No. 1328.-xxvii. 29. have fallen upon rocks.] Then, fearing lest they should wreck as the worst sort of death, as being thereby liable to be devoured by fish, dashed against rocks, or cast upon uninhabited islands. So Horace: Quem mortis timuit gradum, Qui siccis oculis monstra natantia, Qui vidit mare turgidum, et Infames scopulos Acroceraunia? B. i. od. 3. l. 17. What kind of death could affright him, who could behold the sea monsters swimming, the sea raging, and the infamous (by reason of shipwrecks) rocks of Acroceraunia, with dry eyes? No. 1329.-xxvii. 54. There shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you.] This was a proverbial phrase expressing the utmost safety, and therefore they might cheerfully eat their food and be satisfied. To dream of shaving the hair portended shipwreck to sailors: nor was it lawful for any to pare his nails, or cut off his hair, but in a storm, to which custom some think the apostle here alludes. See Kirchman, de Funer. Rom. 1. ii. c. 14. p. 212. No. 1330.-xxvii. 40. And loosed the rudder-bands.] The ancient ships had frequently two rudders. They were a kind of very large and broad oars on each side of the hinder part of the ship. When occasion required they unloosed them, and even let them drop when in danger, as well as cut off the anchors. See more in Parkhurst's Greek Lex. p. 555. No. 1331.-xxviii. 16. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard.] It was customary for prisoners who were brought to Rome to be delivered to the præfect or commander of the prætorian cohorts, who had the charge of the state prisoners; as appears from the instance of Agrippa, who was taken into custody by Macro, the prætorian prefect who succeeded Sejanus. Josephus Ant. lib. xviii. cap. 7. § 6. No. 1332.-ROMANS vi. 13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. THE word translated instruments signifies arms or weapons. The ancients formerly reckoned arms or weapons the members of soldiers. To this the apostle may allude. (Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. i. c. 12.) No. 1333-xvi. 23. Gaius my host, and of the whole church.] Dr. Lightfoot (Hor. Hebraic. 1 Cor. xi. 21.) has a peculiar notion concerning the christian agapæ; that they were a sort of hospitals for the entertainment of strangers in imitation of those which the Jews had adjoining to their synagogues. Gaius, who is called the host of the whole church, he supposes to have been the master of such a hospital; and that Phoebe, who is called the dianovos of the church at Cenchrea, and those other women mentioned Phil. iv. 3. were servants attending these hospitals. No. 1334.-1 CORINTHIANS iv. 21. Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? HERE seems to be an allusion to a practice among the Jews, in punishing a drunkard or gluttonous person; they first corrected him with words, or with a rod; but if he went on in his sin, then they stoned him. Perhaps the allusion may be to the judges in the Sanhedrim, one of the ensigns of whose office was a rod or staff, to smite with. GILL, in loc. No. 1335.-vi. 20. Ye are bought with a price.] This proves that believers belong to the Lord, not only as redeemed by a price, but as espoused to Christ: for one way of obtaining and espousing a wife among the Jews was by a price; and this was an ancient rite in marriage used among other nations. The husband and wife used to buy each other. (Servius in Virgil. Georg. 1. i. 31.) GILL, in loc. No. 1336.-viii. 10. For if any man see thee who hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple.] Tables were common moveables in idol temples; and they were used to eat at after the sacrifices were over. The apostle Paul forbids Christians to eat on such occasions and in such places. No. 1337.-x. 16. The cup of blessing.] This cup is so called in allusion to the cup of wine used at common meals, or at the passover among the Jews; which they used to take and bless God with, and give him thanks for their mercies. It was commonly called the cup of blessing. GILL, in loc. No. 1338.—x. 17. For we being many are one bread.] It was a custom anciently among the barbarians to meet together in a friendly manner over one bread. Jamblich. Vit. Pythag. § lxxxvi. p. 71. No. 1339.-x. 25. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles.] The word paneλλov, rendered shambles, is made use of by Latin writers in the same sense as it is here, for a place where food was sold. The original of the name is said to be this. One Macellus, a very wicked and profane man, being condemned to die, a place was built in his house by Æmilius and Fulvius for selling provisions, and from his name it was called macellum. Into these places the priests sent to be sold what was offered to their idols, if they could not dispense with it themselves, or thought it not lawful to make use of it. Herodotus says, that the Egyptians used to cut off the heads of their beasts that were sacrificed, and carry them into the market to sell to the Greeks; and if there were no buyers, they cast them into the river. 1 GILL, in loc. No. 1340.-x. 30. For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks.] The custom of blessing both what was to be eaten and what was to be drank was transmitted from the synagogues to the first christian assemblies. These benedictions are also called thanksgivings or praises; and thus we are to understand these words of the apostle. PICART'S Religious Ceremonies, vol. i. p. 124. No. 1341.-x. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.] "Be sides prayers, the Jews had likewise benedictions among them, of which every one was obliged to repeat a hundred every day. They said them over their bread and over their wine, when they were at table: and perhaps this is what St. Paul alludes to when he says, whether therefore ye eat," &c. LAMY's Apparatus Biblicus, p. 191. No. 1342.—xi. 4. Having his head covered.] This had become customary with some of them in public worship, and they did it in imitation either of the heathens who worshipped their deities with their heads covered, except Saturn and Hercules, whose solemnities were celebrated with heads unveiled; or of the Jews, who used to veil themselves in public worship through a spirit of bondage and fear. GILL, in loc. No. 1343.-xiii. 1. Sounding brass.] One of the most ancient, as well as most celebrated oracles of the pagan world was that at the island of Delos. In early ages, and at the first commencement of these absurd and ridiculous impositions on mankind, they were delivered by the murmuring noise of a fountain, or at the foot of an oak; and also from the oaks themselves. But in succeeding times they made use of the brazen kettle, which utensil the ancient Greek poet Callimachus calls the sounding brass. These to the Delian god Begin the grand procession; and in hand Which the Pelasgians, who the sounding brass, On earth recumbent, at Dodona guard, Joyous receive and to the Melian's care The hallow'd gifts consign. Hymn to Delos, v. 388. May not St. Paul allude to these brazen kettles in these |