Acts 19

Acts 19:2

2.—Have ye received the Holy Ghost] Have ye received the gifts of the Holy Ghost, since ye believed? Dr. Whitby.

—We have not so much as heard &c.] The expression signifies, not that they had never heard of the Spirit of God, but only that they had not heard of the giving of it, which the Apostle mentioned. So we read at John vii. 39, that “the Holy Ghost was not yet;” where is not denied the existence of the Holy Ghost, but the plentiful effusion of it. Bp. Pearson.

Acts 19:3

3.—Unto what then were ye baptized?] Hereby intimating to these ignorant disciples, that, if they were baptized according to the rule of Christ, they could not be ignorant that there is a Holy Ghost, because the Apostles were commanded to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Bp. Pearson.

Acts 19:4

4.—John verily baptized &c.] The meaning of this reply is, St. John indeed baptized you unto the expectation of the Messiah that was to come; but, before

you enjoy the benefit of His actual coming, you must verify that expectation by receiving Him, now that He is come; and fulfil the intention of St. John’s baptism, by being afterwards baptized unto the name of Christ. St. John’s baptism was but a promise or declaration of your intention, of being afterwards baptized unto Christ; and the advantage you expect from being baptized by St. John, can be made good to you only by fulfilling that promise, in embracing the doctrine and religion of Christ. Dr. S. Clarke.

—the baptism of repentance.] Exhorting men to such a reformation of life, as would qualify them for the blessings the Messiah was to bring. Pyle.

4. — Sopater—Aristarchus &c.] We know but few particulars concerning the persons mentioned in this verse. Sopater is generally thought to be the same with Sospater, whom St. Paul mentions as his kinsman at Rom. xvi. 21. Aristarchus of Thessalonica is before mentioned, as a Macedonian, chap. xix. 29; he attended St. Paul in his voyage to Rome, chap. xxvii. 2, and was his fellow-labourer, Philem. ver. 24, and a fellow-prisoner with him, Colosa. iv. 10, 11. Secundus is not mentioned any where but here. Gaius of Derbe, if

Anno DOMINI 59. A. D. 60.

Acts 19:5

5.—in the name of the Lord Jesus.] That is, into the faith and obedience of the Christian religion, and in the form appointed by the Lord Jesus, at Matt. xxviii. 19. Bp. Mann.

Acts 19:8

8.—went into the synagogue, &c.] This was conformable to his usual custom of first proposing the Gospel to his own brethren, the Jews. Dr. Hales.

Acts 19:9

9.—when divers were hardened,] That is, would not believe, after sufficient evidence afforded them, that “Jesus was the Christ.” Dr. Whitby.

—but spake evil of that way] Not only rejected this holy religion, but railed and openly reviled it. Pyle.

—disputing daily &c.] Using the private room of Tyrannus as a place where he discoursed to the converts, and satisfied the doubts and answered the objections of others. Bp. Mann. Tyrannus may probably have been a teacher of philosophy or rhetorick, who had a large room in which he used to read lectures to his followers. Bp. Pearce.

Paul’s doctrine confirmed by miracles. THE ACTS. Conjuring books are burned. Anno DOMINI 57.

Acts 19:12

12. — the diseases—the evil spirits] Observe that the diseases and evil spirits are here mentioned, as things distinct from each other. See note at Matt. iv. 24. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 19:13

13. — certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists,] Certain Jews who made a trade of strolling about with the pretence of curing possessed persons by magical arts. Pyle.

Acts 19:16

16. — naked] That is, without their upper garment, which was a gown or cloak. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 19:18

18. And many that believed came, &c.] So good an effect for the advancement of the Christian profession was produced, that those converts, who had formerly dealt in any of these magical arts, came to the Apostles, confessing and repenting of their bad practices. Pyle.

Acts 19:19

19. — fifty thousand pieces] If these were the Roman silver denarii, then the whole sum is computed to amount to more than 1600l. of our money. Bps. Pearce and Mann.

Acts 19:20

20. So mightily grew &c.] The Gospel is frequently in the New Testament compared to light; and it did in nothing more resemble light than in this, that, as soon as the heavenly doctrine, therein contained, arose upon the world, it darted its bright rays and diffused its quickening influence from east to west with an inconceivable rapidity. The kingdom of God came not with observation, neither could men say, “Lo here! or, lo there!” Luke xvii. 20, 21. That is, it did not establish itself, like other kingdoms, in a slow and leisurely manner, so that men might easily trace it from its rise through the several steps of its progress, but fixed itself at once almost every where, with so rapid and amazing a course, as did, as it were, leave the eyes and observations of men behind it. And still, as it went along, it gained mighty spoils from all religions, and gathered vast multitudes of every country under its banners. And it is most clear that this success of the Gospel was miraculous, and chiefly owing to the mighty operations of the Holy Spirit of God; for the natural and visible causes, which concurred to the production of this great effect, were not any ways equal to the effect produced; and therefore some supernatural and invisible cause must needs have given birth to it. The appearing causes and instruments of this wondrous

revolution were, chiefly, twelve men, of obscure birth and plain understandings, without learning, eloquence, or experience. These men set out from Jerusalem with the design of altering the settled habits, the inveterate prejudices, the established rites and religions, of all countries. They dispersed themselves through all quarters of the earth, and they succeeded every where, prevailing with great multitudes in a very short time, in every nation and kingdom, to submit to the laws, and to own the religion, of Jesus. Here was no manner of proportion between the effect and the cause, between the work which was wrought, and the instruments which wrought it; and therefore we may, and must, conclude that a Divine invisible power went along with them at every step, and miraculously blessed their endeavours. Bp. Atterbury.

The word of God, which grew from very unpromising beginnings so mightily, and prevailed so speedily over the unbelieving world, was manifestly propagated in opposition to the united force and cunning of men and devils, by a power eminently superior to both, and therefore most certainly Divine. This wonderful propagation of the Gospel, with such incredible success, and by methods so very extraordinary and peculiar, should ever be contemplated with just wonder, and ought always to be esteemed a most illustrious proof of the truth of Christianity; so that, if no other miracle had been wrought in support of it, this alone would have been sufficient to establish its truth. For, that a doctrine so unacceptable to flesh and blood, so irreconcilable with the secular interest, as well as the corrupt inclinations of mankind, so violently opposed by all the force and malice of men, should irresistibly persuade both Jew and Gentile, and draw the whole world after it by cords so strong, and yet so easy, without any outward compulsion, or prospect of advantage or reward, except what was future and invisible, but with the present and visible terrour of the greatest hardships and sufferings: this, if all other tokens had been wanting, must have been owned to be the effect of a power truly Divine. And hereby the Christian religion stands remarkably distinguished from all religious impostures, whose rise and growth have always manifestly been owing to the plausibility and agreeableness of the doc-

Demetrius, for love of gain, raiseth an uproar against Paul Anno DOMINI 59.

Acts 19:21

21.—purposed in the spirit.] Took a resolution, determined within himself. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 19:22

22.—stayed in Asia] Stayed at Ephesus, which was in Proconsular Asia. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 19:23

23.—about that way.] About the doctrine of Christianity. Bp. Mann.

Acts 19:24

24.—which made silver shrines &c.] These appear to

have been small representations in silver of that wonder of the world, the temple of Diana at Ephesus, in each of which, perhaps, a little image of her was placed: they were bought by strangers as matters of curiosity, and also of devotion. Bp. Pearce. It was the custom to place these little chapels, representing the form of a temple, upon an altar or other solemn place; and then, the doors being opened, the image was represented to the spectators, standing or sitting in state. Dr. Hammond.

Acts 19:27

27.—the temple of the great goddess Diana] The heathens reckoned Diana among their greater divinities, and the title of the “great goddess” was applied by way of peculiar distinction to Diana of Ephesus. This false deity had altars and temples in various parts of Greece; but the Diana of Ephesus was far more celebrated than all others, both on account of the antiquity of the worship there established, and the extraordinary magnificence of the temple. Beausole.

Acts 19:29

29.—Gaius and Aristarchus,] See note at chap. xx. 4.—into the theatre.] The place where, it is probable, when the publick shews were not exhibited, the people were wont to assemble themselves, on common occasions, as they did on this tumultuary occasion, ver. 32, 39. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 19:30

30.—would have entered in unto the people.] For the purpose of making a publick defence in favour of himself and his two friends, whom the people had dragged into the theatre. Bp. Mann.

Acts 19:31

31.—certain of the chief of Asia,] The chief rulers of the province. Abp. Newcome. The literal translation of the word in the original is, “Asiarchus.” These were persons of rank and opulence, selected from the principal provinces and cities of Asia, whose office it was to take charge of all religious solemnities, and to celebrate, at their own expense, publick games in the theatre, in honour of the gods. Schleumer. From the mention of these “Asiarchus,” it is supposed by some that the publick games were now celebrating in the theatre, and

Acts 19:33

33. — the Jews putting him forward.] It seems probable that Alexander, a Jew, (ver. 34,) seeing those of his own nation involved in the affair, was urged by them to undertake their defence, and make the whole accusation fall on St. Paul and the Christians. The people stop him on perceiving him to be a Jew, as supposing that he was going to speak against Diana. Beausobre.

Acts 19:35

35. — the townclerk] Or principal magistrate of the city. Schleusner.

— is a worshipper &c.] The word in the original means more properly, ’the guardian of the temple of the great goddess Diana;’ or, as in the margin of our translation, “the temple keeper.” Medals of Ephesus are now extant, on which the name of some officer is inscribed, with this title, ‘Guardian’ or ‘warden of the temple;’ and, as this officer was appointed by the citizens, the city itself was properly called by the same title, ‘The guardian’ or ‘warden of the temple.’ Bp. Pearce.

— the image which fell down from Jupiter?] The statue of Diana here was of such high antiquity, that it was a received opinion among the vulgar, that it had come down from heaven. Beausobre.

Acts 19:37

37. — nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.] He seems to argue, that what had been said by St. Paul against the worship of images made with hands, could not

Acts 19:38

38. — the law is open.] There were appointed days when the proconsul and his deputy used to attend the courts. Grotus.

Chap. XX. ver. 2. — when he had gone over those parts.] At this time probably it was, that he preached the Gospel, as he states at Rom. xv. 19, “round about from Jerusalem unto Illyricum.” Dr. Wells.

— he came into Greece.] The term “Greece,” as used in the New Testament, seems equivalent to Achaia, that is, to include not only Greece proper, where Athens stood, but also the Peloponnesus; accordingly, St. Paul is thought to have visited Corinth during his three months’ stay at this time in Greece. Dr. Wells.