_PAUL WILL NOT BY ANY MEANS BE DISSUADED FROM GOING TO JERUSALEM. PHILIP'S DAUGHTERS PROPHETESSES. PAUL COMETH TO JERUSALEM; WHERE HE IS APPREHENDED, AND IN GREAT DANGER, BUT IS RESCUED BY THE CHIEF CAPTAIN AND PERMITTED TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE._ _Anno Domini 61._... [ Continue Reading ]
COOS,— _Coos,_ or _Cos,_ was one of the islands of Cyclades, famous for the worship of Esculapius, and the temple of Juno. There also Hippocrates the prince of physicians, and Apelles the celebrated painter, were born. _Rhodes_ was another island, famous for the worship of the sun, and for the braze... [ Continue Reading ]
TYRE,— The metropolis of Phoenicia, Acts 21:2 and the most famous mart of the East. See the notes on Isaiah 23.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE SHOULD NOT GO UP TO JERUSALEM— That is, if he tendered his own liberty and safety. It is necessary to take it with this limitation; for had the Spirit forbidden his journey to Jerusalem, we may be sure he would have desisted from it. This verse might be rendered better, _And we tarried there... [ Continue Reading ]
PTOLEMAIS,— Was a celebrated city on the sea-coast, which fell by lot to the tribe of Asher; its ancient name was _Accho._ Judges 1:31. It was enlarged and beautified by the first of the Egyptian Ptolemies, whence it took its new appellation. It was the scene of many celebrated actions in the holy w... [ Continue Reading ]
PHILIP— One of the seven deacons, ch. Acts 6:5 and who had settled at Caesarea after he had baptized the eunuch, ch. Acts 8:40. Concerning Caesarea see the note on ch. Acts 8:40.... [ Continue Reading ]
VIRGINS, WHICH DID PROPHESY.— The miraculous gifts of the Spirit were sometimes communicated to women as well as to men, agreeably to the prophesy recorded, ch. Acts 2:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TOOK PAUL'S GIRDLE,— This was in the manner of the ancient prophets, who frequently attended their predictions with significant and prophetic actions. See Jeremiah 13:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE TOOK UP OUR CARRIAGES,— _Making up our baggage, we went,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT WITH THEM ONE MNASON, &C.— _Mnason_ was a native of Cyprus, but an inhabitant of Jerusalem, who probablyhad been converted either by Christ or the apostles, at the first opening of the gospel. With St. Paul's arrival in Jerusalem at this time, ended his _third_ apostolical journey.... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES;— The apostle, commonly called _James the less,_ and the brother of our Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MANY THOUSANDS— The original is μυριαδες, _myriads,_ which may only denote in general a great number; and if we consider what a vast confluence there must have been at Jerusalem on occasion of this great festival, we need not be surprised at the expression. See Acts 21:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HAVE A VOW— Of Nazariteship. See on ch. Acts 18:18. Josephus not only tells us in general, that it was customary with persons in any sickness or distress, to make vows, and to spend at least thirty days in extraordinary devotions; but also says, that when Agrippa came to Jerusalem, he offered... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SIGNIFY THE ACCOMPLISHMENT, &C.— Dr. Heylin renders this, _and declared how many days the purification was to last, and when the offering was to be made for each of them._ This seems to be the true meaning of the passage: accordingly Dr. Benson's account of it is this: "The next day, taking the f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS WHICH WERE OF ASIA,— St. Paul had lately spent three years in preaching there, and, notwithstanding the success his labours wereattended with, had met with great opposition from these people; so that it is no wonder they should be the leaders in such an assault upon him. See ch. Acts 19:9 A... [ Continue Reading ]
TEACHETH—AGAINST—THE LAW, AND THIS PLACE:— Every thing contrary to the law would be justly interpreted as contrary to the temple which was so evidently supported by a regard to it: but perhaps St. Paul might have declared that the destruction of the temple was approaching; which declaration we know... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE CITY WAS MOVED,— The accusation brought against St. Paul, though false, put all the city in a commotion, and brought a vast concourse of people together, who seized upon him in order to kill him; and therefore they drew him out of the court of the Israelites, lest it should have been def... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SAID, CANST THOU SPEAK GREEK?— St. Paul's addressing himself in Greek to the chief captain surprised him a good deal, as he took him for an _Egyptian impostor;_ upon which he said to him with some astonishment, _"What then! can you speak Greek? Are not you that Egyptian, who some time ago made a... [ Continue Reading ]
A JEW OF TARSUS,— The inhabitants of Tarsus, (which city seems to have taken its name from _Tarshish,_ the son of Javan, (Genesis 10:4.) boasted extremely of their antiquity; and Strabo tells us, that they were so considerable on account of learning, as well as commerce, wealth, and grandeur, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE HEBREW TONGUE,— Literally _In the Hebrew dialect,_ which was the Syro-Chaldaic, and the _language,_ or vulgar tongue, then in use among the Jew _INFERENCES.—_Who can fail to admire the excellent and heroic temper which appeared in the blessed apostle, in the journey that he took to Jerusalem,... [ Continue Reading ]