Acts 28

ANd when they were escaped, then they knew that the This was foretold by Paul, Chap. 27.26. And therefore though the Mariners knew not the Land, ver. 39. and were not able to direct the ship, as ver. the 15th. yet God so ordered it, that not a word spoken by Paul did fall to the ground, but the Wind and Sea obey him. island was called Now called Malta, a little Island between Sicili and Africa. There is another obscure Island in Illyricum, that was called by this name, which some have mistook for this place of Paul's shipwrack, by reason that this Tempest was in the Adriatick Sea: but not only the Gulf of Venice, but the Sea about Sicily, and this Coast, was so called; as Strabo witnesseth: See Chap. 27.27. Melita.

And the So the Grecians and Romans called all other Nations that did not receive their Customs, nor speak their Language, 1 Cor. 14.11. And to this day the African Coast over-against this Island, is called Barbary. barbarous people showed us no little ndn ss How far is this Humanity of Heathens beyond that Inhumanity which some that are called Christians use towards those that are shipwrack'd, and their Goods that come on shore?: for they kindled a ire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of th cold.

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came A Creature so venomous, that not only its biting, but (some say) its breath is deadly: This upon the warmth of the ire, being be-nummed with the cold, and now refreshed, began to stir its self. a viper out of the hear, and As it used to do when it biteth. God by this Miracle prepares this People not only to be civil and courteous unto Paul, but to believe the Gospel which he preached, wheresoever he went. And this wonderful work of God was (as Gods seal to his Ministry) to show his Authority to be from him. fastened on his hand.

And when the barbarians saw the venemous 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 Poyson, much more can God bring good out of evil. beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves. No doubt this man is a It is a strange sense that men by the light of Nature had of Divine Vengeance; especially of Gods revenging of Murder. Hence they called one of their Furies, Tisiphone; as one that punished and revenged Murder. Yet they were to blame in this case, 1. Because they confine the punishment of wicked men wholly unto this Life. 2. In that they did not expect the event: They judged before they knew what would be the end of Paul afterwards. 3. They erred, in that they measured the goodness or badness of a man's state or cause by his prosperity or adversity. murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt A Daniel in the Lion's Den. God is the God of Nature, and the most natural properties are restrained when he please, and cannot be exerted without his concurrence. Thus the promises our blessed Saviour made, Mark 16.18. Luke 10.19. were fulfilled according to the Letter. no harm.

Howbeit they looked when he should have 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. swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: But after they had looked In those places where there is much more heat, there is more Venom in these Vipers. And tho some are said to live several days after they are bit by them, yet others die very suddenly upon their biting; as the known story of Cleopatra testifies. And condemned persons were sometimes put to death by Vipers set unto their breasts. a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was n a God. A strange Extreme; so incertain and inequal are mens minds.

In the same quarters were possessions of the 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. chief man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and lodged us three days courteously.

And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever, and of a A painful and dangerous Disease; the torment in the bowels frequently causing a Fever. bloody s ix: to whom Paul entred in Paul could do nothing of himself; and therefore begs of God the Recovery of Publius his Father. It is God only that kills and makes alive, 1 Sam. 2.6., and prayed, and This Imposition of Hands was commonly used in miraculous Cures; as Matth. 9.18. Mark 6.5. and is joyned with Prayer, Matth. 19.13. which it might be a Symbole of. Thus Publius was well payed for what he did for Paul and his Company. Relieving of the poor and distressed is frequently rewarded in this World, and not only in the World to come. And God now recommends the Gospel and the Ministry of Paul by this Miracle also: For none could do such things as these, unless God were with him. laid his hands on him, and healed him.

So when this was done 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 bring them to the knowledg of God in Christ, whom Paul preached. And they might have perished eternally, if they had not perished (or been thus near unto perishing) temporally., others also which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

W o also o honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. 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.

And 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. after three moneths we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had It was their wont to lay up their ships all the Winter season; as we may see, Chap. 27.12. And to this day the Gallies seldom go out on those Seas in Winter. wintered in the isle, whose sign was Feigned to be the Sons of Iupiter, and to have the ordering of Tempests, and the care of Mariners, and were chosen for the Patrons of that ship, by the Pagan Owners of it. Castor and Pol lux.

And landing at The chief City of Sicily, famous for Archimedes. Syracuse, we tarried there To sell probably some of their wares, the ship making a trading Voyage. three days.

And from thence we set a compass, and came to A City in the Kingdom of Naples, over-against Messina, in Sicily; so called because that Sicily was believed to he thereabouts rent and plucked from the main Land, unto which they held it to have been formerly joyned, until by a Tempest it became an Island. Rhegium: and after one day the south-wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli is a Sea-sown nor far from Naples. Puteoli:

Where we found 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 Iews, whom he calls brethren (being, as himself, descended from Abraham): for so he calls the Iews he found at Rome (Brethren, ver. 7.) who yet called the Christians a Sect; adding, that it was every where spoken against, ver. 22. brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: And so we went toward Rome is known to be the chief City in Italy, and to have been the Empress of the World, and famous for the Church to whom St. Paul wrote his Epistle, known by its Inscription unto them. Rome.

And from thence, when the brethren heard o us, they came to meet us as far as 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 Fora, where such Statues were placed (The concourse to see those Statues might bring them to become Markets). Appii-forum, and the As that was a place of resort for the buying and selling of other Commodities, so this for the affording of necessary Provision. A little Town, hence so called, about Three and Thirty Miles, or Eleven Leagues from Rome. So that some came a greater, some a lesser way to meet with Paul, and show their Respect unto him. These brethren are thought to have been converted by such as at the Day of Pentecost were present, when those Miracles were wrought, Chap. 2.10. it being expresly said, that there were strangers from Rome. three taverns: Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God God moving so many not to be ashamed of his bonds., and took courage.

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the The Praefectus Praetorio being Commander in chief over the Soldiers, and unto whom the Prisoners of State were usually committed. captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by God by this means giving Paul an opportunity to go abroad at his pleasure, tho chained; as verse 20. Yet he might preach the Gospel; and that was not bound, 2 Tim. 2.9. And now God is with Paul, as he was with Ioseph, in Prison, Gen. 39.21. and procures him favour. himself, with a souldier that kept him.

And it came to pass, that after three days, Paul called the 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 unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Matth. 10.5, 6. The whole Oeconomy of the Gospel is a doing good for evil. So did our Saviour, who is the Author and Subject of it; and so must his Messengers or Ministers do; or they are not like to do any good at all: for the World will hate them, 1 Iohn 3.13. 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 the Romans.

Who when they had As Festus did in the presence of King Agrippa, Chap. 25 26. who, though 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, Lvke 23.4, 14 examined me, would have let e go, because there was no cause of death in me.

But when the Jews The Iews used all their Oratory and Interest against Paul, both before Felix and Festus. And had it been in Felix's power (which after Paul's Appeal it was not), he would have sacrificed Paul to the malice of the Iews; and by that means got their favour, whom he had so incensed against him. spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cesar not that I had ought Paul did not so much want matter, as mind to accuse the Iews. And he declares, that whatsoever he had suffered, his intentions were not to calumniate them, but to vindicate himself. 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 See Chap. 23.6. and 24.21. This Hope is either, 1. of the Resurrection, as in the forementioned places; and Ch. 26.6, 7. or 2 the Messiah, Christ is the Hope of Israel, so they pretended for many ages, and him now Paul Preached. hope of Israel I am bound with this For tho he had his liberty to go abroad, yet he was chained with his Right hand to the Soldiers Left hand who went with him; and could not possibly be loosned unwittingly from him. chain.

And they said unto him, We neither received The High Priest and the rest of them that had persecuted Paul, did either dispond 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 the main matters they contended for. letters out of Judea, concerning thee, neither any o the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee.

But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this Or Heresie, for so they called the Christian Religion, Chap. 24.5, 14. sect, we know that 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. every where it is spoken against.

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his The House which he had hired, as verse 16, and 30. lodging; To whom he Paul expounded the Scriptures, and by them proved our Saviour to be the Messiah; expounded and testified and that the Kingdom of the Messiah, which God had promised, and Moses and the Prophets had foretold, was now come: the kingdom of God, using such proofs and arguments as were cogent enough to prove what he asserted; and which also did throughly persuade or prevail with several of them. persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, Thus Paul laboured more abundantly, 1 Cor. 15.10. from morning till evening.

And Thus there are different Soils into which the Word is cast, as appears in the Parable of the Sower, Matth. 13.19, 20, &c. Thus Paul found by experience what he says, 2 Thes. 3.2. That all men have not faith; and the word preached does not profit, unless it be mixed with faith in hem that hear it, Heb. 4.2. some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

And when they agreed not Thus Christ came to set fire on the earth, Luke 12.49. not that the Gospel does this in its self; for it is the Gospel of Peace, Ephes. 6.15. not only betwixt God and man, but betwixt man and man; and if its precepts were observed, Love, Meekness and Goodness, would banish all Hatred, Pride and Contention out of the hearts and lives of men; but this arises out of the corruption that is in man, and from the evil one that sows his Tares amongst us. among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken Paul spake this eminent and remarkable word or sentence, that they might (if possible) be pricked in their hearts at the hearing of God's Judgments denounced against them. one word, Well spake the holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet, unto our fathers,

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive.

For the Tho 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, Iob 21.14. heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes They winked, as those that were loath to see, tho they could not but see the Truths Paul had preached concerning the Messiah; Prejudicate Opinions and Self-conceit hindering them from coming unto the acknowledgment of them. 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.

Be it known therefore unto you, that the So the Gospel is cal ed; 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. salvation of God is sent unto the As by our Saviours Commission, Matth. 28.19. and Luke 24.47. does appear And Paul had by Experience found the Effects of it; as may be seen in all this Book of his Travels; where we may find many of the Gentiles were obedient unto the Word, which the Iews gain-sayed and blasphemed. Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great Some accusing of Paul, others vindicating of him; some believing; as verse 24. others not believing; Our Saviour and his Gospel too, being for the rising and falling of many. r asoning among themselves.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, 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 tho Paul might have had greater security from trouble by the Iews (if he would have desisted), yet a necessity was laid upon him, and a wo unto him if he did not preach the Gospel, as 1 Cor. 9.16. which may abundantly excuse and justifie him. and received all that came in unto him.

Preaching 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 be easily obtain'd, the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Christs Precepts and Miracles, his Death and Resurrection. God, who puts bounds to the raging Sea, had stopped the Iews malice, and bidden it go no further; and he who delivered Daniel from the Lyons, had delivered Paul from Nero, and would have delivered him, had not his Death been more for the Glory of God, and the good of Paul himself, than his Life; which at last he offered in Confirmation of the Truths which he had preach'd which he foresaw, 2 Tim. 4.6. and as Eusebius says, came to pass accordingly. This Book may be called, not only, but; not only the Acts, but the Wonders of the Apostles (tho the Holy Pen-man, and the Apostles meekly contented themselves with that name, by which at p esent it is called; Yet) what Wonders are contained in it; not only such as were wrought by the Apostles, but for them, to deliver, preserve and encourage them: In so much as the attempt to silence them, and to hinder the Progress of the Gospel preached by them, proved as vain as if men had endeavour'd to hinder the Sun from shining, or the Wind from blowing. Now unto him, who is able to work so as none can hinder, be all Honour and Glory, Dominion and Power, for ever and ever. Amen.