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St. Paul being now come to Ephesus with a design to stay there for some considerable time; as the manner was, he enters into the synagogue, and preaches the gospel first to the Jews, and this for the space of three months; but when, instead of embracing of the gospel, they opposed it, blaspheming Christ the author, and the apostle the dispenser of it, and vehemently contending with him for preaching the gospel, (which some conceive he calls his fighting with beasts at Ephesus, 1Co_15:32) he left the Jews and their synagogue, separating the Christians that were in Ephesus from them, whom he daily instructed in a certain place, called the school of Tyrannus.
Here note, 1. The vehemency of St. Paul's affection to his own countrymen the people of the Jews, notwithstanding all the opposition they made against his doctrine, and the virulent reproaches which they cast upon his person: he continues to preach the gospel first to the Jews, and, upon their rejection of it, to tender the word of life unto the Gentiles.
Note, 2. As great an apostle and as faithful a minister as St. Paul was, yet he wanted to see the success of his labours. Many of his hearers at Ephesus believed not his word, but were hardened under it. The same sun that softens the wax, hardens the clay: the same doctrine of the gospel becomes the savour of death unto some, which is the savour of life unto others. Woe be unto that people, who by their habitual hardness, through their actual resisting the impressions of God's word, do provoke the Almighty to superadd judicial hardness of heart unto them, making their sin to become their punishment.
Note, 3. How upon this opposition, which St. Paul met with in the Jewish synagogue, he leaves it, and retires to a more private place, the school of Tyrannus, where he had more freedom, and less opposition.
Learn hence, That such places of public worship, where nothing but contradiction to the pure Christian doctrine can be met with, may be lawfully withdrawn from. The apostle separates himself and the disciples from the Jews' synagogue, where he had preached three months, meeting only with contradiction to his doctrine, and blasphemy against his dear Redeemer.
Note, 4. How it pleased God Go confirm St. Paul's ministry at Ephesus by his working miracles: and the miracles he wrought were special, that is, very extraordinary, insomuch that even handkerchiefs or aprons having but touched St. Paul's body, and being brought unto the diseased, became a miraculous means both to cure diseases and to cast out devils.
Thus, according to our Saviour's promise, his apostles did greater miracles than himself, Joh_14:12 not greater in regard of the manner, but in regard of the matter of them: Christ wrought his miracles in his own name, and by his own power; but the apostles wrought theirs in the name and by the power of Christ; yet it ought to be observed and considered, that although it pleased God, at the first plantation of the gospel by the apostles, to confirm Christianity by many special miracles, (as new-set plants are well watered till they have taken fast rooting,) yet that church which wants miracles may be a true church: because,
1. There is no promise made in the scriptures to the church for her perpetual enjoying the gift of miracles. That promise, Mar_16:17 These signs shall follow them that believe, &c. was only a temporary promise.
2. We are forbidden to expect miracles, Joh_4:48 and forbidden to trust to miracles without scripture, or to regard such miracles as are wrought to confirm any doctrine that is contrary to scripture, Deu_13:3 because the miracles of the last times are declared to be the signs of Antichrist, 2Th_3:9-10.
From all which it follows, that miracles are no infallible note of the true church, as the Papists would make it; who also produce St. Paul's handkerchiefs here, and St. Peter's shadow, Act_5:15 as a warrant for their superstitious relics; but the text assures us, it was God that wrought the special miracles, not St. Paul, nor his handkerchiefs, but God by his hand. The miracles in the church of Rome, pretended to be wrought by the relics of saints and martyrs, are no better than lying wonders.