The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

Acts IX.

§ 1. Paul converted.

IN this year must be placed the conversion of Paul, and the reasons to prove time, shall be given anon. A man, a wonder (for so will * 1.1 some have his name to sig∣nifie) in whom was shewed as much as can be seen in man, both for want of grace, and for abundance. Inferior to none in wickedness, but only in this, that it was not final; and inferiour to none in holiness, no not to the greatest Apostles. A scene on which at one time corrupt Nature shewed her cursed vigor; and at another time sancti∣fying Grace her sacred power; and both to such an extent, as not many parallels. He was born in Tarsus of Cilicia a free City of the Romans, and himself a Freeman of that

City. His Parents were both Jews; and therefore he calleth himself an Hebrew of* 1.2 the Hebrews, or an Hebrew both by Father and Mother. His discent was of Benja∣min, which from the general division under Jeroboam the first, had adhered constant to the Tribe of Juda, and so kept Registers of their Genealogies, as that Tribe did. Ac∣cording to his double Nation, he also bare a double name, Saul, as he was an Hebrew by birth, and Paul as he was a Roman by freedom: His education was in the Schools of Tarsus, where as Strabo recordeth were Scholars no whit inferiour to the Students in Athens. Here he attained the Greek Language and Learning, and grew expert in* 1.3 their Philosophy and Poems, his skill wherein he sheweth, in alledging Epimenides, Ara∣tus, and Menander. From thence he was sent to the University at Jerusalem, for the study of Divinity and of the Jewish Law. His Tutor was Gamaliel a Pharisee, a man of spe∣cial note and reverence among the people. His proficiency was above many of his equals of his own Nation, he being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of the Fathers. From his youth he also learned a handy trade of making Tents, and joyned the working in that by some vicissitudes with his studies: which thing was common with the Scholars of the Jews, partly for the earning of their maintenance, and partly for the avoiding of idleness and sin. So Rabbi Juda the great Cabalist, bare the name and trade of Hhajat a Shoomaker or Taylor.

Yet was the learning of this great Scholar but gorgeous ignorance, and his forward zeal, but the more excellent impiety. When he thought he followed holiness, he per∣secuted it, and when his studies should have overtaken the truth, then had he lost both them and it and himself and all.

As for Saul, saith Luke, he made havock of the Church, entring into every house, and* 1.4 haling men and women committed them to prison. He began now to write his positions in blood, and it must be no less than death or abjuration not to be of his opinion. Neither was this his fury confined within the walls of Jerusalem, or the compass of Judea, but overflowed also unto forreign Cities: where the Jewish Synagogues acknow∣ledging subjection to the metropolitan See, submit to her letters, and are too ready to perform her will. Among the rest he obtaineth commission for Damascus, whither a poor Church having but lately overrun persecution, is ready now to be overrun by it again: But by the way, he is met with by Christ, and from a Lion made a Lamb, and he that went to lead captivity is himself captived.

In the story of this great wonder, the Text and the matter it self calleth upon us to consider these things.

• 1. That the most notorious persecutor that the Gospel had yet found, is chosen of all others to be the Doctor of the Gentiles: that even his own example, or rather the glo∣rious example of Gods mercy in his conversion, might be a comfortable Doctrine to those notorious sinners of the Gentiles as well as his preaching.
• 2. That the like divine violence was never used for the converting of a sinner either before or since: but 1. it was necessary that he should see Christ, as Vers. 17. because it was a necessary ingredient toward the making of an Apostle, to have seen the Lord, 1 Cor. 9. 1. And 2. it was needful, that the Lord should appear to him in such daunting power, not only for his own quelling, but also for the terrour of all persecutors for the time to come.
• 3. This appearance of the Lord unto him, was not so much in his person as in his glory, nor what he saw of him, besides the light that stroke him blind, was with the eyes of his body but of his spirit.
• 4. The place was near Damascus from whence had sprung one of the sharpest per∣secutors that Israel had groaned under, 2 Kings 11. 32. Amos 13. compare Gen. 14. 15.
• 5. The manner is so plainly set down in the Text, that it is needless to insist upon it: only these two or three things may not unfitly be touched upon and taken to thought. 1. That more was spoken from heaven, than Luke hath here related, as ap∣pears by Pauls own relation of it, Acts 26. 16, 17, 18. but the Holy Ghost frequently useth to speak out stories to the full, some parts in one place, some in another, chal∣lenging the readers pains and study, to pick them up. 2. That whereas in Chap. 6. 7. it is said that those that travailed with Paul heard the voice, but in Chap. 22. 9. that they heard not the voice, it is to be understood, that they heard the voyce of Paul speaking to Christ, but not Christs voice to him: or if they heard the voice from heaven, yet they understood not what it said. 3. Whereas in Chap. 9. 7. it is said these men stood speechless, but in Chap. 26. 14. that they fell all to the ground: the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Chap. 9. 7. standeth in opposition to their going forward and not to their falling to the earth, and meaneth, that their amazedness fixed them that they could not flee nor stir.

§ 2. The year of his conversion.

Some have conceived that he was rapt into the third heaven, and learned the Gospel by revelation, as 2 Cor. 12. in those three days that he was blind after the sight of this glorious light, and whilst he fasted and prayed, Act. 9. 9. And from this conceit hath another grown, as a supporter of that that bred it, namely that he was not converted till seven years after our Saviours Ascension. This latter opinion was first invented, that his writing of the second Epistle to the Corinthians might be brought within the compass of about fourteen years after his conversion; for so long a time and no more he setteth betwixt his rapture and that Epistle, 2 Cor. 12. 2. and it was also originially grounded upon this supposition, that his rapture was in the time of that his blindness. Two surmises probable and plausible enough to behold at distance, but approaching nearer to them they will lose of their beauty, and upon serious weighing they will prove but a shadow. The question how he came to the knowledge of the Gospel so soon, in so much that he so soon preached it, very likely gave the first occasion of the first opinion, namely of his rapture in his three days blindness.

A question to which an answer may be easily given, and yet no such consequence con∣cluded upon it. 1. It is true indeed, that he received not the knowledge of the Gospel of man, nor was he taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ, as himself saith, Gal. 1. 12. yet might he have such a revelation, without any such rapture: For there were three other special ways whereby God used to reveal himself and his will to his Pro∣phets and Servants, and those were by dreams, by visions and by a suddain and immedi∣ate suggestion or revelation, which is called telling in the ear, as 1 Sam. 9. 15, 17. 2 King. 20. 4. And as for raptures they were the most extraordinary and the least familiar of all other: And how easily might Paul be taught the mistery of the Gospel by some of the other means, especially since the Text hath expresly told that he had his visions? Acts 9. 12. 2. Paul himself telleth of an extasie or rapture that he was in, as he was praying in the Temple at Jerusalem, Acts 22. 17. Now that that was in the second year of Claudius (as shall be shewed by and by) when he went to carry the almes of the Disciples to Jerusalem, Acts 11. 30. it may be confidently concluded upon, because that God in that his rapture telleth him that he must thence forward go far away to preach unto the Gentiles, Acts 22. 21. and when he returneth from Jerusalem to Antioch, he is sent by the Church upon that imployment, by a special charge of the Holy Ghost, Acts 13. 2. And that from that time to the time of his writing the second Epistle to the Corinthians, were about fourteen years as himself summeth it, we shall evidence by some particulars, before we part from this Subject. Thus then in the first place we see that neither his rapture was at the time of his conversion, nor that his conversion is to be cast six or seven years forward that it may be within fourteen of that Epistle in regard of his rapture. But not to intricate our selves any more in the variety of opinions, that have fixed some one time, some another to the conversion of this Apostle, the next, readiest and surest way that I have found to resolve upon this doubtful question and to determine this scruple, is to go by these collections and degrees.

I. That the famine prophecied of by Agabus, and which is said to have fallen out in the time of Claudius the Emperour, Acts 11. 28. fell out and came to pass in his second year: And for this we have the testimony of a Roman Historian, even Dion Cassius who under the Consulship of Claudius II. and Caius Largus which was in the second year of Claudius his reign speaketh of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which his translater hath rendred fames in∣gens, Dion. lib. 60. Now although it might seem that that famine only referred to the City of Rome, and was caused there through the unnavigableness of the River Tiber, which should have brought in Provisions; because he saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. that Claudius provided not only for the present famine, but also for future times, by mending the Haven and clearing the River: yet Suetonius writing the very same story, ascribeth the cause of the famine, not to the fault of the River or Haven, but to a constant steri∣lity or barrenness, and so inlargeth the extent of it further than Rome: Arctiore autem annona ob assiduas sterilitates, &c. In Claud. cap. 18. Josephus, Antiq. lib. 20. ca. 2. speak∣eth of this great famine in Judea, and relateth how Helena the Queen dowager of the Adiabeni, and Izates her son then reigning, she being at Jerusalem in her own person and he in his own kingdom, did bring in provisions in an exceeding plenty to the Jews at Jerusalem for their sustenance in the famine, for they were both converted to the Jews Religion and Izates circumcised. Eusebius hereupon hath set this famine in

Claudius his fourth year, and after the death of Herod Agrippa, because that he found that Josephus had placed it after Agrippa's death, which was in Claudius his third. But we find not in Josephus any thing that may fix it to that year, more than the subse∣quence of one story to another, which is an argument of no validity: only this he re∣lateth as concerning the time of Izates, that when he first came to the Crown, and found his elder Brethren imprisoned that he might come to the Throne the more quietly, he was griev∣ed at the matter, and on the one hand accounting it impiety to kill them or to keep them pri∣soners, and on the other hand knowing it unsafe to keep them with him and not imprisoned, he chose a mean between both, and sent them for hostages to Rome to Claudius Caesar: And after this he relateth, how he hasted upon his coming to the Crown to be circumcised; and after his Circumcision, how his Mother Helena went to Jerusalem and relieved it, being much affamished. Now in what year of Claudius any of these things were done, he hath not mentioned, but hath left it at large; and therefore we may as well suppose, that Izates was made King in the first year of Claudius, and Helena his Mother went to Je∣rusalem in his second, as Eusebius may, that she went thither in his fourth.

II. That Paul going at that time of the famine to Jerusalem, to bring the almes and collection to the poor Brethren of Judea, had his trance in the Temple, Acts 22. 17. and in that trance he was rapt into the third Heaven, 2 Cor. 12. 2. It may be thought indeed by the juncture of Story that Luke hath made, that this his trance, was at his first journey which he took to Jerusalem after his conversion, which journey is men∣tioned, Acts. 9. 28. and Gal. 1. 18. for having from the sixth verse of Acts 22. and forward, related the Story of his conversion, and of Ananias coming to him and bap∣tizing him, he presently subjoyneth this, when I was come again to Jerusalem, and was praying in the Temple, I was in a trance; as if that had been the very first time, that ever he came there after he was converted. But besides, that it is very com∣mon with Scripture to make such juncture for times and Stories, as if they were close together, when often times there is very much space of time betwixt them, as Mat. 19. 1. Luke 4. 13, 14. Acts 9. 20, 21, 26, 27. the proper intent of the Apostle in that Ora∣tion of his, Acts 22. is to vindicate himself from the accusation laid against him for polluting the Temple; and chiefly to plead his authority and commission, and why he had to deal among the Gentiles, and therefore he insists upon two particular Com∣missions, one to preach, and the other to preach to the Gentiles; and this is the reason why he joyns his conversion, and his rapture in the Temple so close together, and not because they were so in time. Now this scruple being thus removed, and that consi∣dered which was said before, that in this trance in the Temple, God said he was to send him to the Gentiles; and that accordingly he was dispatched to that work as soon as he came to Antioch; it cannot but be concluded that his trance in the Temple was in the second of Claudius, and that this was his rapture into the third Heaven, since we read not of any rapture or trance that he had, but this.

III. That this trance or rapture was somewhat above fourteen years before he wrote his second Epistle to Corinth, 2 Cor. 12. 2. Now in that he saith it was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 before, or above fourteen years ago, he speaketh not of an indefinite time, for then for ought any reason can be given to the contrary, he might as well have let the mention of the time alone, but that it was but a little above that space, though it were somewhat above exact fourteen years.

IV. When he wrote that second Epistle to Corinth he was in Macedonia, as is appa∣rent by very many passages in that Epistle, chap. 1. 14. and 2. 13. & 7. 5. & 9. 2, 4. And thither he went upon the hubbub at Ephesus raised against him, Acts 20. 1. where he had even the sentence of death in himself, 2 Cor. 1. 9.

V. Now to count fourteen years compleat from the second of Claudius, in which was Pauls rapture, it will bring us to the second year of Nero. And let us but cast and compute those shreds of time that we can find hinted in the Acts of the Apostles, and we shall find them agreeing with this account, and giving some light unto it. As first, it is said by Paul, that after he had been at Jerusalem, he must also see Rom, Acts 19. 21. Now this doth argue the death of Claudius: for if he had expelled all the Jews out of Rome, as it is averred both by the Scripture, Acts 18. 2. and by Suetonius in Claud. chap. 25. and never revoked his Edict for ought we can read in any Story; it is very unlikely, and unreasonable to think, that Paul should think of going thither if Claudius were alive: for thither could he neither go without evident and inevitable danger of his own life, nor could he find so much as one person, of his own Nation in the City when he came there. By this therefore may be concluded that Claudius was now dead, and Nero was going on his first year, when Paul publisheth his resolution to go for Rome.

And the times from hence to his apprehension at Jerusalem may be cast by these Counters. After this his declaring his intention for Rome, he stayeth in Asia for a season, Acts 19. 22. Now that this season was not long, both the preceding and following Verses do help to confirm; for in the Verse before Paul is in a manner upon his motion toward Macedo∣nia, and so to Jerusalem already. And it is very likely that the feast of Tabernacles which was in September induced him thither; but the danger that he was in at Ephesus be∣fore his parting, Acts 19. 23, 24. &c. disappointed him of his journey thither, he being now put off from providing accommendation for his voyage, and put to shift for life and liberty. About the middle of October, Nero's first year was out: and Paul by that time it is like is got to Macedonia, and while he continues there he writes this Epistle; as the subscription of it in the Greek, Syriack, Arabick, and divers other Translations do reasonably well aim it here; howsoever they do it in other places: Or if we should yeild to Baronius, that it was written from Nicopolis, Tit. 2. 12. it maketh no difference, as to the thing in hand, or at least very little, since we are upon the time, and not upon the place; and the time of difference will not be above a month or two. Paul wintering so little at Nicopolis, as that he was in motion again about the beginning of January, if not before, for his three months travail of Greece, brings it up to the Passover time, or near upon, Acts 20. 3. 6. And after the Passover week Paul sets for Jerusalem, as the Story plainly leads him thither; and thence is he shipt for Rome, toward the latter end of our September, or about the Fast and solemn day of humiliation, Acts 27. 9. And this was in the second year of Nero, now almost expiring, or very near unto its end: And to this sense seemeth that account in Acts 24. 27. to be understood, After two years Portius Festus came into Felix room. Not after two years of Pauls imprison∣ment, for that is utterly without any ground or warrant in the world, nor after two years of Felix Government, for he had been Governour in Judea many years, Acts 24. 10. but after two years of Nero's Empire, or when he had now sitten Emperour about two years; for that the Scripture sometime reckoneth from such unnamed dates, might be shewed, from Ezek. 1. 1. 2 Sam. 15. 7. 2 Chron. 22. 2. And that it is so to be understood, may be confirmed out of Josephus Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 7. &c.

So that this time being fixed of Pauls apprehension at Jerusalem, to be in Nero's se∣cond; as Eusebius and others have well held, and his writing the second Epistle to Co∣rinth proving to be about the beginning of that year; and so the fourteen years men∣tioned 2 Cor. 12. 2. measured out.

VI. We must now count backward from this time to the Councel at Jerusalem, and as near as we can, cast up what time might be taken up, betwixt those two periods, in the motions and stations of the Apostle, that the Text hath expressed betwixt the fifteenth Chapter of the Acts and the twentieth: Or rather let us count forward for the more facil and methodical proceeding, and take up what may be guessed to be every years work and passage as it cometh to hand.

Paul cometh from Jerusalem to Antioch with Judas, Silas and Barnabas, Acts 15. 20.

Judas and Silas stay there a space, vers. 33.

Judas stayeth after they be gone away, vers. 35.

Some days after he departeth, vers. 36, 40.

He goeth through Syria and Cilicia confirming the Churches, vers. 41.

To Derbe and Listra, chap. 16. 1.

Through the Cities, and delivereth the Apostles decrees, vers. 4.

Throughout Phrygia, vers. 6.

Throughout the Region of Galatia, vers. 16. To all these journeys we may allow one year; and certainly if the movings and stayings of the Apostle, and the distance of the places, and the work he did be considered, there can no less than a whole year be allowed for all this progress.

After his passage through Galatia, Paul goeth to Mysia, Acts 16. 7. To Troas, vers. 6.

To Samothrace, Neapolis and Philippi, vers. 11, 12.

At Philippi he continueth many days, vers. 13, 16, 18.

Thence he passeth through Amphipolis and Appollonia, chap. 17. 1.

Cometh to Thessalonia, and is there three Sabbath days in quiet, vers. 2.

Afterward is persecuted, vers. 5.

Goeth to Beraea and converteth very many, vers. 10. 12.

Goeth from thence to Athens, vers. 15.

There waiteth for Silas and Timothy, vers. 16.

From thence goeth to Corinth, Acts. 18. 1. For all these journeys and actions we will allow him half an year, and I cannot see how they could take so little.

At Corinth he continueth a year and an half, Acts 18. vers. 11. And this makes up three years since the Councel at Jerusalem.

After this long stay at Corinth he is persecuted, yet tarryeth a good while after, Acts 18. 18.

From thence he saileth to Ephesus, but stayeth little, vers. 19.

Goeth thence to Caesarea.

To Jerusalem.

To Antioch, and spendeth some time there, Acts 18. 22, 23.

Goeth over all the Country of Gallatia,

And Phrygia in order, Acts 18. 23. To these passages I suppose there is hardly any that can allow him less than a whole year; that shall but seriously confider of the things that are mentioned, and the length of the journeys.

After his passing through Phrygia he cometh to Ephesus, Acts 19. 1.

And there continueth three years, Acts 19. 8, 10, 21, 22, & 20. 31.

After this he goeth into Macedonia, Acts 20. 1. from whence he writeth that second Epistle to Corinth in the beginning of the second year of Nero. So that yeelding these seven years for the travails of this Apostle, betwixt that time and the Counsel of Je∣rusalem, Acts 15. (and less than seven, it is not possible to allow, seeing that four years and an half of that space was taken up in the two Cities of Corinth and Ephesus) and it will result that the Councel at Jerusalem was in the ninth year of Claudius: Now Paul himself reckoneth seventeen years from his conversion to this Councel, Gal. 1. 18. & 2. 1. which seventeen counted backward from the ninth of Claudius it falleth out al∣most past all controversie that Pauls conversion was in the next year after our Saviours ascension; as may be seen by this ensuing Table.

Christ	Tiberius.
33	18	Christ ascendeth.
34	19	Paul converted.
35	20	Goeth into Arabia.
36	21	Cometh up to Jerusalem.
37	22
38	1	Caius.
39	2
40	3
41	4
42	1	Claudius.
43	2	The famine, Act. 11. 28. Paul rapt into the third Heaven.
44	3
45	4
46	5
47	6
48	7
49	8
50	9	The Councel at Jerusalem. Paul goeth to Antioch, Syria, Cilicia, &c.
51	10	Paul the latter half this year at Corinth, the former half in Athens, Beraea, Thessalonia, &c.
52	11	Paul all this year at Corinth.
53	12	Paul in Phrygia, Galatia, Antioch, Jerusalem, Caesarea, Ephesus, Corinth.
54	13	Paul at Ephesus.
55	14	Paul at Ephesus.
56	1	Nero. Paul at Ephesus.
57	2	Paul writeth the second Epistle to Corinth.

And now may we in some scantling fix those Stories to their times which hung loosely before, namely, the choosing of the Deacons, the death of Stephen, conversion of Sa∣maria, and the Eunuch, and conclude that they were about the beginning of the next year after Christs ascension.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hi••••on.
• * 1.2

  2 Cor. 11. 21. Phil. 3. 5. Rom. 11. 1.
• * 1.3

  Tit. 1. 12. Acts 17. 28. 1 Cor. 1••. 33. Act. 22. 3. Gal. 1. 14. Acts 18. 3.
• * 1.4

  Acts 8. 3. and 22. 4. Acts 26. 11.