Acts 24

Acts 24:1

Take heed. Here begin the special admonitions to the elders. Unto yourselves. Their own lives must be the first subject of watchfulness. No man can be so exalted that he does not need to watch and pray. To all the flock. The church, the fold of the Good Shepherd, of whom they were under-shepherds, or pastors. To feed the church. “On the sincere milk of the word, that it may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

Acts 24:2

Grievous wolves. The figure of the flock is still kept up. The “grievous wolves” were false teachers, and the special reference is to the Judaizing teachers, who taught that the Gentile Christians must keep the Jewish law. Paul’s ministry was a long battle with the schismatics. See 1 Timothy 1:3,4,20; 2 Timothy 1:15 2:17. See also 3 John 1:9,10. By turning to these references the names of some six of these “grievous wolves” will be found. Also in Revelation we learn that there were false teachers at Ephesus (Revelation 2:6).

Acts 24:5

I commend you to God. In their weighty responsibility he commends them to God. And to the word of his grace. The word will be a guide in all their difficulties and is able to build them up and give them an inheritance among the sanctified. If it is followed, they cannot stray. All them which are sanctified. All Christians are spoken of as sanctified. See 1 Corinthians 1:2 6:9-11.

Acts 24:6

I have coveted no man’s silver. No motives of self-interest could induce him to labor in the work to which he was called. It offered no earthly emoluments. We have found that at Corinth he worked with his own hands for support. We here learn that he did the same thing at Ephesus. See Acts 18:3 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 1 Corinthians 4:11,12. He also warns Timothy to flee from the love of money as hurtful, an admonition that should never be forgotten (see 1 Timothy 6:10).

Acts 24:8

It is more blessed to give than to receive. These words, quoted by Paul, as well known are not found in any one of the four Gospels, but are none the less genuine. They only preserve a fragment of the sayings and doings of our Lord (John 21:25). Giving, even here, secures more real happiness than receiving, and besides, is Godlike and blesses forever.

Acts 24:9

He kneeled down, and prayed. This was the most appropriate parting for these ancient men of God.

Acts 24:10

Fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him. An Eastern custom of exhibiting great affection.

Acts 24:11

That they should see his face no more. This thought caused their greatest sorrow, but we have seen that it is probable that they did see him again. It was not, however, until after Acts was written. See PNT Acts 20:25.

Acts 24:13

Paul Seized in the Temple SUMMARY OF ACTS 21: The Voyage to Tyre. The Prayer-Meeting on the Seashore. Abiding with Philip the Evangelist in Caesarea. The Prophecy of Agabus. The Importunity of the Disciples That Paul Should Not Go to. Jerusalem. The Meeting of Paul with James and the Elders at Jerusalem. Their Request That He Should Disarm Prejudice by a Nazarite Vow. The Attempt to Kill Him in the Temple. The Rescue by the Chief Captain. After we were gotten from them. Chrysostom, himself, a Greek, says the Greek word “apospao” means “had torn away”. Coos. A small island, famous for its wines, forty miles south of Miletus. Hippocrates, the great physician, and Apelles, the painter, were born here. Rhodes. Fifty miles further south, one of the most famous islands of the world, noted for its beauty, its Colossus, its defense by the Knights of St. John against the Turks, and for giving its name to one of the American states. Patara. On the coast of Lydia. Here he took another ship, this probably being the destination of the first.

Acts 24:14

Sailing over unto Phoenicia. Tyre, where he landed, was a Phoenician city.

Acts 24:15

When we had discovered of Cyprus. This would arouse the memories of Paul’s first missionary labors here about fourteen years before. See Acts 13:4-13. Sailed into Syria. Syria embraced Phoenicia, Palestine and Antioch, in the Roman use of the term. Landed at Tyre. Still a considerable city, though its ancient glories had faded on account of the growth of Alexandria and Antioch, which had become the commercial centers of the East. “Its most important ruins now lie beneath the sea and can be seen through its waters”.

Acts 24:16

Finding disciples. Preachers of the word came to Phoenicia, of which Tyre was the capital, and probably planted the church (Acts 11:19). Tarried there seven days. As this statement is made three times where Paul found brethren (Acts 20:6 21:4 28:14), it evidently implies that he tarried at each place to have one solemn meeting on the first day of the week, as at Troas (Acts 20:7), and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper with the church. Said to Paul through the Spirit. Predicted the sufferings that would befall him, and endeavored to dissuade him.

Acts 24:17

We kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. This was an affecting sight. The whole church, men, women and children, gathered around the great apostle and his companions, and the voice of prayer arose above the ceaseless roar of the waves.

Acts 24:19

Came to Ptolemais. Here the journey by sea ended. This city, now called Acre, and having 15,000 population, is one of the oldest cities in the world, and called Accho in Jude 1:31, from which term its modern name is derived. It had the name Ptolemais for a few centuries from Ptolemy Soter, an Egyptian king who rebuilt it.

Acts 24:20

Came to Caesarea. By land, a distance of thirty to forty miles. Paul had been here twice before (Acts 9:30 18:22). The place is memorable for the conversion of the first Gentiles. Entered into the house of Philip. The evangelist of whose work we have an account in Acts 8:4-12,26-40, nearly a quarter of a century before. The last account of him shows him preaching in the cities of the seacoast (Acts 8:40). In one of these we now find him settled.

Acts 24:21

Had four daughters . . . which did prophesy. Compare Acts 2:17. The prophetic spirit in either the Old or New Testament is not confined to a single sex. Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Jude 4:4), and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14 2 Chronicles 34:22) are Old Testament examples, and in the New Testament, Elizabeth (Lu 1:41,42, Mary (Lu 1:46-55), Anna (Lu 2:36), and the daughters of Philip are instances.

Acts 24:22

A certain prophet, named Agabus. He is named earlier as a prophet (Acts 11:28). He had probably come down to meet Paul.

Acts 24:23

Took Paul’s girdle. The belt or sash that bound the loose, flowing robe worn. In the style of the Old Testament prophets, he impressed his lesson in a dramatic manner. Compare 1 Kings 22:11 Isaiah 20:2,3 Jer 13:4-9 Ezekiel 4:1-3.

Acts 24:24

Besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. The striking manner of Agabus, and perhaps his statements of the dark plots among the Jews against Paul, had such an effect that all sought, more earnestly than ever before, to dissuade him from going on.

Acts 24:25

I am ready not to be bound only. Why should the apostle, with these certain dangers revealed, press on right into the stronghold of enemies thirsting for his blood, infuriated by the accounts that came up from Asia and Europe of his success in converting Jews to Christ? Had not a deep sense of duty impelled him, we may be certain that he would have done this. There can be no doubt that he braved the danger in order to prevent a schism that threatened the church. False reports were circulated at Jerusalem concerning his teaching to Jewish Christians; the church there was filled with prejudice against him; from thence Judaizing teachers went forth to interfere with his work. Hence, in a loving spirit, filled with that charity that suffers all things, and carrying large offerings gathered in the Gentile churches for the poor at Jerusalem, he came to disarm prejudice and show the falsehood of the stories alleged about his teachings. But also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. There are times when duty calls the man of God to face the danger; so went the Lord to Jerusalem in spite of the protests of his disciples; so went Luther to Worms, though warned of his danger; so went Paul to Jerusalem.

Acts 24:27

Took up our carriages. “Took up our baggage” (Revised Version). “Carriages” once meant the things carried.