3 from Rome,) he went to them. And as he was of the same trade, he continued with them, and wrought; for by trade they 4 were tent-makers. But he reasoned in the synagogue every 5 Sabbath day, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And as soon as Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul earnestly

and eight days before the vulgar era called Anno Domini, and died in the reign of Tiberius, who himself only survived him about four years, dying universally abhorred.

Caius Caligula succeeds him, intensely hated, and dies by the hand of an assassin after an inglorious reign of four years.

Claudius next ascends the imperial throne, who, in Auno Domini 51, the tenth of his reign, banishes the Jews from Rome, amongst whom the Christians were then regarded as a sect. We hence date the events related in the 18th chapter of this book as occurring during or after the year A. D. 51.

But while on the Roman Emperors who flourished during the period of New Testament history, it may be expedient to state, that this Claudius, poisoned by his own wife, died in the 14th year of his reign, A D. 54, and was succeeded by the licentious and bloodthirsty Nero. This was that Cæsar to whom Paul appealed from his own nation. Nero Cæsar reigned but 14 years; and then, half by his own hands and half by the hands of his attendants acting by his request, he falls a victim to his own malignity, at the age of 32, A. D. 63. The whole book of the Acts is more than exhausted in the reigns of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. It is generally assumed that Luke wrote the book of Apostolic Acts, about the year A. D. 63, two years before Nero set the city on fire and imputed it to the Christians. We cannot, indeed, bring the close of this history to a later period than A. D. 65-containing in all, the events of 32 years.

3. "Tent-makers."-The Jews, in educating their sons, whatever might be their birth, learning, or fortune, taught them a trade-on which, when necessity demanded, they might rely for a sustenance. Sewing, whether tents or shoes, is an employment favorable to meditation and conversation. Hence shoe-makers and tent-makers, amongst Jews and Christians, have furnished from their benches Rabbis, Doctors, and distinguished scholars, more than any other manual occupations known to us.

4. "Disputed in the synagogue every day."-Paul was not a sermonizer, lecturer, or declaimer; but a reasoner, or disputer, while doing the work of an evangelists, whether among Jews or Gentiles. Disputing literally indicates exhibiting arguments or reasons in the face of opposition. Every inch that apostolic Christianity gained was won, not by declamation or impassioned speaking, but by force of reason, argument, and fact.

5. "Paul earnestly persevered with them in the word”—“Pressed in spirit," common version-"Was borne away in his spirit," Doddridge. Neither the common version nor that of Doddridge, nor any other version of this passage which I have seen, makes either good sense or corresponds with the style of the historian. Paul is represented as acting in a certain way after the arrival of Silas and Timothy. But why say that he was then pressed in spirit? Had he not been pressed or impressed in spirit before they came? Or what connexion was there between their coming and his spirit in the work of the Lord? A different reading removes all difficulty; and I find in the recent Greek text of Scholz just such a one. He adopts an ancient and well sustained reading-cuvuelo 7 gw, instead of 7 vuμal—which we render, "Earnestly persevered with them in the word" "Labor in the word" is one of Paul's own phrases. 1 Tim. v. 17. Zuvex, occurring but twelve times in the New Testament, is translated once in the common version to constrain, keep in, hold, press. The Vulgate renders it in this place,

persevered with them in the word, and testified to the Jews that 6 Jesus was the Messiah. But when they set themselves in opposition, and reviled, he shook his garment, and said to them, Let your blood be upon your cwn head! I am pure. From hence7 forth I will go to the Gentiles. And going out thence, he went into the house of one called Justus, a worshipper of God, whose 8 house was adjoining the synagogue. Now, Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, with all his house; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed; and were immersed. 9 But the Lord said to Paul, in a vision by night, Fear not, but 10 speak, and do not keep silence; for I am with you, and no man shall fall on you, to injure you; for I have much people in this 11 city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made an assault upon Paul, with one consent, and brought him before the 13 tribunal, saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God 14 contrary to the law. And when Paul would have opened his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were an act of injustice, or mischievous licentiousness, O Jews! it were reasonable I should

instabat. Bishop Pearce translates it una cum illis instabat, which I may say almost corresponds with our version of it in this place I may add that Griesbach and other authorities correspond with the reading of Scholz. 6. "Set themselves in opposition.”—The word here used anμavov, intimates a purposed, arranged, or determined opposition. In this form it occurs five times in the New Testament, and is elsewhere translated by the word resist. It denotes a systematic resistance or opposition.

6. "He shook his raiment."-Shaking off the dust from one's feet against a disobedient and gainsaying people, was according to Jewish custom. Paul, with great zeal, as Nehemiah, "shook his lap;" and may here have said in the spirit of that great reformer, "So shall God shake every man from his house and from his labor," (v. 13.) and even thus shall the disobedient "be shaken out and emptied."

"Your blood be upon your own head."-You are the sole cause of your own ruin. If the Lord had not made their salvation in some measure to depend upon themselves, how could Paul have used such language?

8. "Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were baptized."How rational and beautiful the order of these three words!

10. "I have much people in this city."-The Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, knew in Corinth, and knows in every other city, who will believe in him when the word is preached.

11. "Teaching the word of God”—the doctrine or revelation concerning the Messiah and his kingaom. This teaching was subsequent to their baptism. They first preached Christ, and then taught them who believed in him.

12. Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, was brother to Seneca, the celebrated Roman moralist and Stoic He was the preceptor of Nero, who, indeed, did not do honor to his tutor. The accuracy of Luke as a historian, is strikingly displayed in his allusion to a political event which happened only seven or eight years before. "For though Achaia, a province of the empire, comprehended all the rest of Greece, had a more various fortune than that of Cyprus, and often changed its form of government; yet, A. D. 44, (generally supposed to have been about eight years before this event) it was restored to the Senate, and so became proconsular." Doddridge.

15 bear with you. But if it be a question concerning words, and names, and the law which is among you, see to it yourselves; for I 17 will be no judge of these matters. And he drove them away 17 from the tribunal. And all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the tribunal; but Gallio did not cencern himself at all about the matter.

18

And Paul still continued there for a considerable time, and then taking leave of the brethren, sailed thence for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shaved his head at Gen19 chrea, for he had a vow. And he arrived at Ephesus, and there he left them; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and 20 reasoned with the Jews. And though they entreated him to 21 have staid longer with them, he did not consent; but took his leave of them, saying,. It is necessary for me, by all means, to celebrate the approaching feast at Jerusalem; but I will return 22 to you again, God willing. And he set sail from Ephesus. And

15. “I will be no judge in such matters.”—Gallio, celebrated for his fine manners and good sense, would not trouble Paul with making any defence, for he dismissed the whole case as not coming under his legal jurisdiction.

17. "Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue"-Crispus, before his conversion was chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth. It would seem as if on his conversion they hal elected another in the person of Sosthenes. But the Greeks seeing how unjustly Paul had been treated by the Jews, determined they would take the law into their own hands and castigate them in the person of their leader Sosthenes for their uncourteous behaviour to Paul. They may have supposed that Sosthenes had brought suit against Paul, and resolved on taking it out of his person as well as out of his hands. Gallio took no notice of this assault on Sosthenes, coming not legally before him; and supposing, no doubt, that Sosthenes needed an impressive lesson as respected matters of conscience, personal liberty, and freedom of opinion. 18. "For he had a vow."-Critics and commentators of the highest reputation are arrayed against each other on the question whether it was Paul or Aquila that had this vow, and consequently had shorn his head. Philologically or grammatically construed, it may, with equal propriety, relate to the one or the other. Still I incline to the opinion that it refers to Paul. merely because he, and not Aquila, is the important subject on hand. But as to the nature of the vow-whether that of new devotion to the work of the Lord, or whether a vow of thanksgiving for personal deliverances experienced amidst these troubles, I presume neither to debate nor to decide. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

19. "He came to Ephesus."-This may be called the capital of Asia Minor Ionia, in which it was situated, is now called Natolia. Its orators, philosophers, and temples, were inferior to none in the world. Here stood the Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the world. One of the seven epistles was addressed to the church here; and here Paul gave his admirable charge to the bishops; yet it has fallen into the hands of the Turks, and not a remnant of its Christianity remains. Goats wander through its streets and repose under its ancient altars. The partridge has been heard to call its brood within the area of its famous theatre and ample stadium. When Paul arrived, as usual, he first went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

21. "I will return unto ou again, if the Lord will."-How apposite and worthy of imitation is the style, "If the Lord will."

22. “He saluted the church.” This was doubtless the church in Jerusalem.

landing at Cesarea, he went up; and having saluted the congre23 gation, he went down to Antioch. And having spent some time there, he departed, going through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, in a regular manner confirming all the disciples. 24 Now, a certain Jew, whose name was Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and powerful in the scriptures, 25 came to Ephesus. This person was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things of the Lord with great accuracy, being only acquainted with the 26 immersion of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And Aquila and Priscilla hearing him, took him aside, and explained to him the way of God in a more perfect manner. 27 And when he intended to go over to Achaia, the brethren wrote to the disciples, exhorting them to receive him. And being arrived there, by his gift he greatly helped those who had believed. 28 For he strenuously debated with the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures, that Jesus is the Messiah.

25 "Knowing only the baptism of John."-This prepares us to understand an event recorded in the next chapter. In those days, before printing and travelling were as now, knowledge travelled very slowly.

27. “By his gift he greatly helped those who had believed.”—“Helped them much who had believed through grace."-The common version gives no appropriate sense to this passage. The historian's design is not to tell how the people believed, but how Apollos helped them who had Lelieved. By his gift of eloquence and scriptural knowledge he greatly helped those whom he exhorted. The authors of the common version have occasionally rendered as by the words favor, benefit, gift, liberality, thanks, grace. The eontext must always decide which of these is apposite.

PRACTICAL THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS.

How commendable the example of the great Apostle to the Gentiles in every attitude in which the historian places him before us. In Corinth we first find him laboring in an humble avocation as a mechanic, for his own sustenance, while acting the part of Christ's ambassador-the plenipotentiary of the Lord of heaven and earth! But our Saviour himself, in all probability, wrought at the bench with his legal father Joseph, and helped to support himself. How honorable the bench and the needle! Heaven's noblemen have been generally shepherds, husbandmen, fishermen, mechanics, with now and then a governor, a lawyer, and a king. God has generally chosen not the rich, the honorable of earth, but the poor and the contemned, to confound the wise, the opulent, and the great. Paul seems to have toiled all week in Corinth and preached on the Sabbaths in the synagogue of the Jews, sustained and comforted by the excellent Aquila, and Priscilla his wife, tent-makers as well as himself. How happy he, how honored they in their toils thus consecrated to the Lord! It is the end for which we labor and toil that lightens its burthens and makes its recollections pleasing. To Paul and his companions the retrospect of their sojourn in Corinth will be forever pleasant.

We are not, however, authorized from Paul's devoting a portion of his time to the toils of tent-making as a means of supporting

himself, to infer that in order to be useful in the ministry of the word, we must always support ourselves by our own hands. It would be expedient to do so only on particular occasions, or in very special circumstances. Nay, indeed, it would have been an incalculable loss to the church and to the world, had this great Apostle spent much of his time in tent-making. Doubtless there has been many a crisis in the history of Christianity, and still may be, when it would be a public loss-indeed, a great misfortune, for the public advocates and teachers of the word to be obliged to devote their hearts and their hands to maintain themselves and their families, instead of laboring in the word and teaching. The Lord has, therefore, wisely ordained as a general law that "they who preach the gospel should live upon the gospel."

At Ephesus we find Apollos, the eloquent and fervent preacher, earnestly laboring for the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John, as introductory to the new dispensation. Although at this time some forty years old, and so highly gifted and eloquent, we find him listening with the candor and simplicity of a child, to the correction of his errors, and receiving further instruction from the lips of Aqui. la and Priscilla, though tent-makers and in many respects much inferior to him. This is true wisdom and true humility. How unfashionable such docility and candor in this our age!

The Ephesians gave him letters to the brethren in Achaia when he was disposed to visit that region. He received them with all cheerfulness and thanks, and so went on his way. If, then, in an age of persecution and much opposition, it was expedient that the travelling brethren carried with them letters commendatory of their standing when about to visit new regions, how important now, in many instances, that those who travel beyond the precincts of their personal acquaintance carry with them letters commendatory of their standing and character! They never can do harm, but may often do much good. They come to us with much authority in such a case as that of Apollos and the Ephesians. A. C.

REPENTANCE AND RESTITUTION.

BROTHER CAMPBELL:

LOUISVILLE, March 14th, 1848.

Dear Sir-FAITH in Christ, repentance, and an immersion into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, are prerequisites. to the forgiveness of sins. I would know if all sins are forgiven on the above conditions. Now, a case of this kind comes before the preacher. X. Y. Z. became involved in pecuniary difficulties; his securities lost to a considerable amount. Some widows are in the number, and they are much straitened in their circumstances. X. Y. Z. becomes prosperous, but pays not that which his securities lost. He becomes solicitous about his salvation. Now, in order to the forgiveness of his sins, will it not become him to restore to his securities that which he caused them to lose? Or, in other words, tell me how a man can look to God for pardon, who will not render, to a widow especially, that which she has lost by being his friend.