J. W. McGarvey's Class Notes on Sacred History IV [Acts: Part Third].

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J. W. McGarvey
Class Notes on Sacred History, Volume IV (1894)

PART THIRD.

PAUL'S TOURS AMONG THE GENTILES.

xiii. 1-xxi. 40.

§ I. THE FIRST TOUR (xiii. xiv.).

1. BARNABAS AND SAUL SET APART TO THE WORK, XIII. 1-3.

Difference between prophets and teachers? 1.
Why Barnabas placed first, and Saul last?
Meaning of foster-brother? 1.
Why were they fasting? 2.
Purpose of the prayer and imposition of hands? 3, cf. 2.
Precedent for what?
When the call? 2. See xxvi. 16-18.

2. THEIR LABORS IN CYPRUS, 4-12.

Why Cyprus their first field? 4, cf. iv. 36.
Why first to Seleucia? 4.
Where was Salamis? 5.
John's duty as attendant? 5.
Why go through the whole island? 6.
For what was Paphos noted?
Why blind Bar-jesus? 8-11.
What change in Saul's name and relative position, and why? 9, cf. 7, 13, 43, et al. [25]

3. THEIR JOURNEY FROM PAPHOS TO ANTIOCH, 13-15.

Describe the route.
Why did John turn back? 13.
What the order of the synagogue service? 15.
Why the strangers invited to speak? 15.

4. PAUL'S SERMON IN ANTIOCH, 16-41.

I. The Introduction, 16-22.

Connection of the 450 years? 19.
After what things did he give them judges? 20.
How did Paul know the length of Saul's reign? 21.
How was David a man after God's heart? 22. I. Sam. xiii. 14.

II. Jesus Preached as a Saviour, 23-29.

(a.) The Proposition, 23, 24.

How the time fixed? 24.
What promise? Ps. cxxxii. 11.

(b.) John's Testimony, 25.

Force of this with the hearers?

(c.) Voices of the Prophets Fulfilled in His Death. 26-29.

What two classes addressed? 26, 16, 43.
Why this method of introducing the death of Jesus? 27, 29. [26]

(d.) The Resurrection of Jesus, 30-37.

Why not give his own testimony? 31.
How was raising Jesus the fulfillment of the promise? 32, 33.

(e.) Remission of Sins Proclaimed Through Him. 38, 39.

Point of contrast with the law of Moses? 39.

III. A Warning, 40, 41.

Why believe "if one declare it"? 41.
Why close with a warning?
Plan of the sermon?
Similarity to Stephen's discourse? and to Peter's first?
How this similarity accounted for?

5. IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THE SERMON, 42, 43.

Was the desire to hear again a general one?

6. RESULTS ON THE SECOND SABBATH, 44-49.

Why so many present? 44.
Why the change in the Jews? 45, cf. 42.
Points of contrast between the feelings and conduct of the Jews and Gentiles? 45, 46, 48.
In what sense ordained to eternal life? 48.
(1) The original (tassw) means to "set in order."
(2) Never used in N. T. for foreordination.
(3) Applied to the mind, means to determine, e.g. Acts xv. 2.
(4) Here it refers to the mind, and means "were [27] determined."
What determined them? 16, 26, 43.
How could this lead to believing?

7. THE APOSTLES ARE PERSECUTED, AND THEY DEPART TO
ICONIUM, 50-52.

Who the devout women? 50.
Why shake off the dust? 51, cf. Matt. x. 14.
How could the disciples be filled with joy under such circumstances? 52.

8. EVENTS IN ICONIUM, XIV. 1-7.

Site of Iconium?
To what is belief here ascribed? 1.
The method of the unbelieving Jews? 5.
Where Lystra and Derbe? 6.

9. LABORS AND RESULTS IN LYSTRA, 8-20.

Whence the faith of the cripple? 9.
Why think the apostles gods, and why name them as they did? 11, 12.
Why the garlands? 13.
Why rend their garments? 14.
Force of the arguments? 15-17.
Who stoned Paul? 19.
How did they persuade the people? 19.

10. THE RETURN TO ANTIOCH, 21-28.

What success in Derbe? 21.
Why "through many tribulations"? 22.
How many elders in every church? 23. [28]
How find competent men so soon?
Meaning of "commended them to the Lord"? 23.
Distinguish the two Antiochs. 21, 26.
Why to Atalia? 25.
Why report in Antioch, and to whom?
Meaning of "opened a door of faith"? 27.

§ II. A CONTROVERSY ON CIRCUMCISION (xv.).

1. THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTROVERSY, 1-5.

Why listen to the men from Judea, in opposition to Paul and Barnabas? 1, 2.
How does the issue made differ from that made with Peter? 5, cf. xi. 3.
Why the reference to Jerusalem? 2.
Was this an appeal from the decision of a church to that of a council?
Meaning of "brought on their way by the church"? 3.
Why the joy in Phoenicia and Samaria? 3.
To whom the rehearsal of 4?
Who led the opposition? 5.

2. MEETING OF APOSTLES AND ELDERS, AND A SPEECH BY
PETER, 6-11.

Was this another meeting, or the same? 6, 4.
Points of Peter's argument?
Why a yoke they could not bear? 10. [29]

3. SPEECHES BY BARNABAS AND PAUL, 12, 13.

Connection of their argument with Peter's?
Were their remarks different from those made at the first meeting? cf. 4.

4. A SPEECH BY JAMES, 13-21.

What is his line of argument? 15.
Meaning of "take out a people"? 14.
Meaning of "for his name"? 14.
What meant by the tabernacle of David? 16, cf. Amos ix. 11, 12.
Why the remark about preaching Moses? 21.

5. DECISION OF THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS, 22-29.

Why say, "with the whole church"? 22, cf. 5.
What authority had the judaizers who had gone to Antioch? 24, cf. 1.
Why send Judas and Silas? 27.
Why say, "and to us"? 28.
Were the things specified parts of the law? 29.
Why were these things specified?
Was this a compromise? or was it a victory for Paul?

6. PEACE RESTORE IN ANTIOCH, 30-35.

Who read the epistle to the multitude? 30, 31.
In what sense were Judas and Silas prophets? 32.
Did Silas return to Jerusalem? 33, 40. [30]

§ III. PAUL'S SECOND TOUR (xv. 36-xvi. 40.)

1. CHANGE OF COMPANIONS, AND BEGINNING OF THE TOUR, 36-41.

Primary purpose of the tour? 36.
Grounds of the contention? 37-39.
What more known of Barnabas?
What fitness had Silas for the work? See 22, 32.
What were churches planted in Syria and Cilicia? 41. See ix. 30; Gal. i. 18-24.
What confirming was this? 41, cf. xiv. 21.

2. THE CHURCHES OF THE FIRST TOUR REVISITED, XVI. 1-5.

What more known of Timothy's parentage? 1. See II. Tim. i. 5.
What known of his education? II. Tim. iii. 15.
When had he become a Christian? I. Tim. i. 2; II. Tim. iii. 10, 11.
How reconcile the circumcision of Timothy with Gal. v. 2-4?
In what way was he well reported of at Lystra and Iconium? 2.
Why deliver the decrees to these churches? 4.
What the first writing by apostles?

3. PREACHING IN PHRYGIA AND GALATIA, AND A CALL TO
MACEDONIA, 6-10.

Locate the districts here named.
What overruling of the [31] wishes of the apostles, and why?
Why the conclusion from the vision? 10.
Where, now, is Luke? 10.

4. PAUL REACHES PHILIPPI, AND BAPTIZES LYDIA AND HER
HOUSEHOLD, 11-15.

Where are Samothrace, Neapolis and Philippi? 11.
What implied in "a straight course"? 11.
In what sense "the first city of the district"? 12.
How came it to be "a colony"? 12.
Why suppose there was a place of prayer? 13.
Why not go to the synagogue?
Where is Thyatira, and for what was it noted? 14.
Character of Lydia, as indicated in the text?
What the condition of her heart, that it needed opening? 14.
How opened by the Lord? cf. 6, 7, 10, 13.
Effect of the opening? 14.
Were any infants baptized in her household? 15, cf. 13.
Why have to constrain the apostles? 15.

5. PAUL AND SILAS SCOURGED AND IMPRISONED, 16-24.

What is a spirit of divination? 16, 18.
Why object to her testimony? 17, 18.
Why not expel the spirit sooner? 18.
Why did the masters not prefer their real complaint? 20, 21, cf. 19.
Why call themselves Romans? 21, cf. 12.
What [32] was the motive of the magistrates? 22.
What the inner prison, and the stocks? 24.

6. THE JAILER AND HIS FAMILY ARE BAPTIZED, 25-34.

Why not pray and sing before midnight? 25.
Why think of killing himself? 27.
How did Paul know what he was doing? 28.
Why had no prisoners escaped?
How did the jailer know anything of salvation? 30, cf. 18.
Why command nothing but belief? 31, cf. 33.
Was the baptism in or out of the house? 33, cf. 34.
Was it in the prison? 30.
Were any infants in the household?

7. THE PRISONERS ARE RELEASED, 35-40.

Why was the release ordered? 35.
Why the demand made by Paul? 37.
In what sense were Paul and Silas Romans? 37.
What rights thus conferred?
What forbearance did Paul show?
What brethren? 40, cf. 18.
Present results of Lydia's fidelity. [33]

§ IV. OTHER LABORS IN MACEDONIA AND IN
GREECE, (xvii. 1-xviii. 22).

1. JOURNEY TO THESSALONICA, AND PREACHING IN THE
SYNAGOGUE, 1-4.

Where Luke and Timothy?
The distance? To Amphipolis (33); and thence to Apollonia (37); and thence to Thessalonica, 30 miles; 100 miles.
Why not stop in the two cities passed through? 1.
What the course of Paul's argument? 3.
How does it compare with Peter's on Pentecost?
Which class of converts the more numerous? 4.
Were any miracles wrought there? I. Thess. i. 5.
What means of support had the apostles? Phil. iv. 15, 16; I. Thess. ii. 9.

2. A PERSECUTION IN THESSALONICA, 5-9.

Compare the persecutors with those in Antioch. 5; xiii. 50.
Meaning of "turned the world upside down"? 7.
Ground of the accusation? 6.
Why the people and rulers troubled? 8.
Meaning of "taken security"? 9.

3. PAUL FLEES TO BEREA, AND IS SENT THENCE TO ATHENS,
10-15.

Where was Berea? 10.
How the nobility exhibited? 11. [34]
To what is their belief ascribed? 11, 12.
What the motive of the pursurers? 13.
Why did Silas and Timothy remain? 14.
Why wanted so soon in Athens? 15.

4. PAUL BEGINS THE WORK IN ATHENS, 16-21.

In what sense was the city "full of idols"? 16.
What the market place? 17.
Who the Epicureans and Stoics? 18.
Why call Paul a babbler? 18.
Meaning of "strange gods"?
How did they reach this conclusion? 18.
What led to spending time as stated?
Describe the Areopagus. 19, 21. L. of B., 603.

5. PAUL'S DISCOURSE ON THE "UNKNOWN GOD," 22-31.

1. The Introduction, 22, 23.

Meaning of the words rendered "somewhat superstitious"? It is an adjective, compounded from deido, to fear, and daimones, the demons. It is the comparative degree, and means, "very demon-fearing."
Did the auditors consider it complimentary?
Why erect an altar to an unknown god?
Fitness of this introduction? [35]

2. The Unknown God Set forth, 24-29.

(a.) As not Dwelling in Temples, 24.

What the argument?
Why this point made?

(b.) As not Needing the Service of Men, 25.

Why this point made?

(c.) As Maker and Ruler of All Nations, 26-28.

Special purpose of this?
What true as to the unity of our race?

(d.) Logical Conclusion, 29.

Force of this to the hearers?

3. A Call to Repentance, 30, 31.

In what sense "overlooked"? 30, cf. xiv. 16.
What motive to repentance presented?
How is assurance of the judgment given by the resurrection of Jesus?
Plan of the speech?

6. THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF THE SPEECH, 32-34.

Who mocked at the resurrection, and why? 32.
Why mention Dionysius and Damaris? 34.
Why were women allowed to be present?
How account for the little success? Cf. I. Cor. i. 22, 23. [36]

7. PAUL BEGINS THE WORK IN CORINTH, XVIII. 1-4.

Site and importance of Corinth?
Previous travels of Aquila? 2.
What the work of a tent-maker? and when had Paul learned it?
Why have to work? 3.
Why was a tent-maker heard in the synagogue? 4.
Paul's feelings at this time? I. Cor. ii. 1-3.

8. ARRIVAL OF SILAS AND TIMOTHY, AND BREACH WITH THE
JEWS, 5-11.

Recent movements of Silas and Timothy? 5. Cf. xvii. 15; I. Thess. iii. 1, 2.
Why the change on their arrival? 5, 6.
Why admitted into the house of Justus? 7.
Name some of the other converts? I. Cor. i. 14-16.
What need had he of the vision? 9, 10.
In what sense had the Lord "much people" in the city?
Why stay so long? 11.

9. PAUL IS ARRAIGNED BEFORE GALLIO, 12-17.

Who was Gallio? 12.
What was Achaia? 12.
To what law did the accusers refer? 13-15.
What worship did they mean?
Why the case dismissed?
Who beat Sosthenes, and why? 17.
For what things did Gallio not care, and why? [37]

EPISTLES WRITTEN DURING THE STAY IN CORINTH.

(a.) First Thessalonians.

Show where this Epistle was written, and next after what event. I. Thess. iii. 6-8; 1-5; Acts xvii. 5.
Was it early or late in Paul's stay at Corinth? xviii. 1-7.

(b.) Historical Items in this Epistle.

i. 2; ii. 17-20; iii. 5; 9, 10; 11-13; v. 23

How had Satan hindered? ii. 18.

i. 5; ii. 1-12

For what is this a precedent?

i. 6-10; ii. 13, 14; iv. 9, 10

How is it true that they had turned from idols? 9, cf. Acts xvii. 1-4.

iv. 4-6; 11, 12

iv. 13; v. 1-3

What the nature of this trouble? 13.

v. 12, 13

Meaning of "know them"? 12.

v. 19, 20

(c.) Second Thessalonians.

Where and when this Epistle written? Ans. While Silas was still with Paul (i. 1); but he was not with him after leaving Corinth, Acts xviii. 18.
Written before leaving Corinth].

(d.) Historical Items in this Epistle.

i. 3, 4

ii. 1-4

The point of trouble, and the cause of it? 2.

iii. 6-15

Meaning of tradition in ii. 15; iii. 6.

i. 11, 12; ii. 16, 17; iii. 16

iii. 17

What the token, and why mention it? Cf. ii. 2.

10. PAUL'S RETURN TO ANTIOCH, XVIII. 18-22.

Was it the Nazarite vow? 18, cf. Num. vi. 18.
Where Cenchrea, and why pass through it? 18.
Why did Priscilla and Aquila remain at Ephesus? 19, cf. 21.
Why land at Cæsarea? 22.
Trace the whole tour. [39]

§ V. PAUL'S THIRD TOUR (xviii. 23-xxi. 16).

1. SECOND VISIT TO GALATIA AND PHRYGIA, 23.

By what route did he reach Galatia?
Why the account so brief? See 21.

2. APOLLOS IN EPHESUS AND ACHAIA, 24-28.

How an Alexandrian by race and yet a Jew? 24, cf. iv. 36; xviii. 2.
Meaning of "mighty in the Scriptures"? 24.
What the limit of his instruction? 25.
By whom instructed and baptized?
Was Priscilla a public teacher? 26.
Why write to the disciples? 27.
What is the letter a precedent for?
His means of confuting the Jews? 28.

3. PAUL REACHES EPHESUS, AND BAPTIZES A DOZEN MEN.
XIX. 1-7.

Why Paul's first question? 2, cf. 6.
Why the second? 3.
Difference between the baptisms? 3, 5.
Were all of John's disciples required to be re-baptized?

4. PREACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE, AND IN THE SCHOOL OF
TYRANNUS, 8-12.

Why admitted into the school? 9.
Time in both? 8, 10. [40]
How could all in Asia hear through this preaching? 10.
Why say "special" miracles? 11.

5. EXORCISTS EXPOSED, AND BOOKS OF MAGIC DESTROYED,
13-20.

Who were exorcists? 13.
Their conception of the source of Paul's power? 13.
How many of the seven were beaten? 14, 16.
Why the fear, and why the name of Jesus magnified? 17.
What led to the confession and the burning? 18, 19.
Amount of the money, and why the books so costly? 19.

6. PAUL FORMS A PLAN FOR FUTURE JOURNEYS, 21, 22.

Meaning of "purposed in the Spirit"?
When had Timothy rejoined him?
Who was Erastus? 22. See Rom. xvi. 23.
Why these two sent into Macedonia?

I. CORINTHIANS.

(a.) Evidence as to Date and Place.

I. Cor. xvi. 8, 9

ib.; Acts xix. 19, 20

22, cf. I. Cor. 16: 10

(b.) Historical Items in the Epistle.

i. 1

Was he the Sosthenes of Acts xviii. 17?

i. 4-7; xii. 1-11, 28-31; xiv. 1-33

i. 10-15; iii. 1-6

Were the persons named the real leaders? See iv. 6, 14, 15.
Why does Paul argue as he does against the use of his name, if they were not really using it? i. 13-15.
Why introduce the names of Cephas and Christ? i. 12.
Can we infer from this an antagonism between Paul and Cephas?

v. 1-13; vi. 15-20

Meaning of deliver to Satan, and design of it? 5, cf. 13.
A previous epistle. v. 9.

vi. 1-7

vii. 1-17

When and by whom had they written? See i. 11; xvi. 17.

viii. 4-7

On what grounds prohibited? 10-13; x. 19-21, 23-28.
Is this teaching in conflict with the decree of the apostles? [42] Cf. Acts xv. 29.

ix. 1-6

On what grounds the denial? 1, 4, 5, 6.
How does he argue his right to support? 7-17.
What reasons does he give for not demanding a support? 12, 18, 19.

xi. 4-6; 10; 13-15

What praying and prophesying? 5, 13.

xi. 17-22

Nature of the perversion?
Why were their meetings for the worse? 17.

xii. 29-31; xiv. 1-3; 18, 19; 23-25

Why were tongues so highly prized?

xv. 12

From what sect had they been converted?
Why does Paul devote the whole chapter to this question? See 13-19.

xvi. 1-4

xvi. 10, 11

What Timothy's movements at this time? Cf. Acts xix. 22.
Why return to Ephesus?

xvi. 12

19, 20

What origin of these churches? See Acts xix. 10.

7. THE MOB OF THE SILVERSMITHS, xix. 23-34.

About what time? 23.
Who Diana, and what the shrines? 24.
What motives appealed to? 25, 27.
What of the temple? 27. (See Encyclopedia.)
Why go to the theater? 30.
What of that theater now? See L. of B., 576.
Who the "chief officers"? 31.
Purpose of the Jews and of Alexander? 33.
Why was the latter not heard? 34.

8. THE MOB DISPERSED BY THE TOWN CLERK, 35-41.

What the image referred to? 35.
What the points of his arguments?
Why deny charges not preferred? 37.
What was a "regular assembly"? 39.
Why in danger of being accused? 40.
Meaning of "dismissed the assembly"? 41.
Why the town clerk selected for this task?

9. PAUL'S SECOND VISIT TO MACEDONIA AND GREECE, xx. 1-3.

Where the meeting with the disciples? 1.
What his [44] present work in Macedonia? 2.
What plan of travel is he now pursuing? 2, 3, cf. xix. 21.

II. CORINTHIANS.

(a.) Evidence as to Date and Place.

i. 8-10

ii. 12, 13; vii. 5

Acts xx. 2

(b.) Historical Items in the Epistle.

i. 8, 9, cf. Acts xix. 30

i. 15-17; 23; ii. 1, 2

In what sense to spare them? 23.

ii. 4

Why this feeling not apparent in the epistle?

ii. 5-8

Why "by the many" and not by all? 6.

ii. 12, 13

Why pass through Troas?

iii. 1-3

Who the persons referred to?

vii. 5-7; 13

Why had he been troubled by not meeting Titus in Troas? 7, cf. ii. 13.

vii. 8-12

Why had he regretted it? 8.
Had Timothy reached Ephesus as was expected? I. Cor. xvi. 10, 11.
Who was it that "suffered the wrong"? 12.

viii. 1-3, 6; 10; 16, 17; 23

x. 10-12; xi. 4-6

Point in his comparing himself with other apostles? xi. 5, cf. 13-15.
How could the pretenders claim to be apostles?

xi. 7-12

How does this agree with Acts xviii. 3?

xi. 24-33

Why these mentioned? 18-23.
Why not mentioned in Acts?

xii. 1-10

Where was he when his vision occurred? (See Chronology p. 73.)
Why not know whether he was in the body?
If this not known, could he know the rest?
Why the words unspeakable? 4.
Tendencies of his affliction? 7.
What kind of pleasure in weaknesses, etc.? 10.

xii. 11-13

Meaning of signs, wonders and powers? 12, cf. Acts ii. 22.
Why say "in all patience"? 12.

xii. 20-xiii. 3; 10

Did he intend to tolerate this church in its evil condition?

THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

(a.) Evidence of Date and Place.

Rom. xv. 25, 26

This he did on leaving Corinth, Acts xx. 3, 4; xxiv. 17.

xvi. 23

I. Cor. i. 14

(b.) Historical Items in the Epistle.

i. 8; xvi. 19

Why so widely known?

i. 9-15; xv. 23, 24

When this purpose first mentioned? Acts xix. 21.

xv. 14, 15

Connection of this with the abstruse character of this epistle? I. Cor. iii. 1, 2; ii. 6. [47]

xvi. 1, 2

Was she a deaconess? 1, cf. 2.
When had she succored Paul? 2.
By whom was this epistle probably sent?

3-5

When and where did they lay down their necks?
Whence did they move to Rome, and why? I. Cor. xvi. 19.
How dare to return thither? Cf. Acts xviii. 2.

7, 11

When his fellow-prisoners? 7.
In what sense "of note among the apostles"?
What of Rufus and his mother? 13.

5-15

How was Epænetus first fruits of Asia? 5.
Meaning of "the brethren that are with them," 14, 15, cf. 5.
Why so many eminent persons in Rome?
Connection of this with the fame of the church, i. 8; xv. 14; xvi. 19.

xv. 30-32

Why these fears?

xvi. 21-23

When had these three kinsmen joined him? and why?
In what sense did Tertius write the epistle? 22.
How Gaius the host of the whole church?
Why [48] employ an amanuensis?
What part written by Paul himself? See II. Thess. iii. 17.

THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS.

(a.) Evidence of Date and Place.

i. 6, 7

Acts xviii. 23; xix. 8, 10; xx. 1-3; I. Cor. xvi. 5, 6

ch. iii., iv., cf. Rom. i-v.

(b.) Historical Items in the Epistle.

i. 6-9

iii. 1-3; iv. 21; v. 1-4

vi. 12, 13

Whence these teachers, and when had they come into Galatia? Cf. Acts xv. 1.
Paul's wish concerning them? v. 12; i. 8. [49]
"Cut themselves off" from what?
Why not command the churches to cut them off?

i. 1, 11, 12; 15-20

Does he mean that he had thus learned the personal history of Jesus?
Why does he so earnestly deny dependence on the older apostles?
Does the statement about going away into Arabia, and returning to Damascus, 16, 17, agree with Acts ix. 20-22?
Does Acts allow space for the three years? 18, cf. Acts ix. 23-26.
Purpose of the stay in Arabia?
How does 19 agree with Acts ix. 27?

ii. 1-10

From what event do the fourteen years count? 1, cf. i. 18, 15.
Which of the journeys mentioned in Acts is this? 1, 2, cf. Acts xv. 1, 2.
How could he say he went "by revelation"? 2.
When was this private conference held? 2, cf. Acts xv. 5, 6.
What was the result of it? 6, 9.
Did it require any discussion to secure this agreement? 2; 7-9.
How would a disagreement have caused Paul to "run in vain"? 2.
Purpose of the public conference?
Point in the remarks about Titus? 3-5.
Who were the "false [50] brethren"? 4, cf. Acts xv. 5.
What change in the policy of the Pharisees as respects the church? 4.
Why refuse to circumcise Titus, and afterward circumcise Timothy? 3, cf. Acts xvi. 1.

ii. 11-14

On which of Paul's visits to Antioch did this occur?
On what ground did Paul condemn Peter? 14, 18.
If it was after the decree, why not cite that against him? 12, cf. Acts xv. 28, 29.
Did James authorize those who came from him? 12, cf. Acts xv. 24.
Why did Luke omit from Acts the items in this chapter?

iii. 1-5

iv. 13-16