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diate occasion of its being written, was to answer some questions, which the brethren at Corinth had in a letter proposed to St. Paul, relating to marriage, sacrifices to idols, &c. : so that it appears that this Epistle relates principally to the state of the Church of Corinth ; but it contains truths and instructions of the greatest importance to Christians of every age and country. It was sent to Corinth by Titus, who was directed to bring an account back of the manner in which it was received by the Corinthians. This statement would appear to be at variance with the postscript of this Epistle, which states it to be written from Philippi, and sent by other hands; but these subscriptions at the end of the Epistles make no part of the Apostolical writings, and are not to be depended upon 3.

SECT. CCXXVI.-Demetrius raiseth an uproar against Paul. -Acts xix. 23—41.

THE defeat of the arrogant pretenders to the power of expelling demons in the name of the Saviour, engaged the public attention at Ephesus, and stamped great credit. upon the Gospel and ministry of the Apostle'; so that he determined to tarry there until Pentecost: for that a great and effectual door was opened unto him," and he was earnest to take advantage of that opportunity'. The success of Paul's 6 Dr. Robinson. Bishop Tomline. Dr. Lightfoot.

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preaching among the idolaters excited against them the jealousy and hatred of those who lived by ministering to the uses of idolatry. "Demetrius, a silversmith, which made small shrines for Diana," was at the head of this faction, who, being a man gifted with some power of speech, raised a tumult against the Christians, as despisers of their goddess, and, what touched them more nearly, destroyers of their "craft, by which we have our wealth"." At the first outbreak they "caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, and rushed with one accord into the theatre." Among the Greeks the theatre was not only for the celebration of the public games, but was a place of assembly for every kind of business; and the people were wont to assemble there on common occasions. The situation of it at Ephesus was thought to have been within view of the great Temple of Diana; and, therefore, its very situation, under the circumstances, would not a little promote and increase the tumult '. Paul would have entered in himself, for the purpose of making a public defence in favour of himself, and his two friends, whom the people dragged into the theatre; but "certain of the chief men of Asia sent to desire he would not adventure himself."

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These were persons called Asiarchs, who were men of rank and opulence, but whose office was to take charge of the religious rites, and to preside over the public affairs of the principal provinces and cities of Asia, and who were expected to celebrate, at their own expense, public games in the theatre, in honour of their gods3. It is doubted whether these men were disciples, or only his personal "friends;" but, as it belonged to them to permit the wild beasts to be let loose against particular persons, there was danger lest the infuriated mob might call upon them to let them forth; and, as we afterwards find, that "the town clerk," who was a principal magistrate of the city, came forward to use his influence in appeasing the people1; so that, whether from regard to His cause, or from a sense of right and duty, we may conclude that God made use of the civil authority to protect His servant, and to strengthen the influence of the Gospel at Ephesus'. The town clerk, in his address to the people, did not argue on principles of religion, when he told them, "the Law is open;" the Proconsul and his deputies hold their courts; there are days appointed when they might "implead one another;" but he also endeavoured to persuade them, through motives of interest, to desist from their outrageous proceedings': “We

3 Mant and D'Oyly.
Archbishop Sumner.

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Pictorial Bible.

Dr. Robinson.

are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly." SECT. CCXXVII.—Paul writes his Epistle to the Galatians. -Gal. i.-vi.

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THE Apostle's long abode at Ephesus, was owing to his great success in converting the Ephesians, and such strangers as had occasion to resort to that metropolis'; and he in his Epistle to the Corinthians, written from thence, that it had been his resolution to have tarried there until Pentecost." During the three years that he resided there, great as were his labours, it is not to be supposed that they engrossed his whole time and attention: it is probable that, during this period, he took several short journeys, both by sea and land, and experienced some of the hardships and sufferings to which he alludes in his second Epistle, and that he founded Churches in other places.

It has been thought that, during this long stay at Ephesus, Paul wrote his Epistle to the Galatians, though some think it was written from Macedonia, and some from Corinth. The statement in the superscription, that it was written from Rome, is utterly unfounded, and does not claim the least attention ". From wherever written, St. Paul wrote this Epistle 7 Dr. Macknight. 8 Dean Howard.

"Pictorial Bible.

with his own hand, although it was his common practice to make use of a person to write for him". St. Paul had himself planted the Churches of Galatia; and, therefore, referring to what he before had taught them, he does not in this Epistle lay down at large to them the doctrine of the Gospel, as he does in that to the Romans; these last had been converted to the Christian faith by others, and he did not know how far they were instructed, and, therefore, he set before them a large and comprehensive view of the chief heads of the Christian religion: but he deals more roundly with his disciples the Galatians, than he does with the Romans, to whom, being a stranger, he does not write in so familiar a style, nor does he use the tone of a master, as he does to the Galatians'. The Epistle supposes that certain designing adherents to the Jewish Law had crept into the Churches of Galatia, and had been endeavouring, and, but too successfully, to persuade the Galatian converts that they had been taught the new religion imperfectly, and at second hand; that the founder of their Church himself possessed only an inferior and deputed commission, the seat of truth and authority being in the Apostles and elders of Jerusalem: and that whatever he might possess, he had himself given way to the doctrine of circumcision 2. 2 Archdeacon Paley.

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Bishop Tomline.

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1 Locke.

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