Acts 1 Acts 19:1–7 The Holy Ghost is conferred by Paul on twelve of John’s disciples. Acts 19:8–12 He preacheth at Ephesus, first in the synagogue, and afterwards in a private school for two years; God confirming the word by special miracles.

The upper coasts; the north parts, in which were Pontus, Bithynia, Phrygia, and Galatia, Acts 18:23.

Have ye received the Holy Ghost? The extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, as prophesying, speaking with tongues, healing of the sick, &c., as appears by Acts 18:6, John 7:39; for it could not be, that they, who were instructed and baptized by John, should be ignorant of the essence or person of…

Unto what then were ye baptized? What doctrine did you make profession of? And what religion did you seal unto at your baptism? Unto John’s baptism; the doctrine that John taught, and the religion that he professed and preached. Thus the Jews are said to be baptized unto Moses, 1 Cor.

The baptism of repentance; at which the Baptist did exhort them to repentance, and they by it were obliged to repent; by which is manifest, that the baptism of John and of Christ (which he commanded) are one and the same.

The disciples, or those that John preached to, (for these Ephesians were not amongst those few that Paul baptized, 1 Cor. 1:14), who when they heard what the Baptist said in the foregoing verse, they were baptized; as in the same terms it is said, Acts 2:37, when they heard what St.

Laid his hands upon them; thereby ordaining and authorizing of them to preach the gospel. The Holy Ghost came on them; in those extraordinary gifts of tongues, &c., whereby they were fitted to preach the gospel unto any nation or people unto whom they should be sent.

Or exactly twelve; answering to the apostles, and that blessed number so often mentioned in Scripture.

The synagogue of the Jews at Ephesus. For in the greater cities the Jews had their synagogues, in which they had their prayers, read, and expounded the law; as also a school for teaching of their theology, in which they treated of hard questions, and more difficult matters; which might occasion the…

Divers were hardened; the sun hardeneth what it doth not soften, and causeth a stench from dunghills, as well as a sweet smell from the mountains of spices; and Christ is for the falling, as well as for the rising of many.

All they; many of all sorts. Asia; Asia the Lesser, or Asia strictly so called, lying about Ephesus: the heathens came thither to worship their Diana; the Jews came thither about their affairs, either in their trades, or law suits.

Special miracles; not common or ordinary things, or such as might happen by chance. By the hands of Paul; as Acts 5:12; by his means and ministry.

Handkerchiefs or aprons; our habit and attire being so different from what was used so long since, it cannot but occasion some variety in rendering these words; which some think to signify two things; and some, but one and the same part of their clothes or dress: the words are both originally,…

Vagabond Jews; who wandered up and down, making it their trade and livelihood; as jugglers amongst us. Exorcists; so called from their obtesting the evil spirits in the name of God. Of these Josephus tells strange stories, Antiq. lib.

One of the chief of the twenty-four courses into which the priests were divided, 1 Chron. 24:4, or such as (according to the corruption of those times) had been high priests, and were laid aside, or were of the high priest’s family, and hoped to succeed him.

I acknowledge that Jesus hath power to command me to go hence; and I know that Paul, as his minister, hath authority over me; but what pretensions have ye to command me now? Though the devil is a liar, and the father of lies, yet none lie to their own disadvantage, but rather to their advantage, as…

Leaped on them, &c. by the power of the evil spirit, which by the permission of God did act in him, Matt. 8:28, Mark 5:4, Luke 8:29. Satan retains still his natural power, though he hath wholly lost his moral or spiritual power unto any good: and that his violence proceeded no further, is to be…

Fear fell on them all; they feared (after this example of God’s not holding them guiltless that had taken his name in vain) to profane the name of Christ, and much more to blaspheme or speak against it.

Many that believed came; that believed the power which God alone had over Satan, and were convinced of their sin and danger in being led captive by him. And confessed, and showed their deeds; openly declared their evil deeds.

Thus their good works justified their faith, without which it had been dead, James 2:24, James 2:26. Curious arts; or rather idle and vain arts, as judicial astrology, calculating nativities, and all magical arts, which the Ephesians, of all others, were most addicted to and famous for; and may be…

The increase which the seed of the word had made was very remarkable; or it is a great instance of the power of God’s word, when it makes men willing to part with their beloved and accustomed sins, and not to stand upon saving or gaining; as Isa. 55:11.

Paul purposed in the spirit; resolved with himself, or purposed in his heart, as Dan. 1:8. Yet in this his determination he had the influence and guidance of the Holy Ghost, and that in a more than ordinary manner; as we may see by the continued series of this history, how he came to all these…

Ministered unto him; this great apostle had not any to minister unto him out of state, but out of necessity, being he could not himself attend to all the offices of the church.

And the same time; when all things seemed to have been quiet: so uncertain are the servants of Christ to have any quiet here. That way; the doctrine of the gospel, as Acts 18:25.

These shrines were only, either; 1. Portraits of the temple of Diana, in which was graven, or by any other art represented, that famous structure, which was afterwards burnt by Erostratus: or: 2. they were medals in which their idol Diana was expressed according to her image, spoken of, Acts 19:35.

Gain, getting or keeping a livelihood, are great temptations, and, a little pretext of piety with them, keep up the superstition and false worship that abound in the world.

He tells them indeed what was St. Paul’s doctrine; but he conceals the reasons of his doctrine; for there can be nothing more evident to any considering man, than that there is but one God who made all things; as Ps. 115:3–4, Jer. 10:10.

Not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; not only that we shall have no more to do, and be without work; but that it will be a reproach unto us to have had such an employment.

The argument from their profit wrought very much upon them, especially meeting with their prejudicate opinions, having pretended antiquity and universality to confirm them.

Filled with confusion; tumults and noise; all conditions of men, high and low, promiscuously being met in such uproars. Gaius; one born at Derbe, but living at Thessalonica, as Acts 20:4. Aristarchus; of whom we read, Acts 27:2, Col. 4:10.

Paul would have entered in unto the people; being desirous either to appease the tumult; or, if the worst came of it, to die for Christ’s sake. The disciples suffered him not, by their entreaties; to whom this good apostle’s life, from whom they had received the faith, was more dear than their own.

Certain of the chief of Asia; such as had the oversight of the plays and shows in honour of their idol gods, and were usually their priests; and were of four countries; from whence they had their names of Asiarchs, Bithynarchs, Syriarchs, and Cappadociarchs.

An excellent description of a popular tumult. Whether this assembly was afterwards made legal by the magistrates resorting thither, (though it was not called by their authority), and is therefore called here, εκκλησια, is not so useful to inquire.

They drew Alexander out of the multitude, where he could not be seen and heard, unto some more convenient place, from whence he might make a vindication or defence for them; and that most likely in behalf of the Jews, who were equally obnoxious to the rage of the people for being against their…

A Jew, and by consequence an enemy to their idolatry; and, as they might imagine at least, a friend to St. Paul. All with one voice; unanimity makes not the cause to be good, if it were bad at first.

Town clerk, or secretary, who registered their acts, and intervened in all their meetings. Is a worshipper; each country and city had their peculiar gods, which they worshipped, and took for their patrons, as Ephesus did this goddess Diana.

He did there cunningly than honestly endeavour to evade their clamour, and still their rage, by telling them (how fallaciously soever), that neither Paul, nor any other Christian or Jew, had any quarrel with their goddess or worship.

Neither robbers of churches; for they had not entered into their temple. Nor yet blasphemers of your goddess; Paul had barely preached this truth amongst them, not upbraiding them for their idolatry; as Michael, the archangel, brought no railing accusation against the devil, when he contended with…

The law is open; which is fittest to determine all questions and controversies; for men would be partial to their own cause, and every one challenge to be in the right. Deputies; who, under the Roman emperors or consuls, had power to hear and determine of all matters.

Other matters; relating to the good government of the city, or maintaining the established religion, which ought not in such a confused manner to be treated of, but in an assembly called by lawful authority, which the Romans did usually call, at least, three times every month.

He wisely minds them of their danger; for being under the power of the Romans, it was no less than the loss of their liberties to abet any faction or sedition; and to make a concourse or meeting tumultuously together, was capital, unless it were upon the sudden invasion of an enemy, or to but out…

The people were persuaded quietly to depart to their homes. Thus God one way or other, sometimes by friends, and sometimes by foes, kept his church and people from being ruined; and his hand is not shortened.