icef; and Chriſt is for the falling, = " x So the Dorine of the Goſpel, by reaſon of 1ts excellency above other ways is called, By way, the Hebrews under- ſand any courſe or means to any end, hence we read of the Wa) Ui Peace, the way of Salvation, the way of the Lord. 5 Not frequenting any more the Svnagogue of the Jews, where they mer only Wit! contradiction of their Doarine, and blaſphemy againſt rheir Savi- our. t Some have taken this word Ape!I tively, as denoting ſome great Man or Ruler, who maintained a Schoo!, or place tor In- firuction ; bur "cis rather a proper name of ſome private Teacher amongſt them : for the Fews had not only ' their Conſiſtories did meer, but private Schools, where their Law was Taught.
10 And * this continued by the ſpace of two years 3
ſo that # all they which dwelt in w Alia, heard the x word
of the Lord Jeſus, both Jews and Greeks. £ Many of all forts: w Aſia the leſſer, or 47a ſtrifly fo called,
lying about Epheſzs 5 the Heathens came thicher to worſhip their
Diana 3 the Fews came abour their Afairs thither, either in their Trades, or Law-ſuits, x The Goſpel, which 15 the Word concern- ing rhe Lord Jeſus; or, the Word which he appointed ro be preached and publiſhed, :
11 And * God wrought y ſpecial miracles by the
z hands of Paul : | y Not common or ordinary things, or ſuch as might happen by chance. 43 As Chap. g. 12. by his means and miniſtry,
12 So that from his body were brought unto the (icx, a handkerchiefs or aprons, and the 6 diſeaſes departed
from them. and the evil ſpirits went out of them.
z Our Habit and Artire being ſo different from what was uſed fo long fance, it cannot bur occaſion ſome variety 1n rendering theſe Words. Which ſome think ro ſignify two things 3 and ſome but one and the ſame part of their Clothes or Dreſs z the Words are both Originally Latin 3 the former ſo called from its uſe to wipe away {wear 3 the 6ther from ics heing uſually ried about ſuch as wore it, 5 God by ſuch ſmall and unlikely means wrought theſe miracies: Thar the power of Chriſt (whom Pa#! preached) might the more clearly appear. And that, 2dly, Such as were abſent might have a high value for Chriſt and the Goſpel, though they had never ſeen- Paz!, or heard him preach. Such extraordinary Works were alſo wrought by God ro magnify the Words preached by Peter, Chap. s. 15. as our Saviour had forerold and promiſed, PFol2 14 32+
13 © Then certain of the c vagabond Jews d,cxorciſts, took upon them to cal} over them which had evil ſpirits, the e name of the Lord Jeſus, ſaying, We adjure you by Jeſus whom Paul preacheth,
c Who wandered up and down, making it their Trade and livelihood : as Juglers amongſt us. & So calied from their ob- reſting the evil ſpirics in the name of God. Of theſe Foſephus rells firange Stories, Artiq, lib. 8. and thinks that the way of their exorciting was derived unto them from S0/0207, and that they uſed
the Name of the Gud of Abrabam, Tſaac, and Facob; as alſo of
”
Zt920th, and Adonai, as Ovizen teils us. Some think, that though there is ceitainly no power in the Words and Syllables which they pronounced, - yet that the True God being - rather willing to be known and owned by thoſe Names, than that any ſhould call on the names of rhe falle gods, did ſomerimes pur forth his power in caſting out of Devils at ſuch times, as Matth. 12. 279. Howſoever,
there being no warrant 1n the Word of God for any ſuch practice,
and no promiſe to at Faith in Prayer upon; were” the Words never ſo ſerious, and the Name of God and his Arttribures never ſo much (ſcemingly) maniteſted, it is a moſt ahominable Impiety.
e Inſtead of, or together with thoſe other Names formerly men-
tioned,
14 And there were ſeven ſons of one Sceva, a Jew, aud f chief of the prieſts, which did fo.
h | ſed, ard ſhewed rheir deeds.
publick Schools, when |
retains ſtill his natural power, though he hath wholly loſt his moral or ſpirirual power unto any goo.i: and that his violence proceed:q | no further, 1s to be aſcribed only to the bounds which God had le him; which he, being in Chains, couid not exceed or go beyond; nor for his want of malice, but power, ; | 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks alſo; dwelling at Epheſus ; and / fear f«ll on them aj and the m name of the Lord Jeſus was magnified, ! They feared (after this example of Gods nor holding then
45 well as for the riſing guilcleſs that had raken his Name in vain) to prophane the Name gf
Chriſt, and much more to blaſpheme or ſpeak againſt ir. » His a. thority, which the unclean ſpiric could nor reſiſt ; and his Dodrine and Miniſters, whoſe Detence God had undertaken.
| 18 And many that » believed came, and o * confe.
2 That believed the power which God alone had oyer Satan and were convinced of their fin and danger in being led captive ty him, o Openly declared their evil deeds. They durſt keep Fu Devil's counſel no longer, but expoſe and manifeſt It, that their ſores being laid open, the Balm of the Goſpel might more effetiually be pur into them. Thus Row, 10, 10, with the mouth confeſſion is 1:1 wito Salvation.
19 p Many alſo of them which uſed q curious arts, brought their books together r, and burned them before all men : and they counted the price of them, and found It s fifty thouſand preces of ſilver.