Romans 2

Romans 2:2

I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. He could still have disobeyed. His will was free, but he could only act in good conscience by obeying Christ.

Romans 2:3

First to them of Damascus. He not only was baptized by Ananias in Damascus, but, after some preparation, he began to preach. And then at Jerusalem. Where he disputed against the Grecians (Acts 9:27-29). Throughout the region of Judaea. Just when he preached there we are not informed. Hackett thinks it was when he came up with help at the time of the famine (Acts 11:30). That they should repent. He preached more than a theory; he preached a new life.

Romans 2:4

For these causes the Jews caught me. Because he obeyed and preached Christ.

Romans 2:5

I continue unto this day. By the divine help. That had protected him, because he was doing God’s work, and he was enabled to witness to all ranks. Both to small and great. What he witnessed was only what Moses and the prophets had said should come.

Romans 2:6

That Christ should suffer, etc. In these things he had the support of Moses and the prophets, and for these things he was accused. He was not at variance with Moses and the law, but preached their meaning.

Romans 2:7

Paul, thou art beside thyself. The earnestness and fervor of Paul were so strange to Festus, his doctrine of the resurrection so novel, his manner so sincere, and his testimony so startling, that the Roman could only explain it by a mental delusion. Much learning doth make thee mad. The display of such vast knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures to Agrippa convinced him that intense study resulted in derangement. It must not be forgotten that Festus had just come into his position, and knew little of Paul.

Romans 2:8

I am not mad, most noble Festus. The courteous answer shows the mistake of Festus, a mistake due to his ignorance of the subject.

Romans 2:9

The king knoweth. The facts that he had cited in his discourse were well known to the king, viz., the predictions of the prophets, the hope of a Messiah, the death of Jesus, and the spread of the congregations of those who believed that he was a risen Lord.

Romans 2:10

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? The king professed to believe them. Yet those very prophets, as Paul had shown, testified to all the facts of the career of Jesus of Nazareth and his claims to Messiahship. This personal appeal deeply moved the king, as his reply shows.

Romans 2:11

Almost thou persaudest me to be a Christian. The Revised Version changes the translation somewhat (“With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian”), but I have little doubt but that the Common Version gives the idea. The king, like Felix, was deeply moved (Acts 24:25); the fact that he and Festus decided that Paul was not a transgressors show that they were favorably impressed (Acts 26:32); it was no occasion for an ironical answer, and Paul took the remark as in earnest, and added still another appeal. Chrysostom, Luther, Beza, Bengal and Howson take this view.

Romans 2:12

Paul said, I would to God, etc. His reply is courteous, but of intense earnestness, a last effort to save souls that were deeply stirred. He would that king and governor, all, Jew and Gentile, shared his hope of a glorious inheritance, and were, like himself, at peace with God;–such as he, except these bonds. It is probable that his chains were then hanging upon his arms, and that he indicated them by a gesture.

Romans 2:14

When they had gone aside. Retired for private conference. Their decision was that Paul had done nothing justifying his imprisonment. The accusations of the Jews were groundless.

Romans 2:15

This man might have been set at liberty. His innocence was clear, but after the appeal to Caesar, the case belonged to the higher courts, and Festus had no more power to clear than to condemn. It was God’s will that Paul should be carried to Rome. There was work for him to do in the capital of the world. See Acts 23:11.

Romans 2:17

The Sea Voyage to Rome SUMMARY OF ACTS 27: The Centurion in Charge of Paul Embarks with Him for Rome. At Myra Take an Alexandrian Corn Ship. The Weather Tempestuous. Paul Advises the Centurion to Go into Harbor for the Winter. Caught by the Euroclydon and Driven. After Fourteen Days of Drifting, Paul Assures Them That All Will. Escape. The Ship Runs Ashore on the Island of Malta and Is Destroyed. The Men All Saved. When it was determined. When all was settled that Paul should go to Italy, and the time appointed had come. Delivered Paul and certain other prisoners. No information is given concerning these companions in bonds. Julius, a centurion. All we learn of this Roman officer is favorable. It is remarkable how uniformly Paul commanded the respect of the Roman officials with whom he came in contact. Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7-12), Gallio (Acts 18:12-17), Felix (Acts 24:22,23), Festus (Acts 25:12-14), and Julius are examples of this. Of Augustus’ band. Rather, “cohort”. Josephus says that this period one of the cohorts stationed at Caesarea took the name of Augustus (“Wars”, 2:12,7 and 2:12,5).

Romans 2:18

A ship of Adramyttium. This city was on the Asiatic coast of the Aegean Sea. In those days there were no regular lines of passenger ships, and in making a voyage from Judea to Rome several ships might be necessary to complete the voyage. Paul took three before he reached Rome. Aristarchus, a Macedonian. He is named in Acts 19:29 20:4. Luke and Aristarchus are the only fellow-Christians who attended Paul on the journey, as far as we know. In Colossians 4:10, written while a prisoner at Rome, Paul calls Aristarchus his “fellow prisoner”, and in Philemon 1:24, his “fellow worker”.

Romans 2:19

The next [day]. The next after sailing. We touched at Sidon. Sidon was about sixty-seven miles north of Caesarea. Here the centurion suffered Paul to go ashore to see his friends, the disciples in Sidon.

Romans 2:20

Sailed under Cyprus. Near the eastern coast, where, by keeping near the shore, the contrary winds would be less felt, being broken by the highlands of the great island. The wind must have been from the northwest. The geographical details of this voyage are so accurate that they must have been written by an eye-witness.

Romans 2:21

Myra, [a city] of Lycia. Reached by sailing over the seas of Cilicia and Pamphylia. Myra was a well-known port of that period.

Romans 2:22

Found a ship of Alexandria. The object was to meet a vessel on a voyage to Italy. Here was found such a ship, one of the great grain ships that sailed from Egypt. These were often large, of from 500 to 1,000 tons burden.

Romans 2:23

Sailed slowly. On account of contrary winds. From Myra to Cnidus was only 137 miles, yet it required many days. The language seems to imply that the ship was not able to come into the port of Cnidus, a good harbor, fit for wintering, on the Carian coast. We sailed under Crete. From Cnidus, they ought to have sailed west, but the headwinds compelled them to direct their course to the south, where they took shelter under the lee of Crete. The winds were still evidently from the northwest.

Romans 2:24

Came unto a place. With difficulty they reached a placed called The fair havens. On the south coast of Crete. It retains the same name to this day. It is a roadstead, near the city [of] Lasea. It was supposed that all trace of this city was lost until recently, but it is now known that the natives apply this name to the ruins of an ancient town about five miles from Fair Havens.

Romans 2:25

When much time was spent. How long a time had passed since the embarkation cannot be told, but so long that sailing was now dangerous. On account of the season of year. In the winter, not only the storms, but the clouds and darkness, interfered with navigation. Mariners, in the absence of the compass, needed the sun and stars to direct their course. Because the fast was . . . past. That of the Atonement, which came in October.

Romans 2:26

Sirs, I perceive. Paul’s experience taught him the danger of proceeding. It was the stormy and tempestuous season. He therefore volunteered his advice.

Romans 2:27

The centurion believed, etc. The master, or captain, and the owner, were both aboard, and it was but natural that their wishes would prevail with the centurion. The chief argument for proceeding was that Fair Havens was not a good harbor, and they hoped to reach a better one.

Romans 2:28

Phenice. This place, Phoenix in the Revised Version, was never reached, but would have been a good place for wintering for the excellent harbor there remains to this day. See Acts 11:19 15:3.

Romans 2:29

When the south wind blew. When this wind arose, they supposed they could attain their purpose, and sailed along the southern shore of Crete to reach, if possible, Phoenix.