1 Corinthians 4:9

That God hath set forth us the Apostles last, &c.— The Apostle seems here to refer to the Roman custom of bringing forth on the theatre, in the latter part of the day, either to fight with each other, or with wild beasts, those persons who were appointed unto certain death, and who had not that chance of escaping, which those brought forth in the morning had. Such kind of spectacles were so common in all the provinces, that it is no wonder we should find an allusion to them here. The word απεδειξεν, set forth, or exhibited, and θεατρον, a spectacle on the theatre, have in this connection a beautiful propriety. The whole representation is indeed wonderfully pathetic and sublime: while they considered evil angels and men, as beholding them with all the malignant,—and good angels and men, with all the benevolent passions, it might have a great tendency to inspire their minds with the most heroic sentiments. See Seneca's Epistles, ch. 7. Reeves's Apology, vol. 1: p. 237. Locke and Elsner.