Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every
city
As he passed along, where there was a church, or any number of
saints: in the churches of those times there were prophets who
foretold things to come, and by these the Holy Ghost testified to
the apostle, as he travelled along, and called upon the churches
in every city, what would befall him when he came to Jerusalem;
this sense the natural order of the words requires, unless there
should be a transposition of them, thus, "save that the Holy
Ghost witnesseth, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me, or
wait for me in every city"; that is, this in general was only
made known to him by the Spirit of God, that wherever he came,
affliction and persecution would attend him, and he must expect
bonds and imprisonment; these were ready for him, and be must
prepare for them, as he did: and therefore, whenever they came,
he was not surprised at them, they were no other than what he
looked for; but the other sense seems best, for such a
transposition is not very easy, and, besides, can by no means be
admitted, if the sense is, as the words are read in Beza's
ancient copy, and in others, and in the Vulgate Latin version,
"that bonds and afflictions abide me at Jerusalem"; however,
since the Holy Ghost testified before hand of the afflictions and
bonds of the apostle, whether in every city or in Jerusalem, or
both; it is no inconsiderable proof of the proper deity of the
Spirit of God, and is an instance of his affectionate regard to
the apostle, to give him previous notice of these things.