bable, from what is faid, Gal. i. For 1. here St. Paul exprefsly relates, that he did go into Arabia, and return again to Damafcus, and then go to Jerufalem. Wherefore, fince this journey into Arabia is not mentioned Acts ix. but it is there only taken notice of, how upon the Jews lying in wait for him, he escaped them by being let down the wall of Damascus in a basket; and that having fo escaped, he came to Jerufalem; hence it is most probable, that St. Paul's going into Arabia was before his leaving Damascus this time, mentioned in Acts ix. Because the reason which made St. Paul leave Damafcus that time, which is mentioned in Acts ix. would scarce let him think it advisable to return to Damafcus. But, 2dly, the Apoftle declares, Gal. i. 12. that be received not the Gospel from man, but by the revelation of Jesus Chrift; and this is most probably thought to be the meaning of the expreffion, ver. 16. I conferred not with flesh and blood, i. e. I conferred not, or consulted not, with any man to inform myself of the doctrine of the Gospel. For the next words following evidently require fuch an acceptation, viz. nor went I up to Jerufalem to them that were Apostles before me. Where by the connection, nor went I up, &c. with I conferred not, &c. plainly is denoted one and the fame fubject or business; i. e. that, as St. Paul went not up to Jerufalem to those that were Apostles before him, to be inftructed in the Gofpel; fo neither did he confer with any one at Damafcus concerning the doctrine of the Gospel. And that by flesh and blood is here denoted any man, seems probable from Matt. xvi. 17. where our Saviour fays to Peter, that flesh and blood had not revealed it to him, i. e. not any man. Wherefore, 3dly and laftly, it being evident from what has been faid, that St. Paul did receive his inftruction in the Gospel by revelation from Chrift; and St. Paul exprefsly telling us, Gal. i. 16. that immediately (after the vifion, and his being restored to fight) he conferred not with flefh and blood, nor went up to the other Apoftles, but went into Arabia; it seems an opinion very well grounded, that what St. Paul went into Arabia for, was was to receive instruction in the nature of the Gospel, by revelation from our bleffed Saviour himself, and alfo that he went into Arabia, sews, prefently, or immediately after the reftitution of his fight; and fo before he ever preached at Damafcus. And furely the word immediately does refer not only to, I conferred not, Gal. i. 16. but also to, nor went I up, &c. but I went into Arabia, ver. 17. So that St. Paul exprefsly afferts, that, evéws, immediately (as foon as he was able, i.e. had recovered his ftrength and fight) he went into Arabia; and, consequently, what is said, Acts ix. 20. of his preaching immediately in the fynagogues at Damafcus, cannot be rationally understood, till after his return to Damafcus. Chap. II. Sect. 9. Hence St. Paul being bred up in his youth in the fchools of Tarfus, became fo-well acquainted with Heathen authors.] Since it is not rational to fuppofe miraculous knowledge, where a thing may be known by ordinary means; and since we do not find that the reading of Heathen authors was encouraged, if allowed of, at Jerusalem; hence it is most probable to fuppofe, that St. Paul attained the knowledge he had of Heathen writers at Tarfus, where he was born, especially this being an ancient univerfity, or feat of literature. Nor does any thing related in the history of the Acts contradict this opinion. For furely St. Paul might be taught school-learning at Tarfus, in his younger years, or while he was a boy, and yet, when he came to be about fixteen, be brought up in Jerufalem at the feet of Gamaliel. And whereas it is faid, Acts xxvi. 4. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerufalem, know all the Jews. The Greek whereof is this: Τὴν μὲν ἐν βίωσίν με τὴν ἐκ νεότητος, τὴν ἀπ' ἀρχῆς γενομένην ἐν τῷ ἔθνει με ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, ἴσασι πάντες οἱ Ἰδαῖοι. Where the expreffion τὴν ἐκ νεότητος does, I think, truly import thus much, viz. that the Jews of Jerufalem did know his manner of life (not from his childhood, but but only) from his youth, i. e. after he came to be fixteen or thereabouts. And the other expreffion, τὴν ἀπ' ἀρχῆς γενομένην Ev Tự dva pe by Teporodais, does, I think, truly import this, viz. that though not before, yet he had from the very beginning of his youth lived at Jerufalem. So that neither does this text, if rightly understood, contain any thing repugnant to the opinion embraced by learned men, that St. Paul was taught the Heathen authors at Tarfus, while he was a boy, or in the former part of his youth, taken largely, and as it is frequently, to denote all one's younger years. Chap. VII. Sect. 5. This country (viz. Media) doubtless took its name from Madai, one of the fons of Japhet.] This is the opinion generally received, and at first view seems moft probable, by reason, not only of the affinity between Madai and Media, but also of the ufe of the word Madai in the Hebrew Bible, to denote always the country we call, from the Greeks and Latins, Media. But upon further inquiry I have found reafon to recede from this opinion, and rather to embrace another, which the reader will find largely infifted on in my Hiftorical Geography of the Old Teftament, Part I. chap. iii, fect. ii. fect. 48, 49, &c.` |