Paul

Acts xxii. 27, 28. Acts xxvi. 4, 5. Acts xxii. 3.PAUL, before-named Saul; he was of the Tribe of Benjamin, a Native of Tarsus in Cilicia, a Pharisee by Profession; first a Persecutor of the Church, and afterwards a Disciple of Jesus Christ, and Apostle of the Gentiles. ‘Tis thought he was born about two Years before our Saviour, supposing that he lived sixty-eight Years, as we read in a Homily which is in the Sixth Tome of St. Chrysostom’s Works¹. The Ebionites² related several Particulars of the Education, of the Family, and of the Conversion of St. Paul; but they do not deserve to be set down here. He was a Roman Citizen, because Augustus had given the Freedom of the City to all the Freemen of Tarsus, in Consideration of their firm Adherence to his Interests. His Parents sent him early to Jerusalem, where he studied the Law at the Feet of Gamaliel a famous Doctor. He made very great Progress in his Studies, and his Life was always blameless before Men; being very zealous for the whole Observation of the Law of Moses. But his Zeal carried him too far; he persecuted the Church, and insulted Jesus Christ in his 1 Tim. i. 13.Members; and when the Protomartyr St. Stephen was stoned, Saul was not only consenting to his Death, but he even stood by and took care of the Cloaths of those that Acts vii. 58, 59.stoned him; stoning him as it were by Proxy, and by the Hands of others. This happened in the thirty-third Year of the common Æra, some time after our Saviour’s Death.

At the Time of the Persecution that was raised against the Church, after the Death of St. Stephen, Saul was one of those that shewed most Violence in distressing the Believers. Gal. i. 13. Acts xxvi. 11.He enter’d into their Houses, and drew out by Force both Men and Women, loaded them with Chains, and sent³ Acts viii. 3. xxii. 4.them to Prison. He even entered into the Synagogues, where he caused those to be beaten with Rods that believed in Jesus Christ, compelling them to blaspheme the Name of the Lord. And having got Credentials from the High Priest Caiaphas, and the Elders of the Jews, to the chief Jews of Damascus, with Power to bring to Jerusalem all the Christians he should find Acts ix. 1,2,3, &c.there, he went away full of Threats, and breathing nothing but Blood. But as he was upon the Road, and now drawing near to Damascus, all on a sudden about Noon he perceived a great Light to come from Heaven, which encompass’d him and all those that were with him. This Splendor threw them on the Ground, and Saul heard a Voice that said to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ‘Twas Jesus Christ that spoke to him; to whom Saul answered, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord reply’d to him, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks. Saul all in Consternation ask’d, Lord what is it that thou wouldest have me do? Jesus bid him arise and go to Damascus, where the Will of the Lord should be revealed to him.

Saul then rose from the Ground, and though his Eyes were open, yet he could not see at all; but his Companions led him by the Hand, and brought him to Damascus, where he continued three Days without the Use of his Sight, and without taking any Nourishment. He lodg’d at the House of a Jew named Juda. On the third Day the Lord commanded a Disciple of his named Ananias, to go to find out Saul, to lay his Hands upon him, and to cure his Blindness. And as Ananias made Excuses, saying that this Man was one of the most violent Persecutors of the Church, the Lord said to him, Go and find him, because this Man is an Instrument that I have chosen, to carry my Name before the Gentiles, before Kings, and before the Children of Israel; for I will shew him how many things he must suffer for my Name. Ananias went therefore and found Saul, laid his Hands upon him, and restored him to his Sight; then rising, he was baptized, and fill’d with the Holy Ghost. After this having eaten, he recovered his Strength, and continued some Days with the Disciples that were at Damascus, preaching in the Synagogues, and proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

Having preached for some time at DamascusGal. i. 17., he went from thence into Arabia, probably into the Neighbourhood of Damascus, being then under the Government of Aretas King of Arabia; and having remained there for a little while, he returned to Damascus. where he began again to preach the Gospel. The Jews could not bear to see the Progress that the Gospel made here; and so resolved to put him to Death; and they gained to their Side the Governor of Damascus, who was to apprehend him, and to deliver him to them. Of this Saul had early Notice, and knowing that the Gates of the City were guarded Night and Day, to prevent him from making his Escape, he was let down over the Wall in a Basket⁴. And coming to Acts ix. 26, 27. Gal. i. 13.Jerusalem to see St. Peter, the Disciples were fearful of having any Correspondence with him, not believing him to be a Convert. But Barnabas having brought him to the Apostles, Saul related to them the Manner of his Conversion, and all that had followed in consequence of it. Then he began to preach both to the Jews and Gentiles, and spoke to them with such Strength of Argument, that not being able to withstand him in Reasoning, they resolved to kill him. For this Reason the Brethren brought him to Cesarea of Palestine, from whence he came, probably by Sea, into his own Country Tarsus in Cilicia.

There he continued about five or six Years, from the Year of Christ 37, to the Year 43; when Barnabas coming to Antioch by the Order of the Apostles, and there having found many Christians, went to Tarsus to see Saul, and brought him with Acts xi. 20,25, 26.him to Antioch, where they continued together a whole Year, preaching to and instructing the Faithful. During this Time Acts xi. 27,28,&c.there happened a great Famine in Judea, and the Christians of Antioch having made some Collections to assist their Brethren at Jerusalem, they made choice of Paul and Barnabas to go thither with their Offering. They arrived there in the Year of Christ 44, and having acquitted themselves of their Commission, they returned again to Antioch. They had not been there long but God warned them by the Prophets he had in this Church, that he had appointed them to carry his Word into other Places. Then the Church betook themselves to fasting and praying, and the Prophets Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen laid their Hands on them, and sent them to preach whither the Holy Ghost should conduct them. And it was probably about this Time, that is, about the Year of Christ 44, that Paul being wrapt up into the third Heaven, saw there ineffable things, and which were above the Comprehension 2 Cor. xii. 2, 3, 4. Acts xiii. 4, 5, 6.of Man.

Saul and Barnabas went first into Cyprus, where they began to preach in the Synagogues of the Jews. When they had gone over the whole Island, they there found a certain Jewish Magician called Bar -jesus, who was with the Proconsul Sergius Paulus. This Proconsul having heard of Paul and Barnabas, sent to invite them to him, desiring to hear the Word of God. Bar -jesus did all he could to hinder the Proconsul from embracing the Christian Faith. Then Saul being filled with the Holy Ghost, and looking earnestly upon this Man, said to him; O thou that art filled with all Deceit, thou Child of the Devil, and Enemy to all Righteousness, wilt thou never cease to pervert the Ways of the Lord? Now the Hand of the Lord shall be upon thee, and thou shalt become blind for a certain Time. The Effect immediately followed the Words of Saul, and the Proconsul having seen this Miracle, became a Convert to the Faith. Many think⁵ that St. Paul then first began to bear the Name of Paul, which St. Luke always gives him afterwards, in Memory of this Conversion of Sergius Paulus, which God had now brought to pass by his Means. Asterius⁶ believes he changed his Name at his Conversion in the City of Damascus. St. Chrysostom⁷ will have this Change to be made at his Ordination, and when he received his Mission at Antioch. Others say⁸, he took the Name of Paul, which is a Latin Name, only when he began to preach to the Gentiles, and especially to the Romans. Lastly, many⁹ think that he went by the Names both of Saul and Paul for his whole Life, in Imitation of many other Jews, who had one Name in Hebrew, and another in Greek or Latin. But if this were so, how comes it then, that neither St. Paul himself, nor St. Luke, nor any other Author, has given him the Name of Saul after the Conversion of Sergius Paulus, but that all universally agree to call him Paul? The Conversion of this Proconsul happened in the City of Paphos, in the forty-fifth Year of Christ.

From the Isle of Cyprus St. Paul and his Company went to Perga in Pamphylia¹⁰, where John Mark, Barnabas’s Cousin, left them to return to Jerusalem. Making no Stop at Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, where going into the Synagogue, and being desired to speak, St. Paul made them a long Discourse, by which he shewed that Jesus was the Messiah foretold by the Prophets, and declared by John the Baptist; that he had been unjustly put to Death by the Malice and Jealousy of the Jews, and that he rose again the third Day. They heard him very attentively, and he was desired to discourse again on the same Subject the next Sabbath -Day; and several followed them, both Jews and Proselytes, to receive particular Instructions more at Leisure.

Acts xiv. 1,2,3,&c.On the Sabbath-Day following almost all the City came together, to hear the Word of God. But the Jews seeing this Concourse of People, were moved with Envy at it; and opposed themselves with Blasphemy to what St. Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas told them boldly: You indeed are the first to whom the Word of God is to be declared, but since you reject it, we shall carry it to the Gentiles, as the Lord has commanded us. And all those who had been predestined to eternal Life believed in Jesus Christ, and the Word of the Lord prevailed exceedingly in that Country. The Jews not being able to bear this happy Progress of the Gospel, raised a Persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them away from thence. Then Paul and Barnabas shaking off the Dust of their Feet against them, came from Antioch in Pisidia to Iconium. Being come thither, they preached in their Synagogue, and converted a greater Number both of Jews and Gentiles, and God confirmed their Mission by a great Number of Miracles. In the mean time the unbelieving Jews having incensed the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas, and threatning to stone them, they were obliged to retire to Lystra and Derbe, Cities of Lycaonia, where they preached the Gospel.

At Lystra there was a Man called Æneas, who had been a Cripple in his Feet from his Mother’s Womb. This Man fixing his Eyes upon St. Paul, the Apostle bid him rise and stand upon his Feet. He presently rose up and began to walk. The People seeing this Miracle cry’d out, that the Gods were descended among them in the Shape of Men. They called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury; because of his Eloquence, and being the chief Speaker. The Priest of Jupiter’s Temple brought also Garlands and Bulls before the Gate, intending with the People to offer Sacrifices to them. But Paul and Barnabas tearing their Cloaths, and casting themselves into the Middle of the Multitude, cried out to them, Friends, what do you do? We are Men as well as your selves, and we are preaching to you to turn away from these vain Superstitions, and to worship only the true God who has made Heaven and Earth. But whatever they could say, they had much ado to restrain them from offering Sacrifices to them.

In the mean time some Jews of Antioch in Pisidia and of Iconium, coming to Lystra, animated the People against the Apostles. They stoned Paul, and drew him out of the City, thinking him to be dead. But the Disciples gathering together about him, he rose up among them, entered again into the City, and the Day after left it to go to Derbe. And having here preached the Gospel also, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch of Pisidia¹¹. Passing throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphilia, and having preached the Word of God at Perga, they went down into Attalia. From hence they set sail for Antioch in Syria, from whence they had departed a Year before. Being arrived there, they assembled the Church together, and told them the great Things God had done by their Means, and how he had opened to the Gentiles a Door of Salvation; and here they continued a good while with the Disciples.

St. Luke does not inform us of the Actions of St. Paul from the 45th Year of Christ to the Time of the Council at Jerusalem, which was held in the 50th Year of Christ. There is great Likelihood, that it was during this Interval, that St. Paul preached the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum, as he informs us in his Epistle Rom. xv. 19. Rom. x. 10.to the Romans; and this without making any Stay in those Places, where others had preached before him. He does not acquaint us with the Particulars of these Journeys, nor with the Success of his Preaching; but he says in general, that he had suffered more Labours than any other, and had endured more Prisons. He was often very near Death itself, sometimes upon the Water, sometimes among Thieves. He run great Dangers, sometimes from the Jews, and sometimes among false Brethren and perverse Christians; he was exposed to great Hazards, as well in the Cities as in the Desarts. He suffered Hunger, Thirst, Nakedness, Cold, Fastings, Watching, and the Fatigues inseparable from long Journeys, which were undertaken without any Prospect of human Succour, in this very different from the good Fortune of others who lived by the Gospel, who received Subsistance from those to whom they preached it, and who were accompanied always by religious Women, who minister’d to them in their necessary Occasions. He made it a Point of Honour to preach gratis, working with his Hands that he might not be chargeable to any 1 Cor. ix. one; for he had learn’d a Trade, as was 1. —15. usual among the Jews, which Trade was to make Tents of Leather, for the Use of Acts xviii. 3.those that go to the Wars.

‘Twas during this Course of his Preaching, that he received five times of the Jews 2 Cor. xi. 23. —27.thirty-nine Stripes with a Whip: For ‘twas a Custom among them not to exceed this Number of Stripes. Moses had forbidden to give above forty Blows. He tells us also, that he had been twice beaten with Rods by the Romans; that he had thrice suffered Shipwreck, that he had pass’d a Night and a Day in the Deep, which is differently interpreted. Some think that he was actually a Night and a Day at the bottom of the Sea¹², God having there miraculously preserved him, as Jonas heretofore in the Whale’s Belly. Others will have it¹³, that he was hid for a Night and a Day at the bottom of a Well, after the Danger he was in at Lystra, where he had been stoned. Others¹⁴ explain it by saying, that at Cyzicus he was put into a Prison call’d Bythos, or the Deep; for this is the Term made use of by St. Paul, without adding Sea to it, as is done in the Vulgate. But the greatest part of the Fathers, as St. Chrysostom, Theodoret, Oecumenius, 2 Cor. xi.Ambrosiaster, Thomas, and several Moderns explain it by saying, that after a Shipwreck St. Paul was a Day and a Night in the open Sea strugling against the Waves, and this Opinion seems the most reasonable. The Greek Word Buthos, when it is put by itself is commonly taken for the bottom of the Sea, or for the open Sea. But St. Paul had suffered all this before the Year of Christ 58, at which Time he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians.

Acts xv. 1, 2, 3.St. Paul and St. Barnabas were at Antioch when some Persons coming from Judea, pretended to teach, that there was no Salvation without Circumcision, and without the Observation of the other Legal Ceremonies. Epiphanius¹⁵ and Philaster¹⁶ say, that he that maintained this was Cerinthus and his Followers. Paul and Barnabas withstood these new Doctors, and it was agreed to send a Deputation to the Apostles and Priests at Jerusalem, about this Question. Paul and Barnabas were deputed, and being arrived at Jerusalem, they reported to the Apostles the Subject of their Commission. Some of the Pharisees that had embraced the Faith asserted, that the Gentiles that were converted ought to receive Circumcision, and to observe the rest of the Law. But the Apostles and Priests assembling to examine into this Matter, it was by them decreed, that the Gentiles who were converted to Christianity, should not be obliged to submit to the Yoak of the Law; but only to avoid Idolatry, Fornication, and the eating of Things strangled and Blood.

St. Paul and St. Barnabas were then sent back to Antioch with Letters from the Apostles, which contain’d the Decision of the Question, and the Resolution of that August Assembly. The Apostles also deputed Jude surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, who were principal Brethren, to go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, to give their Testimony also of what had been decreed at Jerusalem. Being arrived at Antioch they assembled the Faithful, read them the Apostle’s Letter, and comforted them, by acquainting them that it had been resolved to discharge them from the Yoke of the Ceremonial Law. Silas thought fit to continue at Antioch, but Jude returned back to Jerusalem. All this passed in the fifty-first Year of Christ, according to the Vulgar Æra. Some Time after St. Peter also coming to Antioch, and joyning himself to the converted Gentiles, he lived with them without Scruple; but it happening that some Brethren coming thither from Jerusalem, he separated himself from the Gentile Converts, and did no longer eat with them. Upon this St. Paul publickly censured him for this Conduct, which indeed was blameable, and his Example might have been of dangerous Consequence.

Galat. ii. 1, —— 16. Galat. ii. 2, 3, &c.St. Paul, in this same Journey to Jerusalem, declared publickly to the Faithful there, the Doctrine he preached among the Gentiles; and besides he discoursed of it in private among the chief of them, in the presence of Barnabas and Titus. St. Peter, St. James, and St. John, with whom he had these Conversations, could find nothing either to be added or amended, in so pure and sound a Doctrine and Demeanour. They saw with Joy the Grace that God had given him; they acknowledged that he had been appointed the Apostle of the Gentiles, as St. Peter had been of the Circumcision. They concluded, that Paul and Barnabas should continue to preach among the Gentiles, and only recommended to them, to have Care concerning the Collections for the Poor; that is to say, to exhort the converted Christians among the Gentiles, to assist the faithful Brethren in Judea, who were in Necessity, whether it were because they had sold and distributed their goods, or because they had been taken away from them. We shall see in what follows how diligent St. Heb. x. 34.Paul was to acquit himself of this Commission.

Acts xvi. 1After Paul and Barnabas had continued for some Days at Antioch, St. Paul said to Barnabas¹⁷, Let us return and visit our Brethren through all the Cities where we have planted the Gospel, to see in what Condition they are. Barnabas consented to this Proposal; but he had a Mind to take John Mark along with them, who had left them the Time before. This was opposed by St. Paul, and therefore caused a Separation between them. Barnabas and John Mark went together to Cyprus, and St. Paul making Choice of Silas, they cross’d over Syria and Cilicia, and came to Derbe, and afterwards to Lystra. Here they found a Disciple called Timothy, the Son of a Jewish Mother, but his Father was a Gentile, whom St. Paul took with him, and circumcised him, that he might not offend the Jews of that Country. When therefore they had gone over the Provinces of Lycaonia, Phrygia, and Galatia, the Holy Ghost would not allow them to preach the Gospel in the Proconsular Asia, which contain’d Ionia, Æolia, and Lydia. Therefore they went on to Mysia, and coming to Troas, St. Paul had here a Vision in the Night. A Man habited like a Macedonian presented himself before him, and said, Pass into Macedonia, and come to succour us. Immediately he set out on this Journey, not doubting but that God had called him into this Countrey.

Embarking therefore at Troas they sailed to Neapolis¹⁸, a City of Macedonia, but very near the Frontiers of Thrace. Thence they came to Philippi, which is the first Roman Colony on that Side in Macedonia. Here on the Sabbath-day they went near the River, where the Jews had a Proseuche, or Place of Devotion, and where they found some religious Women, among whom was one call’d Lydda, a Dealer in Purple, who was converted, baptized, and invited Paul and his Company to lodge at her House. Another Day as they went to the same Place of Devotion, they happen’d to meet with a Maid-servant, who was possess’d with a Spirit of Python, or a Familiar, that discover’d many secret things to her. She began to follow Paul and his Company, crying out, that these Men were Servants of the most-high God, who declare to you the Way of Salvation. This she did for several Days together. At last Paul turning himself towards her said to the Spirit, I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of the Body of this Woman; upon which it immediately left her. But the Masters of the Servant, who made great Profit by her, drew Paul and Silas before the Magistrates, and accused them of attempting to introduce a new Religion into the City. For this the Magistrates ordered them to be whipt with Rods upon the Back and Shoulders, and afterwards sent them to Prison.

Towards Midnight, as Paul and Silas were singing Hymns and Praises to God, on a sudden there was a great Earthquake, so that the Foundations of the Prison were shaken, and all the Doors flew open at the same Time, and the Fetters of the Prisoners burst asunder. The Goaler being awakened at this Noise, and seeing all the Doors open, he drew his Sword with an Intention to kill himself, imagining that all the Prisoners had made their Escape. But Paul cry’d out to him, that he should do himself no Mischief, for they were all safe. Then the Goaler entering, and finding all the Prisoners there, he brought out Paul and Silas from this Place, asking them what he must do to be saved. Paul and Silas instructing him and all his Family, gave them Baptism. After this the Goaler set before them something to eat; and when the Morning was come, the Magistrates sent him Word that he might release his Prisoners, and let them go about their Business. But Paul returned this Answer to the Officers; that after they have publickly whipp’d us with Rods, being Roman Citizens, they have thrown us into Prison, and now they would privately dismiss us: But it shall not be so, for they shall come themselves to fetch us out. The Magistrates hearing that they were Roman Citizens, came to excuse themselves; and having brought them out of Prison, they desired them to depart out of their City. Paul and Silas went first to Lydia, where having visited and comforted the Brethren, they departed from Philippi.

Then passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica the capital City of Macedonia, where the Jews had a Synagogue.¹⁹ Paul enter’d therein, according to his Custom, and there preached the Gospel to them for three Sabbath-days successively. Some Jews, and several Proselytes, believed in Jesus Christ, and united themselves to Paul and Silas. But the greatest Part of the Jews, being led away by a false Zeal, rais’d a Tumult in the City, and went to the House of Jason where St. Paul lodged. But not finding him there, they took Jason and led him before the Magistrates, where they accused him of harbouring in his House People that were disobedient to the Ordinances of the Emperour, and who affirm’d, that there was another King besides him, one Jesus whom they preach’d up. But Jason having given Security to answer for the People who were accused, he was dismissed to his own House; and the Night following the Brethren conducted Paul and Silas out of the City, who went to Berea, where they began to preach in the Synagogue. The Jews of Berea heard them gladly, and many of them were converted; as also several of the Gentiles, and many Women of Distinction that were not Jewesses.

The Jews of Thessalonica being inform’d that Paul and Silas were at Berea, they came thither and animated the Mob against them; so that St. Paul was forced to withdraw, leaving Silas and Timothy at Berea, to finish the Work he had so happily begun. Those who conducted St. Paul, embarked along with him, and brought him as far as Athens,²⁰ where he arrived in the fifty-second Year of Jesus Christ. As soon as he was got thither, he sent back those that had brought him, with Orders to tell Silas and Timothy, that he desired them to follow him to Athens, as soon as possible. In the mean Time he went into a Synagogue of the Jews, and preached to them as often as he had Opportunity; and disputing with the Philosophers who were frequent in that Place, they at last brought him before the Areopagus, accusing him of introducing a new Religion. St. Paul being come before the Judges, thus made his Defence; that among other Marks of Superstition that he had found in their City, he had observed an Altar inscribed To the unknown God. ‘Twas therefore this God, whom they confessed that they knew not, that he came to make known to them. Afterwards he spoke to them of God the Creator of Heaven and Earth, of the Superintendence of a Providence, of the last Judgment, and of the Resurrection of the Dead. But after that they had heard of the Resurrection, some made Scorn of him, and others desired to hear him another Time. However some of them embraced the Christian Faith, of which Number was Dionysius a Senator of the Areopagus, and a Woman called Damaris, and several others with them.

St. Timothy came from Berea to Athens, according to the request of St. Paul; and informed him of the Persecution with which the Christians of Thessalonica were then afflicted. This obliged the Apostle to send him into Macedonia, that he might comfort them, and keep them stedfast.²¹After this St. Paul left Athens, and went to Corinth, where he lodged with one Aquila a Jew, by Trade a Tent-maker; and with him St. Paul work’d, as being of the same Trade himself. But however he did not neglect the preaching of the Gospel, which he performed every Sabbath-day in the Synagogue, shewing both to Jews and Gentiles, that Jesus was the Messiah. There he made several Converts, and he tells us himself, that he there baptized Stephanus 1 Cor. i. 14, 16, 17. xvi. 15.and his House, with Crispus and Gaius. About the same Time Silas and Timothy came to Corinth²², and brought him great Comfort, acquainting him with the good State of the Faithful of Thessalonica; and a little while after he wrote his first Epistle to the Thessalonians²³, which is the first of all the Epistles that he wrote. Therein he comforts the Faithful of Thessalonica, he commends their Zeal, Constancy, and Charity towards all the Christians of Macedonia; he gives them some Advice concerning the Use of Marriage, the avoiding Idleness, the Manner of Mourning for the Dead, the Cautions they must use not to be surprized by Antichrist, and concerning several other Points.

The second Epistle to the Thessalonians was written²⁴ not long after the first. He wrote it to dissipate the Apprehensions that some false Teachers had inspired them with, that the World was just going to have an End; for which they even produced a suppositious Letter of the Apostles, to confirm their Assertions. He reproves those that live in Idleness, and exhorts the Thessalonians patiently to endure their Persecution. St. Paul now finding himself encouraged by the Presence of Silas and Timothy, went on with the Work of his Ministry with new Ardor, shewing and proving, that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah. But the Jews opposing him with blasphemous and opprobrious Words, he shook his Clothes at them, and said, Your Blood be upon your own Head; as for me, I am innocent of it. From henceforth I shall go to the Gentiles. He then quitted the House of Aquila, and went to lodge with one called Titus Justus, who was originally a Gentile, but one that feared God. In the mean Time the Lord encouraged him by a Vision, and told him, that in Corinth he had much People; and this was the Reason that he continued there eight Months.

Acts xix. 1, 2, 3, &c.But Gallio the Proconsul of Achaia being at Corinth, the Jews of Corinth rose up against Paul, and brought him to his Acts xviii. 1, 2, 3, &c. Tribunal²⁵, accusing him of attempting to introduce a new Religion among them. But Gallio sent them away again, saying he would not meddle with Disputes that were foreign to his office. Paul continued still some Time at Corinth, but at last he went for Jerusalem, where he had a Mind to be present at the Feast of Pentecost. Before he went on Ship-board he cut off his Hair at Cenchrea, a Port of Corinth²⁶, because he had compleated his Vow of Nazariteship, in which he had engaged himself. He arrived at Ephesus with Aquila and Priscilla, from whence he went to Cæsarea of Palestine, and thence to Jerusalem. Here having performed his Devotions, he came to Antioch, where he stayed some Time; and then passing from thence, he made a Progress through all the Churches of Galatia and Phrygia successively. And having gone over the higher Provinces of Asia, he returned to Ephesus, where he abode three Years; that is, from the Year of Christ 54, to the Year 57.

At St. Paul’s Arrival at Ephesus, he found there some Disciples that had been initiated by Apollos, who had only baptized them with the Baptism of John the Baptist. St. Paul instructed them, baptized them with the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and layed his Hands on them; upon which they received the Holy Ghost, the Gift of Languages, and of Prophecy. He afterwards went into the Synagogue, and preached to the Jews for three Months, endeavouring to convince them that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. But as he found them very obstinate, he separated himself from them, and taught daily in the School of one Tyrannus. He did not omit to go by Day or Night, even to private Houses, to confirm those that believed, and to convince the Unbelievers, working with his Hands at the same Time, that he might not be burthensome to any. He did there several Miracles; even so much as that the Linnen that had but touched his body, being afterwards apply’d to the Sick, they were presently cured of their Diseases, or delivered from the Devils that possessed them. He also suffered much there, as well from the Jews as the Gentiles; and he himself informs us, that after the manner of Men he fought with Beasts at Ephesus, that is to say, that he was exposed to wild Beasts in the Amphitheatre²⁷; so that it was expected he should have been devoured by them, had not God miraculously deliver’d him.

Some are of Opinion,²⁸ that the Fight mention’d by St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 31, 32. was nothing else but the Scuffle he had with Demetrius the Silver-Smith and his Companions, who were disappointed in their Attempt of putting the Apostle to Death. But this Opinion cannot be supported, since his first Epistle to the Corinthians, wherein this Fight is mentioned, was written before that Sedition raised by Demetrius the Silver-Smith. St. Jerome²⁹ by these Beasts understands the Demons, who raised up an infinite Number of Enemies against St. Paul.

But the most natural Sense of the Text is this, that he was exposed to Beasts at Ephesus, and was delivered from them by a Miracle. This was the Opinion of St. Chrysostome, of Theodoret, of Ambrosiaster, of St. Cyprian³⁰, of St. Hilary³¹, and of most modern Commentators. Nicephorus³² quotes the Apocryphal Book of the Travels of St. Paul, which implies, that Jerome Governour of Ephesus condemned the Apostle to be expos’d to wild Beasts. Being in Prison, he was visited in the Night-Time by two Women called Tabula and Artemilla, who requir’d Baptism of him. He freed himself from his Bonds, went out of Prison as far the Sea-shore, where he baptized them. He returned to Prison, and put on his Fetters again without any one perceiving it. When he was expos’d in the Theatre, they let loose a Lion at him, which went to him and lay down at his Feet; and several other Beasts did in like Manner. At the same Time there fell such a violent Storm of Hail, that many that were present were kill’d by it, Jerome himself was converted, and received Baptism. The Antients have often spoke of this Apocryphal Book of the Travels of St. Paul; yet however we cannot much relie upon it.

‘Twas during the Time of his Abode at Ephesus that he wrote his Epistle to the Galatians³³, whom he had converted, and whom false Teachers had seduced and disturbed, persuading them that to attain Salvation, they ought to be circumcised, and submit themselves to the Observation of the whole Law. St. Paul therefore writ to them with much Zeal and Earnestness, magnifying his Apostleship, and painting their false Teachers in very lively Colours. He proves by the Scriptures, that Christians were exempt from the Yoke of the Law. He adds several Exhortations for regulating their Manners, and for the Conduct of their Lives. He writ it all with his own Hand, whereas his usual Custom was to make Use of an Amanuensis in the Writing of his other Epistles.

After this St. Paul purposed, at the Instigation of the Holy Ghost, to pass through Acts xix. 21, 22. Acts xix. 23, 24.Macedonia and Achaia, and afterwards to go to Jerusalem, saying, that after he had been there, he must also see Rome. And having sent Timothy and Erastus before into Macedonia, he tarry’d for some Time in Asia. During this Time he received Intelligence, that domestick Troubles were risen in the Church of Corinth, that Divisions reign’d amongst them, and that Abuses had begun to creep in. This made him resolve to write them his first Epistle³⁴, in which he reproves the Corinthians for their Divisions, for the extravagant Liberty that some took in eating Meats offered to Idols, without concerning themselves about the Scandal it gave to their Brethren. He exclaims against the incestuous Person that had marry’d his Mother-in-Law, and against those that did not scruple to implead their Brethren before secular Tribunals; against those that were puffed up with Pride, because of the supernatural Gifts that God had bestow’d on them; lastly against the Disorders that had obtained in their Assemblies, where every one pretended to speak, and even the Women undertook the Province of teaching in Publick. After having given Directions for correcting those Abuses, he reads them excellent Lessons for the reforming of their Manners. This Letter was written at Ephesus, and sent to the Corinthians by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus.

Before St. Paul left Ephesus, the Way of the Lord was disturbed by a Sedition raised by Demetrius the Silver-Smith, whose chief Trade consisted in making little Models of the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, which he sold to Strangers and Pilgrims, who flock’d from all Parts to see the famous Temple of Ephesus, which pass’d for one of the Wonders of the World. First he tamper’d with the other Workmen and Silver-Smiths, representing to them, that the Religion which St. Paul preached would ruin all their Traffick, by subverting the Worship of their Goddess. From the Workmen the Spirit of Mutiny spread among the other People, and presently the whole City was in an Uproar. They hurried away Gaius and Aristarchus to the Theatre, who were the Macedonians that had accompanied St. Paul in his Journey. St. Paul would have presented himself among them, but his Friends dissuaded him from it. The Magistrate of the City, or the Town-Clerk as the Text has it, had much ado to be heard by them, and to appease the Tumult; telling the People, that if Demetrius had any Thing particular to lay to the Charge of any one, that hindered the Worship of their Godess Diana, he might have Recourse to the Proconsul, and not raise a Sedition in the said City. Having said this, he dismissed the Assembly, and St. Paul taking his Leave of the Disciples, departed to go to Macedonia³⁵.

2 Cor. ii. 12.He embarked at Troas, and took Timothy with him, with whom he passed into Macedonia. Titus came thither to him, and acquainted 2 Cor. vii. 5, 6, 7. 2 Cor. vii. 6——15.him with the good Effects that his Letter had produced among the Corinthians; and told him that the Collections were now ready, that had been made by the Church of Corinth for the Faithful in Palestine. This engaged him to write a second Letter to the Corinthians³⁶, in which he exalts himself against those false Teachers, that had endeavoured to vilifie and depreciate him in the Minds of the Corinthians. He sets forth the Usefulness of his Ministry, and speaks of himself with some Advantage, but yet with great Modesty. He speaks of his Revelations, of his Disinterestedness, of his Persecutions, of his Sufferings. He exhorts the Corinthians to Works of Penance and Mortification, lest when he comes himself, he should be obliged to use his Power against the Offenders. He grants a Pardon to the incestuous Person, and exhorts the Corinthians to have their Alms in a Readiness, that they might be no Hindrance to him at his Arrival at Corinth. This Letter was sent by Titus, to whom he joyn’d a Brother, whom the Churches had associated with him, to collect the Alms of the Faithful. Some think this Brother was Silas, others Barnabas, and others St. Luke.

St. Paul having passed through MacedoniaActs xx. 2., came into Greece, or Achaia, and there continued three Months. He visited the Faithful of Corinth, and having received their Alms, as he was upon the Point of returning into Macedonia, he writ his Epistle to the Romans³⁷, in which he chiefly applies himself to explain the Doctrine of Grace and Predestination. He shows, that it was neither the Works of the Law, that have merited to the faithful Jews the Grace of their Vocation, nor yet the good Moral Works that might have been practised by the Gentile Philosophers, that have merited for them the same Favour; but that it was to the meer Grace of God that they ow’d this Advantage. St. Paul had not yet been at Rome, when he wrote this Epistle to the Romans; but he promises to come to see them, and salutes many of the Faithful of this Church. The Letter was dictated by St. Paul, and written by Tertius. ‘Tis thought it was carry’d by Phebe the Deaconess of the Church of Chenchrea; St. Paul recommends her herein to the Romans in a particular Manner:

Acts xx. 6, 7.At last he left Greece and came into Macedonia³⁸, intending to be at Jerusalem at the Feast of Pentecost. He stay’d some Time at Philippi, and there celebrated the Feast of the Passover. From hence he embarked and came to Troas, where he continued a Week. On the first Day of the Week the Disciples being assembled to break Bread, St. Paul being to depart the Day following, made a Discourse to them which held till Midnight. During this Time a young Man call’d Eutychus happening to sit in a Window, and fall asleep, fell down three Stories high, and was killed by the Fall. St. Paul came down to him, embraced him, and restored him to Life again. Then he went up again, broke Bread and eat it, and held on speaking to them till Day-break, at which Time he departed. Those of his Company took Ship at Troas, but as for himself he went on Foot as far as Assos, otherwise call’d Apollonia, and then embarked along with them at Mitylene. From whence he came to Miletus, whither the Priests of the Church of Ephesus came to see him; for he had not Time to go to them, because he was desirous of being at Jerusalem at the Feast of Pentecost.

Acts xxi. 1, 2, &c.When these Bishops and Priests were arrived at Miletus, St. Paul discoursed with them, saying he was going to Jerusalem, without certainly knowing what should happen to him; but he did not doubt but that he had much to suffer there, since in all the Cities the Holy Ghost had given him to understand, that Chains and Afflictions waited for him there. But he declared to them, that all this did not terrifie him, provided he could but fulfil his Ministry. After having exhorted them to Patience, and having prayed along with them, he went on Board, going strait to Coos, then to Rhodes, and thence to Patara, where finding a Ship that was bound for Phœnicia, they went on Board, and arrived safe at Tyre. Here they made a Stop for seven Days, and then going on they arrived at Ptolemais, and thence to Cæsarea, where they found Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven Deacons. While St. Paul was there, the Prophet Agabus arrived there also from Judæa; and having taken St. Paul’s Girdle, he bound his own Hands and Feet with it, saying, Thus shall the Jews of Jerusalem bind the Man that owns this Girdle, and shall deliver him up to the Gentiles. But St. Paul’s Constancy was not shaken by all these Predictions, and he told them, that he was ready, not only to suffer Bonds, but Death it self for the Name of Christ.

When he was come to Jerusalem the Brethern received him with Joy; and the Day following he went to see St. James the Lesser, Bishop of Jerusalem, at whose House all the Priests assembled. Paul gave them an Account of what God had done among the Gentiles by his Ministry. Then St. James informed him, that the converted Jews were strangely prejudiced against him, because they were informed he taught the Jews that lived among the Gentiles, and out of Palestine, that they ought to renounce the Law of Moses, and no longer circumcise their Children. Therefore, continued St. James, we must assemble them here together, where you may speak to ‘em your self, and undeceive them. Moreover do this, that your Actions may verify your Words: Join your self to four Men that are here, and who have taken upon them a Vow of Nazariteship; and that you may share in the Merit of their Action, contribute to the Charge of their Purification, and purifie your self also, that you may offer with them the Offerings and Sacrifices ordained for the Purification of a Nazarite. See what is said before in the Article NARAZITE.

St. Paul exactly followed this Advice of St. James, and on the next Day went into the Temple, where he declared to the Priests, that in seven Days these four Nazarites would compleat their Vow of Nazariteship, and that he would contribute his Share of the Charges. But towards the End of these seven Days, the Jews of Asia having seen him in the Temple, moved all the People against him, laid hold of him, and cried out; Help ye Israelites, this is he that teaches every where against the Law, and against the Temple, and has brought Gentiles into the Temple, and prophaned this holy Place. At the same Time they laid hold on him, shut the Gates of the Temple, and would have killed him, had not Lysias the Tribune of the Roman Garrison there run to his Rescue, took him out of their Hands, and brought him into the Citadel. St. Paul being upon the Steps, desired the Tribune to suffer him to speak to the People, who followed him thither in a great Multitude. The Tribune permitted him, and St. Paul making a Sign with his Hand, made a Speech in Hebrew, and related to ‘em the Manner of his Conversion, and his Mission from God to go and preach to the Gentiles. At his mentioning the Gentiles, the Jews began to cry out; Away with this wicked Fellow out of the World, for he is not worthy to live.

Immediately the Tribune made him come into the Castle, and ordered that he should be put to the Question by whipping him, that he might confess the Matter, why the Jews were so incensed against him. Being now bound, he said to the Tribune; Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman Citizen before you hear him? The Tribune hearing this, caused him to be unbound, and calling together the Priests and the Senate of the Jews, he brought Paul before them, that he might know the Occasion of this Tumult of the People. Then Paul began to speak to them to this Purpose. Brethren, I have lived in all good Conscience before God until this Day. At which Words Ananias Son of Nebedeus, who was the Chief-priest, ordered the Bystanders to give him a Blow in the Face. At which St. Paul said to him, God shall smite thee, thou whited Wall; for sittest thou to judge me after the Law, and forgetting the Duty of a Judge, commandest me to be smitten contrary to the Law? Those that were present said to him, Revilest thou God’s High-priest? St. Paul excused himself by saying, that he did not know he was the High-priest, for it is written, Thou shalt not speak Evil of the Ruler of thy People. Then perceiving that Part of the Assembly were Sadducees, and Part Pharisees, he cried out, Brethren I am a Pharisee, the Son of a Pharisee; of the Hope and Resurrection of the Dead I am called in Question.

Then the Assembly being divided in Interests and Opinions, and the Clamour increasing more and more, the Tribune gave the Word to the Soldiers, and they fetched him away out of the Assembly, and brought him into the Castle. The following Night the Lord appeared to Paul, and said to him; Take Courage, for as you have bore Testimony of me at Jerusalem, so must you also at Rome. The Day following more than forty Jews engaged themselves by an Oath, not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul. They came therefore, and made known their Design to the Priests and chief of the People, saying to them; To Morrow cause Paul to appear before you, as if you would inquire more accurately into his Affair, and before he can come to you we will lye in wait for him and kill him. But St. Paul being informed of this Conspiracy by his Sister’s Son, acquainted the Tribune with it, who gave Orders that the Night following he should be sent to Cæsarea, to Felix the Governor, who had his ordinary Residence there. Felix having received Letters from Lysias, and being informed that St. Paul was of Cilicia, he told him he Acts xxiv.would hear him when his Accusers should arrive.

Five Days after Ananias the High-priest, and some of the Senators, came to Cæsarea, bringing with them Tertullus the Orator to plead against Paul. Tertullus accused him as being a seditious Person, a Disturber of the publick Peace, who had put himself at the Head of the Sect of the Nazarens, and who made no Scruple even to profane the Temple. But St. Paul easily refuted all these Calumnies, and defied his Accusers to prove any of the Articles which they had exhibited against him. He ended his Discourse with saying, that for the Doctrine of the Resurrection from the Dead his Adversaries would have him condemned. Felix having heard these Discourses, put off the farther hearing of his Cause to another Time, and said he would determine the Matter when Lysias should come from Jerusalem. Some Days after Felix and his Wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, being at Cæsarea, they made Paul come before them, to hear what he had to say concerning the Faith in Jesus Christ. Paul spoke to ‘em of Justice, Charity, and of the last Judgment, in such Manner that Felix was terrified at it, made him finish his Discourse, and told him he would hear him farther when he was more at Leisure. And being in hopes that St. Paul would have purchased his Liberty with a Sum of Money, he used him well, often sent for him, and had frequent Conversations with him.

But two Years thus passing away³⁹, Felix made Way for his Successor Portius Festus⁴⁰; and being willing to oblige the Jews, he left Paul in Prison. Festus being come into his Province, three Days after he went to Jerusalem, whither the chief Priests desired him to send for Paul, having a Design to fall upon him by the Way. But Festus told them they might come to Cæsarea, where he would do them Justice. As soon as he returned to this City, the Day after he made Paul appear before the Tribunal. Here the Jews accused him of several Crimes, of which they were able to prove nothing. And Paul so well defended himself, that Festus could find nothing in him that deserved Punishment. He proposed to him to go to Jerusalem, and be tried there; but he answered, that he was now at the Emperor’s Tribunal where he ought to be tried, and that he appealed to Cæsar. Festus having conferred with his Council, told him; that to Cæsar he had appealed, and therefore to Cæsar he should go.

Some Days after King Agrippa and his Queen Berenice coming to Cæsarea to salute Festus, the Governor spoke to ‘em concerning Paul, telling them he did not know what he was guilty of, nor how he should represent his Case to the Emperor. Agrippa having desired to hear him, Festus sent for him, and told him he had Liberty to speak. Then St. Paul related to Acts xxv. Acts xxvii.Agrippa the Manner in which he had been converted, on his Journey to Damascus. He spoke to him of Jesus Christ, and of his Resurrection. But while he was enlarging upon these Things, Festus cried out to him; Paul you are besides your self, your much Learning has made you mad. To this Paul replied; I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but speak the Words of Sobernes and Truth: And King Agrippa is well acquainted with these Things. O King Agrippa, added he, do you not believe the Prophets? I know you believe them. Agrippa then made Answer to Paul, you have almost persuaded me to become a Christian. I would to God, says Paul, that not only almost, but altogether you were such as I am, except these Bonds; and not you only, but all those that now hear me. Then King Agrippa, Berenice, and Festus rose up, and Agrippa said to Festus, This Man might have been acquitted, and set at Liberty, if he had not appealed to Cæsar.

As soon therefore as it was resolved to send Paul into Italy, he was put on Board a Ship of Adramyttium, a City of Mysia; and having passed over the Seas of Cilicia and Pamphylia, they arrived at Myra in Lycia, where having found a Ship that was bound for Italy, they went on Board. But the Season being far advanced, for it was at least the latter End of September, and the Wind proving contrary, they arrived with Difficulty enough at the Fair-havens, a Port in the Isle of Crete. St. Paul advised them to winter there, but others were of Opinion they had better go to Phenice, another Harbour of the same Island. But as they were going thither, the Wind drove them upon a little Island called Clauda, where the Mariners fearing to strike upon some Bank of Sand, they lowered their Mast, and surrendered themselves to the Mercy of the Waves. Three Days after they threw over Board the Tackling of the Ship. Neither the Sun or Stars had appeared now for fourteen Days. In this extream Danger an Angel appeared to St. Paul, and assured him that God had given him the Lives of all that were in the Ship with him, which were in all two Hundred and seventy six Souls. St. Paul told ‘em of his Vision, exhorted them to take Courage, and promised them that they should all come alive into an Island, and that the Vessel only should be lost. On the fourteenth Night the Seamen cast out the Lead, and thought by their Sounding that they approached near to some Land. They were attempting to save themselves by going into the Boat; but St. Paul told the Centurion and the Soldiers, that except the Sailors continued in the Ship, their Lives could not be saved. Then the Soldiers cut the Ropes of the Boat, and let her drive.

About Day-break St. Paul persuaded them to take some Nourishment, assuring them that not a Hair of their Heads should perish. At his Example they took some Food, and when they had eat they lightened their Vessel, by throwing the Corn into the Sea. Day being come, they perceived a Shore, where they resolved, if possible, to bring the Ship to. But the Vessel having struck against a Neck of Land that run out into the Sea, so that the Head remained fixed, and the Stern was exposed to the Mercy of the Waves; the Soldiers fearing lest any of the Prisoners should make their Escape by Swimming, were for putting them all to the Sword. But the Centurion would not suffer them, being willing to save Paul; and he commanded those that could swim to throw themselves first out of the Vessel, and others got Planks, so that all of ‘em came safe to shore. Then they found that the Island was called Malta, the Inhabitants of Acts xxviii. 1, 2, 3, &c.which received them with great Humanity.

They being all very wet and cold, a great Fire was lighted to dry them; and Paul having gathered up a handful of Sticks, and put them upon the Fire, a Viper leapt out of the Fire, and took hold of his Hand. Then the barbarous People said to one another, without doubt this Man is a Murderer, and though he has been saved from the Shipwrack, yet divine Vengeance still pursues him, and will not suffer him to live. But Paul shaking the Viper into the Fire, received no Injury from it. The People seeing this, changed their Opinion of him, and took him for a God; which Opinion of theirs was more confirmed, when he cured the Father of Publius, the chief Man of the Island, of a Fever and Bloody-Flux. After which Miracle they all brought out their Sick to him, and they were healed. We are assured that from this Time no venomous Creatures have been found in the Isle of Malta. See MALTA.

At the End of three Months they embarked again, and arrived, first at Syracuse, then at Rhegium, and lastly at Puteo li. Here St. Paul found some Christians, who detained him for seven Days, then he set out for Rome. The Brethren of this City having been informed of St. Paul’s Arrival, came out to meet him as far as Appiiforum, and the three Taverns. And when he was come to Rome, he was allowed to dwell where he pleased, having a Soldier to guard him, who was joined to him with a Chain. Three Days afterwards St. Paul desired the Chief of the Jews there to come to him. He related to ‘em in what Manner he had been seized in the Temple of Jerusalem, and the Necessity he was under of appealing to Cæsar. The Jews told him, that as yet they had received no Information about his Affair; but as for Christianity, they knew nothing of it yet, but only that it was spoken against every where, and that they should be very willing to have an Account of it from him. A Day was appointed for this, and St. Paul preached to ‘em concerning the Kingdom of God, endeavouring to convince them from Moses and the Prophets, that Jesus was the Messiah. Some of ‘em believed what he had said to ‘em, and others disbelieved, so that they returned from him divided among themselves.

Paul dwelt for two whole Years at Rome⁴¹, in a Lodging that he hired, where he received all that came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and the Religion of Jesus Christ, without any Interruption. Hitherto we have had the Acts of the Apostles for our Guide, in compiling the History of St. Paul; what we shall add hereafter will be mostly taken from his own Epistles. His Captivity did not a little contribute to the Advancement of Religion, and he converted several Persons even Philip. i. 12, 14, 18. iv. 22.of the Emperor’s Court. ‘Tis said that while he was at Rome, he had a great Correspondence by Letters with Seneca⁴²; but the Letters that are now extant are rejected by every Body, though St. Austin⁴³ and St. Jerome⁴⁴ seem to have thought them genuine, and therefore for this Reason St. Jerome has placed Seneca in the List of Ecclesiastical Writers. The Church has never acknowledged those that are ascribed to St. Paul, as written to Seneca; and those that we now have under Seneca’s Name, are not worthy of that great Man. These Letters have not the Style of either of those Authors; and without mentioning the Inconsistencies that Baronius has observed therein, Lipsius⁴⁵ maintains, that both of ‘em discover the Hand and Style of the same Impostor.

The Christians of Philippi in Macedonia hearing that St. Paul was a Prisoner at Phil. ii. 25. iv. 18.Rome, they sent Epaphroditus their Bishop to him, to bring him Money, and otherwise to assist him in their Name. Epaphroditus fell sick at Rome, and when he went back to Macedonia, the Apostle sent by him a Letter to the Philippians⁴⁶, in which he gives them Thanks for the seasonable Relief they had sent him, speaks to them of the Fruits of his Bonds, and exhorts them to live as Children of Light in the midst of the Heathen that surrounded them. He fortifies them against the false Teachers of Judaism, conjures them to live together in a perfect Union, and in a sincere Humility. He expresses some Hopes that he should soon come to see them; for though he could wish to die, yet he perceived that God would still continue his Life.

Onesimus the Slave of Philemon having run away from his Master’s House, which was at Colossus in Phrygia, came to Rome and found out St. Paul, and was very serviceable to him. St. Paul made him a Convert, and sent him back to his Master Philemon with a Letter⁴⁷. See the Articles ONESIMUS and PHILEMON. He also sent a Letter by him to the Believers in the City of Colossae⁴⁸. St. Paul had not preached in this City, and was not personally acquainted with the Faithful there; but he had been informed by Epaphras, who was then a Prisoner at Rome with him, and who had been their Apostle, in what Manner they had received the Word of Truth; and at the same time, how the Enemy had there sown Tares among the good Seed. For some false Apostles would have persuaded them, that we ought not to approach to God by Jesus Christ, because he is raised too high above us; but by the Angels, who (they said) were our Mediators. St. Paul therefore writ to them, to undeceive them. He exalts the Majesty of Jesus Christ, and his Quality of being a Mediator. He gives them Cautions against these false Teachers, and lays down excellent Rules for the Conduct of their Lives. He recommends to them, to cause his Letter to them to be read in the Church of Laodicea, and to read in their Church that which the Laodiceans had written to him. Some have thought, that St. Paul had also written to the Laodiceans. See the Article LAODICEA.

‘Tis not known by what Means St. Paul was delivered from his Prison, and discharged from the Accusation that the Jews had brought against him. There is great Probability, that they durst not prosecute him before the Emperor, not having sufficient Proof of what they alledged against him. This is certain, that he was set at Liberty in the sixty-third Year of Christ, after having been two Years a Prisoner at Rome. He was still in this City, or at least in Italy, when he writ his Epistle to the Hebrews⁴⁹. He addresses it to the Faithful of Palestine, to confirm them against the Evils they were forced to suffer, from the unbelieving Jews. His chief End in his Epistle is to shew, that true Justification cannot proceed from the Observation of the Law, but from Faith in Jesus Christ, and from his Grace; and that the ancient Priesthood and the Legal Ceremonies, are all abolished by the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, and by the Christian Religion.

Very many Difficulties have been started upon this Epistle. It has been ascribed to St. Clement, to St. Luke, to St. Mark, to St. Barnabas, to Apollos, to another Paul different from the Apostle; but lastly, it has been generally imputed to St. Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles. It has been disputed what Language it was writ in, whether Greek or Hebrew. Some have thought that it was first written in Hebrew by St. Paul, and then translated into Greek by St. Clement, or some other. Others have maintained, that the Original of this Epistle was the Syriac that is still extant. ‘Tis pretty well agreed, that it was written before the Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem; but the Time when, and the Place where, are Circumstances not so well agreed on. He speaks therein of the Brethren of Italy; but it is unknown Hebr. xiii. 24.whether it was composed at Rome, while St. Paul was in his Bonds, or after he was at Liberty, in some other City of Italy. Lastly, there has been a long Dispute about the Authenticalness of this Epistle. The Arians maintain’d it was not St. Paul’s; the Marcionites pretended it was corrupted; the Greeks have for a long time received it as canonical, but the Latins have hesitated for several Ages. This is not a Place to inquire scrupulously into these Points; the Commentaries upon this Epistle may be consulted, and our Preface to the same Epistle.

Hebr. xiii. 24. 1 Tim. i. 3St. Paul being out of Prison, went over Italy, and according to some of the Fathers⁵⁰, passed into Spain, then into Judea, went to Ephesus, and there left Timothy, preached in Crete, and there fix’d Titus to take care to cultivate the Church he had there planted. Probably he might also visit the Philippians, according to the Promise he had made them. And it is believed, that it was from Macedonia he writ his first Epistle to Timothy⁵¹, in which he shews him what are the Duties of a Bishop, and gives him Advice for his particular Conduct. He recommends to him to apply himself to Study and Reading, and to drink a little Wine for the Weakness of his Stomach. He sends him Word he had excommunicated Hymenæus and Alexander, the first of which affirmed, that the Resurrection of the Dead was already over.

Some time after he wrote to Titus⁵², whom he had left in Crete. He desires him to come to him at Nicopolis, from whence probably he sent this Letter. He lays before him the Duties of a Bishop, and the Qualifications he ought to have, that he might fulfil what God expected from him in this Office. He tells him he must restrain by Force those that are hardened and obstinate, and gives him several Instructions for the Management of Persons of all Conditions. The Year following he went into Asia, and came to Troas⁵³, where he left a Cloak and some Books, with one called Carpus, who was his Host. Thence he went to visit St. Timothy at Ephesus, then to Miletus, where he left Trophimus sick. Lastly, he went again to Rome, where the Fathers believe, that God had revealed to him he should suffer Martyrdom. He arrived here in the sixty-fifth Year of our Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Chrysostom says⁵⁴, it was reported that St. Paul going to see a Cup-bearer and a Concubine of Nero’s, to convert them to the Faith, he actually made a Convert of the Concubine. This so provoked Nero, who was very fond of her, that he caused St. Paul to be apprehended and clapt into Prison. The Apostle tells us himself, in his 2 Tim. iv. 16.second Epistle to Timothy, that when he made his first Appearance he was forsaken by all the World. In his Prison he was much assisted by Onesiphorus, who found 2 Tim. i. 16.him at last after much Enquiry. ‘Twas in this last Prison that he writ his second Epistle to Timothy, which St. Chrysostom⁵⁵ looks upon as the Apostle’s last Testament⁵⁶. He there desires Timothy to come to see him before Winter. He exhorts him to fulfil the whole Duty of a Bishop, and never to forget those Instructions he had received from him.

Phil. ii. 24. i. 25, 26. 2 Tim. iv 12.He tells him he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus; which gives room to conjecture, he sent him thither to deliver the Epistle he had wrote to the Ephesians, and to the other Churches of Asia⁵⁷. His Design in this Epistle is to instruct them in the principal Mysteries of Faith, of Redemption and Justification by the Death of Christ, of free Predestination, of the calling of the Gentiles, of the Reunion of two People in one only Body, of which Jesus Christ is the Head; and of the Elevation of this Divine Head above all Creatures both spiritual and corporeal. This Epistle is perhaps the most sublime and most difficult of all those written by St. Paul.

This great Apostle at last consummated his Martyrdom, on the 29th Day of June, in the 66th Year of our Saviour Christ. He had his Head cut off at a Place called the Salvian Waters. Some have said⁵⁸, that his Head spouted out with Milk instead of Blood, and that this Miracle converted the Executioner and two others, who suffered Martyrdom along with him, or a few Days after him, that is, on the second of July; but these Particulars have not the Sanction of Antiquity to vouch for them. He was buried on the Way of Ostium, and a magnificent Church was built over his Tomb, which is in Being to this Day. His Chains were preserved at Rome with great Veneration, where they performed many Miracles2 Tim. iv. 20.⁵⁹.

Besides the fourteen Epistles of St. Paul, which we have mentioned in the Course of his History, Clemens Alexandrinus⁶⁰ quotes several of his Discourses which are now no more. We have seen before, that it was supposed he had writ Letters to Seneca. There is also now extant a spurious Epistle to the Laodiceans, which bears his Name in several Manuscripts. It has been pretended also, that he writ a third Epistle to the Thessalonians, a third to the Corinthians, and a second to the Ephesians. There are ascribed to him an Apocalypse and a Gospel, which were condemned by the Council at Rome under Gelasius. The Simonians had composed a Book under his Name called, The Preaching of St. Paul; and a Priest of Asia composed the Voyages of St. Paul, and of St. Thecla. But he being convicted of Imposture, was deprived of his Priesthood by the Apostle St John⁶¹.

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