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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>A C T S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXVIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We are the more concerned to take notice of and to improve what is here
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recorded concerning blessed Paul because, after the story of this
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chapter, we hear no more of him in the sacred history, though we have a
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great deal of him yet before us in his epistles. We have attended him
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through several chapters from one judgment-seat to another, and could
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at last have taken leave of him with the more pleasure if we had left
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him at liberty; but in this chapter we are to condole with him, and yet
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congratulate him.
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I. We condole with him as a poor shipwrecked passenger, stripped of
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all; and yet congratulate him,
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1. As singularly owned by his God in his distress, preserved himself
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from receiving hurt by a viper that fastened on his hand
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>),
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and being made an instrument of much good in the island on which they
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were cast, in healing many that were sick, and particularly the father
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of Publius, the chief man of the island,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:7-9">ver. 7-9</A>.
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2. As much respected by the people there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:10">ver. 10</A>.
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II. We condole with him as a poor confined prisoner, carried to Rome
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under the notion of a criminal removed by "habeas corpus"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:11-16">ver. 11-16</A>),
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and yet we congratulate him,
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1. Upon the respect shown him by the Christians at Rome, who came a
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great way to meet him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:15">ver. 15</A>.
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2. Upon the favour he found with the captain of the guard, into whose
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custody he was delivered, who suffered him to dwell by himself, and did
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not put him in the common prison,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:16">ver. 16</A>.
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3. Upon the free conference he had with the Jews at Rome, both about
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his own affair
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:17-22">ver. 17-22</A>)
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and upon the subject of the Christian religion in general
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:23">ver. 23</A>),
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the issue of which was that God was glorified, many were edified, the
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rest left inexcusable, and the apostles justified in preaching the
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gospel to the Gentiles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:24-29">ver. 24-29</A>.
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4. Upon the undisturbed liberty he had to preach the gospel to all
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comers in his own house for two years together,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:30-31">ver. 30-31</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ac28_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul's Voyage towards Rome.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island
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was called Melita.
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2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for
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they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the
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present rain, and because of the cold.
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3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid
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<I>them</I> on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and
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fastened on his hand.
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4 And when the barbarians saw the <I>venomous</I> beast hang on his
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hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a
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murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance
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suffereth not to live.
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5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
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6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen
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down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and
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saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that
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he was a god.
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7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the
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island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us
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three days courteously.
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8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a
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fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed,
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and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
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9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the
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island, came, and were healed:
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10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we
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departed, they laded <I>us</I> with such things as were necessary.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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What a great variety of places and circumstances do we find Paul in! He
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was a planet, and not a fixed star. Here we have him in an island to
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which, in all probability, he had never come if he had not been thrown
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upon it by a storm; and yet it seems God has work for him to do here.
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Even stormy winds fulfil God's counsel, and an ill wind indeed it is
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that blows nobody any good; this ill wind blew good to the island of
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Melita; for it gave them Paul's company for three months, who was a
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blessing to every place he came to. This island was called Melita,
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lying between Sicily and Africa, twenty miles long, and twelve broad;
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it lies furthest from the continent of any island in the Mediterranean;
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it is about sixty miles from Sicily. It has been famous since for the
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knights of Malta, who, when the Turks overran that part of Christendom,
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made a noble stand, and gave some check to the progress of their arms.
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Now here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The kind reception which the inhabitants of this island gave to the
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distressed strangers that were shipwrecked on their coast
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>The barbarous people showed us no little kindness.</I> God had
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promised that there should be no loss of any man's life; and,<I> as for
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God, his work is perfect.</I> If they had escaped the sea, and when
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they came ashore had perished for cold or want, it had been all one;
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therefore Providence continues its care of them, and what benefits we
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receive by the hand of man must be acknowledged to come from the hand
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of God; for every creature is that to us, and no more, that he makes it
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to be, and when he pleases, as he can make enemies to be at peace, so
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he can make strangers to be friends, friends in need, and those are
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friends indeed--friends <I>in adversity,</I> and that is <I>the time
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that a brother is born for.</I> Observe,
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1. The general notice taken of the kindness which the natives of Malta
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showed to Paul and his company. They are called <I>barbarous
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people,</I> because they did not, in language and customs, conform
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either to the Greeks or Romans, who looked (superciliously enough) upon
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all but themselves as barbarians, though otherwise civilized enough,
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and perhaps in some cases more civil than they. These barbarous people,
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however they were called so, were full of humanity: They <I>showed us
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not little kindness.</I> So far were they from making a prey of this
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shipwreck, as many, I fear, who are called Christian people, would have
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done, that they laid hold of it as an opportunity of showing mercy.
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<I>The Samaritan</I> is a better neighbour to the poor wounded man
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<I>than the priest or Levite.</I> And verily we have not found greater
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humanity among Greeks, or Romans, or Christians, than among these
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barbarous people; and it is written for our imitation, that we may
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hence learn to be compassionate to those that are in distress and
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misery, and to relieve and succour them to the utmost of our ability,
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as those <I>that know we ourselves are also in the body.</I> We should
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be ready <I>to entertain strangers, as Abraham, who sat at his tent
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door to invite passengers in</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:2">Heb. xiii. 2</A>),
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but especially strangers in distress, as these were. <I>Honour all
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men.</I> If Providence hath so <I>appointed the bounds of our
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habitation</I> as to give us an opportunity of being frequently
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serviceable to persons at a loss, we should not place it among the
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inconveniences of our lot, but the advantages of it; because <I>it is
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more blessed to give than to receive.</I> Who knows but these barbarous
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people had their lot cast in this island for such a time as this!
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2. A particular instance of their kindness: <I>They kindled a fire,</I>
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in some large hall or other, and <I>they received us everyone</I>--made
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room for us about the fire, and bade us all welcome, without asking
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either what country we were of or what religion. In swimming <I>to the
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shore,</I> and coming on <I>the broken pieces of the ship,</I> we must
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suppose that they were sadly wet, that they had not a dry thread on
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them; and, as if that were not enough, to complete the deluge, waters
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from above met those from below, and it rained so hard that this would
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wet them to the skin presently; and <I>it was a cold rain too,</I> so
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that they wanted nothing so much as a good fire (for they had eaten
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heartily but just before on ship-board), and this they got for them
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presently, <I>to warm them, and dry their clothes.</I> It is sometimes
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as much a piece of charity to poor families to supply them with fuel as
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with food or raiment. <I>Be you warmed,</I> is as necessary as <I>Be
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you filled.</I> When in the extremities of bad weather we find
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ourselves fenced against the rigours of the season, by the
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accommodations of a warm house, bed, clothes, and a good fire, we
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should think how many lie exposed <I>to the present rain, and to the
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cold,</I> and pity them, and pray for them, and help them if we
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can.</P>
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<P>
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II. The further danger that Paul was in by a viper's fastening on his
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hand, and the unjust construction that the people put upon it. Paul is
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among strangers, and appears one of the meanest and most contemptible
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of the company, therefore God distinguishes him, and soon causes him to
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be taken notice of.</P>
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<P>
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1. When the fire was to be made, and too be made bigger, that so great
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a company might all have the benefit of it, Paul was as busy as any of
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them in gathering sticks,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Though he was free from all, and of greater account than any of them,
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<I>yet he made himself servant of all.</I> Paul was an industrious
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active man, and loved to be doing when any thing was to be done, and
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never contrived to take his ease. Paul was a humble self-denying man,
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and would stoop to any thing by which he might be serviceable, even to
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the gathering of sticks to make a fire of. We should reckon nothing
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below us but sin, and be willing to condescend to the meanest offices,
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if there be occasion, for the good of our brethren. The people were
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ready to help them; yet Paul, wet and cold as he is, will not throw it
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all upon them, but will help himself. Those that receive benefit by
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the fire should help to carry fuel to it.</P>
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<P>
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2. The sticks being old dry rubbish, it happened there was a viper
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among them, that lay as dead till it came to the heat, and then
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revived, or lay quiet till it felt the fire, and then was provoked, and
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flew at him that unawares threw it into the fire, and <I>fastened upon
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his hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Serpents and such venomous creatures commonly lie among sticks; hence
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we read of him <I>that leans on the wall, and a serpent bites him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+5:19">Amos v. 19</A>.
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It was so common that people were by it frightened from tearing hedges
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+10:8">Eccl. x. 8</A>):
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<I>Whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.</I> As there is a
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snake under the green grass, so there is often under the dry leaves.
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See how many perils human life is exposed to, and what danger we are in
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from the inferior creatures, which have many of them become enemies to
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men, since men became rebels to God; and what a mercy it is that we are
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preserved from them as we are. We often meet with that which is
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mischievous where we expect that which is beneficial; and many come by
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hurt when they are honestly employed, and in the way of their duty.</P>
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<P>
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3. The barbarous people concluded that Paul, being a prisoner, was
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certainly a murderer, who had appealed to Rome, to escape justice in
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his own country, and that this viper was sent by divine justice to be
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the avenger of blood; or, if they were not aware that he was a
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prisoner, they supposed that he was in his flight; and <I>when they saw
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the venomous animal hand on his hand,</I> which it seems he could not,
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or would not, immediately throw off, but let it hang, they concluded,
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"<I>No doubt this man is a murderer,</I> has shed innocent blood, and
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therefore, <I>though he has escaped the sea, yet</I> divine
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<I>vengeance</I> pursues him, and fastens upon him now that he is
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pleasing himself with the thoughts of that escape, and will <I>not
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suffer him to live.</I>" Now in this we may see,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) Some of the discoveries of natural light. They were barbarous
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people, perhaps had no books nor learning among them, and yet they knew
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naturally,
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[1.] That there is a God that governs the world, and a providence that
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presides in all occurrences, that things do not come to pass by chance,
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no, not such a thing as this, but by divine direction.
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[2.] That evil pursues sinners, that there are good works which God
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will reward and wicked works which he will punish; there is a divine
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<I>nemesis--a vengeance,</I> which sooner or later will reckon for
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enormous crimes. They believe not only that there is a God, but that
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this God hath said, <I>Vengeance is mine, I will repay,</I> even to
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death.
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[3.] That murder is a heinous crime, and which shall not long go
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unpunished, that <I>whoso sheds man's blood,</I> if his blood be not
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shed by man (by the magistrate, as it ought to be) it shall be shed by
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the righteous Judge of heaven and earth, who is the avenger of wrong.
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Those that think they shall go unpunished in any evil way will be
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judged out of the mouth of these barbarians, who could say, without
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book, <I>Woe to the wicked, for it shall be ill with them, for the
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reward of their hands shall be given them.</I> Those who, because they
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have escaped many judgments are secure, and say, <I>We shall have peace
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though we go on,</I> and have their hearts so much the more <I>set to
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do evil because sentence against their evil works is not executed
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speedily,</I> may learn from these illiterate people that, though
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malefactors have escaped the vengeance of the sea, yet there is no
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outrunning divine justice, <I>vengeance suffers not to live.</I> In
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Job's time you might ask <I>those that to by the way,</I> ask the next
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body you met, and they would tell you that <I>the wicked is reserved to
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the day of destruction.</I></P>
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<P>
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(2.) Some of the mistakes of natural light, which needed to be
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rectified by divine revelation. In two things their knowledge was
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defective:--
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[1.] That they thought all wicked people were punished in this life;
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that divine vengeance never suffers great and notorious sinners, such
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as murderers are, to live long; but that, if <I>they come up out of the
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pit, they shall be taken in the snare</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+48:43,44">Jer. xlviii. 43, 44</A>),
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if <I>they flee from a lion, a bear shall meet them</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+5:19">Amos v. 19</A>),
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if they escape being drowned, a viper shall fasten upon them; whereas
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it is not so. The wicked, even murderers, sometimes <I>live, become
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old, yea, are mighty in power;</I> for the day of vengeance is to come
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in the other world, <I>the great day of wrath;</I> and though some are
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made examples of in this world, to prove that there is a God and a
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providence, yet many are left unpunished, to prove that there is a
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judgment to come.
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[2.] That they thought all who were remarkably afflicted in this life
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were wicked people; that a man on whose hand a viper fastens may thence
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be judged to be a murderer, as if those on whom the tower in Siloam
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fell must needs be greater sinners than all in Jerusalem. This mistake
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Job's friends went upon, in their judgment upon his case; but divine
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revelation sets this matter in a true light--that all things come
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ordinarily alike to all, that good men are oftentimes greatly afflicted
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in this life, for the exercise and improvement of their faith and
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patience.</P>
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<P>
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4. When he shook off the viper from his hand, yet they expected that
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divine vengeance would ratify the censure they had passed, and <I>that
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he would have swollen</I> and burst, through the force of the poison,
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or <I>that he would have fallen down dead suddenly.</I> See how apt men
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are, when once they have got an ill opinion of a man, though ever so
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unjust, to abide by it, and to think that God must necessarily confirm
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and ratify their peevish sentence. It was well they did not knock him
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down themselves, when they saw he did not swell and fall down; but so
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considerate they are as to let Providence work, and to attend the
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motions of it.</P>
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<P>
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III. Paul's deliverance from the danger, and the undue construction the
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|
people put upon this. The viper's fastening on his hand was a trial of
|
|
his faith; and it was found to praise, and honour, and glory: for,
|
|
|
|
1. It does not appear that it put him into any fright or confusion at
|
|
all. He did not shriek or start, nor, as it would be natural for us to
|
|
do, throw it off with terror and precipitation; for he suffered it to
|
|
hang on so long that the people had time to take notice of it and to
|
|
make their remarks upon it. Such a wonderful presence of mind he had,
|
|
and such a composure, as no man could have upon such a sudden accident,
|
|
but by the special aids of divine grace, and the actual belief and
|
|
consideration of that word of Christ concerning his disciples
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:18">Mark xvi. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>They shall take up serpents.</I> This it is to have <I>the heart
|
|
fixed, trusting in God.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He carelessly <I>shook off the viper into the fire,</I> without any
|
|
difficulty, calling for help, or any means used to loosen its hold; and
|
|
it is probable that it was consumed in the fire. Thus, in the strength
|
|
of the grace of Christ, believers shake off the temptations of Satan,
|
|
with a holy resolution, saying, as Christ did, <I>Get thee behind me,
|
|
Satan; The Lord rebuke thee;</I> and thus they <I>keep themselves, that
|
|
the wicked one toucheth them not,</I> so as to fasten upon them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+5:18">1 John v. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
When we despise the censures and reproaches of men, and look upon them
|
|
with a holy contempt, having the testimony of conscience for us, then
|
|
we do, as Paul here, <I>shake off the viper into the fire.</I> It does
|
|
us no harm, except we fret at it, or be deterred by it from our duty,
|
|
or be provoked to render railing for railing.
|
|
|
|
3. He was none the worse. Those that thought it would have been his
|
|
death <I>looked a great while, but saw no harm at all come to him.</I>
|
|
God hereby intended to make him remarkable among these barbarous
|
|
people, and so to make way for the entertainment of the gospel among
|
|
them. It is reported that after this no venomous creature would live in
|
|
that island, any more than in Ireland; but I do not find that the
|
|
matter of fact is confirmed, though the popish writers speak of it with
|
|
assurance.
|
|
|
|
4. They then magnified him as much as before they had vilified him:
|
|
<I>They changed their minds, and said that he was a god</I>--an
|
|
immortal god; for they thought it impossible that a mortal man should
|
|
have a viper hang on his hand so long and be never the worse. See the
|
|
uncertainty of popular opinion, how it turns with the wind, and how apt
|
|
it is to run into extremes both ways; from <I>sacrificing to Paul and
|
|
Barnabas to stoning them;</I> and here, from condemning him as a
|
|
murderer to idolizing him as a god.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The miraculous cure of an old gentleman that was ill of a fever,
|
|
and of others that were otherwise diseased, by Paul. And, with these
|
|
confirmations of the doctrine of Christ, no doubt there was a faithful
|
|
publication of it. Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. The kind entertainment which <I>Publius, the chief man of the
|
|
island,</I> gave to these distressed strangers; he had a considerable
|
|
estate in the island, and some think was governor, and he <I>received
|
|
them and lodged them three days very courteously,</I> that they might
|
|
have time to furnish themselves in other places at the best hand. It is
|
|
happy when God gives a large heart to those to whom he has given a
|
|
large estate. It became him, who was the chief man of the island, to be
|
|
most hospitable and generous,--who was the richest man, to be rich in
|
|
good works.
|
|
|
|
2. The illness of <I>the father of Publius:</I> He <I>lay sick of a
|
|
fever and a bloody flux,</I> which often go together, and, when they
|
|
do, are commonly fatal. Providence ordered it that he should be ill
|
|
just at this time, that the cure of him might be a present recompence
|
|
to Publius for his generosity, and the cure of him by miracle a
|
|
recompence particularly for his kindness to Paul, whom he received in
|
|
the name of a prophet, and had this prophet's reward.
|
|
|
|
3. His cure: Paul took cognizance of his case, and though we do not
|
|
find he was urged to it, for they had no thought of any such thing, yet
|
|
he entered in, not as a physician to heal him by medicines, but as an
|
|
apostle to heal him by miracle; and he prayed to God, in Christ's name,
|
|
for his cure, and then laid his hands on him, and he was perfectly well
|
|
in an instant. Though he must needs be in years, yet he recovered his
|
|
health, and the lengthening out of his life yet longer would be a mercy
|
|
to him.
|
|
|
|
4. The cure of many others, who were invited by this cure to apply to
|
|
Paul. If he can heal diseases so easily, so effectually, he shall soon
|
|
have patients enough; and he <I>bade them all welcome,</I> and sent
|
|
them away with what they came for. He did not plead that he was a
|
|
stranger there, thrown accidentally among them, under no obligations to
|
|
them and waiting to be gone by the first opportunity, and therefore
|
|
might be excused from receiving their applications. No, a good man will
|
|
endeavour to do good wherever the providence of God casts him. Paul
|
|
reckoned himself a debtor, not only to the Greeks, but to the
|
|
Barbarians, and thanked God for an opportunity of being useful among
|
|
them. Nay, he was particularly obliged to these inhabitants of Malta
|
|
for the seasonable shelter and supply they had afforded him, and hereby
|
|
he did in effect discharge his quarters, which should encourage us to
|
|
entertain strangers, for some thereby have entertained angels and some
|
|
apostles unawares. God will not be behind--hand with any for kindness
|
|
shown to his people in distress. We have reason to think that Paul with
|
|
these cures preached the gospel to them, and that, coming thus
|
|
confirmed and recommended, it was generally embraced among them. And,
|
|
if so, never were any people so enriched by a shipwreck on their coasts
|
|
as these Maltese were.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The grateful acknowledgement which even these barbarous people made
|
|
of the kindness Paul had done them, in preaching Christ unto them. They
|
|
were civil to him, and to the other ministers that were with him, who,
|
|
it is likely, were assisting to him in preaching among them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. They <I>honoured us with many honours.</I> They showed them all
|
|
possible respect; they saw God honoured them, and therefore they justly
|
|
thought themselves obliged to honour them, and thought nothing too much
|
|
by which they might testify the esteem they had for them. Perhaps they
|
|
made them free of their island by naturalizing them, and admitted them
|
|
members of their guilds and fraternities. The faithful preachers of the
|
|
gospel are worthy of a double honour, especially when they succeeded in
|
|
their labours.
|
|
|
|
2. <I>When we departed, they loaded us with such things as were
|
|
necessary;</I> or, they put on board such things as we had occasion
|
|
for. Paul could not labour with his hands here, for he had nothing to
|
|
work upon, and therefore accepted the kindness of the good people of
|
|
Melita, not as a fee for his cures (freely he had received, and freely
|
|
he gave), but as the relief of his wants, and theirs that were with
|
|
him. And, having reaped of their spiritual things, it was but just they
|
|
should make them those returns,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:11">1 Cor. ix. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_16"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul at Rome.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria,
|
|
which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
|
|
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried <I>there</I> three days.
|
|
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium:
|
|
and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day
|
|
to Puteoli:
|
|
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them
|
|
seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the progress of Paul's voyage towards Rome, and his
|
|
arrival there at length. A rough and dangerous voyage he had hitherto
|
|
had, and narrowly escaped with his life; but after a storm comes a
|
|
calm: the latter part of his voyage was easy and quiet.</P>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum,
|
|
<BR>Tendimus ad Latium--------
|
|
<BR>
|
|
<BR>Through various hazards and events we move
|
|
<BR>To Latium.
|
|
<BR>
|
|
<BR>Tendimus ad cœlum.
|
|
<BR>We make for heaven.
|
|
<BR>
|
|
<BR>--------Dabit Deus his quoque finem.
|
|
<BR>To these a period will be fixed by Heaven.</TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Their leaving Malta. That island was a happy shelter to them, but it
|
|
was not their home; when they are refreshed they must put to sea again.
|
|
The difficulties and discouragements we have met with in our Christian
|
|
course must not hinder us from pressing forward. Notice is here taken,
|
|
|
|
1. Of the time of their departure: <I>After three months,</I> the three
|
|
winter months. Better lie by, though they lay upon charges, than go
|
|
forward while the season was dangerous. Paul had warned them against
|
|
venturing to sea in winter weather, and they would not take the
|
|
warning; but, now that they had learned it by the difficulties and
|
|
dangers they had gone through, he needed not to warn them: their
|
|
learning did them good when they had paid dearly for it. Experience is
|
|
therefore called the mistress of fools, because those are fools that
|
|
will not learn till experience has taught them.
|
|
|
|
2. Of the ship in which they departed. It was in a ship of Alexandria;
|
|
so was that which was cast away,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+27:6"><I>ch.</I> xxvii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
This ship had <I>wintered in that isle,</I> and was safe. See what
|
|
different issues there are of men's undertakings in this world. Here
|
|
were two ships, both of Alexandria, both bound for Italy, both thrown
|
|
upon the same island, but one is wrecked there and the other is saved.
|
|
Such occurrences may often be observed. Providence sometimes favours
|
|
those that deal in the world, and prospers them, that people may be
|
|
encouraged to set their hands to worldly business; at other times
|
|
Providence crosses them, that people may be warned not to set their
|
|
hearts upon it. Events are thus varied, that we may learn both how to
|
|
want and how to abound. The historian takes notice of the sign of the
|
|
ship, which probably gave it its name: it was <I>Castor and Pollux.</I>
|
|
Those little foolish pagan deities, which the poets had made to preside
|
|
over storms and to protect seafaring men, as gods of the sea, were
|
|
painted or graven upon the fore-part of the ship, and thence the ship
|
|
took its name. I suppose this is observed for no other reason than for
|
|
the better ascertaining of the story, that ship being well known by
|
|
that name and sign by all that dealt between Egypt and Italy. Dr.
|
|
Lightfoot thinks that Luke mentions this circumstance to intimate the
|
|
men's superstition, that they hoped they should have better sailing
|
|
under this badge than they had had before.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Their landing in or about Italy, and the pursuing of their journey
|
|
towards Rome.
|
|
|
|
1. They landed first at Syracuse in Sicily, the chief city of that
|
|
island. There they <I>tarried three days,</I> probably having some
|
|
goods to put ashore, or some merchandise to make there; for it seems to
|
|
have been a trading voyage that this ship made. Paul had now his
|
|
curiosity gratified with the sight of places he had often heard of and
|
|
wished to see, particularly Syracuse, a place of great antiquity and
|
|
note; and yet, it should seem, there were no Christians there.
|
|
|
|
2. From Syracuse they came to Rhegium, a city in Italy, directly
|
|
opposite to Messina in Sicily, belonging to the kingdom of Calabria or
|
|
Naples. There, it seems they staid one day; and a very formal story
|
|
the Romish legends tell of Paul's preaching here at this time, and the
|
|
fish coming to the shore to hear him,--that with a candle he set a
|
|
stone pillar on fire, and by that miracle convinced the people of the
|
|
truth of his doctrine, and they were many of them baptized, and he
|
|
ordained Stephen, one of his companions in this voyage, to be their
|
|
bishop,--and all this, they tell you, was done in this one day; whereas
|
|
it does not appear that they did so much as go ashore, but only came to
|
|
an anchor in the road.
|
|
|
|
3. From Rhegium they came to Puteoli, a sea-port town not far from
|
|
Naples, now called <I>Pozzolana.</I> The ship of Alexandria was bound
|
|
for that port, and therefore there Paul, and the rest that were bound
|
|
for Rome, were put ashore, and went the remainder of their way by land.
|
|
At Puteoli they <I>found brethren,</I> Christians. Who brought the
|
|
knowledge of Christ hither we are not told, but here it was, so
|
|
wonderfully did the leaven of the gospel diffuse itself. God has many
|
|
that serve and worship him in places where we little think he has. And
|
|
observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Though it is probable there were but few brethren in Puteoli, yet
|
|
Paul found them out; either they heard of him, or he enquired them out,
|
|
but as it were by instinct they got together. Brethren in Christ
|
|
should find out one another, and keep up communion with each other, as
|
|
those of the same country do in a foreign land.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They desired Paul and his companions to <I>tarry with them seven
|
|
days,</I> that is, to forecast to stay at least one Lord's day with
|
|
them, and to assist them in their public worship that day. They knew
|
|
not whether ever they should see Paul at Puteoli again, and therefore
|
|
he must not go without giving them a sermon or two, or more. And Paul
|
|
was willing to allow them so much of his time; and the centurion under
|
|
whose command Paul now was, perhaps having himself friends or business
|
|
at Puteoli, agreed to stay one week there, to oblige Paul.
|
|
|
|
4. From Puteoli they went forward towards Rome; whether they travelled
|
|
on foot, or whether they had beasts provided for them to ride on (as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+23:24"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
does not appear; but to Rome they must go, and this was their last
|
|
stage.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The meeting which the Christians at Rome gave to Paul. It is
|
|
probable that notice was sent to them by the Christians at Puteoli, as
|
|
soon as ever Paul had come thither, how long he intended to stay there,
|
|
and when he would set forward for Rome, which gave an opportunity for
|
|
this interview. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The great honour they did to Paul. They had heard much of his fame,
|
|
what use God had made of him, and what eminent service he had done to
|
|
the kingdom of Christ in the world, and to what multitudes of souls he
|
|
had been a spiritual father. They had heard of his sufferings, and how
|
|
God had owned him in them, and therefore they not only longed to see
|
|
him, but thought themselves obliged to show him all possible respect,
|
|
as a glorious advocate for the cause of Christ. He had some time ago
|
|
written a long epistle to them, and a most excellent one, <I>the
|
|
epistle to the Romans,</I> in which he had not only expressed his great
|
|
kindness for them, but had given them a great many useful instructions,
|
|
in return for which they show him this respect. They <I>went to meet
|
|
him,</I> that they might bring him in state, as ambassadors and judges
|
|
make their public entry, though he was a prisoner. Some of them went as
|
|
far as <I>Appii-forum,</I> which was fifty-one miles from Rome; others
|
|
to a place called the <I>Three Taverns,</I> which was twenty-eight
|
|
miles (some reckon it thirty-three miles) from Rome. They are to be
|
|
commended for it, that they were so far from being ashamed of him, or
|
|
afraid of owning him, because he was a prisoner, that for that very
|
|
reason they counted him worthy of double honour, and were the more
|
|
careful to show him respect.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The great comfort Paul had in this. Now that he was drawing near to
|
|
Rome, and perhaps heard at Puteoli what character the emperor Nero now
|
|
had, and what a tyrant he had of late become, he began to have some
|
|
melancholy thoughts about his appeal to Cæsar, and the consequences of
|
|
it. He was drawing near to Rome, where he had never been, where there
|
|
were few that knew him or that he knew, and what things might befal him
|
|
here he could not tell; but he began to grow dull upon it, till he met
|
|
with these good people that came from Rome to show him respect; and
|
|
<I>when he saw them,</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He <I>thanked God.</I> We may suppose he thanked them for their
|
|
civility, told them again and again how kindly he took it; but this was
|
|
not all: he <I>thanked God.</I> Note, If our friends be kind to us, it
|
|
is God that makes them so, that puts it into their hearts, and into the
|
|
power of their hands, to be so, and we must give him the glory of it.
|
|
He thanked God, no doubt, for the civility and generosity of the
|
|
barbarous people at Melita, but much more for the pious care of the
|
|
Christian people at Rome for him. When he saw so many Christians that
|
|
were of Rome, he thanked God that the gospel of Christ had had such
|
|
wonderful success there in the metropolis of the empire. When we go
|
|
abroad, or but look abroad, into the world, and meet with those, even
|
|
in strange places, that bear up Christ's name, and fear God, and serve
|
|
him, we should lift up our hearts to heaven in thanksgiving; blessed be
|
|
God that there are so many excellent ones on this earth, bad as it is.
|
|
Paul had thanked God for the Christians at Rome before he had ever seen
|
|
them, upon the report he had heard concerning them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:8">Rom. i. 8</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I thank my God for you all.</I> But now that he saw them (and
|
|
perhaps they appeared more fashionable and genteel people than most he
|
|
had conversed with, or more grave, serious, and intelligent, than most)
|
|
<I>he thanked God.</I> But this was not all:
|
|
|
|
(2.) He <I>took courage.</I> It put new life into him, cheered up his
|
|
spirits, and banished his melancholy, and now he can enter Rome a
|
|
prisoner as cheerfully as ever he had entered Jerusalem at liberty. he
|
|
finds there are those there who love and value him, and whom he may
|
|
both converse with and consult with as his friends, which will take off
|
|
much of the tediousness of his imprisonment, and the terror of his
|
|
appearing before Nero. Note, it is an encouragement to those who are
|
|
travelling towards heaven to meet with their fellow travellers, who are
|
|
their <I>companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.</I>
|
|
When we see the numerous and serious assemblies of good Christians, we
|
|
should not only give thanks to God, but take courage to ourselves. And
|
|
this is a good reason why respect should be shown to good ministers,
|
|
especially when they are in sufferings, and have contempt put upon
|
|
them, that it encourages them, and makes both their sufferings and
|
|
their services more easy. Yet it is observable that though the
|
|
Christians at Rome were now so respectful to Paul, and he had promised
|
|
himself so much from their respect, yet they failed him when he most
|
|
needed them; for he says
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:16">2 Tim. iv. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>At my first answer, no man stood with me, but all men forsook
|
|
me.</I> They could easily take a ride of forty or fifty miles to go and
|
|
meet Paul, for the pleasantness of the journey; but to venture the
|
|
displeasure of the emperor and the disobliging of other great men, by
|
|
appearing in defence of Paul and giving evidence for him, here they
|
|
desire to be excused; when it comes to this, they will rather ride as
|
|
far out of town to miss him as now they did to meet him, which is an
|
|
intimation to us to cease from man, and to encourage ourselves in the
|
|
Lord our God. The courage we take from his promises will never fail us,
|
|
when we shall be ashamed of that which we took from men's compliments.
|
|
<I>Let God be true, but every man a liar.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The delivering of Paul into custody at Rome,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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He is now come to his journey's end. And,
|
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1. He is still a prisoner. He had longed to see Rome, but, when he
|
|
comes there, he is delivered, with other prisoners, to the <I>captain
|
|
of the guard,</I> and can see no more of Rome than he will permit him.
|
|
How many great men had made their entry into Rome, crowned and in
|
|
triumph, who really were the plagues of their generation! But here a
|
|
good man makes his entry into Rome, chained and triumphed over as a
|
|
poor captive, who was really the greatest blessing to his generation.
|
|
This thought is enough to put one for ever out of conceit with this
|
|
world.
|
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|
|
2. Yet he has some favour shown him. He is a prisoner, but not a close
|
|
prisoner, not in the common jail: <I>Paul was suffered to dwell by
|
|
himself,</I> in some convenient private lodgings which his friends
|
|
there provided for him, and a soldier was appointed to be his guard,
|
|
who, we hope, was civil to him, and let him take all the liberty that
|
|
could be allowed to a prisoner, for he must be very ill-natured indeed
|
|
that could be so to such a courteous obliging man as Paul. Paul, being
|
|
suffered to dwell by himself, could the better enjoy himself, and his
|
|
friends, and his God, than if he had been lodged with the other
|
|
prisoners. Note, This may encourage God's prisoners, that he can give
|
|
them favour in the eyes of those that carry them captive
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:46">Ps. cvi. 46</A>),
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|
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as Joseph in the eyes of his keeper
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+39:21">Gen. xxxix. 21</A>),
|
|
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and Jehoiachin in the eyes of the king of Babylon,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+25:27,28">2 Kings xxv. 27, 28</A>.
|
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When God does not deliver his people presently out of bondage, yet, if
|
|
he either make it easy to them or them easy under it, they have reason
|
|
to be thankful.</P>
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<A NAME="Ac28_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac28_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul at Rome.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the
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chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he
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said unto them, Men <I>and</I> 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.
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18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let <I>me</I> go,
|
|
because there was no cause of death in me.
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19 But when the Jews spake against <I>it,</I> I was constrained to
|
|
appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
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20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see
|
|
<I>you,</I> and to speak with <I>you:</I> because that for the hope of
|
|
Israel I am bound with this chain.
|
|
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of
|
|
Judæa concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came
|
|
showed or spake any harm of thee.
|
|
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.
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</FONT></P>
|
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<P>
|
|
|
|
Paul, with a great deal of expense and hazard, is brought a prisoner to
|
|
Rome, and when he has come nobody appears to prosecute him or lay any
|
|
thing to his charge; but he must call his own cause; and here he
|
|
represents it to the chief of the Jews at Rome. It was not long since,
|
|
by an edict of Claudius, all the Jews were banished from Rome, and kept
|
|
out till his death; but, in the five years since then, many Jews had
|
|
come thither, for the advantage of trade, though it does not appear
|
|
that they were allowed any synagogue there or place of public worship;
|
|
but these <I>chief of the Jews</I> were those of best figure among
|
|
them, the most distinguished men of that religion, who had the best
|
|
estates and interests. <I>Paul called them together,</I> being desirous
|
|
to stand right in their opinion, and that there might be a good
|
|
understanding between him and them. And here we are told,</P>
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. What he said to them, and what account he gave them of his cause. He
|
|
speaks respectfully to them, calls them men and brethren, and thereby
|
|
intimates that he expects to be treated by them both as a man and as a
|
|
brother, and engages to treat them as such and to tell them nothing but
|
|
the truth; for <I>we are members one of another--all we are
|
|
brethren.</I> Now,
|
|
|
|
1. He professes his own innocency, and that he had not given any just
|
|
occasion to the Jews to bear him such an ill will as generally they
|
|
did: "I have <I>committed nothing against the people</I> of the Jews,
|
|
have done nothing to the prejudice of their religion or civil
|
|
liberties, have added no affliction to their present miseries, they
|
|
know I have not; nor have I committed any thing <I>against the customs
|
|
of our fathers,</I> either by abrogating or by innovating in religion."
|
|
It is true Paul did not impose the customs of the fathers upon the
|
|
Gentiles: they were never intended for them. But it is as true that he
|
|
never opposed them in the Jews, but did himself, when he was among
|
|
them, conform to them. He never quarrelled with them for practising
|
|
according to the usages of their own religion, but only for their
|
|
enmity to the Gentiles,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+2:12">Gal. ii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Paul had the testimony of his conscience for him that he had done his
|
|
duty to the Jews.
|
|
|
|
2. He modestly complains of the hard usage he had met with--that,
|
|
though he had given them no offence, yet <I>he was delivered prisoner
|
|
from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.</I> If he had spoken the
|
|
whole truth in this matter, it would have looked worse than it did upon
|
|
the Jews, for they would have murdered him without any colour of law or
|
|
justice if the Romans had not protected him; but, however, they accused
|
|
him as a criminal, before Felix the governor, and, demanding judgment
|
|
against him, were, in effect delivering him prisoner into the hands of
|
|
the Romans, when he desired no more than a fair and impartial trial by
|
|
their own law.
|
|
|
|
3. He declares the judgment of the Roman governors concerning him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
They examined him, enquired into his case, heard what was to be said
|
|
against him, and what he had to say for himself. The chief captain
|
|
examined him, so did Felix, and Festus, and Agrippa, and they could
|
|
find no cause of death in him; nothing appeared to the contrary but
|
|
that he was an honest, quiet, conscientious, good man, and therefore
|
|
they would never gratify the Jews with a sentence of death upon him;
|
|
but, on the contrary, would have let him go, and have let him go on in
|
|
his work too, and have given him no interruption, for they all heard
|
|
him and liked his doctrine well enough. It was for the honour of Paul
|
|
that those who most carefully examined his case acquitted him, and none
|
|
condemned him but unheard, and such as were prejudiced against him.
|
|
|
|
4. He pleads the necessity he was under to remove himself and his cause
|
|
to Rome; and that it was only in his own defence, and not with any
|
|
design to recriminate, or exhibit a cross bill against the
|
|
complainants,
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When the Jews spoke against it,</I> and entered a caveat against his
|
|
discharge, designing, if they could not have him condemned to die, yet
|
|
to have him made a prisoner for life, he was <I>constrained to appeal
|
|
unto Cæsar,</I> finding that the governors, one after another,
|
|
stood so much in awe of the Jews that they could not discharge him, for
|
|
fear of making him their enemies, which made it necessary for him to
|
|
pray the assistance of the higher powers. This was all he aimed at in
|
|
this appeal; not to accuse his nation, but only to vindicate himself.
|
|
Every man has a right to plead in his own defence, who yet ought not to
|
|
find fault with his neighbours. It is an invidious thing to accuse,
|
|
especially to accuse a nation, such a nation. Paul made intercession
|
|
for them, but never against them. The Roman government had at this time
|
|
an ill opinion of the Jewish nation, as factious, turbulent,
|
|
disaffected, and dangerous; and it had been an easy thing for a man
|
|
with such a fluent tongue as Paul had, a citizen of Rome, and so
|
|
injured as he was, to have exasperated the emperor against the Jewish
|
|
nation. But Paul would not for ever so much do such a thing; he was for
|
|
making the best of every body, and not making bad worse.
|
|
|
|
5. He puts his sufferings upon the true footing, and gives them such an
|
|
account of the reason of them as should engage them not only not to
|
|
join with his persecutors against him, but to concern themselves for
|
|
him, and to do what they could on his behalf
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>For this cause I have called for you,</I> not to quarrel with you,
|
|
for I have no design to incense the government against you, but to
|
|
<I>see you and speak with you</I> as my countrymen, and men that I
|
|
would keep up a correspondence with, because<I> for the hope of Israel
|
|
I am bound with this chain.</I>" He carried the mark of his
|
|
imprisonment about with him, and probably was chained to the soldier
|
|
that kept him; and it was,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Because he preached that the Messiah was come, who was the hope of
|
|
Israel, he whom Israel hoped for. "Do not all the Jews agree in this,
|
|
that the Messiah will be the glory of his people Israel? And therefore
|
|
he is to be hoped for, and this Messiah I preach, and prove he is come.
|
|
They would keep up such a hope of a Messiah yet to come as must end in
|
|
a despair of him; I preach such a hope in a Messiah already come as
|
|
must produce a joy in him."
|
|
|
|
(2.) Because he preached that the resurrection of the dead would come.
|
|
This also was the hope of Israel; so he had called it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+23:6,24:15,26:6,7"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 6; xxiv. 15; xxvi. 6, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
"They would have you still expect a Messiah that would free you from
|
|
the Roman yoke, and make you great and prosperous upon earth, and it is
|
|
this that occupies their thoughts; and they are angry at me for
|
|
directing their expectations to the great things of another world, and
|
|
persuading them to embrace a Messiah who will secure those to them, and
|
|
not external power and grandeur. I am for bringing you to the spiritual
|
|
and eternal blessedness upon which our fathers by faith had their eye,
|
|
and this is what they hate me for,--because I would take you off from
|
|
that which is the cheat of Israel, and will be its shame and ruin, the
|
|
notion of a temporal Messiah, and lead you to that which is the true
|
|
and real hope of Israel, and the genuine sense of all the promises made
|
|
to the fathers, a spiritual kingdom of holiness and love set up in the
|
|
hearts of men, to be the pledge of, and preparative for, the joyful
|
|
resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. What was their reply. They own,
|
|
|
|
1. That they had nothing to say in particular against him; nor had any
|
|
instructions to appear as his prosecutors before the emperor, either by
|
|
letter or word of mouth
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>We have neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee</I>
|
|
(have no orders to prosecute thee) <I>nor have any of the brethren</I>
|
|
of the Jewish nation that have lately come up to Rome (as many
|
|
occasions drew the Jews thither now that their nation was a province of
|
|
that empire) <I>shown or spoken any harm of thee.</I>" This was very
|
|
strange, that that restless and inveterate rage of the Jews which had
|
|
followed Paul wherever he went should not follow him to Rome, to get
|
|
him condemned there. Some think they told a lie here, and had orders to
|
|
prosecute him, but durst not own it, being themselves obnoxious to the
|
|
emperor's displeasure, who though he had not, like his predecessors,
|
|
banished them all from Rome, yet gave them no countenance there. But I
|
|
am apt to think that what they said was true, and Paul now found he had
|
|
gained the point he aimed at in appealing to Cæsar, which was to
|
|
remove his cause into a court to which they durst not follow it. This
|
|
was David's policy, and it was his security
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:1">1 Sam. xxvii. 1</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the
|
|
Philistines, and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any
|
|
coasts of Israel; so shall I escape out of his hands:</I> and it proved
|
|
so,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>When Saul heard that David had fled to Gath, he sought no more again
|
|
for him.</I> Thus did Paul by his appeal: he fled to Rome, where he was
|
|
out of their reach; and they said, "Even let him go."
|
|
|
|
2. That they desired to know particularly concerning the doctrine he
|
|
preached, and the religion he took so much pains to propagate in the
|
|
face of so much opposition
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>We desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest</I>--<B><I>ha
|
|
phroneis</I></B> what thy opinions or sentiments are, what are those
|
|
things which thou art so wise about, and hast such a relish of and such
|
|
a zeal for; for, though we know little else of Christianity, we know
|
|
<I>it is a sect every where spoken against.</I>" Those who said this
|
|
scornful spiteful word of the Christian religion were Jews, <I>the
|
|
chief of the Jews at Rome,</I> who boasted of their knowledge
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:17">Rom. ii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
and yet this was all they knew concerning the Christian religion, that
|
|
it was a <I>sect every where spoken against.</I> They put it into an
|
|
ill name, and then ran it down.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They looked upon it to be a sect, and this was false. True
|
|
Christianity establishes that which is of common concern to all
|
|
mankind, and is not built upon such narrow opinions and private
|
|
interests as sects commonly owe their original to. It aims at no
|
|
worldly benefit or advantage as sects do; but all its gains are
|
|
spiritual and eternal. And, besides, it has a direct tendency to the
|
|
uniting of the children of men, and not the dividing of them, and
|
|
setting them at variance, as sects have.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They said it was every where spoken against, and this was too
|
|
true. All that they conversed with spoke against it, and therefore they
|
|
concluded every body did: most indeed did. It is, and always has been,
|
|
the lot of Christ's holy religion to be every where spoken against.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_29"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul at Rome.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to
|
|
him into <I>his</I> lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
|
|
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the
|
|
law of Moses, and <I>out of</I> the prophets, from morning till
|
|
evening.
|
|
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some
|
|
believed not.
|
|
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,
|
|
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear,
|
|
and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not
|
|
perceive:
|
|
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 <I>their</I> eyes, and hear with <I>their</I> ears, and
|
|
understand with <I>their</I> heart, and should be converted, and I
|
|
should heal them.
|
|
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is
|
|
sent unto the Gentiles, and <I>that</I> they will hear it.
|
|
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had
|
|
great reasoning among themselves.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here a short account of a long conference which Paul had with
|
|
the Jews at Rome about the Christian religion. Though they were so far
|
|
prejudiced against it, because it was every where spoken against, as to
|
|
call it <I>a sect,</I> yet they were willing to give it a hearing,
|
|
which was more than the Jews at Jerusalem would do. It is probable that
|
|
these Jews at Rome, being men of larger acquaintance with the world and
|
|
more general conversation, were more free in their enquiries than the
|
|
bigoted Jews at Jerusalem were, and would not answer this matter before
|
|
they heard it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. We are here told how Paul managed this conference in defence of the
|
|
Christian religion. The Jews appointed the time, a day was set for this
|
|
dispute, that all parties concerned might have sufficient notice,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those Jews seemed well disposed to receive conviction, and yet it did
|
|
not prove that they all were so. Now when the day came,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. There were <I>many got together to Paul.</I> Though he was a
|
|
prisoner and could not come out to them, yet they were willing to come
|
|
to him to his lodging. And the confinement he was now under, if duly
|
|
considered, instead of prejudicing them against his doctrine, ought to
|
|
confirm it to them; for it was a sign not only that he believed it, but
|
|
that he thought it worth suffering for. One would visit such a man as
|
|
Paul in his prison rather than not have instruction from him. And he
|
|
made room for them in his lodging, not fearing to give offence to the
|
|
government, so that he might do good to them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He was very large and full in his discourse with them, seeking their
|
|
conviction more than his own vindication.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He expounded, or explained, the kingdom of God to them,--showed
|
|
them the nature of that kingdom and the glorious purposes and designs
|
|
of it, that it is heavenly and spiritual, seated in the minds of men,
|
|
and shines not in external pomp, but in purity of heart and life. That
|
|
which kept the Jews in their unbelief was a misunderstanding of the
|
|
kingdom of God, as if it came with observation; let but that be
|
|
expounded to them, and set in a true light, and they will be brought
|
|
into obedience to it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He not only expounded the kingdom of God, but he testified
|
|
it,--plainly declared it to them, and confirmed it by incontestable
|
|
proofs, that the kingdom of God by the Messiah's administration was
|
|
come, and was now set up in the world. He attested the extraordinary
|
|
powers in the kingdom of grace by which bore his testimony to it from
|
|
his own experience of its power and influence upon him, and the manner
|
|
of his being brought into subjection to it.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He not only expounded and testified the kingdom of God, but he
|
|
persuaded them, urged it upon their consciences and pressed them with
|
|
all earnestness to embrace the kingdom of God, and submit to it, and
|
|
not to persist in an opposition to it. He followed his doctrine (the
|
|
explication and confirmation of it) with a warm and lively application
|
|
to his hearers, which is the most proper and profitable method of
|
|
preaching.
|
|
|
|
(4.) He persuaded them concerning Jesus. The design and tendency of his
|
|
whole discourse were to bring them to Christ, to convince them of his
|
|
being the Messiah, and to engage them to believe in him as he is
|
|
offered in the gospel. He urged upon them, <B><I>ta peri tou
|
|
Iesou</I></B>--<I>the things concerning Jesus,</I> the prophecies of
|
|
him, which he read to them <I>out of the law of Moses and out of the
|
|
prophets,</I> as pointing at the Messiah, and showed how they had all
|
|
had their accomplishment in this Jesus. They being Jews, he dealt with
|
|
them out of the scriptures of the Old Testament, and demonstrated that
|
|
these were so far from making against Christianity that they were the
|
|
great proofs of it; so that, if we compare the history of the New
|
|
Testament with the prophecy of the Old, we must conclude that this
|
|
Jesus is he that should come, and we are to look for no other.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He was very long; for he continued his discourse, and it should seem
|
|
to have been a continued discourse, from <I>morning till evening;</I>
|
|
perhaps it was a discourse eight or ten hours long. The subject was
|
|
curious--he was full of it--it was of vast importance--he was in good
|
|
earnest, and his heart was upon it--he knew not when he should have such
|
|
another opportunity, and therefore, without begging pardon for tiring
|
|
their patience, he kept them all day; but it is probable that he spent
|
|
some of the time in prayer with them and for them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. What was the effect of this discourse. One would have thought that
|
|
so good a cause as that of Christianity, and managed by such a skilful
|
|
hand as Paul's, could not but carry the day, and that all the hearers
|
|
would have yielded to it presently; but it did not prove so: the child
|
|
Jesus is set for the fall of some and the rising again of others, a
|
|
foundation stone to some and a stone of stumbling to others.
|
|
|
|
1. <I>They did not agree among themselves,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some of them thought Paul was in the right, others would not admit it.
|
|
This is that division which Christ came to send, that fire which he
|
|
came to kindle,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:49,51">Luke xii. 49, 51</A>.
|
|
|
|
Paul preached with a great deal of plainness and clearness, and yet his
|
|
hearers could not agree about the sense and evidence of what he
|
|
preached.
|
|
|
|
2. <I>Some believed the things that were spoken, and some believed
|
|
not,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
There was the disagreement. Such as this has always been the success of
|
|
the gospel; to some it has been <I>a savour of life unto life,</I> to
|
|
others <I>a savour of death unto death.</I> Some are wrought upon by
|
|
the word, and others hardened; some receive the light, and others shut
|
|
their eyes against it. So it was among Christ's hearers, and the
|
|
spectators of his miracles, some believed and some blasphemed. If all
|
|
had believed, there had been no disagreement; so that all the blame of
|
|
the division lay upon those who would not believe.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The awakening word which Paul said to them at parting. He
|
|
perceived by what they muttered that there were many among them, and
|
|
perhaps the greater part, that were obstinate, and would not yield to
|
|
the conviction of what he said; and they were getting up to be gone,
|
|
they had had enough of it: "Hold," says Paul, "take one word with you
|
|
before you go, and consider of it when you come home: what do you think
|
|
will be the effect of your obstinate infidelity? What will you do in
|
|
the end hereof? What will it come to?"</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. "You will by the righteous judgment of God be sealed up under
|
|
unbelief. You harden your own hearts, and God will harden them as he
|
|
did Pharaoh's'; and this is what was prophesied of concerning you. Turn
|
|
to that scripture
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+6:9,10">Isa. vi. 9, 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and read it seriously, and tremble lest the case there described should
|
|
prove to be your case." As there are in the Old Testament gospel
|
|
promises, which will be accomplished in all that believe, so there are
|
|
gospel threatenings of spiritual judgments, which will be fulfilled in
|
|
those that believe not; and this is one. It is part of the commission
|
|
given to Isaiah the prophet; he is sent to make those worse that would
|
|
not be made better. <I>Well spoke the Holy Ghost by</I> Esaias <I>the
|
|
prophet unto our fathers.</I> What was spoken by J<FONT
|
|
SIZE=-1>EHOVAH</FONT> is here said to be spoken by the Holy Ghost,
|
|
which proves that the Holy Ghost is God; and what was spoken to Isaiah
|
|
is here said to be spoken by him to their fathers, for he was ordered
|
|
to tell the people what God said to him; and, though what is there said
|
|
had in it much of terror to the people and of grief to the prophet, yet
|
|
it is here said to be well spoken. Hezekiah said concerning a message
|
|
of wrath, <I>Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+39:8">Isa. xxxix. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
And <I>he that believes not shall be damned</I> is gospel, as well as,
|
|
<I>He that believes shall be saved,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:16">Mark xvi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Or this may be explained by that of our Saviour
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+15:7">Matt. xv. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
"<I>Well did Esaias prophesy of you.</I> The Holy Ghost said to your
|
|
fathers, that which would be fulfilled in you, <I>Hearing you shall
|
|
hear, and shall not understand.</I>"
|
|
|
|
(1.) "That which was their great sin against God is yours; and that is
|
|
this, you will not see. You shut your eyes against the most convincing
|
|
evidence possible, and will not admit the conclusion, though you cannot
|
|
deny the premises: <I>Your eyes you have closed,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
This intimates an obstinate infidelity, and a willing slavery to
|
|
prejudice. "As your fathers would not see God's hand lifted up against
|
|
them in his judgments
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+26:11">Isa. xxvi. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
so you will not see God's hand stretched out to you in gospel grace."
|
|
It was true of these unbelieving Jews that they were prejudiced against
|
|
the gospel; they did not see, because they were resolved they would
|
|
not, and none so blind as those that will not see. They would not
|
|
prosecute their convictions, and for this reason would not admit them.
|
|
They have purposely <I>closed their eyes, lest they should see with
|
|
their eyes</I> the great things which belong to their everlasting
|
|
peace, should see the glory of God, the amiableness of Christ, the
|
|
deformity of sin, the beauty of holiness, the vanity of this world, and
|
|
the reality of another. They will not be changed and governed by these
|
|
truths, and therefore will not receive the evidence of them, <I>lest
|
|
they should hear with their ears</I> that which they are loth to hear,
|
|
the wrath of God revealed from heaven against them, and the will of God
|
|
revealed from heaven to them. They stop their ears, like the deaf
|
|
adder, that <I>will not hearken to the voice of the charmer, charm he
|
|
ever so wisely.</I> Thus their fathers did; they <I>would not hear,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+7:11,12">Zech. vii. 11, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
And that which they are afraid of in shutting up their eyes and ears,
|
|
and barricading (as it were) both their learning senses against him
|
|
that made both the hearing ear and the seeing eye, is, <I>lest they
|
|
should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I
|
|
should heal them.</I> They kept their mind in the dark, or at least in
|
|
a constant confusion and tumult, lest, if they should admit a
|
|
considerate sober thought, they should understand with their heart how
|
|
much it is both their duty and their interest to be religious, and so
|
|
by degrees the truth should be too hard for them, and they should be
|
|
converted from the evil ways which they take pleasure in, to those
|
|
exercises to which they have now an aversion. Observe, God's method is
|
|
to bring people first to see and he and so to understand with their
|
|
hearts, and then to convert them, and bow their wills, and so heal
|
|
them, which is the regular way of dealing with a rational soul; and
|
|
therefore Satan prevents the conversion of souls to God by blinding the
|
|
mind and darkening the understanding,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:4">2 Cor. iv. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
And the case is very sad when the sinner joins with him herein, and
|
|
puts out his own eyes. <I>Ut liberius peccent, libenter ignorant--They
|
|
plunge into ignorance, that they may sin the more freely.</I> They are
|
|
in love with their disease, and are afraid lest God should heal them;
|
|
like Babylon of old, We would have healed her, and she would not be
|
|
healed,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+51:9">Jer. li. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was the sin.
|
|
|
|
(2.) "That which was the great judgment of God upon them for this sin
|
|
is his judgment upon you, and that is, you shall be blind. God will
|
|
give you up to a judicial infatuation: <I>Hearing you shall
|
|
hear</I>--you shall have the word of God preached to you over and
|
|
over--<I>but you shall not understand</I> it; because you will not give
|
|
your minds to understand it, God will not give you strength and grace
|
|
to understand it. <I>Seeing you shall see</I>--you shall have abundance
|
|
of miracles and signs done before your eyes--<I>but you shall not
|
|
perceive</I> the convincing evidence of them. Take heed lest what
|
|
Moses said to your fathers should be true of you
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+29:4">Deut. xxix. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord has not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and
|
|
ears to hear, unto this day;</I> and what Isaiah said to the men of his
|
|
generation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+29:10-12">Isa. xxix. 10-12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has
|
|
closed your eyes.</I>" What with their resisting the grace of God and
|
|
rebelling against the light, and God's withdrawing and withholding his
|
|
grace and light from them,--what with their not receiving the love of
|
|
the truth, and God's giving them up for that to strong delusions, to
|
|
believe a lie,--what with their wilful and what with their judicial
|
|
hardness, <I>the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears
|
|
are dull of hearing.</I> They are stupid and senseless, and not wrought
|
|
upon by all that can be said to them. No physic that can be given them
|
|
operates upon them, nor will reach them, and therefore their disease
|
|
must be adjudged incurable, and their case desperate. How should those
|
|
be happy that will not be healed of a disease that makes them
|
|
miserable? And how should those be healed that will not be converted to
|
|
the use of the methods of cure? And how should those be converted that
|
|
will not be convinced either of their disease or of their remedy? And
|
|
how should those be convinced that <I>shut their eyes and stop their
|
|
ears?</I> Let all that hear the gospel, and do not heed it, tremble at
|
|
this doom; for, when once they are thus given up to hardness of heart,
|
|
they are already in the suburbs of hell; for who shall heal them, if
|
|
God do not?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. "Your unbelief will justify God in sending the gospel to the Gentile
|
|
world, which is the thing you look upon with such a jealous eye
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
|
|
|
|
therefore seeing you put the grace of God away from you, and will not
|
|
submit to the power of divine truth and love, seeing you will not be
|
|
converted and healed in the methods which divine wisdom has appointed,
|
|
<I>therefore be it known unto you that the salvation of God is sent
|
|
unto the Gentiles,</I> that salvation which was of the Jews only
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:22">John iv. 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
the offer of it is made to them, the means of it afforded to them, and
|
|
they stand fairer for it than you do; it is sent to them, and they will
|
|
hear it, and receive it, and be happy in it." Now Paul designs hereby,
|
|
|
|
(1.) To abate their displeasure at the preaching of the gospel to the
|
|
Gentiles, by showing them the absurdity of it. They were angry that the
|
|
salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles, and thought it was too great
|
|
a favour done to them; but, if they thought that salvation of so small
|
|
a value as not to be worthy of their acceptance, surely they could not
|
|
grudge it to the Gentiles as too good for them, nor envy them for it.
|
|
The salvation of God was sent into the world, the Jews had the first
|
|
offer of it, it was fairly proposed to them, it was earnestly pressed
|
|
upon them, but they refused it; they would not accept the invitation
|
|
which was given to them first to the wedding-feast and therefore must
|
|
thank themselves if other guests be invited. If they will not strike
|
|
the bargain, nor come up to the terms, they ought not to be angry at
|
|
those that will. They cannot complain that the Gentiles took it over
|
|
their heads, or out of their hands, for they had quite taken their
|
|
hands off it, nay, <I>they had lifted up the heel against it;</I> and
|
|
therefore it is their fault, for <I>it is through their fall that
|
|
salvation is come to the Gentiles,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:11">Rom. xi. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) To improve their displeasure at the favour done to the Gentiles to
|
|
their advantage, and to bring good out of that evil; for when he had
|
|
spoken of this very thing in his epistle to the Romans, the benefit
|
|
which the Gentiles had by the unbelief and rejection of the Jews, he
|
|
says, he took notice of it on purpose that he might provoke his dear
|
|
countrymen the Jews <I>to a holy emulation, and might save some of
|
|
them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:14">Rom. xi. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Jews have rejected the gospel of Christ, and pushed it off to the
|
|
Gentiles, but it is not yet too late to repent of their refusal, and to
|
|
accept of the salvation which they did make light of; they may say No,
|
|
and take it, as the elder brother in the parable, who, when he was
|
|
bidden to <I>go work in the vineyard,</I> first said, <I>I will
|
|
not,</I> and yet <I>afterwards repented and went,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:29">Matt. xxi. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Is the gospel sent to the Gentiles? Let us go after it rather than come
|
|
short of it. And will they hear it, who are thought to be out of
|
|
hearing, and have been so long like the idols they worshipped, <I>that
|
|
have ears and hear not?</I> And shall not we hear it, whose privilege
|
|
it is to have God so nigh to us in all that we call upon him for? Thus
|
|
he would have them to argue, and to be shamed into the belief of the
|
|
gospel by the welcome it met with among the Gentiles. And, if it had
|
|
not that effect upon them, it would aggravate their condemnation, as it
|
|
did that of the scribes and Pharisees, who, when they saw the publicans
|
|
and harlots submit to John's baptism, did not afterwards thereupon
|
|
repent of their folly, <I>that they might believe him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:32">Matt. xxi. 32</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The breaking up of the assembly, as it should seem, in some
|
|
disorder.
|
|
|
|
1. They turned their backs upon Paul. Those of them that believed not
|
|
were extremely nettled at that last word which he said, that they
|
|
should be judicially blinded, and that the light of the gospel should
|
|
shine among those that sat in darkness. <I>When Paul had said these
|
|
words,</I> he had said enough for them, and <I>they departed,</I>
|
|
perhaps not so much enraged as some others of their nation had been
|
|
upon the like occasion, but stupid and unconcerned, no more affected,
|
|
either with those terrible words in the close of his discourse or all
|
|
the comfortable words he had spoken before, than the seats they sat on.
|
|
They departed, many of them with a resolution never to hear Paul preach
|
|
again, nor trouble themselves with further enquiries about this matter.
|
|
|
|
2. They set their faces one against another; for they had great
|
|
disputes among themselves. There was not only a quarrel between those
|
|
who believed and those who believed not, but even among those who
|
|
believed not there were debates. Those that agreed to depart from Paul,
|
|
yet agreed not in the reasons why they departed, but had <I>great
|
|
reasoning among themselves.</I> Many have great reasoning who yet do
|
|
not reason right, can find fault with one another's opinions, and yet
|
|
not yield to truth. Nor will men's reasoning among themselves convince
|
|
them, without the grace of God to open their understandings.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac28_31"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul Preaches Two Years at Rome.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and
|
|
received all that came in unto him,
|
|
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things
|
|
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man
|
|
forbidding him.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We are here taking our leave of the history of blessed Paul; and
|
|
therefore, since God saw it not fit that we should know any more of
|
|
him, we should carefully take notice of every particular of the
|
|
circumstances in which we must here leave him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. It cannot but be a trouble to us that we must leave him in bonds for
|
|
Christ, nay, and that we have no prospect given us of his being set at
|
|
liberty. <I>Two whole years</I> of that good man's life are here spent
|
|
in confinement, and, for aught that appears, he was never enquired
|
|
after, all that time, by those whose prisoner he was. He appealed to
|
|
Cæsar, in hope of a speedy discharge from his imprisonment, the
|
|
governors having signified to his imperial majesty concerning the
|
|
prisoner <I>that he had done nothing worthy of death or bonds,</I> and
|
|
yet he is detained a prisoner. So little reason have we to trust in
|
|
men, especially despised prisoners in great men; witness the case of
|
|
Joseph, whom <I>the chief butler remembered not, but forgot,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:23">Gen. xl. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet some think that though it be not mentioned here, yet it was in the
|
|
former of these two years, and early too in that year, that he was
|
|
first brought before Nero, and then his bonds in Christ were manifest
|
|
in Cæsar's court, as he says,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+1:13">Phil. i. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
And at this first answer it was that <I>no man stood by him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:16">2 Tim. iv. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
But it seems, instead of being set at liberty upon this appeal, as he
|
|
expected, he hardly escaped out of the emperor's hands with his life;
|
|
he calls it a deliverance out of the mouth of the lion,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:17">2 Tim. iv. 17</A>,
|
|
|
|
and his speaking there of his first answer intimates that since that he
|
|
had a second, in which he had come off better, and yet was not
|
|
discharged. During these two years' imprisonment he wrote his epistle
|
|
to the Galatians, then his second epistle to Timothy, then those to the
|
|
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and to Philemon, in which he
|
|
mentions several things particularly concerning his imprisonment; and,
|
|
lastly, his epistle to the Hebrews just after he was set at liberty, as
|
|
Timothy also was, who, coming to visit him, was upon some account or
|
|
other made his fellow-prisoner (<I>with whom,</I> writes Paul to the
|
|
Hebrews,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:23">xiii. 23</A>,
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<I>if he come shortly, I will see you</I>), but how or by what means he
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obtained his liberty we are not told, only that two years he was a
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|
prisoner. Tradition says that after his discharge he went from Italy to
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Spain, thence to Crete, and so with Timothy into Judea, and thence went
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|
to visit the churches in Asia, and at length came a second time to
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|
Rome, and there was beheaded in the last year of Nero. But Baronius
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|
himself owns that there is no certainty of any thing concerning him
|
|
betwixt his release from this imprisonment and his martyrdom; but it is
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|
said by some that Nero, having, when he began to play the tyrant, set
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|
himself against the Christians, and persecuted them (and he was the
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|
first of the emperors that made a law against them, as Tertullian says,
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<I>Apol.</I> cap. 5), the church at Rome was much weakened by that
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persecution, and this brought Paul the second time to Rome, to
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|
re-establish the church there, and to comfort the souls of the
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disciples that were left, and so he fell a second time into Nero's
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|
hand. And Chrysostom relates that a young woman that was one of Nero's
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misses (to speak modishly) being converted, by Paul's preaching, to the
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Christian faith, and so brought off from the lewd course of life she
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had lived, Nero was incensed against Paul for it, and ordered him first
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|
to be imprisoned, and then put to death. But to keep to this short
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|
account here given of it,
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1. It would grieve one to think that such a useful man as Paul was
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|
should be so long in restraint. Two years he was a prisoner under Felix
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+24:27"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 27</A>),
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and, besides all the time that passed between that and his coming to
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Rome, he is here two years more a prisoner under Nero. How many
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churches might Paul have planted, how many cities and nations might he
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|
have brought over to Christ, in these five years' time (for so much it
|
|
was at least), if he had been at liberty! But God is wise, and will
|
|
show that he is not debtor to the most useful instruments he employs,
|
|
but can and will carry on his own interest, both without their services
|
|
and by their sufferings. Even Paul's bonds fell out <I>to the
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|
furtherance of the gospel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+1:12-14">Phil. i. 12-14</A>.
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2. Yet even Paul's imprisonment was in some respects a kindness to him,
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|
for these <I>two years he dwelt in his own hired house,</I> and that
|
|
was more, for aught I know, than ever he had done before. He had always
|
|
been accustomed to sojourn in the houses of others, now he has a house
|
|
of his own--his own while he pays the rent of it; and such a retirement
|
|
as this would be a refreshment to one who had been all his days an
|
|
itinerant. He had been accustomed to be always upon the remove, seldom
|
|
staid long at a place, but now he lived for two years in the same
|
|
house; so that the bringing of him into this prison was like Christ's
|
|
call to his disciples <I>to come into a desert place, and rest
|
|
awhile,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+6:31">Mark vi. 31</A>.
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|
When he was at liberty, he was in continual fear by reason of <I>the
|
|
lying in wait of the Jews</I>
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+20:19"><I>ch.</I> xx. 19</A>),
|
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|
but now his prison was his castle. Thus <I>out of the eater came forth
|
|
meat, and out of the strong sweetness.</I></P>
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<P>
|
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II. Yet it is a pleasure to us (for we are sure it was to him) that,
|
|
though we leave him in bonds for Christ, yet we leave him at work for
|
|
Christ, and this made his bonds easy that he was not by them bound out
|
|
from serving God and doing good. His prison becomes a temple, a church,
|
|
and then it is to him a palace. His hands are tied, but, thanks be to
|
|
God, his mouth is not stopped; a faithful zealous minister can better
|
|
bear any hardship than being silenced. Here is Paul a prisoner, and yet
|
|
a preacher; he is bound, but the word of the Lord is not bound. When he
|
|
wrote his epistle to the Romans, he said <I>he longed to see them, that
|
|
he might impart unto them some spiritual gift</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:11">Rom. i. 11</A>);
|
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|
he was glad <I>to see some of them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
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|
|
but it would not be half his joy unless he could impart to them some
|
|
spiritual gift, which here he has an opportunity to do, and then he
|
|
will not complain of his confinement. Observe,</P>
|
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|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. To whom he preached: to all that had a mind to hear him, whether
|
|
Jews or Gentiles. Whether he had liberty to go to other houses to
|
|
preach does not appear; it is likely not; but whoever would had liberty
|
|
to come to his house to hear, and they were welcome: <I>He received all
|
|
that came to him.</I> Note, Ministers' doors should be open to such as
|
|
desire to receive instruction from them, and they should be glad of an
|
|
opportunity to advise those that are in care about their souls. Paul
|
|
could not preach in a synagogue, or any public place of meeting that
|
|
was sumptuous and capacious, but he preached in a poor cottage of his
|
|
own. Note, When we cannot do what we would in the service of God we
|
|
must do what we can. Those ministers that have but little hired houses
|
|
should rather preach in them, if they may be allowed to do that, than
|
|
be silent. <I>He received all that came to him,</I> and was not afraid
|
|
of the greatest, nor ashamed of the meanest. He was ready to preach on
|
|
the first day of the week to Christians, on the seventh day to Jews,
|
|
and to all who would come on any day of the week; and he might hope the
|
|
better to speed because <I>they came in unto him,</I> which supposed a
|
|
desire to be instructed and a willingness to learn, and where these are
|
|
it is probable that some good may be done.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What he preached. He does not fill their heads with curious
|
|
speculations, nor with matters of state and politics, but he keeps to
|
|
his text, minds his business as an apostle.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He is God's ambassador, and therefore <I>preaches the kingdom of
|
|
God,</I> does all he can to preach it up, negotiates the affairs of it,
|
|
in order to the advancing of all its true interests. He meddles not
|
|
with the affairs of the kingdoms of men; let those treat of them whose
|
|
work it is. He preaches the kingdom of God among men, and the word of
|
|
that kingdom; the same that he defended in his public disputes,
|
|
<I>testifying the kingdom of God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
he enforced in his public preaching, as that which, if received aright,
|
|
will make us all wise and good, wiser and better, which is the end of
|
|
preaching.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He is an agent for Christ, a friend of the bridegroom, and
|
|
therefore <I>teaches those things which concern the Lord Jesus
|
|
Christ</I>--the whole history of Christ, his incarnation, doctrine,
|
|
life, miracles, death, resurrection, ascension; all that relates to the
|
|
mystery of godliness. Paul stuck still to his principle--to know and
|
|
preach <I>nothing but Christ, and him crucified.</I> Ministers, when in
|
|
their preaching they are tempted to diverge from that which is their
|
|
main business, should reduce themselves with this question, What does
|
|
this concern the Lord Jesus Christ? What tendency has it to bring us to
|
|
him, and to keep us walking in him? <I>For we preach not ourselves, but
|
|
Christ.</I></P>
|
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|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. With what liberty he preached.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Divine grace gave him a liberty of spirit. He preached <I>with all
|
|
confidence,</I> as one that was himself well assured of the truth of
|
|
what he preached--that it was what he durst stand by; and of the worth
|
|
of it--that it was what he durst suffer for. He was <I>not ashamed of
|
|
the gospel of Christ.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Divine Providence gave him a liberty of speech: <I>No man
|
|
forbidding him,</I> giving him any check for what he did or laying any
|
|
restraint upon him. The Jews that used to forbid him to speak to the
|
|
Gentiles had no authority here; and the Roman government as yet took no
|
|
cognizance of the profession of Christianity as a crime. Herein we must
|
|
acknowledge the hand of God,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Setting bounds to the rage of persecutors; where he does not turn
|
|
the heart, yet he can tie the hand and bridle the tongue. Nero was a
|
|
bloody man, and there were many, both Jews and Gentiles, in Rome, that
|
|
hated Christianity; and yet so it was, unaccountably, that Paul though
|
|
a prisoner was connived at in preaching the gospel, and it was not
|
|
construed a breach of the peace. Thus God makes <I>the wrath of men to
|
|
praise him, and restrains the remainder of it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+76:10">Ps. lxxvi. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though there were so many that had it in their power to forbid Paul's
|
|
preaching (even the common soldier that kept him might have done it),
|
|
yet God so ordered it, <I>that no man did forbid him.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] See God here providing comfort for the relief of the persecuted.
|
|
Though it was a very low and narrow sphere of opportunity that Paul was
|
|
here placed in, compared with what he had been in, yet, such as it was,
|
|
he was not molested nor disturbed in it. Though it was not a wide door
|
|
that was opened to him, yet it was kept open, and no man was suffered
|
|
to shut it; and it was to many an effectual door, so that there were
|
|
saints even in Cæsar's household,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:22">Phil. iv. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
When the city of our solemnities is thus made a quiet habitation at any
|
|
time, and we are fed from day to day with the bread of life, no man
|
|
forbidding us, we must give thanks to God for it and prepare for
|
|
changes, still longing for that holy mountain in which there shall
|
|
never be any pricking brier nor grieving thorn.</P>
|
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