again, and visit our brethren, in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and fee how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whofe furname was Mark. By which we perceive, that Mark, who before had left Paul and Barnabas, and gone to Jerufalem, was now come again into this countrey, and was willing to have again accompanied them. Poffibly, he came hither with Peter. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was fo fharp, that they departed afunder one from the other. So Barnabas took Mark, and failed into Cyprus. Paul chofe Silas, and departed. Paul chofe Silas, and departed. . . . and went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. Acts xv. 33.

41.

I am inclined to think, that it was in the beginning of the year 50. that St. Paul now fet out from Antioch. Pearfon (c) likewife, and (d) Bafnage, place it in the fame year.

Witfius thinks, that (e) at this time Paul went from Cilicia to Crete: and that not being able to ftay long there himself, he left Titus, that he might fet in order the things that were wanting, and ordain Elders in every city. ch. i. 5. Pearfon (f) placeth Paul's journey into Crete in the later part of the Apoftle's life, in 63. or 64. after the deliverance from his imprisonment at Rome. But Witfius fays, it is not likely, that the preaching of the Gofpel in Crete, fhould have been deferred fo long: when all Achaia, Macedonia, Afia, Cyprus, Syria, had been already inftructed in the doctrine of the gospel. And he obferves, that not long after Paul was come from Cilicia, he took Timothie into his attendance, to fupply, as he thinks, the want of Titus, lately left in Crete.

Though I cannot fay, that Paul now went from Cilicia to Crete, I readily own myself to be of opinion, that the Apostle's journey into Crete was performed, and his letter to Titus writ, before his imprisonment at Jerufalem. But of this more hereafter.

Having gone through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, Paul came to Derbe, and Lyftra: where they had been before. Here they found Timothie, who, as may be supposed, had been converted, when Paul and Barnabas were there together. Timothie having a good character, from the brethren at Lyftra and Iconium, Paul would have him to go forth with him. Acts xvi. 1. 3.

Afterwards they came into Phrygia. And it may be reckoned very

(c) Ann. Paul. p. 10.

(d) Ann. 50. num xlvi.

probable,

(e) Ex Cilicia videtur Paulus in Cretam navigaffe, et prædicato ibi evangelio, quoniam alio properabat, Titum reliquiffe, ut quæ defunt corrigeret, atque, oppidatim prefbyteros conftitueret. Quæ Lucæ omiffa, ex epiftola ad Titum. fupplenda effe, et huic tempori optime convenire, opinatur L. Capellus. At Pearfonus ad poftrema Pauli tempora refert, eaque ejus itinera, quæ folutio nem ex vinculis Romanis confecuta funt... Cappelli tamen rationes potiores hic mihi videntur. Non enim verifimile eft, ad illud ufque tempus ignoratum fuiffe Chriftum in Creta, quum tota Achaia.... perfonarent evangelii præconio... Deinde Derben et Lyftram venit. Ibi in Timotheum incidit, fidiffimum fibi abhinc omnium itinerum fuorum futurum comitem. &c. De Vita Paul. fect. v. num,i.

(f) Ann. Paulin. p. 21.

probable, that now Paul preached in the chief cities of that countrey, Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Coloffe. He alfo went into Galatia, and there founded many churches. But they were forbidden to preach in Afia, properly fo called. St. Luke's words are ver. 6. 7. Now when they had gone through Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghoft to preach the word in Afia, after they were come to Myfia, they affayed to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit fuffered them not.

Then it follows ver. 8. . . . 10. And they paffing by Myfia, came to Troas. And a vifion appeared to Paul in the night. There flood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, faying: Come over into Macedonia, and help And after he had feen the vifion, immediatly we endeavored to go into Macedonia, affuredly gathering, that the Lord had called us to preach the pel unto them.

us.

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By which manner of speaking we perceive, that Luke was now in Paul's companie. It is likely, that he met them at Troas. Which feems to have been the name of a countrey, and of a city, the chief of the countrey, fituate upon the fea-coaft.

Ver. 11. 12. Therefore loofing from Troas, we came with a straight courfe to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis: and thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colonie. And we were in that city abiding certain days.

Samothracia was an island, over-against Thrace, bordering upon Macedonia. Neapolis was a town upon the fea-coaft, on the Thracian fide of the Strymonic Bay, which feparated Macedonia and Thrace. Here, I fuppofe, they landed, but made no ftay. Thence they went by land to Philippi. Here they staid fome while, and several remarkable occurrences in that city are related by St. Luke. Lydia, a feller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, in Afia, attended to the things that were spoken of Paul, and was baptized, both fhe and her houfhold. She feems to have been a merchant, of no small dealings, and probably, had with her many fervants, and other attendents. Here likewife Paul healed the young maiden, faid to be poffeffed with a spirit of divination. After which Paul and Silas were apprehended, beaten, and imprifoned. But they were foon fet at liberty. Whereupon they left that city. ver. 13... · 40.

From thence they paffed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, and came to Theffalonica, where was a fynagogue of the Jews. Acts xvii. 1.

Amphipolis and Apollonia were cities of Macedonia. And Theffalonica was the chief city of that countrey. Here being a Jewish fynagogue, Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three fabbath-days reafoned with them out of the Scriptures.... And fome of them believed, and conforted with Paul and Silas. Whilft he was here, believed alfo, of the devout Greeks, that is, of the people of the countrey, who were well difpofed, a great multitude, and of the chief women of the city not a few. But the unbelieving Jews made a great difturbance. ver. 2..

The brethren therefore immediatly fent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea, where many of the Jews, and many of the men, and honourable women of the place, believed. But fome Jews came from Theffalonica, and firred up the people there alfo. ver. 10. .. 13.

The brethren therefore immediatly fent away Paul, and conducted him to Athens, with Luke, it is likely, the writer of this hiftorie. But Silas

Silas and Timothie abode ftill at Beroca. St. Luke then gives an account of the Apostle's preaching at Athens. The event was, that fome mocked. Howbeit fome adhered to Paul, and believed. Among which was Dionyfius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Acts xviii. 1. 2. After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth: and found a certain Jew, named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italie, with his wife Prifcilla, because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome.

The Council of ferufalem, as before faid, was held in the year 49. or 50. And it was fuppofed by us, that Paul might fet out from Antioch in the year 50. before it was far advanced. If so, he might come now to Corinth, before the end of the year 51. For as Bafnage computes, the Apostle's journeyings, after leaving Antioch till his coming to Corinth, need not take up more than a year and a half. I put below (g) his brief enumeration of all the places, which have been lately taken notice of by us. But he did not think of the journey into Crete, mentioned by Witfius. Nor do I fuppofe it to have been then performed. This computation fuits Paul's finding Aquila and Prifcilla at Corinth. For he thinks, that edict of Claudius to have been published in the eleventh year of his reign, which began on Jan. 24. in the year 51.

At Corinth Paul tarried a year and fix months. ch. xviii. 11. that is, as I suppose, the remainder of the year 51. and all 52. and part of 53.

And then he took leave of the brethren, and failed thence into Syria, and with him Prifcilla, and Aquila, having fhorn his head in Cenchrea. For be had a vow. And he came to Ephefus, and left them there. But he entered into the fynagogue, and reafoned with the Jews. When they defired him to tarry longer time with them, he confented not but bid them farewell, faying: I muft by all means keep this feaft at Jerufalem: meaning, as I apprehend, the feaft of Pentecoft in the year 53. But I will return again unto you, if God will. And he failed from Ephefus. And when he had landed at CeJarea, and gone up, and faluted the church, namely, at Jerufalem, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent fome time there, he departed, and went over all the countrey of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, that is, vifiting the churches, formerly planted by him, in those countreys, ftrengthening all the difciples, ver. 18.... 23.

In this fpace of time, after Paul had left Ephesus, came thither Apol

los

(g) Redux a fynodo Paulus, poft dies aliquot more Antiochena, mox in Syriam et Ciliciam proficifcitur. Quibus peragratis, continuo in Pifidiam, Lycaoniam, Phrygiam penetravit, haud longâ ufquam morâ, ut verbo di oftenditur. Hinc folvens Troade, per Samothraciam delatus eft Macedoniam, ubi dies non multos exegit. Mox per Amphipolim, et Apolloniam, Theffalonicam, Macedoniæ metropolim, pervenit, ubí per fabbata tria diffe ruit, Motâ feditione, Beroeam noctu petiit: quâ falutatâ, eâ discessit propter adventum Judæorum, . . et Athenas pervenit: quâ poft aliquantulam temporis moram relictâ, Corinthum anno 51. ingreffus eft. Noftram non minimum adjuvat chronologiam adventus Aquila in hanc urbem Româ nuper edicto Claudiano pulfi: quod probabiliffimâ fane conjecturâ anno Claudii xi. promulgatum effe colligitur. Ut a fynodo ad peregrinationem ufque Corinthum fefquiannus circiter elapfus fit. Bafn. ann. 50. num. xxii. Vid, et ann. 51. n. lxviii. lxix.

los, born at Alexandria. Who received from Aquila and Priscilla farther inftructions concerning the Chriftian Religion, beyond what he knew before, and then went away to Corinth. ver. 24.

28.

Ch. xix. 1. And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul baving paffed through the upper coafts, meaning the countreys of Galatia and Phrygia, before mentioned, came to Ephefus: that is, as I apprehend, before the end of the year 53. poffibly, in October, or November.

I hope, I have allowed time enough for all the journeys hitherto mentioned: and that I have not brought Paul to Ephefus too foon.

Ver. 8... 10. Says St. Luke: And he went into the fynagogue, and fpake boldly for the space of three months, difputing, and perfuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but fpake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and feparated the difciples, difputing daily in the fchool of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years. So that all they which dwelt in Afia, ftrictly (b) fo called, the countrey, of which Ephefus was the metropolis, heard the word of the Lord Jefus, both Jews and Greeks. Paul, afterwards, Acts xx. 31. in his discourse to the Elders of Ephesus, at Miletus, fays, he had been with them the fpace of three years. Which may be a round number. Three months, at leaft, he had disputed in the Jewish fynagogue, and two years in the fchool of Tyrannus, and, poffibly, fomewhat more, making, in the whole, a good deal above two, which St. Paul might call three years.

St.

I think, that Paul might come to Ephefus, before the end of the year 53. in October, or November, as before faid. There he continued the remainder of that year, and the whole of the years 54. and 55. till the year 56. about Pentecoft. However, let us obferve the hiftorie.

From ver. II. to 41. the end of the forecited xix. chapter of the Acts is St. Luke's account of the fpecial miracles wrought by Paul at Ephefus, and divers remarkable events, and then of a tumult raised by Demetrius, a filversmith, and other work-men, of like occupation.

And

Then Acts xx. 1. . . . 6. And after the uproar had ceafed, Paul called unto him the difciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over thofe parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece. And there abode three months. when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to fail into Syria, he purpofed to return through Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Afia Sopater of Beraea, and of the Theffalonians Ariftarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothie, and of Afia, Tychicus and Trophimus. Thefe going before tarried for us at Troas. And we failed away from Philippi,

after

(b) Atque hinc diverfæ notiones vocis Afie oriuntur, ut latiffima tertiam orbis terrarum Continentem fonet, Europe ab ortu opofitam: latior magnam peninfulam inter Ponticum et Mediterraneum mare: lata Afiam cis Taurum, vel intra eum montem. Deinde fricte eft provinciæ proconsularis: Aricius media pars illius provinciæ, circa Ephefum et Lydiam propriam: Airidiffime, Homerica notione, parvus tractus ad Cayftrum fluvium. Sacris fcriptoribus fignificatio illa placuit, quam ftrictiorem modo diximus, uti ex iis, que varie adhuc dicta funt, elucet. Cellar. Diff. de fept. ecclef. Afia §. ix.

after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas, in five days, where we abode feven days.

There is not perhaps, any part of St. Paul's travels attended with more difficulties, than this period, of his leaving Ephefus, and fetting out upon his voyage to Jerufalem, with the collections made in the churches of Greece and Macedonia, and fome other places. St. Luke is very diftinct and particular in the account of the journey from Troas to Jerufalem. But from Ephefus to Troas he has mentioned but one city only, which is Philippi. Otherwife, as we have seen in the paflage juft tranfcribed, he speaks only of the countreys of Macedonia, and Greece.

We will therefore endeavor to fettle the time, when Paul left Ephefus, and then confider, how long he might be in Macedonia, or other places, before he went to Troas.

After having related Paul's preaching at Ephefus for a good while, and the fuccefle of it, St. Luke fays in the forcited xix. 21. 22. 23. After these things were ended, Paul purpofed in the fpirit, when he had paffed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerufalem, faying: After I have been there, I must fee Rome. So he fent into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothie and Eraftus. But he himself ftaid in Afia for a feafon. At the fame time there arofe no small stir about that way: meaning the tumult caufed by Demetrius, as before mentioned. Lightfoot has a happy thought upon this place. "Paul's thoughts, "fays (i) he, of going to Rome argue the death of Claudius, who had "banifhed all the Jews from thence. Acts xviii. 2. and that by the « coming in of Nero, a new Emperour, that decree was extinct, and "freedom of acceffe to Rome opened to them again. For it can be little "conceived, that Paul fhould think of going thither, when he could "neither find any of his nation there, nor himself come thither without "certain hazard of his life: as the cafe would have been, if Claudius and "his decree were yet alive. It is therefore agreeable to all reafon, that "the death of Claudius, and the fucceffion of Nero, were now divulged. "And Paul thereupon knowing, that it was now lawful again for a Jew "to go to Rome, intendeth to take a farewell journey and vifit to Ma"cedonia, Achaia, and Jerufalem, and then to go and preach there."

Claudius died Oct. 13. in the year 54. It might be the begining of 55. before the tidings of the death of Claudius and the acceffion of Nero reached Ephefus. Upon which, or foon after, the thought of going to Rome entered Paul's mind, But he intended firft to go to Macedonia, and Greece, and Jerufalem.

So, fays St. Luke, he fent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothie and Eraftus. But he himself faid in Afia for a feafon.

By which we are led to think, that those messengers were fent into Macedonia in the year 55. After they were gone, came to Paul at Ephefus, from Corinth, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus. 1 Cor. xvi. 17. By them he fends his firft epiftle to the Corinthians, writ, as I fuppofe, in the begining of the year 56. And it appears from 1 Cor. xvi. 10. 11. that Timothie, who, as before feen, had been fent into Macedonia, was

(i) Hormonie of the N. T. Val. i. p. 299.

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