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| 1 And when it came to pass that we were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: |
That after we – Paul, Luke, Trophimus and Aristarchus. R2222:1
Were gotten from – Had torn ourselves away from the elders from Ephesus, breaking of very tender ties. R3182:1
Refers to the affectionate parting. R2222:1
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| 2 and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail. |
Finding a ship – They were obliged to take a cargo sailboat, which stopped here and there in the interest of business. R4466:3
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| 3 And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her burden. |
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| 4 And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem. |
Finding disciples – This reminds us how the Lord's followers love to meet the pilgrims and how the pilgrims seek for those who know and love the Redeemer. R4467:1
We tarried there – Those seven days were profitably employed by the Apostle in talking over with the Church at Tyre the gracious plan of God. R2222:3
Through the Spirit – The message came to them that the Apostle at Jerusalem would be imprisoned, maltreated, etc. R3182:2
An illustration of the agencies by which the holy power of God informed Paul. R373:1
Nothing here indicates personality of the Spirit. R373:1; E277
Not go up – They had a revelation from God that Paul would suffer violence, and on the strength of this information they themselves advised the Apostle not to go. R3182:3
Paul, without any disrespect, drew a different lesson from it. He saw that this meant a trial of his faith, zeal and perseverance. R3182:3
For him to yield to these suggestions, would have been an evidence of his lack of confidence in God, since the Lord had himself revealed to him that he should go up to Jerusalem. R3182:3
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| 5 And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell; |
And prayed – Frequent mention is made of the gathering of the Church for prayers. R2023:3
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| 6 and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again. |
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| 7 And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. |
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| 8 And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him. |
Caesarea – The Roman capital of Palestine. R3183:1
That the Church at Caesarea was of considerable size is evident in that Philip made it his headquarters, and that this was the third visit which Paul made during his travels. ( Acts 9:30; 18:22) R2222:3
One of the seven – Of the seven deacons originally appointed at Jerusalem. R3183:1, 4467:1
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| 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied. |
Virgins – Unmarried sisters. R3183:2
Did prophesy – The word "prophesy" is used in many instances in the New Testament to describe public or semi-public speaking, and not always a foretelling of future events. R2222:4, 3183:2
We are not to assume hastily that these four young women were public teachers in the Church. R4467:2
There is not even a suggestion that they had made a consecration or received the holy Spirit. R4467:2
They may have had some public occupation along the lines of public speaking or teaching--possibly they were school teachers. R4467:2
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| 10 And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. |
A certain prophet – A foreteller of future events--possessing the gift of prophesying. R2222:4
Agabus – A brother in the Lord. R3183:2
Was used of the Lord in foretelling the famine which came upon Palestine and the civilized world at that time. ( Acts 11:27, 28) R2223:1
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| 11 and coming to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. |
Took Paul's girdle – This form of prophecy, illustrated by signs, was not uncommon to the Jews. R3183:2, 2223:4
Saith the Holy Spirit – Agabus had the gift of prophecy common at this time. E277
An illustration of the agencies by which the holy power of God informed Paul. R373:1
Bind the man – This prophecy was fulfilled by the handcuffing in verse 33. R3188:6
Paul and the other apostles subsequently had special trials at this special season, in the Spring. R3179:1, 3178:3
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| 12 And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. |
Not to go – To give it up, not to run foolishly into danger. R3183:2
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| 13 Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. |
To weep – Notice the strong affection with which Paul inspired those who came to know him. R1886:1*
We are reminded of the words of the poet: "We share our mutual woes; our mutual burdens bear; and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear." R3183:4
Break mine heart – They were making it still harder for him to bear. R4467:6
I am ready – The Apostle was firm, full of conviction and assurance. He would go on conscientiously and courageously, and finish the work that the Father had given him to do. R3183:4
Throughout this entire experience Paul had the sympathy and approval of all the other apostles, and, above all, the Lord's continued favor. His course was at the instance of the other apostles. F227; R1526:5
Also to die – If such should be the arrangement of the Lord's providence on his behalf. R3183:4
An important lesson, not to be moved from faithfulness to the Lord and his commands; neither by the tears and entreaties of friends nor by the frowns and threats of our foes. R2223:4
Heroic words! Noble sentiments! Faithfulness personified! R4467:5
"Where duty calls or danger, be never lacking there." R2223:4
At Jerusalem – The Apostle's determination to visit Jerusalem at this time with the thank-offering from the Gentiles was to cement the bond of love between the Jewish and Gentile believers. R3182:3
He had no expectation of being able to turn Israel as a nation, but he did wish them to discern his love for them, and his earnest desire to assist them. R3182:5
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| 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. |
Will of the Lord – Manifested by Agabus' prophecy. E277; R3183:2
The testimony of the holy Spirit was accepted by the early Church as merely being the will of our Lord Jesus, whose will is also the Father's will. E278
It was in obedience to his convictions of duty that Paul braved all those predicted adversities. F227; R1526:5
As we learn the Lord's will, we will do it at any cost. R3183:5
We will be on the outlook for the Lord's providences in all of our affairs, realizing that nothing happens by chance to those who are in covenant relationship with God, as members of the Body of Christ. R3183:5
Be done – The Apostle's companions saw the matter as he did. R3183:5
His determination carried the day, and the others acquiesced. R2223:4
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| 15 And after these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. |
Carriages – Baggage or luggage. R4468:4
Jerusalem – This was his fifth visit to Jerusalem since his conversion, twenty years before. R1559:2
He had been absent seven years. R4484:2
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| 16 And there went with us also certain of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. |
There went with us – Paul was accompanied by Luke, Trophimus, Aristarchus, Sopater, Secudus, Gaius, Timotheus and Tychicus. R4484:2
We should lodge – Mnason of Cyprus, was for a long while a disciple, with whom the travelers lodged at Jerusalem. He evidently appreciated his guests and enjoyed the privilege of their entertainment. R4468:4
It is a great honor today to entertain any of the Lord's disciples. R4468:5
The early Church did not practice what is now known as communism. Some of the Lord's people had private possessions aside from those put into the common fund to supply the wants of all. R2932:2
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| 17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. |
Come to Jerusalem – Arrived at Jerusalem Friday, May 27, AD 57. R4484:2
They brought with them money collections from the Churches in Asia Minor for the Church at Jerusalem. R4484:2, 3188:1, 1559:2
It was now but twelve years before the destruction of Jerusalem, and less than half that time before the beginning of the factionalism and anarchy which led up to that destruction. R3188:2
Brethren received us – Their reception on their first day was apparently of a private and personal character. R4484:3
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| 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. |
The day following – The next day was probably the Day of Pentecost. R4484:3
James – Brother (or cousin) to our Lord, was apparently the recognized leader in the Jerusalem Church. R4484:3, 3188:1, 1559:2
The chief, or spokesman amongst the brethren. R4468:4, 4484:3
Elders were present – It was doubtless then that they unitedly blessed Timothy by laying their hands on him by way of endorsement. F284
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| 19 And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry. |
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| 20 And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many tens of thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law: |
Glorified the Lord – Tradition says that as a result Andrew went shortly after this as a missionary to Cythia, Jude to Syria, Thomas to Persia and India, and Peter to Babylon and Rome. R3188:1
Thou seest, brother – We have no evidence that the early Church ever regarded the apostles as lords in the Church. F230
All the Church were similarly greeted--as brothers and sisters in Christ. R1523:5; F230
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| 21 and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. |
That thou teachest – Paul had not taught that Jewish converts should not circumcise their children; nor did he repudiate the Mosaic Law--rather, he honored it, by pointing out the greater and grander realities which it typified. R1526:6
He pointed out that the Law was so grand that no imperfect man could obey it fully, and that Christ, by keeping it, had won its rewards, and now under the Grace Covenant was offering everlasting life to those unable to keep the Law. F228
He taught the Gentiles that it was not necessary for them to become Jews nor to obey the Jewish ritual, but should look to Christ. R4484:5, 1527:4
That the Law could not save either Jew or Gentile, but only faith in Christ. R4484:5
He taught that if anyone, Jew or Gentile, attempted to keep the Law, with a view to thus meriting eternal life, he would surely lose it; "by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in God's sight." (Rom. 3:20) R4484:6
That God during this Gospel age is selecting a spiritual seed of Abraham from both Jews and Gentiles. R4484:6, 1559:4
Forsake Moses – The Greek word signifies a spiritual defection. They charged Paul with apostasy from Moses. R638:6*, 972:4
Some had misrepresented his position--claiming that he was an opponent of the Law and of the Jews. He was an opponent of neither, but realized that no fallen human being could live up to its requisites, and that justification is by faith. R3182:4
The Apostle Paul never taught the Jews that they were free from the Law--but on the contrary, that the Law had dominion over each of them so long as he lived. (Rom. 7:1) F229
After the customs – Paul merely taught that it was not necessary to put the yoke of Judaism upon Gentile converts. ( Acts 15:10) R1559:4
That its forms and ceremonies could not save any one, not even a Jew. R1559:4
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| 22 What is it therefore? they will certainly hear that thou art come. |
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| 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: we have four men that have a vow on them; |
Do therefore this – They urged Paul to contradict partial misconceptions by going into the Temple and associating with some brethren who had taken the Nazarite vow, as a recognition of the propriety of what they did. R4484:5
We incline to doubt the wisdom of the course pursued. Perhaps such a lesson was needed by the apostles and the Church at Jerusalem, that they might learn to be more courageous in their presentations of the truth, less fearful of the Jews, more bold in their presentations of Christ. R3188:5
It is probable that all the apostles came later to view this procedure as a temporizing acknowledgement of the dignity of the Temple and its services, while not sinful, was not advantageous and reflected no special credit upon any connected with it. R3188:5
Paul's principal failure was in allowing them once to overpersuade him on this very matter of Moses' Law. But overcome for the moment by the influence and prominence of those who made the request, Paul yielded. R972:3,5
Paul let slip so favorable an opportunity for testifying as he afterward did to the Galatians (5:2-6) that whosoever justified profit him nothing. R972:5
A more courageous course might have been pursued; the very method taken to ward off opposition merely served to arouse it. R4484:6
A vow on them – A Nazarite vow, typifying the consecrations and devotions of the people, the antitypes of which will prevail during the Millennium. R3188:5
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| 24 these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law. |
Charges with them – By an offering, so much for each, for the expenses of the Temple. F228; R4484:5
Shave their heads – The shaving of their heads and the offering of sacrifices in demand of the Law governing their vow, in no sense interfered with or attempted to add to the merit of Christ's sacrifice. R4484:6
All may know – That you are not disrespectful toward Moses or the Law or the Temple; that their misapprehension and evil speaking may be counteracted. R3188:3
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| 25 But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication. |
Written and concluded – The apostles at the council in Jerusalem, had declared that the Jewish Law did not affect the Gentiles. R3666:2
No such thing – The Gentile converts had never been under the Jewish Law Covenant. F229; R1527:4
For the Gentiles to attempt the practice of Jewish Law ceremonies and rites would imply that they were trusting in those symbols for their salvation, and not relying wholly upon the merit of Christ's sacrifice. F229; R1527:4
Offered to idols – This proved to be a difficult matter with them because of the customs of that day--nearly all the meat sold in the butcher's stalls had been offered to idols. R3666:2
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| 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them. |
Purifying himself – Being Jews, they had a right to perform the symbol of this purification. F228
Being a Hebrew, he properly observed certain features of the Jewish Law; not, however, as a condition of salvation, but as a concession to his Jewish brethren. R1559:4
Into the temple – To pay the Temple tax for these others. R972:5; F228
Days of purification – According to the Jewish custom. R972:5; F228
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| 27 And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him, |
Stirred up all the people – A tumult was raised. R2085:5, 1436:5*
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| 28 crying out, Men of Israel, help: this is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place. |
Men of Israel – Representatives of the whole twelve tribes. C252, C293; R2085:5, 1341:1
People, and the law – "Paul is deceiving the people by telling them that the Law which we have had for 1600 years is of no account." R5774:1
Brought Greeks – They had seen the Apostle with the Greek, Trophimus, and jumped to the conclusion that the latter was one of the four men whose heads were shaved. R4485:1
Polluted this holy place – Only Jews were allowed within the precincts of the Temple. R4485:1
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| 29 For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. |
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| 30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut. |
Doors were shut – The great doors of the Temple were closed that no rioting or bloodshed might occur within the sacred enclosure. R3188:6
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| 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion. |
Chief captain – Claudius Lysias ( Acts 23:26). R3188:6
Colonel of the Roman soldiers. R4485:1
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| 32 And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul. |
Beating of Paul – This trial of Paul's faith came at the Passover season, the time when the Lord's people seem to be in greatest danger of stumbling. R3179:1, 3178:3
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| 33 Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done. |
Took him – Caused the arrest of Paul. R3188:6
Arrested for disturbing the peace. R1633:4
To be bound – Each Roman soldier carried, as a part of his outfit, an iron chain and a leather thong, for use in just such an emergency. R3188:6
Which fulfilled the prophecy of Agabus. ( Acts 21:11) R3188:6
With two chains – Much after the manner in which now a culprit is sometimes handcuffed to an officer. R3188:6
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| 34 And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle. |
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| 35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the crowd; |
Borne of the soldiers – The oncoming of the mob led the soldiers to press one against the other so as not to lose their prisoner, and thus the Apostle was lifted off his feet and carried by the soldiers up the stairway. R4485:2
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| 36 for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, Do away with him. |
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| 37 And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek? |
Into the castle – The Tower of Antonio was close by the Temple Court, and steps connected the two. R3188:6, 4485:1
Chief captain – Lysias, the foreign officer, who spoke Greek, knew very little of the Jew's language, either Hebrew or Syriac. R3189:1
Speak Greek – The officer was astonished, for the Apostle spoke Greek fluently. R3189:1, 4485:4
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| 38 Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins? |
That Egyptian – Mentioned by Josephus, who had gathered a large body of discontented Jews, to whom he represented himself as Messiah, causing the authorities considerable trouble. R4485:4
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| 39 But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people. |
But Paul said – Cool and collected. R4485:3
No mean city – Said to have been excelled in scholarship and the fine arts by the cities of Alexandria and Athens only. R2117:2
Suffer me to speak – The Apostle never allowed opportunities to pass without forwarding the truth, whether in season for himself, or out of season, as in this case, where he was sore from the beating he had received. R3189:2
Instead of wavering and stopping, he went right along and preached the same Gospel which made a disturbance everywhere. R1633:4
His readiness to take advantage of every opportunity to tell the message of his Master was here wonderfully exemplified. R4485:3
An illustration of the dauntless courage and holy enthusiasm of this noble soldier of the cross. R1559:5
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| 40 And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying, |
He spake unto them – That Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Law and the prophecies; that his sacrificial death was the redemption price for all; that now he is calling a spiritual class to be his associates in the Millennial Kingdom; and that shortly Israel and all the nations will experience the privileges and blessings of that Kingdom. R4485:4
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