Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/168

162 ch. 20. 6, 7. and probably planted at this time, and in a little time. It should seem, that at Troas Luke fell in with Paul, and joined himself to his company; for from henceforward, for the most part, when he speaks of Paul's journeys, he puts himself into the number of his retinue, we went, v. 10.

II. Paul's particular call to Macedonia, that is, to Philippi, the chief city, inhabited mostly by Romans, as appears, v. 21. Here we have,

1. The vision Paul had, v. 9. Paul had many visions, sometimes to encourage, sometimes, as here, to direct him in his work. An angel appeared to him, to intimate to him that it was the will of Christ he should go to Macedonia. Let him not be discouraged by the embargo laid upon him once and again, by which his designs were crossed; for though he shall not go where he has a mind to go, he shall go where God has work for him to do. Now observe,

(1.) The person Paul saw; there stood by him a man of Macedonia, who by his habit or dialect seemed so to Paul, or who told him he was so. The angel, some think, assumed the shape of such a man; or, as others think, impressed upon Paul's fancy, between sleep and wake, the image of such a man: he dreamed he saw such a one. Christ would have Paul directed to Macedonia, not as the apostles were at other times, by a messenger from heaven, to send him thither, but by a messenger from thence to call him thither, because in that way he would afterward ordinarily direct the motions of his ministers, by inclining the hearts of those who need them to invite them. Paul shall be called to Macedonia by a man of Macedonia, and by him speaking in the name of the rest. Some make this man to be the tutelar angel of Macedonia; supposing angels to have charge of particular places as well as persons, and that so much is intimated Dan. 10. 20. where we read of the princes of Persia and Grecia, that seem to have been angels. But there is no certainty of that. There was presented either to Paul's eyes, or to his mind, a man of Macedonia. The angel must not preach the gospel himself to the Macedonians, but must bring Paul to them. Nor must he by the authority of an angel order him to go, but in the person of a Macedonian court him to come. A man of Macedonia, not a magistrate of the country, much less a priest, (Paul was not accustomed to receive invitations from such,) but an ordinary inhabitant of that country, a plain man, that earned in his countenance marks of probity and seriousness, that did not come to banter Paul or trifle with him, but in good earnest, and with all earnestness to importune his assistance.

(2.) The invitation given him; this honest Macedonian prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us; that is, "Come and preach the gospel to us; let us have the benefit of thy labours." [1.] "Thou hast helped many, we have heard of those in this and the other country that thou hast been very useful to; and why may not we put in for a share? O come and help us." The benefits others have received from the gospel, should quicken our inquiries, our further inquiries, after it. [2.] "It is thy business, and it is thy delight, to help poor souls; thou art a physician for the sick, that art to be ready at the call of every patient; O come and help us." [3.] "We have need of thy help, as much as any people; we in Macedonia are as ignorant and as careless in religion, as any people in the world are; are as idolatrous and as vicious as any, and as ingenious and industrious to ruin ourselves as any; and therefore, O come, come with all speed among us. If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us." [4.] "Those few among us that have any sense of things, and any concern for their own souls and the souls of others, have done what can be done by the help of natural light; I have done my part for one, we have carried the matter as far as it will go, to persuade our neighbours to fear and worship God, but we can do little good among them,O come, come thou over, and help us. The gospel thou preachest, has arguments and powers beyond those we have been yet furnished with." [5.] "Do not only help us with thy prayers here, that will not do; thou must come over and help us." Note, People have great need of help for their souls, and it is their duty to look out for it, and invite those among them that can help them.

2. The interpretation made of the vision; (v. 10.) They gathered assuredly from thence, that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel there; and they were ready to go wherever God directed. Note, We may sometimes infer a call of God from a call of man. If a man of Macedonia say, Come and help us, from thence Paul gathers assuredly, that God saith, Go and help them. Ministers may go on with great cheerfulness and courage in their work, when they perceive Christ calling them, not only to preach the gospel, but to preach it at this time, in this place, to this people.

III. Paul's voyage to Macedonia hereupon; he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but followed this divine direction much more cheerfully, and with more satisfaction, than he would have followed any contrivance or inclination of his own.

1. Thitherward he turned his thoughts; now that he knows the mind of God in the matter, he is determined, for this was all he wanted; now he thinks no more of Asia, or Bithynia, but immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia. Paul only had the vision, but he communicated it to his companions, and they all, upon the credit of that, resolved for Macedonia. As Paul will follow Christ, so all his will follow him, or rather follow Christ with him. They are getting things in readiness for this expedition immediately, without delay. Note, God's calls must be complied with presently; as our obedience must not be disputed, so it must not be deferred; do it to-day, lest thy heart be hardened. Observe, They could not immediately go into Macedonia; but they immediately endeavoured to go. If we cannot be so quick as we should be in our performances, yet we may be in our endeavours, and that shall be accepted.

2. Thitherward he steered his course; they set sail by the first shipping, and with the first fair wind from Troas; for they may be sure they have done what they have to do there, when God calls them to another place. They came with a straight course, a prosperous voyage, to Samothracia; the next day they came to Neapolis, a city in the confines of Thrace and Macedonia; and at last they landed at Philippi, a city so called from Philip king of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great; it is said (v. 12.) to be (1.) The chief city of that part of Macedonia; or, as some read it, the first city, the first they came to when they came from Troas; so that like an army that lands in a country which they design to make themselves masters of, they begin with the reduction of the first place they come to; so did Paul and his assistants, they began with the chief city, because if the gospel were received there, it would the more easily spread from thence all the country over. (2.) It was a colony. The Romans not only had a garrison, but the inhabitants of the city were Romans, the magistrates at least, and the governing part. There were the greatest numbers and variety of people, and therefore the most likelihood of doing good.

IV. The cold entertainment which Paul and his companions met with at Philippi. One would have expected that having such a particular call from God thither, they should have had a joyful welcome