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 Chap. XIX. from Ver. 23. to the end of the Chapter.

PAUL had determined to stay at Ephesus till Pentecost, because of a great and effectu∣al door that was opened to him, and he was earnest to imbrace that opportunity, 1 Cor. 16. 9. but before his determined time of departure thence came, and as it seemeth not long before, Demetrius, with the rest of the Silversmiths raise a tumult against him as the great impairer of their profit, by crying down the worship of Diana and other Idols. These men used to make silver temples of Diana, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or little models, as it seemeth, made after that Temple fashion: which they that came to Ephesus to wor∣ship, bought, either to consecrate to the Goddess, and to leave there in her Temple, or rather to take away with them home in memorial of that Goddess. Tully in Verre•••• speaks of Aedes Minervae posita in fano Apollinis. And Dion Cassius lib. 36. of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. A little Temple of Juno set upon a Table looking toward the East, did of it self turn towards the North. And in lib. 40. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.] The Eagle [saith he, meaning the Roman ensign] was a little Tem∣ple, and in it was set a golden Eagle: such a one pitched in every one of the Roman Legions, and it never stir'd out of the winter quarters, till the whole camp did remove: this Eagle fixed on the top of a spear one man carried: the lower end of the spear being sharp that it might be stuck into the ground. So that it seems the Roman Eagles were not flying Colours like ours, but a golden Eagle meddal wise inclosed in a little fabrick like a Temple: of such a kind were these silver Temples of Diana, namely a little silver shrine made after the fashion of the Temple and the Goddess in it.

The great Temple was reputed one of the seven wondrous fabricks of the world: It was hundreds of years in building at the charge of all Asia, before it came to its last excel∣lency and perfection. And as hither had been the conflux of the cost of all Asia toward the building of it, so when it was built, hither was the conflux of all Asia's superstition. And as from hence it may be gathered how great a work it was to plant the Gospel in this center of Idolatry, so doth Demetrius readily observe, how great a detriment is like to ac∣crew to him and his fellows by the Gospels destroying that Idolatry, as daily it did. Here∣upon they raise a tumult against Paul, which is not only promoted by the Idolatrous Hea∣then, but by the Jews also, though upon another score. In the hubbub there is mention of Alexander, whom they drew out of the multitude the Jews putting him forward. And he heckned with the hand and would have made his defence unto the People, but when they knew he was a Jew they would not hear him, ver. 33, 34. And Paul in his second Epistle to Timothy, who was at Ephesus when he wrote to him, saith, Alexander the Copper-smith did me much evil, 2 Tim. 4. 14. I think there is little question to be made but that Alexander mentioned in both places is one and the same man: especially if we consider that he that Paul speaks of was of Demetrius his Profession a Copper-smith. Now whereas Luke saith the Jews put him forward, and he would fain have made a speech in his defence to the peo∣ple: it is easie to guess what the subject of this speech would have been: Namely that whereas the Heathens every where looked upon the Jews as the great opposers and ene∣mies of their Idolatry, and the Jews and Alexander were very apprehensive, that the eyes of the Ephesians was on that Nation as the enemy of their Diana, and so they feared the tumult might have fallen upon them, they put forward Alexander to make their Apology, who if he had had liberty to have spoken would have laid load upon Paul and his compa∣ny, and have excused the Jews: but thus it pleased God to provide for the Apostles safety, that the tumultuous people would not hear what Alexander would have said: which would have laid all the blame on Paul.