The Signs of the Times, vol. 9

October 4, 1883

“The Sabbath-School. Acts 18:18-28; 19:1-20” The Signs of the Times, 9, 36.

E. J. Waggoner

Lesson for Pacific Coast.-October 13.
Acts 18:18-28; 19:1-20.
NOTES ON THE LESSON.

“And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while.” Although they had fiercely risen up against Paul, and beaten Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, the apostle did not leave his work there until he was satisfied in his own mind that it was pleasing to Lord. While we should never place ourselves in danger unnecessarily, and thus tempt the providence of God, the servant of the Lord should look to his Master for indications of duty, and not suffer the world, or opposers, to deter him from his work. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.1

“Having shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow.” Conjectures on this text are very numerous, and commentators are much divided in respect to it. The original does not positively show to whom this statement refers, whether to Paul or Aquila. Dr. Clarke says that “Chrysostom, Isidore of Seville, Grotius, Hammond, Zegerus, Erasmus, Baronius, Pearce, and Wesley, referred the vow to Aquila. Jerome, Augustin, Bede, Calvin, Dodd, Rosenmüller, and others, refer it to St. Paul.” Where it is left so obscure we cannot think any importance attaches to it. And the nature of the vow cannot be determined. Dr. Barnes, after giving a number of conjectures which have been raised by different authors, discreetly says: “But where nothing is recorded, conjecture is useless.” Happy would it be for the cause and the honor of Christianity if everything not revealed were treated in the same manner. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.2

“I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem.” Here again conjecture has been busy as to this feast. Clarke and Scott suppose it was the passover, the Biblical Commentary says, Pentecost. But all agree that the passage is very doubtful. Clarke says: “The whole of this clause is wanting in ABE, six others, with the Coptic, AEthiostic, Armenian, and Vulgate. Griesbach leaves it in the text with the mark of doubtfulness,” etc. It is also wanting in various translations, and in the Revised Version. “But bade them farewell, saying, I will return again unto you, if God will.” SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.3

“And a certain man named the Apollos.... an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures..... In the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord.” The context makes this description of Apollos noteworthy. Notwithstanding his gifts and zeal, he was of a teachable spirit, willing to be instructed by Aquila and Priscilla. It would be well for the cause of truth, for the honor of Christianity, if all learned and eloquent men were so gifted with the grace of humility. This is the true spirit of a teacher. For how can one teach who has not first been taught? And how shall he be taught if he is not teachable? It is not difficult to graduate in the schools, or in theology, but there is no such thing as graduating in Christian experience or Bible knowledge. In these we are always “disciples,” learners. Nor did he wait for Paul to be his instructor; he was willing to have the way of God expounded unto him by any who were more fully instructed than he was. Though Aquila and Priscilla were helpers in the work, at that time here spoken of they were probably not public laborers in the gospel, if they ever were. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.4

Why would Apollos listen to those who were not eloquent as himself, who could not reason as powerfully as he could? We find the answer in the then prevailing method of teaching the faith. They reasoned-but not with “vain reasoning,” nor according to the demands of ‘science,” falsely so called, as is the custom of these days, but they “reasoned out of the Scriptures.” Acts 17:2. What the Scriptures said was a finality to the early Christians, no matter who presented the word. There is truly a great “falling away” from the simple faith of early times. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.5

“And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 19:5. On this text we copy from “Thoughts on Baptism:” “Acts 19 does not afford so clear proof that they who were baptized unto John’s baptism were again baptized by the apostles as has been supposed by many. This was an unusual case, according to the record. On being questioned by Paul they said: ‘We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.’ They had not been baptized by John, but by Apollos, who had been converted at Ephesus a short time before the visit of Paul. Though this was years after the resurrection of Christ, Apollos new only the baptism of John, and baptized just as John had administered the ordinance, unto a belief in a Messiah who was yet to come. That they were unacquainted with the facts concerning Christ, and the fulfillment of John’s predictions of Christ’s work, is evident from their answer to Paul: ‘We have not even heard whether the Holy Spirit, is given.’ (Anderson’s translation.) The Revised Version gives the same form in verse 2. ‘We did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given.’ It was an error on the part of Apollos to teach the people that Christ was yet to come, when he had already died and was risen from the dead. This error of Apollos was corrected when Aquila and Priscilla expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. Those who were baptized by John in the faith of a coming Messiah, did not need to be baptized again when they accepted him. But those who were baptized in the faith of a coming Messiah after he had died and risen from the dead, needed to be baptized again, inasmuch as their first baptism was nearer to a denial of him who had come, than a belief in him, in every way seems just and fitting that Paul should commence with them as novices.” SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.6

“He went into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months.” The apostles always gave the Jews the first opportunity of hearing the doctrine concerning Christ. Speaking three months boldly in the synagogue certainly effected his purpose. And in this the churches of this day might learn a lesson. Objection is made against those who preach the advent near, and the special message of warning which is to precede the advent, that they seek to proselyte members of the churches, instead of endeavoring to convert sinners. The charge is unjust, they preach to all classes. But if they have a neglected duty or a rejected truth to proclaim, it is certainly right to present it to the professed servants of God, that they may have the light they need. The word of the Lord says: “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1. It is no excuse for the neglect of this order that they seek the Lord daily, and delight to know his way, and take delight in calling upon him. See verse 2. No matter how zealous they may be in worship, if they are indulging in sin they must be warned. The Saviour confirmed the words of the prophet, that they worship in vain who teach for doctrine the commandments of men and made void the commandments of God through their traditions. Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:1-9. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.7

When the Jews had been fully warned, Paul having spoken in the synagogue for the space of three months, some of them turned to actively opposing his doctrine, and he left them, and separated the disciples from the congregation. But he did not leave the city. It is not likely that a large proportion of the people had heard him in the synagogue of the Jews, and with commendable perseverance he determined to proclaim the truth to all, while the opportunity was afforded, and the minds of many were already awakened on the subject. He labored, speaking daily in a public place, and continued thus doing for the space of two years; “so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” In this a great purpose was accomplished, worthy of the labor and the time employed. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.8

The position and importance of the city of Ephesus made it a desirable point for the apostle to labor in for so long a time. The goddess Diana and her famous temple were here, of which Dimitrius said “whom all Asia and the world worshipeth.” The Temple of Diana was considered one of “the seven wonders of the world.” It was built at the expense of all Asia Minor; and Barnes says, “by contributions from a great number of princes, and doubtless multitudes from all parts of the earth came to Ephesus to pay their homage to Diana.” Thus by Paul’s remaining here so long opportunity was given to all in Asia to hear the word of the Lord. We should wisely exercise our judgments in improving the openings presented to us by Providence for furthering the cause of truth. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.9

“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all.” Magical arts, enchantment, divination; all this was declared to be an abomination to the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:9-12. It was done by consultation with the men’s professing to be the spirits of the dead. When these magicians became converted to the doctrine of Christ they quit those practices of the heathen. And this proves that the standard Christianity under the preaching of the apostles was quite different from that acknowledged in the churches of the present day; for now, under the name of “Christian Spiritualism,” divination, or consulting with “familiar spirits,” carried on within the church, and many of the most imminent ministers of the land are in the habit of constantly consulting those who practice witchcraft, or mediums. Not many are aware, and very few are willing to be convinced of the fact that under the working of the “mystery of iniquity,” many of the practices of the old pagan worship are grafted into the Christian faith, and their influence is largely felt even to the present day. This idea of the spirits of the dead being in Heaven, becoming our guardian angels, with whom we may hold intercourse through some medium, or necromancer, is increasing in popularity, instead of its being avoided as the Lord commanded. That they will continue until the coming of the Lord, and that they are still abominable in his sight, see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 16:12-15; 21:8. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.10

The value of the books which were burned is variously estimated, it not been known what currency was referred to. It was, however, somewhere between $8,500 and $25,000. “To what purpose was this waste?” (Matthew 26:8) Judas would have suggested that they should be sold, and the proceeds given to the poor. In modern churches they might have been put up for “a raffle,” and thus much money brought into the church treasury. But they were connected with a work of iniquity; a work which the Lord abhorred, and their possessors proved the thoroughness of their conversion by destroying them. On this Dr. Barnes well remarks: “The universal prevalence of Christianity would make much that is now esteemed valuable property utterly worthless, as, for example, all that is used in gambling; and fraud; in counterfeiting; in distilling ardent spirits for a drink; and the slave trade; and in attempts to impose on and defraud mankind.” To which may be added, the enormous expense incurred in raising, preparing, and in trafficking in tobacco. But that evil could be eradicated only by a purer type of Christianity than that generally recognized at the present day. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.11

And these converts were not ashamed to destroy the property which was valued so highly by the world. They “burned them before all.” There is power in the truth when preached in its purity, to separate men from the works and workers of iniquity. SITI October 4, 1883, page 437.12