Acts 28 · The Lantern

And when they had escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

"And they shall be scattered on the merchant ships of foreigners and together plunder the sea." For they, in their wanderings among the nations, had to make use of the passage through the sea, just as though they were flying on it, they made a swift course through the sea so that they might proclaim the gospel to most nations in a short time.

Do you mark what good came of the storm? Why then it was no mark of their being forsaken, that the storm came upon them. Now this that happened was in consequence of the season of the year; but the wonder is greater, that at such a season they were saved from the midst of the dangers, both he, and for his sake the rest, and this too in the Hadriatic.

"But the barbarians showed us no small courtesy," etc. Everyone being now on the shore, as terrible cold was upon them and they were weakened by long fasting, the barbarian inhabitants of the place supplied them with the provisions of courtesy.

And the islanders showed us unusual kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

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.

Finally, we often aid in this way even the heathen, seeing we have been endowed by God with that power which the apostle first used when he despised the viper's bite. What, then, does this pen of yours offer, if faith is safe by what it has of its own? That it may be safe by what it has of its own also at other times, when it is subjected to scorpions of its own.

You wickedly hurtful serpent, why do you still wish to call [us] back from the Lord and contrive your old pillaging on the newness of the law? O lover of death, whose very parent you are, why do you renew your warfare upon the redeemed?

When Paul was gathering brushwood, a viper bit his hand and caused him no harm, because the holy man was a practitioner of faith. Having sunk its fangs into the apostle's hand and finding no sinful wound in it, the viper immediately recoiled and threw itself into the fire, as if seeking punishment for itself.

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 has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffers not to live.

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

However 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.

"He, however, shook off the creature into the fire." The faithful are superior to any scheme, either if it is planned by people or beasts, and they are similar to gods, as Scripture says: "I say, 'You are gods; nevertheless, you shall die,' because of infidelity, 'like mortals.' " So the barbarians, seeing that [Paul] did not die but escaped from certain death, considered him t…

Therefore when the Barbarians saw this and the certain death escaping them, they thought him to be a god, having the custom, making everything marvelous, to consider as a god; just as they used to call the old gods, either because of some greater strength they exhibited among themselves, as was Heracles; or because by magic they astounded those about them, as was Simon in Samar…

They thought that Paul's body would be torn apart. "Having waited a long time." The miracle was not revealed suddenly, but the people waited for it for some time. Thus, this occurrence was not a deception or mere trickery.

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.

And it happened, that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

"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." So that he was worthy to receive kindness: wherefore Paul as a requital for his receiving them, healed him.

It happened that the father of Publius, having been struck by fever and dysentery, was lying ill. Dysentery is an affliction of the intestines, caused with ulceration, because it expels bloody discharge, or bile, or some other alteration of humour; but it is considered harmful by the ancients if it produces black discharge from the beginning.

"The father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery." Dysentery, a disease difficult to cure, having been healed by Paul, converted many to faith in Christ.

So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

Who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

And all the remaining [details] of his course with Paul he recounts, indicating with all diligence both places, and cities, and number of days, until they went up to Jerusalem; and what befell Paul there, how he was sent to Rome in bonds; the name of the centurion who took him in charge; and the signs of the ships, and how they made shipwreck; and the island upon which they esc…

"And after three months, we sailed in a ship of Alexandria," etc. After three months, going on board a ship of Alexandria, they came to Syracuse, a city of the Sicilians; from there to Rhegium; from there to Puteoli; from there, now on foot, to the Three Taverns, where Paul was gladly received by the brethren and entered Rome led by them.

Almost always, especially on Alexandrian ships, it was customary to make such images near the bow of the ship on the right and left sides. And since, given the prevailing idol-worship of that time, the "Dioscuri" were probably depicted on this ship, we may conclude from this that the shipmaster on it was a foreigner and an idolater.

And landing at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

And from there we made a circuit, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

Where we found brothers, and were desired to stay with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

And from there, when the brothers heard from 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.

"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." Not fearing the danger. But observe also how Paul himself also was affected after the manner of men.

Some places are noted outside Rome, one of which is said, with some probability, to have a statue of Appius and to be called his tribute, just as to this day the images of kings among the Romans are called tributes; the places called the taverns refer mysteriously to certain inns or shelters or to the use of taverns, so named in the Roman language. [ISIDORE]

When he says "to the Appian Forum and the Three Taverns," he indicates certain localities before Rome. The first, the Appian Forum, is a locality where a statue of Appius stood; from this, probably, the locality was also named the forum before the statue.

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.

And it happened, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they had come together, he said to them, Men and brothers, 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.

Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

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.

And they said to him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning you, neither any of the brothers that came showed or spoke any harm of you.

Then they also were so subdued by his speech, that they too apologized for those of their own nation: "And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee." Neither through letters, nor through men, have they made known any harm of thee.

"But they said to him: We neither received letters concerning thee from Judea," etc. The Jews replied to Paul that they had had no opportunity to learn either by letters or by a messenger the things that he had just told; but they asked him, instead, to let them know what he had preached in other places.

Even before Paul's arrival in Rome, the Jews had been persuaded not to accept the preaching about Christ — not only the Jews in Rome, but all Jews throughout the entire world. But how is this known?

But we desire to hear of you what you think: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.

The Jews call the faith in Christ a heresy, because "everywhere it is spoken against." You see, the Jews themselves testify that Christ is preached everywhere, even though not all receive this preaching, as the text says, but some of the Jews or the Gentiles speak against it, while the heretics, in a different way, do not conform to the true faith.

Neither through letters, nor through men, have they made known any harm of thee. Nevertheless, we wish to hear from thyself: "But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest": and then forestalled him by showing their own sentiments. "For as concerning this sect, it is known to us, that everywhere it is spoken against."

Before he arrived. Paul was in Rome, the Jews had been commanded not to receive the preaching concerning Christ, and not only they alone, but also Jews everywhere in the world. How is this clear?

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.

And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,

This is the Spirit that at the beginning "moved upon the thee of the waters; " by whom the world moves; by whom creation consists, and all things have life; who also wrought mightily in the prophets, and descended in flight upon Christ. This is the Spirit that was given to the apostles in the form of fiery tongues.

To those who call him the minister of the Father, Paul here gives a severe rebuke concerning the Holy Spirit. For concerning the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, whom Isaiah saw, therefore speaks the Holy Spirit. For He is of the same essence as the Father and the Son, and shares the same power.

Observe how the Jews now plot against Paul: in Judea they were like tyrants, but here, even though rebuked by Paul, they dare say nothing against him, because his case was no longer subject to their authority.

Saying, Go to this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive:

Through them, to wit, had "the heart of the People been made thick, lest they should see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with a heart" obstructed by the "fats" of which He had expressly forbidden the eating, teaching man not to be studious of the stomach.

Then that you may not deem it strange that they believed not, he introduces the prophecy which saith "Hearing ye shall hear and not understand," more now than then: "and ye shall see and not perceive" more now than then. This is not spoken for the former sort, but for the unbelievers. How then? Was it contrary to the prophecy, that those believed?

They did this, he says, people who stopped their ears and closed their eyes, who "will not turn, so that I may heal them." This points to the strong impiety and stubborn aversion of these people. This is said in order to attract and dispose them, and to show that if they turn back, they will be healed.

For the heart of this people is grew 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.

Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

[Not in the earliest manuscripts. TR Byz · not Tisch SR. King James: “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”]

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in to him,

"Discoursed," it says, "the things concerning the kingdom of God:" mark, nothing of the things of sense, nothing of the things present.

He remained in his lodging for a full two years and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God. Jerome makes mention of this place in a letter to Lucinius: "Paul enters Rome in chains, to free those chained by errors of superstition; he remains in his rented lodging for two years, to render to us the eternal gift of both instruments." By this exposition, he taug…

Paul did not act like that Diogenes who dressed in rags and lived in a barrel, who amazed many with things in which they had no need whatsoever, yet brought benefit to no one. Paul did nothing of the sort, because he did not turn his gaze toward ambition.

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Acts28