The double expression of arrival at Rome in w. 14 and 16 is remarkable ; and has caused much speculation
! Each of them may be called napoBos, the epithet applied to Bphesus by Ignatius, Rom. ia, Church in R. B.t p. 318 L
Sec. i. The Coming to Rome. 347
among commentators. Blass is inclined to seek a change of text, giving the sense "we proceeded on our way (imperfect) to Rome, then we came to Appii Forum, etc., and finally we entered Rome ". Others prefer other interpretations. But the double expression seems due to the double sense that every name of a city-state bears in Greek : the word Rome might either include the entire territory of the city, the XXXV tribes as they were completed in B.C. 241, *>., the whole ager Romanus, or be restricted to the walls and buildings. Thus v. 13, " we reached the state Rome," the bounds of which were probably pointed out as the party reached them ; in 14, " we passed through two points in the ager Romanus" ; and in 15, "we entered the (walls of) Rome" (see p. in).
It is evident that Paul, when he reached this crisis of his fate, was feeling dispirited ; for the tendency to low spirits is always one of the most trying concomi- tants of his chronic disorder, as described in Ch. V § 2. The allusions to the consolation that he received from meeting Brethren at Puteoli, Appius's Forum, and the Three Taverns, must be taken as indications of some marked frame of mind. We have already observed him in a similar state of depression when he was in Troas and Philippi (p. 283 f.>
When the party reached Rome, the centurion delivered his charge to his superior officer, who bears the title Chief of the Camp (Stratopedarch) in the Greek text. This title has always hitherto been interpreted as denoting the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, stationed in a large camp adjoining the walls of Rome But that interpreta- tion is not well suited either to the natural character
348 Si. Paul in Rome, Chap. XV.
of language or to the facts of the Roman service. The title could not properly designate an officer of such high rank ; and the Praetorian Prefect would hardly be concerned with a comparatively humble duty like the reception of and responsibility for prisoners. The Greek title Stratopedarch very rarely occurs ; and it remained for Mommsen, aided by the form given in an old Latin version, Princeps Peregrinorum, to explain who the officer really was, and to place the whole episode of Paul's Roman residence in a new light (see p. 315).
Augustus had reduced to a regular system the main- tenance of communications between the centre of control in Rome and the armies stationed in the great frontier provinces. Legionary centurions, called commonly frutnentarii, went to and fro between Rome and the armies ; and were employed for numerous purposes that demanded communication between the Emperor and his armies and provinces. They acted not only for commissariat purposes (whence the name), but as couriers, and for police purposes, and for conducting prisoners ; and in time they became detested as agents and spies of Government. They all belonged to legions stationed in the provinces, and were considered to be on detached duty when they went to Rome ; and hence in Rome they were " soldiers from abroad," peregrini. While in Rome they resided in a camp on the Caelian Hill, called Castra Peregrinorum ; in this camp there were always a number of them present, changing from day to day, as some came and others went away. This camp was under command of the Princeps Peregrinorum ; and it is clear that Stratopedarch in Acts is the Greek name for that officer (see p. 315).
Sec. i. The Coming to Rome. 349
This whole branch of the service is very obscure. Marquardt considers that it was first organised by Hadrian ; but Mommsen believes that it must have been instituted by Augustus.