[109]Cf. 1 Pet. ii. 3, where Ps. xxxiii. (xxxiv.) 9 is quoted.
[110]Cf. 1 Tim. iii. 7, etc.
[111]The reference is to Luke xv. 4 ff. and Ezek. xxxiv. 6, etc.
[112]Dionysius is thinking perhaps of the story in Tobit v. 6, where Raphael becomes the companion of Tobit’s son Tobias on his journey.
[113]On the principle that “charity thinketh no evil ... but hopeth all things” (1 Cor. xiii.): similar but not identical phrases (in words or sense) are found 1 Cor. xvi. 17, 2 Cor. ix. 12, xi. 9, Phil. ii. 30, and Col. i. 24.
[114]The difficulties of soldiers becoming and remaining Christians were peculiarly great under the early Emperors.
[115]That is, some had not yet been called upon to be actual martyrs, Dionysius among them who was still in exile.
[116]Is. xlix. 8.
[117]These were the same civil officials as those mentioned in Acts vi. 20 at Philippi, with their servants, there called lictors (ῥαβδοῦχοι): the soldiers belonged to the centurion, of course.