s Chriſtians, as ſome think ; for ſo they mutually called one another. Bur it is not ſo probable that any ſhould profeſs Chi. ſtianity ſo near unto Rome, and that it ſhould be no more known or believed in Rome. Others therefore think that the Apoſtl means Jews, whom he calls brethren (being, as himſelf, deſcen- ded from Abraham) : for ſo he calls the Fews he found at Rew, (Brethren, wer. 7.) who yet called the Chriſtians a Se& ; adding that it was every where ſpoken againſt, wer. 22, c Rome known to be the chief City in s1taly, and to have been the Em preſs of the World, and famous for the Church to whom St. Pal wrote his Epiſtle, known by its Inſcription unto them.
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of u, they came to meet us as far as 4 Appii-forum, and th: e Three taverns: Whom when Paul ſaw, he thanked
God, f and took courage. |
d A place about One and Fifty Miles, or Seventeen Leagus from Reme ; ſo called from Appins Claudins, who made a Wij from Rome thither, called from his Name, The Appian-way ; and had his Statue there ſet up; which is the Reaſon why it 1s called thus : For the Romans did call thoſe places Fors, where ſuch Sth tues were placed. (The concourſe to ſee thoſ2 Statues might bring them to become Markets). e As that was a place of ſort for the buying and ſelling of other Commodities, ſo this for the affording ,of neceſſary Proviſion. A little Town, hence called, about Three and Thirty Miles, or Eleven Leagues from Rome, So that ſome came a greater, ſome a leſſer way to with Paul, and ſhew their Reſpe& unto him. Theſe bretira are thought to have been converted by ſuch as at the Day of ?n zecoſt were preſent, when thoſe Miracles were wrought, C#4.?
hich had
"Fg things
we tarried there )
ro. it being exprelly ſaid, that there were ſirangers from mt f God moving ſo many not to be aſhamed of his bonds.
16 And when he came to Rome, the centurion de- livered the priſoners tothe g captain of che guard : Dil * Paul was ſuffered to dwell by b himſelf, with a ſoldier 4
that kept him. » g The Prefefus Preterio being Commander in chicf mn , Soldiers, and unto whom the Priſoners of State were ps committed. þ God by this means giving Paul an opportunty to go abroad at his pleature, though chained ; as verſe 20: by he might preach the Goſpel ; and that was not bound, * ar 2.9, Andnow God is with Paul, as he was with Foſeph, 11
ſon, Gen, 39. 21. and procures him favour.
17 And it came to pals, that after three days, - called ithe' ; chief-of the Jews together. An bas” they were come together, he ſaid unto them, _ y- Brethren, though 1 have committed nothing Ar 5 people or cuſtoms of our fathers, yer * was I de ans priſoner from Jeruſalem into the hands of the Romany.
i Paxl does this not only qut of an extraordinary Love ke
XVI
had a