In
this chapter we have, I. Paul's coming to Corinth, his private converse with
Aquila and Priscilla, and his public reasonings with the Jews, from whom,
when they rejected him, he turned to the Gentiles, ver. 1-6. II. The great
success of his ministry there, and the encouragement Christ gave him in a
vision to continue his labours there, in hopes of further success, ver.
7-11. III. The molestations which after some time he met with there from the
Jews, which he got pretty well through by the coldness of Gallio, the Roman
governor, in the cause, ver. 12-17. IV. The progress Paul made through many
countries, after he had continued long at Corinth, for the edifying and watering of the
churches which he had founded and planted, in which circuit he made a short
visit to Jerusalem, ver. 18-23. V. An account of Apollo's
improvement in knowledge, and of his usefulness in the church, ver. 24-28.
1 After these things Paul departed from
Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named
Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla;
(because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came
unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with
them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and
the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from
Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that
Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and
blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be
upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the
Gentiles.
We do not find that Paul was much persecuted at Athens, nor that he was
driven thence by any ill usage, as he was from those places where the Jews
had or could make any interest; but this reception at Athens being cold, and
little prospect of doing good there, he departed from Athens, leaving the
care of those there who believed with Dionysius; and thence he came to
Corinth, where he was now instrumental in planting a church that became on
many accounts considerable. Corinth was the chief city of Achaia, now a
province of the empire, a rich and splendid city. Non cuivis homini
contingit adire Corinthum--It is not permitted every man to see Corinth.
The country thereabouts at this day is called the Morea. Now here we
have,
I. Paul working for his living, v. 2, 3. 1. Though he was bred a
scholar, yet he was master of a handicraft trade. He was a tent-maker, an
upholsterer; he made tents for the use of soldiers and shepherds, of cloth
or stuff, or (as some say tents were then generally made) of leather or
skins, as the outer covering of the tabernacle. Hence to live in tents was
to live sub pellibus--under skins. Dr. Lightfoot shows that it was
the custom of the Jews to bring up their children to some trade, yea, though
they gave them learning or estates. Rabbi Judah says, "He that teaches
not his son a trade is as if he taught him to be a thief." And another
says, "He that has a trade in his hand is as a vineyard that is
fenced." An honest trade, by which a man may get his bread, is not to
be looked upon by any with contempt. Paul, though a Pharisee, and bred up at
the feet of Gamaliel, yet, having in his youth learned to make tents, did
not by disuse lose the art. 2. Though he was entitled to a maintenance from
the churches he had planted, and from the people to whom he preached, yet he
worked at his calling to get bread, which is more to his praise who did not
ask for supplies than to theirs who did not supply him unasked, knowing what
straits he was reduced to. See how humble Paul was, and wonder that so great
a man could stoop so low; but he had learned condescension of his Master,
who came not to be ministered to, but to minister. See how industrious he
was, and how willing to take pains. He that had so much excellent work to do
with his mind, yet, when there was occasion, did not think it below him to
work with his hands. Even those that are redeemed from the curse of the law
are not exempt from that sentence, In the sweat of thy face thou shalt
eat bread. See how careful Paul was to recommend his ministry, and to
prevent prejudices against it, even the most unjust and unreasonable; he
therefore maintained himself with his own labour that he might not make the
gospel of Christ burdensome, 2 Cor. xi. 7, &c.; 2 Thess. iii. 8,
9. 3. Though we may suppose he was master of his trade, yet he did not
disdain to work at journey-work: He wrought with Aquila and Priscilla,
who were of that calling, so that he got no more than day-wages, a
bare subsistence. Poor tradesmen must be thankful if their callings bring
them in a maintenance for themselves and their families, though they cannot
do as the rich merchants that raise estates by their callings. 4. Though he
was himself a great apostle, yet he chose to work with Aquila and Priscilla,
because he found them to be very intelligent in the things of God, as
appears afterwards (v. 26), and he owns that they had been his helpers
in Christ Jesus, Rom. xvi. 3. This is an example to those who are going
to service to seek for those services in which they may have the best help
for their souls. Choose to work with those that are likely to be helpers in
Christ Jesus. It is good to be in company and to have conversation with
those that will further us in the knowledge of Christ, and to put ourselves
under the influence of such as are resolved that they will serve the Lord.
Concerning this Aquila we are here told, (1.) That he was a Jew, but born in
Pontus, v. 2. Many of the Jews of the dispersion were seated in that
country, as appears 1 Pet. i. 1. (2.) That he was lately come from Italy to
Corinth. It seems he often changed his habitation; this is not the world we
can propose ourselves a settlement in. (3.) That the reason of his leaving
Italy was because by a late edict of the emperor Claudius Cæsar all Jews
were banished from Rome; for the Jews were generally hated, and every
occasion was taken to put hardship and disgrace upon them. God's heritage
was as a speckled bird, the birds round about were against her, Jer.
xii. 9. Aquila, though a Christian, was banished because he had been a Jew;
and the Gentiles had such confused notions of the thing that they could not
distinguish between a Jew and a Christian. Suetonius, in the life of
Claudius, speaks of this decree in the ninth year of his reign, and says,
The reason was because the Jews were a turbulent people--assiduo
tumultuantes; and that it was impulsore Christo--upon the account of
Christ; some zealous for him, others bitter against him, which
occasioned great heats, such as gave umbrage to the government, and provoked
the emperor, who was a timorous jealous man, to order them all to be gone.
If Jews persecute Christians, it is not strange if heathens persecute them
both.
II. We have here Paul preaching to the Jews, and dealing with them to bring
them to the faith of Christ, both the native Jews and the Greeks,
that is, those that were more or less proselyted to the Jewish religion, and
frequented their meetings.
1. He reasoned with them in the synagogue publicly every sabbath.
See in what way the apostles propagated the gospel, not by force and
violence, by fire and sword, not by demanding an implicit consent, but by
fair arguing; they drew with the cords of a man, gave a reason for what they
said, and gave a liberty to object against it, having satisfactory answers
ready. God invites us to come and reason with him (Isa. i. 18), and
challenges sinners to produce their cause, and bring forth their
strong reasons, Isa. xli. 21. Paul was a rational as well as a
scriptural preacher.
2. He persuaded them--epeiqe.
It denotes, (1.) The urgency of his preaching. He did not only dispute
argumentatively with them, but he followed his arguments with affectionate
persuasions, begging of them for God's sake, for their own soul's sake, for
their children's sake, not to refuse the offer of salvation made to them.
Or, (2.) The good effect of his preaching. He persuaded them, that is, he
prevailed with them; so some understand it. In sententiam suam adducebat--He
brought them over to his own opinion. Some of them were convinced by his
reasonings, and yielded to Christ.
3. He was yet more earnest in this matter when his fellow-labourers, his
seconds, came up with him (v. 5): When Silas and Timothy had come
from Macedonia, and had brought him good tidings from the churches
there, and were ready to assist him here, and strengthened his hands, then
Paul was more than before pressed in spirit, which made him more than
ever pressing in his preaching. He was grieved for the obstinacy and
infidelity of his countrymen the Jews, was more intent than ever upon their
conversion, and the love of Christ constrained him to it (2 Cor. v.
14): it is the word that is used here, it pressed him in spirit to
it. And, being thus pressed, he testified to the Jews with all
possible solemnity and seriousness, as that which he was perfectly well
assured of himself, and attested to them as a faithful saying, and worthy
of all acceptation, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah promised to
the fathers and expected by them.
III. We have him here abandoning the unbelieving Jews, and turning from them
to the Gentiles, as he had done in other places, v. 6.
1. Many of the Jews, and indeed the most of them, persisted in their
contradiction to the gospel of Christ, and would not yield to the strongest
reasonings nor the most winning persuasions; they opposed themselves
and blasphemed; they set themselves in battle array (so the
word signifies) against the gospel; they joined hand in hand to stop the
progress of it. They resolved they would not believe it themselves, and
would do all they could to keep others from believing it. They could not
argue against it, but what was wanting in reason they made up in ill
language: they blasphemed, spoke reproachfully of Christ, and in him
of God himself, as Rev. xiii. 5, 6. To justify their infidelity, they broke
out into downright blasphemy.
2. Paul hereupon declared himself discharged from them, and left them to
perish in their unbelief. He that was pressed in spirit to testify
to them (v. 5), when they opposed that testimony, and persisted
in their opposition, was pressed in spirit to testify against them (v.
6), and his zeal herein also he showed by a sign: he shook his raiment,
shaking off the dust from it (as before they shook off the dust from
their feet, ch. xiii. 51), for a testimony against them. thus he
cleared himself from them, but threatened the judgments of God against them.
As Pilate by washing his hands signified the devolving of the guilt of
Christ's blood from himself upon the Jews, so Paul by shaking his raiment
signified what he said, if possible to affect them with it. (1.) He had done
his part, and was clean from the blood of their souls; he had, like a
faithful watchman, given them warning, and thereby had delivered his
soul, though he could not prevail to deliver theirs. He had tried all
methods to work upon them, but all in vain, so that if they perish in their
unbelief their blood is not to be required at his hands; here, and ch.
xx. 26, he plainly refers to Ezek. xxxiii. 8, 9. It is very comfortable to a
minister to have the testimony of his conscience for him, that he has
faithfully discharged his trust by warning sinners. (2.) They would
certainly perish if they persisted in their unbelief, and the blame would
lie wholly upon themselves: "Your blood be upon your own heads,
you will be your own destroyers, your nation will be ruined in this world,
and particular persons will be ruined in the other world, and you alone
shall bear it." If any thing would frighten them at last into a
compliance with the gospel, surely this would.
3. Having given them over, yet he does not give over his work. Though Israel
be not gathered, Christ and his gospel shall be glorious: Henceforth I
will go unto the Gentiles; and the Jews cannot complain, for they had
the first offer, and a fair one, made to them. The guests that were first
invited will not come, and the provision must not be lost; guests must be
had therefore from the highways and the hedges. "We would
have gathered the Jews (Matt. xxiii. 37), would have healed them
(Jer. li. 9), and they would not; but Christ must not be a head without a
body, nor a foundation without a building, and therefore, if they will not,
we must try whether others will." Thus the fall and diminishing of the
Jews became the riches of the Gentiles; and Paul said this to their faces,
not only because it was what he could justify, but to provoke them to
jealousy, Rom. xi. 12, 14.
7 And he departed thence, and entered into a
certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God,
whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the
chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and
many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but
speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man
shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of
God among them.
Here we are told,
I. That Paul changed his quarters. Christ directed his disciples, when he
sent them forth, not to go from house to house (Luke x. 7), but there
might be occasion to do it, as Paul did here. He departed out of the
synagogue, being driven out by the perverseness of the unbelieving Jews, and
he entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, v. 7. It
should seem, he went to this man's house, not to lodge, for he continued
with Aquila and Priscilla, but to preach. When the Jews would not let him go
on peaceably with his work in their meeting, this honest man opened his
doors to him, and told him he should be welcome to preach there; and Paul
accepted the proposal. It was not the first time that God's ark had taken up
its lodging in a private house. When Paul could not have liberty to preach
in the synagogue, he preached in a house, without any disparagement to his
doctrine. But observe the account of this man and his house. 1. The man was
next door to a Jew; he was one that worshipped God; he was not an
idolater, though he was a Gentile, but was a worshipper of the God of
Israel, and him only, as Cornelius. That Paul might give the less offence to
the Jews, though he had abandoned them, he set up his meeting in this man's
house. Even when he was under a necessity of breaking off from them to turn
to the Gentiles, yet he would study to oblige them. 2. The house was next
door to the synagogue, it joined close to it, which some perhaps
might interpret as done with design to draw people from the synagogue to the
meeting; but I rather think it was done in charity, to show that he would
come as near to them as he could, and was ready to return to them if they
were but willing to receive his message, and would not contradict and
blaspheme as they had done.
II. That Paul presently saw the good fruit of his labours, both among Jews
and Gentiles. 1. Crispus a Jew, an eminent one, the chief ruler of
the synagogue, believed on the Lord Jesus, with all his house, v.
8. It was for the honour of the gospel that there were some rulers, and
persons of the first rank both in church and state, that embraced it. This
would leave the Jews inexcusable, that the ruler of their synagogue, who may
be supposed to have excelled the rest in knowledge of the scriptures and
zeal for their religion, believed the gospel, and yet they opposed and
blasphemed it. Not only he, but his house, believed, and, probably, were
baptized with him by Paul, 1 Cor. i. 14. 2. Many of the Corinthians, who
were Gentiles (and some of them persons of bad character, as appears, 1 Cor.
vi. 11, such were some of you), hearing, believed, and were baptized.
First, they heard, for faith comes by hearing. Some perhaps came to
hear Paul under some convictions of conscience that the way they were in was
not right; but it is probable that the most came only for curiosity, because
it was a new doctrine that was preached; but, hearing, they believed,
by the power of God working upon them; and, believing, they were baptized,
and so fixed for Christ, took upon them the profession of Christianity, and
became entitled to the privileges of Christians.
III. That Paul was encouraged by a vision to go on with his work at Corinth
(v. 9): The Lord Jesus spoke to Paul in the night by a vision;
when he was musing on his work, communing with his own heart upon his
bed, and considering whether he should continue here or no, what method
he should take here, and what probability there was of doing good, then
Christ appeared very seasonably to him, and in the multitude of his
thoughts within him delighted his soul with divine consolations. 1. He
renewed his commission and charge to preach the gospel: "Be not
afraid of the Jews; though they are very outrageous, and perhaps the
more enraged by the conversion of the chief ruler of their synagogue. Be not
afraid of the magistrates of the city, for they have no power against thee
but what is given them from above. It is the cause of heaven thou art
pleading, do it boldly. Be not afraid of their words, nor dismayed at
their looks; but speak, and hold not thy peace; let slip no
opportunity of speaking to them; cry aloud, spare not. Do not hold
thy peace from speaking for fear of them, nor hold thy peace in
speaking" (if I may so say); "do not speak shyly and with caution,
but plainly and fully and with courage. Speak out; use all the liberty of
spirit that becomes an ambassador for Christ." 2. He assured him of his
presence with him, which was sufficient to animate him, and put life and
spirit into him: "Be not afraid, for I am with thee, to protect
thee, and bear thee out, and to deliver thee from all thy fears; speak,
and hold not thy peace, for I am with thee, to own what thou sayest, to
work with thee, and to confirm the word by signs following." The same
promise that ratified the general commission (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20), Lo I
am with you always, is here repeated. Those that have Christ with them
need not to fear, and ought not to shrink. 3. He gave him a warrant of
protection to save him harmless: "No man shall set on thee to hurt
thee; thou shalt be delivered out of the hands of wicked and
unreasonable men and shalt not be driven hence, as thou wast from other
places, by persecution." He does not promise that no man should set on
him (for the next news we hear is that he is set upon, and brought to the
judgment-seat, v. 12), but, "No man shall set on thee to
hurt thee; the remainder of their wrath shall be restrained; thou shalt
not be beaten and imprisoned here, as thou wast at Philippi." Paul met
with coarser treatment at first than he did afterwards, and was now comforted
according to the time wherein he had been afflicted. Trials shall not
last always, Ps. lxvi. 10-12. Or we may take it more generally: "No
man shall set on thee, tou kakwsai se--to
do evil to thee; whatever trouble they may give thee, there is no
real evil in it. They may kill thee, but they cannot hurt thee; for I am
with thee," Ps. xxiii. 4; Isa. xli. 10. 4. He gave him a prospect
of success: "For I have much people in this city. Therefore no
man shall prevail to obstruct thy work, therefore I will be with thee to own
thy work, and therefore do thou go on vigorously and cheerfully in it; for
there are many in this city that are to be effectually called by thy
ministry, in whom thou shalt see of the travail of thy soul." LaoV
esti moi poluV--There is to me a great people
here. The Lord knows those that are his, yea, and those that shall be
his; for it is by his work upon them that they become his, and known unto
him are all his works. "I have them, though they yet know me not,
though yet they are let captive by Satan at his will; for the Father has
given them to me, to be a seed to serve me; I have them written in the book
of life; I have their names down, and of all that were given me I will lose
none; I have them, for I am sure to have them;" whom he did
predestinate, those he called. In this city, though it be a very profane
wicked city, full of impurity, and the more so for a temple of Venus there,
to which there was a great resort, yet in this heap, that seems to be all
chaff, there is wheat; in this ore, that seems to be all dross, there is
gold. Let us not despair concerning any place, when even in Corinth Christ
had much people.
IV. That upon this encouragement he made a long stay there (v. 11):
He continued at Corinth a year and six months, not to take his ease,
but to follow his work, teaching the word of God among them; and, it
being a city flocked to from all parts, he had opportunity there of
preaching the gospel to strangers, and sending notice of it thence to other
countries. He staid so long, 1. For the bringing in of those that were
without. Christ had many people there, and by the power of his grace he
could have had them all converted in one month or week, as at the first
preaching of the gospel, when thousands were enclosed at one cast of the
net; but God works variously. The people Christ has at Corinth must be
called in by degrees, some by one sermon, others by another; we see not
yet all things put under Christ. Let Christ's ministers go on in their
duty, though their work be not done all at once; nay, though it be done but
a little at a time. 2. For the building up of those that were within. Those
that are converted have still need to be taught the word of God, and
particular need at Corinth to be taught it by Paul himself; for no sooner
was the good seed sown in that field than the enemy came and sowed tares,
the false apostles, those deceitful workers, of whom Paul in his epistles to
the Corinthians complains so much. When the hands of Jewish persecutors were
tied, who were professed enemies to the gospel, Paul had a more vexatious
trouble created him, and the church more mischievous damage done it, by the
tongue of judaizing preachers, who, under colour of the Christian name,
undermined the very foundations of Christianity. Soon after Paul came to
Corinth, it is supposed, he wrote the first epistle to the Thessalonians,
which in order of time was the first of all the epistles he wrote by divine
inspiration; and the second epistle to the same church was written not long
after. Ministers may be serving Christ, and promoting the great ends of
their ministry, by writing good letters, as well as by preaching good
sermons.
12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia,
the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to
the judgment seat, 13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men
to worship God contrary to the law. 14 And when Paul was now
about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a
matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I
should bear with you: 15 But if it be a question of words and
names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge
of such matters. 16 And he drave them from the judgment
seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of
the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio
cared for none of those things.
We have here an account of some disturbance given to Paul and his friends at
Corinth, but no great harm done, nor much hindrance given to the work of
Christ there.
I. Paul is accused by the Jews before the Roman governor, v. 12, 13.
The governor was Gallio, deputy of Achaia, that is, proconsul; for
Achaia was a consular province of the empire. This Gallio was elder brother
to the famous Seneca; in his youth he was called Novatus, but took the name
of Gallio upon his being adopted into the family of Julius Gallio; he is
described by Seneca, his brother, to be a man of great ingenuous and great
probity, and a man of wonderful good temper; he was called Dulcis Gallio--Sweet
Gallio, for his sweet disposition; and is said to have been universally
beloved. Now observe, 1. How rudely Paul is apprehended, and brought before
Gallio; The Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul. They
were the ringleaders of all the mischief against Paul, and they entered into
a confederacy to do him a mischief. They were unanimous in it: they came
upon him with one accord; hand joined in hand to do this wickedness.
They did it with violence and fury: They made an insurrection to the
disturbance of the public peace, and hurried Paul away to the
judgment-seat, and, for aught that appears, allowed him no time to
prepare for his trial. 2. How falsely Paul is accused before Gallio (v.
13): This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.
They could not charge him with persuading men not to worship God at all, or
to worship other gods (Deut. xiii. 2): but only to worship God in a way
contrary to the law. The Romans allowed the Jews in their provinces the
observance of their own law; and what then? Must those therefore be
prosecuted as criminals who worship God in any other way? Does their
toleration include a power of imposition? But the charge was unjust; for
their own law had in it a promise of a prophet whom God would raise up to
them, and him they should hear. Now Paul persuaded them to believe in this
prophet, who was come, and to hear him, which was according to the law; for
he came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. The law relating to
the temple-service those Jews at Corinth could not observe, because of their
distance from Jerusalem, and there was no part of their synagogue-worship
which Paul contradicted. Thus when people are taught to worship God in
Christ, and to worship him in the Spirit, they are ready to quarrel, as if
they were taught to worship him contrary to the law; whereas this is indeed
perfective of the law.
II. Gallio, upon the first hearing, or rather without any hearing at all,
dismisses the cause, and will not take any cognizance of it, v. 14,
15. Paul was going about to make his defence, and to show that he did not
teach men to worship God contrary to the law; but the judge, being resolved
not to pass any sentence upon this cause, would not give himself the trouble
of examining it. Observe,
1. He shows himself very ready to do the part of a judge in any matter that
it was proper for him to take cognizance of. He said to the Jews,
that were the prosecutors, "If it were a matter of wrong, or wicked
lewdness,--if you could charge the prisoner with theft or fraud, with
murder or rapine, or any act of immorality,--I should think myself bound to
bear with you in your complaints, though they were clamorous and
noisy;" for the rudeness of the petitioners was no good reason, if
their cause was just, why they should not have justice done them. It is the
duty of magistrates to right the injured, and to animadvert upon the
injurious; and, if the complaint be not made with all the decorum that might
be, yet they should hear it out. But,
2. He will by no means allow them to make a complaint to him of a thing that
was not within his jurisdiction (v. 15): "If it be a question
of words and names, and of your law, look you to it: end it among
yourselves as you can, but I will be no judge of such matters; you
shall neither burden my patience with the hearing of it, nor burden my
conscience with giving judgment upon it;" and therefore, when they were
urgent and pressing to be heard, he drove them from the judgment-seat
(v. 16), and ordered another cause to be called. Now, (1.) Here was
something right in Gallio's conduct, and praise-worthy--that he would not
pretend to judge of things he did not understand; that he left the Jews to
themselves in matters relating to their own religion, but yet would not let
them, under pretence of that, run down Paul, and abuse him; or, at least,
would not himself be the tool of their malice, to give judgment against him.
He looked upon the matter to be not within his jurisdiction, and therefore
would not meddle in it. But, (2.) It was certainly wrong to speak so
slightly of a law and religion which he might have known to be of God, and
with which he ought to have acquainted himself. In what way God is to be
worshipped, whether Jesus be the Messiah, whether the gospel be a divine
revelation, were not questions of words and names, as he scornfully
and profanely called them. They are questions of vast importance, and in
which, if he had understood them himself aright, he would have seen himself
nearly concerned. He speaks as if he boasted of his ignorance of the
scriptures, and took a pride in it; as if it were below him to take notice
of the law of God, or make any enquiries concerning it.
III. The abuse done to Sosthenes, and Gallio's unconcernedness in it, v.
17. 1. The parties put a great contempt upon the court, when they took
Sosthenes and beat him before the judgment-seat. Many conjectures there
are concerning this matter, because it is uncertain who this Sosthenes was,
and who the Greeks were that abused him. It seems most probable that
Sosthenes was a Christian, and Paul's particular friend, that appeared for
him on this occasion, and probably had taken care of his safety, and
conveyed him away, when Gallio dismissed the cause; so that, when they could
not light on Paul, they fell foul on him who protected him. It is certain
that there was one Sosthenes that was a friend of Paul, and well known at
Corinth; it is likely he was a minister, for Paul calls him his brother, and
joins him with himself in his first epistle to the church at Corinth (1 Cor.
i. 1), as he does Timothy in his second, and it is probable that this was
he; he is said to be a ruler of the synagogue, either joint-ruler
with Crispus (v. 8), or a ruler of one synagogue, as Crispus was of
another. As for the Greeks that abused him, it is very probable that they
were either Hellenist Jews, or Jewish Greeks, those that joined with the
Jews in opposing the gospel (v. 4, 6), and that the native Jews put
them on to do it, thinking it would in them be less offensive. They were so
enraged against Paul that they beat Sosthenes; and so enraged against Gallio,
because he would not countenance the prosecution, that they beat him before
the judgment-seat, whereby they did, in effect, tell him that they cared not
for him; if he would not be their executioner, they would be their own
judges. 2. The court put no less a contempt upon the cause, and the persons
too. But Gallio cared for none of these things. If by this be meant
that he cared not for the affronts of bad men, it was commendable. While he
steadily adhered to the laws and rules of equity, he might despise their
contempts; but, if it be meant (as I think it is) that he concerned not
himself for the abuses done to good men, it carries his indifference too
far, and gives us but an ill character of him. Here is wickedness
done in the place of judgment (which Solomon complains of, Eccl. iii.
16), and nothing done to discountenance and suppress it. Gallio, as a judge,
ought to have protected Sosthenes, and restrained and punished the Greeks
that assaulted him. For a man to be mobbed in the street or in the market,
perhaps, may not be easily helped; but to be so in his court, the
judgment-seat, the court sitting and not concerned at it, is an evidence
that truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter; for he
that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey, Isa. lix. 14, 15. Those
that see and hear of the sufferings of God's people, and have no sympathy
with them, nor concern for them, do not pity and pray for the, it being all
one to them whether the interests of religion sink or swim, are of the
spirit of Gallio here, who, when a good man was abused before his face, cared
for none of these things; like those that were at ease in Zion,
and were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph (Amos vi. 6), like the
king and Haman, that sat down to drink when the city Shushan was perplexed,
Esth. iii. 15.
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Paul's
Visit to Ephesus and Jerusalem.
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18 And Paul after this tarried there
yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence
into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head
in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and
left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned
with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer
time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell,
saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I
will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
22 And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church,
he went down to Antioch. 23 And after he had spent some time there,
he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in
order, strengthening all the disciples.
We have here Paul in motion, as we have had him at Corinth for some time at
rest, but in both busy, very busy, in the service of Christ; if he sat
still, if he went about, still it was to do good. Here is,
I. Paul's departure from Corinth, v. 18. 1. He did not go away till
some time after the trouble he met with there; from other places he had
departed when the storm arose, but not from Corinth, because there it had no
sooner risen than it fell again. Some tell us that Gallio did privately
countenance Paul, and took him into his favour, and that this occasioned a
correspondence between Paul and Seneca, Gallio's brother, which some of the
ancients speak of. After this he tarried there yet a good while, some
think, beyond the year and a half mentioned, v. 11. While he
found he laboured not in vain, he continued labouring. 2. When he went, he
took leave of the brethren solemnly, and with much affection, with suitable
comforts and counsels, and prayers at parting, commending what was good,
reproving what was otherwise, and giving them necessary cautions against the
wiles of the false apostles; and his farewell sermon would leave impressions
upon them. 3. He took with him Priscilla and Aquila, because they had
a mind to accompany him; for they seemed disposed to remove, and not
inclined to stay long at a place, a disposition which may arise from a good
principle, and have good effects, and therefore ought not to be condemned in
others, though it ought to be suspected in ourselves. There was a great
friendship contracted between them and Paul, and therefore, when he went,
they begged to go along with him. 4. At Cenchrea, which was hard by Corinth,
the port where those that went to sea from Corinth took ship, either Paul or
Aquila (for the original does not determine which) had his head shaved, to
discharge himself from the vow of a Nazarite: Having shorn his head at
Cenchrea; for he had a vow. Those that lived in Judea were, in such a
case, bound to do it at the temple: but those who lived in other countries
might do it in other places. The Nazarite's head was to be shaved when
either his consecration was accidentally polluted, in which case he must
begin again, or when the days of his separation were fulfilled (Num.
vi. 9; xiii. 18), which, we suppose, was the case here. Some throw it upon
Aquila, who was a Jew (v. 2), and retained perhaps more of his
Judaism than was convenient; but I see no harm in admitting it concerning
Paul, for concerning him we must admit the same thing (ch. xxi. 24,
26), not only in compliance for a time with the Jews, to whom he became
as a Jew (1 Cor. ix. 20), that he might win upon them, but
because the vow of the Nazarites, though ceremonial, and as such ready to
vanish away, had yet a great deal of moral and very pious significance, and
therefore was fit to die the last of all the Jewish ceremonies. The
Nazarites are joined with the prophets (Amos ii. 11), and were very much the
glory of Israel (Lam. iv. 7), and therefore it is not strange if Paul
bound himself for some time with the vow of a Nazarite from wine and strong
drink, and from being trimmed, to recommend himself to the Jews; and from
this he now discharged himself.
II. Paul's calling at Ephesus, which was the metropolis of the Lesser
Asia, and a sea-port. 1. There he left Aquila and Priscilla; not only
because they would be but burdensome to him in his journey, but because they
might be serviceable to the interests of the gospel at Ephesus. Paul
intended shortly to settle there for some time, and he left Aquila and
Priscilla there in the mean time, for the same end as Christ sent his
disciple before to every place where he himself would come, to prepare his
way. Aquila and Priscilla might, by private conversation, being very
intelligent judicious Christians, dispose the minds of many to give Paul,
when he should come among them, a favourable reception, and to understand
his preaching; therefore he calls them his helpers in Christ Jesus,
Rom. xvi. 3. 2. There he preached to the Jews in their synagogue;
though he did but call there in his journey, yet he would not go without
giving them a sermon. He entered into the synagogue, not as a hearer,
but as a preacher, for there he reasoned with the Jews. Though he had
abandoned the Jews at Corinth, who opposed themselves, and blasphemed, yet
he did not, for their sakes, decline the synagogues of the Jews in other
places, but still made the first offer of the gospel to them. We must not
condemn a whole body or denomination of men, for the sake of some that
conduct themselves ill. 3. The Jews at Ephesus were so far from driving Paul
away that they courted his stay with them (v. 20): They desired
him to tarry longer with them, to instruct them, in the gospel of
Christ. These were more noble, and better bred, than those Jews at Corinth,
and other places, and it was a sign that God had not quite cast away his
people, but had a remnant among them. 4. Paul would not stay with them now: He
consented not; but bade them farewell. He had further to go; he must
by all means keep this feast at Jerusalem; not that he thought himself
bound in duty to it (he knew the laws of the feasts were no longer binding),
but he had business t Jerusalem (whatever it was) which would be best done
at the time of the feast, when there was a general rendezvous of all the
Jews from all parts; which of the feasts it was we are not told, probably it
was the passover, which was the most eminent. 5. He intimated his purpose,
after this journey, to come and spend some time at Ephesus, being encouraged
by their kind invitation to hope that he should do good among them. It is
good to have opportunities in reserve, when one good work is over to have
another to apply ourselves to: I will return again to you, but he
inserts that necessary proviso, if God will. Our times are in God's
hand; we purpose, but he disposes; and therefore we must make all our
promises with submission to the will of God. If the Lord will, we shall
live, and do this or that. I will return again to you, if the Spirit suffer
me (ch. xvi. 7); this was included in Paul's case; not only if
providence permit, but if God do not otherwise direct my motions.
III. Paul's visit to Jerusalem; a short visit it was, but it served as a
token of respect to that truly mother-church. 1. He came by sea to the port
that lay next to Jerusalem. He sailed from Ephesus (v. 21), and
landed at Cæsarea, v. 22. He chose to go by sea, for expedition
and for safety, and that he might see the works of the Lord, and his
wonders in the deep. Joppa had been the port for Jerusalem, but Herod
having improved Cæsarea, and the port at Joppa being dangerous, that was
generally made use of. 2. He went up, and saluted the church, by
which, I think, is plainly meant the church at Jerusalem, which is
emphatically called the church, because there the Christian church
began, ch. xv. 4. Paul thought it requisite to show himself among
them, that they might not think his success among them, that they might not
think his success among the Gentiles had made him think himself either above
them or estranged from them, or that the honour God had put upon him made
him unmindful of the honour he owed to them. His going to salute the church
at Jerusalem intimates, (1.) That it was a very friendly visit that he made
them, in pure kindness, to enquire into their state, and to testify his
hearty good-will to them. Note, The increase of our new friends should not
make us forget our old ones, but it should be a pleasure to good men, and
good ministers, to revive former acquaintance. The ministers at Jerusalem
were constant residents, Paul was a constant itinerant; but he took care to
keep up a good correspondence with them, that they might rejoice with him in
his going out, and he might rejoice with them in their tents, and they might
both congratulate and wish well to one another's comfort and success. (2.)
That it was but a short visit. He went up, and saluted them, perhaps with
the holy kiss, and made no stay among them. It was designed but for a
transient interview, and yet Paul undertook this long journey for that. This
is not the world we are to be together in. God's people are the salt of
the earth, dispersed and scattered; yet it is good to see one another
sometimes, if it be but to see one another, that we may confirm mutual love,
may the better keep up our spiritual communion with one another at a
distance, and may long the more for that heavenly Jerusalem in which we hope
to be together for ever.
IV. His return through those countries where he had formerly preached the
gospel. 1. He went and spent some time in Antioch, among his old
friends there, whence he was first sent out to preach among the Gentiles, ch.
xiii. 1. He went down to Antioch, to refresh himself with the sight and
conversation of the ministers there; and a very good refreshment it is to a
faithful minister to have for awhile the society of his brethren; for, as
iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the countenance of his friend.
Paul's coming to Antioch would bring to remembrance the former days, which
would furnish him with matter for fresh thanksgiving. 2. Thence he went
over the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, where he had preached
the gospel, and planted churches, which, though very briefly mentioned (ch.
xvi. 6), was yet a glorious work, as appears by Gal. iv. 14, 15, where Paul
speaks of his preaching the gospel to the Galatians at the first, and their
receiving him as an angel of God. These country churches (for such
they were [Gal. i. 2], and we read not of any city in Galatia where a church
was) Paul visited in order as they lay, watering what he had been
instrumental to plant, and strengthening all the disciples. His very
coming among them, and owning them, were a great strengthening to them and
their ministers. Paul's countenancing them was encouraging them; but that
was not all: he preached that to them which strengthened them, which
confirmed their faith in Christ, their resolutions for Christ, and their
pious affections to him. Disciples need to be strengthened, for they are
compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do what they can to
strengthen them, to strengthen them all, by directing them to Christ, and
bringing them to live upon him, whose strength is perfected in their
weakness, and who is himself their strength and song.
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The Character of Apollos.
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24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at
Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to
Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and
being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of
the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to
speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard,
they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more
perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the
brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was
come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For
he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the
scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
The sacred history leaves Paul upon his travels, and goes here to meet
Apollos at Ephesus, and to give us some account of him, which was necessary
to our understanding some passages in Paul's epistles.
I. Here is an account of his character, when he came to Ephesus.
1. He was a Jew, born at Alexandria in Egypt, but of Jewish parents;
for there were abundance of Jews in that city, since the dispersion of the
people, as it was foretold (Deut. xxviii. 68): The Lord shall bring thee
into Egypt again. His name was not Apollo, the name of one of the
heathen gods, but Apollos, some think the same with Apelles,
Rom. xvi. 10.
2. He was a man of excellent good parts, and well fitted for public service.
He was an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures of the Old
Testament, in the knowledge of which he was, as a Jew, brought up. (1.) He
had a great command of language: he was an eloquent man; he was anhr
logioV--a prudent man, so some; a
learned man, so others; historiarum peritus--a good historian,
which is an excellent qualification for the ministry: he was one that could
speak well, so it properly signifies; he was an oracle of a man; he
was famous for speaking pertinently and closely, fully and fluently, upon
any subject. (2.) He had a great command of scripture-language, and this was
the eloquence he was remarkable for. He came to Ephesus, being mighty
in the scriptures, so the words are placed; having an excellent faculty
of expounding scripture, he came to Ephesus, which was a public place, to
trade with that talent, for the honour of God and the good of many. He was
not only ready in the scriptures, able to quote texts off-hand, and repeat
them, and tell you where to find them (many of the carnal Jews were so, who
were therefore said to have the form of knowledge, and the letter
of the law); but he was mighty in the scriptures. He understood
the sense and meaning of them, he knew how to make use of them and to apply
them, how to reason out of the scriptures, and to reason strongly; a
convincing, commanding, confirming power went along with all his expositions
and applications of the scripture. It is probable he had given proof of his
knowledge of the scriptures, and his abilities in them, in many synagogues
of the Jews.
3. He was instructed in the way of the Lord; that is, he had some
acquaintance with the doctrine of Christ, had obtained some general notions
of the gospel and the principles of Christianity, that Jesus is the
Christ, and that prophet that should come into the world; the
first notice of this would be readily embraced by one that was so mighty in
the scripture as Apollos was, and therefore understood the signs of the
times. He was instructed, kathchmenoV--he
was catechised (so the word is), either by his parents or by ministers;
he was taught something of Christ and the way of salvation by him. Those
that are to teach others must first be themselves taught the word of the
Lord, not only to talk of it, but to walk in it. It is not enough to have
our tongues tuned to the word of the Lord, but we must have our feet
directed into the way of the Lord.
4. Yet he knew only the baptism of John; he was instructed in the
gospel of Christ as far as John's ministry would carry him, and no further;
he knew the preparing of the way of the Lord by that voice crying
in the wilderness, rather than the way of the Lord itself. We cannot but
think he had heard of Christ's death and resurrection, but he was not let
into the mystery of them, had not had opportunity of conversing with any of
the apostles since the pouring out of the Spirit; or he had himself been
baptized only with the baptism of John, but was not baptized with the
Holy Ghost, as the disciples were at the day of pentecost.
II. We have here the employment and improvement of his gifts at Ephesus; he
came thither, seeking opportunities of doing and getting good, and he found
both.
1. He there made a very good use of his gifts in public. He came, probably,
recommended to the synagogue of the Jews as a fit man to be a teacher there,
and according to the light he had, and the measure of the gift given to
him, he was willing to be employed (v. 25): Being fervent in
the Spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord.
Though he had not the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, as the apostles had,
he made use of the gifts he had; for the dispensation of the Spirit,
whatever the measure of it is, is given to every man to profit withal.
And our Saviour, by a parable, designed to teach his ministers that though
they had but one talent they must not bury that. We have seen how Apollos
was qualified with a good head and a good tongue: he was an eloquent man,
and mighty in the scriptures; he had laid in a good stock of useful
knowledge, and had an excellent faculty of communicating it. Let us now see
what he had further to recommend him as a preacher; and his example is
recommended to the intimation of all preachers. (1.) He was a lively
affectionate preacher; as he had a good head, so he had a good heart; he was
fervent in Spirit. He had in him a great deal of divine fire as well
as divine light, was burning as well as shining. He was full of zeal for the
glory of God, and the salvation of precious souls. This appeared both in his
forwardness to preach when he was called to it by the rulers of the
synagogue, and in his fervency in his preaching. He preached as one in
earnest, and that had his heart in his work. What a happy composition was
here! Many are fervent in spirit, but are weak in knowledge, in
scripture-knowledge--have far to seek for proper words and are full of
improper ones; and, on the other hand, many are eloquent enough, and mighty
in the scriptures, and learned, and judicious, but they have no life or
fervency. Here was a complete man of God, thoroughly furnished for his
work; both eloquent and fervent, full both of divine knowledge and of
divine affections. (2.) He was an industrious laborious preacher. He
spoke and taught diligently. He took pains in his preaching, what he
delivered was elaborate; and he did not offer that to God, or to the
synagogue, that either cost nothing or cost him nothing. He first
worked it upon his own heart, and then laboured to impress it on those he
preached to: he taught diligently, akribwV--accurately,
exactly; every thing he said was well-weighed. (3.) He was an
evangelical preacher. Though he knew only the baptism of John, yet that was
the beginning of the gospel of Christ, and to that he kept close; for he
taught the things of the Lord, of the Lord Christ, the things that tended to
make way for him, and to set him up. The things pertaining to the kingdom of
the Messiah were the subjects he chose to insist upon; not the things of the
ceremonial law, though those would be pleasing to his Jewish auditors; not
the things of the Gentile philosophy, though he could have discoursed very
well on those things; but the things of the Lord. (4.) He was a courageous
preacher: He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, as one who,
having put confidence in God, did not fear the face of man; he spoke as one
that knew the truth of what he said, and had no doubt of it, and that knew
the worth of what he said and was not afraid to suffer for it; in the
synagogue, where the Jews not only were present, but had power, there he
preached the things of God, which he knew they were prejudiced against.
2. He there made a good increase of his gifts in private, not so much in
study, as in conversation with Aquila and Priscilla. If Paul or some
other apostle or evangelist had been at Ephesus, he would have instructed
him; but, for want of better help, Aquila and Priscilla (who were
tent-makers) expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. Observe,
(1.) Aquila and Priscilla heard him preach in the synagogue. Though in
knowledge he was much inferior to them, yet, having excellent gifts for
public service, they encouraged his ministry, by a diligent and constant
attendance upon it. Thus young ministers, that are hopeful, should be
countenanced by grown Christians, for it becomes them to fulfil all
righteousness. (2.) Finding him defective in his knowledge of Christianity, they
took him to them, to lodge in the same house with them, and expounded
to him the way of God, the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, more
perfectly. They did not take occasion from what they observed of his
deficiency either to despise him themselves, or to disparage him to others;
did not call him a young raw preacher, not fit to come into a pulpit, but
considered the disadvantages he had laboured under, as knowing only the
baptism of John; and, having themselves got great knowledge in the truths of
the gospel by their long intimate conversation with Paul, they communicated
what they knew to him, and gave him a clear, distinct, and methodical
account of those things which before he had but confused notions of. [1.]
See here an instance of that which Christ has promised, that to him that
hath shall be given; he that has, and uses what he has, shall have more.
He that diligently traded with the talent he had doubled it quickly. [2.]
See an instance of truly Christian charity in Aquila and Priscilla; they did
good according to their ability. Aquila, though a man of great knowledge,
yet did no undertake to speak in the synagogue, because he had not such
gifts for public work as Apollos had; but he furnished Apollos with matter,
and then left him to clothe it with acceptable words. Instructing young
Christians and young ministers privately in conversation, who mean well, and
perform well, as far as they go, is a piece of very good service, both to
them and to the church. [3.] See an instance of great humility in Apollos.
He was a very bright young man, of great parts and learning, newly come from
the university, a popular preacher, and one mightily cried up and followed;
and yet, finding that Aquila and Priscilla were judicious serious
Christians, that could speak intelligently and experimentally of the things
of God, though they were but mechanics, poor tent-makers, he was glad to
receive instructions from them, to be shown by them his defects and
mistakes, and to have his mistakes rectified by them, and his deficiencies
made up. Young scholars may gain a great deal by converse with old
Christians, as young students in the law may by old practitioners. Apollos,
though he was instructed in the way of the Lord, did not rest in the
knowledge he had attained, nor thought he understood Christianity as well as
any man (which proud conceited young men are apt to do), but was willing to
have it expounded to him more perfectly. Those that know much should covet
to know more, and what they know to know it better, pressing forward towards
perfection. [4.] Here is an instance of a good woman, though not permitted
to speak in the church or in the synagogue, yet doing good with the
knowledge God had given her in private converse. Paul will have the aged
women to be teachers of good things Tit. ii. 3, 4.
III. Here is his preferment to the service of the church of Corinth, which
was a larger sphere of usefulness than Ephesus at present was. Paul had set
wheels a-going in Achaia and particularly at Corinth, the county-town. Many
were stirred up by his preaching to receive the gospel, and they needed to
be confirmed; and many were likewise irritated to oppose the gospel, and
they needed to be confuted. Paul was gone, was called away to other work,
and now there was a fair occasion in this vacancy for Apollos to set in, who
was fitted rather to water than to plant, to build up those that were within
than to bring in those that were without. Now here we have,
1. His call to this service, not by a vision, as Paul was called to
Macedonia, no, nor so much as by the invitation of those he was to go to;
but, (1.) He himself inclined to go: He was disposed to pass into Achaia;
having heard of the state of the churches there, he had a mind to try what
good he could do among them. Though there were those there who were eminent
for spiritual gifts, yet Apollos thought there might be some work for him,
and God disposed his mind that way. (2.) His friends encouraged him to go,
and approved of his purpose; and, he being a perfect stranger there, they
gave him a testimonial or letters of recommendation, exhorting the disciples
in Achaia to entertain him and employ him. In this way, among others, the
communion of churches is kept up, by the recommending of members and
ministers to each other, when ministers, as Apollos here, are disposed to
remove. Though those at Ephesus had a great loss of his labours, they did
not grudge those in Achaia the benefit of them; but, on the contrary, used
their interest in them to introduce him; for the churches of Christ, though
they are many, yet they are one.
2. His success in this service, which both ways answered his intention and
expectation; for,
(1.) Believers were greatly edified, and those that had received the gospel
were very much confirmed: He helped those much who had believed through
grace. Note, [1.] Those who believe in Christ, it is through grace that
they believe; it is not of themselves, it is God's gift to them; it
is his work in them. [2.] Those who through grace do believe, yet still have
need of help; as long as they are here in this world there are remainders of
unbelief, and something lacking in their faith to be perfected, and the work
of faith to be fulfilled. [3.] Faithful ministers are capable of being in
many ways helpful to those who through grace do believe, and it is their
business to help them, to help them much; and, when a divine power goes
along with them, they will be helpful to them.
(2.) Unbelievers were greatly mortified. Their objections were fully
answered, the folly and sophistry of their arguments were discovered, so
that they had nothing to say in defence of the opposition they made to the
gospel; their mouths were stopped, and their faces filled with shame (v.
28): He mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, before the
people; he did it, eutonwV--earnestly,
and with a great deal of vehemence; he took pains to do it; his heart was
upon it, as one that was truly desirous both to serve the cause of Christ
and to save the souls of men. He did it effectually and to universal
satisfaction. He did it levi negotio--with facility. The case was so
plain, and the arguments were so strong on Christ's side, that it was an
easy matter to baffle all that the Jews could say against it. Though they
were so fierce, yet their cause was so weak that he made nothing of their
opposition. Now that which he aimed to convince them of was that Jesus is
the Christ, that he is the Messiah promised to the fathers, who
should come, and they were to look for not other. If the Jews were but
convinced of this--that Jesus is Christ, even their own law would teach them
to hear him. Note, The business of ministers is to preach Christ: We
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord. The way he took to
convince them was by the scriptures; thence he fetched his arguments;
for the Jews owned the scriptures to be of divine authority, and it was easy
for him, who was mighty in the scriptures, from them to show that Jesus is
the Christ. Note, Ministers must be able not only to preach the truth, but
to prove it and defend it, and to convince gainsayers with meekness and yet
with power, instructing those that oppose themselves; and this is real
service to the church.
