A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Part 2 · Chapter 29
The Supplement after the laſt of Acts 28. CHAP. XXIX. A Scripture account of Paul, while at Rome, &c.
VVHERE Luke the Evangeliſt, tho' guided by the good Spirit of God, yet thought it his duty to deſiſt from giving any farther account of the Hiſtory of the Apoſtles Lives and Acts, and more eſpecially of the Apoſtle Paul's, with whom he was a conſtant companion in Rome; There muſt I begin this my Supplement.
N.B. Wherein, becauſe Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory (having only an humane Teſtimony) is found both various and uncertain about the lives and deaths of the Apoſtles; therefore I ſhall not dare to confine my following Diſcourſe unto what is Recorded by Nicephorus, Euſebius and others, from whoſe Conjectural Relations nothing can be poſitively and with undenyable evidence aſſerted. N.B. Now that the Sequel and Supplement of this Apoſtolical Hiſtory may be as Harmonious, Homogeneal, and Symbolizing with the former foregoing twenty eight Chapters, as the matter may admit, I have thought of this Expedient, to bottom my Aſſertions ſtill upon ſuch Hiſtorical Hints as are found ſcattered here and there in the Sacred Scriptures; namely, in the Canonical Epiſtles of the Divinely Inſpired Apoſtles themſelves, which they wrote upon ſeveral occaſions as they were guided by the Holy Ghoſt to give an infallible Account. N. B. Hitherto we have had lent us by the Lord a Divine Clew of Thread to lead us through this vaſt Labyrinth of writing the Hiſtory of the Apoſtles Lives ſo far as Luke (who wrote their Acts, ſo called) hath led us, which Book of the Acts might as well be called [The Wonders of the Apoſtles] conſidering what Wonders it containeth, not only ſuch Wonders as were wrought by the Apoſtles, but alſo for them, to deliver, preſerve and incourage them in their prodigious Apoſtolical Work: Inſomuch as all the Attempts both of the Tempter himſelf (the Red Dragon) and of all his many and mighty Tools (which he imployed) for ſilencing the Apoſtles, and for ſtopping the progreſs of Chriſtianity (which was every where ſpoken againſt, Acts 28 22.) were confoundingly diſappointed. N.B. We may well therefore call that Hiſtory of the Apoſtles (not only the Acts, a name wherewith that holy Pen-man Luke & the Apoſtles themſelves modeſtly contented themſelves, but alſo) the Wonder of Wonders, wherein the Truth and Power of God did ſo wonderfully appear, that the Goſpel ſhould be ſo irreſiſtibly propagated by them, when all men generally, both Jews and Gentiles, in all Places, and of all Ranks, both Princes and Peaſants oppoſed it: So that the Doctrine of Chriſtianity (which the Apoſtles taught) had the multitude, the Powers and Authority, the Wiſdom of the whole World, yea, and if all the ſeeming Sanctity that then was in the World, to wit, among the Jews, all theſe every where were againſt it▪ Chriſt was a Sign ſpoken againſt (as was foretold of him, Luke 2.34.) in all places by all people. N.B. Now what could rationally be expected in ſuch a deſperate caſe and concern which the Apoſtles undertook and entred upon, but that every natural man would at the leaſt ſuſpect that which all the World ſo generally condemned. Notwithſtanding all this univerſal oppoſition, yet did the Goſpel prevail, and run through the World like a Sun-beam; yea and did ſo much, ſo univerſally, and ſo conſtantly flouriſh in deſpite of both Angry Men, and of Inraged Devils, that indeed this became by the mighty Power of God, no leſs than a wonder of Wonders. N.B. Now, waving Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory, let us ſtill ſtick to the Sacred Scriptures, ſo far as they give light to this Apoſtolical Hiſtory. Re-aſſuming the paſſages of Providence that attended Paul after his coming to Rome.
The firſt Remark farther concerning Paul is; His writing ſeveral Epiſtles during his Impriſonment at Rome to ſeveral Churches and Perſons. Luke (who accompany'd Paul to Rome (as appeareth by his phraſe [We] all along, Acts 27. and more expreſly in Acts 28. [And when we came to Rome] verſe 16, &c.) gives no farther account of him, but only of his lying a Priſoner there for two whole years; and Preaching, &c. Acts 28.30, 31. N.B. As it cannot be ſuppoſed that Paul ſpent all this two whole years time in his Preaching work (for this would have wearied hoth himſelf and his Auditors) but that there muſt be a due Interval betwixt one exerciſe and another (not ſo much for his private Preparations in his Study, becauſe he had an extraordinary Apoſtolical gift, &c.) So nor may it be imagined that ſuch an Indefatigable, Labourer in God's Vineyard could careleſly omit the Improvement of his [Horae ſucciſivae] or ſpare hours in this two whole years time, and therefore 'tis no more than rational to affirm, that during this his long Confinement, he wrote ſundry Epiſtles, &c. as above. But beſide the rationality hereof, ſome Scripture-Light may confirm it.
Note. As 1. His Epiſtle to the Galatians he wrote from Rome; this is render'd the more probable, (1.) From the Poſtſcript of that Epiſtle [unto the Galatians written from Rome] tho' this be no part of the Canonical Scripture (for in other Poſtſcripts to ſome other Epiſtles there are manifeſt miſtakes) yet the moſt Learned do concur that this Poſtſcript is Hiſtorically true; and that not only becauſe the Greek, Syriack, Ardbick, and divers other Tranſlations do generally date it from Rome (tho' Beza date it from Antioch, and Eraſmus from Epheſus, both upon conjectures only) but alſo becauſe of Paul's own expreſſion in that Epiſtle [Let no man trouble me (about the marks of Circumciſion) for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jeſus] Gal. 6.17. where he calls his ſuffering Impriſonment for the Teſtimony of Chriſt and his Goſpel, the marks or brands wherewith the World ſtigmatized him, which were not his Burdens, but his Trophies, boaſting better of them than the falſe Apoſtles could of their Circumciſion: Here's ſome Scripture-Light, &c.
The ſecond Scriptural Hint that gives light to this Aſſertion, is, that the Apoſtacy of the Churches which the Apoſtle taketh to tax ſharply in this Epiſtle to the Galatians, telling them that they were bewitched, Gal. 3.1, &c.) muſt be about this time, for 'tis ſaid [when Paul had ſpent ſome time in Antioch, he went over all the Countrey of Galatia (formerly call'd Gallo-Graecia) ſtrengthening the Diſciples] Acts 18.23. This was about two years after he was forbidden to Preach there, Acts 16.16. but now he had liberty to plant the Goſpel there. Now there muſt be a due time allowed for the Enemy to ſow his Tares, by thoſe Judaizing falſe Teachers, who had corrupted the Doctrine of Chriſt in their preſſing the neceſſity of Circumciſion, and Preaching Juſtification by the Works of the Law, &c. This being the occaſion of Paul's writing, &c. caſteth it probably upon this time.
Note 2. At this time alſo Paul wrote from Rome his ſecond Epiſtle to Timothy, wherein he intimates that Epidemical Apoſtacy of the Churches afore-mentioned, which he calls a ſpreading Gangreen or Canker, 2 Tim. 2.17. Paul was then a Priſoner at Rome, 2 Tim. 1.8. So he wiſheth Timothy not to be aſhamed of his Bonds, but come to him (with ſupplies) from Epheſus before Winter, 2 Tim. 4.9. Paul tells him how all thoſe of Aſia had deſerted him, 2 Tim. 1.15. and 4.16. which could not but perplex the good Apoſtle when all his Friends forſook him in that eminent peril (but of this more afterward in his Tryal;) therefore he tells Timothy, he had the more need of his company: This was at Rome, 2 Tim. 1.17.
Note 3. And then he wrote that Epiſtle to the Epheſians, for he was a Priſoner when he wrote it, Epheſ. 3.1. and that for the Gentiles, becauſe the Jews hated him for being the Apoſtle of the Gentiles, and for his equalling them with the Jews in all Priviledges of the Goſpel, therefore they ran him into a Priſon at Rome; and the ſame Tychicus, who was the bearer of that Epiſtle to Timothy, 2 Tim. 4.12. was the bearer of this Epiſtle to the Epheſians, Eph. 6.21. to confirm them in the Myſteries of Chriſt.
Note 4. And he wrote then that Epiſtle to the Philippians in his own name, and of Timothy's alſo, who was now come to him (in his ſecond year of Impriſonment) according to his aboveſaid Appointment. This Church had ſent Epaphroditus to viſit Paul a Priſoner with a Preſent, Phil. 1.1, 7, 13, &c. This Meſſenger falls ſick in Rome, his Sickneſs was Paul's Sadneſs, but his Recovery was as great a Joy to him, Phil. 2.25, 26, 27. and he returning to Philippi, he brought this Epiſtle both to confirm and comfort them in the Faith.
Note 5. And then he wrote that to the Coloſſians, who had likewiſe ſent Epaphras with a Preſent to him, Col. 1.7, 8. whom he commends in this Epiſtle, Col. 4.12. from himſelf and Timothy (ſtill with him) verſe 1. Col. 1. for the Rooting up thoſe weeds, ſuch as the Mediation of Angels, Jewiſh Superſtitions, &c. and for confirming them, &c. This was ſent by Tychicus and Oneſimus, Col. 4.7, 8, 9. Mark was now with Paul, v. 10.
Note 6. By the ſame Meſſenger was that to Philemon ſent alſo; for he was a Coloſſian, Philem verſe 2. compared with Col. 4.9, 17. Paul was Aged and a Priſoner when he wrote that Epiſtle, verſe 9, 10. Paul uſeth pregnant Oratory here to Reconcile the Maſter to the Servant. The five firſt years of Nero had Moderation. Paul abides long a Priſoner, and viſits with Letters when he could not in Perſon.
The ſecond Remark concerning the Apoſtle Paul is, the Tryal he underwent at Rome, when he appealed to Caeſar.
Note 7. This brings in the laſt Epiſtle which Paul wrote, namely, that to the Hebrews, whereof that he was the Author, all the moſt ſolid Writers do univerſally concur, becauſe it (1.) Expreſſeth his being in Bonds, Heb. 10.34. and 13.19. with Col. 4.18. (2.) His well-known Companion Timothy, Heb. 13.23. with Col. 1.1, &c. (3.) The Author of it was in Italy when he wrote and ſent it, Heb. 13.24. (4.) Peter calls it Paul's Epiſtle, 2 Pet. 3.15, 16. wherein Paul confirms what Peter taught, as Heb 6.2. and 10.26, 27, &c. And (5.) It hath the Signal by which he declared all his Epiſtles are to be known, Heb. 13.25. And (6.) It bears a clear Harmony with the reſt of his Epiſtles; N.B. Yet doth he not prefix his Name, ſeeing the prejudice which the Jews had againſt him might hinder its Reading or Reception; nor doth he ſtile them (that he wrote to) Jews, but Hebrews, a more acceptable name, as deſcending from Heber by Abraham, Gen. 14.13. and a name uſed, Acts 6.2. for Jews. N.B. As to Paul's Tryal before Nero, that Monſter of Mankind (who Ripped up his own Mother Agrippina's Belly, that he might behold where he lay in her Womb after his Conception.) This Epiſtle to the Hebrews gives us (at leaſt) an account of the happy Iſſue thereof in thoſe words [Know ye, that our Brother Timothy is ſet at liberty, with whom, if he come ſhortly, I will ſee you] Heb. 13.23. N.B. As this paſſage doth plainly diſcover that the Poſtſcript of this Epiſtle is ſuppoſititious; for had this Epiſtle been ſent by Timothy as the Poſtſcript ſaith) it was altogether ſuperfluous to tell them that he was ſet at liberty. So on theother hand, theſe words do intimate the time of Paul's writing this Epiſtle moſt likely after his appearing (by vertue of his appeal to Caeſar) before the Emperor Nero at Rome, and a little before the firſt of the ten primitive bloody perſecutions, ſeeing he in that Epiſtle tells the Hebrews that [they had not yet reſiſted unto blood] Heb. 12.4. which ſoon followed, tho' they had ſuffered much before, Heb. 10.32, 33, 34. N.B. Beſide taking the word [foreign] as it relateth to reſtrain, then it imports that Timothy had been a priſoner (ſupoſed for his familiarity with Paul, as Epaphras and others we…e upon the ſame account) but now was ſet at Liberty, and ſo was Paul alſo, who was ready to come along with him, when he ſhould come to them, which preſuppoſeth that Paul had then made his appearance before Nero-Caeſar, and was acquitted: N.B. But beſides this paſſage in the Epiſtle to the Hebrews, there be other Scriptures that give us a fuller account hereof: As, 1. That in the 2 Tim. 4.16. [At my firſt Anſwer no man ſtood with me, but all men forſook me, I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge] and therefore he orders Timothy to haſten his coming to him, v. 21. looking on him as a faſt Friend when all others failed. From this may be obſerved:
(1ſt.) That tho' the phraſe [At my first anſwer,] ſeems to imply that Paul made more Apologies than one, and ſo made more appearances than this (as the Poſtſcript underſtands it; making alſo Timothy a Non-Reſident Biſhop) yet it only intimates that at the very firſt pinch and appearance of danger. All the Chriſtians there (that ſhould have been his aſſiſtants) ſtarted from him, and left him to plead for himſelf, among whom was Demas, verſe 10.2 Tim. 4. who ſculked away to Theſſalonica out of the reach of Rome, when he ſaw this Tryal of Paul to be of a very doubtful iſſue.
(2ly.) Obſerve, It is not ſufficient for us to maintain the truth our ſelves, but we ought to aſſiſt ſuch as ſtand up for the truth, and not ſhrink from them when they are in trouble for it, and need our aſſiſtance: Thus all Paul's Friends ſinned in ſhrinking from him through weakneſs and humane frailty, therefore he begs of God, that he would grant them a remiſſion of that Sin.
(3dly.) It was a very ſad Circumſtance in Paul's ſufferings, that, when he had appealed to Nero himſelf, and when Nero himſelf in the Court of Rome heard his cauſe and defence, none of the Church that was at Rome, nor any of thoſe that were of his own Retinue durſt own him (through a fright) or ſtand by him in ſo ſignal an encounter, and in ſo eminent Danger: where his very Chriſtianity was Crime enough, for which to be executed: And Paul himſelf did read his own death near, even in Nero's Temper, v. 6.2 Tim. 4.
(4thly.) Tho' men failed Paul, yet God failed him not, but ſtood by him, 2 Tim 4. verſe 17. and made him able to plead his own cauſe ſo powerfully that he was delivered out of the Lion's mouth, namely, from Nero, ſo called (as Tyrants and perſecutors of the Church have frequently in Scripture that name of Lions put upon them, Ezek. 19.2. Pſal. 35.17. and 91.13. Pro. 28.15. and Jerem. 2.15, 47.) N.B. God is never ſo ſweet and ſo ſeaſonable to his Saints as in the day of their deepeſt diſtreſſe God loves to help thoſe that are forſaken of their helps and hopes.
N.B. The next Scripture that giveth light herein, is, thoſe paſſages in that, Epiſtle to the Philippians Ph. 2.21. where, at this time of his impriſonment, alſo he complains, that [all ſeek their own and not the things of Jeſus Chriſt] juſt like [all forſaking him, &c. 2 Tim. 4. verſe 16.] then he goes on, verſe 23. [Hoping to ſend Timothy preſently to them, ſo ſoon as I ſhall ſee how it will go with me] He could not as yet ſpare him to accompany Epaphroditus, until he came to a certainty, what would be the Iſſue of his preſent impriſonment, telling them withal, that he had ſat down & counted the coſt of Godlineſs, and caſt it up thus, that he had made up a total Reſignation of his own will into the holy will of God (according to Acts 21.13, 14.) comforting himſelf and them with thoſe few Conſiderations. As,
(1.) That hitherto his confinement had fallen out for the furtherance of the Goſpel, &c Phil. 1.12, 13, 14. Tho' the Devil deſigned it for the hinderance thereof, yet through the over-ruling providence of God ſo ordering it, he had Liberty two whole years, and opportunity of Teaching the things of Chriſt, whereby his Chains of Iron became a greater honour to him, than were thoſe Chains of Gold, which King Agrippa, the Emperor Nero, or any of his Judges wore with ſo much Ambition, therefore would he not have them diſcouraged, but comforted, as the Corinthians were, 2 Cor. 1.5, 6, 7. Acts 5.41. James 2.2. It was matter of Joy to him, that all Nero's Court began to ring of his ſufferings, ſeeing their inquiry after the Cauſe thereof gave occaſion to impart ſome Notions of Chriſt to them whereby ſome of them, were Converted, Phil. 4.22.
(2.) He lets them know that, ſuppoſing the worſt, though his impriſonment ſhould determine in his death, and that he ſhould then be offered up a Sacrifice, yet as this would be his own advantage, ſo it could be no diſ-ſervice to their faith, Phil. 1.21. and 2.17.18. if it ſhould be thus ſealed with his blood.
(3.) Yet was he perſuaded (either by a Prophetick Spirit, in a Revelation, or by the Sanctifying Spirit, ſtrengthening his Faith) that as his priſon had been his Ark of ſafety for two whole years, ſo now, that he ſhould be delivered out of the mouth of the Lion and reſtored to them, to confirm their Faith farther with his perſonal preſence, writing thus to them [And having this confidence that my still abiding in the fleſh is more needful for you; I know that I ſhall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of Faith.] Phil. 1.24, 25. and again [I truſt in the Lord, that I alſo myſelf ſhall come ſhortly] Phil, 2.24. deſigning to follow Timothy to them.
Another Scripture which gives light, that Paul weathered out this point, and was reſtored to his Liberty in deſpight of the Lion, after ſo long impriſonment, is, Philemon verſe 22. [but withal prepare me a Lodging, for I truſt that through your prayers I ſhall be given to you.] This accords with Phil. 1.25. and 2.24. Paul had long longed to viſit the Chriſtians at Rome, and had prayed for a proſperous Journey thither, but had been long hindered, Rom. 1.10, 11, 12, 13. and 15.22, 23. yet was he brought to Rome by ſuch a way as he little dreamed of. Little thought Paul, that when he was bound at Jeruſulem and poſted from one priſon to another, that God was now ſending him to Rome, his longing for it might be one cauſe of Paul's making his appeal to Rome, Acts 25.10, 11.12, N.B. Now God ſent him, and very ſafe, with a great Convoy to Ceſarea, and from thence with a great convoy (God's own protection) notwithſtanding both the Shipwrack and the Viper, as ſafe to Rome: N.B. God goes oft another way to work for granting our deſires, and for doing us good, than we could imagine. Paul lyes priſoner at Rome two years, at the end of that term, he is ſet at liberty, beſpeaking his Lodgings for him at Coloſs where Philemon was a Miniſter (call'd Paul's fellow-labourer, whoſe wife was Apphia named before Archippus another Miniſter, Col. 4.17.) whoſe houſe muſt be now Paul's Lodgings, Philemon, verſe 1.22. Thus have we a full account of Paul's confidence, that through the Church's prayers for him (both at Philippi, and Coloſs) he ſhould have again his freedom to come amongſt them, and therefore provides to remove his old Lodgings from Rome as a priſoner, unto thoſe Cities of Greece as a free man again, which moſt probably he did: N.B. So that if we trace Paul's hopes and intentions (as they are expreſſed in Scripture) we ſhall find him purpoſing to go to Philippi firſt, Phil. 2.23, 24. Nay, yet farther to Coloſs, Philemon, verſe 22. but ſtill farther than both even into Judea (from whence he was ſent priſoner to Rome) Heb. 13.23. Telling thoſe Believing Jews of Judea (which was the ſeat of the Circumciſion, and the proper center of the whole circumference of thoſe diſperſed to whom James, John and Jude wrote their general Epiſtles, &c.) that ſo ſoon as Timothy was ſet at Liberty, and was come to him, they would both come together into thoſe parts to viſit them: we are not told how long Timothy ſtaid from Paul, or where Paul was when they met together. N.B. Paul mentions an intention he had of taking a Journey into Spain, Rom. 15.24, 28. But this intent being long agoe, and he being hindred hitherto, either by the Evil Spirit, as 1 Theſſ. 2.18. or by the Holy Spirit otherwiſe diſpoſing of him, as Acts 19. v. 6, 7. or by other intervenient yet important occaſions, as Rom. 15.22, 23. or by his own infirmities through ſcourges, &c. or by the urgent intreaties of others, as Acts 10.48, and 16.15. and 28.14. N.B. But now he found ſome urgent cauſes of ſteering his courſe another way, for the Apoſtacy he heard of in the eaſtern Churches plainly declared to him, that there was more need for him to haſten thither than to go weſtward: So that tho' this Journey into Spain was really intended, yet is it generally concluded, that he was prevented of it: Man's way is not in himſelf, Jer. 10.23. but is overruled by God, Prov. 16 9. However 'tis conjectured that Paul, after this rele…ſe, left Rome and preached in Italy till Timothy came to him: What became of this Apoſtle or Timothy the Scripture gives no farther light after this that he was reſtored to the Churches (which he had planted) for ſome years, but an attempting to trace him farther (without Scripture light) is the way to loſe our ſelves.