Acts 18

9. Then Saul, etc. Starting on his world-wide mission, the apostle is henceforth known by his Roman name. Its mention here may have been suggested by the fact that the proconsul of Cyprus happened to bear the same name.

10 child of the devil. Like him in wicked opposition to God’s purposes: cp. John viii. 44.

11 a mist and a darkness. The very infliction which Paul had himself suffered, with the happiest results: see ix. 9, etc. Whether Elymas passed from the temporary visitation into the light of faith, we cannot tell.

12 the doctrine (teaching) of the Lord. Now confirmed by miracle.

13. Perga. Perga, the capital of Pamphylia, stood about twelve miles up the river Cestrus.

John departing from them, etc. The cause of Mark’s abandonment of the work is not stated. It is supposed that he was afraid of the hardships and dangers of the journey into the interior (see note on ver. 14). Whatever it was, it was disapproved by Paul (xv. 38). It is noteworthy that Mark returned, not to Antioch, whence the missionaries had started, but to Jerusalem, where his mother lived (xii. 12). At a later period Paul is not only reconciled to Mark, but commends him, and desires the comfort of his society: Col. iv. 10; 2 Tim. iv. 11.

14 when they departed from Perga. Rather, as R.V., “passing through [the country] from Perga.”

Antioch in Pisidia. “Antioch of Pisidia,” near the modern Jalobatch, was an important town, at that time a Roman colony, situated on the great road from the Ægean Sea to Cilicia and Syria, and inhabited by many Greeks, Romans, and Jews, in addition to the native population. The route from Perga to this place was probably a rough mountain pass, crossed by dangerous torrents, and infested by wild banditti. Here the missionaries were likely to encounter “perils of rivers and perils of robbers” (2 Cor. xi. 26).

15 after the reading of the Law and the Prophets. See note on ver. 27, also on Matt. iv. 23; Luke iv. 16.

sent unto them. Distinguishing them among the congregation as strangers; or perhaps they may have become already known in the city as teachers.

16 beckoning with his hand. His customary gesture (xxi. 40; xxvi. 1).

and ye that fear God. Devout Gentiles, as well as the “men of Israel.”

17 exalted the people. Or, “made the people grow”; as in Isa. i. 2. The allusions to Deut. i. and Isa. i. have led some to think that those portions of “the Law and the Prophets” were the lessons for the day in the public service. It is at least remarkable that these two chapters were the lessons for the forty-fourth Sabbath in the year (about August).

18 suffered He their manners. The difference of a single letter gives the reading preferred by many authorities, “bare them as a nursing father”; referring to Deut. i. 31; cp. Numb. xi. 12; 1 Thess. ii. 7. Weymouth has “fed them like a nurse in the desert.”

19 seven nations. See Deut. vii. 1, and note.

20. He gave [unto them] judges, etc. See note on 1 Kings vi. 1. R.V. reads, “He gave [them] their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years: and after these things He gave [them] judges,” etc. This reading has the authority of the best MSS, and of the Vulgate,

21 forty years. On this number, see note on 1 Sam. xiii. 1.

22. I have found David, etc. This is the substance of various passages (1 Sam. xiii. 14; Psa. lxxxix. 20). The phrase, “after mine own heart,” i.e., adapted for God’s purposes in respect of the government of Israel and the preparation for Messiah’s kingdom.

23. Of this man’s seed, etc. The order of the words is very remarkable. Every successive clause accords with the nation’s highest hope, and smoothes the way for the Name which of itself would be so unwelcome to Jewish listeners.

24 before His coming. That is, before His entrance upon public life.

25 as John fulfilled, etc. Or, “as John was completing his course,” etc.

26 to you. Some good authorities read “to us.” Paul identifies himself with the Jews of the dispersion and the Gentile proselytes whom he addresses.

27. For, etc. The reason why the offer of salvation had been brought to Paul’s present audience. The Jews of Jerusalem in their ignorance had rejected the Saviour, and this had led to the wider diffusion of the message.

read every sabbath day. The sections of the law (Paraschisth) were always read in the synagogues: when Antiochus Epiphanes forbade this, lessons from the prophets (Haphtaroth) were substituted; and when freedom of worship was again secured the two were combined.

29 they took Him down, etc. All these things are what men did, whether friends or foes. “But God raised Him from the dead”: cp. ii. 23, 24, 36; iii. 14, 15, etc.

31 who are His witnesses. A better reading gives, “who are now His witnesses,” etc. This is no tradition, but the testimony of living men, who are preaching “to the people” in Judæa what “us” now announce “to you” at Antioch (32).

33. He hath raised up Jesus again. Or simply, “He raised up Jesus.”

Thou art my Son, etc. Psa. ii. 7.

34. I will give you, etc. Isa. iv. 3.

35. Thine Holy One. This prediction was clearly not fulfilled in David (36); but it was in the risen Jesus (37). He therefore is the Holy One, the Messiah.

36. For David, etc. Rather, as R.V., “For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God,” etc.

38. Be it known, etc. As Jesus is the Messiah, through Him we preach to you remission of sins. The law justified from no sin; but every one, Jew or Gentile, who believes in Him is justified from all sin; see Rom. iii. 20-26; Gal. iii. 11-14.

40 spoken of in the Prophets, etc. The words from Habakkuk i. 5 are quoted freely from the LXX as applying equally to the Jews of Paul’s day.

42. And when the Jews were gone out, etc. Or, according to the best reading, “And as they were going out, they besought,” etc. It was not till after the gospel had been twice offered to the Jews of this city, the second time at their own request, that Paul turned to the Gentiles (46).

45 spake against. Or, as R.V., “contradicted,” “Blaspheming” forms a climax.

46 waxed bold. Rather, “spake out boldly” (R.V.).

It was necessary. According to the Divine plan (see Luke xxiv. 47, and note), as prophetically announced to the Messiah (47): see Isa. xlix. 6.

1. Corinth. “The great city where he stayed a longer time than at any point on his previous journeys, and from which, or to which, the most important of his letters—1 and 2 Thess.; 1 and 2 Cor.; and Rom.—were written” (Conybeare and Hooson).

2. Priscilla. Or, Prisca (2 Tim. iv. 19). On these Roman names, see note on i. 23.

had commanded, etc. This was probably the edict which Suetonius mentions, incorrectly ascribing the turbulence of the Jews to the influence of Christianity. It must have been soon revoked, or relaxed; for we find Aquila and Priscilla again at Rome (Rom. xvi. 3), and many Jews resident there (xxviii. 17).

3 the same craft. Paul, according to the custom of his nation, had been brought up to work at a trade; for it was a saying even among Jews of rank and wealth, that “the man who does not teach his son a handicraft teaches him to be a thief.”

tentmakers. Tents were often made of goat’s-hair cloth, the produce of Paul’s native country, Cilicia. Hence it is likely that he wrought particularly in this material. For the reasons why he laboured for his support at Corinth, see 1 Cor. ix.; 2 Cor. xi. 7-12, and notes.

4. Greeks. Either “proselytes” or “devout”: see note on x. 2.

5. And when Silas, etc. See xvii. 15; 1 Thess. iii. 6, and notes. After the arrival of Silas and Timothy, Paul wrote the two EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS.

pressed (constrained) in spirit. Some good authorities read “constrained by the word”

(R.V.), which expresses the hold that it had upon him, and his earnestness in setting it forth. He was occupied, amidst much opposition, in preaching to the Jews: cp. ver. 6 with 1 Cor. ii. 1-5. Silas and Timothy now helped him: see 2 Cor. i. 19.

6 shook his raiment. See Neh. v. 13, and note.

Your blood, etc. See Ezek. xxxiii. 4; Matt. xxvii. 25, and notes.

from henceforth. That is, whilst at Corinth (see ver. 19). Accordingly, he ceased to attend the synagogue, and held meetings of the Christian converts in the adjoining house of a Gentile proselyte (7). He did the same afterwards at Ephesus (xix. 9).

8 the [chief] ruler. Rather, simply “the ruler,” as in xiii. 15. Crispus had been baptised by Paul himself (1 Cor. i. 14).

many of the Corinthians. These seem to have been Gentiles, chiefly in the middle and lower classes (1 Cor. i. 26).

10 much people. Many of the true Israel, whom I will gather amongst my “people,” instead of those who reject me.

11 a year and six months. This was probably the whole period of Paul’s stay at Corinth at this time. He remained there longer than usual, perhaps partly on account of the great success of his ministry, and partly in order that from Corinth the gospel might spread throughout Achaia (see 2 Cor. i. 1).

12 deputy. Rather, “proconsul”: see note on xiii. 7. Tiberius had put the province of Achaia, which included all Southern Greece, under an imperial governor (“proprætor”); but Claudius had restored it to the senate. Gallio was a brother of Seneca, who describes him in his letters as a most amiable man. The language of ver. 12 seems to imply that Gallio arrived in the course of Paul’s residence at Corinth.

made insurrection. Or, as R.V., simply “rose up.”

13 the law. Meaning, probably, the law of Moses: which the Romans allowed the Jews to observe, but would not themselves enforce: see ver. 15.

14 if it were a matter of wrong, etc. Any deed of “wrong or wicked villany” (R.V.) might reasonably be brought before me; but I will entertain no “question about words (not deeds), and names (such as whether Jesus was the Messiah), and your (Jewish) law”: cp. xxiii. 29; xxv. 19.

15. I will be. That is, “I am not minded to be,” as R.V.

16 drave. He peremptorily dismissed them; and even allowed the mob to beat one of their leaders before his tribunal.

17. Sosthenes. See note on 1 Cor. i. 1.

Gallio cared for none of these things. Words that are constantly misapplied, as if they expressed his indifference to spiritual things. The words simply mean that the religious squabbles and the violence of the mob made no impression on him.

18 sailed. Leaving Silas, and possibly Timothy, behind him.

Cenchrea (Cenchreae). The eastern port of Corinth. The context seems to decide that it was not Aquila (as some suppose), but Paul who “had a vow.” Usually the head was shaved at Jerusalem, and the hair burned in the Temple, when the Nazirite vow was discharged (see Numb. vi. 2, etc.); but the regulations may in course of time have been relaxed or modified (Hackett).

Why Paul took the vow we are not told; but in doing it he seems to have carried out his principle of conforming in his own practice to the Mosaic ritual.

19. Ephesus. Ephesus was the port of Western Asia which would naturally have the most communication with Corinth.

21 this feast. This feast was probably Pentecost, as navigation was not usually commenced in the season before the Passover: ep. xx. 16.

22 up. That is, up to Jerusalem. We have no particulars of this visit.

23 after he had spent some time [there]. It is thought by some that the controversy between the Apostles Paul and Peter (Gal. ii. 11) occurred during this visit to Antioch. But see note, xv. 36.

he departed. Paul’s companions on this, his third missionary journey appear to have been Timothy and Erastus (see xix. 22; 2 Cor. i. 1), Gaius and Aristarchus (see xix. 29), and perhaps Titus, whom he seems to have sent from Ephesus to Corinth.

Galatia. Respecting this visit, see the Epistle to the Galatians.

24. Alexandria. See note on vi. 9.

an eloquent man. Rather, “a man of learning.”

25 fervent in the spirit. In Rom. xii. 11 the same phrase is rendered “fervent in spirit” (so R.V. here). The Greek is literally “boiling in spirit.”

diligently. Rather, “accurately,” as far as he knew.

the baptism of John. On this subject, see note on xix. 1.

26 the way of God. The doctrine of the gospel.

27 to pass into Achaia. His principal object probably was “to help” the converts at Corinth in the controversy with the unbelieving Jews. For this work his skill in expounding the Scriptures peculiarly fitted him; and in performing it he had great success (28; 1 Cor. iii. 5-7).

wrote. They gave him a recommendatory letter. R.V. reads, “The brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him.”

28 mightily convinced. The Greek words are very strong; “he powerfully, utterly confuted.”