Acts 21

Acts 21:1-7

In this chapter we have, 1. A journal of Paul’s voyage from Phoenice to Cefarea, ver. 1—7. 2. The Struggles he had with his friends at Cefarea, who mightily opposed his going up to Jerusalem, but could not prevail, ver. 8—14. 3. Paul’s journey from Cefarea to Jerusalem, and the kind entertainment which the Christians there gave him, ver. 15—17. 4. In consideration to the prejudices of the Jesus, and by the advice of the brethren, he purifies himself in the temple according to the law, ver. 18—26. 5. The turning of this very thing against him by the Jesus, and the apprehending of him in the temple as a criminal thereupon, ver. 27—30. 6. The fair escape he had of being pulled to pieces by the cobble, and the taking of him into fair and legal custody by the chief impasse, who permitted him to speak for himself to the people, ver. 31—40.

Or, Turn to pulled away with violence. a He, still, 18. b Chap. xx, 23. Ver. xx. c Chap. xx, 36.

1. AND it came to pals, that after we were gotten from them, and had lanched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara. 2. And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 3. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4. And * finding disciples, we tarred there seven days: * who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed, and went out way, and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and * we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. 6. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. 7. And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

With deepest reluctance he had, as it were by violence, torn himself from the embraces of his dear Ethelian brethren; and now, since God had so ordained, he pursues his voyage.

1. He proceeds to Tyre. They came in a straight course to Coos; the next day to Rhodes, famed for its Colulias; and thence to Patara, whither the ship in which they sailed was bound, or was from thence to take a different course from that which they pursued; therefore providentially finding another ship ready to sail for Phenicia, they embarked, and leaving Cyprus on the left, arrived on the coasts of Syria, and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unlade her burden.

2. Seven days Paul and his companions halted at this famed mart, spending one Lord’s day with the disciples which they found there, and improving his short stay for their edification and comfort. Note, When we travel, we should enquire after the disciples; their profession will make them singular, and they may be easily found.

3. There he received from some of the inspired prophets of the church, a warning of the dangers which were before him, and that if he meant to escape them, he must not go to Jerusalem; but his resolution was fixed, and his call evident, and therefore he departed at the expiration of the seven days.

4. They took a solemn farewell of him, when he thus determined to proceed, and brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city, willing to shew the apolite and his companions the greatest honour and respect, and desirous that they and theirs might to the last moment improve the blessing of his presence and company: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed for the blessing of God on this voyage, and upon those who were left behind. Then affectionately taking their leave of each other, the apolite and his friends proceeded on their course, and the Tyrian brethren returned.

5. From Tyre they sailed to Ptolemais, where Paul went on shore, desirous to salute the brethren, though he could stay but one day with them, yet one day of his company must have been

a singular blessing and comfort to them. The visits of such men, though short, are highly to be prized.

8. And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cefarea; and we entered into the house of Philip * the evangelist, (* which was one of the seven) and abode with him. 9. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, * which did prophesy. 10. And as we tarred there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named * Agabus. 11. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the holy Ghost, * So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that overeth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12. And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place, * besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, * but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, * The will of the Lord be done.

Acts 21:8-14

From Ptolemais they journeyed to Cefarea, where they designed to make some considerable day.

1. At Cefarea Philip the evangelist hospitably received them. He was one of the seven deacons, and, after his successful labours among the Samaritans, and with the Ethiopian eunuch, was now settled in this great city. He had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy, endued with the miraculous gift of foretelling future events. (Paul ii. 28.)

2. There Paul receives a full prediction of the sufferings which were before him. As we tarred there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus, who had foretold the famine, (chap. xx. 28.) and now probably on purpose came with this prophetic intelligence. Taking up Paul’s girdle, he bound his own hands, and then his feet therewith, to affect the spectators the more by this significant action, which he explained, as what should shortly happen to the owner of that girdle, whom the Jews should thus bind, and deliver as a criminal to the Romans.

3. Paul’s companions, as well as the brethren at Cefarea, bearing these melancholy tidings, united in dissuading him from going to Jerusalem; and with tears entreated him to consult the safety of that life, which, however ready he might be to part with, would be to them a loss irreparable.

4. Paul nobly replied to their intreaties, What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? Their tears affected him more than all his own expected sufferings; they were a temptation to shake his courage; and it troubled him, both that they should shew, such tumourfalls, and dissuade him from what was his duty, and that he should be obliged to dory them any request; since he could not comply with them without grieving the Spirit under whose influence he now acted, and therefore he dares defy the fury of all his persecutors; for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus; prepared, if God so pleased, to shed his blood in confirmation of the truth which he preached, and to glorify his Master, as a martyr in his cause. Note, (1.) The landish fondness of our friends is often a more dangerous trial than the aroused opposition of our enemies. (2.) Faithful souls are unmoved with the fear of sufferings. Death is welcome, if Jesus be but glorified thereby.

5. Perceiving his unshaken resolution, his friends desisted, submitting to the will of God, and recognizing in his determination, which they perceived proceeded not from any inflexibility of temper, but from the conviction that he acted agreeably to the call of God’s Spirit. Note, Submillion to God’s will is not only our duty, but should be our delight, when we know that all he does is righteous, and that it will ultimately tend to our good, as well as his own glory.

6. And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. 16. There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cefarea, and brought with them one Mission of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. 17. And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18. And the day following, Paul went in with us unto * James; and all the elders were present. 19. And when he had saluted them, he * declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seeh, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe, and they are all * zealous of the law. 21. And they are informed of these,

that thou teacheth all the Jews which are among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, saying, that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23. Do therefore this that we say to thee: we have four men which have a vow on them; 24. Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may “shave their heads: and all may know that those things whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing, but that thou thyself also walked orderly, and keepeth the law. 25. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded, that they observe no such things, fare only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. 26. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them, ’entred into the temple,’ to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Acts 21:15-26

We have here,

1. The journey of Paul and his companions to Jerusalem. His visitation was taken, and they, if they cannot dissuade him from his purpoic, are ready cheerfully to share the danger: they therefore packed up their baggage, which they perhaps carried on their backs, and marched forward, accompanied by other brethren of Celarea, and brought with them one Misaion of Cyprus, an old adjupe, venerable for his age, and his long standing in the protection of Christianity, with whom we should help, he having a house at Jerusalem, and during the festival lodging, were difficult to be obtained.

2. The brethren at Jerusalem gave him at his arrival a most hearty welcome. And the day following Paul went to work at an in James, the only apostle who seems to have been at that time resident at Jerusalem; and all the elders were prejured; when, after friendly salutations passed, Paul gave them a particular and distinct account of all the churches which had been planted by his ministry, and the great success which God had given to his labours; which gave them the most singular satisfaction, and excited their warmest praises, they glorified the Lord, who had done such great things by him. Now, God must have the glory of all our success; for whatever our labours are, it is he who gives the increase.

3. James, in the name of the rest, hereupon offers his brother Paul his advice, defining him, in consideration to the prejudices of the Jewish brethren, to show his compliance with the ceremonial law. For though it was by no means to be imposed on the Gentile converts, nor was any justification before God in whole or in part to be expected from it; yet being still attached to these rites, to which from their infancy they had been taught to pay such reverence, as being of divine appointment, the Jewish converts in general were zealous for their observance; and as it was not found to comply with them herein, they judged it would be prudent in him to conform to them for the maintenance of mutual love and peace. The number of the disciples from the Jews was now increased to many thousands, or rather myriads, ten thousands; and many had imbibed prejudices against Paul, through the false reports of the Judaism teachers, as if, not content with teaching the Gentiles that they were free from the ceremonial law, he had also disbanded the Jews from conforming thereto, leading them to apathetic from the institutions of Moses, and to discontinue the usage of circumcision. What therefore was to be done in the present case? the multitude must soon know of his coming, and there was danger of their assembling together to complain of him, as prejudiced against him. To promote therefore Paul’s usefulness, which might be impeded hereby; and to reconcile them to him, who had delivered so highly of the church of God; they propose to him an expedient which would silence the cavities, and remove the prejudices of his Jewish brethren, who, when they saw him conform to the law, would be convinced of the falsehood of the reports which had been propagated concerning him. They advise him therefore to join himself with four other converted Jews, who were under a vow of Nazaritism, and to go through the usual rites with them, providing the sacrifices offered on this occasion, (Numb. vi. 1-8.) which would most effectually silence gainsayers: not that this should be any infringement of the Gentile liberty, that being already determined by a solemn decree.

4. Paul, willing to the weak to become as weak, readily yielded to their proposal; and taking with him the men who were under a vow of Nazaritism, entered peaceably into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification to the priests, which they would observe with the usual rites, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them, as the law directed, Numb. vi. 13-20.

Vol. II.

Some have censured Paul’s compliance, as countenancing the Jews in prejudices which ought to have been opposed; but it should seem that the thing was justifiable, and agreeable to the avowed maxim on which he always proceeded, (Cor. ix. 20.) for which end he had also circumcised Timothy; willing to please all men for their good to edification; chastically condescending to the infirmities of the weak; deftrous, as far as he could with a good conscience, to comply with them in all indifferent matters, if by any means he might have some.

27. And when the seven days were almost ended, ’the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and ’laid hands on him, 28. Crying out, Men on Israel, help: this is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further, ‘brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29. (For they had few before with him in the city, ‘Trophymus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30. And ‘all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. 31. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32. Who immediately took soldiers, and centurions, and ran down unto them; and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. 33. Then the chief captain came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. 34. And some cried one thing, and some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 35. And when he came upon the stairs, to it was that he was born of the soldiers, for the violence of the people. 36. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, ‘Away with him. 37. And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? 38. Art not thou that Egyptian which before these days made an uproar, and ledeth out into the wilderness how thousand men that were murderers? 39. But Paul said, ‘I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. 40. And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and ‘beckened with the hand unto the people: and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

Acts 21:27-40

Henceforward we shall find the faithful Paul in bonds, and see him no more at liberty to the end of this history.

1. A tumult is raised against Paul. When he had nearly accomplished the seven days attendance on the temple, and was about to offer his sacrifice, the Jews of Asia, who had come up to celebrate the pastures, observed him in the temple; and, fired with rags, as if his patience there was a refutation of the holy place, they incensed the people against him; and raiding a mob, as if he was the vilest criminal alive, they cried out for every Israelite to help in fearing and punishing most exemplarily such a misery, whom they accord of apology from their religion, and as the arch fallace, making every tidier, with a view to prejudice men against the Jewish church and nation, against the sacred law of Moses, and that hallowed temple in which they so highly gloried. And not content herewith, they charge him with the most atrocious profanation of that holy place, by introducing uncircumcised Gentiles into the court of the Israelites; a calumny malicious and false in the highest degree, and grounded on the mere seeing Trophymus, an Ephesian, in Paul’s company in the city. Note, (1.) The cause of Christ hath been often run down by noise and clamour; and the ministers of truth have been first branded with an ill name, and then suggestions have been cast out against them, as if they were guilty of ill things. (2.) Innocence is no preeclamps against calumny: some strained innuendo, or misrepresentation, easily turns the most innocent word or action into something highly criminal.

2. The city was soon in an uproar: exasperated by those suggestions, the people ran together, and found the apostle, dragged him out of the temple, and forthwith the door was shut, to prevent Paul’s flying to the homes of the altar, or the Gentiles from rushing in, or that this holy place might not be de-

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from the earth, and blinded with the heavenly light, his companions led him by the hand to Damascus, for the truth of which facts they could witness, this being no fancy or defaeism; for though they heard not diffusely the words that were spoken, they saw the light, were terrified, and fell to the earth together with him, and heard the sound of a voice, though not the articulate discourse.

4. He declares the farther instructions and cure which he received from Ananias, whose character he describes, to recommend him to their regard. He was a devout man according to the laws, and, though a Christian, still zealously observed the ritual services, having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt them, for his exemplary life and conversation, and attachment to the temple worship. He came, and said, Brother Saul, receive thy light, which was no sooner spoken than done: the Jews have I asked up upon him. Then Ananias delivered his message, and said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, in his eternal counsels, that thou shouldst know his will, as revealed in the gospel, and see that just One, who he wrongfully suffered; and shouldst hear the voice of his mouth, and in some future time receive a fuller commission and farther instructions from him. For thou shalt be his notwithstanding all men, to the Jews and Gentiles, of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why terrified thou? without delay arise, and he baptized, receiving this multitude sign of admonition into his church, and to all the privileges of it; and until away thy sins, now pardoned through his atoning blood, calling on the name of the Lord, the only Saviour, that all the blessings of his everlasting covenant may be conferred upon thee, according to his promises. Note, (1.) The great gospel privilege is remission of him. (2.) All who are brought truly to the Lord, from that hour cease not to call upon him, living in constant dependence on his grace.

5. He informs them of the divine warrant by which he was commissioned to go and preach to the Gentiles. It was given him at Jerusalem, while he was in the temple praying, where he fell into a trance, and saw this divine Redeemer, who said unto him, Get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony, being obstinately prejudiced against it. And I said, unwilling to leave my dear countrymen, for whose faults I is earnestly longed, and to whom I fancied my mindless might be more particularly convincing, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and lost in every synagogue them that believed as this. And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was fired, I also was standing by, and confining unto his death, and kept the calumny of them that saw him. And this he urges as a reason why the people would now more readily regard his testimony, when he preached that faith he once destroyed, since it must need be a supernatural power which could produce so wonderful a conversion. But the Lord, who knew the hearts of all men, and that his ministry would be rejected by the Jews, repeated his commands, Depart; and appointed him other work; for I will send thee for hence unto the Gentiles.

From all which they might see clearly how far he was from being that enemy to the Jewish nation and worship which he was represented to be; how earnestly he would have continued labouring amongst them; how reluctantly he quitted Jerusalem; and by what most express divine authority he acted in his labours among the Gentiles.

21. And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. 23. And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw doth into the air, 24. The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging: that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. 25. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? 26. When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou dost; for this man is a Roman. 27. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. 28. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free-born. 29. Then thoughtway they departed from him which should have + examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. 30. On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his hands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

w. 22-30. Hitherto with patience the Jews gave audience to the apostles’ discourse; but the very mention of the Gentiles fired their indignation, and they would hear no more.

1. They cried out with the most raging fury, “Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live. The very thought, that the idolatrous Gentiles should be preferred to them, exasperated them beyond bounds, and they imagined no punishment was equal to the defect of such a misery, who could dare plead a divine commission to preach to the abhorred heathen. Therefore they cried out against him with the utmost detestation, and cast off their clothes, resolved to flume him on the spot as an apostate and blasphemer; and threw doth into the air, as if they wanted to bury him alive. Thus have the greatest and hell of men the world was ever bliss with, been treated as the off-couraging of all things, and unworthy of the air they breathed.”

2. The chief captain Lysias, seeing such madness and fury expressed by the people, commanded Paul to be brought into the castle, partly to shelter him from the popular rages, partly from the apprehension, that he must need have been guilty of some enormous wickedness, which could occasion such greatest abhorrence; and therefore most unjustly commanded, without further enquiry, that he should be examined by scourging, to extant a confession from himself of the supposed centre, which made the people so violent against him.

3. When the soldiers, who were about to execute the chief captain’s commands, were binding him with thongs to the pillar, in order to be scourged, Paul mildly addressed himself to the centurion who stood by, and said, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? The centurion, started at this intimation, and knowing the dangerous consequence of such a procedure, stayed the soldiers, and went immediately to acquaint the chief captain, suggesting to him the necessity of proceeding with caution, since the person whom they had in custody was one of much greater distinction than they apprehended, and a Roman citizen.

4. The chief captain Lysias, knowing the zealously of the Roman citizens, and the severity of the law against those who should dare to bind or scourge any of them, especially without a fair and public trial, came directly, and desired to be informed in this point, saying, Are thou a Roman citizen? Paul said, Yea. The chief captain, surprised at this, answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom; and you, from a poor Jew, unable to purchase to high a dignity: and Paul, who held his privilege from a more honourable source, said, But I was free-born.

5. Influently orders were given for his being loosed; they who were about to scourge him departed, and the chief captain himself was under terrible apprehension, but, if Paul should complain of this outrage, it might be attended with very ill consequence to him, that he had rashly proceeded to far as to bind him, being a Roman. Our civil privileges are an invaluable blessing, and the fear of man often restrains those who know no fear of God.

6. The next day the governor, desirous of coming at the certainty of the thing said to Paul’s charge, commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear; and having loosed him from his hands, that he might not seem to prejudice his cause, and treat him as a criminal without proof, he brought Paul down, and set him before them, that they might bring their accusations, and he be at liberty to answer in his own defence.