AFTER WE WERE GOTTEN FROM THEM - After we had left the elders at Miletus, Acts 20:38. They were on their way to Jerusalem. UNTO COOS - This was a small island in the Grecian Archipelago, a short distance from the southwestern point of Asia Minor. It is now called “Stan-co.” It was celebrated for it... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO PHENICIA - See the notes on Acts 11:19. Phoenicia was on their way to Jerusalem. SET FORTH - Sailed.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD DISCOVERED CYPRUS - See the notes on Acts 4:36. INTO SYRIA - See the notes on Matthew 4:24. AND LANDED AT TYRE - See the notes on Matthew 11:21. TO UNLADE HER BURDEN - Her cargo. Tyre was formerly one of the most commercial cities of the world; and it is probable that in the time of Paul its... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FINDING DISCIPLES - Christians. This is the first mention of there being Christians at Tyre, but there is no improbability in supposing that the gospel had been preached there, though it is not expressly recorded by Luke. WHO SAID TO PAUL - Compare Acts 21:12. Their deep interest in his welfare... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD ACCOMPLISHED THOSE DAYS - When those days were passed. THEY ALL BROUGHT US ON OUR WAY - They attended us. See the Acts 15:3 note; Romans 15:24 note; 1 Corinthians 16:6, 1 Corinthians 16:11 notes; 3 John 1:6 note. This was an expression of tender attachment, and of a deep interest in the welfare... [ Continue Reading ]
WE CAME TO PTOLEMAIS - This was a city situated on the coast of the Mediterranean, on the north angle of a bay which extends, in a semicircle of three leagues, as far as the point of Mount Carmel. At the south and west sides the city was washed by the sea, and was surrounded by triple walls. It was... [ Continue Reading ]
WE THAT WERE OF PAUL’S COMPANY - From this it would appear that they had been attended thus far by some persons who were going only to Ptolemais. This clause, however, is missing in many mss., and has been omitted by Bengel, Griesbach, Knapp, and others as spurious. It is also missing in the Syriac... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH DID PROPHESY - See the notes on Acts 2:17; Acts 11:27. That females sometimes partook of the prophetic influence, and foretold future events, is evident from various places in the New Testament. See the notes on Acts 2:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE CAME DOWN - See the notes on Acts 15:1. NAMED AGABUS - See the notes on Acts 11:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TOOK PAUL’S GIRDLE - The loose, flowing robes, or outer garments, which were worn in Eastern countries, were bound by a girdle, or sash, around the body when they ran, or labored, or walked. Such a girdle was therefore an indispensable part of dress. AND BOUND HIS OWN HANDS AND FEET - As emblemat... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT MEAN YE - Greek: What do ye. A tender and affectionate, but firm reproach. TO WEEP AND TO BREAK MINE HEART? - To afflict me, and distract my mind by alarms, and by the expressions of tenderness. His mind was fixed on going to Jerusalem; and he felt that he was prepared for whatever awaited him.... [ Continue Reading ]
WOULD NOT BE PERSUADED - To remain. He was resolved to go. WE CEASED - We ceased remonstrating with him, and urging him to remain. THE WILL OF THE LORD BE DONE - They were now assured that it was the will of God that he should go, and they were now ready to submit to that will. This is an instance... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THOSE DAYS - After what had occurred, as related in the previous verses. WE TOOK UP OUR CARRIAGES - This is a most unhappy translation. The word carriage we apply now exclusively to a vehicle for conveying anything as a coach, chariot, gig, cannon carriage, etc. The original word means simply... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE MNASON OF CYPRUS - The original in this place would be better translated, “And brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple,” etc. It is evident that, though Mnason was originally of Cyprus, yet he was now an inhabitant of Jerusalem, and was well known to the disciples at Caesarea. It is poss... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BRETHREN - Christians. RECEIVED US GLADLY - They had been long absent. They had been into distant regions, and had encountered many dangers. It was a matter of joy that they had now returned in safety.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO JAMES - James the Less. See the notes on Acts 15:13. He resided at Jerusalem. Compare Galatians 1:19. It is not improbable that he was the only one of the apostles then at Jerusalem; and there is reason to believe that the church at Jerusalem was left under his particular care. It was natural,... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD SALUTED THEM - With the usual tokens of respect and affection. HE DECLARED PARTICULARLY ... - As an evidence that God had been with him. It is not improbable that there might have been some suspicion in regard to Paul among the disciples at Jerusalem, and he might have heard that they were prej... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GLORIFIED THE LORD - They gave praise to the Lord for what he had done. They saw new proofs of his goodness and mercy, and they rendered him thanks for all that had been accomplished. There was no jealousy that it had been done by the instrumentality of Paul. True piety will rejoice in the spre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY ARE INFORMED OF THEE - Reports respecting the conduct of Paul would be likely to be in circulation among all at Jerusalem. His remarkable conversion, his distinguished zeal, his success among the Gentiles, would make his conduct a subject of special interest. Evil-minded men among the Jews,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS IT THEREFORE? - What is to be done? What is it proper to do to avoid the effects of the evil report which has been circulated? What they deemed it proper to do is suggested in the following verses. THE MULTITUDE - The multitude of Jews. MUST NEEDS COME TOGETHER - There will be inevitably a... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE FOUR MEN - There are with us four men. It is evident that James and the elders meant to say that these men were connected with them in the Christian church; and the fact shows that the Christians at Jerusalem did not disregard the institutions of Moses, and had not been so far enlightened in... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM TAKE - Take with you. Join yourself with them. AND PURIFY THYSELF WITH THEM - Join them in observing the forms of purification prescribed by the Law of Moses in the observance of the vow of the Nazarite. The purifying here refers to the vows of sanctity which the Nazarites were to observe. The... [ Continue Reading ]
AS TOUCHING THE GENTILES - In regard to the Gentile converts. It might be expedient for Paul to do what could not be enjoined on the Gentiles. They could not command the Gentile converts to observe those ceremonies, while yet it might be proper, for the sake of peace, that the converts to Christiani... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PAUL TOOK THE MEN - Took them to himself; united with them in observing the ceremonies connected with their vow. To transactions like this he refers in 1 Corinthians 9:20; “And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the Law, as under the Law, that I... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE SEVEN DAYS WERE ALMOST ENDED - Greek: as the seven days were about to be fulfilled - ἔμελλον συντελεῖσθαι emellon sunteleisthai. The seven days which were to complete the observance of the vow, Acts 21:26. Perhaps the whole observance in this case was intended to be but seven days, a... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN OF ISRAEL - Jews. All who are the friends of the Law of Moses. THIS IS THE MAN ... - This implies that they had before given information to the Jews at Jerusalem that there was such a man, and they now exulted in the fact that they had found him. They therefore called on all these to aid in sec... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE CITY - In Jerusalem. As he was with Paul, it was inferred that he would attend him everywhere. TROPHIMUS - He had accompanied Paul on his way from Ephesus, Acts 20:4. WHOM THEY SUPPOSED ... - This is a most striking illustration of the manner in which accusations are often brought against ot... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CITY WAS MOVED - Was agitated; was thrown into commotion. DREW HIM OUT OF THE TEMPLE - Under the pretence that he had defiled it. The evident design was to put him to death, Acts 21:31. THE DOORS WERE SHUT - The doors leading into the courts of the temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS THEY WENT ABOUT TO KILL HIM - Greek: they seeking to kill him. This was evidently done in a popular tumult, as had been done in the case of Stephen, Acts 7: They could not pretend that they had a right to do it by law. TIDINGS CAME - The news, or rumour came; he was told of it. THE CHIEF CAP... [ Continue Reading ]
CENTURIONS - Captains of 100 men.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BE BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS - To show to the enraged multitude that he did not intend to rescue anyone from justice, but to keep the peace. Paul’s Being thus bound would convince them of his determination that justice should be done in the case. Probably he was bound between two soldiers, his right... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE CASTLE - The castle of Antonia, where the guard was kept. See the notes on Acts 21:31. Compare Acts 23:10, Acts 23:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE STAIRS - The stairs which led from the temple to the castle of Antonia. Josephus says (_Jewish Wars_, book 5, chapter 5, section 8), that the castle of Antonia “was situated at the corner of two cloisters of the temple, of that on the west, and of that on the north; it was erected on a rock... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAY WITH HIM! - That is, to death. Compare Luke 23:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAY I SPEAK UNTO THEE? - May I have the privilege of making my defense before thee; or of stating the case truly; the cause of my accusation; of this tumult, etc. CANST THOU SPEAK GREEK? - Implying that if he could, he might be permitted to speak to him. The Greek language was what was then almost... [ Continue Reading ]
ART NOT THOU THAT EGYPTIAN? - That Egyptian was probably a Jew who resided in Egypt. Josephus has given an account of this Egyptian which strikingly accords with the statement here recorded by Luke. See Josephus, _Antiq._, book 20, chapter 8, section 6, and _Jewish Wars_, book 2, chapter 13, section... [ Continue Reading ]
A JEW OF TARSUS - A Jew by birth. OF NO MEAN CITY - Not obscure, or undistinguished. He could claim an honorable birth, so far as the place of his nativity was concerned. See the notes on Acts 9:11. Tarsus was much celebrated for its learning, and was at one time the rival of Alexandria and Athens.... [ Continue Reading ]
LICENCE - Liberty; permission. ON THE STAIRS - See the notes on Acts 21:35. BECKONED WITH THE HAND - Waving the hand as a sign that he was about to address them, and to produce silence and attention. See Acts 12:17. IN THE HEBREW TONGUE - The language which was spoken by the Jews, which was then a... [ Continue Reading ]