although he knew that it would render him extremely obnoxious to the Jews, and expose him to much danger.

22. And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, i. e. “in my mind already bound,"* presaging my imprisonment, not knowing the things that shall befal me there;

23. Save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me, "await me."

The apostle here refers to such prophecies as that mentioned in the next chapter, where we are told that when he came to Cesarea, Agabus took his girdle, and bound himself with it, saying, So shall it be done to the man who owneth this girdle. Similar prophecies, it seems, had been delivered to him in almost all the cities through which he passed.

24. But none of these things move me, "I make no account of any such thing," neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, i. e the apostolic office which I have received immediately from his hands, to testify the gospel of the grace of God, "to declare the glad tidings of the favour of God."

The object of the commission which the apostle had received from Jesus Christ, was to preach to the Gentiles, i. e. to assure them that God was willing to extend his favour to them, as well as to the Jews, by communicating to them a knowledge of true religion, and bestowing miraculous powers. To fulfil this commission, to the satisfaction of his own mind, he now declares his readiness to suffer imprisonment, and even to sacrifice his life.

25. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26. Wherefore I take you to record this day, "I declare unto you," that I am pure from the blood of all men, i. e. "of you all," for it is of them only that he is speaking;

27. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

In this place the apostle probably refers to what I have mentioned already, the obnoxious doctrine respecting the Gentiles, which

he was under such great temptations to conceal, on account of the opposition of the Jews. This he had not forborn to publish; and, therefore, if any of them fell away from Christianity, and were thereby lost, the blame could not be imputed to him, but must lie upon themselves.

Having mentioned his own conduct, Paul proceeds to exhort them to manifest like care and integrity.

28. Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, or, "bishops," for so the word is in the original, to feed, or, "tend," the church of the Lord, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The best manuscripts and versions read in this verse, the church of the Lord, i. e. of Christ, and not the church of God, the reading which our version has followed. The former, therefore, is probably the true reading, and the latter a corruption.* To such wretched expedients have men had recourse, in order to support a weak cause. Common sense, indeed, seems to require this construction of the apostle's language, whatever his words might be supposed to be; for to talk of the blood of God, as if the spiritual and omnipresent Deity could bleed and die, is such horrid impiety as could never for a moment be supposed to enter the thoughts of this illustrious preacher of the gospel.

From this verse, it plainly appears that by bishops and elders are meant, in the New Testament, the same persons; for the elders of the church of Ephesus are expressly called Bishops: but our translators, contrary to their practice in other places, have here rendered the word overseers. The opinion, therefore, which many maintain, that bishops are a distinct order of persons, enjoying superior authority, and presiding over the elders and churches of a particular district, has no foundation in the New Testament. These elders are said to have been made bishops by the Holy Spirit, because they were made such by the apostle, who was assisted by the gifts of the Spirit, or miraculous powers.

The apostle's solemn exhortation is founded on apprehensions which he entertained of the danger to which they would be exposed, which he now proceeds to state.

29. For I know this, that after my departure, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

* See Griesbach, who, in his second edition, has taken xugscu, of the Lord, into the

text.

The persons who principally disturbed the peace of the churches planted by Paul were Jews, who, as we learn from the epistles, endeavoured every where to divert men from the pure gospel of Christ, by recommending the observance of the ceremonies of the Mosaic law. Those who refused to comply with their injunctions they persecuted themselves, or stirred up others to persecute. To these men the apostle here gives the denomination of wolves, as he does elsewhere that of dogs.*

31.

Therefore watch, and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one, night and day, with tears.

The Jews, it seems, began to show themselves in the churches even while the apostle was present with them, and made it necessary for him incessantly to caution them, with much earnestness, against their plausible language.

32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified.

That is, as the words are commonly interpreted, I commit you to the care of Divine Providence and to the influence of the gospel of Christ, which is able to build you up in virtue, and to give you a portion amongst the righteous in a future life; but, perhaps, by "the sanctified," the apostle only means Christians in the present life, who are often said to be sanctified, and are called saints; and by "an inheritance," a place amongst the professors of the gospel at present.

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, every part of your duty, how that, so labouring, ye ought to support the weak, "the sick," 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 upon Paul's

neck, and kissed him, that is, took leave of him by saluting him;

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.

REFLECTIONS.

THIS affectionate address of the apostle to the elders of the church at Ephesus abounds with lessons of instruction, both to ministers and people.

1. The former it teaches how they may most faithfully discharge their office; not by professing what they do not believe, not by withholding their sentiments, or disguising them by the use of ambiguous language; but by teaching the truth openly and fully, without concealment or reserve. Thus it was that the apostle acted, who kept back nothing that was profitable, and shunned not to declare the whole will of God; and those who wish to acquire the same character for honesty and integrity must act in the same manner. To withhold or conceal the truth, is to incur the blame of, and to render ourselves answerable for, all the evils which are inseparably connected with ignorance and error; for the enthusiasm, superstition, and idolatry, of some, the scepticism and infidelity of others. If, by our misrepresentations or silence, any fall into fatal errors; if they mistake the object of the gospel or reject it altogether, their ruin must be attributed to us; their blood will lie upon our heads. Let no one say that the disclosure of the truth may be premature, or do harm. The Being, from whom we have received it, is the best judge of its tendency; and if he thinks that the knowledge of it will be useful to mankind, which he has plainly declared by communicating it, whether by the light of reason or by revelation, let no man pretend to be wiser than his Maker.

If this be the duty of Christian teachers, it is no less the duty of Christian hearers to bear with that openness and sincerity in ministers, which their religion enjoins. To be offended with this freedom is to be offended with the performance of the first duty which man owes to his neighbour-integrity; and to tempt men to concealment and artifice, where openness and courage are of the highest importance.

2. We learn, that to discharge our duty with fidelity and to the satisfaction of our own minds, is more desirable than ease, liberty, or life. All these the apostle was willing to give up, in order to finish his course with joy, and to fulfil the ministry which he had received; and every wise man will be willing to make the same

sacrifices. Peace of mind is a prize which kingdoms cannot purchase, and which no earthly power can destroy. Never part with it for any consideration.

3. Observe how disinterested was the apostle's attachment to the gospel. Instead of amassing wealth by the enterprise in which he was engaged, we find him labouring with his own hands for the support of himself and his companions. Instead of being received with applause in every place, he is warned to expect, and experience has taught him to look for, bonds and imprisonment : yet none of these things retard his progress, or induce him to slacken his course. What can attach him to a cause attended with so little profit, and accompanied with so many personal evils? What but a conviction of its divine origin, and of its supreme importance to mankind? In his labours and sufferings, therefore, we read a perpetual testimony in favour of the gospel.

4. Let us all remember the divine maxim delivered by our Master, with which Paul closes his address-that it is more blessed to give than to receive; that there is more pleasure in conferring favours than in receiving them. To enjoy this sublime pleasure, let us submit to labour and practise self-denial. The satisfaction to be derived from an ability to succour the infirm and indigent, acquired by this means, will more than repay our sacrifices.

SECTION XXXV.

Paul returns to Jerusalem, and performs his vow.

ACTS xxi. 1-26.

1. 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.

Coos was one of the islands of the Ægean sea, now called Zia ; Rhodes was another island, remarkable for a temple of the sun and its colossus; and Pataria was a seaport on the continent of Asia. 2. And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

3. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, (see chap. xiii. 4,) we left it on the left-hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burthen.

The ship was said to be bound for Phenicia; but here the country at which she arrives is called Syria, because Phenicia was