2. Some general intimations we have, in the Epistle itself, leading us towards this discovery, and somewhat may be gathered from some other places of Scripture; for antiquity will afford us little or no help herein. After Paul’s being brought a prisoner to Rome, Acts xxviii., “two whole years” he continued in that condition, verse 380; at least so long he continued under restraint, though “in his own hired house.” This time was expired before the writing of this Epistle; for he was not only absent from Rome, in some other part of Italy, when he wrote it, Heb. xiii. 24, but also so far at liberty, and swa juris, as that he had entertained a resolution of going into the east as soon as. Timothy should come unto him, ver. 23. And it seems likewise to be written before the martyrdom of James at Jerusalem, in that he affirms that the church of the Hebrews had “not yet re- sisted unto blood,” chap. xii. 4; it being very probable that together with him many others were slain. Many great difficulties they had been exercised withal; but as yet the matter was not come to “ blood,” which shortly after it arrived unto. That is certain, also, that it was not only written, but communicated unto, and well known by, all the believing Jews before the writing of the second Epistle of Peter; who therein makes mention of it,as we have declared. Much light,
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I confess, as to the precise time of its writing is not hence to be ob- tained, because of the uncertainty of the time wherein Peter wrote that epistle. Only it appears, from what he affirms concerning the approaching of the time of his suffering, chap. i. 13, 14, that it was not long before his death. This, as is generally agreed, happened in the thirteenth year of Nero, when a great progress was made in that war which ended in the fatal and final destruction of the city and temple.
3. From these observations it appears that the best guide we have to find out the certain tome of the writing of this Epistle is Paul’s being sent prisoner unto Rome. Now, this was in the first year of the government of Festus, after he had been two years detained in prison at Czesarea by Felix, Acts xxiv. 27, xxv. 26,27. This Felix was the brother of Pallas, who ruled all things under Claudius, and fell into some disgrace in the very first year of Nero, as Tacitus in- forms us; but yet, by the countenance of Agrippina, the mother of Nero, he continued in some regard until the fifth or sixth year of his reign, when, together with his mother, he destroyed many of her friends and favourites. During this time of Pallas’ declension in power, it is most probable that his brother Felix was displaced from the rule of his province, and Festus sent in his room. That it was before his utter ruin, in the sith year of Nero, is evident from hence, because he made [use of] means to keep his brother from punishment, when he was accused for extortion and oppression by the Jews. Most probably, then, Paul was sent unto Rome about the fourth or Jifth year of Nero, which was the fif/ty-ninth year from the nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ. There he abode, as we showed, at the least two years in custody, where the story of the Acts of the Apos- tles ends, in the seventh year of Nero, and siaty-first of our Lord, or the beginning of the year following. That year, it is presumed, he obtained his liberty. And this was about thirteen years after the determination of the controversy about Mosaical institutions, as to their obligation on the Gentiles, made by the synod at Jerusalem, Acts xv. Presently upon his liberty, whilst he abode in some part of Italy expecting the coming of Timothy, before he entered upon the journey he had promised unto the Philippians, chap. ti. 24, he wrote this Epistle. Here, then, we must stay a little, to consider what was the general state and condition of the Hebrews in those days, which might give occasion unto the writing thereof.
4. The time fixed on was about the death of Festus, who died in the province, and the beginning of the government of Albinus, who was sent to succeed him. What was the state of the people at that time, Josephus declares at large in his second book of their Wars. In brief, the governors themselves being great oppressors, and rather mighty robbers amongst them than rulers, the whole nation was
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filled with spoil and violence. What through the fury and outrage of the soldiers, in the pursuit of their insatiable avarice; what through the incursions of thieves and robbers in troops and companies, wherewith the whole land abounded; and what through the tumults of seditious persons, daily incited and provoked by the cruelty of the Romans,—there was no peace or safety for any sober, honest men, either in the city of Jerusalem or anywhere else throughout the whole province. That the church had a great share of suffermg in the outrage and misery of those days (as in such dissolutions of go- vernment and licence for all wickedness it commonly falls out), no man can question. And this is that which the apostle mentions, chap. x. 32-34, “Ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflic- tions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used;.... and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods.” This was the lot and portion of all honest and sober-minded men in those days, as their historian at large declares, For as, no doubt, the Christians had a principal share in all those sufferings, so some others of the Jews also were their companions in them; it being not a special persecution, but a general calamity that the apostle speaks of.