Acts 21

Acts 21:1

COos] Or Coea; an Island in the A gean Sea: one of the Cyclades.

Rhodes] Another Island in the Lycian Sea, neer the continent of Asia.

Patara] A citie of Lycia.

Acts 21:2

Phenicia] Chap. 11. 19.

Acts 21:3

at Tyre] Which was the Metropolis of Phenicia.

Acts 21:4

that he should not] That is, they prophecied of his danger, if he went up: that they did by the spirit of prophecie; but through humane affection they disswaded him from going.

Acts 21:7

Ptolemais] Which is a Sea town of Phenicia.

Acts 21:8

Cesarea] Chap. 18. 22.

of Philip the Evangelist] Who preached the Gospel to the Samaritans: this office was between an Apostle and a Pastor, Ephesians 4:11.

which was one of the seven] Chap. 6. 5.

Acts 21:13

to break mine heart] Meaning that it was bitternesse of heart to him to see them afflicted with grief for him, who was resolved, come life, come death, to be obedient to the guidance of Gods holy Spirit.

Acts 21:16

with whom we should lodge] Meaning at Jerusalem.

Acts 21:18

with us unto James] Chap. 15. 13.

Acts 21:20

thousands] Gr. ten thousands.

all zealous of the law] He meaneth the major part of them were zealous (though without knowledge, Romans 10:2. Galatians 1:14.) that is, tenacious of the ceremonies of the law, in which they had been bred.

Acts 21:21

to forsake Moses] Which was an odious and false aspersion: for the doctrine of the Gospel, which Paul preached, was according to Moses testimonie of Christ: onely he taught how we must passe from shadowes to the substance, Galatians 5:1. and use all those things indifferent, as knowing our freedome in wisdome and charitie, Chap. 16. 3. and 18. 18. Galatians 2:3. Romans 14:13,15,19,21. 1 Corinthians 8:13.

Acts 21:23

we have foure men] Faithfull brethren, who had a vow, as Chap. 18. 18. They would make present use of these mens legall obligations, in the knowledge of Christian libertie, for the advancement of the Gospel.

Acts 21:24

Them take] The meaning is: for as much as thou didst sheare thy head at Cenchrea, Chap. 18. 18. according to thy vow of a Nazarite, shew (now thou art at Jerusalem) the accomplishment thereof, by joyning in the charge with these soure men, offering according to the law on that behalf; by which it may appeare that thou art not a despiser of the law of Moses.

shave their heads] Numbers 6:18. Chap. 18. 18.

Acts 21:25

we have written] Chap. 15. 20.

Acts 21:26

to signifie the accomplishment] Numbers 6:13.

Acts 21:28

Greeks also in the] Meaning that he had brought the uncircumcised beyond the court of the Gentiles, which was death to do.

Acts 21:31

the chief captain] Romane Tribune, who was in the nature of a Colonel; and had Centurions or Captains of hundreds in his regiment.

Acts 21:32

they left beating of Paul] For the Jews had not power of life and death permitted them by the Romanes.

Acts 21:36

Away with him] Luke 23:18. John 19:15.

Acts 21:38

Art not thou that Egyptian] Specified Chap. 5. 36. of whom Josephus Ant. l. 20. c. 11. et de bel. Judd. 2. c. 12.

Acts 21:39

of Tarsus] Chap. 22. 3.

Acts 21:40

in the Hebrew tongue] Whether in the pure Hebrew tongue, (in use before their captivitie, but in & before Christs time becoming a dead tongue) or in the Syricak, it is not certain: for it was called the Hebrew, both in respect of the derivation thereof from the Hebrew; and for as much as it then the mother tongue of them who were Hebrews.