23 where it is fpoken againft. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and teftified the kingdom of God (m), perfuading them concerning Jefus, both out of the law of Mcfes, and out of 24 the prophets, from morning till evening. And fome believed the things which were fpoken, and 25 fome believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had fpoken one word, Well fpake the holy Ghoft by 26 Efaias the prophet, unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and fay, Hearing (n), ye fhall hear, and fhall not understand; and feeing, ye fhall fee, 27 and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed grofs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they clofed; left they should fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underftand with their heart, and should be converted, and 28 I fhould heal them: Be it known therefore unto

you, that the falvation of God is fent unto the Gen29 tiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had

faid thefe words, the Jews departed, and had great 30 reafoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two

whole years in his own hired houfe, and received all 31 that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching thofe things which concern the Lord Jefus Chrift, with all confidence, no man forbidding him (o).

(m) See Chap. i. 3.

Note.

(n) Ye will hear, but will not confider; and ye will fee, and not be convinced.

(0) At the clofe of this hiftory, we cannot but remark, that although it is plain, that St. Paul exercifed his miniftry, and made converts at Rome, yet there is no evidence that St. Peter was then bishop. of that See: on the contrary, his not being named in this whole chapter affords a ftrong prefumptive argument that he was NOT. And certainly, had he been bishop of Rome, St. Paul would not have failed to pay him the fame refpect in that eity, as he had before paid to him and St. James at Jerufalem, (Chap. xxi. 18. Gal. i. 19.)

Neither

Neither is it probable, that the unconverted Jews of Rome, de firous as they were of information, (verfe 22.) could have been fo ignorant of the nature of chriftianity. Had St. Peter been bishop there, they would doubtlefs have applied to him, and have been inftructed. The notion then that the church of Rome was founded by St. Peter, and is in confequence the mother and mistress of all christian churches, with all the vain pretenfions built upon that ng sion, muft neceffarily fall to the ground.

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