Chapter 21:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Acts 21
Concise Complete
Paul's voyage towards Jerusalem. (1-7) Paul at Cesarea.
The prophecy of Agabus, Paul at Jerusalem. (8-18) He is persuaded to join in
ceremonial observances. (19-26) Being in danger from the Jews, he is rescued by
the Romans. (27-40)
Verses 1-7
Providence must be acknowledged when our affairs go on well. Wherever Paul came,
he inquired what disciples were there, and found them out. Foreseeing his
troubles, from love to him, and concern for the church, they wrongly thought it
would be most for the glory of God that he should continue at liberty; but their
earnestness to dissuade him from it, renders his pious resolution the more
illustrious. He has taught us by example, as well as by rule, to pray always, to
pray without ceasing. Their last farewell was sweetened with prayer.
Verses 8-18 Paul
had express warning of his troubles, that when they came, they might be no
surprise or terror to him. The general notice given us, that through much
tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God, should be of the same use to
us. Their weeping began to weaken and slacken his resolution Has not our Master
told us to take up our cross? It was a trouble to him, that they should so
earnestly press him to do that in which he could not gratify them without
wronging his conscience. When we see trouble coming, it becomes us to say, not
only, The will of the Lord must be done, and there is no remedy; but, Let the
will of the Lord be done; for his will is his wisdom, and he doeth all according
to the counsel of it. When a trouble is come, this must allay our griefs, that
the will of the Lord is done; when we see it coming, this must silence our
fears, that the will of the Lord shall be done; and we ought to say, Amen, let
it be done. It is honourable to be an old disciple of Jesus Christ, to have been
enabled by the grace of God to continue long in a course of duty, stedfast in
the faith, growing more and more experienced, to a good old age. And with these
old disciples one would choose to lodge; for the multitude of their years shall
teach wisdom. Many brethren at Jerusalem received Paul gladly. We think,
perhaps, that if we had him among us, we should gladly receive him; but we
should not, if, having his doctrine, we do not gladly receive that.
Verses 19-26 Paul
ascribed all his success to God, and to God they gave the praise. God had
honoured him more than any of the apostles, yet they did not envy him; but on
the contrary, glorified the Lord. They could not do more to encourage Paul to go
on cheerfully in his work. James and the elders of the church at Jerusalem,
asked Paul to gratify the believing Jews, by some compliance with the ceremonial
law. They thought it was prudent in him to conform thus far. It was great
weakness to be so fond of the shadows, when the substance was come. The religion
Paul preached, tended not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. He preached
Christ, the end of the law for righteousness, and repentance and faith, in which
we are to make great use of the law. The weakness and evil of the human heart
strongly appear, when we consider how many, even of the disciples of Christ, had
not due regard to the most eminent minister that even lived. Not the excellence
of his character, nor the success with which God blessed his labours, could gain
their esteem and affection, seeing that he did not render the same respect as
themselves to mere ceremonial observances. How watchful should we be against
prejudices! The apostles were not free from blame in all they did; and it would
be hard to defend Paul from the charge of giving way too much in this matter. It
is vain to attempt to court the favour of zealots, or bigots to a party. This
compliance of Paul did not answer, for the very thing by which he hoped to
pacify the Jews, provoked them, and brought him into trouble. But the all-wise
God overruled both their advice and Paul's compliance with it, to serve a better
purpose than was intended. It was in vain to think of pleasing men who would be
pleased with nothing but the rooting out of Christianity. Integrity and
uprightness will be more likely to preserve us than insincere compliances. And
it should warn us not to press men to doing what is contrary to their own
judgment to oblige us.
Verses 27-40 In
the temple, where Paul should have been protected as in a place of safety, he
was violently set upon. They falsely charged him with ill doctrine and ill
practice against the Mosaic ceremonies. It is no new thing for those who mean
honestly and act regularly, to have things laid to their charge which they know
not and never thought of. It is common for the wise and good to have that
charged against them by malicious people, with which they thought to have
obliged them. God often makes those a protection to his people, who have no
affection to them, but only have compassion for sufferers, and regard to the
public peace. And here see what false, mistaken notions of good people and good
ministers, many run away with. But God seasonably interposes for the safety of
his servants, from wicked and unreasonable men; and gives them opportunities to
speak for themselves, to plead for the Redeemer, and to spread abroad his
glorious gospel.
Chapter 21:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
