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[CHRIST. LIII. LIV.] [CLAVDIVS. XIII. XIV.] THe Apostle hath a long time to stay at Ephesus: in which he first begins for the space of a quarter of a year to dispute in the Synagogue: and then when divers were har∣dened and beleeved not, he separated the Disciples, and disputed daily in the School of Tyrannus: Hitherto what converts there were to the Gospel, they resorted still to the
publick service in the Synagogue, where Paul reasoned daily for the truth of the Gospel: but finding dangerous opposition, he gets away the Disciples from thence, and in the School of one Tyrannus they are a particular Congregation.
In these great Towns where there were many Jews, both in Iudea and elswhere, they had a Synagogue and a Divinity-School: This Divinity-School they called Beth Mi∣drash, and thither they used to go every Sabbath day, after they had been at the Syna∣gogue: whereupon they had this for a common proverb, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: From the Synagogue to the Divinity-School. In the Synagogue they had prayers and read∣ing of the Law, and plain Sermons of Doctrine, exhortation and comfort: In the Divini∣ty-School were discussed and taught, dogmaticall and controversall points concerning the difficulties of the Law, and other high matters. And hence it be those different titles and administrations of Pastor and Teacher, Ephes. 4.11. and He that teacheth, and he that ex∣horteth, Rom. 12.7, 8. took their pattern: if Pastor mean one of the Ministerial function.
In the time of this stay of Paul at Ephesus, He fought with beasts there after the manner of men, 1 Cor. 15.32. which seemeth to be understood, of a proper 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or fighting with wild beasts in the Theater, as was the barbarous and bestiall custom of the R••mans and those times. For 1. Observe in the hubbub of Demetrius, Pauls compa∣nions are haled presently into the Theater, ver. 29. as if there the people had that that would take a course with them. 2. Observe that the Asiarchae or Theater-Officers are Pauls friends, as having knowledge and acquaintance of him and with him before. 3. De∣metrius his uproar which was the greatest danger that Luke hath mentioned of him, was not till after he had written his Epistle to Corinth, in which, he speaks of fighting with beasts, and therefore that could not be meant. 4. The phrase 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 doth seem cleerly to distinguish it from any combate in a borrowed sense. 5. The trouble that befell him in Asia, by which he was pressed above measure, and even despaired of life, 2 Cor. 1.8, 9. cannot be understood so well of the tumult of Demetrius, for we read not of any hand laid upon Paul in it, as of some other danger neerer dearth.
In the latter year of these two above written, which was part of Pauls last year at Ephe∣sus, on the 13th day of October of that year, Claudius the Emperour dieth, and Nero suc∣ceedeth him: a wretch whose memory is not worth looking after, unlesse it be for dete∣testation: yet must we in our further progresse of viewing the actions of Paul, and rank∣ing his Epistles, be beholden to the Chronicall observation of his years.
Paul himself saith to the Elders of Ephesus, By the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one, Acts 20.31. And yet Luke in this Chapter specifieth only two years and a quarter, ver. 8.10. The comparing of which two summes together, doth help us to mea∣sure the time of his abode there mentioned from ver. 20. and forward. Namely that he spent three moneths in disputing in the Jews Synagogue: and two years in the School of Tyrannus: and three quarters of a year after, in going up and down Asia. The expiration of his three years was about Pentecost in the first year of Nero.