• Eusebius I transcribe below in his own language. Jerom's words were transcribed by usP formerly, and are fit to be repeated here. They represent the same sentiment with that in Eusebius: from whom, probably, and from some other ancients, he learned it. It should be observed, says he, • that at the time of his first apology, Nero's government not 'being yet quite degenerated, nor disgraced with the horri'ble wickedness which historians speak of, Paul was set at liberty, that he might preach the gospel in the western parts of the world: as himself writes in the second epistle to Timothy, dictated by him in his bonds, at the time he 'suffered.' And what follows.

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And Chrysostom, in a homily upon the fourth chapter of this epistle: How,' says he, shall we understand this first apology? He was at first brought before the emperor, and 'escaped. But when he had converted his cup-bearer, then he was beheaded.'

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S

Theodoret is very express in his comment. When upon • his appeal he was sent to Rome by Festus, having apologized for himself, he was dismissed as innocent, and went into Spain, and other nations. By the first apology there• fore he meaneth that which was then made. "And I was

delivered out of the mouth of the lion." So he calls Nero, as being emperor, and a cruel man.'

Indeed this defence, or apology, cannot relate to any other time. For he says: "But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me: that by me the preaching might be fully known, and all the Gentiles might hear." This could not be said at any supposed second imprisonment, when the

--τοτε μεν ουν απολογησαμενον, αυθις επι την τε κηρυγματος διακονιαν λογος εχει ςειλασθαι τον αποςολον δευτερον δε επιβαντα τη αυτη πολει τω κατ' αυτον τελειωθηναι μαρτυριῳ· εν ᾧ δεσμοις εχομενος την προς Τιμόθεον δευτεραν επιςολην συνταττει, ὁμε σημαίνων την τε προτέραν αυτω γενομένην απολογίαν, και την παραποδας τελείωσιν. Εικος γετοι κατα μεν αρχας ηπιωτερον το Νέρωνος διακειμενς, ῥμον την ύπερ τε δόγματος τε Παυλο καταδεχθηναι απολογιαν προελθοντος δε εις αθέμιτες τολμας, μετα των αλλων, και τα κατα των αποτολων εγχειρισθηναι. Η. E. I. ii. cap. 22. p. 62. Α. et D. P See Vol. iv. ch. cxiv. ¶ Sciendum autem, in primâ satisfactione, necdum Neronis imperio roborato, nec in tanta erumpente scelera, quanta de eo narrant historiæ, Paulum a Nerone dimissum, ut evangelium Christi in Occidentis quoque partibus prædicaret: sicut ipse in secundâ epistolâ ad Timotheum, eo tempore quo et passus est, de vinculis dictans epistolam, &c. De V. I. cap. 5. · Ποιαν δε πρωτην απολογιαν

λεγει; Παρετη ηδη τῳ Νέρωνι, και διεφυγεν. Επειδη δε τον οινοχοον αυτ8 κατηχησε, τοτε αυτον απετεμεν. KATNXNOE, TOTE AUтov atεTEμev. In 2 ep. ad Tim. cap. iv. hom. 10. T. XI. p. 722. B. • Ηνικα τη Εφεσει χρησαμενος εις την Ρώμην ύπο τε Φησε παρεπέμφθη, απολογησαμενος ώς αθωος αφείθη. Πρωτην τοινον απολογιαν την εν εκείνη τη εκδημία γεγενημενην εκαλεσε. κ. λ. In 2 ep. Tim. iv. 16 tom. III. p. 506.

apostle was near his end. But must relate to the prospect of success, which he had soon after he was brought from Judea to Rome. At that time these expressions were exceedingly proper, and his expectations were fully answered. As may be collected from Philip. i. 12-20, and ch. iv. 22, Witsius has some observations upon this place, which deserve to be transcribed. So do likewise the observations of another learned writer," they being well suited to illustrate this text.

t

For farther clearing up this point, I must stay somewhat longer here. I cannot but think it very evident, that Paul was now brought before the emperor, and that he here refers to it. Lightfoot supposeth, that in those words, " at my 'first answer," Paul does not refer so much to what, or how many answers he was called to: but intimates, that even at 'the first pinch and appearance of danger, all that should have been his assistants started from him.' And that may be the meaning. Nevertheless it is not impossible, that Paul might make two apologies, one soon after the other, at the first of which all forsook him: whereas, at the second, there were some, who appeared with him, and spoke in his behalf. But however that may be, I am of opinion, that Paul was brought before Nero himself, and that he here speaks of it.

Ibi enim con

* Puto hæc ad ea quæ Romæ tunc gesta sunt referenda esse. stitutus tunc fuit Paulus, ut in summo totius mundi loco, unde evangelii ab ipso prædicati sonus, non tamquam buccinæ, sed tanquam tonitru, quaquaversum audiretur.--Porro ea, quæ Romæ, quæ in Prætorio, quæ ad tribunal Cæsaris dicebantur, vel agebantur, in tantâ confluentium multitudine, celeri famâ, per omnes totius propemodum orbis gentes vulgata fuere. Quibus non parum ponderis ex eo accessit, quod captivus iste, tam mirabilium rerum anunciator, a popularibus quidem suis accusatus, sed a Cæsare absolutus, vel certe non damnatus esset. Wits. de Vit. Paul. sect. 12. num. xxxii.

" Idem jam a Paulo indicatum, 2 Tim. iv. 16, 17. In primâ meâ defensione nemo mihi adfuit, sed omnes,' nimirum Christiani, Romæ tum Pauli aggregati, me deseruerunt.--Dominus autem mihi adfuit, et confortavit me, ut per me promulgatio evangelii compleretur, et omnes gentes illud audirent: Etenim liberatus fui ex ore leonis,' quocum jamjam mihi erat depugnandum. Paulus docet, sese, adjuvante Deo, ab intentatâ sibi cum leone depugnatione fuisse ereptum; sese caussam suam ita dixisse, ut liber et inviolatus fuerit dimissus e Prætorio; Deum hoc pacto promulgationem evangelii promovisse, et in celebritatem deduxisse, ac ad securitatem. Securitas adnuntiationis sita est in voce λnpopopias, quæ a nave, plenis velis ac liberrime invehente, est desumta. Eum igitur finem liberationis suæ Numen Supremum voluerat esse proprium, ut Paulus in posterum eo liberius doctrinam evangelii evulgaret. Roma erat locus celeberrimus. Quidquid ibi gerebatur, id putabatur agi in luce orbis terrarum. Caussa itaque Pauli inde innotuit ac incre buit passim, ac quicumque de eâ aliquid audiebant, avidi fuerunt redditi doctrinæ quoque ipsius, quam docebat, audiendæ et cognoscendæ. J. Ch. Harenburg. Otia Gandershem. Observ. 8. sect. 3.

As before, p. 322.

W

Several moderns have perceived this. But though this opinion had never the patronage of any great names, I apprehend it might be deduced with certainty from St. Luke's history in the Acts. He is very concise in what he says of Paul after his arrival at Rome. Nor has he said, that Paul was brought before Nero. But it may be argued, and concluded from what he has said.

When Paul was first brought before Festus at Cæsarea, after he had been left bound by Felix, at the end of two years' imprisonment, and Festus proposed that he should go up to Jerusalem, and be there judged before him: Paul said, I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged," Acts xxv. 9, 10. "Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? Unto Cæsar thou shalt go," ver. 12. Therefore that was now determined. When Festus first spoke to king Agrippa about Paul's affair, he said to him, “But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing, or judgment, of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to Cæsar," ver. 21. And when Festus actually brought Paul before Agrippa, and the rest, he said, "He himself having appealed unto Augustus, I have determined to send him," ver. 25. After Paul had pleaded before Festus, and Agrippa, and that great company at Cæsarea, it is said, ch. xxvi. 31, 32; “ And the king rose up, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar." After his appeal therefore the sending Paul to Rome was unavoidable. If Agrippa and the rest of that great company did not dare to dismiss him, though they thought him innocent, but judged it needful that he should go to Rome, it may be reckoned probable, that he was actually brought before the emperor. And Festus wrote a letter concerning Paul to the emperor himself, as may be concluded from ch. xxv. 26, 27. And while Paul was in the voyage to Rome, he had a vision. "An angel stood by him, saying: Fear not, Paul, thou must

w I shall cite an author or two here, though they may not agree with me about the time of Paul's appearance before the emperor.

Acts xxvii. 24, “Thou must be brought before Cæsar." By this, and by 'what Paul says, 2 Tim. iv. 17, it seems, that he had a personal hearing before • Nero himself.' Wall's Crit. Notes upon the N. T. p. 271.

Nous ne saurions douter au moins que S. Paul n'ait comparu devant Néron peu de temps avant sa mort, comme on le voit par sa seconde épître à Timothée. Tillem. S. Paul. note 40. Mem. T. I. p. 531. Paris.

be brought before Cæsar," ch. xxvii. 23, 24. Certainly, therefore, he was brought before him. And that is what he intends, when he speaks of his apology. Which is also confirmed by what follows: " And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." Whereby must be meant Nero himself.

And now we may be able to understand those expressions: "No man stood with me: but all men forsook me.” St. Luke's history of Paul's arrival at Rome will give great light to those words, Acts xxviii. 13-15, " And we came the next day to Puteoli. Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 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." The affectionate and respectful visit of so many christians from Rome was very refreshing and comfortable to him, after all the fatigues of his voyage, and in the disgraceful circumstances of his appearance. But when he was presented to the emperor, "no man stood by him : but all men forsook him." And these are the men, whom he intends these, and other christians then at Rome. None of them had courage to appear in his favour, and plead in his behalf, as they might have done. But all drew back, and left him alone. "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.

X

Let me now represent the progress of this affair, as it appears to me, after having consulted * Lightfoot, and others. When the prisoners from Judea were brought to Rome, they were all delivered to the captain of the guard, or prefect of the prætorium. At the same time Julius the centurion, to whose charge they had been committed, and who had all along" courteously entreated Paul," [Acts xxvii. 3,]

X

Julius, the Centurion, that had brought Paul and the rest of the prisoners ' from Judea, had been his friend and favourer from his first setting out, and so. I continued, till his settling at Rome.- His accusers that were come from Judea, to lay in the charge against him, [for we can hardly suppose but that some were come,] would be urgent to get their business despatched, that they might be returning to their own homes again; and so would bring him to • his trial, as soon as they could. And that his trial was early this year, appears by his own words in the second epistle to Timothy, where he speaketh of his answer, and requireth Timothy to come to him before winter,' 2 Tim. iv. 16, 21.

• As he appealed to Nero himself, so Nero himself heard his cause, Philip. i. 13; 2 Tim. iv. 16. And here it was possible for Paul and Seneca to see each ' other. At which time all that had owned him before, withdrew themselves for fear, and dared not to stand by him, or appear with him in his danger.' Lightfoot, as before, p. 322.

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spoke honourably of him to the prefect, or delivered in a written memorial of his voyage, and the several prisoners, whom he had brought with him, inserting, particularly, some things in favour of this prisoner, and also put into his hands the governor's letter to the emperor, concerning Paul. The tenor of which, as may be concluded from the letter of Lysias to Felix, ch. xxiii. 25-30, and from other things afterwards. recorded in the Acts, omitting the usual forms, not needful to be mentioned here, was to this purpose: My Lord, 'when I came into this province, committed to my charge by thy favour, I found a prisoner, named Paul, left bound by my predecessor Felix, after he had been two years in 'custody. In a short time grievous complaints were made against him by the chief men of the nation, desiring me to pass sentence of condemnation upon him. Whereupon I ' appointed them a hearing. And being sat on the judg'ment seat, I commanded the man to be brought forth. But when the accusers stood up, they alleged no proofs of any thing that could render him criminal in the eye of our laws. They had only certain questions against him of their ' own religion, and concerning one Jesus, who had died, and 'whom Paul affirmed to be alive. At this time the man ' expressed a desire to be heard at thy tribunal. And hav⚫ing conferred with my council, and considering that he is a citizen of Rome, his appeal was allowed to be valid. Whereupon I resolved to send him unto thee, as soon as I 'could. In the mean time, king Agrippa and Bernice came 'to the place of my residence. Who being Jews by nation • and religion, and willing to hear the man, I set him before them, that I might be the better informed concerning him myself. In their presence, and before me, and many others, Roman officers, and principal men of this city, he without 6 reserve declared his doctrine, and his concern to promote it, and indeed his whole life from the beginning. After which, when the assembly (as honourable as can be expected to be seen in any of the provinces) were gone aside, they talked between themselves. And they were all agreed, saying: This man doth nothing worthy of death, or of 'bonds: and he might have been set at liberty if he had ⚫ not appealed to Augustus. To thee therefore I now send. him. And to thy cognizance his cause is referred.'

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When Burrhus, the prefect of the prætorium, brought Paul before the emperor, and delivered the governor's letter, it is not improbable, that he might add some hints in favour of the prisoner, from the character given of him by Julius, either by word, or in his memorial. At this audi