TRV
John Chrysostom
Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 7,356 passages across 56 books
Commentary
Acts 28:7
· 2 passages
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
Behold, again another hospitable man, the rich and wealthy Publius, who had seen nothing but had mercy on them because of their calamity. He received and took care of them.… It is certainly an act of great benevolence to give hospitality to 270 people. Meditate on what a great profit is hospitality: not because there was necessity or because he acted against his will, but because [Publius] considered it a profit, did he give hospitality to them for three days.
"In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously." Behold again another hospitable man, Publius, who was both rich and of great possessions: he had seen nothing, but purely out of compassion for their misfortune, he received them, and took care of them. So that he was worthy to receive kindness.
Acts 28:8
· 2 passages
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
Thereafter having met with his requital, he naturally honored Paul much more, when the others also received healing.
"And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him." So that he was worthy to receive kindness: wherefore Paul as a requital for his receiving them, healed him.
Acts 28:9-10
· 2 passages
So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
"Who also," it says, "honored us with many honors": not that he received wages, God forbid; but as it is written, "The workman is worthy of his meat. And when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary." It is plain that having thus received them, they also received the word of the preaching: for it is not to be supposed, that during an entire three months they would have had all this kindness shown them, had these persons not believed strongly, and herein exhibited the fruits of their conversion: so that from this we may see a strong proof of the great number there was of those that believed. Even this was enough to establish Paul's credit with those his fellow-voyagers.
"So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary," both us and the rest. See how when they were quit of the storm, they did not become more negligent, but what a liberal entertainment was given to them for Paul's sake: and three months were they there, all of them provided with sustenance. See how all this is done for the sake of Paul, to the end that the prisoners should believe, and the soldiers, and the centurion. For if they were very stone, yet from the counsel they heard him giving, and from the prediction they had heard him making, and from the miracles they knew him to have wrought, and from the sustenance they by his means enjoyed, they must have got a very high notion of him.
Acts 28:11
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
Observe how in all this voyage they nowhere touched at a city, but were cast on an island, and passed the entire winter there or sailing - those being herein under training for faith, his fellow-voyagers, I mean. "And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux." Probably this was painted on it: so addicted were they to their idols.
Acts 28:13
· 2 passages
And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
See, when the judgment is right, and not preoccupied by some passion, how immediately it gets right judgings, and gives sound verdicts. "And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli."
The preaching had already reached Sicily. See how it ran: in Puteoli they found some brothers and met them and others. The affection of the brothers was such that they were not troubled by the fact that Paul was in chains.
Acts 28:14
· 2 passages
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
Observe them tarrying a while, and again hasting onwards.
"Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome." Already the preaching has reached to Sicily: see how it has run through even to those lands: at Puteoli also they found some: others also came to meet them. Such was the eagerness of the brethren, it nothing disconcerted them, that Paul was in bonds.
Acts 28:15
And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
"And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and the Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage." Not fearing the danger. But observe also how Paul himself also was affected after the manner of men. For it says, "he took courage, when he saw the brethren." Although he had worked so many miracles, nevertheless even from sight he received an accession of confidence. From this we learn, that he was both comforted after the manner of men, and the contrary.
Acts 28:16
· 2 passages
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
"And when we came to Rome, Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him." Leave was given him to dwell by himself. No slight proof this also of his being held in much admiration: it is clear they did not number him among the rest.
Paul therefore was now so much respected, that he was even permitted to be by himself: for if even before this they used him kindly, much more would they now. "He was suffered," it says, "to dwell by himself, with a soldier that kept him." That it might not be possible for any plot to be laid against him there either - for there could be no raising of sedition now. So that in fact they were not keeping Paul in custody, but guarding him, so that nothing unpleasant should happen: for it was not possible now, in so great a city, and with the Emperor there, and with Paul's appeal, for anything to be done contrary to order. So surely is it the case, that always through the things which seem to be against us, all things turn out for us. "With the soldier" - for he was Paul's guard.
Acts 28:17
· 4 passages
And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
"And having called together the chief of the Jews," he discourses to them, who both depart gainsaying, and are taunted by him, yet they dare not say anything: for it was not permitted them to deal with his matter at their own will. For this is a marvellous thing, that not by the things which seem to be for our security, but by their very opposites, all comes to be for us.
"Who having examined me," says he, "found nothing in me." When those ought to have rescued, they "delivered him into the hands of the Romans." And such the superabundance, because those had not power to condemn but delivered him prisoner. "Not as having aught to accuse my nation of," am I come. See what friendliness of expression "my nation:" he does not hold them as aliens. He does not say, I do not accuse, but, "I have not whereof to accuse:" although he had suffered so many evils at their hands. But nothing of all this does he say, nor make his speech offensive: neither does he seem to be sparing them as matter of favor. For this was the main point, to show that they delivered him prisoner to the Romans, when those ought to have condemned him. "For this cause," he says, "I wished to see you:" that it might not be in any man's power to accuse me, and to say what naturally might suggest itself, that having escaped their hands I have come for this: not to bring evils upon others, but myself fleeing from evils. "I was compelled to appeal unto Caesar."
He wished to exculpate both himself and others; himself, that they might not accuse him, and by so doing hurt themselves; and those others, that it might not seem that the whole thing was of their doing. For it was likely that a report was prevalent, that he had been delivered up by the Jews; and this was enough to alarm them. He therefore addresses himself to this, and defends himself as to his own conduct.
"And it came to pass, that after three days he called together them that were the chief of the Jews." After three days he called the chief of the Jews, that their ears might not be preoccupied. And what had he in common with them? for they would not else have been like to accuse him. Nevertheless, it was not for this that he cared; it was for the teaching that he was concerned, and that what he had to say might not offend them.
Acts 28:18
Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
"How then is it reasonable," it might be said, "that they should deliver thee up without a cause?" The Roman governors, he says, bear me witness, who wished to let me go. "How was it then that they did not let thee go?" "When the Jews spake against it," he says. Observe how he extenuates in speaking of their charges against him. Since if he had wished to aggravate matters, he might have used them so as to bear harder upon them.
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.
Wherefore, he says, "I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar:" so that his whole speech is of a forgiving nature. What then? didst thou this, that thou mightest accuse them? No, he says: "Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of:" but that I might escape the danger.