Acts 28:16

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. And when we came to Rome - or, 'had entered Rome' [eiseelthomen ( G1525), seems the true reading]. Thus is our apostle at length brought to the renowned capital of the ancient world-situated on the banks of the Tiber, about 16 miles from its mouth, and at that time containing about two million inhabitants. [The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard]. Though the evidence against the genuineness of this clause is decisive [ HO (G3588) hekatontarchos (G1543 ) _ paredooken_ ( G3860) tous

− 16._The centurion delivered the prisoners. _Luke doth signify that Paul had more liberty granted him than the rest; for his condition and estate was peculiar. For he was suffered to dwell in an house by himself, having one keeper with him, whereas the rest were shut up in the common prison. For the general captain − (670) knew by Festus’ report that Paul was guiltless; and the centurion, as it is likely, did faithfully rehearse such things as might serve to bring him into favor. Notwithstanding, let us know that God did govern − (671) from heaven the bonds of his servant; not only that he might ease him of his trouble, but that the faithful might have freer access unto him. For he would not have the treasure of his faith shut up in prison, but he would have it laid open, that it might enrich many far and wide. And yet Paul was not so at liberty, but that he did alway

11-16 The common events of travelling are seldom worthy of being told; but the comfort of communion with the saints, and kindness shown by friends, deserve particular mention. The Christians at Rome were so far from being ashamed of Paul, or afraid of owning him, because he was a prisoner, that they were the more careful to show him respect. He had great comfort in this. And if our friends are kind to us, God puts it into their hearts, and we must give him the glory. When we see those even in strange places, who bear Christ's name, fear God, and serve him, we should lift up our hearts to heaven in thanksgiving. How many great men have made their entry into Rome, crowned and in triumph, who really were plagues to the world! But here a good man makes his entry into Rome, chained as a poor captive, who was a greater blessing to the world than any other merely a man. Is not this enough to p...

Verse Acts 28:16. _THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD_] στρατοπεδαρχη. This word properly means the _commander of a camp_; but it signifies the _prefect_, or _commander of the pretorian cohorts_, or _emperor's_ _guards_. _Tacitus_ (Annal. lib. iv. cap. 2) informs us that, in the reign of Tiberius, _Sejanus_, who was then _prefect of these troops_, did, in order to accomplish his ambitious designs, cause them to be assembled from their quarters in the city, and stationed in a _fortified camp_ near it; so that their commander is with peculiar propriety styled by St. Luke στρατοπεδαρχης, the _commander of the_ _camp_. For the arrival of St. Paul at Rome was in the seventh year of Nero; and it is certain, from _Suetonius_, (in Tiber. cap. 37,) that the custom of keeping the pretorian soldiers in a _camp_, near the city, wa

THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD - The commander of the Praetorian cohort, or guard. The custom was, that those who were sent from the provinces to Rome for trial were delivered to the custody of this guard. The name of the prefect or captain of the guard at this time was Burrhus Afranius (Tacitus, History, 12, 42, 1). BUT PAUL WAS SUFFERED ... - Evidently by the permission of the centurion, whose favor he had so much conciliated on the voyage. See Acts 27:43. WITH A SOLDIER THAT KEPT HIM - That is, in the custody of a soldier to whom he was chained, and who, of course, constantly attended him. See Acts 24:23; Acts 12:6....

EXPOSITION ACTS 28:1 We for _they, _A.V. and T.R. (twice). WAS CALLED. It reads as if it was the answer to their question to the natives, "What is this island called?" MELITA. That Melita is the island of _Malta, _and not _Meleda _off the coast of Dalmatia, is demonstrated in Smith's ' Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul,' and it is not worth while here to consider the arguments in favor of Meleda. _Melita _appears to be a Phoenician name, from the root in Hebrew טלַםָ, to escape (Bochart, 'Canaan,' Acts 1:26), meaning, therefore, a "refuge," a harbor of refuge £ so called from sailors often running into Valetta during a gale; or possibly from לֶםֶ, clay, in Italian _malta, _from the clay which forms the bottom of the

AND WHEN WE CAME TO ROME,.... To the city itself: THE CENTURION DELIVERED THE PRISONERS TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD; or general of the army; or, as some think, the governor of the "praetorian" band of soldiers, who attended the emperor as his guards: his name is thought to have been Burrhus Afranius; to him Julius the centurion delivered all the prisoners he brought from Caesarea, excepting Paul, to be disposed of by him, in the several prisons, or jails, to whom it belonged to take care of such persons: this clause is wanting in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions: BUT PAUL WAS SUFFERED TO DWELL BY HIMSELF WITH A SOLDIER THAT KEPT HIM: this was owing, either to the letter which Festus sent to Rome concerning him, and his case; by which it appeared, that he was no malefactor, and therefore to be used in a different manner from the rest of the prisoners; o...

Acts 28:1. _And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 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. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks,_ It must have been a fine sight to see the great apostle of the Gentiles gathering a bundle of sticks to put on the fire. But the men who can do great things are usually the men who do not disdain to do little things. Acts 28:3. And laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 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 suffer

A SOLDIER The soldier that guarded him. (Acts 24:23); (Acts 27:3)....

ACTS 28:16 evpetra,ph tw|/ Pau,lw| {A} The Western text expands evpetra,ph tw|/ Pau,lw| into o` e`kato,ntarcoj pare,dwke tou.j desmi,ouj tw|/ stratopeda,rcw|( tw|/ de. Pau,lw| evpetra,ph (“the centurion delivered the prisoners to the stratopedarch [captain of the guard]; but Paul was allowed …”). The expansion passed into the Byzantine text and lies behind the AV. After kaqV e`auto,n the Western text (614 1611 2147 itgig, p vgmss syrh with * Ambrosiaster) adds e;xw th/j parembolh/j (“outside the barracks”)....