[The posts which follow make extensive use of The Acts of the Apostles, by Madame Cecilia, (Religious of St Andrew's Convent, Streatham), with an Imprimi potest dated 16 October 1907 (Westminster); Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd. (London). With grateful prayers for the author and her team:
REQUIEM æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.ETERNAL rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.]
Acts XVIII : 1-11
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[2] And finding a certain Jew, named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with Priscilla his wife, (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome,) he came to them.
[3] And because he was of the same trade, he remained with them, and wrought; (now they were tentmakers by trade.)
[4] And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, bringing in the name of the Lord Jesus; and he persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
[5] And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was earnest in preaching, testifying to the Jews, that Jesus is the Christ.
[6] But they gainsaying and blaspheming, he shook his garments, and said to them: Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
[7] And departing thence, he entered into the house of a certain man, named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house was adjoining to the synagogue.
[8] And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized.
[9] And the Lord said to Paul in the night, by a vision: Do not fear, but speak; and hold not thy peace, [10] Because I am with thee: and no man shall set upon thee, to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.
[11] And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
[1] Post haec egressus ab Athenis, venit Corinthum : [2] et inveniens quemdam Judaeum nomine Aquilam, Ponticum genere, qui nuper venerat ab Italia, et Priscillam uxorem ejus ( eo quod praecepisset Claudius discedere omnes Judaeos a Roma), accessit ad eos. [3] Et quia ejusdem erat artis, manebat apud eos, et operabatur. ( Erant autem scenofactoriae artis.) [4] Et disputabat in synagoga per omne sabbatum, interponens nomen Domini Jesu, suadebatque Judaeis et Graecis. [5] Cum venissent autem de Macedonia Silas et Timotheus, instabat verbo Paulus, testificans Judaeis esse Christum Jesum.
[6] Contradicentibus autem eis, et blasphemantibus, excutiens vestimenta sua, dixit ad eos : Sanguis vester super caput vestrum : mundus ego, ex hoc ad gentes vadam. [7] Et migrans inde, intravit in domum cujusdam, nomine Titi Justi, colentis Deum, cujus domus erat conjuncta synagogae. [8] Crispus autem archisynagogus credidit Domino cum omni domo sua : et multi Corinthiorum audientes credebant, et baptizabantur. [9] Dixit autem Dominus nocte per visionem Paulo : Noli timere, sed loquere, et ne taceas : [10] propter quod ego sum tecum : et nemo apponetur tibi ut noceat te : quoniam populus est mihi multus in hac civitate.[11] Sedit autem ibi annum et sex menses, docens apud eos verbum Dei.
Notes
1. After these things. After his unsuccessfu] mission in Athens, where the Grecian philosophers had mocked at his doctrine.
Corinth. This city stands on the narrow isthmus of Corinth, having the Ægean Sea on the south and the Ionian Sea on the north. This isthmus connected Megaris with Argolis, and is so narrow in one part that boats could he hauled overland from one sea to the other. The city was famous in St Paul's time for its opulence, its commerce, and the casting of metals, but it had a had reputation for profligacy.
When St Paul visited Corinth it was a Roman colony and the residence of the proconsul of Achaia, but the town itself was governed by the duumviri. [Ed. 1838 T. Arnold Hist. Rome I. 312 (note) The two supreme magistrates in the municipia..whose office was analogous to that of the consuls at Rome, were called duumvirs].
Besides St Luke’s narration of St Paul’s visit to this city, we have allusions to the apostle’s work there in the two Epistles to the Corinthians, the Epistles to the Thessalonians, and to the Romans, which were written from Corinth.
2. Aquila. This Hellenistic Jew appears to have travelled about on account of his business. A native of Pontus, he had settled for a time in Rome. When banished by the edict of Claudius, he went to Corinth. Afterwards we find him in Ephesus (verse 26), then in Rome again (Rom. xvi. 3), and the last time he is mentioned (2 Tim. iv. 19) he had returned to Ephesus,
He was one of the Jews of the Dispersion, and it is probable that the word “Jew” connotes his nationality rather than his religion, and is introduced to explain his presence in Corinth. The inference that Aquila and Priscilla were disciples is based on the subjoined considerations ; —
(a) A rigid Jew would hardly have received St Paul under his roof and worked daily with him.
(b) Aquila and Priscilla most probably had opportunities of learning the faith in Rome, (See note on the decree of Claudius.)
(c) St Paul would have preferred to lodge with some of the brethren.
(d) St Luke gives no account of his conversion, as he does in the case of other notable men joining the ranks of the disciples.
Pontus. See Annot. on ii. 9. Jews from Pontus were present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, and Aquila may have heard from them of Jesus of Nazareth,
Priscilla. This is a diminutive of the Latin name Prisca, as Lucilla is of Lucia. Her name generally precedes that of Aquila (see verse 1 8 ; Rom. xvi. 3 ; 2 Tim. iv. 19), and commentators have therefore infered that she was a Roman and of a higher social position than Aquila, and connected with the family of the Prisci, which gave many famous consuls and proprætors to Rome. As she instructed Apollo, it is evident that she was a woman of culture, and well instructed in the Old Testament, since she was able to teach one mighty in the Scriptures.
lately. The Greek adverb here used (προσφατως) signifies “newly ” or “freshly,” hence “recently.”
Claudius had commanded, etc. Suetonius has a passage which confirms this statement ; he records that the Jews were banished on account of tumults stirred up by a certain “ Chrestos,” which is probably a corruption of the name “ Christ ” (Tertul., Apol.).
This conjecture, which is put forth by St Bede and many other writers, is based on the following argument :
Tacitus, in his Annals, speaks of Christianity as existing in Rome before the time of Nero (xv. 44), and from a Catholic tradition we learn that St Peter visited Rome circa A.D. 46. Tertullian relates that “ Christus ” was often spelt and pronounced Chrestos ” (i.e. good) by the people. Hence it is not unlikely that the preaching of the Gospel in Rome and the hostility it provoked on the part of the unbelieving Jews, led to the Jews and Jewish converts to Christianity being expelled from Rome, and, among the latter, Aquila and Priscilla were included. Some commentators, however, think that a certain Chrestos was inciting the Jews to rebellion.
3. and wrought. Every Jew, rich or poor, taught his son a trade, and the Rabbis held that the three great duties of a father were to circumcise his son, to instruct him in the Law, and to teach him a trade. One of their proverbs ran thus ; “ He that teacheth not his son a trade, teacheth him to be a thief.” The famous Rabban Hillel wiis a carpenter.
St Paul often refers to his having worked at his trade to support himself.
(a) You yourselves know : for such things as were needful for me and them that are with me, these hands have furnished (infra, xx. 34).(b) We labour, working with our own hands (1 Cor. iv. 12).(c) For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil, working night and day lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God (1 Thess. ii. 9).(d) Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing, but in labour and in toil we worked night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you (2 Thess.iii.8).
tent-makers. A coarse kind of cloth made of goat’s hair, and employed for sails and tents, was manufactured in St Paul’s native land of Cilicia, and named from it ‘cilicium” (cf. Fr. cilice, hair-cloth). Pontus, the native land of Aquila, was also celebrated for this goat’s hair cloth. Thousands of goats that grazed in these districts supplied the raw material. Some think that St Paul worked at the manufacture of this tent cloth, others are of opinion that he made the tents of this cloth.
St John Chrysostom represents St Paul making tents out of leather. “Paul, after working miracles, would stand in his workshop of Corinth and stitch the leather skins with his hands, while the angels looked on him lovingly and the devils with fear. ’’
4. bringing in the name, etc. These words have not very good MSS. authority, as they are only found in one codex (Gigas, thirteenth century) and in the margin of the Syriac versions. The expression bringing in seems to indicate that St Paul did not begin by preaching Christ, but only introduced the Sacred Name when he had prepared his hearers to accept the truth that Jesus was the Messias.
Greeks. As they were in the synagogue, we must understand uncircumcised proselytes, not pagans. St Paul evangelized these Gentiles (τα ἐθνη) after he turned away from the Jews. This is a rare examplc of the word “ Hellenes ” (Ἑλληνας) being used in the Acts for Jews whose language was Greek and for Greek proselytes.
5. from Macedonia. In ch. xvii. 15 we find that St Paul had desired them to join him in Athens.
Silas and Timothy travelled together from Berea in Macedonia, and rejoined the apostle in Corinth. Cf. We thought it good to remain in Athens alone. And we sent Timothy our brother, and the minister of God in the gospel of Christ, to confirm you and exhort you cconcerning your faith (1 Thess. iii. 12). These fellow-labourers brought St Paul offerings from the Philippians ; thus St Paul could tell the Corinthian disciples : When I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man, for that which was wanting to me, the brethren supplied who came from Macedonia, and in all things I have kept myself from being burthensome to you, and so I will keep myself (Cor. xi. 9).
Paul was earnest in preaching. The best MSS. (א, A, B, D, E, and the Vulgate) read ‘‘Paul was constrained by the word (τῷ λογῳ) and a few read “ by the Spirit ” (τῷ πνευματι). The apostle could no longer content himself with bringing in incidentally the, name of Christ, but was longing to declare the truth openly and in all its fulness.
As his temporal wants were now supplied by the alms of the brethren, the apostle was free to devote himself exclusively to evangelizing, and, constrained by the love of his Divine Master, he preached more earnestly than ever. The examples of vice and profligacy he daily witnessed stirred his apostolic spirit with an intense longing to make known the Saviour to these slaves of sin.
6. gainsaying. Lit. ‘‘ they arraving themselves against” (ἀντιτασσομενων), like an army drawn up in battle.
blaspheming. Perhaps the apostle had these scenes in mind when, writing to the Corinthians, be says ; Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God, saith Anathema to Jesus. And no man can say, the Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Ghost (I Cor. xii. 3).
he shook his garments. This was a solemn act of renunciation (see Annot. on xiii. 51). “ As done by a Jew to Jews, no words and no act could so well express the apostle’s indignant protest. It was the last resource of one who found appeals to reason and conscience powerless, and was met by brute violence and clamour.”
Your blood be upon your own heads. This is not an imprecation, but a solemn renunciation and disclaiming of all participation in the terrible consequences which such blasphemy would bring upon them.
The words were Hebraic in cast. Cf. Then he that heareth the sound of the trumpet whosoever he be, and doth not look to himself, if the sword come, and cut him off, his blood shall be upon his own head (Ezech. xxxiii. 4). St Paul had offered these Jews the means of salvation, and he applied to himself the words uttered by God : If, when I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, thou declare it not to him, nor speak to him, that he may be converted from his wicked way, and live, the same wicked man shall die in, his iniquity, but 1 will require his blood at thy hand (Ezech. iii. 18 ).
I will go unto the Gentiles. This only to the Jews at Corinth, as we see from St Paul’s subsequent conduct. (See verse 19, and ch. xix. 8.)
7. departing thence. From the synagogue, not from the house of Aquila. St Paul henceforth ceased to attend the services in the synagogue. He withdrew in presence of the whole assembly.
Titus Justus. Some MSS. omit the first name, which is only found in a few codices, and the Syriac and Vulgate versions. This Gentile proselyte who became a Christian convert is probably not to be identified with Titus the fellow-labourer of St Paul, who is not mentioned once in the Acts. The Titus of whom St Paul speaks in 2 Cor. xii. 18 was evidently not an inhabitant of Corinth, but a fellow-labourer in the Gospel, sent by St Paul to assist the brethren in Corinth.
adjoining to the synagogue. Thus the Christian Church, by the very force of circumstances, gradually detacched itself from the synagogue worship and Judaism.
The hostile Jews would not have entered into the house of a Gentile unless he became a proselyte of righteousness, in which case he was regarded as a Jew. By remaining close to the synagogue, St Paul was accessible to those who might wish to hear him again.
8. Crispus the ruler, etc. St Paul himself baptized him, a favour he accorded to few. Cf. I give God thanks, that I baptized none of you, hut Crispus and Caius (1 Cor. i. 14). According to an old tradition, this Crispus was the first bishop of Egina.
with all his house. Like the keeper of the prison of Philippi, Crispus was the means of bringing all his housebold into the Church. This is the first recorded conversion of an entire Jewish household, as Lydia and the keeper of the prison were Gentiles.
many of the Corinthians hearing, etc. Conversions were continually being made, as the use of the imperfect tense in the Greek denotes. Note the three steps — they heard, believed, and were baptized. Among these converts, we find references by name in the epistles to Gaius or Caius, St Paul's host (Rom. xvi. 23), Stephanus, whom St John himself baptized (1 Cor. i. 16), Fortunatus, and Achaicus ; these last three St Paul speaks of as the first-fruits of Achaia, who had dedicated themselves to the ministry of the saints (1 Cor. xvi. 15).
9. the Lord said to Paul. The bitterness of the hostility of the Jews at Corinth, and prolonged physical sufferings, appear to have caused St Paul great affliction, since he speaks of having been with the church of Corinth in weakness and in fear and in much trembling (1 Cor. ii. 3).
God sustained His servant by a vision, hut he did not exempt him from suffering, as He had forewarned him : For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake (supra, ix. 10). St Paul appears to have been in danger even of his life, since he refers thus to Priscilla and Aquila : Salute Prisca and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus (who have for my life laid down their own necks), (Rom. xvi. 3). Also when the brethren in Thessalonica were very anxious about St Paul, he reassured them, saying : That no man should be moved in these tribulations : for yourselves know, that we are appointed thereunto. For even when we were with you, we foretold you that we should suffer tribulations, as also it came to pass, and you know (1 Thess, iii. 3-4).
10. I have much people, etc., — i.e. many who would sooner or later enter the Fold of Christ. The soil of Corinth was more favourable to the propagation of the Gospel than that of Athens.
11. stayed. Lit. “sat down” (ἐκαθισε), hence settled down. Of the time passed here St Paul afterwards wrote : The signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds (2 Cor. xii. 12).
a year and six months. It is uncertain whether this period embraces the whole of St Paul's stay in Corinth, or merely the interval between the vision and the arrival of Gallio.
During this time, St Paul founded and organized the church of Corinth, and evangelized in the adjoining districts, for we read of the saints that are in all Achaia (2 Cor. i. 1) and of Phœbe of Cenchre (Rom. xvi.l), i.e. the eastern port of Corinth, about nine miles from the city. The two epistles to the Thessalonians are generally supposed to have been written during the time that St Paul was in Corinth.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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