_THE HOLY GHOST IS GIVEN BY PAUL'S HANDS: THE JEWS BLASPHEME HIS DOCTRINE, WHICH IS CONFIRMED BY MIRACLES. THE JEWISH EXORCISTS ARE BEATEN BY THE MAN POSSESSED BY THE EVIL SPIRIT. MAGICAL BOOKS ARE BURNT. DEMETRIUS, FOR LOVE OF GAIN, RAISETH AN UPROAR AGAINST PAUL, WHICH IS APPEASED BY THE TOWN CLER... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL—CAME TO EPHESUS— Ephesus was the metropolis and principal mart not only of Ionia, but even of all the proconsular Asia, situated on the river _Cayster,_ celebrated for its swans, on the side of a hill, which toward the west has the prospect of a lovely plain, watered and beautified with the ple... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAID UNTO THEM, HAVE YE RECEIVED, &C.— St. Paul found at Ephesus _twelve disciples,_ who either had been converted there, or, as is more probable, had come to Ephesus out of some remote country since he had left that city;—for these men, it is most likely, were pious Jews, who, having waited for... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, &C.— I think it evident, beyond all dispute, that the baptism of John and of Christ were in their own nature quite different; and that it is plain in fact, that when persons in general were converted to Christianity, they were baptized of course without inquiring whether they h... [ Continue Reading ]
HE—SPAKE BOLDLY FOR THE SPACE OF THREE MONTHS,— Lord Barrington supposes, that after St. Paul had been some time at Ephesus, he visited the neighbouring towns of Asia, and then returned to Ephesus again; and it seems not improbable, that the foundation of some others of the seven churches in Asia, s... [ Continue Reading ]
HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS,— The words Σουδαρια η σιμικινθια, were originally Latin words,—_Sudaria_ and _Semicincthia._ The etymology of the first plainly determines it to signify a piece of linen, with which the sweat was wiped from the face; and as the latter, literally rendered, signifies things _g... [ Continue Reading ]
VAGABOND JEWS, EXORCISTS,— Several of the Jews about this time pretended to a power of casting out demons, particularly by some arts and charms pretended to be derived from Solomon. Some of these _strolling_ exorcists, observing that St. Paul, by invoking the name of _Jesus,_ did real miracles in th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE EVIL SPIRIT ANSWERED— Not to insist on the demonstration arising from thepresent history, that this demoniac was not merely a lunatic, we may observe that the evil spirit, under whose operation this man was, seems either to have been compelled by a superior power to bear an unwilling testimo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY THAT BELIEVED CAME, &C.— Exorcisms and incantations had been very much practised at Ephesus: the Gentiles there imagined that Diana, or the moon, presided over their incantations; but upon the disaster which befel these exorcists, many of them who had lately embraced the Christian religion... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THESE THINGS—PAUL PURPOSED, &C.— It is not certain from the original, whether this relates to a determination to which St. Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit, by whom he was directed in his journeys, or to a purpose which he formed in his own mind: but as we find that he delayed the execution o... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMOTHEUS AND ERASTUS:— Timothy was a person very proper to be employed on this occasion; not only on account of his excellent character, but also as he had formerly been at Macedonia with St. Paul, and had assisted in planting the churches there. _Erastus,_ who was joined with him, was chamberlain... [ Continue Reading ]
DEMETRIUS—WHICH MADE SILVER SHRINES FOR DIANA,— These _shrines,_ it has been generally supposed, were little _models_ of the famous _temple of Diana,_ with folding-doors; which being opened, the image of the idol goddess was seen placed therein. The votaries of Diana who came to worship at Ephesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT NOT ALONE AT EPHESUS, &C.— _That this Paul has persuaded great numbers of people, not only of Ephesus, but of almost all_ the provinces of _Asia,_ as they have occasionally visited us; _and has turned them aside_ from the established religion, _saying, that they are not_ true _deities, which ar... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM ALL ASIA AND THE WORLD WORSHIPPETH.— As Diana was known under a great variety of titles and characters, as the goddess of hunting, of travelling, of childbirth, of enchantments, &c. as Luna, Hecate, Lucina, Proserpine, and so on,—she had undoubtedly, in one or other of these views, a vast numbe... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT IS DIANA, &C.— This epithet of _great,_ was frequently given by the heathens to Jupiter, Diana, and others of their superior idol deities: the ascription of it to the true God, is in scripture called _magnifying him._... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISTARCHUS—OF MACEDONIA,— Aristarchus was afterwards imprisoned with St. Paul, his friend and companion, at Rome, in the cause of the gospel. See Colossians 4:10. The famous games in honour of Diana were celebrated in the _theatre_ here mentioned, which was the usual place of concourse at public ti... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CERTAIN OF THE CHIEF OF ASIA,— It has been conjectured by many from this and the following passage, that the people at Ephesus were then celebrating the public games in honour of Diana: and as it is not likely that in such a tumultuous hour several of the chief of Asia, as they are here termed,... [ Continue Reading ]
ALEXANDER, &C.— Many writers suppose that this was Alexander the coppersmith, who was one of the most violent judaizing Christians, consequently one of the greatest enemies of St. Paul, and most in favour with the unbelievingJews, of any who professed Christianity; and, if so, no wonder that the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOWN CLERK— The word Γραμματευς literally signifies a _scribe,_ or _secretary;_ but as this person appears to have been of some authority as well as learning, the word _chancellor,_ or _recorder,_ seems to be very properly used by several learned translators. Mr. Biscoe endeavours to prove that... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN, WHICH ARE NEITHER ROBBERS OF CHURCHES, &C.— It is very ungenerous in Orobio to insinuate from hence, that the fear of suffering kept St. Paul from declaring against the established idolatries here; and it is much more so in Lord Shaftesbury, to represent the apostle and his companions as acquie... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW IS OPEN, &C.— _"The courts are held,_ in which they may have justice done them, if they have a charge of any private injury to offer; _and there are the proconsuls,_ (Celer and AElius, then joint proconsuls,) if they have any crime relating to the state to allege." The word Αγορα originally... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE INQUIRE, &C.— "But _if_ the cause be not properly either civil or criminal, _and you are inquiring any thing concerning other matters_ relating to the common utility, or to religion, which may seem of a special nature, you need not doubt but _it shall be determined,_ to the general satisfa... [ Continue Reading ]