many and great difficulties, which he met with. This rapture into the third heaven and paradife had been concealed by him above fourteen years, and not mentioned at all, till now in this his second epistle to the Grinthians: as has been obferved both by (1) ancients, and (m) moderns. But the feeing Chrift, for qualifying him to be an Apoítle, had been often, and openly mentioned by him.

But it may be objected, that long after his converfion Paul is numbered among Prophets. Acts xiii. 1. Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain Prophets and Teachers: as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Gyrene, and Manaen . . . and Saul.

...

To which I anfwer. 1. If Paul fhould be allowed to be here ranked among Prophets, it will not follow, that he was not more than a Prophet, even an Apoftle. St. Peter ftiles himself an Elder, though, undoubtedly, he was alfo an Apoftile. 1. Pet. v. 1. Mr. Le Clerc has a fine obfervation, relating to this matter in his Ecclefiaftical Hiftorie: That (n) though Faul is mentioned laft, he was fuperior to the reft in point of gifts. But, fays he, the firft Chriftians were not folicitous about titles and pre-eminence.

2. It is not clear, that Paul is here reckoned among Prophets. He feems rather to be diftinguifhed from them. For, very probably, it is not without fome reason, that Paul is not put first, nor next to Barnaba, but laft of all. The meaning appears to be this. "Now there "were in the church at Antioch certain Prophets, and Teachers, as "Barnabas, and Simeon, and Lucius, and Manaen, and alfo Saul, whofe "character, and station in the Church is well known from the preced"ing historie of him in this book." Whereby indced, he evidently appears to be an Apostle.

3. I add one thing more, that I may fully clear up this point. The defignation, mentioned ch. xiii. ver. 2. 3. could not be to the Apostlehip. For Paul was not an Apostle of men, neither by man, but by fejus Christ, and God the Father. Gal. i. 1. Moreover, it is here exprefsly said, that this ordination, or appointment, at Antioch, was to a particu lar work, or fervice. As they miniftered to the Lord, and fafted, the Holy Ghoft faid: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work, whereunto I have called them. And when they had fafted, and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they fent them away. And it might be faid, that (o) here is no confecration to an office, but rather a benediction for the particular work, upon which they were now fent.

As

(1) Δια τέτο καὶ τὸν χρόνον ἔθηκε των δεκατεσσάρων ἔτων· ἐδὲ γὰρ ἁπλῶς αυτό μέμνηται, ἀλλὰ δεικνύς, ὅτι ἐκ ἂν ὁ τοσέτον καρτερήσας χρόνον, νῦν ἂν ἐξεἶπεν, εἰ μn woaan hy dváyen. Chryfoft in 2 Cor. hom. 26. T. x. p. 681. D.

(m) See Dr. Doddridge's Family-Expofitor. Vol. 4. p. 522.

(z) Ceterum, fi exSpiritus Sancti donis, fublimibufque revelatonibus, Prophetarum, Doctorumque, qui memorantur, ordo conceptus effet, fine dubio, primum omnium Saulum collocari oportuiffet. Sed iis temporibus nondum de prima fede, dignitateque contentiones erant inter Chriftianos: et qui meritis in rem Chriftianam omnium erant primi, ii fe, ex Domini præcepto, quafi minimos gerebant, nec ultimos appellari refugiebant. Cleric. H. E. A. D. 45. num. i.

(0) Porro, vere ut dicamus, nil ordinationis eft in Antiochenfium Prophetarum zlecia.... Eam argo Paulus Barnabafque manuum fufcepe

runt

As Mr. Hallett fays, in the place before quoted: They (p) were not now separated for the work of the miniftry, in general, but were "feparated from the other teachers at Antioch, to go aboard, and propagate the gospel in other countries. When they went out upon "this important work, nothing could be more agreeable, than for the "church at Antioch, to pray God to give Barnabas, and Paul, good "fuccefs. Which accordingly they did. They now recommended them "to the grace, or favour of God: as St. Luke fays concerning this folemn "transaction. ch. xiv. 26. And after this again, when Paul was fent "abroad another time, to preach the gofpel, where he had preached it "before, he was in the fame manner recommended to the grace ofGod, "as it is written ch. xv. 40. Paul chofe Silas, and departed, being recom"mended by the brethren to the grace, or favour of God. Since therefore "both times, when Paul went out from Antioch, to preach the gospel "to the fame people, the Evangelift fays, in the fame words, that he was recommended to the grace of God; we cannot fuppofe, that he was any more firft made an Apoftle of the Gentils, at the former, than 66 at the later time of his being recommended."

66

Upon the whole it appears to me highly probable, from all the accounts, which we have of Paul's wonderful converfion, in Acts ix. xxii. and xxvi. that he received his apoftolical commiffion from the mouth of Chrift in perfon, when he called to him from heaven, and fpoke to him in the way to Damafcus. And efpecially does this appear from Acts xxvi. 15... 20. where Paul exprefsly relates his commiffion, and the time of it, and declares, as feems to me, that all which had been hitherto done by him, in preaching the gofpel, to the very time when he was imprisoned, had been done in virtue of that commiffion. And he faid: I am Jefus, whom thou perfecuteft. But arife, and fand upon thy feet. For I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minifter, and a witneffe, both of those things, which thou haft feen, and of thofe things, in which I will appear unto thee: delivering thee from the People, and from the Gentils, unto whom I now fend thec, iis ûs viv σe dmusénnw, 10 open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light.... Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not difobedient unto the heavenly vifion: but fhewed first unto them of Damafcus, and at Jerufalem, and throughout all the conf's of Judea, and then to the Gentils: that they should repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

This alfo exactly fuits the manner, in which the other Apoftles where appointed. They were Apoftles from the time that Jefus Chrift called them to attend upon him. See Matth. iv. 18... 22. Luke vi. 13. And he often difcourfed to them concerning their commiffion in it's full extent, and the difficulties they would incet with in the discharge of it: giving them alfo various directions, relating to their conduct, when they thould come abroad in the world. See Matth. x. throughout, and xvi. 18. 19. and many like places in the other Gofpels. And before he left them, he exprefsly faid: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. Matt. xxviii. 19. But they did not at first understand the full

extent

runt impofitionem, quæ benedictionis eft, non confecrationis. S. Bafnag. Ain. 45. num. iii.

(p) Vol. 2. p. 323

extent of their commiffion, nor prefently exccute it. At the first they preached to Jews only. And it was feveral years, after Chrift's afcenfion, before they preached to Gentils. So Paul was from the begining called, and appointed to be an Apoftle: and by degrees he was qualified for it, as his commiffion opened. And in time he was called out by Divine Providence to the full execution of it. But all along he was an Apoftle, and acted, and taught, as fuch: first preaching to Jews at Damafcus, and Jerufalem, and Judea, and other parts, and then to Gentils. So he plainly fays to Agrippa in the place recited juft now.

His Hiftory from bis Converfion to

VI. Having thus fettled the time of Paul's converfion, and apostleship, according to the best of my ability, I now intend to give an account of his travels in bis coming to fe- the fervice of the gospel. This I do for the fake of rufalem. fhewing the date of his writings. And it would be fhorter and more agreeable, on divers accounts, to take in his epiftles as we go along. But there being debates about the time of feveral of them, I think it will be preferable, to write his historie, without interruption, as briefly as we can, and then obferve the order of his epifiles.

Paul, having been baptized by Ananias at Damafcus, ftaid a fhort time with the difciples there, and then went into Arabia: where, it is very likely, he might meet with fome believers. For Arabians are exprefsly mentioned Acts ii. 11. among the Jews and profelytes, who heard the Apoftle Peter's first fermon at Jerufalem after the defcent of the Holy Ghost. At which time many were converted to a faith in Jefus Chrift. Acts ii. 41.

རྒྱུ་་་

Whilft Paul was in Arabia, it is reafonable to think, that he was fully inftructed, by fpecial ++ revelation, in the doctrine preached by Jefus Chrift, when here on earth, and all the things faid and done by him, and his fufferings, crucifixion, refurrection, and afcenfion, the fulfilment of the ancient prophecies in Jefus, the Chris, the fon of David, and the fon of Abraham, and received alfo the Holy Ghoft, in a meafure equal to that of other Apoftles. Whereby he was qualified to preach the gofpel, and to teflify the refurrection of Jefus, and to prove him to be the Chrift, without receiving either inftruction, or gifts from other Apostles.

Having been fome time in Arabia, he returned to Damafcus. And firaitway he preached in the fynagogues, that Jejus is the Chrift, or the Son of God. This he did with fuch ftrength and cogence of argument, as to confound the Jews, which dwelt at Damafcus. They being greatly provoked, and forming a defign upon his life, the difciples found means" to provide for his efcape. Whereupon he went to Jerufalem. Acts ix.

20... 25.

Some think, that Paul preached at Damafcus, foon after he had been baptized by Ananias, and that he alfo preached in Arabia, and that (7) he had preached three years, before he came to Jerufalem, after his con

verfion.

Concerning the manner of the revelations now vouchfafed to Paul, may be feen Lightfoot, in his Comm, upon Acts ix. 1. in the first volume of his works. p. 791.

(4) Il vent montrer, qu'il avoit prêché l'evangile trois ans avant que d'a voir vu aucun Apoitre, &c. Beauf. [ur Galat. i. 18.

verfion. Pearfon (*) fuppofeth, that Paul, whilst in Arabia, received by revelation, a full knowledge of the gofpel. And fays, that when he returned from Arabia to Damafcus, he preached there. But I do not perceive him to fay, that Paul preached in Arabia, or at Damafcus, prefently after his converfion.

To me it feems, that Paul did not preach at Damafcus, presently after he had been baptized, but first went into Arabia, and then returned to Damafcus. And being now qualified by divine revelation, and by diligent reading the fcriptures of the Old Teftament, during his receffe in Arabia, and being fully determined, after a competent time of humiliation for past conduct, and serious meditation, in which he had well weighed the difficulties of the work he was entering upon, he began to preach Chrift in the fynagogues of Damafcus. I am confirmed in this opinion by the interpretation of an author, whofe words I place (r) below. Nor does St. Paul, that I remember, any where fay, that he preached in Arabia. He makes a large, and, feemingly, very particular enumeration of places and people, to whom he had preached, in his difcourfe before Agrippa, without taking any notice of Arabia. Aş xxvi. 20. I fhewed firft unto them of Damafcus, and at Jerufalem, and throughout all the coafts of Judea, and then to the Gentils, that they bould repent, and turn to God.

Jerome obferving, that St. Luke had faid nothing of Paul's being in Arabia, is inclined to think, that (s) he did not difcharge any part of his apoftolical office in that countrey., But then, if Paul was filent there, he thinks, it was not owing to the, Apoftle's backwardneffe to Speak: But the divine wildom appointed, that it fhould be so.

Theophylact obferves, that (i) the design of the Jews at Damafcus, to destroy

(*) Saulus in Arabiâ moratur, ubi per revelationem accepit plenam a Deo notitiam evangelii, ad quod prædicandum immediate vocatus eft.

Saulus ex Arabia redit Damafcum, fatis in officio per revelationem inftructus. Annal. Paulin. A. D. 36. 37. p. 2.

Gal.

(1) "St. Paul being reflored to his fight by Ananias, ftaid not long at "Damafcus, but retired forthwith into, Arabie, as he himfelf tells us. "i. 16. 17. Whereas it is faid Acts 4. 19. 29. And when he had received "meat, he was ftrengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the difciples at "Damafcus, and firaitway he preached Chrift in the fynagogues. Here the word, "ftraitway, does not relate to Saul's firft coming to Damafcus, but to his

return thither, after he had been in Arabia. For Acts ix. 19. 20. are to be "rendered and paraphrafed thus: And when he had received mcat, he was "frengthened. Pretently after which, according to Gal. i. 16. he went into Arabia, and having been there inftructed in the gofpel by the revela"tion of Jefus Chrift, according to Gal. i. 12. he returned again to Damafcus. Then, or now, was Paul certain days with the difciples at Damafcus, and firaitway, namely, after his return out of Arabia, he preached Chrift in the fys nagogues." Dr. Edw. Wells Hiftorical Geography of the N.T. Part. 2. p. 20. 21. (5) Lucam vero idcirco de Arabia præteritic, quia forfitan nihil dignum apoftolatu in Arabia perpetrarat: et ea potius compendiofa narratione dixiffe, quæ digna Chrifti evangelio videbantur. Nec hoc fegnitiæ Apoftoli deputandum, fi fruftra in Aranio fuerit: fed quod aliqua difpenfatio et Dei præceptum fuerit, ut taceret. Hieron, in Gal. i. 17. T. 4. P. i. p. 235.

(1) ... ὅτι ἡ ἐπιβολὴ ἐν δαμάσκῳ ἐκ ευθέως μετὰ τὸ πιςεῦσαι γέγονεν αλλά μετὰ τὸ ἀνελθεῖν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ ἀραβίας μετὰ ἔτη τρία. Καὶ οὕτως γέγονεν ἡ πρὸς çà ¡sgocóntμa drodos. Theophs. in Act. Ap. p. 94.

deftroy Paul, was not formed presently after his converfion to the faith: but after his return thither from Arabia, at the end of three years, just before his going to Jerufalem.

Indeed, it is very likely, that if Paul had preached at Damafcus, foon after his first arrival there, he would have met with a most violent onfet. And as nothing of that kind is particularly taken notice of, it may be concluded, that he did not then publicly preach in any fynagogues. Nor was it fit, or becoming, that he fhould. It was highly proper, that fome time fhould be allotted for retirement, after fuch a courfe, as he had been in, before he began to preach and teach publicly in the name of Jesus.

Though St. Luke had not mentioned the journey into Arabia, nor the time of Paul's abfence from Damafcus, he knew it very well, and has hinted it, faying: And after many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to flay him. Acts ix. 23.

Mr. Beaufobre fays, that (u) Paul's journey into Arabia fhould be placed between ver. 22. and 23. of the ix. chapter of the Acts. Į fhould rather place it between ver. 19, and 20. of that chapter.

This period of three years, or three years and fomewhat more, from Paul's converfion to his coming to Jerusalem, reaches, according to our computation, from near the end of the year 36. to near the end of 39or the begining of the year 40. or from the begining of the year 37. to the former part of the year 40.

I cannot allow myself to speak. pofitively, where there is not the evidence of certainty. I do not know, in what month Paul was converted, or came to Jerufalem. Of fuch things as thefe it is fufficient to fay, that they happened in fuch a year, or thereabout.

From his coming firft to Jerufalem after his Converfion to his being brought to Antioch by Barnabas.

VII. Paul having been full three years at Damafcus, and in it's neighbourhood, and in Arabia, he came to Jerufalem. Gal. i. 18 And when he was come thither, he affayed to joyn himself to the difciples : but they were all afraid of him, and believed not, that he was a difciple. Acts ix. 26.

This may feem ftrange to fome. But now we difcern the reason of it from the account, that has been lately given of the continuance of the perfecution in Judea after the death of Stephen, and alfo of Paul's retired way of life, for fome while, in Arabia. Paul had but lately begun to preach openly in the name of Jefus, in the fynagogues of Damfeus. And the believers in Judea being much harraffed by the perfecution

(u) Comment. fur Gal. i. 17.

++ Says Lightfoot in his Commentarie upon Acts ix. 26. Vol. i. p. 814. "Some cannot conceive, how it fhould be poffible, that he should have been a convert three years, and yet his converfion and prefent abilities fhould be unknown to the church at Jerufalem. But these two or three confiderations may help the fcruple. 1. The distance between Damafcus and Jerusalem. 2. The perfecution, that continued ftill upon the church of Judea, which would keep the difciples of Damafcus from going thither. And 3. The just fear, that might poffefs the difciples at Jerufalem, in the very time of perfecution. For though it was faid before, that the church of Jerufalem, and

of