33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him.

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38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

33. I have coveted no man's silver, &c.] He had not sought to enrich himself by the gospel. Had not desired-eagerly sought after, &c. In this he had distinguished himself from the course of false teachers who would teach for mercenary ends-for silver and gold. Paul had worked with his own hands to prevent such a scandal from resting upon the gospel. Or apparel] Handsome clothing, elegant garments, were considered among the Hebrews as a part of their wealth. "It might have been supposed that he had received these as presents, especially as Ephesus was famous for the manufacture of both plain and embroidered stuffs and household furniture. And we may infer from 1 Cor. xi, 21, that the teachers were paid partly in goods."

34. These hands have ministered] That is, by the labor of his hands he had supported himself and assisted his friends. Acts xviii, 3. Probably holding up his hands before him in affectionate earnestness.

35. All things] "All things which relate to the duty of supporting the weak; or, rather, I have completely showed you how that so laboring (as I have done). ye ought to support the weak; that is, the poor and afflicted, and the weak in faith." Rom. xiv, 1, 21; xv, 1; 1 Cor. viii, 9, 11, 12; Eph. iv, 28. It is more blessed to give than to receive] This is one of the sayings of the blessed Redeemer which was not recorded by the evangelists, of which there were, doubtless, many others circulating from mouth to mouth among the early Christians; the fact that the above was the language of Christ is amply attested by the assertion of the inspired apostle Paul. It is attended with a great blessing. It makes one much happier to give, &c. (See John xxi, 25.) Every benevolent heart has felt the truth of the above sentiment.

37. And fell on Paul's neck] According to the oriental custom, still practiced in the East.

CHAPTER XXI.

1. Paul sails for Jerusalem. 3. Stops at Tyre. 8. At Cesarea with Philip the evangelist and his four daughters. 10. Agabus the prophet foretells the arrest of Paul. 12. Paul entreated in vain not to go up to Jerusalem. 17. Reaches Jerusalem, and visits James and the elders. 24. By the elders' advice he enters the temple to fulfill a vow; a tumult ensues, and he is only saved from death by the interposition of the captain of the guard, who carries him to the castle.

AND it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who

1. Coos] One of the largest of several small islands called the Sporades, off the coast of Carea. Rhodes] A noted island of antiquity, in a south-eastern direction from Coos. It was originally an independent state, and held in subjection the adjoining parts of the continent. It ultimately fell into the hands of the Romans, and finally, after various fortunes, became a prey to the Turks, from whom it was recovered by the Knights of St. John, of Jerusalem, who held it until 1522, when, after the loss of ninety thousand men, the Turks regained it, and the knights retired to Malta. Rhodes was noted for its fine climate and excellent wines; and its inhabitants for their commercial enterprises. But the most notable object in Rhodes was the brazen Colossus, which bestrode the harbor of the city of Rhodes. It was esteemed one of the seven wonders of the world, admitting the largest ships of the times to sail between its legs. It was reckoned to contain seven hundred and twenty thousand pounds of brass, was one hundred and five feet high, and all its limbs in the proper proportion, so that few persons could clasp around its thumb. It was twelve years in construction. It stood fifty-six years, and then was thrown down by an earthquake. A Christian church was established here at a very early date. Patara] A seaport on the south-western coast of Lycia.

2. Phenicial The north-west part of Palestine.

3. Cyprus] (See Acts xiii, 4.) And sailed unto Syria] The name applied to the whole country of which Phenicia and Palestine formed a part. Tyre] The chief town and seaport of Phenicia.

4. Finding disciples] Christians. Said to Paul through the Spirit

said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed, and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Cesarea; and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

that he should not go up to Jerusalem] The sense is, not that the Spirit signified through these Christians that he should not go to Jerusalem; for then it would have been in disobedience of a divine direction for him to have continued his journey. But the Spirit reveals to the brethren that peril would be incurred if he went, and counseled him, if he valued his safety, not to go; or, in other words, they attested, through the Spirit, that he would incur danger if he went. The Spirit revealed the fact of Paul's peril, and they advised him not to go.

5. Had accomplished] Had completed the days of the ship's stay. Verse 4. They all brought us on our way, with wives and children] With their wives and children. This was an eastern form of respect and affection. With their families they accompanied Paul and his companions through the city to the sea-side. Kneeled-and prayed] This was a Christian separation. How affecting and sublime the

scene!

7. Ptolemais] A seaport on the coast of Palestine, south of Tyre, called, in the Old Testament, Accho, Judges i, 31; afterward Ptolemais, in honor of the Egyptian king, by whom it was rebuilt and strengthened. It was called by the crusaders, Acre, or St. Jean d'Acre, from its being defended against the Saracens by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. It was the scene of a bloody conflict between Bonaparte and its Turkish defenders.

8. Came unto Cesarea] Cesarea of Palestine, still further south upon the coast. Acts viii, 40. Philip the evangelist-one of the seven] Philip the preacher, who was one of the seven deacons chosen to attend to the distribution of the charitable funds. Acts vi, 3, 5. He had labored in different places; was the instrument of the eunuch's con

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did

prophesy.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep, and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.

version; and seems to have located in Cesarea. (Compare Acts viii, 5, 26, 40.)

9. Four daughters—which did prophesy] Endowed with a faculty of teaching or preaching, under a divine inspiration; perhaps, also, of foretelling future events.

10. Agabus] (See Acts xi, 28.)

11. Took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands] In this, following the custom of the Old Testament prophets, who used significant external signs or symbols, to impress the mind more vividly with the truths they communicated. (See Jer. xiii, 1; xxvii, 2; 1 Kings xxii, 11; Ezek. iv, 1-13.) Thus saith the Holy Ghost] Thus does the Spirit testify to me. This had been revealed to him. Gentiles] Romans; into whose hands he came through the malice of the Jews. Acts XXV, 11, 12.

12. We, and they of that place] The companions of Paul, and the brethren of Cesarea.

13. What mean ye to weep, and to break my heart?] That is, why by your tears do you seek to break my resolution, to destroy my fortitude, when it is my duty to go up to this feast? For I am ready] The prophecy had not in the least disturbed him, not so much even as their tears. He feared neither bonds nor death, in Christ's time, and for Christ's sake. These things he expected. Acts xx, 22, 23;

ix, 16.

14. The will of the Lord be done] "May that which is for his glory take place." Thus they submit to the divine Providence with prayerful resignation, as the Christian should ever do.

15. Took up our carriages] Not conveyances, but things to be con

16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James: and all the elders were present.

19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying, veyed; rather, got all things ready for the journey; packed up their baggage and traveling utensils. (See 1 Sam. xvii, 22.)

16. And brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus] There is probably an inversion of the original in the translation of this passage, as they would hardly be supposed to bring on their way the host with whom they lodged in Jerusalem. Bishop Patrick proposes the following emendation:-" There went with us certain of the disciples of Ccsarea, bringing us to one Mnason of Cyprus, with whom we were to lodge." He was an old disciple, having probably at a very early day embraced the gospel of Christ, and resided in Jerusalem, having left Cyprus, his native place.

18. Unto James] The Less, son of Alpheus, and bishop of Jerusalem. (Compare Acts xii, 2; xv, 13.) Peter and John seem to have been absent. Elders were present] (See Acts xv, 4.) Being assembled to hear the report of Paul.

20. Glorified the Lord] Presented praises to God. How many thousands] Literally, "how many myriads-tens of thousands;" intimating the vast number of converts among the Jews, even in Palestine. They are all zealous of the law] Strongly attached to the ceremonial law, although they were believers in Christ. Many of them contended that this law was still binding upon all; and that the Gentiles must submit to it before they became acknowledged disciples. Here originated the Judaizing teachers who caused so much injury among the Gentile churches.

21. That thou teachest, &c.] Evidently an untrue report, although there might have been a plausible foundation for it. Paul had uniformly taught that all Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, were liberated from the obligations of the ceremonial law, and its efficacy as a ground of justification or a means of sanctification; but he never