Oecumenius

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas

“"Saul, who is also Paul." So that Paul might not seem lesser than the other apostles in this respect, God changed his name, and calling Saul Paul, and whatever preeminence the chief of the disciples possessed, he also obtained, and received a position of greater…”

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in…

“John, called Mark, was accompanying them on the evangelic journey, from Palestine as far as Pamphylia. Then, finding the apostles' route too strenuous, and his spirit unbending toward those engaged in struggles, Mark, being a man given to exhaustion and not suited to so laborious…”

Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

“"A sharp disagreement," he said, "arose," nor a love of conflict. Yet the sharp disagreement was such that it separated them from one another; and with the highest righteousness, which each considered to be beneficial, he later confirmed this by an act of sharing toward…”

Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

“An earthquake struck so great that it awakened the prison guard; indeed the doors were opened, so that he might marvel at what had happened and believe. For these things were not done for display, but for salvation.”

When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.

“"The jailer, becoming wise." This is Stephanus, whom Paul mentions in his First Letter to the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 1:16)”

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and…

“Since these men opposed the miracles, alleging that Paul and Silas were like deceivers and tricksters, he here appeals to the Scriptures to persuade them that no such suspicion could be held. [CHRYSOSTOM]”

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

“"was stirred within him." Here he does not say anger, nor indignation; for anger and indignation are far from grace. What then is this, "was stirred within him"?”

So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

“They brought him, he says, to the Areopagus, not so much to learn, but so that he might be punished, where the courts deal with homicide. The place was called the Areopagus because Ares, as they say, there administered justice concerning adultery.”

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.

“"by night in a vision." It should be noted that Paul saw the Lord Jesus by a dream. Therefore, he himself said: Did I not see Jesus our Lord?”

At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

“Either for this reason they struck Sosthenes, since he too was more attached to Paul, as also Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue; or they had been driven to such a degree of madness that, having failed in their purpose, instead of striking Paul…”

When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.

“He left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, he said, [and did this with good reason], as if they were teaching there.”

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.

“Some say that this Apollo is the same as Apelles, the bishop of the Corinthians, about whom it is said elsewhere: "I planted, Apollos watered." (1 Cor. 3:6) The man with the two names then either altered one of the names afterwards, or otherwise. [DIDYMUS]”

so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.

“"handkerchiefs or aprons." I think both are linen-like; but the handkerchiefs are placed upon the head, while the aprons are held in the hands by those unable to wear handkerchiefs, such as those who wear secondary garments or sleaves to wipe away the moistures of…”

Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and…

“The scribe shows how great the superstition of the Ephesians was, both in adorning the temple of Artemis and in honoring her image, which they and the Diopetes said to be fallen from Zeus.”

So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.

“"and have recourse to the courts and to the magistrates." There was a class of judges in Asia called the magistrates, of humble status, who in some cases judged the poor and market-people; therefore they were called magistrates, just as there are public prosecutors in…”

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.

“"Gaius of Derbe and Timothy." Of the others he also mentions their hometowns, making them more recognizable in that way.”

I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews.

“"With all humility and tears." Here he shows a character of teaching: the generous, the tireless, and the sympathetic; for he suffered for those who were perishing, for those who were being destroyed; and humility; and not simply, but, he says, with all humility; (for…”

I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

“"Silver or gold," and the following. The root of evils, greed, is destroyed. For he does not simply say, I did not receive, but, Nor did I desire.”

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.

“And we sailed on to Cyprus and allowed Syria to remain. For the phrase "leaving it to port" is not simple, it has been said, but that they were in no hurry to approach Syria.”

“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness?”

“For there are three general sects among the Jews: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes; these lead a more devout life, being lovers of one another and temperate; therefore they are called Essenes, that is, holy; others called them Sicarii, that is, zealots. [ORIGEN]”

But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”

“How does Paul say, "I am a man, a Jew, a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, not of an insignificant city," and shortly after, "If a man is a Roman and uncondemned," and the following?”

Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

“But later he was bound in Jerusalem according to the prophecy. What then follows from this? Having loosened him, he led him before the Jews. Therefore it was not a falsehood.”

Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.”

“"Felix postponed them, knowing more precisely." It should be noted that Felix knew of the faith, having been thoroughly instructed from the Old Testament concerning Christ, and he did not release Paul out of favor for the Jews, or perhaps because of bribery, as the…”

If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die.

“"I appeal to Caesar," said Paul, wishing to escape the hands of the Jews, that is, in Rome I desire to go to the emperor and there to be tried. "I appeal to you," he says.”

For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him.

“But Paul explains the reason for which he turned his speech to the king. Then, showing that this doctrine had become everywhere in the inhabited world, he added: "this has not been done in a corner," speaking about the cross and the resurrection of Christ.”