The Harmony Chronicle and Order of the New Testament, Part 2 · Acts 5
ACTS CHAP. XX. Ver. 6. And we came to them to Troas in five daies: Where we abode seven daies. And so to Ver. 17. of CHAP. XXI.
FRom Philippi after Easter, he setteth away for Corinth, where he staied so little, that he came to Troas within five daies after the company was come thither which had gone before: for so are the five daies to be understood: not that Paul in five daies went from Philippi to Corinth and Troas, but that his company which was set out with him, but set directly for Troas, had staied but five daies at Troas, before he came up to them.
There he celebrates the Lords day and the Lords Supper, and preacheth and discourseth all night [a thing not altogether strange in the Jewish customs, Ierus. S…tah fol. 16.4. R. Meir was teaching profoundly all the night of the Sabbaths in the Synagogue of Chamath.] So that Eutychus sleeps and sals and is taken up dead, but recovered by miracle. The change and beginning and end of the Christian Sabbath may be observed here.
When he goes now from thence, it is most likely it was the time when he left his Cloak, Books and Parchments with Carpus, 2 Tim. 4.13. His Cloak: for he was now going among his own Nation in Iudea: and there he was to wear his Jewish habit, and he left his Roman garb here, till he should come into those Roman quarters again. It may be, the Parchments were the Originals of those Epistles that he had already written: for that he sent transcripts, and reserved the Originall copies, may be collected from these passages, I Tertius who wrote out this Epistle, Rom. 16.22. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, 1 Cor. 16.21. Col. 4.18. which was the token in every Epistle, 2. Thess. 3.17. for all the Epistle beside was written with another hand.
From Troas by severall journeys he cometh to Miletum: and thither he sends for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, which City was near at hand: But who were these? Not Timothy and Trophimus, for they were in his company already, and had been with him in his journey hither, but these twelve men upon whom he had laid his hands, and bestowed on them the holy Ghost, and so fitted them for the Ministry, Act. 19.6. and whomsoever besides Timothy had ordained into the Ministry whilest he was there.
Although the Ephesian and the rest of the Asian Churches, were but in an ill case at this time in regard of false doctrines and much Apostacy that had corrupted and cankered them, yet doth the Apostle foresee that the case will be worse and worse with them still, and that grievous Wolves should yet break in upon them: And this he concludeth, not only from the boldnesse that he was assured false teachers would use and assume to themselves when he was gone, but from those predictions of Christ that had foretold what sad Apostacy should occurre, and what false teachers should arise before the great day of Ierusalem came, which was now coming on apace.
ACTS CHAP. XXI. Ver. 17. And when we were come to Ierusalem the Brethren received us gladly, &c.
PAUL is now got to Ierusalem: And the first thing that we have to do about his story there, is to calculate the time and consider what Year it was when he came thither: and to prove, if we can, that it was the second Year of Nero, according as we have superscribed that Year: for this is of import, as to the fixing of those chronicall observations that we are to take up hereafter.
The common consent in all times, hath fixed his coming to Ierusalem and apprehension there to this Year, and yet amongst all that have so concluded upon it, there is none that hath given any one clear proof or evidence at all for such an assertion. Eusebius, Ado, Cassiodore, Baronius, Lorinus, and divers others are of this minde, yet whereupon they grounded their opinion is hard to finde, nay it is hard to finde among many of them, any that goeth about to shew any groundwork for it at all. It would therefore save a great deal of labour to take their consent without any more ado, and it might carry good credit with it, to go along with so generall a tenet upon the word of so many Learned men: yet that we may not go altogether led blindfold by others, let these things towards the proof of it be taken into consideration. And first let us draw a Chronicle of Nero's time.
NERO.
I.
II.
III.
IV. Poppaea becomes Nero's Paramour.
V. Nero slaies his mother Agrippina.
VI.
VII.
VIII. Poppaea becomes Nero's Wife. Pallas dieth.
IX.
X. Albinus is Governour of Iudaea.
XI. Florus cometh in Governour instead of Albinus.
XII. The first beginning of the Warres of the Jews.
XIII.
XIV.
Although these things affixed to the severall Years of Nero, may seem very Heterogeneall to the thing we have in hand, yet we shall finde them of good use when we have first cleared their truth and certainty.
1. That Poppaea became Nero's Minion in his 4th Year is apparent by Tacitus Annal. lib. 13. Sect. 12. where he placeth the beginning of their adulterous acquaintance A.V.C. 811. under the Consulship of Nero III. and Valerius Masella.
2. That Nero slew his mother Agrippina in his fifth Year, the same Tacitus also asserteth, lib. 14. Sect. 1. placing that fact A.V.C. 812. under the Consulship of C. Vipsanius, and Fonteius Capito.
3. The marrying of Poppaea to Nero, as his Wife, he placeth in his eighth Year. Annal. lib. 14. Sect. 9. viz. A. V. C. 815. under the Consulship of P. Marius, and L. Asinius: and in the same Year he placeth the death of Pallas.
4. The beginning of the Warres of the Jews in Nero's 12th, and the entrance of Gessius Florus into the Government, the Year before, is confirmed under this testimony of Iosephus, Antiq. lib. 20. cap. ult. foreign. Out of which how Baronius can bring the beginning of Florus his Government to be in the tenth of Nero, as he doth, I understand not: for if the twelfth Year of Nero were Florus his second, then the eleventh was his first.
And now let us take in some things more, which we must apply to these times mentioned, to help us in the inquest we are about.
1. Iosephus saith, that when Portius Festus came into Felix room in the Government of Iudea, the chief of the Iews of Caesarea went to Rome to accuse Felix; and he had been certainly punished for his unjust dealing with the Iews, had not Nero been very favourable to him, at the intreaty of his brother Pallas, who was then very much in Caesars esteem. Antiq. lib. 20 cap. 7.
2. The same Iosephus also speaking of the Government of Festus in Iudea, he first mentioneth how he found the Country infested with rebels and robbers whom he overthrew: then he relateth how King Agrippa built his Palace so at Hierusalem, as that it overtopt the Temple Courts: which the Jews disliking built a counterwall to hinder the prospect, that it should not view their service and actions in the Temple. At this Agrippa and Festus took distast, and Festus commanded that the wall should be pulled down: but the Jews desired they might send Agents to Rome about this matter, which they did. And when Nero heard the case, foreign. He did not only pardon the thing done: but he also consented to suffer the building so to stand: vouchsafing this at the intreaty of his wife Poppaea, for she was devout, &c. Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 8. Observe the last words, At the intreaty of his wife Poppaea.
3. The same Iosephus again relateth a journey of his own to Rome in these words: When I was six and twenty years old I went to Rome upon this occasion. When Felix was Governour of Iudea, he sent certain Priests my neer acquaintance, and very good men for a small cause to Rome to appear before Caesar. For whose deliverance I desiring to finde some means went to Rome, and there by the means of a certain Iew, foreign. I came to be known to Poppaea Caesars Wife.
Baronius doth revile Iosephus here as if he had forgot his own age: Videas in his [saith he] quae suae aetatis sunt, suo ipsius testimonio convinci, annorum sex turpiter errant…m. And wherein? Quia affirmat se agentem suum supra vigesimum sextum sub Faelice Iudaeae praeside Romam venisse. But Iosephus saith no such word. He saith indeed that he went to Rome to labour the deliverance of some men that Felix had sent thither in the time of his Government, but that Felix was in his Government when he went thither he saith not at all.
And now to take up what we have to observe upon these things that have been spoken.
1. It is true indeed, as Tacitus witnesseth, that Pallas the brother of Felix, who had been Claudius his great favourite, and so Nero's also in Claudius time, did wane and decrease somewhat in his favour in a very short time after his entrance into his reign: but he was not utterly laid flat, and out at all, till after Poppaea came into favour and amorousnesse, who forwarded the death of Agrippina, and the bringing down of those that were of her party as Pallas was. Therefore the power of Pallas with the Emperour seemeth to be expired in Nero's fifth year, in which Agrippina was slain. And by this account we cannot extend Felix his escape for his brother Pallas his sake, beyond Nero's fourth Year. For considering Poppaeas prevalency with the Emperour, when once she became his Paramour, and considering her detestation of Agrippina and her faction of which Pallas was the chief, we cannot cast Felix his discharge for Pallas his sake, beyond Nero's fourth.
2. Paul lay two years prisoner at Caesarea under Felix: Act. 24.27. After two years Porti…s Festus c…me into Felix room. Many are the conjectures about these two years. Baronius saith, it was Expleto biennio Neronis. Magister Historiae Scholasticae, saith it was Biennium ab accusatione Felicis a Iudaeis. A Lapide cares not to think that Biennium hoc inchoandum a praefectura Felicis in Iudea, nam ante illud praefuerat Trachonitidi Batanaeae & Gandanitidi, &c. But it is most proper to hold, that these two years mean the time of Pauls being a prisoner under Felix from the time of his apprehension under Lysias the chief Captain, till Felix his going out of his Government: and so it is held by Beda, Beza, Salmeron, Onuphrius and others. And this is so proper and sutable to the intent and discourse of Luke, that it needeth no illustration or proof of it: and it is most agreeable to the Scriptures manner of accounting in all other places.
These two things then being thus concluded on, it will follow that Pauls apprehension was in Nero's second, and Felix went out of Office in Nero's fourth, before Poppaea was yet got into her potency. And the accounting of Pauls to years imprisonment under Felix to be thus. At Pentecost in Nero's second he is apprehended, and at Pentecost in Nero's third he had been a year prisoner: and at Peneecost in Nero's fourth his two years are up: and that spring it was that Felix went out of Office, and went to Rome to make his answer, and Pallas his brother not yet utterly out of favour makes his peace. And now let us draw up the Chronology of Nero's time to the full, according to these evidences, and as referreth to our occasion.
CHRIST. NERO. 55. 1. 56. 2. 57. 3. 58. 4. 59. 5. 60. 6. 61. 7. 62. 8. 63. 9. 64. 10. 65. 11. 66. 12. 67. 13. 68. 14.Paul at Ephesus: Goeth to Macedonia, Creet, Greece, to Macedonia again, and wintereth in Nicopolis.
Paul at Macedonia till Easter: then goeth up to Ierusalem, and is apprehended at Pentecost, and from that time till the year go out, is a prisoner.
Paul a prisoner all this year under Felix.
Felix removed. Festus cometh in: Paul shipped towards Rome, but wintereth by the way.
Poppaea in Nero's eye, and becomes his Minion.
Festus Governour of Iudea. Paul after wintering in his journey, cometh to Rome, and this is the first year of his imprisonment there. Nero killeth his mother Agrippina.
Festus Governour of Iudea. Pauls second year imprisonment at Rome.
Festus Governour of Iudea.
Festus Governour of Iudea. Nero marrieth Poppaea.
Festus Governour: It may be Albinus came in sometime this year: and then was Iames the lesse slain this year.
Albinus Governour of Iudea.
Florus Governour of Iudea.
Florus Governour of Iudea. The Warres begin.
Nero dieth, having reigned 13 years and 8 moneths.
ACTS CHAP. XXI. from Ver. 17. to the end of the Chapter.
PAul cometh to Ierusalem at the feast of Pentecost, when the City was now full of conflux to that festivall. He resorteth instantly to Iames the residentiary Apostle of the Circumcision, for holding correspondency sake; and there he shews him the manner and fruit of his Ministry among the Gentiles. Which both by Iames and the Elders that were with him is well approved of, as to the thing it self: but they certifie him of what complaints they heard from the Jews against him, for crying down of the rites of Moses, especially Circumcision, That thou teachest all the Iews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying, that they ought not to circumcise their children, ver. 21. Now because thousands of the Jews which beleeved were yet zealous of the Law, this gave much offence. But did Paul teach thus or not? No doubt he did, and it behoved him so to do: nor does, nor can Iames except against the doctrine: for though it is true that he and Paul and the other Apostles permitted compliance with some of the Jewish rites for peace sake for a while, as there is an example in this very place, yea Paul himself circumcised Timothy upon that reason; yet the use of Circumcision, as these that stood upon it, used it, was utterly inconsistent with the Gospel. Hear this Apostles Doctrine, Behold I Paul say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testifie again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtour to the whole Law, Gal. 5.2. A converted Jew would have his sonne circumcised: Paul asks him a reason; what can he answer, but it looks after some justification by it? as their own Authors speak their thoughts: He that is circumcised is perfect. And, He that is circumcised shall not go to Gehinnom. And, I said unto thee, in thy blood live, Ezek. 16.6. This is the blood of Circumcision, &c. Tanchum. in Gen. 17. & 18, &c.
They looked indeed upon Circumcision notion as an admission into the Covenant: and thereupon the father of the child at his Circumcision constantly used these words, Blessed be thou O Lord our God who hast sanctified us by his Commandments, and commanded us to bring the child into the Covenant of our father Abraham. And they that stood by said, As thou hast brought him into the Covenant, so bring him into the Law and into the Bridechamber. Jerus. in Beracoth. fol. 13. col. 1. But withall they looked upon this Covenant as a Covenant of works, for, as we observed before, they reputed Abraham himself so justified. Good cause therefore had Paul to stand out against the convert Jews circumcising their children, as whereby the Doctrine of Justification by faith was utterly enervated and made of no effect. And here by the way let us conceive we heard Paul and one of these parents disputing upon this point. Circumcise not thy child, saith Paul, for if thou doest thou laiest an obligation upon him to observe the whole Law: and this may note to us that the Sacrament carried an obligation with it, and obliged an Infant, though he knew not what Law or obligation meant: Baptism is for obligation as well as this, and a childe capable of the obligation though he understand not what it means. I, but saies the Parent, I will not look upon it, as in way to Justification, I will only use it for the childes admission into the Covenant of grace. If Infants Baptism were not now in use for such a purpose, let one that denies it, tell me, what Paul had to answer.
Iames urgeth not Paul at all to any publick recantation of his Doctrine, but adviseth him, by purifying himself and Judaizing a little in the Temple, to give some publick testimony for their satisfaction, …at he was not such an enemy to Moses as he was reported: which he agreeth to. For the Temple rites might have better plea, while the Temple stood, then Circumcision, which was none of them. On the second or third day of his Purification, some Asian Jews raise a tumult against him. It is not so properly rendred, And when the seven daies were almost ended, ver. 27. as rather, And as the seven daies were to have been accomplished, the computing of these twelve daies mentioned chap. 24.11. inforce that they should be so interpreted.
They found him in the second Court of the Temple the Court of the women, whither no Heathen came [though they might come into the outer Court, called the mountain of the House] and thither they supposed and pretended that he had brought a Gentile, Trophimus an Ephesian: For which he is fallen upon with that they called foreign The rebels beaten, stripes without number, the people falling pell mell upon him. Which was the way [as the Jews records inform us] that the Priests were dealt withall, that came into the next court above this, when any of them was deprehended there in their uncleannesse: they never stood upon it, to bring him to judiciall triall, but his fellows fell upon him, with the fagot sticks of the Altar, or what came to hand, and mawled him with blows without measure even unto death: And so had Paul been served now had not the Roman Commander come and been his rescue. Yet did he suppose him an offender, and questions him whether he were not that Egyptian that not long before that time had made an insurrection. Iosephus giveth his story, Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 6. thus. At that time there cometh one to Ierusalem out of Aegypt, pretending himself to be a Prophet: and he counselled the common people, that they should go with him to Mount Olivet, and that there he would shew them how at his command the walls of Ierusalem would fall: But Felix understanding this, sent some horse and foot against them, and slew 400 of them [our text here saies 4000] and took two hundred prisoners.
ACTS CHAP. XXII.
PAUL Apologizeth to the people: telleth his Education, Conversation and Conversion: and relating how by a Divine Vision he was appointed to go to the Gentiles, they begin a new commotion, which the chief Captain again pacifieth; but yet thinks Paul some notable villain, or else that there would never have been so terrible cries against him: He would now have scourged him, but that he understood he was a Romane: therefore he turns to another course, and the next day brings him before the Sanhedrin. The sitting of that Bench was little at Ierusalem now: For as we have observed, they were unnested from Ierusalem divers years ago, and their most constant residence at present was at Iabneh: only they were now come up to the Festivall.
ACTS CHAP. XXIII. & XXIV. to Ver. 27.
RAbban Simeon the sonne of Rabban Gamaliel, Pauls Master, was President of the great Councill at this time, for Gamaliel was dead some two or t…ree yeares ago. Of him the Jewes have this saying in Sotah per. 9. From the time that old Rabban Gamaliel died, the honour of the Law ceased; for till then they read and learned the Law standing, but after his death sitting. Onkelos the Targumist of the Law burne a great quantity of frankincense for him at his Obsequies. Iuchasin fol. 53. Whether Rabban Simeon the President were present at this Session or no, Ananias the Highpriest is as busie as if he had been chief President himself: But Paul cares for him as little, as he busied himself much. He cals him whited wall, or arrant painted hypocrite: And when he was checked for reviling Gods Highpriest, I knew not brethren, saith he, that he is Highpriest: for if I took him for such a one, I would not …o have spoken to him, since it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of my people. It is not possible that Paul should not know who and what Ananias was: but … is very indifferent, whether we understand this, as not owning this man for a lawfull Highpriest, or not owning any lawfull Highpriesthood now at all. The man base and usurping; and the Function of the Highpriesthood disanulled by the great Highpriest, who had accomplished all that it typified, and the place of the Highpriesthood being become a common Merchandise, obtained by money and favour and dis…ching one another.
By a holy policy he divides the Councill, and professing himself by education a Pharisee, and of that belief in the point of the Resurrection, he not only sets Pharise… ▪ and Sadduces to a hot contestation between themselves, but he makes the Pharis…s, so farre as to that opinion, to take his part: It had been possible to have set the Hil…elian and Shammaean party together by the ears, by a bone handsomly cast … them, for the Councill had these factions in it, and their feud was as deadly; b…t Paul could own no article of their divisions, that was worth his owning, they were so … and below his cognisance. It is the confession of the Ierusalem Gomarists in I…ma fol 38. col. 3. That the fault of their great ones under the second Temple was love of money, and hatred one of another.
Paul in the hubbub is rescued again by the Souldiery, and that night by revelation is warranted to appeal to Caesar, by being informed he must go to Rome. A Conspiracy of a pack of cut-throats to murder him, is prevented, and he is sent to Caesarea to Felix, where he lies prisoner two years. By such packing and combining of murderers, it may easily be conjectured what temper the Nation was now in. Iosephus his character of it at these times is, That the affairs of the Iews grew daily worse and worse, … that the Country was full of theeves and sorcerers, but Felix was daily picking them up to penalty after their desert; the greater thief, the lesse; for his character yields … no better. Tacitus saies enough of him, when he speaks but this, Antonius Felix, per omnem saevitiam ac libidinem jus regium servili ingenio exercuit: Histor. lib. 5. cap. 2. Upon which Iosephus will give you a large comment of his intolerable covetousnesse, polling, cruelty, sacriledge, murderings, and all manner of wickednesse. His injuriousnesse to Paul in the story before us, and the very naming … wife Drusilla may be brand enough upon him: for her, by inticements and magicall …, he allured to himself from her husband and married her. And him he kept prisoner two years wrongfully because he would not bribe him. In his pleading before him, he makes him tremble, but it is but a qualm and away.
CHRIST. LVII NERO. III PAUL is a prisoner this year at Caesarea under Felix. A great City of Jews and Greeks mixtly: the place where the first spark of Jews Warres kindled afterward. A famous University of Jews in time, if so be it was not so at this time.
ACTS CHAP. XXIV. Ver. 27.
CHRIST. LVIII NERO. IV PAUL still a prisoner at Caesarea under Felix for the first part of this year: Then cometh Festus into the Government, and Felix packeth to Rome to answer for his misdemeanours.
ACTS CHAP. XXV. & XXVI.
PAUL answereth for himself, first before Festus alone: then before Agrippa and his sister Bernice: this Agrippa was his sonne whose death is related Acts 12. he by the favour of Claudius the Emperour succeeded his brother in Law-Uncle Herod [for such relations did that Incestuous family finde out] in the Kingdom of Chalcis. For Berenice his sister had married Herod King of Chalcis her Uncle and his, who was now dead, and this Agrippa succeeded him in his Kingdom, being also King of Iudea. Of this Agrippa, as it is most probable, there is frequent mention among the Hebrew Writers: as particularly this, that King Agrippa reading the Law in the later end of the year of release, as it was injoyned, and coming to those words, Deut. 17.15. Thou shalt not set a stranger King over thee which is not of thy brethren, the tears ran down his cheeks [for he was not of the seed of Israel] which the Congregation observing, cried out, Be of good comfort O King Agrippa, thou art our brother. He was of their Religion though not of their blood, and well versed in all the Laws and customs as Paul speaks, chap. 26.3.
Berenice his sister, now a widow, lived with him, and that in more familiarity then was for their credit: afterward she fell into the like familiarity with Titus the sonne of Vespasian, when he came up to the Jews Warres. There is mention in Ierus. in Taanith. fol. 66. col. 1. and again in Megillah fol. 70. col. 3. of the Scribes or learned Iews of Chalcis, against whom the people rose and tumultuated. [In the one place it is written foreign in the other foreign.] It may be they were of this Agrippa's planting there.
As Paul pleads for himself, Festus takes him to be beside himself: but Agrippa better acquainted with those kinde of things that he spake of, was much moved: and concludes that had he not appealed to Caesar, he might have been quit. What he did in this appeal was not a small thing, and it is very questionable whether ever Jew had appealed from their own Sanhedrin, to the Heathen Tribunall before. But for this he had a Divine warrant.
ACTS CHAP. XXVII.
PAUL shipped for Rome: and Luke with him, and Aristarchus a Thessalonian. Paul cals him his fellow prisoner, Col…ss. 4.10. whether now or not till he came to Rome is a question: Trophimus an Ephesian is also now with him, Acts 21.29. whom he leaves sick at Miletum, as he passeth by those coasts of Asia, Act. 27.2. 2 Tim. 4.20. and there likew…se he leaves Timothy. Who else of those that went with him to Ierusalem, Act. 20 4. were now with him, is uncertain. It was now farre in the year, and winter entring, for the feast of expiation was over, so that they meet with a tempestuous journey, and at last suffer shipwrack and swim for their lives, and do all escape. The Reader by the time of the writing of the second Epistle to the Corinthians, which he hath passed, will easily see that what he speaks there, A day and a night I have been in the deep, 2 Cor. 11.25. cannot be understood of his shipwrack now, but referres to some time a good while ago.
ACTS CHAP. XXVIII. from the beginning to Ver. 30.
CHRIST. LIX NERO. V PAUL and his company are the three winter moneths in Malta: where he doth some miracles. And when winter was now drawing over, they put to sea again, in an Alexandrian bottom, whose badge was Castor and Pollux: or the picture of two young men on white horses, with either of them a javelin in his hand, and by him half an egge and a starre: whom Heathenish folly and superstition conceited to have been twins begotten by Iupiter, and Deities favourable to those that sailed on the sea. And this seemeth to have been the reason why Luke doth mention this circumstance, because he would intimate the mens superstition, as expecting better sailing under this badge then they had had.
From Melita they sail to Syracuse in Sicilie, and there abide three daies. From thence to Rhegium in Italy, and from thence to Puteoli: there they finde Christians and stay with them seven daies: and then set away for Rome. At Appii Forum aboue 50 miles from the City, some of the Roman Christians hearing of their coming, come …o meet them: and at the Tres Tabernae, 33 from the City, they meet with … and so they injoy the society of one another some space together as they tr…vell along, which was no small refreshing to Paul, who had desired so much and so long to see them.
ACTS CHAP. XXVIII.
Ver. 30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his hired house, and received all that came to him.
31. Preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Iesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
JULIUS the Centurion that had brought him and the rest of the prisoners from Iudea, had been his friend and favourer, from their first setting out, Chap. 27.3. and so continued, even to the time of his setling in Rome: obtaining him this liberty, that he might take lodgings of his own, and there he was kept under a restraintlesse restraint: After three daies he sends for the chief of the Jews, and laies open his case before them, and upon a day appointed he asserteth and expoundeth the truth and doctrine of the Gospel, whereupon some beleeve, but others do the rather become his enemies.
His accusers that were come from Iudea to lay in his charge against him [for we can hardly suppose otherwise, but that some such were come] would be urgent to get their businesse dispatched that they might be returning to their own homes again; and so would bring him to triall as soon as they could: and that his tr…all was reasonable early this year, it appeareth by his own words in his second Epistle to Timothy, where he speaketh of his Answer that he had been at, and requireth Timothy to come to him before winter, 2 Tim. 4.16, 21.
As he appealed to Nero himself, so Nero himself heard his cause, Philip. 1.13. 2 Tim. 4.16. [and here it was possible Paul and Seneca might see each other] at which time all that had owned him before, withdrew themselves for fear, and durst not stand by him, or appear with him in this danger.
Tacitus mentioneth a case much like his, which had been tried two years before, namely of Pomponia Graecina a noble Lady of Rome, concerning a strange Religion. Superstitionis externae rea, mariti judicio permissa. I…que prisco instituto, propinquis coram, de capite famáque conjugis cognovit, & inson…em nuntiavi…. This that he calleth externa superstitio, cannot well be understood of any Religion, but either Judaism or Christianity: for any Heathen superstition did relish so well with them, that it could hardly have brought her into danger. If her perill of l…fe then were because of Christianity, as very well it might, it was a terrible example that lay before the Christians there: and if it were not, then this triall of Paul being of a doubtfull issue and consequent and full of danger, it made poor Pauls friends to shrink aside in this his extremity, and to be to seek when he had most need of them. At my first answer, saith he, none stood with me, but all forsook me. In which words he doth not so much referre to what or how many more Answers he was called to [as the postscript of that Epistle seemeth to construe it] as he doth intimate, that even at the very first pinch and appearance of danger, all that should have been his assistants started from him. It may be Demas his imbracing of the present world, 2 Tim. 4.10. signifieth in this sense, that he forsook Paul, and shifted for himself and sculked to avoid the danger: or if it be taken, that he returned to his worldly imployments again, or that he returned to his Judaism again: mean it what it will, we shall see in the story of the next year, that he returned to Paul and to his station again. So that his failing was but as Peters deniall of his Master, repented of and recovered. It was a hard case and a great triall with the Apostle, when in so signall an incounter, and so imminent danger of his life, none of the Church that was at Rome, nor any of those that were of his own retinue, durst own him, or stand by him in his exigent: but the Lord was with him, and brought him off safe from the Lions mouth: He being assured by this providence of God to him, and for him, in his great danger, that he was reserved for the further benefit of the Church and propagating of the Gospel, applieth himself to that work the best way he can, considering his condition o… imprisonment; and whereas he cannot travell up and down to the Churches to preach to them as he done, he visiteth divers of them by his Epistles: And first he writeth