acts 19 matthew henry commentary

Originally written in 1706, Matthew Henry's six volume Complete Commentary provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the Bible. See how many ways God has of protecting his people. The disturbance he gives an account of was of another nature: let us view the particulars of it. He pretends a mighty zeal for Diana, and a jealousy for her honour: Not only this our craft is in danger; if that were all, he would not have you think that he would have spoken with so much warmth, but all his care is lest the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed; and he would not, for all the world, see the diminution of the honour of that goddess, whom all Asia and the world worship. Thus, as he describes this gate of opportunity at Ephesus (1 Cor 16 8, 9), a wide door and an effectual was opened to him, though there were many adversaries. But, in the trouble here related, he was worse frightened than hurt. (1.) Study the bible online using commentary on Acts and more!. In it, you'll learn to recognise how the Gospel of Mark is connected to the Old Testament prophets in ways that give us a new understanding of the mission of Jesus Christ. It is also an enquiry we should often make, not only to whose honour we were born, but into whose service we were baptized, that we may study to answer the ends both of our birth and of our baptism. Where he preached to them: in their synagogue (v. 8), as Christ used to do. How Paul conferred the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost upon them, v. 6. Note, The law is good if a man use it lawfully, as the last remedy both for the discovery of a right disputed and the recovery of a right denied. 5. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. It is taken for granted that they were convinced of the evil of these curious arts, and resolved to deal in them no longer; but they did not think this enough unless they burnt their books. His dispute with the Pharisees about divorce, and his discourse with his disciples upon occasion of it, ver 3-12. The reason upon which it is concluded that they were not of us, were not what they pretended, or what we are, and that is their actual defection: " For, if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us ( 1 John 2:19 ); had the sacred truth been rooted in their hearts it would have held them with us; had they had the anointing f. 30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. When Paul separated from the synagogue he set up a meeting of his own, he disputed daily in the school of one Tyrannus. Thus they prevented their doing mischief to others. How Paul catechised them. III. II. Those that fled from persecution did not flee from their work; though for the time they declined suffering, yet they did not decline service; nay, they threw themselves into a larger field of opportunity than before. Here is a general account of the progress and success of the gospel in and about Ephesus (v. 20): So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. I. CUNPSS. To see it prevail extensively, by the advancement in knowledge and grace of those that are added to the church; when strong corruptions are mortified, vicious habits changed, evil customs of long standing broken off, and pleasant, gainful, fashionable sins are abandoned, then it prevails mightily; and Christ in it goes on conquering and to conquer. They are not robbers of churches, you cannot charge them with sacrilege, or the taking away of any dedicated thing. "Know you not that Jesus being glorified, consequently the Holy Ghost is given? Or, they brought the sick people's handkerchiefs, or their girdles, or caps, or head-dresses, and laid them for awhile to Paul's body, and then took them to the sick. 2. His complaint and representation are very full. Appearing in the two-volume work of Luke-Acts, it's more precise antecedent is the account in Luke 3:1-20. Note, It is natural for men to be jealous for that, whether right or wrong, by which they get their wealth; and many have, for this reason alone, set themselves against the gospel of Christ, because it calls men off from those crafts which are unlawful, how much wealth soever is to be obtained by them. The Jews put him forward to do this, encouraged him, and told him they would stand by him and second him; and this they looked upon as necessary in their own defence, and therefore what he designed to say is called his apologizing to the people, not for himself in particular, but for the Jews in general, whom the worshippers of Diana looked upon to be as much their enemies as Paul was. Thus all people walked every one in the name of his god, and all thought well of their own; much more should the servants of the true God do so, who can say, This God is our God for ever and ever. Acts 9 Matthew Henry's Commentary He shows them that John's baptism had a further reference, and he never designed that those he baptized should rest there, but told them that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus,that his baptism of repentance was designed only to prepare the way of the Lord, and to dispose them to receive and entertain Christ, whom he left them big with expectations of; nay, whom he directed them to: Behold the Lamb of God. Observe here. What Does Nehemiah's Life Teach Us about Following God? Some of all sects, some out of all parts both in city and country, embraced this gospel, and entertained it, and by them it was communicated to others; and so they all heard the word of the Lord Jesus, or might have heard it. 18 25), but they had not opportunity of being acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, or had not been so long in Ephesus or were not so willing to receive instruction as Apollos was, otherwise they might have had the way of God expounded to them more perfectly, as Apollos had. He not only cured the sick that were brought to him, or to whom he was brought, but from his body were brought to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons; they got Paul's handkerchiefs, or his aprons, that is, say some, the aprons he wore when he worked at his trade, and the application of them to the sick cured them immediately. Yet this must be looked upon as an heretical and atheistical notion, and Paul as a criminal for maintaining it; not that they could advance any thing against this doctrine itself, but that the consequence of it was that not only at Ephesus, the chief city, but almost throughout all Asia, among the country people, who were their best customers, and whom they thought they were surest of, he had persuaded and turned away much people from the worship of Diana; so that there was not now such a demand for the silver shrines as had been, nor were such good rates given for them. How near to us is the unseen world! Many that had believed and were baptized, but had not then been so particular as they might have been in the confession of their sins, were so terrified with these instances of the magnifying of the name of Jesus Christ that they came to Paul, or some of the other ministers that were with him, and confessed what evil lives they had led, and what a great deal of secret wickedness their own consciences charged them with, which the world knew not ofsecret frauds and secret filthiness; they showed their deeds, took shame to themselves and gave glory to God and warning to others. We live great, and have wherewithal to maintain our pleasures; and therefore, whatever comes of it, we must not suffer this craft to grow into contempt." The general character of those who were guilty of this presumption. We ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly; to do nothing in haste, of which we may repent at leisure. Thus long Paul preached the gospel with much contention (1 Thess 2 2), yet he did not fail, nor was discouraged. It was the idol in the heart that they levelled all their force against, by reason and argument; if they can but get that down, the idol in the temple will fall of course. And he speaks of the trouble which came to them in Asia, near Ephesus, when he despaired of life, and received a sentence of death within himself, 2 Cor 1 8, 9. Thus they publicly testified their joy for their conversion from these wicked practices, as Matthew did by the great feast he made when Christ had called him from the receipt of custom. They were Jews, but vagabond Jews, were of the Jewish nation and religion, but went about from town to town to get money by conjuring. 4. They have offered no violence to Diana's temple or the treasures of it; nor are they blasphemers of your goddess; they have not given any opprobrious language to the worshippers of Diana, nor spoken scurrilously of her or her temple. The preachers of the gospel were sent forth to carry on a war against Satan, and therein Christ went forth conquering and to conquer. The disciples suffered him not, for it better became him to offer it than it would have become them to suffer it. Commentary on Acts 19:1-7 (2.) That men were terrified: fear fell on them all. Salem Media Group. Acts 19 Matthew Henry's Commentary - Bible Hub See here, 1. These, having their consciences more awakened than ever to see the evil of those practices in which these books instructed them, brought their books together, and burnt them before all men. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 6. He was a man of vast designs for God, and was for making his influences as widely diffusive as might be. III. (3.) Now observe. I wonder we have not read of any miracle wrought by Paul since the casting of the evil spirit out of the damsel at Philippi; why did he not work miracles at Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens? Study the bible online using commentary on Acts 19 and more!. They were so fully convinced of the evil and danger of them that they would not throw the books by, within reach of a recall, upon supposition that it was possible they might change their mind; but, being stedfastly resolved never to make use of them, they burnt them. 2. The critics tell us they were the chief of their priests; or, as others, the chief of their players. We have here a further account of the services and sufferings of Paul and Barnabas. Thus the most sacred truths are often run down with nothing else but noise and clamour and popular fury. (Read all of Acts 19) Complete Concise. He was told, probably by Aquila and Priscilla, that they were believers, that they did own Christ, and had given up their names to him; now Paul hereupon takes them under examination. II. Matthew 19:12. Acts 19:6 Commentaries: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. Here is. 40 For we 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. He went and joined them in their synagogue-worship, to take off their prejudices against him, and to ingratiate himself with them, while there was any hope of winning upon them. "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? (1.) Applying it to ourselves, it intimates that those are baptized to no purpose, and have received the grace of God therein in vain, that do not receive and submit to the Holy Ghost. At his first coming, he met with some disciples there, who professed faith in Christ as the true Messiah, but were as yet in the first and lowest form in the school of Christ, under his usher John the Baptist. Having spent above two years at Ephesus, (1.) The general notice that was taken of this, and the good impression it made upon many (v. 17): This was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus. 4. Note, Private persons should not intermeddle in public matters, so as to anticipate the counsels of those whose business it is to take cognizance of them; we have enough to do to mind our own business. If they should not yield to it, they would say the name of Christ was not so powerful as the other names they used, to which the devils had often by collusion yielded. But they spake as ready to welcome the notice of it. When Paul called on them before, and preached only some general things to them, they courted his stay among them (ch. it was therefore the safest course to commit them all to the flames. 3. (2.) The craftsmen went stark mad when they were told that their trade and their idol were both in danger. Diana made the Ephesians great, for the town was enriched by the vast concourse of people from all parts to Diana's temple there, and therefore they are concerned by all means possible to keep up her sinking reputation with, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. Others of his friends interposed, to prevent his throwing himself thus into the mouth of danger. Matthew Henry Complete Bible Commentary Online And they said, Unto John's baptism. 2. 1. Ps 50 16, 17. If the complaint be of a private injury, let them have recourse to the judges and courts of justice, which are kept publicly at stated times. They go from strength to strength, from the house of the sanctuary to the house of doctrine. Enduring Word Bible Commentary Acts Chapter 19 To see it grow extensively, by the addition of many to the church. This document has been generated from XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) source with RenderX XEP Formatter, version 3.7.3 Client Academic. That there is a promise of the Holy Ghost we know from the scriptures of the Old Testament, and that this promise will be fulfilled in its season we doubt not; but so much have we been out of the way of intelligence in this matter that we have not so much as heard whether the Holy Ghost be indeed yet given as a spirit of prophecy." [2.] Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible by Matthew Henry. That now his opportunities were more frequent. He preached undauntedly, and with a holy resolution: he spoke boldly, as one that had not the least doubt of the things he spoke of, nor the least distrust of him he spoke from, nor the least dread of those he spoke to. Paul having gone through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, having passed through the upper coasts, Pontus and Bithynia, that lay north, at length came to Ephesus, where he had left Aquila and Priscilla, and there found them. Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete) In this chapter, we have, I. Christ changing his quarters, leaving Galilee, and coming into the coasts of Judea (v. 1, 2). 5. The mob was in a perfect confusion (v. 32): Some cried one thing and some another, according as their fancies and passions, and perhaps the reports they received, led them. 1. They spoke as if they expected it, and wondered they did not hear of it, and were ready to welcome the notice of it. Acts 19:1. II. 20 31. I know that Jesus has conquered principalities and powers, and that Paul has authority in his name to cast out devils; but what power have you to command us in his name, or who gave you any such power? He designed a visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, especially of Philippi and Corinth, the chief cities of those provinces, v. 21. They saw that the name of Christ was not to be trifled with, nor his religion compounded with pagan superstitions. If Demetrius and the company of the silversmiths, that have made all this rout, find themselves aggrieved, or any privilege they are legally entitled to infringed or entrenched upon, let them bring their action, take out a process, and the matter shall be fairly tried, and justice done: The law is open, and there are deputies; there is a proconsul and his delegate, whose business it is to hear both sides, and to determine according to equity; and in their determination all parties must acquiesce, and not be their own judges, nor appeal to the people. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. This occasioned the prosecutors to drop the prosecution of Paul's friends, and to turn it into acclamations in honour of their goddess (v. 34): When they knew that he was a Jew, and, as such, an enemy to the worship of Diana (for the Jews had now an implacable hatred to idols and idolatry), whatever he had to say for Paul or against him, they were resolved not to hear him, and therefore set the mob a shouting, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians; whoever runs her down, be he Jew or Christian, we are resolved to cry her up. (1.) Those that had conversed with wicked books burnt them (v. 19): Many also of those who used curious arts, ta periergaimpertinent things; multa nihil ad se pertinentia satagentesbusy bodies (so the word is used, 2 Thess 3 11; 1 Tim 5 13), that traded in the study of magic and divination, in books of judicial astrology, casting nativities, telling fortunes, raising and laying spirits, interpreting dreams, predicting future events, and the like, to which some think are to be added plays, romances, love-books, and unchaste and immodest poemshistrionica, amatoria, saltatoria.Stres. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 19:1-7 Paul, at Ephesus, found some religious persons, who looked to Jesus as the Messiah. Paul went into the synagogue, because there he had them together, and had them, it might be hoped, in a good frame. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. They knew (as Dr. Lightfoot observes) that, according to the tradition of their nation, after the death of Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, the Holy Ghost departed from Israel, and went up; and they professed that they had never heard of his return. This was all the cry for two hours together; and it was thought a sufficient confutation of Paul's doctrine, that those are not gods which are made with hands. Bible > Commentaries > Acts 19:19 Free Downloads Acts 19:19 Are there any that expose her to contempt, or threaten her destruction? To the synagogue of the Jews none might come, nor could come, but Jews or proselytes; Gentiles were excluded; but, when he set up a meeting in the school of Tyrannus, both Jews and Greeks attended his ministry, v. 10. See how craftsmen make advantage to themselves of people's superstition, and serve their worldly ends by it. Luke - Matthew Henry's Commentary - Bible Gateway Acts 19 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (complete) - Christianity Probably they had cost them so much; yet, being the devil's books, though they had been so foolish as to buy them, they did not think this would justify them in being so wicked as to sell them again. 3. 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. They were special miraclesDynameis ou tychousas. How Paul was stoned and left for dead, but miraculously came to himself again, Acts 14:19, 20. They thus took a pious revenge on those things that had been the instruments of sin to them, and proclaimed the force of their convictions of the evil of it, and that those very things were now detectable to them, as much as ever they had been delectable. Aristarchus is also there spoken of, and Col 4 10. There are those who will stickle for that which is most grossly absurd and unreasonable, and which carries along with it its own conviction of falsehood, as this does, that those are gods which are made with hands, if it have but human laws, and worldly interest and prescription, on its side. New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Matthew Henry Matthew Henry was born near Wales on October 18, 1662. This is written for a warning to all those who name the name of Christ, but do not depart from iniquity. Does the Bible Advise Us about Dealing with Grief? Those that are recovered from sin themselves will do all they can to keep others from falling into it, and will be much more afraid of laying an occasion of sin in the way of others. (Acts 19:1-7) Paul instructs the disciples of John at Ephesus. Those that came from far to pay their devotions at the temple of Ephesus, when they went home bought these little temples or shrines, to carry home with them, for the gratifying of the curiosity of their friends, and to preserve in their own minds the idea of that stately edifice. [3.] Therefore they believed not, because they were hardened. Dr. Lightfoot supposes that it was upon the death of the emperor Claudius, who died the second year of Paul's being at Ephesus, that Paul thought of going to Rome, because while he lived the Jews were forbidden Rome, ch. Some think this Alexander had been a Christian, but had apostatized to Judaism, and therefore was drawn out as a proper person to accuse Paul; and that he was the Alexander the coppersmith that did Paul so much evil (2 Tim 4 14), and whom he had delivered unto Satan, 1 Tim 1 20. 1. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 1. Since they are calm, why should you be hot?" . The former is more probable. Acts Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete) These two years commence from the end of the three months which he spent in the synagogue (v. 8); after they were ended, he continued for some time in the country about, preaching; therefore he might justly reckon it in all three years, as he does, ch. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. (4.) Such great care did idolaters take for the keeping up of the worship of gods made with hands, while the worship of the true and living God is neglected, and few nations or cities glory in patronizing and protecting that. The city was more the patroness and protectress of Diana than Diana was of the city. those that but just now had not so much as heard that there was any Holy Ghost are now themselves filled with the Holy Ghost; for the Spirit, like the wind, blows where and when he listeth. The man in whom the evil spirit was gave them a warm reception, fell foul upon them, leaped upon them in the height of his frenzy and rage, overcame them and all their enchantments, prevailed against them, and was every way too hard for them; so that they fled out of the house, not only naked, but wounded; their clothes pulled off their backs, and their heads broken. He stills the noise of the sea, noise of her waves, and (which is no less an instance of his almighty power) the tumult of the people, Ps 65 7. The tree will be known by its fruits. He was a man of vast designs for God, and was for making his influences as widely diffusive as might be. That now they were more open. But to these disciples, who received it only with an eye to John and looked no further, as if he were their saviour, it was such a fundamental error as was as fatal to it as it would have been for any to be baptized in the name of Paul (1 Cor 1 13); and therefore, when they came to understand things better, they desired to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and were so: not by Paul himself, as we have reason to think, but by some of those who attended him. Ignorance of the Holy Ghost is as inconsistent with a sincere profession of Christianity as ignorance of Christ is." 1. They had not been led to expect the miraculous powers of the Holy Ghost, nor were they informed that the gospel was especially the ministration of the Spirit. Though their worship was such as he could join in, and they had not silenced him, nor forbidden him to preach among them, yet they drove him from them by their railing at those things which he spoke concerning the kingdom of God: they hated to be reformed, hated to be instructed, and therefore he departed from them. They called themselves exorcists, because in doing their tricks they used forms of adjuration, by such and such commanding names. Saul submitted without reserve, desirous to know what the Lord Jesus would have him to do. Thus the world is kept in some order, and men are restrained from being as the fishes of the sea, where the greater devour the less. Was the success of the gospel, without miracles in the kingdom of nature, itself such a miracle in the kingdom of grace, and the divine power which went along with it such a proof of its divine original, that there needed no other? They were in number about twelve (v. 7); they were much of the standing that Apollos was of when he came to Ephesus (for he knew only the baptism of John, ch. But here at Ephesus we have a general account of the proofs of this kind which he gave his divine mission. Chapter 19 - Matthew Henry's Commentary - Bible Gateway In this chapter, we have, I. Christ changing his quarters, leaving Galilee, and coming into the coasts of Judea, ver 1, 2. They laid hands on some of Paul's companions, and hurried them into the theatre (v. 29), some think with design there to make them fight with beasts, as Paul had sometimes done; or perhaps they intended only to abuse them, and to make them a spectacle to the crowd. Some historians say that the famous impostor Apollonius Tyanus, who set up for a rival with Christ, and gave out himself, as Simon Magus, to be some great one, was at Ephesus about this time that Paul was there. Verses 21-41. Paul, who had escaped being seized by them, when he perceived his friends in distress for his sake, would have entered in unto the people, to sacrifice himself, if there were no other remedy, rather than his friends should suffer upon his account; and it was an evidence of a generous spirit, and that he loved his neighbour as himself.
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