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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Paul Takes Leave of the Elders of Ephesus
PAUL TAKES LEAVE OF THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS. After the parting sermon that Paul preached to the elders of Ephesus, which was very affecting, we have here the parting prayer and tears, which were yet more affecting; we can…
Paul's Voyage to Cæsarea; Paul's Arrival at Ptolemais
PAUL'S VOYAGE TO CÆSAREA; PAUL'S ARRIVAL AT PTOLEMAIS. We may observe here, I. How much ado Paul had to get clear from Ephesus, intimated in the first words of the chapter, after we had gotten from them, that is, were d…
The Prophecy of Agabus; Paul's Adherence to His Resolution to Visit Jerusalem
THE PROPHECY OF AGABUS; PAUL'S ADHERENCE TO HIS RESOLUTION TO VISIT JERUSALEM. We have here Paul and his company arrived at length at Cæsarea, where he designed to make some stay, it being the place where the gospel was…
Paul's Visit to Jerusalem; Paul's Conformity to the Jewish Law
PAUL'S VISIT TO JERUSALEM; PAUL'S CONFORMITY TO THE JEWISH LAW. In these verses we have, I. Paul's journey to Jerusalem from Cæsarea, and the company that went along with him. 1. They took up their carriages, their bag…
Paul Seized in the Temple; The Tumult at Jerusalem
PAUL SEIZED IN THE TEMPLE; THE TUMULT AT JERUSALEM. We have here Paul brought into a captivity which we are not likely to see the end of; for after this he is either hurried from one bar to another, or lies neglected, f…
Paul's First Defence
PAUL'S FIRST DEFENCE. Paul had, in the Acts 21:40, gained a great point, by commanding so profound a silence after so loud a clamour. Now here observe, I. With what an admirable composure and presence of mind he address…
Paul's First Defence
PAUL'S FIRST DEFENCE. Paul here gives such an account of himself as might serve not only to satisfy the chief captain that he was not that Egyptian he took him to be, but the Jews also that he was not that enemy to thei…
Paul's First Defence
PAUL'S FIRST DEFENCE. Paul was going on with this account of himself, had shown them his commission to preach among the Gentiles without any peevish reflections upon the Jews, and we may suppose designed next to show ho…
Paul's Second Defence
PAUL'S SECOND DEFENCE. Perhaps when Paul was brought, as he often was (corpus cum causa—the person and the cause together), before heathen magistrates and councils, where he and his cause were slighted, because not at a…
Paul's Second Defence
PAUL'S SECOND DEFENCE. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but some way or other the Lord delivereth them out of them all. Paul owned he had experienced the truth of this in the persecutions he had undergone among t…
A Conspiracy against Paul; Paul Sent to Felix
A CONSPIRACY AGAINST PAUL; PAUL SENT TO FELIX. We have here the story of a plot against the life of Paul; how it was laid, how it was discovered, and how it was defeated. I. How this plot was laid. They found they could…
The Speech of Tertullus
THE SPEECH OF TERTULLUS. We must suppose that Lysias, the chief captain, when he had sent away Paul to Cæsarea, gave notice to the chief priests, and others that had appeared against Paul, that if they had any thing to…
Paul's Third Defence
PAUL'S THIRD DEFENCE. We have here Paul's defence of himself, in answer to Tertullus's charge, and there appears in it a great deal of the spirit of wisdom and holiness, and an accomplishment of Christ's promise to his…
Paul Converses with Felix; Felix Trembles; Paul's Trial Adjourned
PAUL CONVERSES WITH FELIX; FELIX TREMBLES; PAUL'S TRIAL ADJOURNED. We have here the result of Paul's trial before Felix, and what was the consequence of it. I. Felix adjourned the cause, and took further time to conside…
Paul Arraigned before Festus; Paul's Fourth Defence; Paul Appeals to Cæsar
PAUL ARRAIGNED BEFORE FESTUS; PAUL'S FOURTH DEFENCE; PAUL APPEALS TO CÆSAR. We commonly say, "New lords, new laws, new customs;" but here was a new governor, and yet Paul had the same treatment from him that he had from…
Agrippa's Visit to Festus; Paul Arraigned before Agrippa
AGRIPPA'S VISIT TO FESTUS; PAUL ARRAIGNED BEFORE AGRIPPA. We have here the preparation that was made for another hearing of Paul before King Agrippa, not in order to his giving judgment upon him, but in order to his giv…
Paul's Fifth Defence
PAUL'S FIFTH DEFENCE. Agrippa was the most honourable person in the assembly, having the title of king bestowed upon him, though otherwise having only the power of other governors under the emperor, and, though not here…
Paul's Fifth Defence
PAUL'S FIFTH DEFENCE. All who believe a God, and have a reverence for his sovereignty, must acknowledge that those who speak and act by his direction, and by warrant from him, are not to be opposed; for that is fighting…
Paul's Fifth Defence
PAUL'S FIFTH DEFENCE. We have reason to think that Paul had a great deal more to say in defence of the gospel he preached, and for the honour of it, and to recommend it to the good opinion of this noble audience; he had…
Paul's Voyage towards Rome
PAUL'S VOYAGE TOWARDS ROME. It does not appear how long it was after Paul's conference with Agrippa that he was sent away for Rome, pursuant to his appeal to Cæsar; but it is likely they took the first convenience they…
Paul's Voyage towards Rome
PAUL'S VOYAGE TOWARDS ROME. In these verses we have, I. The ship putting to sea again, and pursuing her voyage at first with a promising gale. Observe, 1. What induced them to leave the fair havens: it was because they…
Paul's Voyage towards Rome
PAUL'S VOYAGE TOWARDS ROME. We have here the issue of the distress of Paul and his fellow-travellers; they escaped with their lives and that was all, and that was for Paul's sake. We are here told (Acts 27:37) what numb…
Paul's Voyage towards Rome
PAUL'S VOYAGE TOWARDS ROME. What a great variety of places and circumstances do we find Paul in! He was a planet, and not a fixed star. Here we have him in an island to which, in all probability, he had never come if he…
Paul at Rome
PAUL AT ROME. We have here the progress of Paul's voyage towards Rome, and his arrival there at length. A rough and dangerous voyage he had hitherto had, and narrowly escaped with his life; but after a storm comes a cal…