The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 140

be the 1111me 11e Bosipater (Rom. xvi. 21), Po.ul once more met the disciple who he.d whom St. Paul oalls "his Jdnsmo.n," though guided him for the first time to Macedonia. some think "tho son of Pyrrlius" was Ho 8ttachedhim to his company again, and added to distinguish him from him. 'fhe thus secured as his companion in the voyage Thessalonian Aristarohue is cloubtless the the historian who wae to write an account of same ae the person na.mocl in eh. xix. 29; it, with snch infinite charm of manner and ::n:vii. 2; and so one woulcl have thought such perfect truth." It may be noted that Go.iua must be the eamo 8B ie namecl with this passage is quite conclusive ao-a.inst the Ariet1uchue in eh. xix. 29, were it not that notion entertained by some, that°Timothy thie G8iue is deeciibed 8s of Derbe, whereas was the writer of the Acts. Frcm Philippi; the Gniue of oh. xix. 29 was a man of Mace- i.e. from N eapolis, the port of Philippi. donia. Ge.ins of Derbe is here coupled with After the days of unleavened bread, which Timothy, who was of the neighbouring city las~ed eight days, including the day of of Lystra (eh. xvi. 1 ), but wae too well known eatrng the Passover. In 11.ve days. An to make it neeclful to specify hie nationality. unusually long voyage, owing, doubtless, to lleoundUB is not mentioned elsewhere. Com- unfavourable winds. On the former occasion pare TBTtius and Quartu.s (Rom. xvi. 22, 23), when he sailecl from Troas to Neapolis he and the common Roman names, Quinctus, was only two days (eh. xvi. 11 ). Where we Sextus, Septimus, Octaviue, Decimus. tarried seven days. As the last of theso Tychicue, of Asia, is mentioned in Eph. vi. seven days was Sunday-" the first day of the 21; Col. iv. 7; 2 Tim. iv. L2; Titus iii. 12; week"-hemust havearrivedon the preceding by which we learn that he continued to be in Monday, and left Neapolie on the prcceclin;; constant attendance on St. Paul, and have Thursday. Some, however, reckon the day a abundant confirmation of hfa being '' of differently. It must be remembered that Asia." Trophimue is called "an Ephesian " the apostle's movements were dependent (eh. xxi. 29), and is named again as a com- upon the arrival and departure of the mer- panion of St. Paul, and presumably "of chant-ships by which he travelled. Asia" (2 Tim. iv. 20). It ie not improbable Ver. 7.- We were gathered for the disciples that some at least of these followers were came, A.V. and T.R.; discoursed with for chosen by the Churches to carry their alms preach.&l unto, A.V.; intending for ready, to Jerusalem (see 2 Cor. viii. 19-23; ix. 12, A.V.; polonged for continued, A.V. The 13; 1 Cor. xvi. 8, 4; Rom. xv. 25-28). first day of the week. This is an important Ver. 5.-But these had gone for these going, evidence of the keeping of tile Lord's day A.V. and T .R. ; and wBTe waiting for tarrud, by the Church as a day for their Chm·ch A.V. The narrative is so concise that the assemblies (see Lnke xxiv. 1, 30, 35; John exact details 111·0 matters of oonjecture. xx. 19, 26; 1 Cor. xvi. 2). To break bread. There ie consequently muoh difference of Thie ie also an important example of weekly opinion about them. Howson, with whom communion as the practice of the first Farrar (vol. ii. 274) apparently agrees, thinks Christians. Comparing the phrase, "to that the whole party travelled together by break bread," with St. Luke's account of the land through llercea and Thessalonica, to institution of the Holy Eucharist (Luke :uii. Philippi ; that the party consisting of 19) and the passages just quoted in Luke Sopater, Arista.rebus and Secundus, Gains, x:tiv., and St. Paul's language (1 Cor. r.. 'fimothy, Tychicus, and Trophimue, went on 16; xi. 24), it is impossible not to conclude at once from Philippi via N eapolis, to Troas, that the breaking of bread in the celebration leaving St. Paul, who was now joined by St. of the Lord's Supper is an essent.ia.l part of Luke, at Philippi, to pass eight or nine days the holy sacrament, which man may not for there during the Feast of the Passover. any specious reasons omit. Fuxther, this And this seems quite consistent with St. passage seems to indicate that evening Luke's narrative. But Lewin (vol. ii. p. 74) Communion, after the exaniple of the first thinks that only St. Paul (accompanied, as Lord's Supper, was at this time the practice he supposes, by Luke, Titus, and Jason) of the Church. It was preceded ( see ver. went to Macedonia, and that the others 11) by the preaching of the Word. The sailed direct from Cenohrem to Troe.s. Rene.n, following description, given by J ustiu on the other hand, thinks they all ee.iled Martyr, in his second Apology to A.ntoninus together from Cenohrem to Neapolis, whence Pius (or Marcus Aurelius), of the Church Pnul's party w~t to Philippi. Biil l the others assemblies in his day, not a hundred years to Troae. There is no olue to the ree.eon afler this time, is in exact agreement with why the party thus seporated. it:-" On the day whioh is called Sun,1ay, Ver. 6.-Tarried for nbode, A.V. We; dis- all (Christians) who dwell eithe1· in town or tinctly marking thnt Luke, the author of the oouutq come together to ono place. The narrative, whom we left at Philippi ( eh. xvi. memoirs of the apostles and the w.ritiugs of 19, 14), joinecl him again at the some ple.oe. the prophots are read for a certafo. time, aml ikDan (p. 498) well remarks, "At Pl.iilippi then the president of the meeLiug, when the  144 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, [ou. xx. 1--88.