future events by actions expressive of them', 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." We see that in every place through which he passes he encountered the influence of the Spirit, warning him of the danger he was going to meet, which shows how efficiently the Holy Ghost was with the infant Church, accomplishing the ancient promise that, in the times of the Messiah, He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, on their sons, and their daughters, servants and handmaidens, and they should prophesy. How elevated, under these trials, is the answer of Paul! "I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Though we cannot be called upon to equal his conflicts, still his bold example should animate our breasts. Every one must expect some sufferings. We must be ready to bear lesser evils with Christian fortitude and patience, and ever to suffer any extremity for the name and cause of Christ', "saying, The will of the Lord be done."

SECT. CCXXXIV.-Paul cometh to Jerusalem.-Acts xxi. 15-25; Rom. xv. 25-27.

"AND after those days we got all things ready for our journey, and, having taken up our bag

7 Dr. Stack.

Dr. Cave.

• Brewster.

10

gage, went up to Jerusalem ", and they took up their abode there with one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple '." This was St. Paul's fifth and last journey to Jerusalem, about twenty-five years from his conversion; and he now brought with him a contribution for the poor saints there from the brethren of Macedonia and Achaia, a return from the Gentiles for the blessings derived to them from the Jews, by the Gospel. On their arrival, their first business was to visit the brethren, and especially the Apostle James, who had continued at Jerusalem, and presided over the Church there. The great subject of interest was the progress of the Gospel. Paul "declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry." Since his last visit to Jerusalem, eight years before, what a change had been wrought in Asia, from Alexandria to Troas! What a mighty change in Greece, from Philippi to Corinth, and even to Illyricum '! And when they heard it they glorified God, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe." The brethren who had gone to the circumcision had been as successful in their preaching as those of the uncircumcision, "and they are all jealous of the Law. And they are informed of thee that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the

66

Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying, That they
ought not to circumcise their children, neither
to walk after the customs." They were misin-
formed in this, as we may reasonably conclude;
for it no where appears that St. Paul had taught
any thing but what was agreeable to the de-
cree made by the Church at Jerusalem. To
this end James and the elders advised him to
show, by some public act, that so far from
teaching his countrymen to neglect customs, he
observed them himself".

SECT. CCXXXV.-Paul enters the Temple with the
Nazarites.-Acts xxi. 26.

THERE were always persons at Jerusalem, espe-
cially at the great festivals, who took on them
the vow of a Nazarite; namely, to abstain, for
a certain number of days, from any wine or fer-
mented liquor, from certain meats, actions, and
habits, and more particularly from any unclean-
ness'. When the term was accomplished they
were to bring the prescribed offering to the
priest; till which time the hair of their head
was not allowed to be cut. The offering was
expensive; and sometimes it happened, that,
at the end of the term, a poor man could not
provide it so as to become clear from his vow.
It appears from a passage in Josephus, that it
was deemed an act of piety among the Jews to
defray for those who were under the Nazarite
vow the
expenses
which attended its comple-

5

Bishop Pearce.

6 Dean Howard.

7

Bishop Pearce.

tion; and whoever did so, was reputed to partake in the merits of him who had fulfilled his VOW 8. The custom as mentioned by him is remarkable, and in close conformity with the account here given. The elders happened to know of four Jew-Christians who were thus circumstanced, and had taken on themselves a vow which they were unable to discharge. So they suggested to Paul that he should them take and purify himself with them, "and be at charges with them that they may shave their heads.' This would be publicly known, and show that Paul ought not to be accused, as if he rashly opposed the ceremonial law'. "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the Temple." We see from this behaviour of St. Paul, that for the sake of peace, and to avoid giving offence, it is expedient and lawful to conform to established usages and ceremonies, if innocent, though not essential to religion'. He entered into the inner Temple, or the court of the Israelites, (into which no Gentile or proselyte of the gate was allowed to enter,) his object being to declare when the days of purification were to end. It seems to have been in the choice of the purifier what the number of days should be ; and St. Paul seems to have chosen seven days 3.

IT

SECT. CCXXXVI.-Paul is apprehended.-Acts xxi.

27-40.

It may be often right to make concession, as Paul judged it to be on this occasion. But, nevertheless, they are sometimes vain and useless, as in this case it proved. Paul's presence in the Temple provoked the very evil he desired to avoid. "The Jews, which were of Asia," who belonged probably to those parts where he had been already persecuted', whom the religious festival may have brought up to Jerusalem, came against him with the same bitter feelings which they had there indulged against him; and "they stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help this is the man which teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place; and further brought Greeks also into the Temple, and hath polluted this holy place," which, as Gentiles to whom the outer court was assigned, they were forbidden to enter. This charge was a base misrepresentation; but, because "they had seen Trophimus, an Ephesian, with him in the city, they supposed that Paul had brought him into the Temple." The populace, however, was readily inflamed; "And all the city was moved;" and having dragged him out of the Temple, or into the outer court of it, they were about to take