SEV Biblia, Chapter 28:16
Cuando llegamos a Roma, el centurin entreg los presos al prefecto de los ejrcitos, mas a Pablo fue permitido estar por sí, con un soldado que le guardase.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 28:16
Verse 16. The captain of the guard] stratopedarch. This word properly means the commander of a camp; but it signifies the prefect, or commander of the pretorian cohorts, or emperor's guards. Tacitus (Annal. lib. iv. cap. 2) informs us that, in the reign of Tiberius, Sejanus, who was then prefect of these troops, did, in order to accomplish his ambitious designs, cause them to be assembled from their quarters in the city, and stationed in a fortified camp near it; so that their commander is with peculiar propriety styled by St. Luke stratopedarchv, the commander of the camp. For the arrival of St. Paul at Rome was in the seventh year of Nero; and it is certain, from Suetonius, (in Tiber. cap. 37,) that the custom of keeping the pretorian soldiers in a camp, near the city, was retained by the emperors succeeding Tiberius; for the historian observes that Claudius, at his accession to the empire, was received into the camp, in castra delatus est, namely, of the pretorian cohorts; and so Tacitus says of Nero, An. lib. xii. cap. 69, that on the same occasions illatus castris, he was brought into the camp. Dr. Doddridge observes that it was customary for prisoners who were brought to Rome to be delivered to this officer, who had the charge of the state prisoners, as appears from the instance of Agrippa, who was taken into custody by Macro, the pretorian prefect, who succeeded Sejanus; (Joseph. Ant. lib. xviii. cap. 7. sec. 6;) and from Trajan's order to Pliny, when two were in commission, Plin. lib. x. ep. 65. Vinctus mitti ad praefectos praetorii mei debet: he should be sent bound to the prefects of my guards. The person who now had that office was the noted Afranius Burrhus; but both before and after him it was held by two: Tacit. An. lib. xii. sec. 42; lib. xiv. sec. 51. See Parkhurst.
Burrhus was a principal instrument in raising Nero to the throne; and had considerable influence in repressing many of the vicious inclinations of that bad prince. With many others, he was put to death by the inhuman Nero.
Burrhus is praised by the historians for moderation and love of justice. His treatment of St. Paul is no mean proof of this. Calmet.
With a soldier that kept him.] That is, the soldier to whom he was chained, as has been related before, chap. xii. 6.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. And when we came to Rome , etc.] To the city itself: the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard ; or general of the army; or, as some think, the governor of the praetorian band of soldiers, who attended the emperor as his guards: his name is thought to have been Burrhus Afranius; to him Julius the centurion delivered all the prisoners he brought from Caesarea, excepting Paul, to be disposed of by him, in the several prisons, or jails, to whom it belonged to take care of such persons: this clause is wanting in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him : this was owing, either to the letter which Festus sent to Rome concerning him, and his case; by which it appeared, that he was no malefactor, and therefore to be used in a different manner from the rest of the prisoners; or rather to the intercession of the centurion, who had all along used him in a very civil and courteous manner; who requesting this favour had it granted, that Paul should not be put into the common prison with the rest, but should dwell in an apartment by himself; or, as the Ethiopic version renders it, at his own will; where he himself pleased, for he dwelt in his own hired house, ( Acts 28:30); only he was under the care and custody of a soldier, who constantly attended him wherever he went; and which could not be otherwise, seeing he was chained, as in ( Acts 28:20) and his chain was put on his right hand, and fastened to the left hand of the soldier, that had him under his keeping; so that wherever he was or went, the soldier must be likewise: hence that passage in Seneca f1388 , as the same chain joins together the prisoner and the soldier, so those things which are unlike go together; fear follows hope.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-16 - The common events of travelling are seldom worthy of being told; but the comfort of communion with the saints, and kindness shown by friends, deserve particular mention. The Christians at Rome were so fa from being ashamed of Paul, or afraid of owning him, because he was prisoner, that they were the more careful to show him respect. He ha great comfort in this. And if our friends are kind to us, God puts it into their hearts, and we must give him the glory. When we see thos even in strange places, who bear Christ's name, fear God, and serv him, we should lift up our hearts to heaven in thanksgiving. How man great men have made their entry into Rome, crowned and in triumph, wh really were plagues to the world! But here a good man makes his entr into Rome, chained as a poor captive, who was a greater blessing to the world than any other merely a man. Is not this enough to put us for ever out of conceit with worldly favour? This may encourage God' prisoners, that he can give them favour in the eyes of those that carr them captives. When God does not soon deliver his people out of bondage, yet makes it easy to them, or them easy under it, they have reason to be thankful.
Greek Textus Receptus
οτε 3753 ADV δε 1161 CONJ ηλθομεν 2064 5627 V-2AAI-1P εις 1519 PREP ρωμην 4516 N-ASF ο 3588 T-NSM εκατονταρχος 1543 N-NSM παρεδωκεν 3860 5656 V-AAI-3S τους 3588 T-APM δεσμιους 1198 N-APM τω 3588 T-DSM στρατοπεδαρχη 4759 N-DSM τω 3588 T-DSM δε 1161 CONJ παυλω 3972 N-DSM επετραπη 2010 5681 V-API-3S μενειν 3306 5721 V-PAN καθ 2596 PREP εαυτον 1438 F-3ASM συν 4862 PREP τω 3588 T-DSM φυλασσοντι 5442 5723 V-PAP-DSM αυτον 846 P-ASM στρατιωτη 4757 N-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard. The best texts omit.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
28:16 {Paul was suffered to abide by himself} (epetrap t"i Paul"i menein kaq' heauton). Second aorist passive of epitrepo, to permit or allow. Literally, "It was permitted to Paul to abide by himself." Some late documents (Textus Receptus) here add: "The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard" (or the stratopedarch). this officer used to be considered Burrus who was Prefect of the Praetorian Guard A.D. 51-62. But it is by no means certain that Julius turned the prisoners over to this officer. It seems more likely that Julius would report to the captain of the Peregrini. If so, we may be sure that Julius would give a good report of Paul to this officer who would be kindly disposed and would allow Paul comparative freedom (living by himself, in his lodging, verse #23, his own hired house verse #30, though still chained to a soldier). {With the soldier that guarded him} (sun twi fulassonti auton stratiwtei). Probably a new soldier every day or night, but always with this soldier chained to his right hand day and night. Now that Paul is in Rome what can he do for Christ while he awaits the outcome of his own appeal to Nero?
