THE JOURNEY OF ST. PAUL TO ROME Now, as the time for St. Paul the prisoner drew near to arrive at Rome, despite the troubles he suffered during this journey, he was only preoccupied, once he reaches Rome, with testifying there to the Lord Christ, as he did among those who were with him on board, and testifying to the gospel of Christ everywhere he would go. 1- InMalta 1 2- The kindness of the inhabitants ofMalta 2 3- A viper fastening on the apostle’s hand 3– 6 4- Healing Publius’ father 7– 10 5- In an Alexandrian ship 11– 15 6- Allowing Paul to dwell by himself in Rome 16 7- An encounter with the leaders of the Jews 17– 22 8- A day of testimony to the gospel of Christ 23 9- A dissension among the Jews 24- 29 10- St. Paul preaching for two years in Rome 30– 31 1- IN MALTA “Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta” ( Acts 28: 1). The apostle Paul did not plan to come to the island of Malta, But God allowed for the storm to happen, that he would testify to the gospel of Christ there. Malta, or Melita, is most probably derived from the Greek word, meaning honey, having been before a rich source of this material. Yet some believe that the origin of the word is Canaanite, meaning a refuge and it was inhabited by Phoenicians. The island is 17 miles long from east to west, 10 miles wide from north to south, of 60 miles circumference, and is 60 miles far from the coast of Sicily. There is another island by the name ‘Melida’ in the Adriatic Sea close to the coast of Illuricum. Having escaped and found themselves in Malta, St. Paul did not preoccupy himself with hastening to reach Rome, despite his longing to minister there; But he counted it as God’s will to send him to that island for an evangelic mission, as it is obvious in the present chapter. St. Paul had no plan of work, but in complete surrender, God was working through him. His life was flaring with the testimony and the work to the account of God’s kingdom, day and night. Some nights were spent by Paul without sleep by his own choice; and others were so spent by necessity, when he was passing through bitter troubles, and committed to pray seeking the help of God. Other times, he was teaching all day and night. When he reached the island of Malta, he was wet and cold and exposed to danger, before the natives come to help him1. Ambrosiaster 2- THE KINDNESS of THE INHABITANTS OF MALTA 1 Comm. On Paul’s Epistles (2Cor. 11.27). 932 “And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling, and because of the cold” ( Acts 28: 2). The inhabitants of Malta were no doubt civilized people, although called ‘natives’ (or barbarians) by the Greeks and the Romans, as their language was not understood by them. The word ‘barbarians’ meant ‘foreigners’. Along its history, it submitted to the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Carthaginians, and the Romans. Having been inhabited after the Phoenicians by some people from Cartage, the language of the inhabitants of Malta has been North-African mixed with other languages. What is a better hospitality for a group of 276 individuals who suffered long of cold wind and dense rain, together with mighty waves and pitch darkness, than to kindle a fire to warm them up and to dry their clothes? Under those circumstances, that crowd gathered together around the fire, as though around a banquet richer than food or drink. The natives did not ask those people about their nationalities or their religions, but with great compassion, they received them all. We marvel before the natives of Malta, who, although themselves pagans, have not despised the prisoners, but did their best to accommodate everyone with no discrimination between an officer and a prisoner, or between a ship captain and a passenger. God has provided St. Paul with a new motive to minister among the Gentiles, through the kindness, care, and love, shown to him by the Roman centurion, something he did not find among his kinsmen the Jews. And here, he finds unusual kindness from the natives of the island, for free. He had the same experience of the prophet Jonah when he was on board a ship, and the pagan crew showed piety, and asked the prophet to pray to his God. And when they found out that he was the cause of the disaster they were facing, they tried hard to save him despite his appeal to them to throw him into the sea. Yet there is a great difference between a prophet fleeing from the ministry among the Gentiles, because of his love for his people; and an apostle whose heart accommodates everybody whatever his race is. "Let those be ashamed that say, do not do good to those in prison: let these barbarians shame us; for they knew not who these men were, but simply because they were in misfortune (they were kind): thus much they perceived, that they were human beings, and therefore they considered them to have a claim upon their humanity" 1. St. John Chrysostom 3- A VIPER FASTENING ON THE APOSTLE’S HAND “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand” (Acts 28: 3). Having been wet and cold after their tribulation, everyone was in need of a nice fire, more than of food and drink; especially that, according to the council of the apostle Paul, they ate before leaving the ship. St. Paul gave himself no special privilege, having been the cause of their good fortune, but joyfully he got busy gathering bundles of sticks to lay on the fire for the sake of the comfort of all. Together with his care to use every opportunity to testify to the Lord Christ, whatever the circumstances are, St. Paul has got the spirit of activity and work to serve 1Homilies on Acts. Hom. 54. 933 others. Although he was unjustly bound, his mentality was so intact that “gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them down on the fire” (Acts 28: 3). . The viper, after being in a state of hibernation because of the severe cold, once it got warm by the fire, it jumped to get fastened on the apostle’s hand. “So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live”( Acts 28: 4). According to those natives, the divine justice has to take its course, that death to a murderer should come to him through the same guilty hand that stretched to shed blood. They were taught this by the natural law; yet their verdict was in haste, as what happened with the apostle was never expected by them or by anyone else. “Justice” for some pagans was represented by the daughter of the god ‘Jupiter’, whose work was revenging against the unjust, and condemning those guilty of crimes. Pagans are wrong to assume that divine justice has to be realized in this world. Some murderers live longer, and enjoy better and stronger health, despite their unbelief in the great day of the Lord, when they would fall under judgment. They are also wrong to assume that everyone who is hurt or harmed is definitely under a just punishment; and that sickness and temptations only come on sinners. It is not just the pagans who believe this; even the prophets, also assuming that divine justice should take place in this world, at certain times marvel when they see the wicked prosper. The Psalmist says: “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree” (Ps 37: 35). But this would not last long, as “Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more” (Ps 37: 36). They talked about St. Paul as someone already dead, as no one in that situation would ever live. “But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm” (Acts 28: 5). “He shook off the creature” The Lord allowed that to give the opportunity to Paul to preach to the Lord Christ who grants us the authority over the serpents. The apostle shook the creature off with no disturbance or asking for help, because Christ, the Grantor of life and conqueror of death is inside him. “You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra; the young line and the serpent you shall trample under foot” (Ps 91: 13). He has chosen the strongest and deadliest animals to express the devilish work in all forms of evil, as the lion and cobra refer to might and violence, while the serpents refer to extreme evil. Yet several of God’s men confirmed His promise, like the prophet Daniel who shut the mouths of lions, and the inspired Paul who was not harmed by the viper. We should not also forget the righteous Noah, who lived among the animals and was kept from any harm. And there are numerous examples of God’s men who chose a life of monasticism among wild beasts, not harmed through their hope in God1. Father Theodoret Bishop of Cyrus That is why, and for a reasonable reason, the Lord became like a “deer”, and so are those who carry His word, of whom He says: “In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them” (Mark 16: 17-18). Snakes and 1 Comment. On Ps. 91. 934 actually carried it when asked his apostles the power of evil spirits (see eph6: 12)This was proved when a viper jumped from a bundle of sticks and fastened its fangs on Paul’s hand; and as the natives saw it hanging from his hand, they assumed that he is definitely dead ( Acts 28: 3-6); and when he shook it off him into the fire, and stood unharmed, they assumed that he is some kind of god, or, with God’s grace he is super human. Look at the deer as it drags the serpents out of its places of hiding, “by the Spirit of God in its nostrils” ; And at the apostle Paul when he, “greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her’; and he came out that very hour” (Acts 16: 18). Look at the “Deer”, as he came to the water brooks (of baptism), that became pure through the holy fountain, casting away all poisons of persecution. Look at the “deer”, the Lord Jesus, as He came to John the Baptist, who said to Him, “I have need to be baptized by You, and are you coming to me"? But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now’” (Matt 3: 14-15). Having said that, He went down eagerly into the water, having been thirsty for the salvation of mankind1. St. Ambrose The evil spirits have no authority to harm anyone, which is obvious in the case of the blessed Job, whom the devil could not attack, except within limits allowed by God. These spirits themselves admitted that, when, according to the gospel, they said to the Lord Christ, “If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine” (Matt. 8.31). So, if they have no authority to enter into the dumb unclean animals except by permission from God, how could they enter into man who is created according to God’s image?! If those enemies (the demons) have authority to harm and to tempt us, no monk could have lived alone in the wilderness. That is demonstrated more clearly in the words of our Lord and Savior, who said to Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19: 11) 2. It is obvious that the unclean spirits are not capable of finding their way into the bodies of their victims, unless they reign first on their minds and thoughts, to deprive them of fear from God, thinking, and contemplating in Him; after which they can dare to approach them as someone with no divine protection, bind them with ease, and find a dwelling place in them, as though they have the right to possess them3. Father Cirinus There are two things that preoccupy the heart of a preacher of the gospel of Christ: To enjoy the fellowship with God, and to destroy the hosts of darkness. As much as the heart of a believer opens for the dwelling of God, enjoys reconciliation with Him, and carries the new nature, the devil would not have authority on him. This is our preaching: The conquest by God over Satan and all his hosts. “However they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead; but after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” ( Acts 28: 6). 1 The Prayer of Job and David, B.4, 1.5. 2Debates with the Desert Fathers. 22.7. 3Debates with the Desert Fathers. 24.7. 935 What men see as a curse, God sees as a grace; what the devil tried to add to the sufferings of the apostle, including probable death, has turned into glory to God and more honor to Paul. Through that viper by which the enemy intended to put the apostle Paul to shame and disgrace, and to get rid of him, a door to preaching and testimony was opened before him, and he stayed in that island to minister to its people. It is claimed that the apostle Paul has cursed that viper, and consequently there are no serpents or snakes ever since in Malta. According to their experience, the natives expected to see Paul swelling up falling dead; and when this did not happen, they counted him as a god, capable of overcoming death. They used to worship unknown gods, and did not expect from them something greater than what they saw from Paul. Having rebuked Satan, saying to him: “Away from Me Satan”, the Lord Christ granted His disciples the spirit of victory and conquest. That is why, with no hesitation or haughtiness, Paul shook away the viper into the fire to burn. He granted us the authority to do the same thing to temptations, not fearing them. 4- HEALING PUBLIUS’ FATHER “Now in that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days” ( Acts 28: 7). In the excavations of this island, a rock with the name of ‘Publius’ engraved on it, as the leading citizen of the island, was found1. Yet we are not sure if he was a native, or a representative of Caesar, acting as governor. “And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him” ( Acts 28: 8). Publius' father was sick of a fever and bloody flux. “So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary” ( Acts 28: 9-10). The natives of the island and their leaders looked at the apostle Paul and those who were with him as a gift from heaven to them, through whom they enjoyed many blessings and heavenly comforts, beside signs of healing. "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" 2. St. John Chrysostom 5- IN AN ALEXANDRIAN SHIP “After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island” ( Acts 28: 11). 1W. Conybeare. Life and Epistles of Paul. Grand Rapids: Michigan, 1987. p.660, n. 3. 2Homilies on Acts. Hom. 54. 936 The ship was broken up in the first half of the month of November; and after three months, in mid February, the breezes of early spring started to be felt, and to indicate that sailing would be safe. Ships at that time used to be named by the figurehead on it, which was the ‘Twin Brothers’ in the case of that Alexandrian ship. The ‘Twin Brothers’, a translation of the Greek word ‘Dioscuri’, meant the (sons of Zeus), referring to two twin brothers considered as gods, believed to be the intercessors for seamen, who protect them against dangerous storms. Their names are Castor and Pollux, sons of the god Zeus or Jupiter from Lyda the wife of Tindarus the king of Sparta. After their death they departed to heaven, and were granted divine authorities concerning the affairs of seamen and the commitment to protect them. “And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days” ( Acts 28: 12). Syracuse is the main city in Sicily, located on it south-east. “From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli” ( Acts 28: 13). As the wind was not favorable, they were committed to circle round, going backward to reach Rhegium. Rhegium: An Italian city facing Messina in Sicily, used to be affiliated to the kingdom of Calabria, called nowadays Reggio. They spent one day in this city, during which he preached. It is claimed that a fish came to the shore to listen to him. Amazed by several miracles he did, the inhabitants of this city accepted the faith and were baptized, and Paul ordained one of his companions in the journey, by the name of Steven, a Bishop on them. All that was realized in a single day. After one day, the south wind blew; and the next day, they came to Puteoli. Putioli, meaning (wells), is a sea port close to Naples, famous for its hot springs; it is called nowadays ‘Pozzuoli’ or ‘Pozzolana’, eight miles north-west of Naples. “Where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And we went toward Rome” ( Acts 28: 14). Christian brethren came to them; we have no knowledge how they came to believe; but what we know is that God works, and have unknown witnesses everywhere. Have they heard about the apostle Paul, and came to encounter with him, and to find comfort in him? Or did he hear about them, and called them, so that all would enjoy the fellowship together? The spirit of love prevailed among the Christians in the entire world; and every believer found comfort in fellowship with his brethren in Jesus Christ. They invited the apostle Paul to stay with them seven days, probably to attend together with him the day of the Lord, not expecting to see him again. It is amazing that the centurion who was in charge of Paul and the other prisoners consented to this. He probably had in Puteoli some friends or some work to take care of; or he found in it an opportunity to listen to the apostle Paul before delivering him to Rome. “And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Api Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage” ( Acts 28: 15). The brethren in Puteoli probably sent to Rome to inform them beforehand of the coming of the apostle Paul. 937 The Church of Rome came out to receive the prisoner Paul. Some of them came to Api Forum, 50 miles far from Rome; and others came to the Three Inns, 30 miles far from Rome. The church was not ashamed of coming out to honor that amazing prisoner, the true witness to the gospel, not fearing the authorities, but counted it as a double honor. Api Forum was a city famous for its one-storey hotels and its market for the seamen, and was a center for those coming from all over the world. In it, the Christians found a chance to encounter and get acquainted with brethren from everywhere in the world, to whom they gave hospitality, and with whom they celebrated the liturgy of the Eucharist. As the news of the coming of the apostle Paul spread, many came to see him, who have previously got to know him, or became disciples through him, as he had (given birth) to them in the gospel of Christ, as well as many who heard about him but have not seen him before. The first of those who came were probably Aquila and Priscilla, about whom he wrote in his epistle to the Romans: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house” (Rom 16: 3-4). The last chapter in his epistle to the Romans came to reveal the existence of holy congregations, or several churches, but not a centralized church in Rome. Those congregations had strong relationship with the apostle Paul, with no dissentions or divisions among them, as it was in Corinth. The apostle mentioned five of those congregations: 1- The church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (Rom 16 :5). 2- The church of the household of Aristobulus (Rom 16 :10). 3- The church of the household of Narcissus (Rom 16 :11). 4- Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, and Hermes, and the brethren who were with them (Rom 16 :14). 5- Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympus, and all the saints who were with them (Rom 16 :15). In the same chapter, other individuals were mentioned, who probably were not yet affiliated to a certain church. The Three Inns was a city 10 miles far from Api Forum. So the Christians of the two cities came and set forth together with the apostle Paul to Rome, talking about the joyful work of God amid the sufferings, along 17 miles until they came to Rome. Their hearts rejoiced for the exalted works of God, and the experience of all amid the fellowship of crucifixion with him. "Rome received him bound (acts28), coming up from the sea, saved from a shipwreck- and was saved from the shipwreck of error. Like an emperor that has fought a naval battle and overcome, he entered into that most imperial city. He was nearer now to his crown. Rome received him bound, and saw him crowned and proclaimed conqueror. There he had said, I will rest together with you: but this was the beginning of a course once more, and he added trophies to trophies, a man not to be overcome" 1. St. John Chrysostom 1Homilies on Acts. Hom. 55. 938 The apostle found comfort in his encounter with the believing brethren and was not preoccupied with what he heard of the arrogance and violence of Emperor Nero. He got in touch with the exalted love of God all along the dangerous journey, as well as with that of the congregation of the Church of Rome, so he offered thanksgiving to God who works consistently for the edification of His kingdom. He was encouraged to see the crowd of believers, and gave thanks to God who is working everywhere, especially in the capital of the empire that reigned on the world at that time. He heard about them, and now when he saw them in the warmth of faith, “He thanked God through Jesus Christ for them all” (Rom 1: 8). “And took courage”: An amazing expression by St. Luke, who offered God a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Was the apostle in his service in need for someone to give him courage? He joyfully entered into Rome; and having encountered with souls rejoicing in the Spirit, not preoccupied with his chains, but with the gospel of Christ, he took more courage. He found in them loving friends with whom to talk, as fellow travelers in his journey to heaven on the joyful road of the cross. 6- ALLOWING PAUL TO DWELL BY HIMSELF IN ROME “Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him” ( Acts 28: 16). “Now we came to Rome”: And so the divine promise to Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, to testify to the Lord Christ before Caesar, in the capital of the Gentile world, was realized. Although he came as a prisoner, yet he was not preoccupied with defending himself, but with working to the account of the kingdom of Christ. The apostle felt that he had a marvelous journey; although it was apparently a journey of sufferings, yet it was actually one of glories, that was recorded in heaven. It set many free of the bonds of darkness, and brought many to the light. In it, he experienced the passion together with Christ and enjoyed the power of His resurrection that has overcome death. The apostle Paul finally came to the end of his journey. God realized to him his wish to preach in Rome, for which he longed, even though he entered it as a prisoner. He did not come to the capital like many of the emperors or leaders, preceded by magnificent processions, but entered into it to set together with its people a heavenly procession with a rejoicing Spirit. God gave him favor in the sight of the centurion, the way He did when He gave favor to the prisoner Joseph in the sight of the keeper of the prison (Gen 39: 21). The centurion delivered the prisoners to a captain of the guard by the name of ‘Barrhus Afranius’1. But God granted Paul grace in the hearts of his captors, to captivate the hearts of people by the love of Christ. Hearts opened to him, and the authorities allowed him to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him, not far from the general camp in the heart of Rome called ‘Praetorium’, close to the palace of Palatine, where Caesar dwelt. There, he stayed two years, during which he gained many from Caesar’s household, as it came in his epistle to the Philippians, saying, “All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household” (Phil 4: 22). As he also wrote: “So that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that 1 Tacitus. History 12.42.1. 939 my chains are in Christ” (Phil 1: 13). According to the church tradition, Paul baptized Nero’s wife, whom he later killed, and through her he drew many of Nero’s household. Some believe that St. Paul came to Rome to encourage the church against the persecution of Nero. St. John Chrysostom tells about a lady in the imperial household. When she accepted the faith on the hand of the apostle Paul, and forsook her life of corruption, Nero was furious and ordered Paul to be imprisoned and killed. All St. Paul’s troubles turned to his benefit, to the account of the kingdom of God. He gained the centurion, as well as many of those who were with him on the ship; And in Rome, he was allowed to dwell by himself together with the soldier who was guarding him, that also turned to be for his benefit, as the presence of such a guard protected him from probable aggression. And so Paul experienced the hand of God who makes “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8: 28). The presence of the apostle Paul in Rome, under such protection, together with giving him the liberty to receive visitors, presented to him chances to preach in a secure atmosphere, as no revolt could happen against him in the capital where the emperor dwelt. "For this is a marvelous thing that not by the things which seem to be for our security, but by their very opposites, all comes to be for us. And that you may learn this- Pharaoh commanded the infants to be cast into the river (Exod 1: 22). Unless the infants had been cast forth, Moses would not have been saved, he would not have been brought up in the palace. When he was safe, he was not in honor; when he was exposed, then he was in honor. But God did this, to show His riches of resource and contrivance. The Jew threatened him, saying, "Do you intend to kill me?" (Exod 2: 14). and this too was of profit to him. It was of God's providence, in order that he should see that vision in the desert, in order that the proper time should be completed, that he should learn philosophy in the desert, and there live in security. And in all the plottings of the Jews against him the same thing happens: then he becomes more illustrious. You see that trials in every case bring forth great good even in this life, much more in the life to come" 1. St. John Chrysostom 7- AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE LEADERS OF THE JEWS IN ROME“ And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews; So when they had come together, he said to them, ‘Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans” ( Acts 28: 17). The Jews in Rome: The first Jews to come to Rome were the Maccabee Jews in the year 168 AD, followed by many to set for themselves the first synagogue there. In Jerusalem, they were represented by the synagogue of the Libertines; namely, the Liberals or the Liberated, as they were brought to Rome as captives by Pompey, after his invasion of the east in the year 63 AD. They eventually got their freedom, grew in number and prosperity, and were joined by many rich Jewish traders, who cared to send regular help to their home country. Many of them gained the Roman citizenship like the historian Josephus, and had some influence on Rome. Seneka the philosopher says that 1Homilies on Acts. Hom. 54. 940 the subjugated gave their subjugators the laws. Although many Romans converted to Judaism, yet Italy used to hate the Jews. That hatred grew until they were expelled, then soon returned to become more prosperous, to enjoy freedom and equality in rights, and to have seven synagogues in Rome. Even in Rome, the capital of the world of the Gentiles at that time, the apostle Paul was faithful to his principle, that is to preach “first to the Jews then to the Greeks”. That is why he testified first before the leaders of the Jews, of whom some were persuaded by the things which were spoken ( Acts 28: 24). "Such was the eagerness of the brethren, it nothing disconcerted them, that Paul was in bonds" 1. "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" 2. St. John Chrysostom The apostle Paul called the leaders of the Jews for the following reasons: 1- To tell them that he was still proud to be referred to them, and that he would never take a position against his people, whatever the case might be. 2- Although he appealed to Caesar; yet he had to do that, as he was delivered to the Roman authorities in Jerusalem, and there were plots to kill him. 3- As he used to do, he intended to begin his preaching among the Jews, then to go to the Gentiles. Although he came in chains to Rome, he was proclaiming to the Jews the evangelic truth, confirming that the gospel of Christ is the goal of the sound Jewish tradition. He did not take a position contrary to the fathers, to the prophets, or to the law, as they falsely accused him. He addressed them with the spirit of brotherhood, as a friend, and as one of them, saying: “Men and brethren”. “Who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death” ( Acts 28: 18). The apostle made it clear that he did not commit any crime that warrants death, as even the Romans themselves testified to that. He did not say anything against the law or the prophets; But their accusations concentrated on his friendship with the Gentiles, and his desire to open before them the door of salvation, as they embraced hatred toward the Gentiles (Gal 2: 12). Here he was addressing Jews who lived among the Gentiles, in Rome, the capital of the Gentile world. “But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation” ( Acts 28: 19). With the Spirit of a Christian who bears love toward his opponents, he did not appeal to Caesar to accuse his accusers, or to accuse his nation. "See what friendliness of expression "my nation:" he does not hold them as aliens. He does not say, I do not accuse, but, “not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation”, 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 1Homilies on Acts. Hom. 54. 2Homilies on Acts. Hom. 54. 941 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" 1. St. John Chrysostom “For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” ( Acts 28: 20). Although he talked to them, while he was bound by a chain to the soldier guarding him, yet he did not care, as he has put sufferings beneath his feet. And here he proclaims to them that he is bound with this chain for the sake of preaching the Messiah, for whom the fathers and prophets had for so long waited, and finally he came. “And they said to him, ‘we neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere” ( Acts 28: 21-22). Some scholars believe that those leaders had not said the whole truth; they truly said that they had not received any letters or persons from Jerusalem who reported any evil of him. Yet they undoubtedly came in contact with Christians in Rome, and got to know the thoughts of St. Paul from them, as many of the leaders of the church in Rome met the apostle, got to know him in other cities, or accepted the faith on his hands. The leaders of the Jews probably hid that, to hear by their own ears the thoughts of the apostle. Until then the Jews, as well as the Romans, considered Christianity as one of the sects of Judaism, and not a religion independent from it. 8- A DAY OF TESTIMONY TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST “So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging , to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening” ( Acts 28: 23). Here, St. Luke reveals the role of the apostles and their work to testify to the Lord Christ, from the Old Testament, revealing the truth about the kingdom of God. As someone of authority, by whom the Holy Spirit works, having been unable to go to the synagogues to encounter with the Jews in public places, they came to him in groups. For a whole day, he had nothing to do except to testify for the kingdom of God, and to confirm that Jesus is the anticipated Messiah. "See again how not by miracles but by Law and Prophets he puts them to silence, and how we always find him doing this. And yet he might also have wrought signs; but then it would no longer have been matter of faith. In fact, this (itself) was a great sign, his discoursing from the Law and the Prophets" 2. St. John Chrysostom "Teaching the one salvation which from prophecy to the Gospel is perfected by one and the same Lord" 3. St. Clement of Alexandria 1Homilies on Acts. Hom. 55. 2Homilies on Acts. Hom. 55. 3 Stromata. 2.6. 942 It is said that the blessed prophets are our eyes, as they had previously seen through faith the secrets of the Word, and had become ministers to these things pertaining to the successive generations. They not only talked about the past things, but also proclaimed the present and the future things. As those have flourished by the Holy Spirit, and were honored by the Word Himself; and so were like musical instruments; and the Word for them was like the instrument ‘plectrum’, by which they worked together in harmony. The Word (Christ) exhorts them to proclaim the will of God. They were not talking by themselves, or according to their will1. Father Hippolytus 9- A DISSENSION AMONG THE JEWS “And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved” ( Acts 28: 24). The apostle Paul spoke to them very clearly; yet they were divided among themselves. And as the Lord Christ said: “I came to send fire on the earth” (Luke 12: 49, 51). And as the apostle Paul also says that the gospel of Christ bears the aroma of life to life, as well as the aroma of death to death (2 Cor 2: 16). Some of them received the light; while others shut their inner eyes against seeing it. “So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: ‘The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers. Saying, ‘Go to this people and say: Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears. Lest they should understand with their heart and turn, so that I should heal them” ( Acts 28: 25-27). The secret behind not hearing the truth and not seeing the divine light is their evil will, as they “refused to hear and to see” (Zech 7: 11-12). They close their ears and shut their eyes. Although they may hear by their carnal ears, yet those of their hearts cannot hear. They may see with their carnal eyes, yet the eyes of their heart are blind. They coveted their spiritual sickness, and were afraid that God may heal them. They are like Babylon, whom God wanted to heal, but as she rejected that (Jer 51: 9), God would not compel her. The apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, quoted the words of Isaiah (Isa 6: 9-10). “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it” (Acts 26.28). Here, the Book of Acts reached its climax. Its goal is to confirm that the Lord Christ has come for the salvation of the entire world, and is not confined to the Jews. As the Jews rejected Jesus and did not receive him a king on them, but brought him out to the cross to get rid of Him; the leaders of the Jews, likewise, even after His resurrection, either in Jerusalem or in Rome, having embraced the same intention, and having persisted on rejecting Him, the door of faith has been opened wide before the Gentiles. 1Hippolytus. Treatise on Christ and antichrist. 2. 943 Here the apostle to the Gentiles proclaims that the rebellion of the Jews against the Lord Christ and his gospel was then consummated; and consequently the gospel had to cross over to the Gentiles to find in them a place to dwell. The apostle Paul does not know the word ‘despair’: If a certain group rejects salvation, he goes to another. He believes that Jesus has not been crucified in vain; that His work will certainly bring on abundant fruits; and no opposition can break down his will, or can deprive him of his zeal to preach. Who is she, that was previously barren and desolate? She is obviously the church of the Gentiles, who has been lacking the knowledge of God. Who is she, the one with a husband? She is obviously the synagogue of the Jews. Now the barren has more children, as the Jews were just one nation; whereas the congregations of the Gentiles spread to the cities of the Greeks and the barbarians, and covered the land, the sea, and the entire world. Notice how Sarah presented by her work (giving birth to Isaac), and the prophets by their prophecies, what has been realized to us (the enjoyment of many the sonhood to God). Notice that the one Isaiah called ‘barren’, Paul proved her to have many children, something that symbolically happened with Sarah, who, after being barren became a mother to many children. Anyhow, this was not enough for Paul, who proceeds to demonstrate how the symbol conforms to the truth, adding: “As for us brethren, we are, like Isaac, the children of the promise”, by which he means that the church that had no knowledge of God, once she knew Him, she surpassed the synagogue who was previously fruitful1. "But if He is of all, then He takes care of all; and if He cares for all, then He saves all alike by faith" 2. St. John Chrysostom “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves” ( Acts 28: 29). There had a great dispute between those who accepted the faith, and those who rejected it. 10- ST. PAUL PREACHING FOR TWO YEARS IN ROME “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him” ( Acts 28: 30). The two chains and the guard could not hinder Paul from doing his work; and as he was not committed to work with his bound hands, food and drink were provided to him by law. And thus the chains turned into a cause for more success to the preaching. He wrote: “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel; so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ” (Phil 1: 12-13). "It shows the freedom he had now: without hindrance in Rome, he who had been hindered in Judea; and he remained teaching there for two years" 3. 1 in Galat., Chapter 4. 2 in Rom. Hom 7. 3Homilies on Acts. Hom. 55. 944 St. John Chrysostom "He enters Rome in bonds, that he may free those who are in the bonds of error and superstition. Two years he dwells in his own hired house that he may give to us the house eternal which is spoken of in both the testaments (the old and the new ones) " 1. St. Jerome “Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” ( Acts 28: 30). St. Luke left us at the end of the book without telling us what was the destiny of St. Paul, as what preoccupied him was not to write a biography of St. Paul, but to reveal his ministry and preaching. All along two years, despite his limited freedom to move around, he could receive all who came to him, in the presence of the Roman guard. St. Paul most probably wrote his epistles to the Philippians, the Ephesians, the Colossians, to Philemon, to Timothy (the second), and probably to the Hebrews, during those two years in Rome. In the tradition, it also came that after he was pronounced innocent, he set forth from Italy to preach in Spain (according to St. Cyril of Jerusalem), then to Crete, then together with Timothy to Judea. From there he went to visit the churches in Ephesus, to end up again in Rome, where he gained the crown of Martyrdom in the days of Nero in the year 64 AD or a while after. From Rome he set forth with the gospel to Spain, to end up again in Rome, where he was beheaded2. Father Theodoret Bishop of Cyrus According to the apostle Paul, those two years were so fruitful, that many believed even within the imperial household (Phil 1: 12-14). "(I wish to see) the dust of the heart, which a man would not do wrong to call the heart of the world, and a fountain of countless blessings, and a beginning, and element of our life. For the spirit of life was furnished out of it all, and was distributed through the members of Christ, not as being sent forth by arteries, but by a free choice of good deeds. This heart was so large, as to take in entire cities, and peoples, and nations. “Our heart is wide open” (2 Cor 6: 11). Yet even a heart thus large, did this very charity that enlarged it many a time straiten and oppress. For he says, “Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I write to you” (2 Cor 2: 4). Paul's heart was Christ's. It is a speech about love" 3. "Would that it were now given me to throw myself round the body of Paul, and be riveted to the tomb, and to see the dust of that body that through which Christ uttered" 4. St. John Chrysostom St. John Chrysostom ended his homilies on the Book of Acts, by saying the following about St. Paul: "His Acts you have seen in part; such are they all throughout, teeming with dangers. 1 Letter 71.1. 2 Epistle to the Philippians, 1.25. 3Hom 32 in Rom. in Morali PG 60 .697. 4Hom. 32 in Rom. PG 60 .678 ff. 945 He was a heaven having in it the Sun of Righteousness, not such a sun (as we see): so that that man was better than the very heaven. So that one would not err in calling Paul's heart both a sea and a heaven, the one for purity, the other for depth. He is a sea, having for its voyagers not those who sail from city to city, but those from earth to heaven: if any man sails in this sea, he will have a prosperous voyage. On this sea, not winds, but instead of winds the Holy and Divine Spirit wafts the souls which sail thereon: no waves are here, no rock, no monsters: all is calm. He who wishes to descend into this sea, needs not divers, needs not oil, but much loving-kindness. he will find in it all the good things that are in the kingdom of Heaven. He will even be able to become a king, and to take the whole world into his possession, and to be in the greatest honor; he who sails on this sea will never undergo shipwreck, but will know all things well. let us emulate Paul, and imitate that noble, that adamantine soul: that, advancing in the steps of his life, we may be enabled to sail through the sea of this present life, and to come unto the haven wherein are no waves, and attain unto the good things promised to them that love Him, through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom to the Father and Holy Ghost together be glory, might, honor, now and ever, world without end. Amen" 1. 1Homilies on Acts. Hom. 55. 946 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS 28 A PREACHER WHEREVER HE GOES All on board the ship were saved. The vision to Your Saint Paul was realized; Yet in humility, he did not boast that he was the cause that they were saved from destruction. But with the spirit of love, he gathered together bundles of sticks to help warming everyone up. His actions, even those very simple, Went in harmony with his words and teachings. He testified to You with his words as well as with his practical love. A viper fastened to his hand and bit him. He was presumed by the natives to be a murderer and a shedder of blood, That his hand that stretched to kill was bit by the viper. Everyone waited for the divine justice to come over him and kill him; But there he is shaking the viper away with confidence. After counting him as a murderer who would not escape from the hand of God; They thought of him as a god, whom the viper could not kill. He revealed the secret of Christ who dwells in him. He testified to his Christ before the ruler of the island, by healing his father. The island then turned into a hospital, And Paul became a physician who offered the Lord Christ as a medication for the soul and body. He entered into Rome with joy. When the brethren saw him in chains, They blessed him for his fellowship in crucifixion together with his Christ. He cared for his Jewish brethren. And having rejected him, as they did to his Lord, He started to preach strongly among the Gentiles. Blessed are you, O the amazing in preaching. You knew no limits to preaching. You saw in every man, Christ the Savior of souls. You wished to bear in love all mankind. You wished to embrace them, to carry them by the Holy Spirit of God to the bosom of the Father. 947 AN APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 28 ON THE DESOLATION OF JERUSALEM1 The Book of Acts ended with the captivation of St. Paul in Rome, where he spent two years, testifying to the Lord Christ in the Roman capital and even in the imperial palace. He gained many souls, as a sign of the opening of the door of faith wide before the Gentiles. Here is a summary of the events that took place in Jerusalem up to the desolation of the city in the year 70 AD. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE After the Jews had rejected the faith in Jesus being the Messiah the Savior, some deceiving personalities appeared, who claimed to have a message from God to liberate the Jewish nation from the Roman occupation, something that never preoccupied Jesus. After drawing many Jews to them, they were eventually killed together with their followers. Animosity between the Jews and the Romans grew more and more: the Jews felt humiliated to pay taxes to a foreign nation. Moreover, certain Roman leaders defiled the temple, by setting statues in it. The people rebelled against the governors, and corruption and chaos prevailed on all levels. Roman governors successively followed one another, with one goal: to collect riches at the expense of the people, until the injustice of Jesius Flores and his incredible corruption became a cause of a general uprising against the Romans. The war started in the fortress of Mesadda, close to the Red Sea, where some Jewish worriers attacked and killed all the Roman garrison by the sword. Then, the rulers of the Jews declared mutiny against the Roman authority; The Jewish priests refused to go on offering sacrifices for the sake of the success of the Roman emperor; and the people started to attack and kill the Roman soldiers wherever they found them. The Syrians joined forces with the Romans against the Jews, and war began between the two sides. Hearing the news, Sestius Callus, the Roman governor of Syria, set forth with a great army toward Jerusalem. Although the Jews killed many of them, yet the Romans managed to break into the lower part of the city and set it on fire. When Sestius returned to his camp, the Jews were encouraged. Many of them set forth to the camp, killed many of his soldiers, and confiscated huge amounts of military equipments, that encouraged them to continue fighting. At that time, many of the Jewish people fled to the mountains, including the Christians, according to the commandment of the Lord Christ (Matt 24: 15-16); those were saved from the following war, as the city was sieged. When Sestios informed Nero of what happened, he sent Spasianus, his greatest commander at that time, leading an army of sixty-thousand men, to regain the forts that were taken over by the rebels. The Jews fiercely defended those strongholds, including that of Jutbata, which was protected by Josephus the Jewish historian and priest, whom the Jews set as a ruler over Galilee. When the city fell, Josephus wrote down the history of his nation and its bitter fall. The Romans then took over the rest of the strongholds of Galilee, in spite of the great courage of the Jews during the siege. 1 Cf. The Holy Bible Associations in the East, Beirut. Commentary on the New Testament. 1977. P.170-171. 948 In the winter of the year 68/69, the Romans took over Berea, Idocea, and the southern part of Judea. However, Sepasianus did not hasten toward Jerusalem, but informed his leaders that he intends to wait a while, as dissension has taken place among the Jews in Jerusalem; they were divided into several parties, each of which took over a sector of the city, and started to fight each other. Then, a kind of civil war occurred, that wiped out their strength, and cooled down their zeal. Spasianus had to go back to Rome because of the troubles that preceded ascending the throne of the empire, and delivered the responsibilities and leadership of the war to his son Titus. Titus sieged Jerusalem during the Passover of the year 70 AD, when about two million Jews assembled there to celebrate the feast. When the provisions in the city ended, a great famine took place, and the prophecy concerning it mentioned in (Deut 28: 48) was realized. It was claimed that about 600, 000 persons perished; and when Titus tried to convince the Jews to surrender, the heads of the different parties refused, and killed everyone who showed any tendency to surrender. Because of the natural hard geographical location of Jerusalem, the Romans found great difficulty in forcing their way into the city; they entered first through its outskirts, then through its lower part, then the temple, which was a stronghold. Finally, after five months of the beginning of the siege, they forced their way through the upper part of the city. Titus was interested in keeping the temple as a magnificent piece of work to be proud of; but a soldier started a fire contrary to orders, that destroyed the whole temple, except for the holy golden vessels. Many were killed, and many were taken captives, and sent to work in mines in Egypt and in other places. As the words of the Lord Christ concerning the desolation of Jerusalem and the temple were realized and the state of Israel has utterly fallen, the church in the whole world became independent of the Jews; and many Christians realized the necessity of setting themselves free of the literal Jewish rites.
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