Bible Commentaries

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them , and departed for to go into Macedonia.

Into Macedonia — Great Alexander’s country, called at this day Albany, and is subject to the Turk.

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And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

Into Greece — sc. To Corinth, whence he wrote the Epistle to the Romans.

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And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

And there abode three — Gr. ποιησας , "Was doing there," he was in continual action. Life consists in action; so doth spiritual life, Isaiah 38:16 . And by this reason one may live more in a month than another in many years. In this sense Seneca saith (Epist. lxvii.), Quamvis vitae paucos fecerimus dies. See the same word used thus,Matthew 20:12; Matthew 20:12 .

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And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus, … — These all were the very "glory of Jesus Christ," 2 Corinthians 8:23 , and yet counted the offscouring of all things: περιψημα , 1 Corinthians 4:13 these precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, were esteemed as earthen pitchers,Lamentations 4:2; Lamentations 4:2 . These worthies of whom the world was not worthy, Hebrews 11:38 , were cast out of the world as it were by an ostracism. These jewels of Jesus Christ, these "excellent ones of the earth," these earthly angels, were shamefully slighted, and trampled upon by the fat bulls of Bashan with the feet of insolence and cruelty. Howbeit as stars (though we see them sometimes in a puddle, though they reflect there, yet) have they their situation in heaven; so God’s saints, though in a low condition, yet they are fixed in the region of happiness. Content they are to pass to heaven (as Christ their head did) as concealed men, and would not change estates with the earth’s mightier monarchs.

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These going before tarried for us at Troas.

Tarried for us at Troas — See Trapp on " Acts 16:8 "

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And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

In five days — Let them that please read here Ptolemy’s first table of Asia, where they shall have this whole voyage of St Paul daintily described.

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And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

Continued his speech till midnight — Media nocte vigilabant, ut eos condemnent qui media die dormiunt, saith Chrysostom. Jacob, fearing his brother, slept not all that night. If Samuel thought it had been God that spake to him, he would not have slept. While lshbosheth slept, Baanah and Rechab took off his head. After the disciples slept, being bidden watch, they fled from Christ and forswore him,Matthew 26:40; Matthew 26:40 .

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And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

And there were many lights — Night meetings are lawful, and, in some cases, needful; though carnal men will calumniate, and muse as they use. Caligula thought there was not a chaste man upon earth, because himself was most detestably unchaste.

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