12 What consequences naturally followed from the candour of the Bereans? 13 Paul and Silas, however, were not allowed to proceed in their good work unmolested—who obtained information that Paul was preaching at Berea? Having learnt this, what did these Jews do? 14 Things being thus, what, as a matter of prudence, did the disciples do? Where did Silas and Timothy remain ? 15 And whither did the brethren conduct Paul? Where was Athens? ANs. Athens uas a city, situated near the south-east extremity of Achaia, a country south of Macedonia. What message did Paul send by the brethren, to Silas and Timothy? 16 Paul is said to have waited at Athens-for whom? And while he waited for them, he was exceedingly pained and grieved, and was excited to the most ardent, affectionate, and active zeal-what excited these feelings? What other accounts are there, which confirm this melancholy statement? ANs. Xenophon states that Athens had twice as many sacred festivals as any other city: another remarks that the city contained more images than all the rest of Greece: and another humourously observes, that it was easier to find a god there, than a man! And what does this teach us? ANB. That even gross idolatry is by no means confined to ignorant and barbarous nations; but that the most learned and refined, uninstructed by Christianity, are equally prone to error respecting the nature of the Supreme Being. 17 With whom did Paul dispute, in the synagogue, at Athens? And where did he dispute with the Athenians generally? 18 The market-place was the usual resort of the Athenians, for the purposes of conversation and public discussions; here, Paul soon attracted the attention of some of the philosophers-of what classes? What were Epicureans? ANS. The disciples of Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, who flourished more than 300 years before Christ. What were the tenets of the Epicureans? ANs. The Epicureans were ATHEISTS according to whom, the world was made, and is preserved, by CHANGE. From complaisance to the people, they professed to believe in the existence of the numerous gods that were worshipped; but denied that they interfered in any way with the affairs of men. They held that the soul is made of the same materials as the body, only of a finer substance; and pronounced pleasure to be the chief good of man, for whom there would be no future state of rewards or punishments. And what were the Stoics. ANs. The disciples of Zeno, a philosopher who lived at the same time as Epicurus: they were called Stoics, from the 20 What reason did they assign for wishing Paul to explain to them more fully, the doctrines he he had stated in the market place? 21 And this desire evidently originated in the love of noveltyfor what is here said to be the character of the Athenians? And it is greatly to be lamented that they should thus be "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth"-with whose representation of the Athenians does this statement exactly agree? ANS. With that of DMOSTHENES, a celebrated orator; who, in one of his orations, about 400 years before, asks the Athenians, name of the portico, or porch, in which | facility for the examination of his they assembled at Athens. What doctrines-accordingly, on their arwere the sentiments of the Stoics? | rival, what did they require of him? ANS. The Stoics were FATALISTS; professing that every thing arose from NECESSITY-a necessity, which God, as well as man, was compelled to obey: they placed the happiness of men in the habits of virtue; but then it was virtue of such a kind, that the practice of it required nearly the extinction of the feelings and passions which God has implanted in our nature: and whatever moral excellence there was in some of their precepts, it was all spoiled by excessive pride, than which nothing is more odious in the sight of God. In what light did some of these Athenians consider the Apostle Paul? What did they mean, by a babbler? ANS. A mean and contemptible person, who, without any just pretensions to learning, was presumptuous enough to imagine he could enlighten them! 19 Thus scornfully did they speak of one who was better taught than all the mere philosophers that Greece or the world ever produced-then whither did the Athenians conduct Paul? What was Areopagus? ANS. A court of justice, at first used only to decide criminal causes; but afterwards its jurisdiction was very greatly extended. We are not to suppose that Paul was dragged to this court as a criminal; but simply that he was taken thither, as affording greater | 66 Will you for ever walk the public places with this question in your mouths, WHAT NEWS IS THERE?" 22 Standing on Mars' hill, (a hill dedicated to Mars, the god of war,) Paul complied with their request-how did he address them? What did he mean by calling them too superstitious? ANs. Not exactly what we should mean by the expression; which would have greatly offended their pride; but that, judging from their numerous temples and altars, they were in their way excessively devout. 23 What did Paul state, in confirmation of his opinion of them? What historic testimony is there, of the existence of altars with | time may be found, in the boroughs of the Athenians, ANONYMOUS ALTARS, a memorial of the expiation then made." And though unknown by the Athenians, it was JEHOVAH who actually sent and removed the pestilence-consequently, what did Paul propose to do? 24 And the very first sentence he uttered was in direct contradiction to the sentiments of the Epicureans--for what did he declare of God? Then he attacked their whole system of idolatry--for where did he say the Lord of 25 What further did Paul deny, concerning God? To what may this refer? ANS. To the notion, entertained by some heathens, that the gods subsisted on the fumes of the sacrifices. What proved that such services were perfectly unnecessary? this remarkable inscription? ANS. PAUSANIAS, (who wrote before the end of the second century after Christ,) in his description of Athens, having mentioned an altar of Jupiter Olympius, adds-" And nigh unto it is an altar of UNKNOWN GODS." "And, in another place, he speaks of altars of gods called UNKNOWN. Who else confirms this account? ANS. LUCIAN, who wrote about the year 170, has these words:-" Let us find out THE UNKNOWN GOD at Athens; and stretching our hands to heaven, offer to him our praises and thanks-heaven and earth would not dwell? givings." And another writer, not only proves that such altars existed, but also states their origin-who? ANS. DIOGENES LAERTIUS, who wrote about the year 210. In his Life of Epimenides, he tells us, that in the time of that philosopher, (about 600 years before Christ,) there was a terrible pestilence at Athens; in order to remove which, when none of their deities appeared able or willing to help them, Epimenides advised the Atheninans to bring some sheep to the Areopagus, and, letting them loose, to follow them till they lay down, and then to sacrifice them to the god near whose temple or altar they then were. But, as Athens was not at that time so crowded with altars as afterwards, it is probable the sheep lay down in places near which there were NO altars. Hence, says the historian, "it has come to pass, that to this present 26 What statement does Paul make, concerning all men? That is, all men are descended from one common parent-and what should this teach us? ANS. The duty of treating all men as brethren, whatever be their difference of colour or of circumstances. And, in direct contradiction of the Epicurean doctrine of chance, and also of the notion of the Stoics, that God himself was compelled to yield tofate and necessity-what does Paul assert, the end of the 26th verse? at 27 And why did God thus kindly superintend the affairs of men? Of what solemn truth, at the end of the 27th verse, did Paul remind the Athenians? 28 What did Paul say, in confirmation of his assertion? And he even quoted some of their own poets, in further confirmationwhat did those poets say? Who were the poets here referred to? ANS. ARATUS, a poet of Cilicia, (Paul's own country,) who lived more than 200 years before Christ; and perhaps CLEANTHUS, in a Hymn to Jupiter, respecting the Supreme God. 29 Consequently, if God made man, what absurd notion ought not to be maintained? 33 Then what did Paul do? 34 What good effects followed the preaching of Paul? Among these persons, two are mentioned by name-what was the name of one? And what was he? That is, a judge of that court-who else believed? The events, of which, in the latter part of this chapter, we have a specimen, are said to have occurred while Paul waited for Silas and Timotheus-did they come to him at Athens? ANs. Probably, Silas did not; but Timothy did. From what may this be gathered? ANS. From 1 Thes. ii. 17. in connexion with iii. 1, 2. CHAP. XVIII. AFTER the events narrated in the last chapter, whither did Paul go? Where was Corinth? ANS. Corinth was the chief city of the province of Achaia; it was the re 30 And though this idolatry had been almost universal, God had comparatively overlooked the gross insult it offered to himself-but now what does he do? This would be severely felt by the Stoics-why? ANS. Because it undervalued all their high pretensions to superior virtue; and disconcerted their scheme of fata-sort of several philosophers and orators; lity; for men could not with propriety be called on to repent of that, which they did, not from choice, but from necessity. 31 Why did God call on all men to repent? By whom will God judge the world? What assurance of this has God given ? 32 Hearing of the resurrection, notwithstanding all their philosophy, and pretensions to candour and liberality-what did some of them do? But what did others say? and noted for the wealth, the pride, and the profligacy of its inhabitants. 2 At Corinth, Paul found a certain Jew and his wife-what were their names? Where were they born? Where was Pontus ? ANs. (See on Chap. ii. 9.) They were lately residents at Rome, in Italy-why did they leave Rome? Why did the Emperor Claudius issue this command? ANs. Suetonius, in his Life of Claudius Cæsar, says, "He expelled the Jews from Rome, who were continually raising disturbances, Chresto being their leader;" and it is commonly supposed that by Chresto, Suetonius meant Christ, and the Christian Jews were suspected of sedition, and therefore banished. 3 Paul took up his abode with Aquila and Priscilla-why And what was their occupation, or trade? But was it not singular that so learned a man as Paul should be a tent maker? ANS. With the Jews, it was a point of conscience to teach their children a trade, even those who had the most liberal education; which accounts for one of their proverbs: "He who does not teach his child a trade, brings him up to thieving.' Did Paul continue to employ himself in his trade? ANs. There is no doubt he did: He was so disinterested, that he desired to benefit all among whom he went, freely supporting himself, and not burdening them. Yet Paul did not entirely support himself by his trade-how was the deficiency supplied? ANs. 2 Cor. xi. 9. 5 Who joined Paul at Corinth? On the arrival of Silas and Timothy at Corinth, being encouraged, and exceedingly desirous of the salvation of the Corinthians, what did Paul do ? 6 How did they receive this doctrine? Then what did Paul do? What did this action express ? What did Paul say to these enemies to the gospel, respecting themselves? And as they rejected the gospel, to whom, in future, would Paul preach it? 7 Where, after this, did Paul preach? What was the character of Justus? Whereabouts was his house? 8 Who, among others, believed the gospel Paul preached? And what was Crispus? And many other Corinthians believed, whom, probably, Silas or Timothy baptized-from what does this appear? ANS. 1 Cor. i. 14. 9 At Corinth, Paul received at special divine communication--in what way did the Lord communicate with Paul? What are we told, in the 9th verse, that the Lord said, in this vision? And this was remarkably seasonable-for what was the state of Paul's mind and feelings, at this time? ANs. 1 Cor. ii. 3. 10 But what did the Lord assure Paul, in the 10th verse? 11 Thus encouraged, how long did Paul continue at Corinth? |