whole relation of St. Paul's journey from Antioch to the weft, when he converted a great part of Macedonia and Achaia: though it is evident from St. Paul's own epiftle, already quoted, that he at that time did many figns and wonders at Corinth. And that he did the fame at Theffalonica is not obfcurely intimated in his first epistle to the ‹ Theffalonians, ch. i. 5. We read nothing in the Acts of the apoftles of what St. Paul did in Galatia the first time, more than that he went through it. Acts xvi. 6. And all that is added the fecond time he was there is, that he went over all the country of Galatia, ftrengthening all the difciples, ch. xviii. 23, Which indeed is an intimation, that the first time he was there he preached the gofpel among them, and 'made converts. But from his epiftle to the Galatian churches it is fully evident that he wrought miracles among them, and conferred on them gifts of the Holy Spirit. For he afks them: He that miniftreth to you the spirit, and worketh miracles among you doth be it by the works of the law, or by the bearing of faith? Gal. iii. 5. That he means himself, is manifeft from the whole tenor of the epiftle. See ch. i. 6. ch. iv. 11, 13, 14, 19.'

There follow other like obfervations, which I may not transcribe.

4) Mr. Bifcoe, as above, makes no doubt but the apostles wrought miracles in every city, where they came, with a view to preach the gospel, and make converts. I am of opinion, that this may be truly fuppofed of Paul particularly, and that it may be concluded from what St. Luke has written. For, according to him, Paul wrought miracles in Cyprus. Acts xiii. 11. at Lyftra. xiv. 10. at Philippi. xvi. 16-18. See alfo 25, 26, and very many at Ephefus. xix. 11-17. And at Troas he raised Eutychus to life. xx. 9-12. In his voyage from Judea to Rome he wrought many miracles. xxviii. 3-6. and 7-10. From thefe miracles, recorded by St. Luke, it may be well argued, that St. Paul wrought miracles in all, or moft other places, where he went and made any stay, preaching the gospel. In particular, it may be argued, that Paul wrought miracles at Athens and at Rome. What they were we cannot fay, because they have not been recorded by St. Luke, nor by any other credible writer. But that miracles were performed by the apoftle in thofe cities, appears to me very probable.

5.) St.

5.) St. Luke has not given any account of St. Paul's appearing before the emperor Nero at Rome, when he was fent thither by Feftus. Nevertheless, that Paul was brought before Nero foon after his arrival at Rome, is highly probable. And though St. Luke has not exprefsly faid fo, it may be concluded from what he has faid. For he has again and again fufficiently intimated that Paul was certainly to appear before the emperor, to whom he had appealed. See Acts xxv. 10, 11, 12, 21, xxvi. 32. xxvii. 24. xxviii. 19. The apoftle therefore was brought before Nero, and pleaded before him. But St. Luke forbore to give a distinct account of it, because he had already given a particular account of Paul's pleadings before Felix, and Feftus, and Agrippa: and from them may be concluded what was the tenor of his apology before the emperor himself.

6.) St. Paul, in his epiftle to the Chriftians at Rome, fays, ch. i. 11. I long to fee you, that I may impart unto you some fpiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. And ch. xv. 29. I am fure, that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the bleffing of the gospel of Christ. And unquestionably, the event was agreeable to thefe wifhes and expectations.

7.) St. Luke has not particularly recorded thofe things in his history: but from what he has faid they may be inferred. Says our hiftorian. Acts xxviii. 13-16. And we came the next day to Puteoli. Where we found brethren, and were defired to tarry with them feven days. And fo we went toward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us, as far as Appii Forum, and the three taverns. Whom when

Paul faw, be thanked God, and took courage. And when we came to Rome, the Centurion delivered the prifoners to the captain of the guard. But Paul was fuffered to dwell by himself, with a Soldier that kept him. And ver. 30. Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house.

8.) From the things here faid it may be fairly concluded, that during the apoftle's ftay at Rome, there was a very delightful communication of civil and religious offices between him and the believers there, according to the abilities, and the exigences of each. Before he left Rome, the Philippians feem to have fent him a fupply by Epaphroditus. Philip. iv. 10-18. But it may be well fuppofed, that the price of his

Mirum, quod Lucas hic nullam faciat mentionem primæ defenfionis Pauli, de qua ifpe 2 Tim. iv.

Quam factam fuiffe primo anno, quo Romam venit, non dubitandum. Eft. ad Act. xxviii. 30.

lodging,

lodging, and the expences of his maintenance, were provided for, chiefly, by the Chriftians, whom he found at Rome, when he came thither, and by the converts, which he made afterwards. The foldiers likewife, who by turns attended upon him, would expect to be considered, if they carried it eivilly toward their prifoner. All which, we may fuppofe, was taken care of by the good Chriftians at Rome: who, as St. Luke affures us, went out to meet him, and conducted him into the city.

CHA P. IX.

ST. JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST.

1. His Hiftory from the N. T. II. His Age. III. When he left Judea, to go to Ephejus. IV. His Hiftory from ecclefiaftical Writers. V. The Time, when he was banifhed into Patmos. VI. How long he was there. VII. Teftimonies of ancient Writers to his Gospel. VIII. Opinions of learned Moderns concerning the Time, when this Gospel was written. IX. An Argument, to prove, that it was written before the Destruction of Jerufalem. X. Objections confidered. XI. Objervations upon this Gospel.

I. JOHN was the fon of Zebedee, a fisherman upon the fea of Galilee, probably of the town of Bethfaida, and Salome. John was the younger brother: for James is always mentioned firft, except in Luke ix. 28. and John is generally reckoned the youngest of all Chrift's difciples.

Though Zebedee was by trade a fifherman, he needs not be reckoned poor: for, as St. Mark has particularly obferved, he was not only mafter of a boat, and nets, but had hired fervants, ch. i. 20. Moreover, we may recollect what Peter faid to Chrift, who alfo had been a fisherman upon the fame fea: We have left all, and followed thee, Matt. xix. 27. They

left their employments, by which they gained a fubfiftence: and for the prefent there was felf-denial in their attendance upon Jefus.

It is not unlikely, that Zebedee died not long after thefe two brothers were called to be apoftles. However, the circumftances of the family may be collected from what is faid of their mother, who is mentioned Matt. xxvii. 55. and Mark xv. 40. among those women, who followed Jefus out of Galilee, and ministred unto him. That miniftry is defcribed Luke viii. 3. To which might be added, that he is mentioned among thofe women that bought fweet fpices to embalm the body of Jefus, Mark xvi. 1. Luke xxiii. 55. And our Lord, having recommended his mother to this difciple, it is faid, that he took her to his own home, John xix. 27.

If Salome was related to our Lord in the manner fuppofed by Theophylact, or fome other way, with which we are not diftinctly acquainted; that may have been, in part, the ground and reafon of feveral things mentioned in the gofpels: as the petition of these two brothers, difciples, for the first two places in Chrift's kingdom: John's being the beloved difciple, and friend of Jefus, and being admitted to fome freedoms denied to the reft: and, poffibly, performing fome offices about his perfon and, finally, our Lord's committing to him the care of his mother, fo long as fhe fhould furvive him.

In Acts iv. 13. It is faid of Peter and John, that they were ignorant, and unlearned men. Which, indeed, is nothing elle, but that they were neither doctors, nor magiftrates, but men of private ftations, who had not been educated in the fchools of the Rabbies: or, as Dr. Doddridge has happily tranflated this text, illiterate men, and in private ftations of

g

life. So Ecumenius fays, that St. John in fending a letter to Gaius had Paul for an example, who wrote to Timothy, and Titus, and to Philemon, an idiot: that is, a man of a private station: whereas Timothy and Titus had a public character in the church, as they were evangelifts.

There can be no doubt, that Zebedee's fons, as the children of all pious Jews at that time, were well acquainted with the fcriptures of the Old Teftament. They had read them, and had heard them read and explained in the fynagogues. They had also been accustomed to go to Jerufalem at the feafts, and had difcourfed with many upon the things of religion. They now were in expectation of the appearing of the Meffiah, foretold in the law and the prophets: but, undoubtedly, were in the common prejudice of the nation, that it would be, in part at leaft, a worldly kingdom. And it is very likely, that they had heard. John preach: though they did not attend ftatedly upon him as his difciples: for all the people of Judea, in general, went to John's baptifm.

Says St. John, i. 35, 36. Again, the next day after, John Stood, and two of his difciples. And looking upon Jefus as he walked, be faith: behold the lamb of God... From ver. 40. we learn, that one of thefe two, which heard John fpeak, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. And fome have fuppofed, that our evangelift, who writes this, was the other: which I do not look upon as certain, though I do not deny it.

h

Whether the other was John, or not, it ought to be reckoned unquestioned, that before he was called to be an apostle, he had feen and heard the Lord Jefus, and had been witness of fome miracles wrought by him. It appears to me very probable, that he was one of the difciples, who were present at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, where water was made wine. John ii. 1—11.

The call of James and John, to attend upon Jefus statedly, is related Matt. iv. 21, 22. Mark i. 19, 20. Luke v. 1-10.

St. Mark putting down the names of the twelve apoftles, when he mentions James and John, fays, that our Lord fur

8 Προς δε γαιον ενα γραφων έχει παυλον τίτω γραφοντα και τιμοθεῳ, και προς φιλήμονα δε ιδιώτην. cum Γ.Π. 606. C.

P.

h Duorum alter ver. 41. nominatur. Alter videtur ipfe Evangeliita nofter fuiffe, uti vifum in vita ejus.

Lib. I. cap. 2. Lampe in Joh. cap. i. ver. 35, 35.

However, Bafnage difputes this. Neque probabile admodum, Joannem his interfuiffe nuptiis. Quod fi concederetur, &c. Bafn. Ann. 30. num. xxxviii.

named