18. informs us, that after his converfion he went into Arabia, and then returned to Damafcus and that three years paffed between his converfion and his going to Jerufalem. This is an inftructive inftance. For the omiffion is certain, and undoubted. I am of opinion, that St. Luke did not omit the journey into Arabia, because he did not know of it but defignedly, and because he did not judge it neceffarie to be mentioned. Jerome (g) has taken particular notice of the omiffion of that journey into Arabia.

16. Like omiffions are in St. Luke's Gofpel. I fhall take notice of two. 1.) Having given the hiftorie of our Lord's presentation at the temple, he fays ch. ii. 39. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazarth. Nevertheless, I think, the holy family did not now go directly from Jerufalem to Nazareth, but to Bethlehem. There, as I fuppofe, our Lord received the homage of the Magians. And afterwards, to avoid the perfecution of Herod, they removed thence to Egypt, and then returned to Nazareth. All which is recorded Matth. ii. 1..... 13. The vifit of the Magians must have been after the prefentation at the temple. If it had been before, and if they had prefented their gifts, gold, and frankincenfe, and myrrh: mentioned Matth. ii. 11. Marie would not have made the leffer offering for her purification, mentioned Luke ii. 23. 24. Nor could the child Jefus have been fafely brought to Jerufalem, or fuch notice have been taken of him at the temple, as St. Luke particularly relates, ch. ii. 25... 38. if Herod, and all Jerufalem, had been juft before alarmed by the inquiries of the Magians: Where is he that is born King of the Jews? Matth. ii. 1. 2. Omitting therefore all those things, St. Luke fays, as above obferved, and afterwards they returned to Nazareth, the place of their usual abode. Which is agreeable to Matth. ii. 22. 23.

2.) Another thing obfervable is, that all our Saviour's appearances to his difciples, after his refurrection, recorded by St. Luke ch xxiv. were at Jerufalem, or near it. He takes not any notice of our Saviour's meeting the difciples in Galilee, fo particularly mentioned Matth. xxviii. 7. and Mark xvi. 7. St. John alfo ch. xxi. 1. 23. fpeaks of our Saviour's fhewing himself to the difciples at the fea of Tiberias. And St. Paul affures us, that our Lord was feen of above five hundred brethren at ence. 1 Cor. xv. 6. Which, probably, was in the fame countrey. And though at the beginning of his book of the Acts, St. Luke refumes the account of our Saviour's fhewing himself to the difciples after his refurrection; there is nothing more about Galilee, than in the former relation. Infomuch, that, if we had St. Luke's hiftorics only, we might have been apt to conclude, that all the appearances of our Saviour to his difciples were at Jerufalem, or near it, and no where elfe.

17. St. Paul's epiftles inform us of many things omitted by St. Luke.

But

(g) Lucam vero idcirco de Arabia præteriiffe, quia forfitan nihil dignum apoftolatu in Arabia perpetrarat: et ea potius compendiofa narratione dix. ife; que digna Chrifti evangelio videbantur. Nec hoc fegnitiæ Apoftoli deputandum, & fruftra in Arabia fuerit: fed quod aliqua depenfatio et

Dei præceptum fuerit, ut taceret. Hier, in Ep. ad Gal, cap.i, T. 4. p. 235.
VOL. II.

H

But we should have known many more, if we had had a parallel hiftorian. A comparison of St. Luke's hiftorie of our Saviour with that of the other Evangelifts may affure us of this.

18. In the eleventh chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul mentions divers vifions and revelations, with which he had been favored. But St. Luke has not taken notice of any of them. St. Paul in his fpeech to the people at Jerufalem, recorded by St. Luke Acts xxii. 17. mentions a tranfe, which he had in the temple. But St. Luke has no where told us the exact time of it. Nor has he otherwife mentioned it.

19. I do not think, that these things were omitted by St. Luke, becaufe St. Paul concealed them from him: or because by fome other means he was unacquainted with the time and place of them. But it was a regard to brevity, that induced him to pass them over. They were not neceffarie to be inferted in his hiftoric. Without them he has recorded fufficient atteftations of Paul's apoftolical authority, and of the truth, and divine original of the doctrine taught by him.

In

20. Says St. Paul, unwillingly, and conftrained by the difadvantageous infinuations and charges of felf-interefted and defigning men. 2 Cor. xi. 23. Are they minifters of Chrift? [ I speak as a fool : ] I am more. Labours more abundant, in ftripes above measure, in prifons more frequent, in deaths oft.

In prifons more frequent. Therefore before writing this epiftle in the year 57. Paul had been imprisoned feveral times: though St. Luke has mentioned before this time one imprisonment only, which was at Philippi. Acts xvi. 23... 40. Upon which Efius (b) obferves, that Paul did and fuffered many things, not mentioned in the Acts. And Rom. xvi. 7. Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinfmen, and my fellow prifoners who alfo were in Chrift before me. Paul was not a prifoner, when he wrote the epistle to the Romans, in the beginning of the year 58. But (i) he had been in prifon before with thofe two early Chriftians, his relations. But where, or when, we cannot exactly say.

...

- 21. Ver. 24. of the Jews five times received I forty stripes fave one. Nevertheless St. Luke has not mentioned one of those times. Eftius conjectures, that (k) Luke omitted thefe, and many other things, because he was not with the Apostle, when they happened, and Paul out of mo

deftic

(b) De Paulo autem incarcerato ante hanc epiftolam, in Actis Apoftolorum non legimus quidem, nifi cap. xvi. ubi a Philippenfibus in carcerem miffus legitur. Sed permulta Paulus et fecit et paffus eft, quæ in Actis non fcribuntur. Eft. ad 2 Cor. xi. 23.

(i) Porro concaptivos intellige, quod aliquando communia cum Paulo vincula pro Chrifto paffi fuiffent. Ubi tamen, aut quando factum fit, ignoratur. Eft. ad Rom. xvi. 7.

(k) Sed cur Lucas in Actis ne unius quidem flagillationis ex quinque meminit? Ideo videlicet, quod de Paulo pene ea fola, quibus ipfe præfens fuit, figillatim recenfeat: alia vero vel filentio pertranfeat, vel fummatim ac breviter referat. . . Qua in re notanda humilitas Pauli, qui fuas tot et tam graves pro Chrifto paffiones Lucæ comiti fuo non aperuerit, ne hic quidem recitaturus, nifi coëgiffet eum amor falutis Corinthiorum. Id. ib. ad ver. 24.

deftie for bore to tell him of them. I rather think, that Luke was fully acquainted with Paul's historie. But he aimed at brevity, and judged the things mentioned by him to be fufficient.

22. Ver. 25. Thrice was I beaten with rods: meaning, I fuppofe, by Roman Magiftrates. But St. Luke has mentioned one inftance only of this: which was at Philippi, when Paul and Silas both underwent this hard ufage. Acts xvi. 19... 40. Of this (1) likewife Eftius has taken notice in his Commentarie.

Once was I ftoned: undoubtedly meaning at Lyftra in Lycaonia, as related by St. Luke Acts xiv. 19. 20.

Thrice I have fuffered shipwreck. St. Luke has recorded but one inftance, which was not untill after this time, in the Apoftle's voyage from Judea to Rome. Acts xxvii. Which therefore must have been the fourth.

A night and a day have I been in the deep. At one of those times I efcaped with the utmost difficulty, by getting on a plank, and floating in the fea a night and a day, or a whole day of four and twenty hours.

23. Ver. 26. In journeyings, often, in perils of water, or rather rivers. Which (m) are fometimes very dangerous. But St. Luke has not recorded any dangers of the Apostle upon rivers, either in croffing them, or failing upon them.

24. Says Tillemont in his life of St. Paul: "The (n) greatest part of "interpreters think, that St, Paul made no voyages, but thofe, which are "taken notice of in the Acts. . . . Nevertheless we must neceffarily ac"knowledge, that befide what St. Luke informs us of the fufferings of "St. Paul, this Apoftle was five times fcourged by the Jews, twice beaten "with rods, and thrice fhipwrecked. All this happened, before he "wrote his fecond epiftle to the Corinthians: that is, in the time, of "which St. Luke has writ the hiftorie. Nevertheless St. Luke fays no"thing of all this. It is certain therefore, that either he has omitted "the circumftances of the most remarkable events, which he relates, "or that St. Paul made feveral voyages, of which he has taken no "notice."

25. The reafon of St. Luke's filence here I take to be the fame that has been already affigned of his filence upon other occafions. It was not neceffarie, that these things fhould be related. To have writ an account of all the Apostle's journeys, and dangers, would have rendered the work more voluminous and prolix, than was judged proper. When St. Luke fet about compofing and publishing this book, he had all the materials before him, and his plan was formed. Agreeably to which, he determined to write at large the hiftorie of St. Paul's voyage from Judea to Rome, in which are many remarkable incidents, and to omit fome other of

(1) Ter virgis cæfus fum: a Gentilibus. Erat enim Romanis confuetudo, virgis cædere nocentes... Porro Lucas tantum feinel meminit hujus contumeliæ Paulo illatæ fcilicet Act. xvi. ubi fcribit eum una cum Sila virgis cæfum a Philippenfibus. Eft. in loc.

(m) Periculis fluminum: quæ interdum non minus periculofa funt navigantibus, quam mare. Eft. in loc.

(n) Mem. Ec, T. i, St. Paul, note xviii.

of the Apostle's journeys and voyages: though divers of them likewise were attended with affecting circumstances.

26. The chapter, from which I have juft now tranfcribed feveral things, concludes in this manner. ver. 31.... 33. The God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who is blessed for evermore, knows that I lie not. In Damafcus the Governor under Aretas, the King, kept the city of the Damafcens with a garrison, defirous to apprehend me. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and e/caped his hands.

I have often reflected with great fatisfaction on St. Luke's not omitting this dangerous attempt upon the Apoftle's liberty, and life with which himself was fo much affected, and which he has here mentioned with fuch folemnity. The hiftorie of it may be feen in Acts ix. 23... 25.

I now proceed to fome other things.

27. St. Paul affures us Gal. ii. 1. 3. that when he went up to Je rufalem upon occafion of the debate concerning the manner of receiving Gentil converts, he took Titus with him. Which is not faid by St. Luke Acts xv. though he gives a particular account of Paul's going from Antioch to Jerufalem upon that occafion. Nor indeed has St. Luke once mentioned Titus in his hiftorie: though St. Paul wrote an epistle to him, and has mentioned him feveral times in his epiftles, fent to others.

28. Gal. ii. 11... 21. St. Paul fpeaks of Peter's being at Antioch, before he and Barnabas had feparated But St. Luke fays nothing of it. Jerome, in his Commentarie upon the epiftle to the Galatians, fays: "We "() are not to wonder, that Luke has taken no notice of this. For by the ufual privilege of hiftorians he has omitted many things per"formed by Paul, and which we know from himself.”

29. Rom. xvi. 3. 4. St. Paul applauds an action of great generofity in Aquila and Prifcilla. But St. Luke has not informed us of the place, or occasion of it. Doubtless he did not omit it, for want of refpect to thofe excellent Chriftians, whom he has mentioned more than once. ch. xviii. 18. and 26. But that particular did not come within the compaffe of his defign.

30. Many things, not exprefsly mentioned by St. Luke, may be argued, and concluded to have been done, from thofe which he has recorded.

1.) In Acts iv. 23... 30. is recorded a prayer of the Apoftles, in which they requeft, that they may be enabled to work miracles for farther confirming the doctrine taught by them. And unquestionably, their prayer was heard, and their requeft granted, and they did work many miracles in the name of Chrift, more than are related by St. Luke.

2.) Acts v. 12. And by the hand of the Apostles were many figns and wonders done among the people. And what follows. Whence it may be concluded,

(0) Nec mirum effe, fi Lucas hanc rem tacuerit, quum et alia multa, que Paulus fuftinuiffe fe replicat, hiftoriographi licentia prætermiferit. In Gal. cap. ii. T. 4. p. 244.

concluded, that (p) many miracles were wrought, not only by Peter and John, but also by the other Apoftles alfo, befide thofe, which are particularly recorded. See alfo ch. ii. 43.

3) Says Mr. Bifcoe: "Many (9) and great miracles are related in "the hiftorie of the Acts to he wrought by St. Paul, and his fellow" laborers, in their preaching the gofpel to the Gentils. And agreeably "hereto St. Paul fays, 2 Cor. xii. 12. Truly the figns of an Apoftle were "wrought amongst you in all patience, in figns, and wonders, and mighty "deeds. And to the Romans, ch. xv. 18. 19... I make no doubt, says "that learned writer, but the Apofties wrought miracles in every city, "where they came with a view to preach the gospel, and make converts. "St. Luke is fo very fuccinct in his hiftorie of the Acts, that he often "omits them. He gives an account of only a miracle or two wrought "at Philippi in his whole relation of St. Paul's journey from Antioch to "the West, when he converted a great part of Macedonia and Achaia: "though it is evident from St. Paul's own epiftle, already quoted, that "he at that time did many figns and wonders at Corinth. And that he "did the fame at Theffalonica, is not obfcurely intimated in his first " epistle to the Theffalonians, ch. i. 5. We read nothing in the Acts of "the Apostles of what St. Paul did in Galatia the first time, more than "that he went through it. Acts xvi. 6. And all that is added the fe"cond time he was there is, that he went over all the countrey of Galatia, "Atrengthening all the difciples. ch. xviii. 23. Which indeed is an inti"mation, that the first time he was there he preached the gofpel among "them, and made converts. But from his epiftle to the Galatian "churches it is fully evident, that he wrought miracles among them, " and conferred on them gifts of the Holy Spirit. For he asks them: "He that miniftereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, "doth be it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Gal. iii. 25. That he means himself, is manifeft from the whole tenour of the epiftle. See ch. i. 6. iv. 11. 13. 14. 19."

14

There follow other like obfervations, which I may not tranfcribe. 4.) Mr. Bifcoe, as above, makes no doubt, but the Apostles wrought miracles in every city, where they came, with a view to preach the gospel, and make converts. I am of opinion, that this may be truly fuppofed of Paul, particularly, and that it may be concluded from what St. Luke has writ. For, according to him, Paul wrought miracles in Cyprus. Acts xiii. 11. at Lyftra. xiv. 10. at Philippi xvi. 16... 18. See also 25. 26. and very many at Ephefus. xix. 11... 17. And at Troas he raised Eutychus to

life. xix. 9. 12. In his voyage from Judea to Rome he wrought ma

ay miracles. xxviii. 3... 6. and 7... 10. From thefe miracles, recorded by St. Luke, it may be well argued, that St. Paul wrought mi

racles

(p) Oecumenius fays, that Luke omitted many miracles wrought by the Apofties for avoiding oftentation. Πολλῶν δὲ θαυμάτων ἐπιτελεμένων ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποσόλων, ὡς καὶ ἀνωτέρω ἐμνήσθη ὁ ταυτα γράφων λυκᾶς, [cap. ii. 43.] ὐδενὸς ἐκεί τῶν ὀνομαζὶ μνημονεύει, ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνο γράφει μόνον ἀφ ̓ ᾧ πάλες ἐκινήθησαν. . . ἡ κι ὅτι Η κόμπα χάριν ἡ συγγραφὴ αὐτῷ ἄννη ἐσπεδάσθη. Oecum, in Ad. Cap. iii. Tom. i. p. 25. A. B.

(1) The Hiftorie of the Acts confirmed, ch. xi. §. 8. p. 407. 408.