And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. Ver. 1. _And when they were escaped_] Some of them escaped perhaps as narrowly as did Sir Thomas Challoner, who when he was young, served under Charles V in the expedition of Algiers; where being shipwrecked, after he had... [ Continue Reading ]
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. Ver. 2. _And the barbarous people_] So the Grecians (and afterwards the Romans) called all other nations besides themselves. But now the G... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid _them_ on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. Ver. 3. _And fastened on his hand_] Thus, many are the troubles of the righteous; but out of them all the Lord delivereth them. No country hath more venomous cre... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the barbarians saw the _venomous_ beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. Ver. 4. _Yet vengeance suffereth not, &c._] _Nemo scelus gerit in pectore, qui non idem habet Ne... [ Continue Reading ]
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Ver. 5. _And he shook off the beast_] So should we do false and slanderous reports; or rather make a good use of them; as the skilful apothecary of the flesh of this poisonous beast makes a wholesome theriacle (θηριακα), or treacle, _a_ as... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. Ver. 6. _That he should have swollen_] Or, have been inflamed, πιμπρασθαι, viz. with the viper's... [ Continue Reading ]
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. Ver. 7. _Who received us and lodged us three days courteously_] Gr. φιλοφρονως, of a friendly mind. As he is the best Christian that is most humble, s... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. Ver. 8. _Sick of a fever_] Which hath its name both in Greek and Latin from the fire that is in it, πυρετος. _Febris a fervore._... [ Continue Reading ]
So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Ver. 9. _Came and were healed_] On both sides (likely), and hence their forwardness and freeheartedness,Acts 28:10 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded _us_ with such things as were necessary. Ver. 10. _Who also honoured us_] _Perraro grati reperiuntur, _ saith Cicero. A thankful man is worth his weight in gold, saith Mr Ward. The Italian hath a proverb, _Seiapato il morbo, f... [ Continue Reading ]
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. Ver. 11. _Whose sign was Castor and Pollux_] Seamen say that if these two stars arise not together, it is a sign of an ensuing tempest. Dissension is a forerunner of destruc... [ Continue Reading ]
And landing at Syracuse, we tarried _there_ three days. Ver. 12. _Syracuse_] The metropolis of Sicily, where lived and died that famous mathematician Archimedes; who by his art so long held out the city against Marcellus the Roman general, that beleaguered it. (Plut.)... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 13. _Came to Rhegium_] Which hath its name of breaking, from ρηγνυμι, _rumpo; _ because, say some, there the sea broke off Sicily from Italy, which was before... [ Continue Reading ]
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. Ver. 14. _Seven days_] For mutual enjoyment of one another; there being no such comfort upon earth, next to communion with God, as the communion of saints, 2 John 1:12, that our joy may be full. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _They came to meet us_] So Paul entered Rome as a long-looked-for triumpher.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _Paul was suffered to dwell_] So Bradford, prisoner in the King's Bench, was in so good credit with his keeper, that he had l... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men _and_ brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of... [ Continue Reading ]
Who, when they had examined me, would have let _me_ go, because there was no cause of death in me. Ver. 18. _Because there was no cause_] See Acts 25:25 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the Jews spake against _it_, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. Ver. 19. _To accuse my nation of_] But to defend Christ's cause and mine own innocence, with as little reflex on the Jews as may be. It is an ill business to defame a whole na... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see _you_, and to speak with _you_ : because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. Ver. 20. _For the hope of Israel_] That is, for the resurrection of the dead and that eternal life that Israel hopes and looks for. _Hallucinantur... [ Continue Reading ]
And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. Ver. 21. _We neither received letters_] Not because the priests and elders were now grown better minded toward Paul than they were wont to be (f... [ Continue Reading ]
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. Ver. 22. _Everywhere it is spoken against_] _Nomen in Christianis damnabatur, non crimen, _ saith Tertullian. When Attalus the martyr was put to death at Lyons, a table was... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into _his_ lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and _out of_ the prophets, from morning till evening. Ver. 23. _There came into his lodging_] Tert... [ Continue Reading ]
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. Ver. 24. _And some believed not_] The word, as Moses, slays the Egyptian, saves the Israelite. It is to some the savour of life, to others of death, as Obededom was blessed for the ark, the Philistines cursed.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, Ver. 25. _And when they agreed not_] They jarred. It is a metaphor from musical instruments that make no harmony, ασυμφωνοι . _ Had spoke... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: Ver. 26. _Hearing, ye shall hear, &c._] A heavy ear is a singular judgment. _Antagoras, cum Thebaidos librum apud Boeotos recitaret, nec quisquam recitanti applauderet,... [ Continue Reading ]
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with _their_ eyes, and hear with _their_ ears, and understand with _their_ heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Ver. 27. _Is waxed gross_] "Their... [ Continue Reading ]
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and _that_ they will hear it. Ver. 28. _That the salvation of God_] _i.e._ The gospel, that "grace of God that bringeth salvation," Titus 2:11, and is the power of God to salvation to as many as believe,Romans 1:16... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. Ver. 29. _Had great reasoning, &c._] It is not the gospel, but the contempt of the gospel, that breedeth questions and quarrellings.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Ver. 30. _And received all that came in unto him_] Being a genuine child of the Church, set forth by that πανδοχειον, Luke 10:34, that inn that receives and helps all sin-sick visitors. Christ himself (sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Ver. 31. _Preaching the kingdom, &c._] Mr Bradford, during the time of his imprisonment, preached twice a day continually, unless sickness hindered him; where als... [ Continue Reading ]