tain of the fect of the Pharifees, which believed, faying, that it was needful to circumcife them, and to command them to keep the law. Thus they delivered their meffage, and propofed the question, which they were defirous to have determined.

And the Apoftles and Elders came together to confider of this matter. Having in that affemblie, after many debates, formed fome refolutions, they fent them in a letter to the brethren, which are of the Gentils, in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, ver. 6..

31.

Thofe determinations were intended for all believers in general from among the Gentils, containing, as it were, the terms, upon which all Gentils were to be admitted into the Church of Christ. But the epistle was directed, particularly, to the Gentils in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, becaufe among them the controversie had arifen, and they were the perfons, who had sent a folemn deputation to the Apostles and Elders at Jerufalem, to have their opinion upon it.

This journey to Jerufalem, related by St. Luke Acts xv. I fuppofe to be the fame with that mentioned by St. Paul himself, of which he gives an account to the Galatians. ii. 1. . . . 10. Indeed, he mentions fome circumstances, wanting in Luke. But, as I apprehend, they are not fuch as need induce us to think, two different journeys to be fpoken of.

From Paul therefore we fhall endeavor to find out the time of it.

Then fourteen years after, fays he, I went up again to Jerusalem, with Barnabas, and took Titus with me alfo. And I went up by revelation. In the preceding chapter of the epiftle to the Galatians Paul had related his converfion in the way to Damafcus, and then his going up to Jerufalem, after three years, to fee Peter, and abiding with him fifteen days. i. 18. Where are we to date the begining of thofe fourteen years? at his converfon? or at his coming to Jerufalem, to fee Peter? Pearfon is clearly of opinion, that (x) the computation must be made from the time of his converfion. So likewife fay (y) Eftius, and (z) Bafnage.

Says

of the question, about which they were fent, and which they defired to have now fully refolved and determined. This is the interpretation, which Beza preferred. Hunc locum video omnes perinde interpretati, ac fi effent verba Lucæ, quafi cum fuam expeditionem narrarent Paulus ac Barnabas, infur rexerint, qui circumcifionem urgerent. Quod mihi non fit admodum probabile. Sed potius illos, expofita fua expeditione, fubjeciffe controverfiam illam Antiochiæ excitatam, cujus cauffa ipfi Hierofolymam venerant. Puto igitur effe illorum verba, non Lucæ. Bez. in loc. Lenfant follows Beza. And Whitby, if I do not mistake him, gives the fame interpretation. And Dr. Doddridge, upon my telling him how I understood the place, readily acquiefced, as I well remember. For he was always open to conviction, therein giving a good example to all enquirers after truth."

(*) Anno xiv. a converfione S. Pauli congregatum. Hunc enim adven. tum fuum narrat Apoftolus Gal. ii. 1. 2. et tempus ipfum determinate exprimit... Quod autem Apoftolus ad epocham converfionis fuæ referat annos, quos ibi narrat, manifeftum eft ex fcopo capitis i. et ii.... Deinde, poft an(y) Eft. in Gal. ii. 1. 2. (z) Ann. 50. num, iii.

214

Says St. Paul Gal. i. 17. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem, to fee Peter. Those three years cannot be computed from his return to Damafcus, out of Arabia, though it be the thing mentioned immediately before in ver. 17. But must be reckoned from his conversion. In like manner must be understood those words in ch. ii. 1. then fourteen years after I went up to Jerufalem. We must take the fame date or epoch for the three years, and for the fourteen years. They both begin from the fame time, that is, St. Paul's converfion.

The Council deputed with their epistle two chosen men of their own number, Judas and Silas, to go to Antioch, together with Paul and Barnabas. Acts xv. 22. 23. After they had tarried there a while, Judas returned to Jerufalem, but Silas abode there ftill. ver. 32.... 34.

This Council at Jerufalem, according to (a) Pearson, and, I suppose, many others, was held in the year of Chrift 49. Bafnage, fuppofing Paul to have been converted in 37. placeth (6) this Council in the year 50,

As I cannot fay exactly, when Paul was converted, whether in 36. But if he or 37. I am led to hefitate about the time of the Council. was converted before the end of the year 36. the Council, as I apprehend, may be computed to have been held in the year 49. fays Gal. i. 18. then after three years I went up to Jerufalem.

St. Paul

Tu μà Tgia. Which, I think, implies full three years, or fomewhat more, as before obferved. But the expreffion in Gal. ii. 1. is different. We tranflate: Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem. ETUτa dià deκατεσσάρων ἐτῶν πάλιν ἀνεθην εις ἱεροσόλυμα. Which, I think, may be thus rendered: Then in about fourteen years I went up again to Jerufalem. The three years, above mentioned, are compleat: but the fourteen years need not be fo understood. And, probably, were not compleat. If therefore Paul be fuppofed to have been converted in the year 36. this Council might be held, accordingly, in 49.

This period, from Paul's fetting out with Barnabas from Antioch, to go to Cyprus, in the begining of the year 45. to their coming up to the Council at Jerufalem, and returning thence to Antioch, near the end of the year 49. or the begining of 50. is the space of about five years. ... to bis coming to X. The next period will reach from this time to Jerufalem when he St. Paul's coming again to Jerufalem, when he was was apprehended. apprehended, and imprisoned.

21. Ne

Soon after the return of Barnabas and Paul to Antioch, Peter, as it feems, came thither, as related by St. Paul, Gal. ii. 11.... vertheless that occafioned not their making any long stay at Antioch. For fays St. Luke, Acts xv. 36. And fome days after, that is, I think, after their being come back to Antioch, or after Judas had gone away to Jerufalem, and the controverfie, which had been troublesome for fome while before, was fully compofed, Paul faid unto Barnabas: Let us go

again, nos quatuordecim rurfus afcendi Hierofolymam. Idem enim horum verborum fcopus, eadem annorum epocha. Vox enim Tura, deinde, non conjungit hæc verba cum illis de triennio, quafi a fine illius triennii initium fumerent. Aliud enim ita inter hæc et illa intercedit. Annal. Paulin. p. 89. (a) Annal. Paulin. p. 8. 9. 10.

(b) Ann. 50. num, xxi, xxii,

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 fbarp, that they departed afunder one from the other. So Barnabas took Mark, and failed into Cyprus. 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) likewise, 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 instructed in the doctrine of the gofpel. 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 Apoftle'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 fuppofed, 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 probable,

(c) Ann. Paul. p. 10.

(d) Anu. 50. num, xlvi.

(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 hufc tempori optime convenire, opinatur L. Capellus. At Pearfonus ad poftrema Pauli tempora refert, eaque ejus itinera, quæ folutionem ex vinculis Romanis confecuta funt... Cappelli tamen rationes potiores hic mihi videntur. Non enim verifimile eft, ad illud ufque tempus ignora tum 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. ¡.

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 Ghost 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, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, affuredly gathering, that the Lord had called us to preach the gof pel unto them.

us.

By which manner of fpeaking 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-coast.

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 ifland, 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 ftaid fome while, and feveral 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 fpoken of Paul, and was baptized, both fhe and her houfhold. She feems to have been a merchant, of no fmall dealings, and, probably, had with her ma ny fervants, and other attendants. Here likewife Paul healed the young maiden, said to be poffeffed with a spirit of divination. After which Paul and Silas were apprehended, beaten, and imprisoned. 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 disturbance. ver. 2.

9.

The brethren therefore immediately fent arvay Paul and Silas by night unto Bercea, 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 also. ver. 10. . 13. The brethren therefore immediately sent away Paul, and conducted him to Athens, with Luke, it is likely, the writer of this hiftorie. But

I

...

Silas

Silas and Timothie abode fill at Beroea. 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 few, named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italie, with his wife Prifcilla, because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome.

or 50.

The Council of Jerufalem, as before faid, was held in the year 49. And it was fuppofed by us, that Paul might fet out from Antioch in the year 50. before it was far advanced. If fo, 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 fuppofe, 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 he 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 must 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 Cefarea, 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, firengthening all the difciples. ver. 18.... 23.

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

los,

(g) Redux a fynodo Paulus, poft dies aliquot moræ 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 Tronde, per Samothraciam delatus eft Macedoniam, ubi dies non multos exegit, Mox per Amphipolim, et Apolloniam, Theffalonicam, Macedoniæ metropolim, pervenit, ubi per fabbata tria differuit. Motâ feditione, Beroeam noctu petiit: quâ falutatâ, eâ difceflit prop ter adventum Judæorum-et Athenas pervenit: quà poft aliquantulam temporis moram relictâ, Corinthum anno 51. ingreffus eft. Noftram non minimum adjuvat chronologiam adventus Aquila in hanc urbem Româ nuper edićto 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.