Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 17, verses 1-15
1 Paul preacheth at Thessalonica, 4 where some believe and others persecute him, 10 He is sent to Beroea and preacheth there, 13 Being persecuted at Thessalonica, 15 he comes to Athens and disputeth, and preacheth the living God to them unknownJohn, Chapter 11, verses 47-57
47 The high priests and Pharisees gather a counsel against Christ, 49 Caiaphas prophesieth, 54 Jesus hid himself, 55 At the Passover they inquire after him, and lay wait for him11
11:47 What do we? - What? Believe. Yea, but death yields to the power of Christ sooner than infidelity.
11:48 All men will believe - And receive him as the Messiah. And this will give such umbrage to the Romans that they will come and subvert both our place - Temple; and nation - Both our Church and state. Were they really afraid of this? Or was it a fair colour only? Certainly it was no more. For they could not but know, that he that raised the dead was able to conquer the Romans.
11:49 That year - That memorable year, in which Christ was to die.It was the last and chief of Daniel's seventy weeks, the fortieth year before the destruction of Jerusalem, and was celebrated for various causes, in the Jewish history. Therefore that year is so peculiarly mentioned: Caiaphas was the high priest both before and after it. Ye know nothing - He reproves their slow deliberations in so clear a case.
11:50 It is expedient that one man should die for the people - So God overruled his tongue, for he spake not of himself, by his own spirit only, but by the spirit of prophecy. And thus he gave unawares as clear a testimony to the priestly, as Pilate did to the kingly office of Christ.
11:52 But that, he might gather into one - Church, all the children of God that were scattered abroad - Through all ages and nations.
11:55 Many went up to purify themselves - That they might remove all hinderances to their eating the passover.
17
17:1 And taking their journey through Amphipolis and Apollonia - St. Luke seems to have been left at Philippi; and to have continued in those parts, travelling from place to place among the Churches, till St. Paul returned thither. For here he leaves off speaking of himself as one of St. Paul's company; neither does he resume that style, till we find them together there, Act 20:5-6. After this he constantly uses it to the end of the history. Amphipolis and Apollonia were cities of Macedonia.
17:2 And Paul, according to his custom - Of doing all things, as far as might be, in a regular manner, went in to them three Sabbath days - Not excluding the days between.
17:4 Of the principal women, not a few - Our free thinkers pique themselves upon observing, that women are more religious than men; and this, in compliment both to religion and good manners, they impute to the weakness of their understandings. And indeed as far as nature can go, in imitating religion by performing the outward acts of it, this picture of religion may make a fairer show in women than in men, both by reason of their more tender passions, and their modesty, which will make those actions appear to more advantage. But in the case of true religion, which always implies taking up the cross, especially in time of persecution, women lie naturally under a great disadvantage, as having less courage than men. So that their embracing the Gospel was a stronger evidence of the power of him whose strength is perfected in weakness, as a stronger assistance of the Holy Spirit was needful for them to overcome their natural fearfulness.
17:11 These were more ingenuous - Or generous. To be teachable in the things of God is true generosity of soul. The receiving the word with all readiness of mind, and the most accurate search into the truth, are well consistent.
17:12 Many of the - Of the Jews. And of the Grecian women - Who were followed by their husbands.