with burdensome rites them which from among the Gentiles are now turned unto God:

ACTS xv. 20. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, i. e. from feasting on things offered in heathen sacrifice; from fornication, as being now under the restraint of a purer morality; and from things strangled, and from blood, that so the Jewish believers may without offence or scruple eat at the same table with them.

21. In those latter points conformity must be exacted; for Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22. Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to choose men of their own company and send them (for additional authority) to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren :

23. And they wrote letters by them after this man

ner;

The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

- here be it remarked, that this apostolic decree was addressed, and would be delivered, in the first instance, to the Syrian and Cilician churches alone: but whereever Paul and Silas afterwards went either to confirm other churches, as at Derbe and Lystra, xvi. 1, 2., or to the work of new conversion, as in Phrygia and Galatia, v. 6., the provisions of the decree, having been once solemnly ratified, would naturally find a place in the course of their teaching, without any reference to the original dispute, or to the authority by which it was settled.

ACTS XV. 24. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment :

25. It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26. Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28. For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us,

that is, the inspiration of the Almighty directed the council

to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from the moral impurity of fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye will do well. Fare ye well.

30. So, on the business being closed, when they were allowed to depart, they came (by Cæsarea probably and then by sea) to Antioch and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle :

31. Which when the brethren there had read, they rejoiced for the consolation thus administered.

32. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also (gifted in sacred instruction) themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them in the faith.

33. And after they (the two messengers) had tarried there a space, they had leave given from the

brethren to go that mission.

in peace to those who had sent them on

ACTs xv. 34. Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas, in the prospect of greater usefulness, to abide there still.

35. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also similarly engaged.

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PART II.- continued.

DEPARTURE FROM ANTIOCH ON THE SECOND GREAT PROGRESS.

This second progress takes an extensive range, far and wide, before the return to Antioch with which it concludes.

From the home circuit of Syria and Cilicia, A. xv. 41., Paul with Silas passes on into Lycaonia again, xvi. 1...3., and now, having the young Timothy added to their party, Paul and Silas through Phrygia and Galatia proceed to Troas, v. 8.: from that place, where Luke the historian joins them, by divine admonition they cross the Hellespont, and so into Macedonia, vv. 9...12.

At Philippi, after much rude persecution suffered by Paul and Silas, the miraculous conversion of the gaoler lays the foundation of the most pure and lovely of all the apostolical churches; to the close of ch. xvi.

Through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they come to Thessalonica, and from thence are driven by an uproar of the unbelieving Jews, xvii. 1...9.; and from Berea (which has its peculiar praise) Paul is in like manner driven away, 10...14.

Paul arrives at Athens, is encountered by the philosophers, and delivers a remarkable discourse on Mars's Hill; to the close of ch. xvii. He leaves Athens, and proceeds to Corinth, where he finds Aquila and Priscilla, lately from Rome, with whom he abides and works. A. xviii. Silas and Timothy come to him with good tidings, the one from Berea, the other from Thessalonica, vv. 1...5.

Ill received by the Jews, Paul turns unto the Gentiles, and, encouraged by a divine vision, preaches without fear before Gallio, the governor, he is accused by the Jews, who are baffled in their wicked attempt, vv. 6 ...17.

After a long and successful stay at Corinth, on his voyage to the coast of Syria, the apostle, now on his voyage back, hastily visits Ephesus; from Cesarea goes up to Jerusalem, and then returns for a season to Antioch, vv. 18...22.

ACTS xv. 36. And after certain days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

That alone was the limited object apparently of the journey now proposed.

37. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

- He was now at Antioch, probably having gone down from Jerusalem on the late occasion along with his kinsman Barnabas.

38. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, (A. xiii. 13.) and went not with them to the work.

39. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other.

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Acting, however, as wise and sincere men would act," each devoting his best endeavours to the common cause, they set forward on separate routes of apostolic labour.

And so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus, his own native country, A. iv. 36., and where on the

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