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28.And sealed to them this fruit, etc. I disapprove not of what some think, that there is here an allusion to a practice among the ancients, who closed up with their seals what they intended to lay up in safety. Thus Paul commends his own faithfulness and integrity; as though he had said, that he was an honest keeper of the money deposited in his hands, no otherwise than if he carried it sealed up. (462) — The word fruit seems to designate the produce, which he had before said returned to the Jews from the propagation of the gospel, in a way similar to the land, which by bringing forth fruit supports its cultivator.
(462) More satisfactory is the explanation of [Stuart ] : he says, that the word “” means that the instrument to which a seal is applied is authenticated, made valid, i.e., “ to answer the purpose intended. So here the Apostle would not stop short in the performance of his duty, as the almoner of the Churches, until he had seen the actual distribution of their charity.” It seems then that “” here means “” or safely conveyed. “ to them safely,” is the paraphrase of [Hammond ]. — Ed.