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Now is the great apostle landed and lodged a prisoner at Rome, according to the divine prediction, Be of good cheer, Paul: as thou hast testified of me at Jerusalem, so shalt thou bear witness also at Rome. Act_23:11
Yet observe, 1. The favour which God gave him in the sight of his enemies: he is not clapped up in the common gaol, but a sort of prisoner at large; he dwells by himself in his own hired house, with his keeper with him. This liberty was highly valued by the apostle, we may believe; not so much for his own comfort, as for the benefit and advantage of the gospel; for by this means he had an opportunity of going abroad and preaching the word of God in every place, as the providence of gave him opportunity.
Observe, 2. St. Paul is no sooner come to Rome, with desire and design, no doubt, to preach the gospel there to his countrymen the Jews in the first place; but he sends for the Jews to come to him, states his case to them, lays the matter of fact before them, and endeavours to remove all prejudice from their minds, which they might have taken up against him, and so have missed of the benefit of his ministry.
From whence learn, That it is the great duty of the ministers of the gospel, prudently to prevent, if possible, or presently to remove, all prejudices, which may be taken up by their people against their persons; knowing that if they have a prejudice against their persons, they will never relish their doctrine, nor be benefited by their ministry.
Thus did the great apostle here endeavour to set himself right with his auditors the Jews, before he began to preach to them.
Observe, 3. How the apostle was not ashamed of, but rather glories in, the cause for which he suffered: For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. As if he had said, "For preaching that Messiah who hath long been hoped and prayed for, I am come hither a prisoner; or, for the sake of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah who hath long been expected and hoped for, who is now come in the flesh, to be their Redeemer, and in whom all the true Israel of God repose all their hope of salvation,and by whom they expect a joyful resurrection, I am bound with this chain."
Here observe, 1. The hard usage which the blessed apostle meets with from the hands of a wicked world: a chain is clapped upon him, as if he was some rogue or thief. Paul the lamb, was now a prisoner to Nero the lion. The best of men may, and oft do, suffer under the notion of the most vile and wicked persons.
Observe, 2. The true cause of St. Paul's sufferings: For the hope of Israel I am bound. That is, for the object of Israel's hope, or the Messiah which they so long expected, and so much hoped for.
Observe, 3. The publication which St. Paul makes of his sufferings here at Rome: he tells all the world, for whom, and in whose cause he now suffered.
Thence learn, That sufferings for Christ and the gospel are no matter of shame, but glory: the apostle doth not blush to say, For the hope of Israel, I wear this chain; the shame belonged to them that clapped on the chain, not to him that wore it.
Observe, 4. The end why the apostle makes known his sufferings; namely, That all the Jews now at Rome might know the true cause wherefore he suffered. St. Paul's enemies had laid heavy things to his charge, which possibly might fly as far as Rome: now although he little regarded what the wicked world said of him, yet he desired to stand right in the thoughts of the Jews here at Rome; and therefore as soon as he was come thither, he sends for them to acquaint them with the cause of his imprisonment.
When good men are in a suffering condition, the devil is very industrious to defame them, and the world very ready to misrepresent them; therefore it is a duty which is owing to themselves, to vindicate their own innocency, and to set forth the cause of their sufferings in a clear and true light. It is verily for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.