The Apostolical History, Chapter 7 · Section 2 – Section 4
v. 1. foreign] ſuum erat cuique cohorti Romanae nomen, quo ab aliis diſcerneretur. Haec dicta fuit Augusta, forte quod primaria eſſet, quae ante Caeſariam Monarchiam praetoria dicebatur.v. 2. Adramyttium eſt urbs Troadis maritima ad montis Idae radices. Ferrarius.2. Ariſtarchus] Hic Ariſtarchus Chriſtianus factus, Paulum ex Macedoniâ in Judaeam uſque comitatus fuerat. Act. 19.29. Idem Paulum jam cuſtodiae datum ex amore in ipſum, & veritatem comitari ſponte voluit, Romaeque primum adjutor ejus, deinde vinculorum particeps fuit, Col. 4.10.v. 9 foreign] Tempus deſignat Lucas ex more Judaici populi. De feſto expiationis videntur haec intelligi debere, cujus fit mentio, Lev. 23.27▪v. 14. foreign eſt quaevis violentior procella.v. 25. Credo enim Deo] Fidem Deus· ad conſequenda hujus vitae beneficia ſaepe requirit, ut oſtendat eam multo magis ad conſequendam aeternam eſſe neceſſariam.v. 33. foreign] Non quaſi toto illo tempore omni cibo abſtinuerint, ſed quod juſtis, & ordinariis conviviis non vacarent; ut ſic jejunii nomen improprie accipiatur de inſolita cibi abſtinentiâ. Non quod tam diu prorſus impaſti manſerint, ſed quod per curas, & negotia non licuerit illis toto illo tempore juſtum prandium aut juſtam caenam ſumere, aut tantum cibi comedere, quantum naturae neceſſitas poſceret. Nihil cibi ſumentes] ſcil. quod ſatiaret aut naturae ſatisfaceret.SECT. II.
IN this Iſland they were very courteouſly received by the Iſlanders, who made a great fire for them to warm and refreſh them, coming wet, and cold out of the ſea. Paul having gathered a bundle of ſticks, and laying them on the fire, a Viper that was in the wood, feeling the heat of the fire, leaped out upon him, and faſtned on his hand; which the Iſlanders ſeeing, they preſently concluded that he was certainly ſome notorious Malefactor, whom divine vengeance followed, though he had now eſcaped at ſea. Thus the very light of nature ſuggeſted even to Barbarians themſelves, that wickedneſs would not go unpuniſhed; ſee Rom. 1.32. But the Apoſtle ſhaking off the venemous beaſt into the fire, and receiving no harm at all from it, (ſee Mark 16.18.), they preſently chang'd their opinion, and took him for a God (a)See the like judgment of the men of Lystra concerning Paul and Barnabas, Act. 14.11, 19., come to them in the ſhape of a man. Thus it pleaſed God by a new miracle to confirm the Apoſtles authority, and thereby to prepare the hearts of of theſe Iſlanders to receive the Goſpel. The landing of theſe ſhipwrack'd perſons being made known to Publius the Governor, or chief man of the Iſland; he out of his great compaſſion and humanity entertained them all three days at his own charge. It ſo happened, that the Father of Publius was at this time ſick of a Feaver, and bloody Flux; which being made known to Paul, he went to him, and praying with him, and laying his hands on him, he perfectly healed*See Jam. 5.14, 15. him. This being noiſed in the Iſland, ſeveral other diſeaſed people were brought to him, and were alſo healed by him; upon which, Paul and his Chriſtian aſſociates were much honoured by the Iſlanders. Having ſtayed there three months, (in which time 'tis like Paul made many Converts, and planted a Church in the Iſland, as Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory informs us), at their departure they were furniſhed by the Inhabitants of the Iſland with all neceſſaries for their journey. From hence therefore they ſet ſail for Italy, in a ſhip of Alexandria, whoſe ſign was Caſtor and Pollux, and ſail'd firſt to Syracuſe in Sicily, thence to Rhegium in Italy, and thence to Puteoli a Port near Naples; where they found ſome Chriſtian(b)Adeò jam dilatata erat Chriſtiana religio, ut in Italiae urbibus invenirentur Eccleſiae Chriſtianae. A quo fuerint plantatae non conſtat, niſi quod ex Act. 2.10 certum eſt inter eos qui Hieroſolymae, per Petri praedicationem fuerunt converſi, etiam fuiſſe Romanos, qui in patriam reverſi, ſermonem Domini ſecum tulerunt, & in patriâ ſeminaverunt Profeſſors, who were very glad of them, and importun'd them to ſtay a week with them. Thence on foot they travailed towards Rome (c)Puteoli… per ſeptiduum commorati, terreſtri itinere Romam profecti ſunt. Streſo., and when they were come as far as Appii forum, ſeveral Chriſtians that dwelt in Rome, hearing of their approach, came thither to meet and welcome them; and others met them at a place call'd the three Taverns. When Paul ſaw theſe Chriſtians, he praiſed God exceedingly. He knew, there was a famous Church there (long ago planted*See Rom. 1.8.), to whom about three years before, he had written a large Epiſtle, and had of a long time deſired to ſee them; therefore could not but now rejoice, that God had vouchſafed to him ſuch an opportunity. The ſight of theſe Chriſtian-Romans did much revive and comfort him. He was glad they had ſo much liberty at Rome, that they durſt come forth, and thus publickly own him, who was in bonds; and he hoped for much comfort and ſuccour from them, againſt the troubles and dangers he expected at Rome.
When they were come to Rome, the Centurion delivered the Priſoners to the Captain of the Guard who ſuffered Paul (moved thereto poſſibly by the good teſtimony given of him by Julius) to dwell in a private houſe which he hired, only with a Soldier to guard him, carrying on his right hand an Iron-Chain(d)See v. 20. Act. 12.6. Eph. 6.20. 2 Tim. 2.9. Cuſtodia Militaris talis erat, ut is qui in noxà eſſet catenam manui dextrae alligatam haberet, quae eadem militis ſiniſtram vinciret. Eadem catena tam reum, quam militem tenet. Seneca lib. 1. de tranquil. animae., which probably he girded about him when he was in the houſe; but going abroad he was bound with the ſame to the left hand of the Soldier. After they had been there three days, Paul deſired to ſpeak with the chief of the Jews in that City; (his conſtant love to his own Nation engaging him always to deſire to gain them in the firſt place), and when they came to him, he ſpake to them to this purpoſe, Country men, I have done nothing againſt my own Nation, or contrary to the Laws or Cuſtoms of the Jews (e)Recipiendo enim Chriſtianiſmum nihil fecit contra mores patrios, i. e. contra Moſis legem. Chriſtianiſmus enim, & lex Moſis, non pugnant: ſed lex Moſis eſt umbratica repraeſentatio futuri Chriſtianiſmi, quae Chriſtianiſmo cedit nec ſe opponit. Corruptelae legis moſaicae pugnant cum Chriſtianiſmo, ſed non ipſa lex Moſis.; yet was I by the Jews at Jeruſalem apprehended and accuſed before the Roman Governour, who found no capital Crime laid to my charge, and therefore would have diſmiſs'd me, had not the importunity of the Jews inclin'd him to deliver me into their power; which that I might avoid, I was neceſſitated to Appeal unto Caeſar, only to clear my ſelf, not intending to lay any thing to the charge of any of my Country-men, or to exaſperate the Emperor againſt them, though I have been ſo ill uſed by them. And for this cauſe I was ſent hither, and now have ſent for you to acquaint you, that for the ſake of Jeſus Chriſt, the true Meſſias, (whom all true Iſraelites long looked for, who is now come in the fleſh, to be their Redeemer, and in whom all the true Iſrael of God repoſe all their hope and confidence of ſalvation, and by whom they expect a joyful reſurrection from the dead), I am bound with this chain.
The Jews replied that they for their part were not poſſeſs'd with any prejudice againſt his perſon; for they had not received any letters out of Judea concerning him, neither had any of their Brethren that came from thence ſpoken any evil of him. But as for this Profeſſion and Doctrine of Chriſtianity, they acknowledged, the Jews their Brethren, as alſo the Gentiles, did generally oppoſe it, and ſpake hardly of it; yet they deſired to hear what he had to ſay for it. Hereupon a day being appointed for that purpoſe, many of the Jews came to his lodging, to whom he opened at large theſe two points, 1. That the Kingdom of the Meſſiah promiſed by God to the Fathers was to be a ſpiritual, not an earthly Kingdom. 2. That Jeſus of Nazareth was the true Meſſiah, in whom all that deſire to be ſaved, ought to truſt and believe. Both theſe he confirmed by teſtimonies, out of the Law of Moſes, and out of the Prophets; continuing his diſcourſe from morning till night.(f)Eſt primum ſignum & pars eſſentialis Orthodoxae Eccleſiae, & doctrinae, Scrip…uram habere pro unicâ regulâ doctrinae, cujus judicio ſtandum, & cadendum: &, qui ab hac regulâ, ab hoc judice recedit, ad aliud tribunal provoc…t, & in alia authoritate ſuam fidem fundat, is ab orthodoxâ Eccleſia diſceſſiſſe ju…icandus, & pro haeretico habendus, non Catholico. Streſ. The effect of which diſcourſe was this, ſome believed, and embraced the Goſpel; others remained altogether unmoved and unperſwaded; and ſo they parted in ſome difference and diſagreement among themſelves. Paul at their departure, told thoſe that would not be perſwaded, that this unbelief of theirs was a thing which the Prophet Iſaiah had long ago punctually foretold, viz. ch. 6.9. wherein he ſhews, that God had bidden him go and tell that people, that hearing they will hear and not underſtand, and ſeeing they will ſee and not perceive; for their heart was waxed groſs, and they heard heavily with their ears, that is, they had contracted a wilful hardneſs, deafneſs, and blindneſs; upon which it follows, that they will not convert, nor hearken to any counſel, that ſhould make them capable of mercy. This being their caſe, he tells them, upon this refuſal and obduration of theirs, he was to preach the Goſpel (the word of ſalvation), to the Gentiles, who would gladly embrace it. See Rom. 15.9, 10, 11, 12.
After this, Paul dwelt two years in his own hired houſe at Rome, preaching the Goſpel, (the doctrine of Chriſt that tends to the ſetting up the kingdom of God in the ſouls of men, ſee Mat. 4.23. & 13.19.), to all that came to him, without any diſturbance, he having, as it ſeems, ſome Chriſtian friends even in Nero's family, Phil. 4.22.
Act. 28. v. 2. And the barbarous people ſhewed us no little kindneſs; for they kindled a fire, and received us every one becauſe of the preſent rain, and becauſe of the cold.
v. 3. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of ſticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and faſtned on his hand.
v. 4. And when the barbarians ſaw the venemous beaſt hang on his hand, they ſaid among themſelves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he hath eſcaped the ſea, yet vengeance ſuffereth not to live.
v. 5. And he ſhook off the beaſt into the fire, and felt no harm.
v. 6. Howbeit, they looked when he ſhould have ſwollen, or fallen down dead ſuddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and ſaw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and ſaid that he was a God.
v. 7. In the ſame quarters were poſſeſſions of the chief man of the iſland, whoſe name was Publius, who received us, and lodged us three days courteouſly.
v. 8. And it came to paſs, that the father of Publius lay ſick of a fever, and of a bloody flix, to whom Paul entred in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
v. 9. So when this was done, others alſo which had diſeaſes in the iſland, came, and were healed:
v. 10. Who alſo honoured us with many honours, and when we departed, they laded us with ſuch things as were neceſſary.
v. 11. And after three months we departed in a ſhip of Alexandria, which had wintred in the iſle, whoſe ſign was Caſtor and Pollux.
v. 12. And landing at Syracuſe, we tarried there three days.
v. 13. And from thence we ſet a compaſs, and came to Rhegium, and after one day the ſouth-wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
v. 14. Where we found brethren, and were deſired to tarry with them ſeven days: and ſo we went toward Rome.
v. 15. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii-Forum, and the three Taverns: whom when Paul ſaw, he thanked God, and took courage.
v. 16. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the priſoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was ſuffered to dwell by himſelf, with a ſoldier that kept him.
v. 17. And it came to paſs that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together. And when they were come together, he ſaid unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing againſt the people, or cuſtoms of our fathers, yet was I delivered priſoner from Jeruſalem into the hands of the Romans.
v. 18. Who when they had examined me, would have let me go, becauſe there was no cauſe of death in me.
v. 19. But when the Jews ſpake againſt it, I was conſtrained to appeal unto Ceſar, not that I had ought to accuſe my nation of.
v. 20. For this cauſe therefore have I called for you, to ſee you, and to ſpeak with you: becauſe that for the hope of Iſrael I am bound with this chain.
v. 21. And they ſaid unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea, concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came, ſhewed or ſpake any harm of thee.
v. 22. But we deſire to hear of thee what thou thinkeſt: for as concerning this ſect, we know that every where it is ſpoken againſt.
v. 23. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded and teſtified the kingdom of God, p…rſwading, them concerning J…ſus, b…th out of the law of Moſes, and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening.
v. 24. And ſome believed the things which were ſpoken, and ſome believ…d not.
v. 25. And when they agreed not among themſelves, they departed, after that Paul had ſpoken one word, Well ſpake the holy Ghoſt by Eſaias the prophet unto our fathers.
v. 26. Saying, Go unto this people, and ſay, Hearing ye ſhall hear, and ſhall not underſtand, and ſeeing ye ſhall ſee, and not perceive.
v. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed groſs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they cloſed, leſt they ſhould ſee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underſtand with their heart, and ſhould be converted, and I ſhould heal them.
v. 28. Be it known therefore unto you, that the ſalvation of God is ſent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
v. 29. And when he had ſaid theſe words, the Jews departed, and had great reaſoning among themſelves.
v. 30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired houſe, and received all that came in unto him.
v. 31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching thoſe things which concern the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, with all confidence; no man forbidding him.
Ch. 28. v. 6. foreign] Nihil incommodi ei accidere] foreign de malo Morali ſive culpae uſitatè dicitur, ut Luc. 23.41. 2 Theſ. 3.2. rarò de malo Phyſico ſive poenae. Syrus vertit nihil odibile ipſi factum eſſe. i. e. Nullum incommodum turpe & ignominioſum, ſcil. nihil novum inſolitum & admirandum, unde criminis alicujus, prout ſuſpicati fuerant, reus haberi poſſet.
Mutatâ ſententia dicebant Deum eſſe] Herculem forſan foreign, qui in Melit… colebatur.
v. 11. Cujus inſigne erant Dioſcuri] Solebant olim, naves hujuſmodi inſignibus ornare, & inde appellare, quomodo etiam hodié-num uſitatum eſt. Virgilius dixit, Centauro invehitur magna.
Dioſcuri, ſunt Castor & Pollux, Jovis ex Laedâ filii qui mari imperabant: unde horum praeſidio & tutelae navis haec erat commiſſa atque dicata ab iis, qui eam poſſidebant. Et invaluit apud Nautas haec ſuperſtitio, exhalationes …gneas quae in tempeſtatibus conſpiciuntur, eſſe hos ipſos Deos ſcil. Caſtorem & Pollucem. Et ſi …xhalatio ſolitaria appareat, triſle eſſe praeſagium; ſi autem gemina, proſperae navigationis praenuncium, ut teſtis eſt Plinius. Ovid. 1 Triſt. Fleg. 3. & pictos verberat unda Deos.
v. 15. Alii obvium venerunt ad ſorum Appii, alii ad tres Tabernas; illi prius, hi ſeriùs. Nam tres Tabernae propriores erant Romae.
v. 16. foreign, ſeorſim ſine aliis. Cum milite qui ipſum custodiret] Intellige ita ut eadem catena & mili…em conſtringeret. Sen. Epiſt. 5. quemadmodum eadem catena & militem & custodiam copulat, ſic ista quae tam diſſimilia ſunt, pariter incedunt. Haec eſt catena cujus mox meminit eam monſtrans Paulus v. 20. & Eph. 6.20. Col. 4.18. Phil. 1.7. 2 Tim. 2.9. Philem. 10.13.
v. 20. Propter ſpem Iſraelis …h…e. Propter Meſſiam ab Iſraele ſperatum ac deſ…d…ratûm, vel propter bona à Meſſiâ ſpe…ta. vid. 1 …im. 1.1.
SECT. III.
ONeſiphorus a Citizen of Epheſus, coming to Rome at this time, very diligently ſought out Paul there, and often refreſhed him, and was not aſhamed to own him notwithſtanding his bonds, 2 Tim. 1.16, 17.
SECT. IV.
THis year, 'tis probable, Paul was brought to his trial at Rome, though Luke makes no mention of it. For that his trial was ſomething early, may appear by his own words in his Second Epiſtle to Timothy, written ſome time after, where he ſpeaks of his firſt anſwer, (at which all his friends forſook him, through fear of ſuffering), that is, poſſibly, all ſuch of his friends as had power at Rome, or might by their Teſtimonies have ſtood him inſtead; which he prays God may not be laid to their charge, 2 Tim. 4.16, 17, 18.