proselyte to the faith, and examined him, in hopes that he would excuse himself, and lay the fault upon Paul Then Alexander beckoned with his hand for silence, thinking to make his defence; but the Ephesians knowing him to be a Jew, and supposing he was of Paul's opinion, they would not suffer him to speak; but continued for two hours running up and down, and crying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

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The register of the games, seeing the tumult still increase, thought it high time to compose and quiet the people, to whom he made the following speech: habitants of Ephesus, what man is there in the world that does not know that Ephesus, among the cities of Greece, hath the honour to be chief in the worship of Diana, because her temple incloses that image which fell down from Jupiter? This being granted by all, what need is there of all this noise? For as to these men, whom ye have brought hither, they have neither robbed your temples, nor spoken any thing against your goddess Diana; and as for Demetrius and the artificers that depend on him, if they have suffered any damage, the law is open: but if you have any other suit of controversy among you, it shall be referred to such judicature as the law appoints : for we are in danger of being called in question already for this day's uproar, there being no cause or excuse for it." Upon which the multitude, without any further violence, separated, and returned to their own habitations.

This commotion being appeased, Paul called all the disciples together, and having left Timothy in charge of the congregation, he took an affectionate leave of them, and departed from Ephesus to go into Macedonia, and to visit the churches planted there.

After the apostle had arrived at Macedonia, and spent several months in his tour through Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonia, and Berea, exhorting and comforting the Christians in all those parts, he went from thence into Greece, that he might visit the churches at Corinth, and in the neighbouring cities of Achaia. Here he continued about three months, and as he was going from thence to Syria, in order to carry alms to Judea, being informed

that the Jews laid wait for him, he altered his course, and passed through Macedonia a third time; after which Sopater accompanied him into Asia all the way; but Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus, went before into Asia, and waited for Paul and his company at Troas.

After the passover Paul went thither, and tarried there seven days; and on the Lord's-day, the Christians being met together to celebrate the eucharist, Paul preached to them at large, and intending to depart the next morning, he continued his discourse till midnight. A certain young man named Eutychus, sitting at a window for air, and falling fast asleep, fell out of the window the depth of three stories. This had proved fatal to him, but for the presence of Paul, who, laying his healing hands upon him, restored him alive to his friends. The apostle then returned to his work, and going up again into the chamber where the assembly met, and having broken bread and eaten with the rest of the disciples, he continued conversing with them even till the break of day. But some of the company went before by sea to Assos, intending to take in Paul, who, meeting them there, went with them to Mitylene. Passing by Chios, the next day they arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium, and the day after came to Miletus; for Paul, intending to make no stay in any part of Asia, ordered them not to stop at Ephesus, because he intended, if possible, to be at Jerusalem at the feast of Pentecost yet being desirous to speak with the elders of Ephesus, he sent a message requesting an interview with them at Miletus.

Where, when they were all met, Paul addressed to them a most affectionate discourse, and said to them, "My dear brethren, you well know, from the first day that I came into Asia, how I have behaved myself among you, for the space of three years, preaching the gospel with all humility and affection, and amidst many trials occasioned by the malice of the Jews, who conspired against my life. Ye likewise know, that I never concealed any thing that might be for your advantage, but freely shewed and instructed you in all things both publicly and privately; preaching to the Jews and proselytes

in their synagogues, and to the Gentiles elsewhere, the whole doctrine of the gospel, and urging, with the greatest earnestness, the absolute necessity of repentance towards God, and of a living faith in Christ, in order to salvation.

"And now I am going to Jerusalem, willing to suffer what shall befall me there, and foreseeing that there I shall be seized and imprisoned, being apprized of it by those that have the spirit of prophecy. However, I am prepared for it, and value not my life, if I may but be serviceable in the ministry with which Christ has entrusted me. And now this I know, that after this my departure from you, ye will never see my face again. And therefore I declare to you all, that I am innocent of that ruin, which I foresee will befall all those that do not adhere to Christ, having done my best to prevent it: for I have fully communicated to you the whole Christian doctrine, which may serve you as an antidote against all those heresies, which are likely to break in among you. Wherefore look to yourselves, and to the whole flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath constituted you inspectors; see that ye diligently feed, with wholesome doctrine, the church of God, which he hath redeemed with his own precious blood: for it is certain, that when I am gone, you will be solicited by false teachers, who, like so many mischievous wolves, will enter in among you, having no mercy on the flock. Yea, some among yourselves will vent pernicious doctrines, to make divisions among you, and to gain followers. Be ye careful therefore, remembering with how many tears I have warned you night and day for these three years of these things. And now, brethern, I recommend you to God and the gospel, and even to him that is able to edify you in your most holy faith, and to give you, at length, an inheritance in glory, among all them that are prepared for it by his grace. I appeal to yourselves, whether I have endeavoured to make any secular advantage by my labours among you. Ye can all bear me witness, that I have, by my own hands, maintained myself, and those that were with me. I have, by my actions, set an example before you, and shewed you all things relating to your duty, how that, thus labouring as I have done, you should VOL. II.

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assist the needy and infirm, according to, that saying of Christ," It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

When Paul had ended this exhortation, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And taking leave of him in the most passionate expressions of affection and grief, they embraced and kissed him; but his expression, that they should see him no more, affected them deeply, and accompanying him to the ship, they took their final leave of him.

After this sad parting from the elders of Ephesus, Paul, with his attendants, sailed with a fair gale to Coos; thence to Rhodes, and so to Patara, where finding a ship bound for Phoenicia, they went on board, and put to sea; and coming within sight of Cyprus, they left it on their left hand, and sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its freight. And meeting there with some that had received the gospel, and were endued with gifts, particularly that of prophecy, he continued with them seven days; and they, by revelation, told Paul, that he would incur much danger by going to Jerusalem, and therefore dissuaded him from going thither. But this moved him not, for he left that place, and all of them, men, women, and children, attended him out of the city, and there, on the sea-shore, he kneeled down and prayed at parting.

From Tyre they went to Ptolemais, where they tarried one day with the disciples. The next day Paul and his friends departed from Ptolemais, and travelling by land came to Cæsarea, and visited Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven deacons, and who had been sent by the apostles to preach the gospel in Samaria and other places, with whom they lodged some time. This Philip had four virgin daughters, all of them endued with the spirit of prophecy; and while they were at Philip's house, there came to them from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus; who, after the manner of the old prophets, which often prophesied by symbols, took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet with it, and said, "It hath been revealed to me, that after this manner shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind Paul, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." Whereupon the

whole company, with earnest entreaties and tears, begged of Paul not to go to Jerusalem. To whom Paul, sensibly affected with the concern which they expressed on his account, and yet resolutely bent on following what he thought the evident call of duty, replied, "Why do ye afflict me, and by your tender importunity dissuade me from this journey? For I am willing to suffer bonds, and even death itself, for the propagation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus." And when they found that no entreaties could prevail, they submitted to the will of God.

After spending these days at Cæsarea, they all set out for Jerusalem, taking with them several of the disciples of Cæsarea, particularly Mnason the Cypriot, who had formerly received the faith, when Paul and Barnabas were at Cyprus. Being arrived at Jerusalem, they were joyfully received by the faithful there, and the next day they waited on James, who, with all the elders of Judea, were assembled together. When he had saluted them, he acquainted them with the success of his ministry among the Gentiles. Upon which they blessed God, for the wonderful works wrought upon the heathen idolaters by his preaching; and after that, began to tell him what at present would be prudent for him to do, not so much in respect of the unbelieving, as the converted Jews, of whom there were many thousands in Judea, who, though they had received the gospel, yet continued very zealous for the observation of the Mosaical law. "These (said they) have heard it affirmed of thee, that thou permittest the Gentile converts to remain uncircumcised, and also that those Jews that are dispersed in Asia, and elsewhere, whom thou hast converted, leave off circumcision and other ceremonies of the Mosaical law at thy persuasion. This, therefore, will be the event in all probability: all the Jewish Christians will hear of thy being come hither, and will throng in crowds to see how thou behavest thyself in this matter. Therefore take our advice: there are four men here at this time, who have taken a Nazarite's vow upon them, which being accomplished, they are to perform the ceremonies prescribed. These do thou perform with them, and by this they will be persuaded that they heard false reports respecting thee.