Acts 28:19

_ _ But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. BUT WHEN THE JEWS SPAKE AGAINST IT, I WAS CONSTRAINED TO APPEAL UNTO CAESAR; NOT THAT I HAD OUGHT TO ACCUSE MY NATION OF - q.d., 'I am here not as their accuser, but as my own defender, and this not of choice but necessity.' His object, in alluding thus gently to the treatment he had received from the Jews, was plainly to avoid whatever might irritate his visitors at the first, especially as he was not aware whether any or what information against him had reached their community....

− 19._I was enforced to appeal. _This appeal was full of hatred and envy for this cause, because the authority and liberty of the Jewish nation did seem to be sore opprest, who could have been content to have lived with their own laws. Secondly, because his defense was joined with infamy and loss of all the people. Therefore he answereth this objection also, because he was enforced with the stubbornness of his enemies to fly to this fortress [asylum]. For he is excused by necessity, because he had no other way to escape death. And after that he had excused that which was done already, he promiseth that he will so handle his matter hereafter, − (678) that he will not labor against the Jews. − “ Ita causam suam acturum,” will so plead his cause....

17-22 It was for the honour of Paul that those who examined his case, acquitted him. In his appeal he sought not to accuse his nation, but only to clear himself. True Christianity settles what is of common concern to all mankind, and is not built upon narrow opinions and private interests. It aims at no worldly benefit or advantage, but all its gains are spiritual and eternal. It is, and always has been, the lot of Christ's holy religion, to be every where spoken against. Look through every town and village where Christ is exalted as the only Saviour of mankind, and where the people are called to follow him in newness of life, and we see those who give themselves up to Christ, still called a sect, a party, and reproached. And this is the treatment they are sure to receive, so long as there shall continue an ungodly man upon earth....

THE JEWS SPAKE AGAINST IT - Against my being set at liberty. I WAS CONSTRAINED - By a regard to my own safety and character. TO APPEAL UNTO CAESAR - See the notes on Acts 25:11. NOT THAT I HAD AUGHT ... - I did it for my own preservation and safety, not that I wished to accuse my countrymen. Paul had been unjustly accused and injured; yet, with the true spirit of the Christian religion, he here says that he cherished no unkind feelings toward those who had done him wrong....

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

BUT WHEN THE JEWS SPAKE AGAINST IT,.... His being cleared and dismissed, and desired he might be sent back to Jerusalem, to be tried and judged there, to which Festus seemed inclined: I WAS CONSTRAINED TO APPEAL TO CAESAR; to prevent the design of the Jews upon him, which was to way lay him and kill him, or by what ways they could, right or wrong, take away his life; and to provide for his own safety: NOT THAT I HAD OUGHT TO ACCUSE MY NATION OF; meaning, that he had no ill design in this appeal against his country, to expose them, and bring them under reproach and censure, but to vindicate himself, defend his own innocence, and preserve his character and life; suggesting, that what he did was not of choice, but by constraint, and with reluctance; being no friend to Heathen tribunals, nor any enemy to the Jewish nation....

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

ACTS 28:19 tw/n VIoudai,wn Once again the Western text (represented by 614 syrh with * and other witnesses) expands the text, adding after tw/n VIoudai,wn the words kai. evpikrazo,ntwn( Ai=re to.n evcqro.n h`mw/n (“and crying out, ‘Away with our enemy!’”). At the close of the verse the same authorities, joined by other minuscules and itgig, p vgmss, continue with the clause avllV i[na lutrw,swmai th.n yuch,n mou evk qana,tou (“but that I might deliver my soul from death”)....

CHAPTER 28 _ 1. In the Island of Melita (Acts 28:1)._ 2. The arrival in Rome (Acts 28:11). 3. Paul calling the chief of the Jews and his message (Acts 28:17). Melita, which means “honey,” is the island of Malta. It was even then a prominent place for navigation where many vessels wintered. Luke calls the inhabitants Barbarians, a term used by the Greeks for all peoples who did not use their language. The wrecked company was not plundered by the people of the island, but instead received much kindness and were made comfortable in the cold rain which fell. It was God who moved the hearts of these islanders to show such hospitality to the shipwrecked company for the sake of His servants. Paul is a

INTERVIEW WITH THE JEWS AT ROME. Acts 28:30 is continuous with Acts 28:16. In Acts 28:17 the programme ascribed to Paul in Ac., that he addresses the Jews first, the Gentiles when the Jews have proved unbelieving, is exhibited in a conspicuous instance. The relations of Paul with the Christians at Rome (Acts 28:15) are not mentioned again. On his arrival he at once (Acts 28:17) summons the principal Jews and defends himself to them as he had done in Acts 24:12 against the charge of at