, for they have
no power against thee but what is given them from above. It is the
cause of heaven thou art pleading, do it boldly. Be not afraid of
their words, nor dismayed at their looks; but speak, and hold
not thy peace; let slip no opportunity of speaking to them; cry
aloud, spare not. Do not hold thy peace from speaking for fear of
them, nor hold thy peace in speaking” (if I may so say); “do not speak
shyly and with caution, but plainly and fully and with courage. Speak
out; use all the liberty of spirit that becomes an ambassador for
Christ.”
2. He assured him of his presence with him, which was sufficient to
animate him, and put life and spirit into him: “Be not afraid, for I
am with thee, to protect thee, and bear thee out, and to deliver
thee from all thy fears; speak, and hold not thy peace, for I am
with thee, to own what thou sayest, to work with thee, and to
confirm the word by signs following.” The same promise that ratified
the general commission
Lo I am with you always, is here repeated. Those that have
Christ with them need not to fear, and ought not to shrink.
3. He gave him a warrant of protection to save him harmless: “No man
shall set on thee to hurt thee; thou shalt be delivered out of the
hands of wicked and unreasonable men and shalt not be driven hence, as
thou wast from other places, by persecution.” He does not promise that
no man should set on him (for the next news we hear is that he is set
upon, and brought to the judgment-seat,
v. 12),
but, “No man shall set on thee to hurt thee; the remainder of
their wrath shall be restrained; thou shalt not be beaten and
imprisoned here, as thou wast at Philippi.” Paul met with coarser
treatment at first than he did afterwards, and was now comforted
according to the time wherein he had been afflicted. Trials shall
not last always,
Or we may take it more generally: “No man shall set on thee,
tou kakosai se–to do evil to thee; whatever
trouble they may give thee, there is no real evil in it. They may kill
thee, but they cannot hurt thee; for I am with thee,”
4. He gave him a prospect of success: “For I have much people in
this city. Therefore no man shall prevail to obstruct thy work,
therefore I will be with thee to own thy work, and therefore do thou go
on vigorously and cheerfully in it; for there are many in this city
that are to be effectually called by thy ministry, in whom thou shalt
see of the travail of thy soul.” Laos esti moi
polys—There is to me a great people here. The Lord
knows those that are his, yea, and those that shall be his; for it is
by his work upon them that they become his, and known unto him are
all his works. “I have them, though they yet know me not, though
yet they are let captive by Satan at his will; for the Father has given
them to me, to be a seed to serve me; I have them written in the book
of life; I have their names down, and of all that were given me I will
lose none; I have them, for I am sure to have them;” whom he did
predestinate, those he called. In this city, though it be a very
profane wicked city, full of impurity, and the more so for a temple of
Venus there, to which there was a great resort, yet in this heap, that
seems to be all chaff, there is wheat; in this ore, that seems to be
all dross, there is gold. Let us not despair concerning any place, when
even in Corinth Christ had much people.
IV. That upon this encouragement he made a long stay there
(v. 11):
He continued at Corinth a year and six months, not to take his
ease, but to follow his work, teaching the word of God among
them; and, it being a city flocked to from all parts, he had
opportunity there of preaching the gospel to strangers, and sending
notice of it thence to other countries. He staid so long,
1. For the bringing in of those that were without. Christ had many
people there, and by the power of his grace he could have had them all
converted in one month or week, as at the first preaching of the
gospel, when thousands were enclosed at one cast of the net; but God
works variously. The people Christ has at Corinth must be called in by
degrees, some by one sermon, others by another; we see not yet all
things put under Christ. Let Christ’s ministers go on in their
duty, though their work be not done all at once; nay, though it be done
but a little at a time.
2. For the building up of those that were within. Those that are
converted have still need to be taught the word of God, and
particular need at Corinth to be taught it by Paul himself; for no
sooner was the good seed sown in that field than the enemy came and
sowed tares, the false apostles, those deceitful workers, of whom Paul
in his epistles to the Corinthians complains so much. When the hands of
Jewish persecutors were tied, who were professed enemies to the gospel,
Paul had a more vexatious trouble created him, and the church more
mischievous damage done it, by the tongue of judaizing preachers, who,
under colour of the Christian name, undermined the very foundations of
Christianity. Soon after Paul came to Corinth, it is supposed, he wrote
the first epistle to the Thessalonians, which in order of time was the
first of all the epistles he wrote by divine inspiration; and the
second epistle to the same church was written not long after. Ministers
may be serving Christ, and promoting the great ends of their ministry,
by writing good letters, as well as by preaching good sermons.
| Paul Visits Corinth. |
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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,
13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary
to the law.
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.
16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the
synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio
cared for none of those things.
We have here an account of some disturbance given to Paul and his
friends at Corinth, but no great harm done, nor much hindrance given to
the work of Christ there.
I. Paul is accused by the Jews before the Roman governor,
The governor was Gallio, deputy of Achaia, that is, proconsul;
for Achaia was a consular province of the empire. This Gallio was elder
brother to the famous Seneca; in his youth he was called Novatus, but
took the name of Gallio upon his being adopted into the family of
Julius Gallio; he is described by Seneca, his brother, to be a man of
great ingenuous and great probity, and a man of wonderful good temper;
he was called Dulcis Gallio–Sweet Gallio, for his sweet
disposition; and is said to have been universally beloved. Now observe,
1. How rudely Paul is apprehended, and brought before Gallio; The
Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul. They were the
ringleaders of all the mischief against Paul, and they entered into a
confederacy to do him a mischief. They were unanimous in it: they came
upon him with one accord; hand joined in hand to do this
wickedness. They did it with violence and fury: They made an
insurrection to the disturbance of the public peace, and hurried
Paul away to the judgment-seat, and, for aught that appears,
allowed him no time to prepare for his trial.
2. How falsely Paul is accused before Gallio
(v. 13):
This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.
They could not charge him with persuading men not to worship God at
all, or to worship other gods
but only to worship God in a way contrary to the law. The Romans
allowed the Jews in their provinces the observance of their own law;
and what then? Must those therefore be prosecuted as criminals who
worship God in any other way? Does their toleration include a power of
imposition? But the charge was unjust; for their own law had in it a
promise of a prophet whom God would raise up to them, and him they
should hear. Now Paul persuaded them to believe in this prophet, who
was come, and to hear him, which was according to the law; for he came
not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. The law relating to
the temple-service those Jews at Corinth could not observe, because of
their distance from Jerusalem, and there was no part of their
synagogue-worship which Paul contradicted. Thus when people are taught
to worship God in Christ, and to worship him in the Spirit, they are
ready to quarrel, as if they were taught to worship him contrary to the
law; whereas this is indeed perfective of the law.
II. Gallio, upon the first hearing, or rather without any hearing at
all, dismisses the cause, and will not take any cognizance of it,
Paul was going about to make his defence, and to show that he did not
teach men to worship God contrary to the law; but the judge, being
resolved not to pass any sentence upon this cause, would not give
himself the trouble of examining it. Observe,
1. He shows himself very ready to do the part of a judge in any matter
that it was proper for him to take cognizance of. He said to the
Jews, that were the prosecutors, “If it were a matter of wrong,
or wicked lewdness,–if you could charge the prisoner with theft or
fraud, with murder or rapine, or any act of immorality,–I should think
myself bound to bear with you in your complaints, though they
were clamorous and noisy;” for the rudeness of the petitioners was no
good reason, if their cause was just, why they should not have justice
done them. It is the duty of magistrates to right the injured, and to
animadvert upon the injurious; and, if the complaint be not made with
all the decorum that might be, yet they should hear it out. But,
2. He will by no means allow them to make a complaint to him of a thing
that was not within his jurisdiction
(v. 15):
“If it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look you
to it: end it among yourselves as you can, but I will be no
judge of such matters; you shall neither burden my patience with
the hearing of it, nor burden my conscience with giving judgment upon
it;” and therefore, when they were urgent and pressing to be heard,
he drove them from the judgment-seat
(v. 16),
and ordered another cause to be called. Now,
(1.) Here was something right in Gallio’s conduct, and
praise-worthy–that he would not pretend to judge of things he did not
understand; that he left the Jews to themselves in matters relating to
their own religion, but yet would not let them, under pretence of that,
run down Paul, and abuse him; or, at least, would not himself be the
tool of their malice, to give judgment against him. He looked upon the
matter to be not within his jurisdiction, and therefore would not
meddle in it. But,
(2.) It was certainly wrong to speak so slightly of a law and religion
which he might have known to be of God, and with which he ought to have
acquainted himself. In what way God is to be worshipped, whether Jesus
be the Messiah, whether the gospel be a divine revelation, were not
questions of words and names, as he scornfully and profanely
called them. They are questions of vast importance, and in which, if he
had understood them himself aright, he would have seen himself nearly
concerned. He speaks as if he boasted of his ignorance of the
scriptures, and took a pride in it; as if it were below him to take
notice of the law of God, or make any enquiries concerning it.
III. The abuse done to Sosthenes, and Gallio’s unconcernedness in it,
1. The parties put a great contempt upon the court, when they took
Sosthenes and beat him before the judgment-seat. Many conjectures
there are concerning this matter, because it is uncertain who this
Sosthenes was, and who the Greeks were that abused him. It seems most
probable that Sosthenes was a Christian, and Paul’s particular friend,
that appeared for him on this occasion, and probably had taken care of
his safety, and conveyed him away, when Gallio dismissed the cause; so
that, when they could not light on Paul, they fell foul on him who
protected him. It is certain that there was one Sosthenes that was a
friend of Paul, and well known at Corinth; it is likely he was a
minister, for Paul calls him his brother, and joins him with himself in
his first epistle to the church at Corinth
(1 Cor. i. 1),
as he does Timothy in his second, and it is probable that this was he;
he is said to be a ruler of the synagogue, either joint-ruler
with Crispus
(v. 8),
or a ruler of one synagogue, as Crispus was of another. As for the
Greeks that abused him, it is very probable that they were either
Hellenist Jews, or Jewish Greeks, those that joined with the Jews in
opposing the gospel
(v. 4, 6),
and that the native Jews put them on to do it, thinking it would in
them be less offensive. They were so enraged against Paul that they
beat Sosthenes; and so enraged against Gallio, because he would not
countenance the prosecution, that they beat him before the
judgment-seat, whereby they did, in effect, tell him that they cared
not for him; if he would not be their executioner, they would be their
own judges.
2. The court put no less a contempt upon the cause, and the persons
too. But Gallio cared for none of these things. If by this be
meant that he cared not for the affronts of bad men, it was
commendable. While he steadily adhered to the laws and rules of equity,
he might despise their contempts; but, if it be meant (as I think it
is) that he concerned not himself for the abuses done to good men, it
carries his indifference too far, and gives us but an ill character of
him. Here is wickedness done in the place of judgment
(which Solomon complains of,
and nothing done to discountenance and suppress it. Gallio, as a judge,
ought to have protected Sosthenes, and restrained and punished the
Greeks that assaulted him. For a man to be mobbed in the street or in
the market, perhaps, may not be easily helped; but to be so in his
court, the judgment-seat, the court sitting and not concerned at it, is
an evidence that truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot
enter; for he that departeth from evil maketh himself a
prey,
Isa. lix. 14, 15.
Those that see and hear of the sufferings of God’s people, and have no
sympathy with them, nor concern for them, do not pity and pray for the,
it being all one to them whether the interests of religion sink or
swim, are of the spirit of Gallio here, who, when a good man was abused
before his face, cared for none of these things; like those that
were at ease in Zion, and were not grieved for the affliction
of Joseph
(Amos vi. 6),
like the king and Haman, that sat down to drink when the city
Shushan was perplexed,
Esth. iii. 15.
| Paul’s Visit to Ephesus and Jerusalem. |
|
|
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.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself
entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he
consented not;
21 But bade them farewell, 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 Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted
the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and
went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order,
strengthening all the disciples.
We have here Paul in motion, as we have had him at Corinth for some
time at rest, but in both busy, very busy, in the service of Christ; if
he sat still, if he went about, still it was to do good. Here is,
I. Paul’s departure from Corinth,
1. He did not go away till some time after the trouble he met with
there; from other places he had departed when the storm arose, but not
from Corinth, because there it had no sooner risen than it fell again.
Some tell us that Gallio did privately countenance Paul, and took him
into his favour, and that this occasioned a correspondence between Paul
and Seneca, Gallio’s brother, which some of the ancients speak of.
After this he tarried there yet a good while, some think, beyond
the year and a half mentioned,
While he found he laboured not in vain, he continued labouring.
2. When he went, he took leave of the brethren solemnly, and with much
affection, with suitable comforts and counsels, and prayers at parting,
commending what was good, reproving what was otherwise, and giving them
necessary cautions against the wiles of the false apostles; and his
farewell sermon would leave impressions upon them.
3. He took with him Priscilla and Aquila, because they had a
mind to accompany him; for they seemed disposed to remove, and not
inclined to stay long at a place, a disposition which may arise from a
good principle, and have good effects, and therefore ought not to be
condemned in others, though it ought to be suspected in ourselves.
There was a great friendship contracted between them and Paul, and
therefore, when he went, they begged to go along with him.
4. At Cenchrea, which was hard by Corinth, the port where those that
went to sea from Corinth took ship, either Paul or Aquila (for the
original does not determine which) had his head shaved, to discharge
himself from the vow of a Nazarite: Having shorn his head at
Cenchrea; for he had a vow. Those that lived in Judea were, in such
a case, bound to do it at the temple: but those who lived in other
countries might do it in other places. The Nazarite’s head was to be
shaved when either his consecration was accidentally polluted, in which
case he must begin again, or when the days of his separation were
fulfilled
which, we suppose, was the case here. Some throw it upon Aquila, who
was a Jew
(v. 2),
and retained perhaps more of his Judaism than was convenient; but I see
no harm in admitting it concerning Paul, for concerning him we must
admit the same thing
not only in compliance for a time with the Jews, to whom he became
as a Jew
that he might win upon them, but because the vow of the
Nazarites, though ceremonial, and as such ready to vanish away, had yet
a great deal of moral and very pious significance, and therefore was
fit to die the last of all the Jewish ceremonies. The Nazarites are
joined with the prophets
(Amos ii. 11),
and were very much the glory of Israel
(Lam. iv. 7),
and therefore it is not strange if Paul bound himself for some time
with the vow of a Nazarite from wine and strong drink, and from being
trimmed, to recommend himself to the Jews; and from this he now
discharged himself.
II. Paul’s calling at Ephesus, which was the metropolis of the
Lesser Asia, and a sea-port.
1. There he left Aquila and Priscilla; not only because they
would be but burdensome to him in his journey, but because they might
be serviceable to the interests of the gospel at Ephesus. Paul intended
shortly to settle there for some time, and he left Aquila and Priscilla
there in the mean time, for the same end as Christ sent his disciple
before to every place where he himself would come, to prepare his way.
Aquila and Priscilla might, by private conversation, being very
intelligent judicious Christians, dispose the minds of many to give
Paul, when he should come among them, a favourable reception, and to
understand his preaching; therefore he calls them his helpers in
Christ Jesus,
Rom. xvi. 3.
2. There he preached to the Jews in their synagogue; though he
did but call there in his journey, yet he would not go without giving
them a sermon. He entered into the synagogue, not as a hearer,
but as a preacher, for there he reasoned with the Jews. Though
he had abandoned the Jews at Corinth, who opposed themselves, and
blasphemed, yet he did not, for their sakes, decline the synagogues of
the Jews in other places, but still made the first offer of the gospel
to them. We must not condemn a whole body or denomination of men, for
the sake of some that conduct themselves ill.
3. The Jews at Ephesus were so far from driving Paul away that they
courted his stay with them
(v. 20):
They desired him to tarry longer with them, to instruct them, in
the gospel of Christ. These were more noble, and better bred, than
those Jews at Corinth, and other places, and it was a sign that God had
not quite cast away his people, but had a remnant among them.
4. Paul would not stay with them now: He consented not; but bade
them farewell. He had further to go; he must by all means keep
this feast at Jerusalem; not that he thought himself bound in duty
to it (he knew the laws of the feasts were no longer binding), but he
had business t Jerusalem (whatever it was) which would be best done at
the time of the feast, when there was a general rendezvous of all the
Jews from all parts; which of the feasts it was we are not told,
probably it was the passover, which was the most eminent.
5. He intimated his purpose, after this journey, to come and spend some
time at Ephesus, being encouraged by their kind invitation to hope that
he should do good among them. It is good to have opportunities in
reserve, when one good work is over to have another to apply ourselves
to: I will return again to you, but he inserts that necessary
proviso, if God will. Our times are in God’s hand; we purpose,
but he disposes; and therefore we must make all our promises with
submission to the will of God. If the Lord will, we shall live, and
do this or that. I will return again to you, if the Spirit suffer
me
(ch. xvi. 7);
this was included in Paul’s case; not only if providence permit, but if
God do not otherwise direct my motions.
III. Paul’s visit to Jerusalem; a short visit it was, but it served as
a token of respect to that truly mother-church.
1. He came by sea to the port that lay next to Jerusalem. He sailed
from Ephesus
(v. 21),
and landed at Cæsarea,
v. 22.
He chose to go by sea, for expedition and for safety, and that he might
see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. Joppa
had been the port for Jerusalem, but Herod having improved
Cæsarea, and the port at Joppa being dangerous, that was
generally made use of.
2. He went up, and saluted the church, by which, I think, is
plainly meant the church at Jerusalem, which is emphatically called
the church, because there the Christian church began,
Paul thought it requisite to show himself among them, that they might
not think his success among them, that they might not think his success
among the Gentiles had made him think himself either above them or
estranged from them, or that the honour God had put upon him made him
unmindful of the honour he owed to them. His going to salute the church
at Jerusalem intimates,
(1.) That it was a very friendly visit that he made them, in pure
kindness, to enquire into their state, and to testify his hearty
good-will to them. Note, The increase of our new friends should not
make us forget our old ones, but it should be a pleasure to good men,
and good ministers, to revive former acquaintance. The ministers at
Jerusalem were constant residents, Paul was a constant itinerant; but
he took care to keep up a good correspondence with them, that they
might rejoice with him in his going out, and he might rejoice with them
in their tents, and they might both congratulate and wish well to one
another’s comfort and success.
(2.) That it was but a short visit. He went up, and saluted
them, perhaps with the holy kiss, and made no stay among
them. It was designed but for a transient interview, and yet Paul
undertook this long journey for that. This is not the world we are to
be together in. God’s people are the salt of the earth,
dispersed and scattered; yet it is good to see one another sometimes,
if it be but to see one another, that we may confirm mutual love, may
the better keep up our spiritual communion with one another at a
distance, and may long the more for that heavenly Jerusalem in which we
hope to be together for ever.
IV. His return through those countries where he had formerly preached
the gospel.
1. He went and spent some time in Antioch, among his old friends
there, whence he was first sent out to preach among the Gentiles,
He went down to Antioch, to refresh himself with the sight and
conversation of the ministers there; and a very good refreshment it is
to a faithful minister to have for awhile the society of his brethren;
for, as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the countenance of his
friend. Paul’s coming to Antioch would bring to remembrance the
former days, which would furnish him with matter for fresh
thanksgiving.
2. Thence he went over the country of Galatia and Phrygia in
order, where he had preached the gospel, and planted churches,
which, though very briefly mentioned
(ch. xvi. 6),
was yet a glorious work, as appears by
where Paul speaks of his preaching the gospel to the Galatians at the
first, and their receiving him as an angel of God. These country
churches (for such they were
[Gal. i. 2],
and we read not of any city in Galatia where a church was) Paul visited
in order as they lay, watering what he had been instrumental to
plant, and strengthening all the disciples. His very coming
among them, and owning them, were a great strengthening to them and
their ministers. Paul’s countenancing them was encouraging them; but
that was not all: he preached that to them which strengthened them,
which confirmed their faith in Christ, their resolutions for Christ,
and their pious affections to him. Disciples need to be strengthened,
for they are compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do what
they can to strengthen them, to strengthen them all, by directing them
to Christ, and bringing them to live upon him, whose strength is
perfected in their weakness, and who is himself their strength and
song.
| The Character of Apollos. |
|
|
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.
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.
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:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly,
showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
The sacred history leaves Paul upon his travels, and goes here to meet
Apollos at Ephesus, and to give us some account of him, which was
necessary to our understanding some passages in Paul’s epistles.
I. Here is an account of his character, when he came to Ephesus.
1. He was a Jew, born at Alexandria in Egypt, but of Jewish
parents; for there were abundance of Jews in that city, since the
dispersion of the people, as it was foretold
The Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again. His name was not
Apollo, the name of one of the heathen gods, but Apollos,
some think the same with Apelles,
Rom. xvi. 10.
2. He was a man of excellent good parts, and well fitted for public
service. He was an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures of
the Old Testament, in the knowledge of which he was, as a Jew, brought
up.
(1.) He had a great command of language: he was an eloquent man;
he was aner logios—a prudent man, so some; a
learned man, so others; historiarum peritus–a good
historian, which is an excellent qualification for the ministry: he
was one that could speak well, so it properly signifies; he was an
oracle of a man; he was famous for speaking pertinently and
closely, fully and fluently, upon any subject.
(2.) He had a great command of scripture-language, and this was the
eloquence he was remarkable for. He came to Ephesus, being
mighty in the scriptures, so the words are placed; having an
excellent faculty of expounding scripture, he came to Ephesus, which
was a public place, to trade with that talent, for the honour of God
and the good of many. He was not only ready in the scriptures, able to
quote texts off-hand, and repeat them, and tell you where to find them
(many of the carnal Jews were so, who were therefore said to have the
form of knowledge, and the letter of the law); but he was
mighty in the scriptures. He understood the sense and meaning of
them, he knew how to make use of them and to apply them, how to reason
out of the scriptures, and to reason strongly; a convincing,
commanding, confirming power went along with all his expositions and
applications of the scripture. It is probable he had given proof of his
knowledge of the scriptures, and his abilities in them, in many
synagogues of the Jews.
3. He was instructed in the way of the Lord; that is, he had
some acquaintance with the doctrine of Christ, had obtained some
general notions of the gospel and the principles of Christianity,
that Jesus is the Christ, and that prophet that should come
into the world; the first notice of this would be readily embraced
by one that was so mighty in the scripture as Apollos was, and
therefore understood the signs of the times. He was
instructed, katechemenos—he was catechised (so
the word is), either by his parents or by ministers; he was taught
something of Christ and the way of salvation by him. Those that are to
teach others must first be themselves taught the word of the Lord, not
only to talk of it, but to walk in it. It is not enough to have our
tongues tuned to the word of the Lord, but we must have our feet
directed into the way of the Lord.
4. Yet he knew only the baptism of John; he was instructed in
the gospel of Christ as far as John’s ministry would carry him, and no
further; he knew the preparing of the way of the Lord by that
voice crying in the wilderness, rather than the way of the Lord
itself. We cannot but think he had heard of Christ’s death and
resurrection, but he was not let into the mystery of them, had not had
opportunity of conversing with any of the apostles since the pouring
out of the Spirit; or he had himself been baptized only with the
baptism of John, but was not baptized with the Holy Ghost, as the
disciples were at the day of pentecost.
II. We have here the employment and improvement of his gifts at
Ephesus; he came thither, seeking opportunities of doing and getting
good, and he found both.
1. He there made a very good use of his gifts in public. He came,
probably, recommended to the synagogue of the Jews as a fit man to be a
teacher there, and according to the light he had, and the measure of
the gift given to him, he was willing to be employed
(v. 25):
Being fervent in the Spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the
things of the Lord. Though he had not the miraculous gifts of the
Spirit, as the apostles had, he made use of the gifts he had; for
the dispensation of the Spirit, whatever the measure of it is,
is given to every man to profit withal. And our Savior, by a
parable, designed to teach his ministers that though they had but one
talent they must not bury that. We have seen how Apollos was qualified
with a good head and a good tongue: he was an eloquent man, and
mighty in the scriptures; he had laid in a good stock of useful
knowledge, and had an excellent faculty of communicating it. Let us now
see what he had further to recommend him as a preacher; and his example
is recommended to the intimation of all preachers.
(1.) He was a lively affectionate preacher; as he had a good head, so
he had a good heart; he was fervent in Spirit. He had in him a
great deal of divine fire as well as divine light, was burning as well
as shining. He was full of zeal for the glory of God, and the salvation
of precious souls. This appeared both in his forwardness to preach
when he was called to it by the rulers of the synagogue, and in
his fervency in his preaching. He preached as one in earnest, and that
had his heart in his work. What a happy composition was here! Many are
fervent in spirit, but are weak in knowledge, in
scripture-knowledge–have far to seek for proper words and are full of
improper ones; and, on the other hand, many are eloquent enough, and
mighty in the scriptures, and learned, and judicious, but they have no
life or fervency. Here was a complete man of God, thoroughly
furnished for his work; both eloquent and fervent, full both of
divine knowledge and of divine affections.
(2.) He was an industrious laborious preacher. He spoke and taught
diligently. He took pains in his preaching, what he delivered was
elaborate; and he did not offer that to God, or to the synagogue, that
either cost nothing or cost him nothing. He first worked it upon
his own heart, and then laboured to impress it on those he preached to:
he taught diligently, akribos—accurately,
exactly; every thing he said was well-weighed.
(3.) He was an evangelical preacher. Though he knew only the baptism of
John, yet that was the beginning of the gospel of Christ, and to that
he kept close; for he taught the things of the Lord, of the Lord
Christ, the things that tended to make way for him, and to set him up.
The things pertaining to the kingdom of the Messiah were the subjects
he chose to insist upon; not the things of the ceremonial law, though
those would be pleasing to his Jewish auditors; not the things of the
Gentile philosophy, though he could have discoursed very well on those
things; but the things of the Lord.
(4.) He was a courageous preacher: He began to speak boldly in the
synagogue, as one who, having put confidence in God, did not fear
the face of man; he spoke as one that knew the truth of what he said,
and had no doubt of it, and that knew the worth of what he said and was
not afraid to suffer for it; in the synagogue, where the Jews
not only were present, but had power, there he preached the things of
God, which he knew they were prejudiced against.
2. He there made a good increase of his gifts in private, not so much
in study, as in conversation with Aquila and Priscilla. If Paul
or some other apostle or evangelist had been at Ephesus, he would have
instructed him; but, for want of better help, Aquila and
Priscilla (who were tent-makers) expounded to him the way of God
more perfectly. Observe,
(1.) Aquila and Priscilla heard him preach in the synagogue. Though in
knowledge he was much inferior to them, yet, having excellent gifts for
public service, they encouraged his ministry, by a diligent and
constant attendance upon it. Thus young ministers, that are hopeful,
should be countenanced by grown Christians, for it becomes them to
fulfil all righteousness.
(2.) Finding him defective in his knowledge of Christianity, they
took him to them, to lodge in the same house with them, and
expounded to him the way of God, the way of salvation by Jesus
Christ, more perfectly. They did not take occasion from what
they observed of his deficiency either to despise him themselves, or to
disparage him to others; did not call him a young raw preacher, not fit
to come into a pulpit, but considered the disadvantages he had laboured
under, as knowing only the baptism of John; and, having themselves got
great knowledge in the truths of the gospel by their long intimate
conversation with Paul, they communicated what they knew to him, and
gave him a clear, distinct, and methodical account of those things
which before he had but confused notions of.
[1.] See here an instance of that which Christ has promised, that to
him that hath shall be given; he that has, and uses what he has,
shall have more. He that diligently traded with the talent he had
doubled it quickly.
[2.] See an instance of truly Christian charity in Aquila and
Priscilla; they did good according to their ability. Aquila, though a
man of great knowledge, yet did no undertake to speak in the synagogue,
because he had not such gifts for public work as Apollos had; but he
furnished Apollos with matter, and then left him to clothe it with
acceptable words. Instructing young Christians and young ministers
privately in conversation, who mean well, and perform well, as far as
they go, is a piece of very good service, both to them and to the
church.
[3.] See an instance of great humility in Apollos. He was a very bright
young man, of great parts and learning, newly come from the university,
a popular preacher, and one mightily cried up and followed; and yet,
finding that Aquila and Priscilla were judicious serious Christians,
that could speak intelligently and experimentally of the things of God,
though they were but mechanics, poor tent-makers, he was glad to
receive instructions from them, to be shown by them his defects and
mistakes, and to have his mistakes rectified by them, and his
deficiencies made up. Young scholars may gain a great deal by converse
with old Christians, as young students in the law may by old
practitioners. Apollos, though he was instructed in the way of the
Lord, did not rest in the knowledge he had attained, nor thought he
understood Christianity as well as any man (which proud conceited young
men are apt to do), but was willing to have it expounded to him more
perfectly. Those that know much should covet to know more, and what
they know to know it better, pressing forward towards perfection.
[4.] Here is an instance of a good woman, though not permitted to speak
in the church or in the synagogue, yet doing good with the knowledge
God had given her in private converse. Paul will have the aged women
to be teachers of good things
Tit. ii. 3, 4.
III. Here is his preferment to the service of the church of Corinth,
which was a larger sphere of usefulness than Ephesus at present was.
Paul had set wheels a-going in Achaia and particularly at Corinth, the
county-town. Many were stirred up by his preaching to receive the
gospel, and they needed to be confirmed; and many were likewise
irritated to oppose the gospel, and they needed to be confuted. Paul
was gone, was called away to other work, and now there was a fair
occasion in this vacancy for Apollos to set in, who was fitted rather
to water than to plant, to build up those that were within than to
bring in those that were without. Now here we have,
1. His call to this service, not by a vision, as Paul was called to
Macedonia, no, nor so much as by the invitation of those he was to go
to; but,
(1.) He himself inclined to go: He was disposed to pass into
Achaia; having heard of the state of the churches there, he had a
mind to try what good he could do among them. Though there were those
there who were eminent for spiritual gifts, yet Apollos thought there
might be some work for him, and God disposed his mind that way.
(2.) His friends encouraged him to go, and approved of his purpose;
and, he being a perfect stranger there, they gave him a testimonial or
letters of recommendation, exhorting the disciples in Achaia to
entertain him and employ him. In this way, among others, the communion
of churches is kept up, by the recommending of members and ministers to
each other, when ministers, as Apollos here, are disposed to remove.
Though those at Ephesus had a great loss of his labours, they did not
grudge those in Achaia the benefit of them; but, on the contrary, used
their interest in them to introduce him; for the churches of Christ,
though they are many, yet they are one.
2. His success in this service, which both ways answered his intention
and expectation; for,
(1.) Believers were greatly edified, and those that had received the
gospel were very much confirmed: He helped those much who had
believed through grace. Note,
[1.] Those who believe in Christ, it is through grace that they
believe; it is not of themselves, it is God’s gift to them; it
is his work in them.
[2.] Those who through grace do believe, yet still have need of help;
as long as they are here in this world there are remainders of
unbelief, and something lacking in their faith to be perfected, and the
work of faith to be fulfilled.
[3.] Faithful ministers are capable of being in many ways helpful to
those who through grace do believe, and it is their business to help
them, to help them much; and, when a divine power goes along with them,
they will be helpful to them.
(2.) Unbelievers were greatly mortified. Their objections were fully
answered, the folly and sophistry of their arguments were discovered,
so that they had nothing to say in defence of the opposition they made
to the gospel; their mouths were stopped, and their faces filled with
shame
(v. 28):
He mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, before the
people; he did it, eutonos—earnestly, and with a
great deal of vehemence; he took pains to do it; his heart was upon it,
as one that was truly desirous both to serve the cause of Christ and to
save the souls of men. He did it effectually and to universal
satisfaction. He did it levi negotio–with facility. The case
was so plain, and the arguments were so strong on Christ’s side, that
it was an easy matter to baffle all that the Jews could say against it.
Though they were so fierce, yet their cause was so weak that he made
nothing of their opposition. Now that which he aimed to convince them
of was that Jesus is the Christ, that he is the Messiah
promised to the fathers, who should come, and they were to look for
not other. If the Jews were but convinced of this–that Jesus is
Christ, even their own law would teach them to hear him. Note, The
business of ministers is to preach Christ: We preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord. The way he took to convince them was
by the scriptures; thence he fetched his arguments; for the Jews
owned the scriptures to be of divine authority, and it was easy for
him, who was mighty in the scriptures, from them to show that Jesus is
the Christ. Note, Ministers must be able not only to preach the truth,
but to prove it and defend it, and to convince gainsayers with meekness
and yet with power, instructing those that oppose themselves; and this
is real service to the church.
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