1.

Acts xiii. 1-15.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets, "certain instructors," and teachers; as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, i. e. i. e. who was Herod's foster-brother, and Saul.

As Paul and Barnabas had spent a whole year in preaching at Antioch, and the disciples were first called Christians at that place, it is probable that their number was considerable. This will account for their having so many teachers, who might be employed in instructing many different societies. Of the persons here mentioned we know nothing besides with certainty, if we except Paul and Barnabas. Lucius of Cyrene, it has been thought, was Luke, the author of this history and of the gospel which bears his name. The foster brother of Herod must have been a person of some rank and consideration.

2. As As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them; i. e. separate them from the rest of the teachers, or from the church.

This message was delivered in the name of God by one of the company; and the particular service to which these persons were called was mentioned at the same time, although it be not recorded by the histor

ian; unless, indeed, we suppose, what is not very improbable, that Barnabas had already been informed that he was to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, as we know that Paul had, Acts ix. 15. xxii. 21. This divine message is said to have come while they ministered to the Lord and fasted; i. e. while they were engaged in such solemn prayer as was accompanied with fasting; the object of their prayer being probably to procure the assistance of miraculous powers, for the prosecution of their work. These powers, although sometimes given unasked, could at other times only be procured by prayer, and that of the most solemn and earnest kind. Accordingly, our Saviour says, speaking of dæmons, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matt. xvii. 21.

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3. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Paul and Barnabas had both been preachers of the gospel for some time, and therefore could want no authority for that purpose; but, being about to enter upon a particular ministry, the above mentioned teachers at Antioch, or the church there, (for it is not certain which of these is referred to,) assemble together to It is said offer up earnest prayer for their success. they laid their hands on them; but by this action they could not mean to express the communication of authority or of miraculous powers; for they were in possession of both already; but merely to point out to the assembly, the persons who were the objects of that prayer.

4. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed unto Seleucia, a town in Syria, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus, a large island in the Mediterranean.

5. And when they were at Salamis,

a considerable town in the island, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had also John to their minister.

He did not preach, but assisted them with those services which they would have occasion for in such a journey. This John had the surname of Mark, as we are told in the last chapter, verse the twelfth, and is supposed with great probability to be the same person with the evangelist*.

6.

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, "a magician," a false prophet, "a false teacher," a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus:

7. Who was with the deputy of the country, "with the Proconsul," Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, rather, "a sensible man," who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

Some have supposed that Luke was guilty of a little inaccuracy in calling the governor of this island a Proconsul, as the original word signifies; but Dr. "Lardner has shown, in a very satisfactory manner, that this appellation was strictly accurate, and that in this respect he was better informed than those who have pretended to correct him.

Sorcerers or magicians were persons who, by their pretended knowledge of the secret powers of nature, and the assistance of the Gods, professed to foretel future events, and to do other extraordinary things.

* Lardner, Article Mark.

Such was the character of Bar-Jesus or Elymas, who is therefore justly branded with the name of a false teacher or impostor. He pretended to knowledge which he was conscious that he did not possess, and was therefore with good reason treated by the apostles as a wicked man,

8. But Elymas the magician (for so is his name by interpretation) Elymas expressing in the Arabic or Persian language what the Greek for magician does, withstood them, seeking to turn away the Proconsul from the faith.

He was well aware that if the Christian doctrine were believed by the people in general, and more especially by the governor, his own art and character would sink into disrepute; he therefore strove to oppose them; but in what manner his opposition was conducted we are not told.

9. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him,

Some suppose that Paul's name was given him by the Romans, on account of the similarity which it bears to the word Saul; but others suppose by himself, out of compliment to his illustrious disciple, Sergius Paulus.

The phrase, "being full of the Holy Spirit," does not refer to the words which follow, as if they proceeded immediately from God, but to the miraculous punishment which Paul inflicted, which was a proof that he abounded with the gifts of the Spirit. The confidence, however, with which he spoke, proceeded, probably, from his consciousness of possessing these powers.

10. And said, O full of all subtilty and

all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

This is a proper description of a man whose great object was to enrich himself by false pretences, and by imposing upon the credulity of mankind. He is called the child or son of the devil, because he reeresembled the supposed author of all evil in disposition, as a child resembles its parent.

11. And now, behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun, for a season. And immediately there fell on 'him a mist and a darkness, a mist came over his eyes first and darkness afterwards, and he went about, seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12. Then the Proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

He was astonished at the effect of the doctrine and induced on this account to embrace it.

: 13. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

He was either discouraged by the difficulties of the undertaking, or thought it necessary to attend to his own private affairs.