30 Philip is caught away from the Eunuch. SECT. both Philip and the eunuch, and there he baptized xvii. Acts him. 59 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit And when they were come up out of the water, VIII.39. the Spirit of the Lord", which fell upon the eunuch, immediately snatched away Philip in of the Lord caught aa miraculous manner, and the eunuch saw him way Philip, that the n him no no more; for as it thus appeared that Provi- eunuch saw more: and he went on dence designed they should be separated, he did his way rejoicing. not attempt to search for him in the neighbouring parts, or to go any where to follow him, how much soever he esteemed his conversation; but getting up again into his chariot, he went on his way rejoicing; with an heart full of thankfulness, that he had been favoured with the privilege of so important an interview with him, and that after having received the gospel from his lips, he had seen such a miraculous confirmation of its truth in the sudden manner in which this divinely-commissioned teacher was removed from his sight, to which all his attendants were witnesses. 40 But Philip, quickly after he was separated found at Azotus: and from the canuch, was found at Azotus, or Ash- passing through, he dod, a city that was more than thirty miles from preached in all the ciGaza, in the southern part of the country, which ties, till he came to had been formerly one of the five governments belonging to the Philistines; ( 1 Sam. vi. 17.) and going on from thence he preached the gospel with great success in Joppa, Lydda, Saron, and all the other cities along the coast of the Mediterranean sea, till he came to Cæsarea, where Providence directed him to settle for a considerable time. (See Acts xxi. 8,9.) them. (See Dr. Shaw's Travels, Pref. m The Spirit of the Lord, which fell upon ... that is, The Holy Spirit fell IMPROVE 40 But Philip was Cæsarea. n Snatched away Philip.] Probably he transported him part of the way through the air, a thing which seems to have happened with respect to some of the prophets. (Compare 1 Kings xviii. 12. 2 Kings ii. 16. Ezek. iii. 14.) The spacious plain, which was probably the scene of this miracle, would make it so much the more conspicuous; and it would, no doubt, prove a great confirmation of the eunuch's faith. o To Cæsarea.] This was a city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which was anciently called Stratonice, or Straton's Tower, (See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xiii. cap. 11. [al. 19.] § 2. & Bell. Jud. lib. i. cap. 3. § 4, 5.) It was far distant from Cæsarea Philippi, (of which we read Mat. xvi. 15.) which was situate to the north, in the tribe of Naphthalia, and near the sources of Jordan. See note c on Mark viii. 27. Vol. VI. p. 461. Reflections on Philip's converting the Eunuch. 31 IMPROVEMENT. xviii. THERE is great reason to adore the gracious councils and SECT. purposes of God, with respect to this Ethiopian eunuch; he was a chosen vessel, and desiring to improve that weak light which Ver. he had, God took effectual methods to impart to him more. 26, 27 Thus shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord, (Hos. vi. 3.) An angel of the Lord is sent to give directions to an evangelist to meet him in a desart, and to instruct him there in what he had not learnt in his attendance at Jerusalem: And Philip, in obedience to the divine command, immediately retires from the more public service he had been engaged in at Samaria, to execute whatever God should please to call him to, though he should order him to go into a wilderness, as he could open even there a door of opportunity to make him useful and while, like Philip, we govern ourselves by the intimations of his will, we shall not run in vain, nor labour in vain. (Phil. ii. 16.) It was a prudent and exemplary care, especially in a person 23 engaged in such a variety of public business as the eunuch was, to improve that vacant space of time which a journey allowed him, in reading what might edify and instruct him even as he sat in his chariot: He chose the sacred oracles, and, while perusing them, was in an extraordinary manner taught of God. The question which Philip put to him, we should often put to ourselves; Un-30 derstandest thou what thou readest? Let us choose those writings which may be worth our study, and then let us labour to digest them, and not rest in the empty amusement which a few wandering, unconnected, and undigested ideas may give us, while they pass through our minds like so many images over a mirror, leaving no impression at all behind them. The Scripture especially will be worthy of our study, that we may understand it; and we should earnestly pray, that this study may be successful. For this purpose let us be willing to make use of proper guides, though it 31 must be confessed, that none we are like to meet with at present can have a claim to that authority with which Philip taught. It is pleasant, nevertheless, with becoming humility, to offer what assistance we can to our fellow-travellers on such an occasion as this and God grant that we who do it, especially in that way which is most extensive and lasting, may neither be deceived in scripture ourselves, nor deceive others by misrepresenting its sense! If we enter into the true sense of the ancient prophecies, we 32, 33 must undoubtedly see Christ in them, and particularly in that excellent chapter of Isaiah which the pious eunuch was now reading. Let us often view our divine master in that amiable and affecting 32 Saul, full of rage against the church, sets out for Damascus. SECT. affecting light in which he is here represented; let us view him, xviii. though the Son of God, by a generation which none can fully deVer, clare, yet brought to the slaughter as a lamb, and dumb as a sheep 36-38 before its shearers: And let us learn patiently to suffer with him, if called to it, in humble hope of reigning with him, (2 Tim. ii. 12.) even though, like his, our judgment also should be taken away, and we be cut off from the land of the living. Let those who firmly believe in him as the Son of God, enter themselves into his church, by those distinguishing solemnities which he has appointed for that purpose, to which the greatest should not think themselves above submitting: Let the ministers of Christ readily admit those that make a credible profession of their faith in Jesus, and of their resolution to be subject to him, to such ordinances, not clogging them with any arbitrary impositions or demands. And when men are come to a point thus solemnly to give themselves up to the Lord, and have done it in his appointed method, let them go on their way rejoicing, even though providence should separate from them those spiritual guides who have 39 been owned as the happy instruments of their conversion and their edification. 40 The servants of Christ are called to glorify him in different scenes and stations of life; happy if in one state and country or another they may spread the savour of his name, and gather in converts to him, whether from among the sons of Israel or of Ethiopia. SECT. xix. Acts SECT. XIX. Saul, setting out for Damascus, with an intent to persecute the church there, is miraculously converted by our Lord's appearance to him on the way. Acts IX. 1—9. WE ACTS IX. 1. ACTS IX. 1. E have observed in the preceding history, AND that the persecution against the disciples of Jesus was very violent and severe after the IX. 1. death of Stephen; and particularly, that the youth, who was called Saul, distinguished himself by his forwardness in it; insomuch that all the principal members of the church were driven away from Jerusalem, except the apostles. (Sect. 16. Acts viii. 1, 3.) But Saul was so exceedingly a After the death of Stephen.] There are many disputes, as to the time of Paul's conversion. The learned Spanheim advances several arguments to prove, that it happened six or seven years after Christ's death, about the fourth year of Caligula, threaten A. D. 40. I rather think with Dr. Benson, (agreeably to Bp. Pearson's Chronology,) that it was a pretty deal sooner, but that the exact time cannot be fixed from any circumstances transmitted to us. b Breathing 33 Jesus appears to him in a light from heaven on the way. threatenings and exceedingly outrageous in his zeal against the SECT. slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, gospel, that he could not be satisfied with this; went unto the high bis very heart was set upon extirpating the fol priest, xix. Acts lowers of Jesus, and like some ravenous and IX. 1. Lord In every word he spoke he menaced their destruction, and as if all the hardships of exile and imprisonment were too little, with a most cruel eagerness he thirsted for their blood. With this intent he came to the high-priest, whom he knew to be much exasperated against 2 And desired of him them. And petitioned for letters from him in 2 letters to Damascus, the name of the whole Sanhedrim, (chap. xxii. to the synagogues, that if he found any of this 5. xxvi. 12.) directed to the rulers of the Jewish way, whether they synagogues at Damascus, whither (as he had were men or women, been informed) some of those distressed refuhe might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. gees had fled, that if he found any of that way there, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem, to be proceeded against in the severest manner by the Sanhedrim. And as he was proceeding on his journey, and 3 was now come near to Damascus, it being just about the middle of the day, a wonderful event happened, which threw the whole course of his life into a different channel, and was attended with the most important consequences both to him and the church; for on a sudden a great light from heaven shone around him, exceeding c Came to the high-priest.] The person now in that office seems to have been Caiaphas the inveterate enemy of Christ, who had so great a hand in his death. He would therefore gladly employ so active and bigotted a zealot as Saul; and it is well known, that the Sanhedrim, however its capital power might be abridged by the Romans, was the supreme Jewish court, and had great influence and authority among their synagogues abroad. d Come near to Damascus.] Witsius has given us a large and entertaining account the of this city, in his Life of Paul, cap. ii. § e A light from heaven shone around him.] of 34 Saul is struck with trembling and astonishment. xix. Acts 4 And he fell to a voice, saying unto 5 And he said, Who the Lord said, I am art thou, Lord? And Jesus, whom thou persecutest: It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. SECT. the lustre of the meridian sun; (chap. xxii. 6. xxvi. 13.) And such was the effect this wonderful appearance had upon him, that he the earth, and heard IX. 4. fell to the ground, being struck from the beast him, Saul, Saul, why on which he rode, as all that travelled with him persecutest thou me? likewise were, (chap. xxvi. 14; and to his great astonishment he heard a loud and distinct voice saying unto him in the Hebrew language, 5 Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? And as he saw at the same time the bright appearance of some glorious person in a human form, he was possessed with awe and reverence, and said, Who art thou, Lord? and what is it that I have done against thee? And the Lord Jesus, (for it was he who had condescended to appear to him on this occasion.) said, I am that Jesus [the Nazarene,] whom, by the opposition thou art making to my gospel, and by thy cruelty to my disciples, thou madly persecutest: (chap. xxii.8.) but remember, [it is] hard for thee to kick against the goads, and all thy fury can only wound thyself, without being able to do me or my cause any real injury. 6 6 And he trembling Lord, And when Saul heard and saw, that he who had so often been affronted and despised by him, and astonished, said, even that Jesus of Nazareth whom he had so blasphemously and virulently opposed, was such a glorious and powerful person, and yet that, instead of destroying him immediately as he might with ease have done, he had condescended thus compassionately to expostulate with him, his mind was almost overborne with an unutter of Jesus, though Stephen had, probably in f I am Jesus the Nazarene.] So it is that g It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.] Dr. Hammond truly observes, that this is a proverbial expression of impotent rage, which hurts one's self, and not that against which it was levelled.It is no great matter, whether the latter part of able this verse and the beginning of the next, (which clause is omitted in many ancient copies and versions,) were originally here, or whether (as Dr. Mill supposes) it were not, since it certainly is found in the parallel passages, chap. xxii. 8. xxvi. 14. But I think it most probable, it was accidentally omitted in some very old copy, whence the rest were taken, and that the omission was occasioned by the transcriber mistaking the words, xg, ver. 6, for the like words in ver. 5, a thing which might easily happen in transcribing.-I hope, I need make no apology for giving the reader, in the first view of this wonderful and delightful story, a full account of it in a kind of compound text, in which all the circumstances, added by Paul himself elsewhere, are in crted in one continued narration. But! reserve the notes on the passages so brought in, till we come to the chapters to which they belong. Stood |