John Gill

About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.

“And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. The Syriac version reads, "the way of God"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "the way of the Lord": that is, the Christian religion, and the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel, which the…”

The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.

“And they drew Alexander out of the multitude,.... Or "some of the multitude brought forth Alexander"; into the theatre, in order to kill him, by casting him to the wild beasts.”

But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

“But when they knew that he was a Jew,.... And so equally an enemy to their idolatry, as Paul and his companions were, whether he was a Christian or not.”

For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”

“For we are in danger of being called in question,.... Or are liable to be called to an account, reproved, and punished by the Roman proconsul, appointed over this city, or by the Roman emperor, or the Roman senate: for this day's uproar; it being…”

After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

“And when he had thus spoken,.... Or delivered this oration, made use of the above arguments, reasonings, and expostulations: he dismissed the assembly; he ordered them to break up, and every one to return home in peace, and go about his own business; and thus…”

Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

“And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea,.... This Sopater is thought to be the same with Sosipater in Rom 16:21 and in three of Beza's copies, and in as many of Stephens's, he is so called here; the Ethiopic version calls him Peter…”

And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.

“And they brought the young man alive,.... Up into the upper room, and presented him alive to the disciples: and were not a little comforted; that is, the disciples, at the sight of the young man, who was taken up dead, not only for his…”

We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot.

“And we went before to ship,.... That is, Luke, the writer of this history, and the rest of the apostle's company, went before him to a ship, which lay at Troas, and went aboard it: and sailed unto Assos; a city of Aeolia, or Mysia…”

Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.

“And we sailed thence,.... From Mitylene: and came the next day over against Chios; which, according to R.”

From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

“And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus,.... Which is said, by some, to be about four hundred furlongs from Miletus, and, by others, ten German miles.”

Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail.

“And finding a ship sailing over unto Phoenicia,.... For it seems that the ship they went aboard at Assos, Act 20:13 went no further, at least in the way the apostle was going, than Patara; but lighting on another ship, which was bound for Phoenicia…”

After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

“Now when we had discovered Cyprus,.... An island, as the Syriac version here calls it, which lay between Syria and Cilicia; See Gill on Act 4:36; and was, according to R.”

And after we had said our farewells, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

“And when we had taken our leave one of another,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "having prayed, we saluted one another"; with a kiss, as in Act 20:37 and so parted: we took ship; or went aboard the ship, and they returned home again; to their…”

When we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day.

“And when we had finished our course from Tyre,.... Or sailed from thence, we came to Ptolemais: the Syriac version calls it "Aco" or "Acu": and the Arabic version, "Aco"; and Ptolemais, according to Pliny (x) and Harpocratian (y), was called Ace.”

After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

“And as we tarried there many days,.... How many days is not said, it could not be very many, if the apostle got to Jerusalem by Pentecost, as he desired, Act 20:6 there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus; of whom mention…”

After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.

“And after those days we took up our carriages,.... Or prepared themselves, both for their journey, and for whatever trials and exercises they were to meet with; they took up their bundles, which hitherto were brought by sea, and now put them upon beasts, going…”

When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.

“And when we were come to Jerusalem,.... That is, Paul and his companions, attended with the disciples of Caesarea, and Mnason the old disciple with them: the brethren received us gladly; readily, willingly, and cheerfully; they did not treat them with an air of coldness…”

Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.

“Do therefore this that we say to thee,.... This is said not as commanding, but as advising; and not to what was a duty, and necessary to be done as such, but as a point of prudence: we have four men which have a vow…”

Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved.

“Them take, and purify, thyself with them,.... That is, join thyself to them, make one of their number, and attend to the rules prescribed to a Nazarite, who is to be holy to the Lord; and in case of any ceremonial uncleanness, is to be…”

The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

“Then the chief captain came near,.... To the place where the Jews were beating Paul: and took him the Arabic version adds, "from them"; he rescued him out of their hands, as he himself says, Act 23:”

For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!”

“For the multitude of the people followed after,.... The captain and the soldiers, who had taken away Paul from them, and were carrying him to the castle: crying, away with him; or "take him away", that is, by death; or "lift him up", upon the…”

I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

“And I fell unto the ground,.... And so did those that were with him, Act 26:14. And heard a voice, saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? See Gill on Act 9:4.”

My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

“And they that were with me saw indeed the light,.... For it shone about them, as well as Saul: and were afraid; the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions, have not this clause; but it stands in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions; the…”

Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.

“And he said, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee,.... From all eternity, in his everlasting purposes and decrees; or "he hath taken thee into his hand"; in order to form, and fit, and qualify him for his service; and may design both his…”

Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance

“And it came to pass, that when I was come again to Jerusalem,.... Which was three years after his conversion; for he did not immediately return to Jerusalem, but went into Arabia; and when he returned to Damascus, which was three years after he came…”