EPISTLE TO ThE C0L0S3IANS. 1(35 



low also, " Epaphras, Luke the beloved physician, and De- 

 mas." Now, as this description, *' who are of the circum- 

 rision," is added after the first three names, it is inferred, 

 not without great appearance of probability, that the rest, 

 among whom is Luke, were not of the circumcision. Now, 

 can we discover any expression in the Acts of the Apostles 

 which ascertains whether the author of the book was a Jew 

 or not ? If we can discover that he was not a Jew, we fix 

 a circumstance in his character which coincides with what 

 is here, indirectly indeed, but not very uncertainly, inti- 

 mated concernin.of Luke : and we so far confirm both the 

 testimony of the primitive church, that the Acts of the Apos- 

 tles was written by St. Luke, and the general reality of the 

 persons and circumstances brought together in this epistle. 

 The text in the Acts, which has been construed to show that 

 the writer was not a Jew, is the nineteenth verse of the first 

 chapter, where, in describing the field which had been pur- 

 chased with the reward of Judas' iniquity, it is said, "that 

 it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem ; insomuch 

 as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that 

 is to say, The field of blood." These words are by most 

 commentators taken to be the words and observation of the 

 historian, and not a part of St. Peter's speech, in the midst 

 of wdiich they are found. If this be admitted, then it is 

 argiied that the expression, " in their proper tongue," would 

 not have been used by a Jew, but is suitable to the pen of a 

 Gentile writing concerning Jews.^ The reader will judge 

 of the probability of this conclusion, and we urge the coinci- 

 dence no further than the probability extends. The coinci- 

 dence, if it be one, is so remote from all possibility of design, 

 that nothing need be added to satisfy the reader upon that 

 \^art of the argument. 



IV. Chap. 4:9: " With Onesimus, a faithful and belov- 

 ed brother, ivho is one of you''' 



* Vido Benson's Dissertation, vol. 1, p. 318 of his works, edit 

 1756 



