SECT. CCVII.-Paul and Barnabas at Lystra.

Acts xiv. 1-18.

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PAUL and Barnabas abode long time in Iconium, speaking boldly in the Lord," with the purpose and endeavour of confirming the great number of believers, and of overcoming the opposition continually raised against them*. But in vain did they exert themselves in this latter object, for although "part held with the Apostles," the unbelieving portion, both Jews and Gentiles, with their rulers, "made an assault upon them to use them despitefully, and to stone them." They accordingly fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe, not very far distant from Iconium, and "unto the region that lieth round about, and there they preached the Gospel." It is no mark of wisdom, and certainly none of religion, to court persecution, and expose our persons to unnecessary dangers. Divine Providence watches over the steps of a good man; and when his death or his sufferings will produce advantages, either to himself or to others, which his life or his prosperity cannot effect, his God calls him to suffer or to die in that way which is best calculated to produce the most beneficial consequences. When that hour arrives, which brings with it so severe a trial, it is a Christian's duty submissively to acquiesce; but, as many benefits arise from the Archbishop Newcome.

4

various circumstances and chances of human life, he ought to use such wise expedients to extricate himself from impending difficulties, as prudence and his reasonable faculties suggest. St. Paul once escaped privately from the walls of Damascus, and he now avoids an imminent danger by a precipitate flight 3.

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At Lystra there was a man impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked." St. Paul, perceiving him that he gave diligent attention to his preaching, and that he was disposed to believe the Gospel, resolved to make him an object for a miraculous cure 6. He knew that these Lycaonians, who were gross idolaters, and little better than barbarians, were apt to be struck and affected more with signs and wonders than with reasons and arguments; and therefore he very reasonably and fitly took occasion to confirm his doctrine by a signal miracle '. "With

a loud voice," therefore, or rather, as it would appear from the sequel, with strong and unaffected eloquence, Paul immediately cured him of his infirmity. This so amazed and transported the standers by, that, acknowledging at once a Divine power in the miracle, the people of Lystra took Paul and Barnabas for "gods come down to them in the likeness of men"."

It was often imagined, not only by the heathen poets, but even by their philosophers, that their gods appeared in human shape; and Cicero, the famous orator, went so far as to prove that the gods must be of human shape, because they never appeared in any other form'. Now there was before this city a statue of Jupiter, and the heathens in general supposed that the deity was present in his statue or image'; and as Mercury was, according to their notion, the constant companion of Jupiter, they at once believed Paul to be their god Mercury, the teacher of men and the interpreter of the gods, and Barnabas to be their tutelar deity. Accordingly the priest of Jupiter brought oxen and garlands unto the gates where they resided, and would have done sacrifice with the people." These were the victims commonly sacrificed to Jupiter; and it was customary to place garlands about the heads of the victims, and on the statue of the god which was worshipped, and on the priests who offered the sacrifice. To witness that adoration paid to the creature, which only belongs to the Creator, was shocking in the sight of the Apostles, as offering violence to the first principles of rational piety': "which, when the Apostles heard, they rent their

1 Dr. Whitby.

3 Archbishop Newcome.

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clothes," to express their sense and detestation of such blasphemous proceedings; and, disclaiming their intended worship, Paul declared that he and Barnabas were no gods, but men of like infirmities with themselves, who, by preaching the Gospel, wished to turn them from their vain idols to the living God. That God had indeed suffered them for many generations past to follow their own inventions; but that yet He never left Himself unwitnessed by the continual Providence of His goodness, by sending them refreshing "rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness." He left them then to draw the obvious and necessary conclusion, that it was the height of stupidity and ingratitude to transfer to the creature the worship due only to the Creator. "And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people that they had not done sacrifice unto them."

SECT. CCVIII.-Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch in Syria.-Acts xiv. 19-28.

THESE very people, who had just proposed to worship Paul as a Deity, were soon afterwards prejudiced against him by "certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people ;" and so fickle is popular favour at all times and in all countries, that we next hear they "stoned Paul, and drew him out of the

3

Dr. Hammond.

• Dr. Hales.

city, supposing he had been dead." But his Lord designed him for still more extensive usefulness in the Church, and saved him from this death; for, "as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up," and, undismayed by his enemies, he "came into the city." Indeed, although he deemed it prudent to "depart with Barnabas to Derbe" for a season, yet we find that after a short time they boldly "returned again to Lystra;" and then, though the very same district in which these inimical Jews had been working against them', and so zealously and successfully did they work, that they "confirmed the souls of the disciples, and exhorted them to continue in the faith," without disguising from them, from their own example, that those who at that time would embrace the Gospel of Jesus must expect to meet with trouble and opposition, and "through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.' The Apostles did not however think it alone sufficient to preach and to exhort the disciples; but before their departure they "ordained them elders in every Church," that all things might be carried on in order after they were gone'. The institution of elders was quite familiar to the Jews, who had been accustomed to the office in every congregation by the command of Moses. Such was the first establishment of ? Dean Howard.

7

Dr. Robinson.

8

Bishop Pearce.