Atos 28
Oecumenius
Atos 28:3
The viper, having fastened onto the apostle's hand and not finding the cavity of sin, immediately sprang away and drove itself against the fire, as if collecting a penalty for itself, because it struck with its body something that belonged to no one. But we fear wild beasts, since we do not have the full armor of virtue. [THEODORET Q,18 in Gen.] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:6
Therefore when the Barbarians saw this and the certain death escaping them, they thought him to be a god, having the custom, making everything marvelous, to consider as a god; just as they used to call the old gods, either because of some greater strength they exhibited among themselves, as was Heracles; or because by magic they astounded those about them, as was Simon in Samaria. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:11
It was always customary in the ships of Alexandria, especially near the bow, to have such inscriptions on both the starboard and the port sides. And since it was natural, in that era of prevailing idolatry, for the Twin Gods to be depicted on the ship, it followed that they were considered foreign, that is, idolaters. Concerning this Isaiah also said: They shall be cast forth in a foreign ship; they shall take up their habitation over the sea. (Isa. 11:14) [CYRIL] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:15
Some places are noted outside Rome, one of which is said, with some probability, to have a statue of Appius and to be called his tribute, just as to this day the images of kings among the Romans are called tributes; the places called the taverns refer mysteriously to certain inns or shelters or to the use of taverns, so named in the Roman language. [ISIDORE] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:17
Knowing that it was altogether inappropriate to be tried, and especially before unbelievers, Paul defends himself about both matters, so that their reports might not be anticipated. For this reason, he says, I wished you to see me, so that no one might accuse anything falsely. And he mentions the things present, that, indeed, wishing to avoid their hands, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not as inflicting evils on others, but fleeing evils myself. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:22
Before he arrived. Paul was in Rome, the Jews had been commanded not to receive the preaching concerning Christ, and not only they alone, but also Jews everywhere in the world. How is this clear? We find in the books of the ancients that the priests and scribes and elders dwelling in Jerusalem, having written letters, sent them throughout the nations to the Jews everywhere, disapproving the teaching about Christ as foreign to God, and ordering by letters that it not be received. This, indeed, seems to be what the prophecy of Isaiah also means when it says: "Woe to the land, wings of ships beyond the rivers of Cush, sending captives by sea, and clay letters upon the water." (Isa. 18:1-2) By this he indicates that even beyond the land of the Ethiopians and the ends of the earth the sound of wickedness concerning those dwelling in Judea went forth like ships flying, and their apostles bearing clay letters, sailing over the waters, and filling the sea, ran throughout the whole world, slandering the word concerning our Savior. It is still the custom among the Jews to call "apostles" the circular letters brought to them by their leaders. [EUSEBIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:25
To those who call him the minister of the Father, Paul here gives a severe rebuke concerning the Holy Spirit. For concerning the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, whom Isaiah saw, therefore speaks the Holy Spirit. For He is of the same essence as the Father and the Son, and shares the same power. And this utterance prepares the prophet's words as if voiced by God concerning those things which pertain to Jesus, since the people heard the words of Jesus and did not understand, and seeing the wondrous works done by him did not see. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:26
For turning the saying toward a future time, he indicates the reference of the prophecies to later times. Consider, however, the precision regarding the Spirit. He did not say, "And you will not look," but rather, "and seeing you will see and will not perceive." Nor, that you will not hear, but that you will hear and will not understand. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:27
They first denied themselves, stopping their ears, closing their eyes, and hardening their heart. For not only did they not hear, but they heard with difficulty. And they did this, he says, for fear that perhaps I should turn back and heal them, indicating their malice and deliberate turning away. And he says this, drawing it out and provoking, and showing that if they should turn back, he would heal them. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 28:30
It should be known that Luke relates up to this point concerning the blessed Paul in the Acts of the Apostles, having written the book at that time, and knowing the following events least of all. Nor did he set down the account of his martyrdom in the book. For having left him there, Luke and Aristarchus went out. Eusebius, however, recorded the later times exactly: that under Nero, Paul having once more defended himself, was sent back to the ministry of preaching, was released to Caesar, and preached for another ten years. But when Nero arrived at the height of madness, a slaughter was raised against the apostles. Having been sent again, Paul in the thirtieth and sixth year of the saving Passion, and in the thirteenth of his own, made testimony by the sword with his head cut off. Therefore from the nineteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, and the second year of the saving Passion from which he began to preach the Gospel, until the twenty-second of the same Tiberius, four years. And the years of Gaius likewise four. Again the years of Claudius fourteen, whom Nero succeeding in the thirteenth year of his reign put the Apostle to death. Therefore the whole time of Paul's preaching is twenty-one years; and another two years which he spent in prison at Caesarea. In addition again, the earlier two years in Rome, and the last ten years, so that all the years from his calling until his end are thirty-five. From the saving Passion thirty-six. For after the Lord's ascension, after certain few days, the apostles appointed Stephen and those with him to the ministry. Then we immediately find Stephen stoned, and Paul consenting to the murder. Who shortly afterwards rushed to Damascus to destroy the saints there. In the midst of the road his calling came to him from God, so that that year might be spent a little. Immediately he began to preach, taking hold in the nineteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, and is completed in the thirteenth year of Nero, his head having been cut off by the sword. — Commentary on Acts