ACTS CHAPTER 28 ACTS 28:1,2 Paul and his company, after their shipwreck, are kindly entertained by the barbarians of Melita. ACTS 28:3 A viper fastening on his hand without hurting him, the people, who at first thought ill of him, believed him a god. ACTS 28:7 He healeth the father of Publius, and o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BARBAROUS PEOPLE; so the Grecians and Romans called all other nations that did not receive their customs, nor speak their language, 1 CORINTHIANS 14:11; and to this day the African coast over against this island is called Barbary. FOR THEY KINDLED A FIRE, &C.: how far is this humanity of heathen... [ Continue Reading ]
A VIPER; a creature so venomous, that not only its biting, but (some say) its breath, is deadly: this, upon the warmth of the fire, being benumbed with the cold, and now refreshed, began to stir itself. FASTENED ON HIS HAND; as it used to do when it biteth. God by this miracle prepares this people n... [ Continue Reading ]
VENOMOUS; so the viper is called by that appellative word, from whence also comes _theriaca, _ or treacle, which is made out of flesh, or trochusses, of vipers. And if men can make an antidote out of poison, much more can God bring good out of evil. THIS MAN IS A MURDERER; it is a strange sense that... [ Continue Reading ]
As Daniel in the lion's den. God is the God of nature, and the most natural properties are restrained when he pleases, and cannot be exerted without his concurrence. Thus the promises our blessed Saviour made, in MARK 16:18 LUKE 10:19, were fulfilled according to the letter.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD HAVE SWOLLEN; the word signifies primarily to be burnt, and then by burning or scalding to swell, which is accounted the ordinary symptom of the biting of a viper; to swell or blister, as if the part was burnt with fire. OR FALLEN DOWN DEAD SUDDENLY; in those places where there is much more h... [ Continue Reading ]
This PUBLIUS is thought to have been governor for the Romans in this island. Howsoever, he was a man of great account and estate, that could provide for so many as were in the ship, and receive them into his own house.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BLOODY FLUX; a painful and dangerous disease; the torment in the bowels frequently causing a fever. AND PRAYED; Paul could do nothing of himself, and therefore begs of God the recovery of Publius's father. It is God only that kills and makes alive, 1 SAMUEL 2:6. LAID HIS HANDS ON HIM; this imposit... [ Continue Reading ]
The fame of this cure, wrought so suddenly, perfectly, and only with the laying on of Paul's hands, could not but spread far and near; especially being done upon the governor: and men are usually very careful about their bodily health and welfare. So that their diseases were blessed occasions to bri... [ Continue Reading ]
They who were cured, rewarded or presented the apostle and his company very liberally. And this was the effect of that inward respect and real esteem they had for them; and was a fruit of their faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
These THREE MONTHS that St. Paul staid at Malta, he spent like a true labourer in the Lord's vineyard, planting a church that was famous for its stedfastness in the truth. HAD WINTERED IN THE ISLE; it was their wont to lay up their ships all the winter season; as we may see, ACTS 27:12. And to this... [ Continue Reading ]
SYRACUSE; the chief city of Sicily, famous for Archimedes. WE TARRIED THERE THREE DAYS; probably to sell some of their wares, the ship making a trading voyage.... [ Continue Reading ]
RHEGIUM; a city in the kingdom of Naples, over against Messina in Sicily; so called because that Sicily was believed to be thereabouts rent and plucked from the main land, unto which they held it to have been formerly joined, until by a tempest it became an island. PUTEOLI is a sea town not far from... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE WE FOUND BRETHREN; Christians, as some think, for so they mutually called one another. But it is not so probable that any should profess Christianity so near unto Rome, and that it should be no more known or believed in Rome. Others therefore think that the apostle means Jews, whom he calls _b... [ Continue Reading ]
APPII FORUM; a place about one and fifty miles, or seventeen leagues, from Rome; so called from Appius Claudius, who made a way from Rome thither, called from his name: The Appian Way; and had his statue there set up; which is the reason why it is called thus: for the Romans did call those places _f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD; the _praefectus praetorio, _ being commander-in-chief over the soldiers, and unto whom the prisoners of state were usually committed. PAUL WAS SUFFERED TO DWELL BY HIMSELF; God by this means giving Paul an opportunity to go abroad at his pleasure; though chained, as ACTS 28... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL CALLED THE CHIEF OF THE JEWS TOGETHER; Paul does this not only out of an extraordinary love which he had for that people, but also because the apostles were commanded _to go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,_ MATTHEW 10:5,6. The whole economy of the gospel is a doing good for evi... [ Continue Reading ]
EXAMINED ME; as Festus did in the presence of king Agrippa, ACTS 25:26, who, they were both unbelievers, yet justified Paul, acknowledging that he had not committed any thing worthy of bonds, much less of death. Thus our Saviour was declared innocent by Pilate, LUKE 23:4,14.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS SPAKE AGAINST IT; the Jews used all their oratory and interest against Paul, both before Felix and Festus. And had it been in Festus's power, (which after Paul's appeal it was not), he would have sacrificed Paul to the malice of the Jews; and by that means got their favour, whom he had so i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL: see ACTS 23:6, ACTS 24:21. This _hope_ is either, 1. Of the resurrection, as in the forementioned places; and ACTS 26:6,7; or: 2. The Messiah; Christ is the hope of Israel, so they pretended for many ages, and him now Paul preached. I AM BOUND WITH THIS CHAIN; for though he... [ Continue Reading ]
The high priest, and the rest of them that had persecuted Paul, did either despond of their cause, when it should come to be impartially heard; or were supine and negligent in a matter which they pretended so highly to concern their religion; but self-ends, their present ease and reputation, were th... [ Continue Reading ]
SECT, or heresy, for so they called the Christian religion, ACTS 24:5,14. EVERY WHERE IT IS SPOKEN AGAINST; of all conditions of men, governors and people, and in all places; as, LUKE 2:34, Christ is said to be _a sign that shall be spoken against._... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS LODGING; the house which he had hired, as ACTS 28:16, and ACTS 28:30. HE EXPOUNDED AND TESTIFIED THE KINGDOM OF GOD; Paul expounded the Scriptures, and by them proved our Saviour to be the Messiah; and that the kingdom of the Messiah, which God had promised, and Moses and the prophets had foreto... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus there are different soils into which the word is cast, as appears in the parable of the sower, MATTHEW 13:19,20, &c. Thus Paul found by experience what he says, 2 THESSALONIANS 3:2, that _all men have not faith; _ and _the word preached_ doth _not profit, _ unless it be _mixed with faith in the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY AGREED NOT AMONG THEMSELVES; thus Christ came _to send fire on the earth,_ LUKE 12:49: not that the gospel does this in itself; for it is _the gospel of peace,_ EPHESIANS 6:15, not only betwixt God and man, but betwixt man and man; and if its precepts were observed, love, meekness, and goodness... [ Continue Reading ]
As their fathers did hear the many prophecies concerning the miseries and calamities which for their sins were to come upon them, as also concerning the Messiah which was to come, but did not believe them or entertain them as they ought; so these their children (through the righteous judgment of God... [ Continue Reading ]
Though God did forsake this people, (being first forsaken of them), and withdraw his gratuitous assistance from them, yet it is all justly charged upon them, they having by their sins said unto God, _Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways, _ JOB 21:14. THEIR EYES HAVE THEY CLOSE... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SALVATION OF GOD; so the gospel is called; because: 1. The finding of it out. 2. The preparing of it by sending his Son. 3. The revealing of it, and; 4. Its efficacy, is only of God. IS SENT UNTO THE GENTILES; as by our Saviour's commission, MATTHEW 28:19, and LUKE 24:47, does appear. And Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
Some accusing of Paul, others vindicating of him; some believing, as ACTS 28:24, others not believing; our Saviour, and his gospel too, being for the rising and falling of many.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of what nation or quality soever they were, Paul preached salvation to them upon the gospel condition of faith and holiness; and in that imitated God and our Saviour, who refuse none that thus come unto him. And though Paul might have had greater security from trouble by the Jews if he would have de... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; THE KINGDOM OF GOD; the gospel is so called; as also Paul preached that kingdom of God which is to come at the end of the world, which falls in with the subject he was so often upon, concerning the resurrection; which if men did but believe effectually, all the other ends of preaching would... [ Continue Reading ]