Verse 33
Partly being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly becoming partakers with them that were so used.
The appeal in these words is to the truly heroic and faithful endurance of those Hebrew Christians who, at the first, had stood against every persecution and insult, endured every hardship, and had continued in spite of every shameful thing done to them, never deviating and never turning back.
The mention of "gazingstock" brings to mind the words of Milligan in his quotation of Seneca. "In the morning men are exposed to lions and bears: at midday to their spectators."[42] "Reproaches" included scornful words of vilification, slurs, insults, lies, and curses of them that hated the Christians. The particular thing the author stressed is that they had not merely endured such things but willingly identified themselves with any of their brethren thus treated, befriending them, accompanying them, and sharing their reproaches.
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