The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 118

ceded by &1rb, as eh. xiii. 20; Josh. viii. 20; of Mncedonl11, and Gains of Dorbe. But x. 27 (LXX.), Bnd the word 1ta.8a1pi,v is also Gaius (or Cains, as it is written in Lo.tin) specinlly used of lowering the honour of sny was such B common name, and the Jews so one. All Asis and the world. This is scBrcely often ! hifted their residence from one city to on hyperbole, the worship of the Ephesian another, that it is not ssfe either to infer Dinnn, nnd of her image reported to have identitr from identity of name, or diversity foll en down from heaven, was 10 very widely from d1 varsity of description. Aristarchus, diffused. here described BS of :Maoedonia, is more pre- Ver. 28.-Thi, for these sayings, A..V.; cisely spoken of in eh. xx. 4 as a Thessa- filled with wrath for full of wrath, A.V. lonisn. In eh. xxvii. 2, where we find him Great is Diana, etc. A notnble instance of accompanying St. Paul from Cmsarea to assertion and clamour crying down reason Rome, he is described as "a Macerlonian of and truth. Thessalonica." In Col. iv.10 he is St. Paul's Ver. 29.-77ie city for the whole city, and "fellow-prisoner,'' as voluntarily sharin"' the confusion for confusion,A.V. and T.lt. (-rfjs his prison (Alford, on Col. iv. 10), and i~ for 8}\.'71); they rushed, etc., having seized for Philem. 24 he is his fellow-labourer. His l1aving caught, etc., they rushed, etc., A.V. history, therefore. is that, having been con- With one accord ( 6µo8vµa.6hv); see eh. i. 14; verted on St Paul's visit to Thessalonict>, he ii. 1; iv. 24, etc., and for /J,pµ.,,~a.v 6µo8vµa.6hv, attached himself to him as one of his mis- see oh. vii. 57. Into the theatre. The com- sionarystaff,Bnd continued with him through mon place of resort for all great meetings. good report and evil report, through per- So Tacit us, 'Hist.,' ii. 80 (quoted by Alford), secution, violence, imprisonment, shipwreck, says that at Antioch the people were wont to snd bonds, to the latest moment on which hold their public debates in the theatre, and the light of Bible history shines. Blessed that a crowded meeting was held there to servant of Christ! blessed fellow-servnnt forward the interests of Vespasian, then of his chief apostle I aspiring to the empire. So Josephus speaks Ver. 30.- Was minded to enter for u:ould of the people of Antioch holding a public ha'IJe entered, A.V. With the courage of a assembly {l1<1t}\.'ll~la.(ov-ros) in the theatre pure conscience, conscious of no wrong, and (' Bell. J ud. ,' vii. iii. 3). The people of the therefore fearing no wrong, Paul would Greek city of Tarentum received the am- have gone straight to the theatre, and cast bassadors from Rome in the theatre," accord- in his lot with Go.ins snd Ari.starchus; but ing to the Greek custom," Val. Max., ii. 2, 5 the disciples, knowing the savage temper of (Kuinoel, on eh. xix. 29). The theatre at the multitude, dissuaded him; and when Ephesus, of which "ruins of immense their entreaties were backed by the magis- grandeur " still remain, is said to be the trates, Paul thought it his duty to yield. largest of which we have any account (How- To enter in unto the people. E/se}\.8eiv, or son, ii. p. 68). Having seized( ~vvapmluavre s); a 1rpouEA8eiv,els or E1rl T~v 0-ij,u.ov,or -rt;i a17µ.cp, are favourite word with Luke(ch. vi. 12; xxvii. 12; phrases implying the intention of pleading Luke viii. 29); snd found also in the LXX. of bis cause before them (see Schleusner and Prov. vi. 25; 2Maco. iii. 27; iv. 41; but not else- Kuinoel, on eh. xix. 30). where in the New Testament. It is a com- Ver. 31.-Certain also for certain, A.V. mon medical word of sudden seizures. The (tbe more natural order would be, and certain force of the uvv-isthst they hurried Gains and of the chief officers of Asia also); chiej officers Aristarchus Blong with them to the theatre, for chief, A.V.; beillg for which were, A.V.; no doubt intending there to accuse them to and besought him not to for desiring him that the people. Gains and Aristsrchns. In eh. he would. not, A.V. Chief officers of Asia. xx. 4 there is mention of e. cel'tain Gaiua The Greek word is .Asiarchs (' A~,cfpxa,). who was one of Paul's companions in travel, The Asio.rchs, ten in number, were officers but who is described as "of Derbe." Agsin annuslly chosen from all the cities of Pro- in 1 Oor. i. J4 B Gains is mentioned as one consular Asia., to preside over all sacred rites, of St. Paul's converts on his first visit to and to provide st their own expense the pub- Corinth, whom he baptized himself; and lic games in honour of the gods and of the in Rom. xvi. 23 (written from Corinth) we deity of the emperor. This necessitatcrl their he.vo mention of Gains o.s St. Paul's host, being men of high mnk and great wealth, and of the whole Church, li11ely, therefore, to and Schleusner adds that they were priests. be the same person. Then we Lave the The name Asiarch is formed like Luciarchai, Gains to whom St. John's Third Epistle is Syriarchai, Phamicharchai, etc. We ho. ve addressed, nnd whose hospitality to the here another striking proof of the enorwoua brethren wns a conspiouous fco.ture in hie influence of Paul's preaching iu Asiu, that c~nracter, and one tending to identify him some of these very officere who were ohoseu with the Gaius of ltom. xvi. 23. We to preiiide over the sacred rites of tho ~ods, B~em, ~hercfore,to have, in immedio.ta conneo- BUd to sd vance their lionour by public gl1.llleiia \1011. with St. Paul, Go.ius of Corinth, Go.iue were uow on Pl\ul'~ siue.  THE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES. [on. nx. 1-U,