Chapter XXIV.—Of Place for Prayer.

But how “in every place,” since we are prohibited161    Matt. vi. 5, 6, which forbids praying in public. (from praying) in public? In every place, he means, which opportunity or even necessity, may have rendered suitable: for that which was done by the apostles162    Paul and Silas (Acts xvi. 25). (who, in gaol, in the audience of the prisoners, “began praying and singing to God”) is not considered to have been done contrary to the precept; nor yet that which was done by Paul,163    I have followed Muratori’s reading here. who in the ship, in presence of all, “made thanksgiving to God.”164    Mr. Dodgson renders “celebrated the Eucharist;” but that rendering appears very doubtful. See Acts xxvii. 35.

CAPUT XXIV .

Sed quomodo omni loco (I. Tim., I, 2), cum prohibeamur in publico? Omni, inquit, loco, quem opportunitas, aut etiam necessitas importaret. Non enim contra praeceptum reputatur ab Apostolis factum, qui in carcere audientibus custodiis orabant et canebant Deo, apud Paulum, qui in navi coram omnibus Eucharistiam fecit.