Acts 15

Acts 15:1-5

We have here an account of Paul’s travels, and his acquaintance with Timothy, who under his tuition afterwards grew so eminent.

1. Paul’s first visit was to Derbe and Lythra, where the Lord had provided for him an affiant and companion in his travels, a certain disciple, a young man named Timothy, whose mother was a Jewels, his father a Gentile. His exemplary conduct and excellent parts had gained him a great character among the brethren at Lythra and Iconium ; Paul therefore was desirous to engage him to go with him, and the zealous youth readily consenting, he took and circumcised him ; not as necessary to salvation, or as an obligation on him to observe the ceremonial law, that having been settled by the apostolic decree ; but as a matter in itself indifferent, and because he knew the prejudices the Jews who believed not would entertain against him, because they knew his father was a Greek, and that unless he were circumcised, they never would admit him to preach in any of their synagogues, or conversely with him, which might greatly obstruct the usefulness of his ministry. In consideration therefore to the prejudices of his countrymen he took this day, and to the Jews became as a Jew, that he might gain the Jews ; a proof of his warm affection towards his kindness after the flesh, though perplexed by them as their inveterate enemy.

2. As they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained by the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. Though he had for a particular reason circumcised Timothy, he meant not to lay any stumbling-block in the way of the Gentile converts thereby, but afflicted their entire liberty from all the legal institutions, according to the copies of the apostolic decree which he delivered to them. And so were the churches established in the faith ; in the great doctrines of justification by faith alone, and of acceptance with God through Jesus Christ, without any respect to circumcision or the blissful ordinances ; and increased in number daily, the Lord, by the misinfections of Paul and his young affiant, adding to the church such as should be saved. And that is the supreme joy of the faithful ministers of Christ, and a fresh bond to quicken their zeal and diligence, when Christ is pleased to make them see this travail of their soul.

3. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Gaftia, and were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Afia, 7. After they were come to Myfia, they affixed to go into Bithynia : but the Spirit suffered them not. 8. And they passing by Myfia, * came down to Troas. 9. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night : There stood * a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10. And after he had sent the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go * into Macedonia, assuredly gathering, that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11. Therefore leading from Troas, we came with a strait course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis : 12. And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony : and we were in that

city abiding certain days. 13. And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river-side, where prayer was wont to be made ; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14. ¶ And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us : * whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she befought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And * she constrained us.

Acts 15:6-15

We have here,

1. Paul’s travels continued through Phrygia and Galatia. He had purposed to go on through the proconsular Afia ; but by a secret impulse of the Holy Ghost, he was forbid, other work being provided for him. His next remove was to Myfia, a people despicable to a proverb ; but the grace of Jesus knows no respect of persons. From thence they had designed to go into Bithynia, another province of lesser Afia ; but the Spirit suffered them not, under whose guidance they directed all their motions. Therefore passing by Myfia, without making any Day, they came to Troas, near the place where the ancient city of Troy had stood ; and here, it is supposed, Luke, the writer of this history, joined Paul and his company, as henceforward he usually says, we, as one of those who travelled with the apostle.

2. At Troas, the Lord in a vision directed Paul which way to bend his course. An angel, in the garb of a Macedonian, stood by him, and intrested him to come over into Macedonia and help them, by his prayers and preaching. Hereupon, assuredly concluding this was a divine call to preach the gospel unto them, he and his fellow-travellers immediately prepared for their voyage, and came to Samothracia, a little island lying in the Archipelago, or Regan Sea ; and the next day they arrived at Neapolis, a port on the confines of Macedonia ; and continuing their course, they reached Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman colony, governed by the Roman laws and magistrates. Note, (1.) When we see an evident call of God to a place, we may go to our work with confidence, assuredly gathering that God hath there a people to praise him. (2.) They who are sent on God’s work, must run at his bidding, and make no delay. (3.) Chief cities usually afford the greatest field of usefulness, and the gospel sent thither becomes a more general blessing.

3. The first days of their arrival seemed to promise but little success : they abode there certain days, perhaps unnoticed, and unable to find a door of utterance. There seems to have been no synagogue of the Jews in this place, but some devout women, whether Jews or presbyters, resorted to an oratory without the city, near the river side, where they used to meet for prayer on the Sabbath-day : thither the apostle and his fellow-travellers went, and joined their devotions, taking an opportunity to preach to them the gospel, and lead them to the knowledge of the great Salvation which is in Jesus Christ.

4. A blessing attended their labours. A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, either of Silk or cloth, or the purple dye, a native of Thyatira, a city of Afia, but who was now settled at Philippi, and worshipped God, as a presbyter of the gate, heard us with great difficulties, which bore the Lord opened by the powerful efficacy of his grace, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul, and received the truth, in the light and love of it. And as she made immediate profession of her faith, she was baptized, and her household ; whereupon she befought Paul and his friends, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, seeing ye have received me into your number, shew me the confidence you place in me, and now see my house and abide there ; so desirous was she of testifying her gratitude to those from whom she had received so great spiritual blessings, and solicitous to enjoy as much as possible of their conversation, that she might grow more established in the truth ; and she constrained us ; unwilling to be burdensome, they were at first backward to accept her invitation ; but at last, overcome with her importunity, they consented. Note, (1.) One soul turned to God in a great acquisition, and well worthy to be recorded. (2.) Providence sometimes brings us far from our native home, with views we little thought of, and to orders the place of our abode as to be greatly subservient to the salvation of our souls. (3.) Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God ; they who sit under a preached gospel are in the Lord’s way. (4.) The heart, by nature, is close that against the light of truth by ignorance, blindness, prejudice, and error : if in God’s almighty power and grace alone which can open a way for the entrance of his gospel, and make it effectual to the conversion of the soul. (5.) They who have received a blessing from God’s ministers, and owe to them, under God, their souls, think they can never sufficiently shew their gratitude to them for their labours of love. (6.) We cannot but desire the approbation of those who are eminently good, and wish so to all, as that they may judge us faithful to the Lord.

Acts 15:22-35

Unhappy decisions have first appeared in the Christian church, but they are soon delayed. Here it is, 1. A controversy may be at Antioch by the judaising teachers, about circumcising the Gentile converts, and causing them to observe the ceremonial love. ver. 1, 2. 2. A consultation had with the church at Jerusalem about this matter, and the sending of delegates thither for that purpose, ver. 2—5. 3. An account of what passed in the fraud that was convened upon this occasion, ver. 6. What Peter said, ver. 7—11. What Paul and Barnabas disavowed of, ver. 12. And before, what James proposed for the settling of this matter, ver. 13—14. 4. The refute of this debate, and the circular letter that was written to the Gentile converts, describing them how to govern themselves with regard to the Jews, ver. 23—29. 5. The delivering of this determination to the church at Antioch, and the satisfaction to gave them, ver. 30—35. 6. A second expedition designed by Paul and Barnabas to preach to the Gentiles, in which they quarrelled about their afflictions, and parted upon it, one steering one course, and the other another, ver. 36—41.

1. A ND certain men which came down from Judea, taught the brethren, and said, ‘Except ye be circumcised’ after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them, they determined that ‘Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apofites and elders about this question. 3. And ‘being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phence and Samaria, ‘declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apofites and elders, and ’they declared all things that God had done with them. 5. But ’there tole up certain of the evils of the Pharisees which believed, saying, ‘That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

2. 1—5. The peace of that happy society at Antioch, which was the envy of the devil, begins to be interrupted by some, who sowed the seeds of controversy, the bane of the Christian church.

3. Certain men came down from Judea, not sent by the apofites, but instigated by their own pride and prejudice, and taught the Gentile brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved; as if their faith in Christ and adherence to the gospel was insufficient, unless they also submitted to this distinguishing ordinance, and the other rites of the ceremonial law. The Jewish Christians, it seems, themselves were useless for the love, (Acts 2.4. 10.) and were permitted to observe the Jewish ritual as a thing in its nature indifferent, and from which the destruction of the temple, and the dissolution of the Jewish policy, would soon emanate them: but not satisfied with being themselves indulged in this practice, they wanted to enslave the consciences of the Gentile converts under the same yoke, and that on peril of their damnation if they rejected it. Nate, Men are strangely disposed to make their own opinion and practice the standard for others, and to enforce their fancies and inventions as of essential consequence; liberally denouncing their anathemas, and confining to the pity of destruction all who will not conform to their mode of thinking and worship, and submit their consciences to their yoke; but when we are making God’s word our rule, and, according to our best light, following his will, we need little regard these rafts denunciations.

4. Paul and Barnabas boldly withstood these Judaising teachers, and disputed against them as the corrupters of genuine Christianity; and when a growing dissention seemed to threaten this flourishing church, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apofites and elders about this question, that the matter being discussed in a full assembly of all the chief ministers of the church, the pretensions of these corrupters might be confounded, and the liberty of the Gentiles confirmed.

5. The two great Apofites of the Gentiles hereupon departed, being respectfully attended part of the way by some chief brethren of the church; and as they passed through Phence and Samaria, they caused great joy unto all the brethren, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; for to a faithful soul nothing is matter of more pure unfeigned delight, than to hear that others are made partisans of the same grace which we have called.

6. The church of Jerusalem, and the Apofites Cephas, James, and John, and the elders, or presbyters, received these distinguished messengers with high respect, and expressed their full

approbation of their conduct, when they heard what they had done, and their success among the Gentiles: but certain of the first of the Pharisees, which believed in Jesus as the Messiah, and made profession of faith in him, still retained many of their former tenets, and were begotten to the ceremonial law; they rose up therefore, inflicting, that it was needful for them not only to believe in Jesus, but also to be circumcised, and keep the law, in order to obtain acceptance with God; thus most highly derogating from the free grace of God, and the great doctrine of justification by faith alone.

6. ¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8. And God! which knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the holy Ghost, even as he did unto us: 9. And! put no difference between us and them, a partifying their hearts by faith. 10. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they. 12. ¶ Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13. ¶ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets: as it is written, 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doth all these things. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day.

7. 6—21. The first general council that had yet sat to decide on the unhappy disputes which were beginning to arise in the church, is here with great seriousness assembled, to hear, consider, and determine. After much disputing on the subjects, we have,

8. Peter’s speech on the occasion. He had heard what had been said on both sides of the argument, and therefore, as one of the most respectable personages in that assembly, rises to deliver his opinion.

He reminds them how God had sent him several years before to preach the gospel to Cornelius and the Gentiles who were with him, and had thereby led them by faith to Jesus Christ for life and salvation. The same gifts had been bestowed on them, as on the Jewish converts, and God had himself herein testified his acceptance and approbation of them; making no difference between them, partifying their hearts by faith, as justified and sanctioned by the blood, the righteousness, and grace of Jesus, without the least need of circumcision and the ceremonial observances. Since therefore God had so evidently decided the matter, it was the highest presumption, and no better than tempting God, arraigning his wisdom and authority, to pretend a right to counteract what he had done, and repeal what he had determined: and it was a great injury to the Gentile brethren, to put that yoke of ceremonial institutions upon their neck, that had been so burthensome to themselves and their fathers, and which was now absolutely useless, since the salvation by Jesus Christ was alike free to Jew and Gentile, and both were to be saved by grace through faith, without the least respect to circumcision, or any legal institutions: We therefore, have Peter, expect to be saved even as they, and they as freely as we. Note, (1.) The salvation of the gospel is a common salvation, free from all terms and conditions whatsoever, bestowed by grace, and accepted by faith alone. (2.) They who have the real faith of the gospel, will certainly evidence its partifying efficacy upon their hearts. (3.) All who hold the head Christ, and walk in holiness as Christ also walked, however in some

sentiments they may differ from us, are cordially to be embraced by us as brethren.

2. Paul and Barnabas, instead of ten thousand arguments, related simply the miracles and wonders which God had wronged among the Gentiles by them, which all the multitude kept a profound silence, listening attentively to so wonderful and pleasing a narrative; wherein it evidently appeared, both by the miracles which God enabled them to work, and by the success he gave them in the conversion of the Gentiles, that he approved their labours, and bore testimony to the acceptance of these Gentile converts. What need could there be, that they should be burdened with the works of the law, who had received the Holy Ghost by the bearing of faith? (See Gal. iii. 2.)

3. On their closing their discourse, James, the last speaker in this council, sums up the debate, and delivers his opinion.

[1.] After a respectful address to them, as men of reason and consideration, and brethren in the Lord, he reminds them of what Peter had said, by whose preaching first God did visit the Gentiles with the knowledge of his gospel, and the gifts of his grace, to take out of them a people for his name, to be to the praise of his glory.

[2.] He observes, that God herein exactly fulfilled his own word in the mouth of his prophets, which had so long ago foretold this great event, as it is written, (Rom. ix. 11.) After this I will return, and recover the scattered remnant of Israel, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, in and by the divine Messiah, who, when the house of David was reduced to the lowest state of want and contempt, should arise to set up that spiritual and everlasting kingdom, of which David’s house and kingdom were the figures: and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up, great and glorious, that the residue of men, even the nations who had before been left of God to walk in their own ways, might feel after the Lord, submitting to the Messiah’s sceptre, and becoming obedient to the gospel-word; and all the Gentiles, whether preselytes or idolaters, converted to the faith of Christ, gave whom my name is called, as elect vessels, separated for his glory, saith the Lord, who doth all these things, which were used in faithful, whose power alone could effect this wondrous conversion in the heathen world, and who in so doing testified his acceptance of the Gentile converts.

[3.] He resolves the matter into God’s eternal purpose. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world; what he decreed from eternity he had forewald, and now fulfilled; and they might be fully assured, all his counsels were holy, just, and good, and therefore to be acquiesced in by them without a moment’s hesitation.

[4.] He delivers his opinion concerning what he judges proper to be done on the present occasion. My sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God, by the imposition of the unnecessary yoke of legal observances on their consciences; but that, to avoid all essence in the believing brethren among the Jews, and to remove whatever would prevent their communion with the Gentile converts, we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollution of idols; from existing or drinking any thing offered to idols; and from fornication, and all impure embracing; and from things strangled, and from blood; for as fornication, though so common and allowed among the Gentiles, must be abstained from as a moral evil; other things, though indifferent in themselves, were then needful to be observed, in order to promote mutual love and communion between the Jewish and Gentile brethren. For as the writings of Moses, in which these things are forbidden, had been of old read every Sabbath-day, and the Jewish converts still retained a high veneration for the law, they owed them this indulgence to their long-received usage in these indifferent matters. Note, Great allowances are to be made for the prejudices of education; and therefore in indifferent matters we should show to each other a spirit of mutual charity and forbearance, desiring to please every man his neighbour for his good to education.

22. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23. And wrote letters by them after this manner, The apostles, and elders, and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. 24. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment: 25. It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul; 26. Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28. For it seemed good to the holy Ghost,

and Vol. 20. Chap. 217. 1 Or, exfortion. 1 Chap. 107. 11. 1 Cor. 1-1. 11. Heb. 31. and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29. That ye abstain from meats

offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep

yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 30. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and

when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. 31. Which when they had read, they

rejoiced for the 4 confidation. 32. And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, “exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33. And after they had carried there a space, they were let: go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34. Notwithstanding it pleaded Silas to abide there still. 35. Paul also

and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

The matter being now brought to a conclusion, and the assembly concurring in their approbation of the opinion which James had delivered, we have,

1. The choice of two persons from the brethren at Jerusalem, eminent for their gifts and graces, Barsabas and Silas, to

accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, with letters containing the decree of the council, both as a testimony of respect towards their Gentile fellow-Christians, and as helpers to establish

the work begun among them. 2. The letters themselves contained, [1.] A most respectful address. The apostles, and elders, and brethren find greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia: they assume no authoritative

title, nor founding titles; but stretch out the hand of fellowship, giving them the result of their confidations.

[2.] They recite the cause on which their council was held, marking with just disapprobation the disturbance of the church’s peace. We have heard, that certain which went out from us have revealed no such words, subverting your souls, saying, To must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment: they pretended that they acted under the apostolic commitition and authority, but this is here utterly disclaimed. Note, (1.) Nothing so fatally subverts the soul, as the insisting upon any thing, as necessary to our acceptance and justification before God, besides faith only. (2.) Many pretend a mission from God and his church, whose pretensions, when examined, are found utterly false and decisive. [3.] They make honourable mention of the bearers of their epistle, whom they with one accord agreed to send. It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send those men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, for whom they expressed their highest regard, and testified the most entire approbation of their conduct; men that have forwarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; a noble evidence of their approved fidelity. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who, left any creed should be raised about the meaning or intention of the contents of our letters, shall also tell you the same things by mouth. [4.] They plainly determine concerning the disputed point. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, according to his word in the propletes, and the intimations of his will in the corrections afreawrought among the Gentiles by his power; and to us, assembled in his name, and under his influence, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. The avoiding fornication is necessary for Christians at all times; the other things were merely temporal prohibitions, enjoined for a particular purpose, in order to prevent offence, and to remove all cause of disunion between them and their Jewish brethren; but these were not things of moral and perpetual obligation, but were to cease when, the Jewish polity being destroyed, all the ceremonial institutions would be at an end. [5.] They bid them a kind farewell, wishing them all property in body and soul, and recommending them to submit to their decisions; not with proud anathemas if they disobeyed, but with the more apostolic language of kind entreaty and affectiousate persuasion: If ye keep yourselves from these things, ye shall do well; it will be to the glory of God, the peace of the church, and the furtherance of the gospel. 2. The bearers no sooner arrived, than they assembled the multitude, and delivered the epistle, who read with pleasure the determination of the controversy so much to the satisfaction of the Gentile brethren: and Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, endowed with eminent gifts of wisdom and knowledge, exhorted the brethren with many words, to persevere in the faith and obedience of the gospel, and confirmed them in the doctrines of truth which they had embraced. Where the gospel is truly and powerfully preached, the occasional assistance of new misifiers is still advantageous, and serves to help forward the work of God. 4. After some considerable stay, the messengers from the apostles were set ye in peace, with the thanks of the church for all their kind and useful labours, and had the satisfaction to see peace perfectly re-established, which could not but be glad news to the brethren at Jerusalem. Silas however chose still to continue at Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas, and many others, with great success, sought and preached the word of the Lord. Note, Where God opens a great door of usefulness, there a double obligation lies upon his ministers to improve the opportunity, and to labour more abundantly in the blessed work. 36. ¶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren, in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and for how they do. 37. And Barnabas determined to take with them 4 John, whose surname was Mark. 38. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, “who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and failed unto Cyprus; 40. And Paul choke Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, consistring the churches.

Acts 15:36-41

The best of men are but men at the best, and liable to the same passions as others. The sacred historians genorously record their own faults, that we should not think of them more highly than we ought to think. 1. The zealous Paul proposes to his faithful associate Barnabas a second expedition among the Gentiles, and particularly with a view to visit their brethren in all the places where they had preached the word, to see how they stood, to communicate a second blessing to them, and to exhort, encourage, rebuke, and quicken them according to their several needs. Note, Those lie especially near a minister’s heart, to whom, under God, he hath been a spiritual father: and if providence removes him for a while from them, he cannot but be casuously concerned for their welfare, and long for their establishment. 2. A disagreement unhappily arose between Paul and Barabas on this occasion. Barnabas readily consented to the proposal, but determined to take his nephew John Mark, partial probably to him on account of his relation. Paul warmly opposed it, and would by no means consent, thinking him unworthy of that honour, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work, intimidated by the dangers, or weary of the fatigue, or diverted by some worldly motive from the service of the gospel. They who have proved themselves unfaithful, should be tried, ere they are again trusted. 3. The issue of the contention was so sharp that they parted. Both were obstinate, both heated with the dispute, and, whichever was in the right in the subject of the contention, both were, it should seem, wrong in the hasty unyielding spirit with which it was managed. Note, (1.) They we may see good men upon a time unhappily betrayed into a temporary fit of passion, we must be aware not to make their evil a plea in our own excuse. (2.) Truly wise and good men may differ in some opinions, sentiments, and views, and contend too warmly for their own. Let us not be offended thereat; it is the infirmity of this mortal state, where darkness and imperfection will still be found. It is reserved for the felicity of the heavenly state, to be entirely of one heart and one mind. 4. Though they disputed about a circumstance of little importance perhaps, (and such hath often bred the sharpest contentions) yet both heartily persisted in their former gracious purpose; and even their separation was over-ruled for the furtherance of the gospel. Barnabas took Mark, and failed unto Cyprus; and Paul choke Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God; which seems to intimate, that they thought Paul in the right in refusing Mark, and favoured him with a particular mark of their approbation. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, and establishing them in the faith and practice of the gospel. Whatever just cause of displeasure Paul might now have against Mark, we find with pleasure, that afterwards he showed him the most cordial regard, and professed the highest opinion of him, (2 Tim. iv. 11. Col. iv. 10.) We should learn therefore to judge with much temper and candour, even of those who may have taken a wrong step, left their future conduct should make us grieve for the severity with which we treated them: and though they have justly deserved sharp rebuke, when they again approve their fidelity, and testify their repentance, we should forget all that is past, give them the right, hand of fellowship, and trust and honour them as before. CHAP.

This history henceforward chiefly records the travels, labours, and sufferings of Paul. Here is, 1. The beginning of his acquaintance with Timothy, and taking him to be his affiant, ver. 1—2. 2. The wife he made to the churches for their establishment, ver. 4, 5. 3. His call to Macedonia, and his coming to Philippi, with his entertainment there, ver. 6—13. 4. The conversion of Lydia, ver. 14, 15. 5. The coffing of an evil spirit out of a damsel, ver. 16—18. 6. The accusing and abusing Paul and Silas for it, their imprisonment, and the indignities done them, ver. 19—24. 7. The miraculous conversion of the jailer to the faith of Christ, ver. 25—34. 8. The honourable discharge of Paul and Silas by the magistrates, ver. 35—40.

1. THE N came he to * Derbe and Lythra : and behold, a certain disciple was there * named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewels, and believed ; but his father was a Greek : 2. Which was * well reported of by the brethren that were at Lythra and Iconium. 3. Him would Paul have to go forth with him ; and * took and circumcised him, because of the Jews which were in those quarters : for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, * that were ordained by the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5. And * do were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.