Acts 19

Acts 19:1

THe upper Coasts,] Namely of A, which is thus divided by Authors〈◊〉 high Coasts which are the Westerne Coasts, and 〈◊〉 Coasts which are the Southerne. See 1 Ma. 3. 37. and 6. 1.

Acts 19:2

Have yee received,] hath God endoed any of you with the miraculous gifts of his Spirit, to frame by their meanes some instruments for the ministery of the Gospell amongst you, and the gathering together, and governing of a Church? For〈◊〉 ou those gifts, it had beene impossible for a man to get so sodainely as it was needfull the knowledge wisdome and other qualities as were required: W have not so much,] it is likelie hee did more plainely expound unto them the meaning of the aforesaid words, and that thereupon they answered, that they did not know that any such gifts were confeed upon the Church. See Iohn 7. 39. Acts 8:16. See the like manner of speaking, 1 Samuel 3:7.

Acts 19:3

Vnto wh,] What doctrine hath beene taught you, for the confirmation and seale of which yee have beene baptized, Vnto Iohns,] whither they had beene in Iudea in Iohns time, or whither Iohns Disciples were dispersed abroad, and so had baptied them, with some slight instructions that the Mss was come. See Acts 18:25.

Acts 19:4

Iohn verily,] if you be Iohn true Disciples, you ought likewise to bee, and in effect are, Christs Disciples also to whom Iohn alwayes directed 〈◊〉 sent his owne Disciples.

Acts 19:5

When they heard,] after Paul had largely instructed them touching the correspondency of Iohn with Christ, they formally were baptied in the name of Christ, for there was no inconvenience, to conme Iohns extraordinary baptisme, with the ordinary and more expresse Baptisme of Christ: Seeing that God would have them w had receaved, the old Seale of the covenant, namely Circumcision,〈◊〉 receave likewise the new one of baptisme.

Acts 19:6

Prophied,] by evident divine inspiration, they did propound and declare Gods mysteries. See 1 Cor. 11: 4. and 14. 1.

Acts 19:8

The Kingdome,] namely the Gospell by which God giveth to himselfe a new people, and igneth in a new manner over it in the spirit of grace and power.

Acts 19:9

Tyrannus,] it might be some Rethoician of his name, or some one that taught to reade Rethorick, or some Philosopher that taught a publie Schoole. And Paul made use of this occasion for to spread abroad Gods word after he had Converted (as it is likely) the Master himselfe.

Acts 19:12

Handkerchifes,] which were certaine linn cloths which they did weare upon their heads Iohn. 11. 44 Or Aprons,] certaine peeces of linn cloath, or other stuffe, which women wore girded before them, and perdventure men also in those dayes to rubb and wipe their hands, and their faces, when they were swety or any way foule.

Acts 19:13

Exorcis,] that is to say conjurers of Dills, whereof some Iewes made a trade, without any divine calling, only for gaine as that word going about signifieth, Mathew 12. 27. And it should seeme they proceeded therein by magick and superstition, and in this place they make use of the name of Iesus, as a ew forme of conjuration, which succeeded but evill with them, and therefore this act cannot be judged to be like that of Saint Marke 9. 38.

Acts 19:18

Confessed,] That is to say acknowledging the true God to be there present, they went with all humility to Paul his minister, with remorse of conscience, desiring helpe and consolation, witnessing their hatred and abomination of sinne as Mat.〈◊〉. 6.

Acts 19:19

Curious arts,] of South-saying, charmes, magick, which were things very common in Ephesus 〈◊〉] the Italian pence,] which as it is thought was a kinde of coine of about the same value as the drach was which was the eight part, or as some imagine the 6 part of an ounce.

Acts 19:21

Purposed,] that is to say determined with himselfe by the motion or revelation of the holy Ghost. Acts 20:22.

Acts 19:24

Silver shrines,] there were certaine moddels, of severall bignesses, with the stamp of the famous temple of Diana of Ephesus, which were bought up by strangers that came to Ephesus for devotion, or remembrance

Acts 19:27

Craft,] the greeke, part that is to say 〈◊〉 and worke-man-ship, which is our owne proper goods, as our revenewes.

Acts 19:29

The Thater,] an ordinary place of conourse of people.

Acts 19:31

The chiefe of Asia,] this name is sometimes attributed to certaine publike persons, which were sent from the cities of Asia minor, as procuto in publike businesses, for the Greekish cities 〈◊〉 Asia: in Ephesus which was the chiefe of them sometimes also two certaine priests, which did oversee publike playes and sports which were shewn in publick theators in honour of of the Gods, the first sence semeth to be most convenient for this place.

Acts 19:33

Out of the multitude,] it is likely that the Ephesians were equally animated against the Iewes, and against the Christians, and that this was brought in by the Iewes, to justifie their nation concerning any occasion of any hatred which might be conceived against them, and to lay all the blame upon the Christians Or that by reason the pagans did often confound the Christians and the Iewes, taking one for the other, this Alexander should shew them the great difference that was betweene them.

Acts 19:35

A Worshipper,] the faithfull and devoue Keeper and minister of the image, temple, and worship of Diana. The meaning is there is no danger that Ephesus should renounce it owne proper and tutelar goddesse to follow other dieties, as Demetrius would make yee beleeve, Which fell downe,] a fabulous conceipt, by reason of the excellent art which was in that statue, or by reason of the oldnesse and lastingnesse of it.

Acts 19:38

Deputies,] that is to say the proconsuls, officers and deputies the proconsull being but one in chiefe.