SECT. iv.] Paul and Silas arrive at Philippi.

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concurred in one interpretation of it, namely, that the Lord had called them to preach in Macedonia. They therefore obeyed the heavenly admonition, loosed from Troas, and went direct for Samothracia, an island in those seas, famous for being the seat of certain religious mysteries, în equal estimation with those called Eleusinian, but it does not appear they went on shore, for they landed the next day at Neapolis, a sea-port town of Macedonia. 5. Thus Paul, having first preached the gospel at Damascus, after that in Arabia, next at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, then to the Gentiles in Syria and Cilicia, and most of the countries of the Lesser Asia, was now, by divine appointment, entering upon his career among the Greek nations. At Neapolis, where he first landed, he seems to have made little or no stay, but to have proceeded immediately to to zrodil odt r

'*';

-- PHILIPPI, which is said to have been the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a colony. Though an inland town, Philippi was situated on the river Strymon, which was the antient boundary of Macedonia. It had formerly gone by the name of Crenides, owing probably to its springs or fountains of water, for, according to Appian, it was built upon a hill. Afterwards it took the name of Datus, because of the gold mines which were in its neighbourhood. But Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, having conquered Thrace, added that part of it which lay between the rivers Nessus and Strymon to Macedonia, and observing that it might be made a good defence against the Thracians, he fortified it and gave it the name of Philippi in honour of himself. Lucian, in his dialogue called The Fugitives, introduces Hercules describing Philippi în the following manner. The plain which is very fertile, raises itself into little hills, which serve for a defence to the city of Philippi, whose walls are washed by the river Hebrus." Pierce, in his Synopsis

prefixed to this epistle, mentions certain coins of several Roman emperors, and particularly one of Claudius, the inscription of which intimates that a colony of Romans was planted at Philippi by Julius Cæsar, and afterwards augmented by Augustus, who sent the adherents of Mark Anthony into this and other cities of Macedonia, so that, having twice received inhabitants from Italy, of a small town it became a great city, and enjoyed all the privileges of a Roman colony.

It appears as though there were but few Jews resident at Philippi, since we find no mention made of any synagogue in it. There was, however, an Oratory or Proseucha, a place in which the Jews and their proselytes were accustomed to assemble for prayer, without the city, by the river side, to which Paul and his companions resorted on the Sabbath day, and being sat down, they spake unto the women which resorted thither. Among these was Lydia, a Jewish proselyte, of the city of Thyatira, who had taken up her residence at Philippi for the sake of commerce. The Lord opened her heart so that she understood and believed the doctrine which Paul taught. Lydia and her domesties were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and with this Christian family the apostle and his associates afterwards took up their abode, during their stay at Philippi, which is said to have been "many days."

Upon several occasions, as they went to the place where the Jews assembled for prayer, they were annoyed by a certain damsel, possessed with a spirit of divination, or of the Pythian Apollo-probably a species of fortuneteller, by means of which she brought her employers much gain. She seems to have indulged herself in pouring ridicule upon the apostle and his companions, whom she followed through the streets, exclaiming aloud," these men are the servants of the Most High God, which shew

SECT. IV.] Conversion of the Philippian jailer.

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unto us the way of salvation." Paul, grieved with her conduct, ejected the evil spirit out of her-which greatly enraged her masters, for they perceived that there was now an end to their emoluments from that quarter; and seizing him and Silas, they drew them before the magistrates and rulers of the city, making bitter complaints against them as persons who "exceedingly troubled their city, teaching customs which it was not lawful for them to observe, being Romans." This speech incensed the populace against them, and the too credulous magistrates used them in a manner that was both shameful and barbarous; ordering the lictors to tear off their clothes and beat them with rods, which they instantly did and with great severity. We find Paul afterwards alluding to this cruel treatment, 1 Thess. ii. 2. and again 2 Cor. xi. 23. where reciting some of his sufferings he says, "he had received stripes above measure." Not satisfied, however, with this brutal outrage, they cast them into prison, enjoining the jailor to keep them safely. The latter well understood their meaning, and to comply with it, “ thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks."*

In this situation, distressing no doubt, and, in the eyes of many, very contemptible, at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, in the hearing of the other prisoners. And now the Lord caused a great earthquake which opened all the doors of the prison, and loosed every one's bonds. The jailor was by the noise roused from his slumbers, and thrown into the utmost consternation; and finding all the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was on the eve of committing suicide, suspecting the prisoners to be fled, and probably recollecting the strict orders he had received the day before concerning Paul and Silas. The apostles, however, per

* Acts xxi. 24.

ceiving that he was about to lay violent hands upon himself, cried with a loud voice," Do thyself no harm, for we (the prisoners) are all here." Upon hearing which, the jailer called for lights, and rushed into the prison, and trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas, whom he brought out, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" The answer was direct and unequivocal-" Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and unto all that were in his house.

Nothing could possibly be better suited to the jailer's case, than the doctrine which the apostle now preached unto him. It was an immediate and an effectual relief under all the horrors of a guilty conscience. He found in it what reconciled his mind to God, and filled him with joy and peace, as the sequel shews; for, believing, he rejoiced in God with all his house, and was baptized, he and all his straightway. The fruits of his faith were instantly apparent by his kind and tender treatment of Paul and Silas; for he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and, having brought them into his house, exercised towards them that hospitality which became a christian brother.

Such were the transactions of this memorable night. The earthquake had, no doubt, been felt over the whole city; and the miraculous opening of the prison doors would soon be communicated to the magistrates, who, when morning arrived, sent an order for the discharge of the prisoners. Paul, however, did not think it inconsistent with christian meekness to demand from them an apology for the illegal treatment he and his friend had sustained, especially considering that they were Roman citizens. Of this latter circumstance, the magistrates seem never to have had the least apprehension; but on being told it, they took the alarm, waited upon them per

SECT. IV.] Paul and Silas leave Philippi.

sma'orz vel að taode an

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sonally, made due acknowledgments of the impropriety of their conduct, and besought them to depart out of their city. The apostle complied with that request; but his conduct on the occasion shews, that while he considered it to be his duty to demean himself as a quiet and peaceable subject of the government under which he was placed, he did not think it inconsistent therewith, to claim the protection of that government, and all the civil rights and privileges to which he was entitled. So quitting the prison, they went to the house of Lydia to visit their brethren, and having comforted them, took their leave of Philippi, leaving, as is supposed, Luke behind, who probably continued some years with this infant society.*

Thus have we reviewed the origin of the church of the Philippians a church which, of all that were planted by this apostle, seems to have enjoyed the greatest share of his esteem and affection. But their love was evidently, reciprocal, For it is manifest that the sufferings which he apostle had undergone in their city, for the for the sake of communicating to them the knowledge of salvation, more precious than gold, had greatly endeared him to the church there; while, on the other hand, the brethren at

as we went to prayer,

The f following are some of the grounds on which this supposition is founded. The writer of the Acts of the Apostles, , previous to this event, I carries on the narrative in the following manner. Acts xvi. ›11—16,-/ "Loosing from Troas, WE can WE came with a straight course to Samothraceand on the Sabbath day we went out of the city, by a river side—and it came to passed on 15 NATRO Pec." But after Paul and the rest departed from Philippi, the writer changes his style, thus-"Now when THEY had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, THEY came to y Thessalonica," &c. Nor does he resume his former manner of writing, until chap. xx. where, describing Paul's I's voyage t to Syria, he thus writes"These going before tarried for us at Troas; and we sailed from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto THEM to Troas, where we abode seven days. It is therefore very probable that Luke remained y with the new c converts at Philippi until Paul, several years afterwards, in his way from Corinth to Syria, came to Philippi and took him with them,