a Church in their house. They were very active in spreading the Gospel, both at Corinth and at Ephesus, and are styled by him his "helpers in Christ Jesus"." The reason of their being at this time at Corinth is stated, "because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome." The historian of this emperor mentions the fact of his having expelled the Jews from Rome for tumultuous conduct, incited thereto by one Christus; by which is probably understood some tumults of the Jews and Christians: the author regarding, with his countrymen generally, the latter to be a mere sect of the former, and not very clearly understanding who was the Christ that was the occasion of their differences R. It is indeed questioned whether there was any decree of expulsion from Rome; but their religious assemblies were forbidden: and, if the Jews were not permitted to assemble on their Sabbaths, it was tantamount to an expulsion, as they could no longer live at Rome": "And because he was of the same craft, Paul abode with Aquila and Priscilla, and wrought for by their occupation they were tent-makers." If Paul had not been born a Jew, he would have had no trade, no craft," to which he might resort on occasions like the present. He was of that station of 66 6 Bishop Pearce. 8 Archbishop Newcome. Dr. Macknight.. 9 Biscoe. life, which in other countries is exempt from manual labour; but, by the custom prevailing among the Jews, all their youth were instructed in some handicraft trade: and now, rather than be a burden to Aquila, he wrought with him in his occupation as a tent-maker'. It was a maxim among the Jews, that he who teaches not his son a trade, teaches him to be a thief2; and it was a principle with St. Paul, that "If any would not work, neither should he eat." In some places, indeed, he lived on the bounty of his converts; yet he chose not to do so at Corinth, and some other places, because it would seem that the false teachers here, in imitation of the Apostle, pretended to take nothing for their preaching, and boasted of their disinterestedness, although they received presents from their disciples in private, and even extorted them: wherefore, to put these impostors to shame, and to oblige them really to imitate him, the Apostle determined that he never would take any thing from the Corinthians, either in public or in private, on any account whatsoever. The tidings brought by Silas and Timothy of the great proficiency and piety of the Churches of Macedonia, appear to have incited Paul, so that he “was pressed in the spirit," and made more earnest to gain the Jews at Corinth; therefore "he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath day, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ"." These people rejected his testimony, and blasphemed the Lord Christ, whom he commended to their regard. He therefore solemnly warned them of their condemnation, charged their destruction upon their own heads, and then turned from them to the Gentiles": "And he departed thence," that is, he preached no longer in the synagogue'. A view of the prevailing wickedness in this profligate city, a sense of his own infirmities, the contempt with which both he and his doctrine were treated, and an apprehension of danger, combined probably to discourage him at this time, so that he appears to have been almost prepared to take flight, or decline his work 8. "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city." Paul, having thus received Divine encouragement, continued at Corinth for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among the people, who, it may be presumed, embraced in large numbers the faith of Christ'. The Jews, accordingly, were indignant, and made insurrec $ Dr. Lightfoot. Dr. Robinson. 6 Dr. Robinson. 7 Abp. Sumner. 1 Dean Howard. tion with one accord against Paul, and brought him to "the judgment-seat." Gallio is stated to have been at this time Deputy of Achaia : he was the younger brother of the celebrated philosopher Seneca, and is praised by him, and other contemporary writers, as a modest man, of an amiable disposition, and greatly beloved, mild, and gentle of speech, and remarkable for courtesy and easiness of temper. He was the Deputy-Governor of the province, or, as the office was called by the Romans, the Proconsul. He so shared in his brother's prosperity at court, that he was afterwards made Proconsul of Achaia a second time by Nero; but he was also a sharer in the downfall of that eminent man and both he and his brother were put to death by order of that cruel tyrant. Seneca indeed was, as is well known, left at liberty to choose his manner of dying, and was, in strictness, his own executioner ". On former occasions, as at Philippi, and Thessalonica, the magistrates had readily listened to the accusations made by the Jews against Paul. Here the case is different. Gallio disregards them, not, as some have thought, that he was indifferent to all religion; he appears only to have determined not to make himself a judge to decide upon the points of variance between the Jews and Christians'. He per 2 Bishop Pearce. 3 Pictorial Bible. 4 Bishop Pearce. ceived that there was no transgression of the public law, which it was his office to maintain,— no danger of tumult, for which he was responsible, and, therefore, he would not enter into the matter;—“ and he drave them from the judgment-seat." The people, accordingly, took the matter into their own hands, and beat Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, even before the tribunal. It does not however appear clearly whether these Greeks were taking part with the Apostles or the Jews, or whether Sosthenes was ill-treated, as belonging to the Jewish or the Christian side. But as Sosthenes is mentioned in the first Epistles as "our brother," that is, as a companion of Paul, we must suppose either that he was then beat on the part of the Jews, because he was so, or that he was afterwards converted to the Gospel ". SECT. CCXIX.-Paul writes his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians.-2 Thess. i. ii. iii. It is generally believed that the messenger who carried the first Epistle to the Thessalonians, informed Paul, on his return to Corinth, that they had inferred from some expressions in it, that the coming of Christ and the final judgment were near at hand, and would happen in the time of many, who were then alive'. The exceeding trouble and persecution that "the Church of the Thessalonians" had suffered 5 7 Archbishop Sumner. Dr. Macknight. Bishop Tomline. |