came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus (as being the Messiah), both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

ACTS xxviii. 24. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet (Is. vi. 9.) unto our fathers,

26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

29. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

with a freedom of access, such as that enjoyed for the two years at Cesarea, xxiv. 23. 27.

31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

PAUL AT ROME,

the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles...and their ambassador in bonds. EPн. iii. 1., vi. 20., and H. P. 143...6.

The materials of sacred history must henceforth be drawn from the remaining epistles, themselves as the principal matter investigated, and directly or indirectly supplying all other information.

And first of those four written from Rome, that to the EPHESIANS, with those to the COLOSSIANS and PHILEMON; and, lastly, that to the PHILIPPIANS, at some interval from the others.

The epistle to the EPHESIANS, commonly so entitled, for reasons of the strongest and clearest kind, which may be read in H. P. pp. 125...8., is to be considered as "a circular epistle, equally intended for several communities of Asia Minor," and certainly not for Ephesus alone, as it stands now inscribed. On the ground of that persuasion, we may without scruple proceed.

Since the time, Acтs xx. 17., that Paul himself last visited Lydian Asia (as Dr. Paley calls it, H. P. 37.), it might be supposed, that his knowledge of what was passing in those regions must have been very much interrupted, and the exercise of his apostolic influence greatly diminished. Quite otherwise, apparently. Whether lately at Cesarea or now at Rome a prisoner, in the distant East or the remote West, the "daily care of all the churches" (2 Cor. xi. 28.) never seems with him to have known any respite. And if this Epistle to the EPHESIANS, so called, really was a circular, first addressed to Laodicea, then to Hierapolis perhaps, (COLOSS. iv. 13.) and so on to other neighbouring

societies of believers, it must be allowed to demonstrate a very lively interest kept up with all that part of Asia.

The Epistle to the COLOSSIANS next demands our attention. Sent from Rome by the same messenger, Tychicus, who carried that to the EPHESIANS SO called, while on the one hand it indicates the apostle to be personally unknown to the church at Colossæ, on the other, and unlike that which bore it company, it is distinctly seen to be addressed to one church alone, and directly so from the first.

That epistle to the ROMANS does not present at its conclusion stronger proofs of individuality as to the city addressed, than this to Colossæ exhibits in its (iv.) last chapter; which from v. 7. to the end beautifully tells us, by what devoted friends, Colossians, or by report well known to the Colossians, the apostle was now attended at Rome.

COLOSS. iv. 7. All my state shall Tychicus declare

unto you,

already known as one of Paul's companions in travel, A. xx. 4. —

who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord:

8. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9. With Onesimus (the converted slave of Philemon), a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10. Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner

probably so at the time by voluntary affection, but vide H. P. 192. Note.

saluteth you, and Marcus (now deeply attached to him), sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you on a mission from me ere long-receive him kindly ;)

COLOSS. iv. 11. And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision.

This Justus, therefore, must have been different from the Corinthian so named, A. xviii. 6, 7., who was a Gentile convert..

These last-named persons, and these alone, of the circumcision he remarks it with sorrow are my fellow

workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

12. Epaphras,

- then recently employed as messenger between Rome and Colossæ, i. 7, 8.

who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14. Luke, the beloved physician,

- during the two years at Rome, A. xxviii. 30., the personal attendant of Paul —

and Demas

—who at a later period, 2 TIM. iv. 10., forsook him— greet you.

15. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans ; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

The "epistle from Laodicea" was an epistle sent by Paul to that church, and from them to be trans

mitted to Colossæ. Why might it not be that to the Ephesians so called? H. P. 128, 9.

COLOSS. iv. 17. And say to Archippus,

"our fellow-soldier," PHILEM. Ver. 2., i. e. "Soldier of Jesus Christ," 2 TIM. ii. 3. —

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds - they are worn for your sake. Grace be with you. Amen.

Written and this is one of the few correct subscriptions, H. P. 195. - from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.

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These two epistles, to the EPHESIANS and to the COLOSSIANS, although differing in some essential circumstances both of a local and personal nature, yet import to be two letters written by the same person, at, or nearly at, the same time, and upon the same subject, and to have been sent by the same messenger." And "every thing" accordingly "in the sentiments, order, and diction of the two writings," as Dr. Paley, with great abundance of proof, has demonstrated, "corresponds with what might be expected from this circumstance of identity or cognation in their original.” H. P. 108...125.

The short but exquisite epistle to PHILEMON (himself a Colossian, H. P. 190, 1.) as a natural pendant follows that to the COLOSSIANS, and has like that the name of Timothy in the superscription. It was sent at the same time to the same place by his recovered slave Onesimus (Coloss. iv. 7...9.) who bore Tychicus company on that errand.

On the same or nearly the same persons being joined