NOTES
ON
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
THIS book, in which St. Luke records the actions of the apostles,
particularly of St. Peter and St. Paul, (whose companion in travel
he was,) is as it were the centre between the Gospel and the Epistles.
It contains, after a very brief re-capitulation of the evangelical
history, a continuation of the history of Christ, the event of his
predictions, and a kind of supplement to what he had before spoken
to his disciples, by the Holy Ghost now given unto them. It contains
also the seeds, and first stamina of all those things, which are
enlarged upon in the epistles.
The Gospels treat of Christ the head. The Acts show that the same
things befell his body; which is animated by his Spirit, persecuted
by the world, defended and exalted by God.
In this book is shown the Christian doctrine, and the method of
applying it to Jews, heathens, and believers; that is, to those who
are to be converted, and those who are converted: the hinderances of
it in particular men, in several kinds of men, in different ranks
and nations: the propagation of the Gospel, and that grand revolution
among both Jews and heathens: the victory thereof, in Spite of all
opposition, from all the power, malice, and wisdom of the whole
world, spreading from one chamber into temples, houses, streets,
markets, fields, inns, prisons, camps, courts, chariots, ships,
villages, cities, islands: to Jews, heathens, magistrates, generals,
soldiers, eunuchs, captives, slaves, women, children, sailors: to
Athens, and at length to Rome.
THE PARTS OF IT ARE SEVEN
1. Pentecost, with its antecedents........................... Chap. i-ii
2. Transactions with the Jews, in Jerusalem, in all Judea,
and in Samaria........................................... iii-ix
3. Transactions at Cesarea, and the reception of the Gentiles...... x-xi
4. The first course of Barnabas and Paul among the Gentiles..... xii-xiv
5. The embassy to, and council at Jerusalem, concerning the
liberty of the Gentiles...................................... xv
6. The second course of St. Paul................................ xvi-xix
7. His third, as far as Rome................................. xix-xxviii
THE ACTS.
---------
I. Verse 1. The former treatise-In that important season which
reached from the resurrection of Christ to his ascension, the
former treatise ends, and this begins: this describing the Acts
of the Holy Ghost, (by the apostles,) as that does the acts of
Jesus Christ. Of all things-In a summary manner: which Jesus
began to do-until the day-That is, of all things which Jesus did
from the beginning till that day.
2. After having given commandment-In the 3d verse
# Acts 1:3 St. Luke expresses in general terms what Christ
said to his apostles during those forty days. But in the 4th
# Acts 1:4 and following verses he declares what he said on the
day of his ascension. He had brought his former account down to
that day; and from that day begins the Acts of the Apostles.
3. Being seen by them forty days-That is, many times during that
space. And speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God-Which was the sum of all his discourses with them before his
passion also.
4. Wait for the promise of the Father, which ye have heard from
me-When he was with them a little before, as it is recorded,
# Luke 24:49.
5. Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost-And so are all true
believers to the end of the world. But the extraordinary gifts
of the Holy Ghost also are here promised.
6. Dost thou at this time-At the time thou now speakest of?
not many days hence? restore the kingdom to Israel?-They still
seemed to dream of an outward, temporal kingdom, in which the
Jews should have dominion over all nations. It seems they came
in a body, having before concerted the design, to ask when this
kingdom would come.
7. The times or the seasons-Times, in the language of the
Scriptures, denote a longer; seasons, a shorter space. Which
the Father hath put in his own power-To be revealed when and to
whom it pleaseth him.
8. But ye shall receive power-and shall be witnesses to me-That
is, ye shall be empowered to witness my Gospel, both by your
preaching and suffering.
12. A Sabbath-day's journey-The Jews generally fix this to two
thousand cubits, which is not a mile.
13. They went up into the upper room-The upper rooms, so
frequently mentioned in Scripture, were chambers in the highest
part of the house, set apart by the Jews for private prayer.
These, on account of their being so retired and convenient, the
apostles now used for all the offices of religion.
# Matt 10:2; Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13.
14. His brethren-His near kinsmen, who for some time did not
believe; it seems not till near his death.
15. The number of persons together-Who were together in the
upper room. were a hundred and twenty-But he had undoubtedly
many more in other places; of whom more than five hundred saw
him at once after his resurrection, # 1Cor 15:6.
16. # Psa 41:9.
18. This man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity-That
is, a field was purchased with the reward of his iniquity; though
very possibly Judas might design the purchase. And falling down
on his face-It seems the rope broke before, or as he died.
19. In their own tongue-This expression, That is, the field
of blood, St. Luke seems to have added to the words of St.
Peter, for the use of Theophilus and other readers who did
not understand Hebrew.
20. His bishopric-That is, his apostleship.
# Psa 69:25.
21. All the time that the Lord Jesus was going in and out-That
is, conversing familiarly: over us-as our Master.
# Psa 109:8.
22. To be a witness with us of his resurrection-And of the
circumstances which preceded and followed it.
23. And they appointed two-So far the faithful could go by
consulting together, but no further. Therefore here commenced
the proper use of the lot, whereby a matter of importance, which
cannot be determined by any ordinary method, is committed to the
Divine decision.
25. Fell-By his transgression-Some time before his death: to go
to his own place-That which his crimes had deserved, and which
he had chosen for himself, far from the other apostles, in the
region of death.
II. 1. At the pentecost of Sinai, in the Old Testament, and the
pentecost of Jerusalem, in the New, where the two grand
manifestations of God, the legal and the evangelical; the one
from the mountain, and the other from heaven; the terrible, and
the merciful one. They were all with one accord in one place-So
here was a conjunction of company, minds, and place; the whole
hundred and twenty being present.
2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven-So will the Son
of man come to judgment. And it filled all the house-That is,
all that part of the temple where they were sitting.
3. And there appeared distinct tongues, as of fire-That is,
small flames of fire. This is all which the phrase, tongues
of fire, means in the language of the seventy. Yet it might
intimate God's touching their tongues as it were (together with
their hearts) with Divine fire: his giving them such words as
were active and penetrating, even as flaming fire.
4. And they began to speak with other tongues-The miracle was
not in the ears of the hearers, (as some have unaccountably
supposed,) but in the mouth of the speakers. And this family
praising God together, with the tongues of all the world, was an
earnest that the whole world should in due time praise God in
their various tongues. As the Spirit gave them utterance-Moses,
the type of the law, was of a slow tongue; but the Gospel speaks
with a fiery and flaming one.
5. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews-Gathered from all
parts by the peculiar providence of God.
6. The multitude came together, and were confounded-The motions
of their minds were swift and various.
9. Judea-The dialect of which greatly differed from that of
Galilee. Asia-The country strictly so called.
10. Roman sojourners-Born at Rome, but now living at Jerusalem.
These seem to have come to Jerusalem after those who are above
mentioned. All of them were partly Jews by birth, and partly
proselytes.
11. Cretans-One island seems to be mentioned for all. The
wonderful works of God-Probably those which related to the
miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, together
with the effusion of his Spirit, as a fulfilment of his promises,
and the glorious dispensations of Gospel grace.
12. They were all amazed-All the devout men.
13. But others mocking-The world begins with mocking, thence
proceeds to cavilling, # Ac 4:7; to threats, 4:17; to
imprisoning, # Ac 5:18; blows, 5:40; to slaughter,
# Ac 7:58. These mockers appear to have been some of the
natives of Judea, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, (who understood
only the dialect of the country,) by the apostle's immediately
directing his discourse to them in the next verse. They are
full of sweet wine-So the Greek word properly signifies. There
was no new wine so early in the year as pentecost. Thus natural
men are wont to ascribe supernatural things to mere natural
causes; and many times as impudently and unskilfully as in the
present case.
14. Then Peter standing up-All the gestures, all the words of
Peter, show the utmost sobriety; lifted up his voice-With
cheerfulness and boldness; and said to them-This discourse has
three parts; each of which, # Ac 2:14,22,29, begins with the
same appellation, men: only to the last part he prefixes with
more familiarity the additional word brethren. Men of Judea
-That is, ye that are born in Judea. St. Peter spoke in Hebrew,
which they all understood.
15. It is but the third hour of the day-That is, nine in the
morning. And on the solemn festivals the Jews rarely ate or
drank any thing till noon.
16. But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet-But
there is another and better way of accounting for this.
# Joel 2:28
17. The times of the Messiah are frequently called the last
days, the Gospel being the last dispensation of Divine grace.
I will pour out of my Spirit-Not on the day of pentecost only,
upon all flesh-On persons of every age, sex, and rank. And
your young men shall see visions-In young men the outward sense,
are most vigorous, and the bodily strength is entire, whereby
they are best qualified to sustain the shock which usually
attends the visions of God. In old men the internal senses are
most vigorous, suited to divine dreams. Not that the old are
wholly excluded from the former, nor the young from the latter.
18. And upon my servants-On those who are literally in a state
of servitude.
19. And I will show prodigies in heaven above, and signs on
earth beneath-Great revelations of grace are usually attended
with great judgments on those who reject it. In heaven-Treated
of, # Ac 2:20.
On earth-Described in this verse. Such signs were those
mentioned, # Ac 2:22, before the passion of Christ; which
are so mentioned as to include also those at the very time of
the passion and resurrection, at the destruction of Jerusalem,
and at the end of the world.
Terrible indeed were those prodigies in particular which preceded
the destruction of Jerusalem: such as the flaming sword hanging
over the city, and the fiery comet pointing down upon it for a
year; the light that shone upon the temple and the altar in the
night, as if it had been noon-day; the opening of the great and
heavy gate of the temple without hands; the voice heard from the
most holy place, Let us depart hence; the admonition of Jesus the
son of Ananus, crying for seven years together, Wo, wo, wo; the
vision of contending armies in the air, and of entrenchments
thrown up against a city there represented; the terrible thunders
and lightnings, and dreadful earthquakes, which every one
considered as portending some great evil: all which, through the
singular providence of God, are particularly recorded by Josephus.
Blood-War and slaughter. Fire-Burnings of houses and towns,
involving all in clouds of smoke.
20. The moon shall be turned into blood-A bloody colour: before
the day of the Lord-Eminently the last day; though not excluding
any other day or season, wherein the Lord shall manifest his
glory, in taking vengeance of his adversaries.
21. But-whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord-This
expression implies the whole of religion, and particularly
prayer uttered in faith; shall be saved-From all those
plagues; from sin and hell.
23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God-The apostle here anticipates an objection,
Why did God suffer such a person to be so treated? Did he not
know what wicked men intended to do? And had he not power to
prevent it? Yea. He knew all that those wicked men intended
to do. And he had power to blast all their designs in a moment.
But he did not exert that power, because he so loved the world!
Because it was the determined counsel of his love, to redeem
mankind from eternal death, by the death of his only-begotten Son.
24. Having loosed the pains of death-The word properly means,
the pains of a woman in travail. As it was not possible that
he should be held under it-Because the Scripture must needs be
fulfilled.
25. # Psalm 16:8.
27. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hades-The invisible world.
But it does not appear, that ever our Lord went into hell. His
soul, when it was separated from the body, did not go thither,
but to paradise, # Luke 23:43. The meaning is, Thou wilt not
leave my soul in its separate state, nor suffer my body to be
corrupted.
28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life-That is, Thou
hast raised me from the dead. Thou wilt fill me with joy by
thy countenance-When I ascend to thy right hand.
29. The patriarch-A more honourable title than king.
30. # Psalm 89:4, &c.
32. He foreseeing this, spake of the resurrection Of Christ-St.
Peter argues thus: It is plain, David did not speak this of
himself. Therefore he spake of Christ's rising. But how does
that promise of a kingdom imply his resurrection? Because he
did not receive it before he died, and because his kingdom was
to endure for ever, # 2Sam 7:13.
33. Being exalted by the right hand of God-By the right hand;
that is, the mighty power of God. Our Lord was exalted at his
ascension to God's right hand in heaven.
34. Sit thou on my right hand-In this and the following verse is
an allusion to two ancient customs; one, to the highest honour
that used to be paid to persons by placing them on the right
hand, as Solomon did Bathsheba, when sitting on his throne,
# 1Kings 2:19; and the other, to the custom of conquerors, who
used to tread on the necks of their vanquished enemies, as a
token of their entire victory and triumph over them.
35. Until I make thine enemies thy footstool-This text is here
quoted with the greatest address, as suggesting in the words of
David, their great prophetic monarch, how certain their own ruin
must be, if they went on to oppose Christ.
# Psalm 110:1.
36. Lord-Jesus, after his exaltation, is constantly meant by this
word in the New Testament, unless sometimes where it occurs, in a
text quoted from the Old Testament.
37. They said to the apostles, Brethren-They did not style them
so before.
38. Repent-And hereby return to God: be baptized-Believing in
the name of Jesus-And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
-See the three-one God clearly proved. See # Ac 26:20.
The gift of the Holy Ghost does not mean in this place the power
of speaking with tongues. For the promise of this was not given
to all that were afar off, in distant ages and nations. But
rather the constant fruits of faith, even righteousness, and
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Whomsoever the Lord our God
shall call-(Whether they are Jews or Gentiles) by his word and
by his Spirit: and who are not disobedient to the heavenly
calling. But it is observable St. Peter did not yet understand
the very words he spoke.
40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort-In such
an accepted time we should add line upon line, and not leave off,
till the thing is done. Save yourselves from this perverse
generation-Many of whom were probably mocking still.
41. And there were added-To the hundred and twenty.
42. And they continued steadfast-So their daily Church communion
consisted in these four particulars:
1. Hearing the word;
2. Having all things common;
3. Receiving the Lord's Supper;
4. Prayer.
Ye diff'rent sects, who all declare,
Lo here is Christ, and Christ is there;
Your stronger proofs divinely give,
And show me where the Christians live!
43. And fear came upon every soul-Of those who did not join
with them: whereby persecution was prevented, till it was
needful for them.
45. And sold their possessions-Their lands and houses; and
goods-Their movables. And parted them to all as any one had
need-To say the Christians did this only till the destruction
of Jerusalem, is not true; for many did it long after. Not that
there was any positive command for so doing: it needed not; for
love constrained them. It was a natural fruit of that love
wherewith each member of the community loved every other as his
own soul. And if the whole Christian Church had continued in
this spirit, this usage must have continued through all ages.
To affirm therefore that Christ did not design it should
continue, is neither more nor less than to affirm, that Christ
did not design this measure of love should continue. I see no
proof of this.
46. Continuing daily-breaking the bread-in the Lord's Supper,
as did many Churches for some ages. They partook of their
food with gladness and singleness of heart-They carried the
same happy and holy temper through all their common actions:
eating and working with the same spirit wherewith they prayed
and received the Lord's Supper.
47. The Lord added daily such as were saved-From their sins:
from the guilt and power of them.
III. 1. The ninth hour-The Jews divided the time from sunrise
to sunset into twelve hours; which were consequently of unequal
length at different times of the year, as the days were longer
or shorter. The third hour therefore was nine in the morning;
the ninth, three in the afternoon; but not exactly. For the
third hour was the middle space between sunrise and noon; which,
if the sun rose at five, (the earliest hour of its rising in
that climate,) was half an hour after eight: if at seven (the
latest hour of its rising there) was half an hour after nine.
The chief hours of prayer were the third and ninth; at which
seasons the morning and evening sacrifices were offered, and
incense (a kind of emblem representing prayer) burnt on the
golden altar.
2. At the gate of the temple, called Beautiful-This gate was
added by Herod the Great, between the court of the Gentiles and
that of Israel. It was thirty cubits high, and fifteen broad,
and made of Corinthian brass, more pompous in its workmanship
and splendour than those that were covered with silver and gold.
6. Then said Peter, Silver and gold have I none-How unlike his
supposed successor! Can the bishop of Rome either say or do
the same?
12. Peter answered the people-Who were running together, and
inquiring into the circumstances of the fact.
13. The God of our fathers-This was wisely introduced in the
beginning of his discourse, that it might appear they taught
no new religion, inconsistent with that of Moses, and were far
from having the least design to divert their regards from the
God of Israel. Hath glorified his Son-By this miracle, whom ye
delivered up-When God had given him to you, and when ye ought
to have received him as a most precious treasure, and to have
preserved him with all your power.
14. Ye renounced the Holy One-Whom God had marked out as such;
and the Just One-Even in the judgment of Pilate.
16. His name-Himself: his power and love. The faith which is
by him-Of which he is the giver, as well as the object.
17. And now, brethren-A word full of courtesy and compassion,
I know-He speaks to their heart, that through ignorance ye did
it-which lessened, though it could not take away, the guilt.
As did also your rulers-The prejudice lying from the authority of
the chief priests and elders, he here removes, but with great
tenderness. He does not call them our, but your rulers.
For as the Jewish dispensation ceased at the death of Christ,
consequently so did the authority of its rulers.
18. But God-Who was not ignorant, permitted this which he had
foretold, to bring good out of it.
19. Be converted-Be turned from sin and Satan unto God.
See # Ac 26:20. But this term, so common in modern writings,
very rarely occurs in Scripture: perhaps not once in the sense
we now use it, for an entire change from vice to holiness.
That the times of refreshing-Wherein God largely bestows his
refreshing grace, may come-To you also. To others they will
assuredly come, whether ye repent or no.
20. And he may send-The apostles generally speak of our Lord's
second coming, as being just at hand. Who was before appointed
-Before the foundation of the world.
21. Till the times of the restitution of all things-The apostle
here comprises at once the whole course of the times of the New
Testament, between our Lord's ascension and his coming in glory.
The most eminent of these are the apostolic age, and that of the
spotless Church, which will consist of all the Jews and Gentiles
united, after all persecutions and apostacies are at an end.
22. The Lord shall raise you up a prophet like unto me-And that
in many particulars. Moses instituted the Jewish Church: Christ
instituted the Christian. With the prophesying of Moses was soon
joined the effect, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt: with the
prophesying of Christ that grand effect, the deliverance of his
people from sin and death. Those who could not bear the voice of
God, yet desired to hear that of Moses. Much more do those who
are wearied with the law, desire to hear the voice of Christ.
Moses spake to the people all, and only those things, which God
had commanded him: so did Christ. But though he was like Moses,
yet he was infinitely superior to him, in person, as well as in
office. # Deut 18:15.
23. Every soul who will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed
from among the people-One cannot imagine a more masterly address
than this, to warn the Jews of the dreadful consequence of their
infidelity, in the very words of their favourite prophet, out of
a pretended zeal for whom they rejected Christ.
24. These days-The days of the Messiah.
25. Ye are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant-That in,
heirs of the prophecies. To you properly, as the first heirs,
belong the prophecies and the covenant. # Gen 12:3.
26. To bless you, by turning you from your iniquities-Which is
the great Gospel blessing.
IV. 1. And as they were speaking to the people, the priests-came
upon them-So wisely did God order, that they should first bear a
full testimony to the truth in the temple, and then in the great
council; to which they could have had no access, had they not
been brought before it as criminals.
2. The priests being grieved-That the name of Jesus was preached
to the people; especially they were offended at the doctrine of
his resurrection; for as they had put him to death, his rising
again proved him to be the Just One, and so brought his blood
upon their heads. The priests were grieved, lest their office
and temple services should decline, and Christianity take root,
through the preaching of the apostles, and their power of working
miracles: the captain of the temple-Being concerned to prevent
all sedition and disorder, the Sadducees-Being displeased at the
overturning of all their doctrines, particularly with regard to
the resurrection.
4. The number of the men-Beside women and children, were about
five thousand-So many did our Lord now feed at once with the
bread from heaven!
5. Rulers, and elders, and scribes-Who were eminent for power,
for wisdom, and for learning.
6. Annas, who had been the high priest, and Caiaphas,
who was so then.
7. By what name-By what authority, have ye done this?-They seem
to speak ambiguously on purpose.
8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost-That moment. God moves
his instruments, not when they please, but just when he sees it
needful. Ye rulers-He gives them the honour due to their office.
10. Be it known to you all-Probably the herald of God proclaimed
this with a loud voice. Whom God hath raised from the dead-They
knew in their own consciences that it was so. And though they
had hired the soldiers to tell a most senseless and incredible
tale to the contrary, # Matt 28:12,15, yet it is observable,
they did not, so far as we can learn, dare to plead it before
Peter and John.
11. # Psalm 118:22.
12. There is no other name whereby we must he saved-The apostle
uses a beautiful gradation, from the temporal deliverance which
had been wrought for the poor cripple, by the power of Christ,
to that of a much nobler and more important kind, which is
wrought by Christ for impotent and sinful souls. He therein
follows the admirable custom of his great Lord and Master, who
continually took occasion from earthly to speak of spiritual things.
13. Illiterate and uneducated men-Even by such men (though
not by such only) hath God in all ages caused his word to be
preached before the world.
17. Yet that it spread no farther-For they look upon it as a
mere gangrene. So do all the world upon genuine Christianity.
Let us severely threaten them-Great men, ye do nothing. They
have a greater than you to flee to.
18. They charged them not to speak-Privately; nor teach-Publicly.
19. Whether it be just to obey you rather than God, judge ye
-Was it not by the same spirit, that Socrates, when they were
condemning him to death, for teaching the people, said, "O ye
Athenians, I embrace and love you; but I will obey God rather
than you. And if you would spare my life on condition I should
cease to teach my fellow citizens, I would die a thousand times
rather than accept the proposal."
21. They all glorified God-So much wiser were the people than
those who were over them.
24. The sense is, Lord, thou hast all power. And thy word is
fulfilled. Men do rage against thee: but it is in vain.
25. # Psalm 2:1.
27. Whom thou hast anointed-To be king of Israel.
28. The sense is, but they could do no more than thou wast
pleased to permit, according to thy determinate counsel, to save
mankind by the sufferings of thy Son. And what was needful for
this end, thou didst before determine to permit to be done.
30. Thou stretchest forth thy hand-Exertest thy power.
31. They were all filled-Afresh; and spake the word
with boldness-So their petition was granted.
32. And the multitude of them that believed-Every individual
person were of one heart and one soul-Their love, their hopes,
their passions joined: and not so much as one-In so great a
multitude: this was a necessary consequence of that union of
heart; said that aught of the things which he had was his own
-It is impossible any one should, while all were of one soul.
So long as that truly Christian love continued, they could not
but have all things common.
33. And great grace-A large measure of the inward power of the
Holy Ghost, was upon them all-Directing all their thoughts,
words, and actions.
34. For neither was there any one among them that wanted-We may
observe, this is added as the proof that great grace was upon
them all. And it was the immediate, necessary consequence of
it: yea, and must be to the end of the world. In all ages and
nations, the same cause, the same degree of grace, could not but
in like circumstances produce the same effect. For whosoever
were possessors of houses and lands sold them-Not that there was
any particular command for this; but there was great grace and
great love: of which this was the natural fruit.
35. And distribution was made-At first by the apostles
themselves, afterward by them whom they appointed.
36. A son of consolation-Not only on account of his so largely
assisting the poor with his fortune; but also of those peculiar
gifts of the Spirit, whereby he was so well qualified both to
comfort and to exhort.
37. Having an estate-Probably of considerable value. It is
not unlikely that it was in Cyprus. Being a Levite, he had
no portion, no distinct inheritance in Israel.
V. 1. But a certain man named Ananias-It is certain, not a
believer, for all that believed were of one heart and of one
soul: probably not baptized; but intending now to offer himself
for baptism.
2. And bringing a certain part-As if it had been the whole:
perhaps saying it was so.
3. To lie to the Holy Ghost-Who is in us. And to keep back-Here
was the first instance of it. This was the first attempt to
bring propriety of goods into the Christian Church.
4. While it remained, did it not remain thine?-It is true,
whosoever among the Christians (not one excepted) had houses
or lands, sold them, and laid the price at the feet of the
apostles. But it was in his own choice to be a Christian or
not: and consequently either to sell his land, or keep it.
And when it was sold, was it not in thy power?-For it does not
appear that he professed himself a Christian when he sold it.
Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart?-So profanely
to dissemble on so solemn an occasion? Thou hast not lied to
men only, but to God also. Hence the Godhead of the Holy Ghost
evidently appears: since lying to him, # Ac 5:3, is lying to God.
5. And Ananias fell down and expired-And this severity was
not only just, considering that complication of vain glory,
covetousness, fraud, and impiety, which this action contained:
but it was also wise and gracious, as it would effectually
deter any others from following his example. It was likewise
a convincing proof of the upright conduct of the apostles, in
managing the sums with which they were intrusted; and in general
of their Divine mission. For none can imagine that Peter would
have had the assurance to pronounce, and much less the power to
execute such a sentence, if he had been guilty himself of a
fraud of the same kind; or had been belying the Holy Ghost in
the whole of his pretensions to be under his immediate direction.
7. About the space of three hours-How precious a space! The
woman had a longer time for repentance.
8. If ye sold the land for so much-Naming the sum.
10. The Church-This is the first time it is mentioned: and
here is a native specimen of a New Testament Church; which is
a company of men, called by the Gospel, grafted into Christ by
baptism, animated by love, united by all kind of fellowship,
and disciplined by the death of Ananias and Sapphira.
12. And they were all-All the believers.
13. None of the rest-No formalists or hypocrites, durst join
themselves-In an outward show only, like Ananias and Sapphira.
14. But so much the more were true believers added, because
unbelievers kept at a distance.
17. The high priest-and the sect of the Sadducees-A goodly
company for the priest! He, and these deniers of any angel
or resurrection, were filled with zeal-Angry, bitter,
persecuting zeal.
20. The words of this-That is, these words of life: words
which show the way to life everlasting.
23. We found the prison shut-The angel probably had shut
the doors again.
24. They doubted what this should be-They were even at their
wits' end. The world, in persecuting the children of God,
entangle themselves in numberless difficulties.
28. Did not we strictly command you, not to teach?-See the
poor cunning of the enemies of the Gospel. They make laws and
interdicts at their pleasure, which those who obey God cannot
but break; and then take occasion thereby to censure and punish
the innocent, as guilty. Ye would bring the blood of this man
upon us-An artful and invidious word. The apostles did not
desire to accuse any man. They simply declared the naked truth.
29. Then Peter-In the name of all the apostles, said-He does
not now give them the titles of honour, which he did before,
# Ac 4:8; but enters directly upon the subject, and justifies
what he had done. This is, as it were, a continuation of that
discourse, but with an increase of severity.
30. Hath raised up Jesus-Of the seed of David, according to
the promises made to our fathers.
31. Him hath God exalted-From the grave to heaven; to give
repentance-Whereby Jesus is received as a Prince; and
forgiveness of sins-Whereby he is received as a Saviour.
Hence some infer, that repentance and faith are as mere gifts
as remission of sins. Not so: for man co-operates in the
former, but not in the latter. God alone forgives sins.
32. And also the Holy Ghost-A much greater witness.
34. But a certain Pharisee-And as such believing the resurrection
of the dead; a doctor, or teacher of the law-That is, a scribe,
and indeed one of the highest rank; had in honour by all the
people-Except the Sadducees; rising up in the council-So God can
raise defenders of his servants, whensoever and wheresoever he
pleases.
36. Before these days-He prudently mentions the facts first, and
then makes the inference.
38. Let them alone-In a cause which is manifestly good, we
should immediately join. In a cause, on the other hand, which
is manifestly evil, we should immediately oppose. But in a
sudden, new, doubtful occurrence, this advice is eminently
useful. If this counsel or this work-He seems to correct
himself, as if it were some sudden work, rather than a counsel
or design. And so it was. For the apostles had no counsel, plan,
or design of their own; but were mere instruments in the hand of
God, working just as he led them from day to day.
41. Rejoicing-to suffer shame-This is a sure mark of the truth,
joy in affliction, such is true, deep, pure.
VI. 1. There arose a murmuring-Here was the first breach made on
those who were before of one heart and of one soul. Partiality
crept in unawares on some; and murmuring on others. Ah Lord!
how short a time did pure, genuine, undefiled Christianity
remain in the world! O the depth! How unsearchable are thy
counsels! Marvellous are thy ways, O King of saints! The
Hellenists were Jews born out of Palestine. They were so called,
because they used the Greek as their in other tongue.
In this partiality of the Hebrews, and murmuring of the
Hellenists, were the needs of a general persecution sown. Did
God ever, in any age or country, withdraw his restraining
providence, and let loose the world upon the Christians, till
there was a cause among themselves? Is not an open, general
persecution, always both penal and medicinal? A punishment of
those that will not accept of milder reproofs, as well as a
medicine to heal their sickness? And at the same time a means
both of purifying and strengthening those whose heart is still
right with God.
2. It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve
tables-In the first Church, the primary business of apostles,
evangelists, and bishops, was to preach the word of God; the
secondary, to take a kind of paternal care (the Church being
then like a family,) for the food, especially of the poor, the
strangers, and the widows. Afterward, the deacons of both sexes
were constituted for this latter business. And whatever time
they had to spare from this, they employed in works of spiritual
mercy. But their proper office was, to take care of the poor.
And when some of them afterward preached the Gospel, they
did this not by virtue of their deaconship, but of another
commission, that of evangelists, which they probably received,
not before, but after they were appointed deacons. And it is
not unlikely that others were chosen deacons, or stewards, in
their room, when any of these commenced evangelists.
3. Of good report-That there may be no room to suspect them of
partiality or injustice. Full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom-For
it is not a light matter to dispense even the temporal goods of
the Church. To do even this well, a large measure both of the
gifts and grace of God is requisite. Whom we will set over
this business-It would have been happy for the Church, had its
ordinary ministers in every age taken the same care to act in
concert with the people committed to their charge, which the
apostles themselves, extraordinary as their office was, did on
this and other occasions.
4. We will constantly attend to prayer, and to the ministry of
the word-This is doubtless the proper business of a Christian
bishop: to speak to God in prayer; to men in preaching his word,
as an ambassador for Christ.
5. And they chose-It seems seven Hellenists, as their names show.
And Nicholas a proselyte-To whom the proselytes would the more
readily apply.
7. And the word of God grew-The hinderances being removed.
9. There arose certain of the synagogue which is called-It was
one and the same synagogue which consisted of these several
nations. Saul of Cilicia was doubtless a member of it; whence
it is not at all improbable, that Gamaliel presided over it.
Libertines-So they were styled, whose fathers were once slaves,
and afterward made free. This was the ease of many Jews who had
been taken captive by the Romans.
14. We have heard him say-So they might. But yet the consequence
they drew would not follow.
15. As the face of an angel-Covered with supernatural lustre.
They reckoned his preaching of Jesus to be the Christ was
destroying Moses and the law; and God bears witness to him, with
the same glory as he did to Moses, when he gave the law by him.
VII. 2. And he said-St. Stephen had been accused of blasphemy
against Moses, and even against God; and of speaking against the
temple and the law, threatening that Jesus would destroy the one,
and change the other. In answer to this accusation, rehearsing
as it were the articles of his historical creed, he speaks of
God with high reverence, and a grateful sense of a long series
of acts of goodness to the Israelites, and of Moses with great
respect, on account of his important and honourable employments
under God: of the temple with regard, as being built to the
honour of God; yet not with such superstition as the Jews;
putting them in mind, that no temple could comprehend God. And
he was going on, no doubt, when he was interrupted by their
clamour, to speak to the last point, the destruction of the
temple, and the change of the law by Christ. Men, brethren, and
fathers, hearken-The sum of his discourse is this:
I acknowledge the glory of God revealed to the fathers,
ver. 2; # Ac 7:2 the calling of Moses, ver. 34, # 7:34 &c; the
dignity of the law, verses 8,38,44 # Ac 7:8,38,44; the holiness
of this place, verses 7,45,47. # Ac 7:7,45,47 And indeed the
law is more ancient than the temple; the promise more ancient
than the law. For God showed himself the God of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, and their children freely,
ver. 2, &c; 9, &c; 17,&c; 32,34,35; # Ac 7:2,9,17,32,34,35
and they showed faith and obedience to God,
ver. 4, 20, &c, 23, # Ac 7:4,20,23
particularly by their regard for the law, ver. 8, # Ac 7:8
and the promised land, ver. 16. # 7:16
Meantime, God never confined his presence to this one place or to
the observers of the law. For he hath been acceptably worshipped
before the law was given, or the temple built, and out of this land,
ver. 2, 9, 33, 44. # Ac 7:2,9,33,44
And that our fathers and their posterity were not tied down to
this land, their various sojournings,
ver. 4, &c; 14, 29, 44, # Ac 7:4,14,29,44
and exile, ver. 43, show. # Ac 7:43
But you and your fathers have always been evil, ver. 9; # Ac 7:9
have withstood Moses, ver. 25, &c, 39, &c; # Ac 7:25,39
have despised the land, ver. 39, # Ac 7:39
forsaken God, ver. 40, &c, # Ac 7:40
superstitiously honoured the temple, ver. 48, # Ac 7:48
resisted God and his Spirit, ver 50, # Ac 7:50
killed the prophets and the Messiah himself, ver. 51, # Ac 7:51
and kept not the law for which ye contend, ver. 53. # Ac 7:53
Therefore God is not bound to you; much less to you alone. And
truly this solemn testimony of Stephen is most worthy of his
character, as a man full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith and
power: in which, though he does not advance so many regular
propositions, contradictory to those of his adversaries, yet he
closely and nervously answers them all. Nor can we doubt but he
would, from these premises, have drawn inferences touching the
destruction of the temple, the abrogation of the Mosaic law, the
punishment of that rebellious people; and above all, touching
Jesus of Nazareth, the true Messiah, had not his discourse been
interrupted by the clamours of the multitude, stopping their ears,
and rushing upon him. Men, brethren, and fathers-All who are
here present, whether ye are my equals in years, or of more
advanced age. The word which in this and in many other places
is rendered men is a mere expletive. The God of glory-The
glorious God, appeared to Abraham before he dwelt in Haran
-Therefore Abraham knew God, long before he was in this land.
# Gen 12:1.
3. Which I will show thee-Abraham knew not where he went.
4. After his father was dead-While Terah lived, Abraham lived
partly with him, partly in Canaan: but after he died, altogether
in Canaan.
5. No, not to set his foot on-For the field mentioned,
# Ac 7:16, he did not receive by a Divine donation, but
bought it; even thereby showing that he was a stranger in
the land.
6. # Gen 15:13.
7. They shall serve me-Not the Egyptians.
8. And so he begat Isaac-After the covenant was given, of which
circumcision was the seal. # Gen 17:10.
9. But God was with him-Though he was not in this land.
# Gen 37:28.
12. Sent our fathers first-Without Benjamin.
14. Seventy-five souls-So the seventy interpreters, (whom
St. Stephen follows,) one son and a grandson of Manasseh,
and three children of Ephraim, being added to the seventy
persons mentioned # Gen 46:27.
16. And were carried over to Shechem-It seems that St. Stephen,
rapidly running over so many circumstances of history, has not
leisure (nor was it needful where they were so well known) to
recite them all distinctly. Therefore he here contracts into
one, two different sepulchres, places, and purchases, so as in
the former history, to name the buyer, omitting the seller, in
the latter, to name the seller, omitting the buyer. Abraham
bought a burying place of the children of Heth, Gen. xxiii.
# Gen 23:1-20 There Jacob was buried. Jacob bought a field
of the children of Hamor. There Joseph was buried. You see
here, how St. Stephen contracts these two purchases into one.
This concise manner of speaking, strange as it seems to us,
was common among the Hebrews; particularly, when in a case
notoriously known, the speaker mentioned but part of the story,
and left the rest, which would have interrupted the current of
his discourse, to be supplied in the mind of the hearer. And
laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought-The first land which
these strangers bought was for a sepulchre. They sought for a
country in heaven. Perhaps the whole sentence might be rendered
thus: So Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers,
and were carried over to Shechem, and laid by the sons (that is,
decendants) of Hamor, the father of Shechem, in the sepulchre
that Abraham bought for a sum of money.
17. # Exod 1:7.
18. Another king-Probably of another family.
19. Exposed-Cast out to perish by hunger or wild beasts.
20. In which time-A sad but a seasonable time.
# Exod 2:2.
21. Pharaoh's daughter took him up-By which means, being designed
for a kingdom, he had all those advantages of education, which he
could not have had, if he had not been exposed.
22. In all the wisdom of the Egyptians-Which was then celebrated
in all the world, and for many ages after. And mighty in words
-Deep, solid, weighty, though not of a ready utterance.
23. It came into his heart-Probably by an impulse from God.
24. Seeing one wronged-Probably by one of the task masters.
25. They understood it not-Such was their stupidity and sloth;
which made him afterward unwilling to go to them.
26. He showed himself-Of his own accord, unexpectedly.
27. Who appointed thee-"Under the presence of the want of a call
by man, the instruments of God are often rejected."
30. The angel-The Son of God; as appears from his styling
himself Jehovah. In a flame of fire-Signifying the majesty
of God then present. # Exod 3:2.
33. Then said the Lord, Loose thy shoes-An ancient token of
reverence; for the place is holy ground-The holiness of places
depends on the peculiar presence of God there.
35. This Moses whom they refused-Namely, forty years before.
Probably, not they, but their fathers did it, and God imputes
it to them. So God frequently imputes the sins of the fathers
to those of their children who are of the same spirit. Him did
God send to be a deliverer-Which is much more than a judge; by
the hand of-That is, by means of the angel-This angel who spoke
to Moses on Mount Sinai expressly called himself Jehovah, a name
which cannot, without the highest presumption, be assumed by any
created angel, since he whose name alone is Jehovah, is the Most
High over all the earth, Psalm lxxxiii, 18.
# Psa 83:18. It was therefore the Son of God who delivered the
law to Moses, under the character of Jehovah, and who is here
spoken of as the angel of the covenant, in respect of his
mediatorial office.
37. The Lord will raise you up a prophet-St. Stephen here shows
that there is no opposition between Moses and Christ.
# Deut 18:15
38. This is he-Moses. With the angel, and with our fathers-As
a mediator between them. Who received the living oracles-Every
period beginning with, And the Lord said unto Moses, is properly
an oracle. But the oracles here intended are chiefly the ten
commandments. These are termed living, because all the word of
God, applied by his Spirit, is living and powerful, # Heb 4:12,
enlightening the eyes, rejoicing the heart, converting the soul,
raising the dead. # Exod 19:3.
40. Make us gods to go before us-Back into Egypt.
# Exod 32:1.
41. And they made a calf-In imitation of Apis, the Egyptian god:
and rejoiced in the works of their hands-In the god they had made.
42. God turned-From them in anger; and gave them up-Frequently
from the time of the golden calf, to the time of Amos, and
afterward. The host of heaven-The stars are called an army or
host, because of their number, order, and powerful influence.
In the book of the prophets-Of the twelve prophets, which the
Jews always wrote together in one book. Have ye offered-The
passage of Amos referred to, chap. v, 25, &c, # Amos 5:25
consists of two parts; of which the former confirms ver. 41,
# Ac 7:41,42
of the sin of the people; the latter the beginning of ver. 42,
concerning their punishment. Have ye offered to me-They had
offered many sacrifices; but God did not accept them as offered
to him, because they sacrificed to idols also; and did not
sacrifice to him with an upright heart. # Amos 5:25.
43. Ye took up-Probably not long after the golden calf: but
secretly; else Moses would have mentioned it. The shrine-A
small, portable chapel, in which was the image of their god.
Moloch was the planet Mars, which they worshipped under a human
shape. Remphan, that is, Saturn, they represented by a star.
And I will carry you beyond Babylon-That is, beyond Damascus
(which is the word in Amos) and Babylon. This was fulfilled
by the king of Assyria, # 2Kings 17:6.
44. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony-The testimony
was properly the two tables of stone, on which the ten
commandments were written. Hence the ark which contained them
is frequently called the ark of the testimony; and the whole
tabernacle in this place. The tabernacle of the testimony
-according to the model which he had seen-When he was caught
up in the visions of God on the mount.
45. Which our fathers having received-From their ancestors;
brought into the possession of the Gentiles-Into the land which
the Gentiles possessed before. So that God's favour is not a
necessary consequence of inhabiting this land. All along St.
Stephen intimates two things: 1. That God always loved good men
in every land: 2. That he never loved bad men even in this.
# Josh 3:14.
46. Who petitioned to find a habitation for the God of Jacob-But
he did not obtain his petition: for God remained without any
temple till Solomon built him a house. Observe how wisely the
word is chosen with respect to what follows.
48. Yet the Most High inhabiteth not temples made with hands-As
Solomon declared at the very dedication of the temple, # 1Ki 8:27.
The Most High-Whom as such no building can contain.
# Isaiah 66:1.
49. What is the place of my rest?-Have I need to rest?
51. Ye stiff necked-Not bowing the neck to God's yoke; and
uncircumcised in heart-So they showed themselves, ver. 54;
# Act 7:54
and ears-As they showed, ver. 57.
# Act 7:57
So far were they from receiving the word of God into their
hearts, that they would not hear it even with their ears.
Ye-And your fathers, always-As often as ever ye are called,
resist the Holy Ghost-Testifying by the prophets of Jesus, and
the whole truth. This is the sum of what he had shown at large.
53. Who have received the law by the administration of angels
-God, when he gave the law on Mount Sinai, was attended with
thousands of his angels, # Gal 3:19; # Psa 68:17.
55. But he looking steadfastly up to heaven, saw the glory
of God-Doubtless he saw such a glorious representation, God
miraculously operating on his imagination, as on Ezekiel's, when
he sat in his house at Babylon, and saw Jerusalem, and seemed
to himself transported thither, # Eze 8:1-4.
And probably other martyrs, when called to suffer the last
extremity, have had extraordinary assistance of some similar kind.
56. I see the Son of man standing-As if it were just ready to
receive him. Otherwise he is said to sit at the right hand of
God.
57. They rushed upon him-Before any sentence passed.
58. The witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young
man, whose name was Saul-O Saul, couldst thou have believed, if
one had told thee, that thou thyself shouldst be stoned in the
same cause? and shouldst triumph in committing thy soul likewise
to that Jesus whom thou art now blaspheming? His dying prayer
reached thee, as well as many others. And the martyr Stephen,
and Saul the persecutor, (afterward his brother both in faith
and martyrdom,) are now joined in everlasting friendship, and
dwell together in the happy company of those who have made their
robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
59. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit-This is the literal translation of the words,
the name of God not being in the original. Nevertheless such
a solemn prayer to Christ, in which a departing soul is thus
committed into his hands, is such an act of worship, as no good
man could have paid to a mere creature; Stephen here worshipping
Christ in the very same manner in which Christ worshipped the
Father on the cross.
VIlI. At that time there was great persecution against the
Church-Their adversaries having tasted blood, were the more
eager. And they were all dispersed-Not all the Church: if so,
who would have remained for the apostles to teach, or Saul to
persecute? But all the teachers except the apostles, who,
though in the most danger, stayed with the flock.
2. Devout men-Who feared God more than persecution. And yet
were they not of little faith? Else they would not have made
so great lamentation.
3. Saul made havoc of the Church-Like some furious beast of prey.
So the Greek word properly signifies. Men and women-Regarding
neither age nor sex.
4. Therefore they that were dispersed went every where-These
very words are reassumed, after as it were a long parenthesis,
chap. xi, 19, # Ac 11:19 and the thread of the story continued.
5. Stephen-Being taken away, Philip, his next colleague, (not
the apostle,) rises in his place.
9. A certain man-using magic-So there was such a thing as
witchcraft once! In Asia at least, if not in Europe or America.
12. But when they believed-What Philip preached, then they saw
and felt the real power of God, and submitted thereto.
13. And Simon believed-That is, was convinced of the truth.
14. And the apostles hearing that Samaria-The inhabitants of
that country, had received the word of God-By faith, sent Peter
and John-He that sends must be either superior, or at least
equal, to him that is sent. It follows that the college of
the apostles was equal if not superior to Peter.
15. The Holy Ghost-In his miraculous gifts? Or his sanctifying
graces? Probably in both.
18. Simon offered them money-And hence the procuring any
ministerial function, or ecclesiastical benefice by money,
is termed Simony.
21. Thou hast neither part-By purchase, nor lot-Given gratis,
in this matter-This gift of God. For thy heart is not right
before God-Probably St. Peter discerned this long before he had
declared it; although it does not appear that God gave to any
of the apostles a universal power of discerning the hearts of
all they conversed with; any more than a universal power of
healing all the sick they came near. This we are sure St. Paul
had not; though he was not inferior to the chief of the apostles.
Otherwise he would not have suffered the illness of Epaphroditus
to have brought him so near to death, # Php 2:25-27; nor have
left so useful a fellow labourer as Trophimus sick at Miletus,
# 2Tim 4:20.
22. Repent-if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven
thee-Without all doubt if he had repented, he would have been
forgiven. The doubt was, whether he would repent. Thou art in
the gall of bitterness-In the highest degree of wickedness,
which is bitterness, that is, misery to the soul; and in the bond
of iniquity-Fast bound therewith.
26. The way which is desert-There were two ways from Jerusalem
to Gaza, one desert, the other through a more populous country.
27. An eunuch-Chief officers were anciently called eunuchs,
though not always literally such; because such used to be
chief ministers in the eastern courts. Candace, queen of
the Ethiopians-So all the queens of Ethiopia were called.
28. Sitting in his chariot, he read the Prophet Isaiah-God
meeteth those that remember him in his ways. It is good to
read, hear, seek information even in a journey. Why should
we not redeem all our time?
30. And Philip running to him, said, Understandest thou what
thou readest?-He did not begin about the weather, news, or the
like. In speaking for God, we may frequently come to the point
at once, without circumlocution.
31. He desired Philip to come up and sit with him-Such was his
modesty, and thirst after instruction.
32. The portion of Scripture-By reading that very chapter, the
fifty-third of Isaiah, many Jews, yea, and atheists, have been
converted. Some of them history records. God knoweth them all.
# Isaiah 53:7
33. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away-That is,
when he was a man, he had no justice shown him. To take away a
person's judgment, is a proverbial phrase for oppressing him.
And who shall declare, or count his generation-That is, who can
number his seed,
# Isa 53:10; which he hath purchased by laying down his life?
36. And as they went on the way they came to a certain water
-Thus, even the circumstances of the journey were under the
direction of God. The kingdom of God suits itself to external
circumstances, without any violence, as air yields to all bodies,
and yet pervades all. What hindereth me to be baptized?-Probably
he had been circumcised: otherwise Cornelius would not have been
the first fruits of the Gentiles.
38. And they both went down-Out of the chariot. It does not
follow that he was baptized by immersion. The text neither
affirms nor intimates any thing concerning it.
39. The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip-Carried him away
with a miraculous swiftness, without any action or labour of
his own. This had befallen several of the prophets.
40. But Philip was found at Azotus-Probably none saw him, from
his leaving the eunuch, till he was there.
IX. 1. # Acts 22:3, &c; # Acts 26:9, &c.
IX. 2. Bound-By the connivance, if not authority, of the
governor, under Aretas the king. See # Act 9:14,24.
3. And suddenly-When God suddenly and vehemently attacks a
sinner, it is the highest act of mercy. So Saul, when his rage
was come to the height, is taught not to breathe slaughter.
And what was wanting in time to confirm him in his discipleship,
is compensated by the inexpressible terror he sustained. By his
also the suddenly constituted apostle was guarded against the
grand snare into which novices are apt to fall.
4. He heard a voice-Severe, yet full of grace.
5. To kick against the goads-is a Syriac proverb, expressing an
attempt that brings nothing but pain.
6. It shall be told thee-So God himself sends Saul to be taught
by a man, as the angel does Cornelius, # Acts 10:5. Admirable
condescension! that the Lord deals with us by men, like ourselves.
7. The men-stood-Having risen before Saul; for they also fell to
the ground, # Acts 26:14. It is probable they all journeyed on
foot. Hearing the noise-But not an articulate voice. And seeing
the light, but not Jesus himself, # Acts 26:13, &c.
9. And he was three days-An important season! So long he seems
to have been in the pangs of the new birth. Without sight-By
scales growing over his eyes, to intimate to him the blindness
of the state he had been in, to impress him with a deeper sense
of the almighty power of Christ, and to turn his thoughts inward,
while he was less capable of conversing with outward objects.
This was likewise a manifest token to others, of what had
happened to him in his journey, and ought to have humbled and
convinced those bigoted Jews, to whom he had been sent from
the sanhedrim.
11. Behold he is praying-He was shown thus to Ananias.
12. A man called Ananias-His name also was revealed to Saul.
13. But he answered-How natural it is to reason against God.
14. All that call on thy name-That is, all Christians.
15. He is a chosen vessel to bear my name-That is, to testify
of me. It is undeniable, that some men are unconditionally
chosen or elected, to do some works for God
16. For I-Do thou as thou art commanded. I will take care of
the rest; will show him-In fact, through the whole course of
his ministry. How great things he must suffer-So far will he
be now from persecuting others.
17. The Lord hath sent me-Ananias does not tell Saul all which
Christ had said concerning him. It was not expedient that he
should know yet to how great a dignity he was called.
24. They guarded the gates day and night-That is, the governor
did, at their request, # 2Cor 11:32.
26. And coming to Jerusalem-Three years after,
# Gal 1:18.
These three years St. Paul passes over, # Acts 22:17, likewise.
27. To the apostles-Peter and James, Gal. i, 18, 19.
# Gal 1:18,19
And declared-He who has been an enemy to the truth ought not
to be trusted till he gives proof that he is changed.
31. Then the Church-The whole body of Christian believers, had
peace-Their bitterest persecutor being converted. And being
built up-In holy, loving faith, continually increasing, and
walking in-That is, speaking and acting only from this principle,
the fear of God and the comfort of the Holy Ghost-An excellent
mixture of inward and outward peace, tempered with filial fear.
35. Lydda was a large town, one day's journey from Jerusalem.
It stood in the plain or valley of Sharon, which extended from
Cesarea to Joppa, and was noted for its fruitfulness.
36. Tabitha, which is by interpretation Dorcas-She was probably
a Hellenist Jew, known among the Hebrews by the Syriac name
Tabitha, while the Greeks called her in their own language,
Dorcas. They are both words of the same import, and signify
a roe or fawn.
38. The disciples sent to him-Probably none of those at Joppa
had the gift of miracles. Nor is it certain that they expected
a miracle from him.
39. While she was with the in-That is, before she died.
40. Peter having put them all out-That he might have the better
opportunity of wrestling with God in prayer, said, Tabitha,
arise. And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up-Who
can imagine the surprise of Dorcas, when called back to life?
Or of her friends, when they saw her alive? For the sake of
themselves, and of the poor, there was cause of rejoicing, and
much more, for such a confirmation of the Gospel. Yet to herself
it was matter of resignation, not joy, to be called back to
these scenes of vanity: but doubtless, her remaining days were
still more zealously spent in the service of her Saviour and
her God. Thus was a richer treasure laid up for her in heaven,
and she afterward returned to a more exceeding weight of glory,
than that from which so astonishing a providence had recalled
her for a season.
X. And there was a certain man-The first fruits of the Gentiles,
in Cesarea-Where Philip had been before,
# Acts 8:40; so that the doctrine of salvation by faith in
Jesus was not unknown there. Cesarea was the seat of the civil
government, as Jerusalem was of the ecclesiastical. It is
observable, that the Gospel made its way first through the
metropolitan cities. So it first seized Jerusalem and Cesarea:
afterward Philippi, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Rome itself.
A centurion, or captain, of that called the Italian band-That
is, troop or company.
2. Who gave much alms to the people-That is, to the Jews, many
of whom were at that time extremely poor.
3. He saw in a vision-Not in a trance, like Peter: plainly, so
as to leave one not accustomed to things of this kind no room
to suspect any imposition.
4. Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before
God-Dare any man say, These were only splendid sins? Or that
they were an abomination before God? And yet it is certain, in
the Christian sense Cornelius was then an unbeliever. He had
not then faith in Christ. So certain it is, that every one who
seeks faith in Christ, should seek it in prayer, and doing good
to all men: though in strictness what is not exactly according
to the Divine rule must stand in need of Divine favour and
indulgence.
8. A devout soldier-How many such attendants have our modern
officers? A devout soldier would now be looked upon as little
better than a deserter from his colours.
10. And he became very hungry-At the usual meal time. The
symbols in visions and trances, it is easy to observe, are
generally suited to the state of the natural faculties.
11. Tied at the corners-Not all in one knot, but each fastened
as it were up to heaven.
14. But Peter said, In nowise, Lord-When God commands a strange
or seemingly improper thing, the first objection frequently finds
pardon. But it ought not to be repeated. This doubt and delay
of St. Peter had several good effects. Hereby the will of God
in this important point was made more evident and incontestable.
And Peter also, having been so slow of belief himself, could the
more easily bear the doubting of his brethren, # Acts 11:2, &c.
15. What God hath purified-Hath made and declared clean. Nothing
but what is clean can come down from heaven. St. Peter well
remembered this saying in the council at Jerusalem, # Acts 15:9.
16. This was done thrice-To make the deeper impression.
17. While Peter doubted in himself, behold the men-Frequently
the things which befall us within and from without at the same
time, are a key to each other. The things which thus concur
and agree together, ought to be diligently attended to.
19. Behold three men seek thee, arise therefore and go down,
and go with them, doubting nothing-How gradually was St. Peter
prepared to receive this new admonition of the Spirit! Thus God
is went to lead on his children by degrees, always giving them
light for the present hour.
24. Cornelius was waiting for them-Not engaging himself in any
secular business during that solemn time, but being altogether
intent on this one thing.
26. I myself also am a man-And not God, who alone ought to be
worshipped, # Matt 4:10. Have all his pretended successors
attended to this?
28. But God hath showed me-He speaks sparingly to them of his
former doubt, and his late vision.
29. I ask for what intent ye have sent for me?-St. Peter knew
this already. But he puts Cornelius on telling the story,
both that the rest might be informed, and Cornelius himself
more impressed by the narration: the repetition of which,
even as we read it, gives a new dignity and spirit to Peter's
succeeding discourse,
30. Four days ago I was fasting-The first of these days he had
the vision; the second his messengers came to Joppa; on the
third, St. Peter set out; and on the fourth, came to Cesarea.
31. Thy prayer is heard-Doubtless he had been praying for
instruction, how to worship God in the most acceptable manner.
33. Now therefore we are all present before God-The language of
every truly Christian congregation.
34. I perceive of a truth-More clearly than ever, from such
a concurrence of circumstances. That God is not a respecter
of persons-Is not partial in his love. The words mean, in a
particular sense, that he does not confine his love to one
nation; in a general, that he is loving to every man, and
willeth all men should be saved.
35. But in every nation he that feareth God and worketh
righteousness-He that, first, reverences God, as great, wise,
good, the cause, end, and governor of all things; and secondly,
from this awful regard to him, not only avoids all known evil,
but endeavours, according to the best light he has, to do all
things well; is accepted of him-Through Christ, though he knows
him not. The assertion is express, and admits of no exception.
He is in the favour of God, whether enjoying his written word
and ordinances or not. Nevertheless the addition of these is
an unspeakable blessing to those who were before in some measure
accepted. Otherwise God would never have sent an angel from
heaven to direct Cornelius to St. Peter.
36. This is the word which God sent-When he sent his Son into
the world, preaching-Proclaiming by him-peace between God and
man, whether Jew or Gentile, by the God-man. He is Lord of
both; yea, Lord of and over all.
37. Ye know the word which was published-You know the facts in
general, the meaning of which I shall now more particularly
explain and confirm to you. The baptism which John preached-To
which he invited them by his preaching, in token of their
repentance. This began in Galilee, which is near Cesarea.
38. How God anointed Jesus-Particularly at his baptism, thereby
inaugurating him to his office: with the Holy Ghost and with
power-It is worthy our remark, that frequently when the Holy
Ghost is mentioned there is added a word particularly adapted
to the present circumstance. So the deacons were to be full of
the Holy Ghost and wisdom, # Acts 6:3. Barnabas was full of
the Holy Ghost and faith, # Acts 11:24. The disciples were
filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost, # Acts 13:52.
And here, where his mighty works are mentioned, Christ himself
is said to be anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power.
For God was with him-He speaks sparingly here of the majesty
of Christ, as considering the state of his hearers.
41. Not now to all the people-As before his death; to us who
did eat and drink with him-That is, conversed familiarly and
continually with him, in the time of his ministry.
42. It is he who is ordained by God the Judge of the living and
the dead-Of all men, whether they are alive at his coming, or
had died before it. This was declaring to them, in the strongest
terms, how entirely their happiness depended on a timely and
humble subjection to him who was to be their final Judge.
43. To him give all the prophets witness-Speaking to heathens he
does not quote any in particular; that every one who believeth
in him-Whether he be Jew or Gentile; receiveth remission of
sins-Though he had not before either feared God, or worked
righteousness.
44. The Holy Ghost fell on all that were hearing the word-Thus
were they consecrated to God, as the first fruits of the Gentiles.
And thus did God give a clear and satisfactory evidence, that he
had accepted them as well as the Jews.
45. The believers of the circumcision-The believing Jews.
47. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized,
who have received the Holy Ghost?-He does not say they have the
baptism of the Spirit; therefore they do not need baptism with
water. But just the contrary: if they have received the Spirit,
then baptize them with water.
How easily is this question decided, if we will take the word
of God for our rule! Either men have received the Holy Ghost
or not. If they have not, Repent, saith God, and be baptized,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. If they have,
if they are already baptized with the Holy Ghost, then who can
forbid water?
48. In the name of the Lord-Which implies the Father who anointed
him, and the Spirit with which he was anointed to his office.
But as the Gentiles had before believed in God the Father, and
could not but now believe in the Holy Ghost, under whose powerful
influence they were at this very time, there was the less need
of taking notice, that they were baptized into the belief and
profession of the sacred Three: though doubtless the apostle
administered the ordinances in that very form which Christ
himself had prescribed.
XI. 4. Peter laid all things before them-So he did not take it
ill to be questioned, nor desire to be treated as infallible.
And he answers the more mildly because it related to a point
which he had not readily believed himself.
5. Being in a trance-Which suspends the use of the outward senses.
14. Saved-With the full Christian salvation, in this world and
the world to come.
17. To us, when we believed-The sense is, because we believed,
not because we were circumcised, was the Holy Ghost given to us.
What was I-A mere instrument in God's hand. They had inquired
only concerning his eating with the Gentiles. He satisfies them
likewise concerning his baptizing them, and shows that he had
done right in going to Cornelius, not only by the command of God,
but also by the event, the descent of the Holy Ghost.
And who are we that we should withstand God? Particularly by
laying down rules of Christian communion which exclude any
whom he has admitted into the Church of the first born, from
worshipping God together. O that all Church governors would
consider how bold an usurpation this is on the authority of the
supreme Lord of the Church! O that the sin of thus withstanding
God may not be laid to the charge of those, who perhaps with a
good intention, but in an over fondness for their own forms,
have done it, and are continually doing it.
18. They glorified God-Being thoroughly satisfied. Repentance
unto life-True repentance is a change from spiritual death to
spiritual life, and leads to life everlasting.
19. They who had been dispersed-St. Luke here resumes the thread
of his narration, in the very words wherewith he broke it off,
# Acts 8:6. As far as Phenicia to the north, Cyprus to the
west, and Antioch to the east.
20. Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene-Who were more
accustomed to converse with the Gentiles. Who coming into
Antioch-Then the capital of Syria, and, next to Rome and
Alexandria, the most considerable city of the empire. Spake
to the Greeks-As the Greeks were the most celebrated of the
Gentile nations near Judea, the Jews called all the Gentiles
by that name. Here we have the first account of the preaching
the Gospel to the idolatrous Gentiles. All those to whom it
had been preached before, did at least worship one God, the
God of Israel.
21. And the hand of the Lord-That is, the power of his Spirit.
26. And the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch
-Here it was that they first received this standing appellation.
They were before termed Nazarenes and Galileans.
28. Agabus rising up-In the congregation. All the world-The
word frequently signifies all the Roman empire. And so it is
doubtless to be taken here.
29. Then-Understanding the distress they would otherwise be
in on that account, the disciples determined to send relief to
the brethren in Judea-Who herein received a manifest proof of
the reality of their conversion.
30. Sending it to the elders-Who gave it to the deacons, to be
distributed by them, as every one had need.
XII. About that time-So wisely did God mix rest and persecution
in due time and measure succeeding each other. Herod-Agrippa;
the latter was his Roman, the former his Syrian name. He was
the grandson of Herod the Great, nephew to Herod Antipas, who
beheaded John the Baptist; brother to Herodias, and father to
that Agrippa before whom St. Paul afterward made his defence.
Caligula made him king of the tetrarchy of his uncle Philip, to
which he afterward added the territories of Antipas. Claudius
made him also king of Judea, and added thereto the dominions
of Lysanias.
2. James the brother of John-So one of the brothers went to God
the first, the other the last of the apostles.
3. Then were the days of unleavened bread-At which the Jews came
together from all parts.
4. Four quaternions-Sixteen men, who watched by turns day and night.
5. Continual prayer was made for him-Yet when their prayer was
answered, they could scarce believe it, # Ac 12:15. But why had
they not prayed for St. James also? Because he was put to death
as soon as apprehended.
6. Peter was sleeping-Easy and void of fear; between two
soldiers-Sufficiently secured to human appearance.
7. His chains-With which his right arm was bound to one of
the soldiers, and his left arm to the other.
8. Gird thyself-Probably he had put off his girdle, sandals,
and upper garment, before he lay down to sleep.
10. The first and second ward-At each of which doubtless was
a guard of soldiers. The gate opened of its own accord-Without
either Peter or the angel touching it. And they went on through
one street-That Peter might know which way to go. And the angel
departed from him-Being himself sufficient for what remained to
be done.
11. Now I know of a truth-That this is not a vision,
# Acts 12:9.
12. And having considered-What was best to be done. Many were
gathered together-At midnight.
13. The gate-At some distance from the house;
to hearken-If any knocked.
14. And knowing Peter's voice-Bidding her open the door.
15. They said, Thou art mad-As we say, Sure you are not in your
senses to talk so. It is his angel-It was a common opinion
among the Jews, that every man had his particular guardian
angel, who frequently assumed both his shape and voice. But
this is a point on which the Scriptures are silent.
17. Beckoning to them-Many of whom being amazed, were talking
together. And he said, Show these things to James-The brother or
kinsman of our Lord, and author of the epistle which bears his
name. He appears to have been a person of considerable weight
and importance, probably the chief overseer of that province,
and of the Church in Jerusalem in particular. He went into
another place-Where he might be better concealed till the
storm was over.
19. Herod commanded them to be put to death-And thus the
wicked suffered in the room of the righteous. And going down
from Judea-With shame, for not having brought forth Peter,
according to his promise.
20. Having gained Blastus-To their side, they sued for, and
obtained peace-Reconciliation with Herod. And so the Christians
of those parts were, by the providence of God, delivered from
scarcity. Their country was nourished-Was provided with, corn,
by the king's country-Thus Hiram also, king of Tyre, desired of
Solomon food or corn for his household, # 1Kings 5:9.
21. And on a set day-Which was solemnized yearly, in honour of
Claudius Cesar; Herod, arrayed in royal apparel-In a garment so
wrought with silver, that the rays of the rising sun striking
upon, and being reflected from it, dazzled the eyes of the
beholders. The people shouted, It is the voice of a god-Such
profane flattery they frequently paid to princes. But the
commonness of a wicked custom rather increases than lessens
the guilt of it.
23. And immediately-God does not delay to vindicate his injured
honour; an angel of the Lord smote him-Of this other historians
say nothing: so wide a difference there is between Divine and
human history! An angel of the Lord brought out Peter; an angel
smote Herod. Men did not see the instruments in either case.
These were only known to the people of God. Because he gave not
glory to God-He willingly received it to himself, and by this
sacrilege filled up the measure of his iniquities. So then
vengeance tarried not. And he was eaten by worms, or vermin-How
changed! And on the fifth day expired in exquisite torture.
Such was the event! The persecutor perished, and the Gospel
grew and multiplied.
25. Saul returned-To Antioch; taking John, surnamed Mark-The son
of Mary, (at whose house the disciples met, to pray for Peter,)
who was sister to Barnabas.
XIII. Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod-His foster
brother, now freed from the temptations of a court.
2. Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them-This was not ordaining them. St. Paul was ordained
long before, and that not of men, neither by man: it was only
inducting him to the province for which our Lord had appointed
him from the beginning, and which was now revealed to the
prophets and teachers. In consequence of this they fasted,
prayed, and laid their hands on them, a rite which was used
not in ordination only, but in blessing, and on many other
occasions.
3. Then having fasted-Again. Thus they did also,
# Acts 14:23.
5. In the synagogues-Using all opportunities that offered.
6. Paphos was on the western, Salamis on the eastern part of
the island.
7. The proconsul-The Roman governor of Cyprus, a prudent man-And
therefore not overswayed by Elymas, but desirous to inquire farther.
9. Then Saul, who was also called Paul-It is not improbable, that
coming now among the Romans, they would naturally adapt his name
to their own language, and so called him Paul instead of Saul.
Perhaps the family of the proconsul might be the first who
addressed to or spoke of him by this name. And from this time,
being the apostle of the Gentiles, he himself used the name which
was more familiar to them.
10. O full of all guile-As a false prophet, and all mischief
-As a magician. Thou son of the devil-A title well suited to
a magician; and one who not only was himself unrighteous, but
laboured to keep others from all goodness. Wilt thou not cease
to pervert the right ways of the Lord?-Even now thou hast heard
the truth of the Gospel.
11. And immediately a mist-Or dimness within, and darkness
without, fell upon him.
12. Being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord-Confirmed by
such a miracle.
13. John withdrawing from them returned-Tired with the fatigue,
or shrinking from danger.
14. Antioch in Pisidia-Different from the Antioch mentioned
# Acts 13:1.
15. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the chief
of the synagogue sent to them-The law was read over once every
year, a portion of it every Sabbath: to which was added a lesson
taken out of the prophets. After this was over, any one might
speak to the people, on any subject he thought convenient. Yet
it was a circumstance of decency which Paul and Barnabas would
hardly omit, to acquaint the rulers with their desire of doing
it: probably by some message before the service began.
16. Ye that fear God-Whether proselytes or heathens.
17. The God-By such a commemoration of God's favours to their
fathers, at once their minds were conciliated to the speaker,
they were convinced of their duty to God, and invited to believe
his promise, and the accomplishment of it. The six verses,
# Acts 13:17-22, contain the whole sum of the Old Testament.
Of this people-Paul here chiefly addresses himself to those whom
he styles, Ye that fear God: he speaks of Israel first; and
# Acts 13:26, speaks more directly to the Israelites themselves.
Chose-And this exalted the people; not any merit or goodness of
their own, # Ezek 20:5.
Our fathers-Abraham and his posterity.
# Isaiah 1:2.
18. # Deut 1:31.
19. Seven nations-Enumerated
# Deut 7:1;
about four hundred and fifty years-That is, from the choice of
the fathers to the dividing of the land; it was about four
hundred and fifty years.
21. He gave them Saul forty years-Including the time wherein
Samuel judged Israel.
22. Having removed him-Hence they might understand that the
dispensations of God admit of various changes. I have found
David, a man after my own heart-This expression is to be taken
in a limited sense. David was such at that time, but not at all
times. And he was so, in that respect, as he performed all God's
will, in the particulars there mentioned: But he was not a man
after God's own heart, in other respects, wherein he performed
his own will. In the matter of Uriah, for instance, he was as
far from being a man after God's own heart as Saul himself was.
It is therefore a very gross, as well as dangerous mistake, to
suppose this is the character of David in every part of his
behaviour. We must beware of this, unless we would recommend
adultery and murder as things after God's own heart.
# 1Sam 16:12,13.
24. John having first preached-He mentions this, as a thing
already known to them. And so doubtless it was. For it gave
so loud an alarm to the whole Jewish nation, as could not but
be heard of in foreign countries, at least as remote as Pisidia.
25. His course-His work was quickly finished, and might therefore
well be termed a course or race. # Luke 3:16.
27. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers-He here
anticipates a strong objection, "Why did not they at Jerusalem,
and especially their rulers, believe?" They know not him,
because they understood not those very prophets whom they read
or heard continually. Their very condemning him, innocent as he
was, proves that they understood not the prophecies concerning him.
29. They fulfilled all things that were written of him-So far
could they go, but no farther.
31. He was seen many days by them who came up with him from
Galilee to Jerusalem-This last journey both presupposes all
the rest, and was the most important of all.
33. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee-It is true,
he was the Son of God from eternity. The meaning therefore
is, I have this day declared thee to be my Son. As St. Paul
elsewhere, declared to be the Son of God with power, by the
resurrection from the dead,
# Rom 1:4.
And it is with peculiar propriety and beauty that God is said to
have begotten him, on the day when he raised him from the dead,
as he seemed then to be born out of the earth anew.
# Psalm 2:7.
34. No more to return to corruption-That is, to die no more.
I will give you the sure mercies of David-The blessings promised
to David in Christ. These are sure, certain, firm, solid, to
every true believer in him. And hence the resurrection of Christ
necessarily follows; for without this, those blessings could not
be given. # Isaiah 55:3.
35. He saith-David in the name of the Messiah.
# Psalm 16:10.
36. David, having served the will of God in his generation, fell
asleep-So his service extended not itself beyond the bounds of
the common age of man: but the service of the Messiah to all
generations, as his kingdom to all ages. Served the will of God
-Why art thou here thou who art yet in the world? Is it not that
thou also mayest serve the will of God? Art thou serving it now?
Doing all his will? And was added to his fathers-Not only in
body. This expression refers to the soul also, and supposes the
immortality of it.
39. Every one that believeth is justified from all things-Has
the actual forgiveness of all his sins, at the very time of his
believing; from which ye could not be justified-Not only ye
cannot now; but ye never could. For it afforded no expiation
for presumptuous sins. By the law of Moses-The whole Mosaic
institution! The division of the law into moral and ceremonial
was not so common among the Jews, as it is among us. Nor does
the apostle here consider it at all: but Moses and Christ are
opposed to each other.
40. Beware-A weighty and seasonable admonition. No reproof is
as yet added to it.
41. I work a work which ye will in nowise believe-This was
originally spoken to those, who would not believe that God
would ever deliver them from the power of the Chaldeans.
But it is applicable to any who will not believe the promises,
or the works of God. # Hab 1:5.
42. When the Jews were going out-Probably many of them, not
bearing to hear him, went out before he had done. The Sabbath
between-So the Jews call to this day the Sabbath between the
first day of the month Tisri (on which the civil year begins)
and the tenth of the same month, which is the solemn day of
expiation.
43. Who speaking to them-More familiarly, persuaded them to
continue-For trials were at hand, in the grace of God-That
is, to adhere to the Gospel or Christian faith.
46. Then Paul and Barnabas speaking boldly, said-Those who
hinder others must be publicly reproved. It was necessary
-Though ye are not worthy: he shows that he had not preached
to them, from any confidence of their believing, but seeing
ye judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life-They indeed judged
none but themselves worthy of it. Yet their rejecting of the
Gospel was the same as saying, "We are unworthy of eternal life."
Behold!-A thing now present! An astonishing revolution! We turn
to the Gentiles-Not that they left off preaching to the Jews in
other places. But they now determined to lose no more time at
Antioch on their ungrateful countrymen, but to employ themselves
wholly in doing what they could for the conversion of the
Gentiles there.
47. For so hath the Lord commanded us-By sending us forth, and
giving us an opportunity of fulfilling what he had foretold.
I have set thee-The Father speaks to Christ.
# Isaiah 49:6.
48. As many as were ordained to eternal life-St. Luke does not
say fore-ordained. He is not speaking of what was done from
eternity, but of what was then done, through the preaching of
the Gospel. He is describing that ordination, and that only,
which was at the very time of hearing it. During this sermon
those believed, says the apostle, to whom God then gave power
to believe. It is as if he had said, "They believed, whose
hearts the Lord opened;" as he expresses it in a clearly
parallel place, speaking of the same kind of ordination,
# Acts 16:14, &c. It is observable, the original word is not
once used in Scripture to express eternal predestination of
any kind. The sum is, all those and those only, who were now
ordained, now believed. Not that God rejected the rest: it
was his will that they also should have been saved: but they
thrust salvation from them. Nor were they who then believed
constrained to believe. But grace was then first copiously
offered them. And they did not thrust it away, so that a great
multitude even of Gentiles were converted. In a word, the
expression properly implies, a present operation of Divine grace
working faith in the hearers.
XIV. 1. They so spake-Persecution having increased their strength.
9. He had faith to be healed-He felt the power of God in his
soul; and thence knew it was sufficient to heal his body also.
11. The gods are come down-Which the heathens supposed they
frequently did; Jupiter especially. But how amazingly does
the prince of darkness blind the minds of them that believe not!
The Jews would not own Christ's Godhead, though they saw him
work numberless miracles. On the other hand, the heathens
seeing mere men work one miracle, were for deifying them
immediately.
13. The priest of Jupiter-Whose temple and image were just
without the gate of the city, brought garlands-To put on the
victims, and bulls-The usual offerings to Jupiter.
14. They sprang in among the people, crying out-As in a fire,
or other sudden and great danger.
15. To turn from these vanities-From worshipping any but the
true God. He does not deign to call them gods; unto the living
God-Not like these dead idols; who made the heaven and the earth,
the sea-Each of which they supposed to have its own gods.
16. Who in times past-He prevents their objection, "But if these
things are so, we should have heard the in from our fathers."
Suffered-An awful judgment, all nations-The multitude of them
that err does not turn error into truth, to walk in their own
ways-The idolatries which they had chosen.
17. He left not himself without witness-For the heathens had
always from God himself a testimony both of his existence and
of his providence; in that he did good-Even by punishments he
testifies of himself; but more peculiarly by benefits; giving
rain-By which air, earth, and sea, are, as it were, all joined
together; from heaven-The seat of God; to which St. Paul probably
pointed while he spoke, filling the body with food, the soul with
gladness.
19. Who persuaded the multitude-Moved with equal ease either to
adore or murder him.
20. But as the disciples stood round-Probably after sunset. The
enraged multitude would scarce have suffered it in the day time:
he rose and went into the city-That he should be able to do this,
just after he had been left for dead, was a miracle little less
than a resurrection from the dead. Especially considering the
manner wherein the Jewish malefactors were stoned. The witnesses
first threw as large a stone as they could lift, with all possible
violence upon his head, which alone was sufficient to dash the
skull in pieces. All the people then joined, as long as any
motion or token of life remained.
23. When they had ordained them presbyters in every Church-Out
of those who were themselves but newly converted. So soon can
God enable even a babe in Christ to build up others in the common
faith: they commended them to the Lord-An expression implying
faith in Christ, as well as love to the brethren.
25. Perga and Attalia were cities of Pamphylia.
26. Recommended to the grace-Or favour, of God, for the work
which they had fulfilled-This shows the nature and design of
that laying on of hands, which was mentioned # Acts 13:3.
XV.1. Coming down from Judea-Perhaps to supply what they thought
Paul and Barnabas had omitted.
2. They (the brethren) determined that Paul and Barnabas, and
certain others should go up to Jerusalem about this question-This
is the journey to which St. Paul refers, # Gal 2:1,2, when he
says he went up by revelation: which is very consistent with
this; for the Church in sending them might be directed by a
revelation made either immediately to St. Paul, or to some other
person, relating to so important an affair. Important indeed it
was, that these Jewish impositions should be solemnly opposed in
time; because multitudes of converts were still zealous for the
law, and ready to contend for the observance of it. Indeed
many of the Christians of Antioch would have acquiesced in the
determination of Paul alone. But as many others might have
prejudices against him, for his having been so much concerned
for the Gentiles, it was highly expedient to take the concurrent
judgment of all the apostles on this occasion.
4. They were received-That is solemnly welcomed.
5. But certain Pharisees-For even believers are apt to retain
their former turn of mind, and prejudices derived therefrom.
The law of Moses-The whole law, both moral and ritual.
7. After much debate-It does not appear that this was among the
apostles themselves. But if it had, if they themselves had
debated at first, yet might their final decision be from an
unerring direction. For how really soever they were inspired,
we need not suppose their inspiration was always so instantaneous
and express, as to supersede any deliberation in their own minds,
or any consultation with each other. Peter rose up-This is the
last time he is mentioned in the Acts.
8. God bare them witness-That he had accepted them, by giving
them the Holy Ghost.
9. Purifying-This word is repeated from
# Acts 10:15;
their hearts-The heart is the proper seat of purity;
by faith-Without concerning themselves with the Mosaic law.
10. Now therefore-Seeing these things are so: why tempt ye God?
-Why do ye provoke him to anger, by putting so heavy a yoke on
their neck?
11. The Lord Jesus-He does not here say our Lord; because in
this solemn place he means the Lord of all, we-Jews, shall be
saved even as they-Gentiles, namely, through the grace of the
Lord Jesus, not by our observance of the ceremonial law.
12. Miracles and wonders-By which also what St. Peter had said
was confirmed.
14. Simon hath declared-James, the apostle of the Hebrews, calls
Peter by his Hebrew name. To take out of them a people for his
name-That is to believe in him, to be called by his name.
15. To this agree-St. Peter had urged the plain fact, which
St. James confirms by Scripture prophecy. The words of the
prophets-One of whom is immediately cited.
16. After this-After the Jewish dispensation expires. I will
build again the fallen tabernacle of David-By raising from his
seed the Christ, who shall build on the ruins of his fallen
tabernacle a spiritual and eternal kingdom. # Amos 9:11.
17. The Gentiles on whom my name is called-That is, who are
called by my name; who are my people.
18. Known unto God are all his works from eternity-Which the
apostle infers from the prophecy itself, and the accomplishment
of it. And this conversion of the Gentiles being known to him
from eternity, we ought not to think a new or strange thing.
It is observable, he does not speak of God's works in the
natural world, (which had been nothing to his present purpose,)
but of his dealing with the children of men. Now he could
not know these, without knowing the characters and actions of
particular persons, on a correspondence with which the wisdom
and goodness of his providential dispensations is founded. For
instance, he could not know how he would deal with heathen
idolaters (whom he was now calling into his Church) without
knowing there would be heathen idolaters: and yet this was a
thing purely contingent, a thing as dependent on the freedom of
the human mind, as any we can imagine. This text, therefore,
among a thousand more, is an unanswerable proof, that God
foreknows future contingencies, though there are difficulties
relating hereto which men cannot solve.
20. To abstain from fornication-Which even the philosophers
among the heathens did not account any fault. It was
particularly frequent in the worship of their idols, on which
account they are here named together. And from things strangled
-That is, from whatever had been killed, without pouring out the
blood. When God first permitted man to eat flesh, he commanded
Noah, and in him all his posterity, whenever they killed any
creature for food, to abstain from the blood thereof. It was to
be poured upon the ground as water: doubtless in honour of that
blood which was in due time poured out for the sin of the world.
21. Perhaps the connection is, To the Jews we need write nothing
on these heads; for they hear the law continually.
22. With the whole Church-Which therefore had a part therein; to
send chosen men-Who might put it beyond all dispute, that this
was the judgment of the apostles and all the brethren.
23. Writing thus, and sending it by their hand-The whole conduct
of this affair plainly shows that the Church in those days
had no conception of St. Peter's primacy, or of his being the
chief judge in controversies. For the decree is drawn up, not
according to his, but the Apostle James's proposal and direction:
and that in the name, not of St. Peter, but of all the apostles
and elders, and of the whole Church. Nay, St. Peter's name is not
mentioned at all, either in the order for sending to Jerusalem
on the question, # Acts 15:2, or in the address of the messengers
concerning it, # Acts 15:4, or in the letter which was written in
answer.
24. Forasmuch as, &c.-The simplicity, weightiness, and
conciseness of this letter are highly observable.
26. Men that have hazarded their lives-This is spoken of
Paul and Barnabas.
27. Who will tell you the same things-Which we have written.
28. These necessary things-All of these were necessary for that
time. But the first of them was not necessary long; and the
direction concerning it was therefore repealed by the same
Spirit, as we read in the former Epistle to the Corinthians.
29. Blood-The eating which was never permitted the children of
God from the beginning of the world. Nothing can be clearer
than this. For, 1. From Adam to Noah no man ate flesh at all;
consequently no man then ate blood. 2. When God allowed Noah
and his posterity to eat flesh, he absolutely forbade them to
eat blood; and accordingly this, with the other six precepts of
Noah, was delivered down from Noah to Moses. 3. God renewed
this prohibition by Moses, which was not repealed from the
time of Moses till Christ came. 4. Neither after his coming
did any presume to repeal this decree of the Holy Ghost, till
it seemed good to the bishop of Rome so to do, about the middle
of the eighth century. 5. From that time those Churches which
acknowledged his authority held the eating of blood to be an
indifferent thing. But, 6. In all those Churches which never
did acknowledge the bishop of Rome's authority, it never was
allowed to eat blood; nor is it allowed at this day. This is
the plain fact; let men reason as plausibly as they please on
one side or the other. From which keeping yourselves ye will
do well-That is, ye will find a blessing. This gentle manner
of concluding was worthy the apostolical wisdom and goodness.
But how soon did succeeding councils of inferior authority
change it into the style of anathemas! Forms which have proved
an occasion of consecrating some of the most devilish passions
under the most sacred names; and like some ill-adjusted weapons
of war, are most likely to hurt the hand from which they are
thrown.
35. Paul and Barnabas abode in Antioch-And it was during this
time that Peter came down from Jerusalem, and that St. Paul
withstood him to the face, for separating himself from the
Gentiles, # Gal 2:11, &c.
36. Let us go and visit the brethren in every city where we have
preached-This was all that St. Paul designed at first; but it
was not all that God designed by his journey, whose providence
carried him much farther than he intended. And see how they do
-How their souls prosper: how they grow in faith, hope love:
what else ought to be the grand and constant inquiry in every
ecclesiastical visitation? Reader, how dost thou do?
37. Barnabas counselled to take John-His kinsman.
38. But Paul thought it not right-To trust him again, who had
deserted them before: who had shrunk from the labour and danger
of converting those they were now going to confirm.
39. And there was a sharp contention-Literally, a paroxysm,
or fit of a fever. But nothing in the text implies that the
sharpness was on both sides. It is far more probable that it
was not; that St. Paul, who had the right on his side, as he
undoubtedly had,) maintained it with love. And Barnabas taking
Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus-Forsaking the work in which
he was engaged, he went away to his own country.
40. But Paul departed-Held on his intended course: being
recommended by the brethren to the grace of God-We do not find
that Barnabas stayed for this. O how mighty is the grace of God!
which in the midst of the world, in the midst of sin, among so
many snares of Satan, and in spite of the incredible weakness
and depravity of nature, yet overcomes all opposition,
sanctifies, sustains, and preserves us to the end!
It appears not only that Paul and Barnabas were afterward
thoroughly reconciled, # 1Cor 9:6; Gal 2:9; but also that
John was again admitted by St. Paul as a companion in his labours,
# Col 4:10; Phm 1:24; 2Tim 4:11.
XVI. 3. He took and circumcised him because of the Jews-The
unbelieving Jews, to whom he designed he should preach. For
they would not have conversed with him at all, so long as he
was uncircumcised.
6. And having gone through Phrygia-And spoken there what was
sufficient, as well as in the region of Galatia, being forbid
by the Spirit (probably by an inward dictate) to speak as yet
in the proconsular Asia, the time for it not being come.
7. Coming to Mysia, and passing it by, as being a part of Asia,
they attempted to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them
not-Forbidding them as before. Sometimes a strong impression,
for which we are not able to give any account, is not altogether
to be despised.
9. A vision appeared to Paul by night-It was not a dream, though
it was by night. No other dream is mentioned in the New Testament
than that of Joseph and of Pilate's wife. A man of Macedonia
-Probably an angel clothed in the Macedonian habit, or using the
language of the country, and representing the inhabitants of it.
Help us-Against Satan, ignorance, and sin.
10. We sought to go into Macedonia-This is the first place
in which St. Luke intimates his attendance on the apostle.
And here he does it only in an oblique manner. Nor does he
throughout the history once mention his own name, or any one
thing which he did or said for the service of Christianity;
though Paul speaks of him in the most honourable terms,
# Col 4:14; 2Tim 4:11; and probably as the brother whose praise
in the Gospel went through all the Churches, # 2Cor 8:18.
The same remark may be made on the rest of the sacred historians,
who every one of them show the like amiable modesty.
11. We ran with a straight course-Which increased their
confidence that God had called them.
12. The first city-Neapolis was the first city they came to
in that part of Macedonia which was nearest to Asia: in that
part which was farthest from it, Philippi. The river Strymon
ran between them. Philippi was a Roman colony.
13. We went out of the gate-The Jews usually held their
religious assemblies (either by choice or constraint) at a
distance from the heathens: by a river side-Which was also
convenient for purifying themselves. Where prayer was wont to
be made-Though it does not appear there was any house built there.
We spake-At first in a familiar manner. Paul did not immediately
begin to preach.
14. A worshipper of God-Probably acquainted with the prophetic
writings whose heart the Lord opened-The Greek word properly
refers to the opening of the eyes: and the heart has its eyes,
# Eph 1:18. These are closed by nature and to open them is the
peculiar work of God.
15. She was baptized and her family-Who can believe that in so
many families there was no infant? Or that the Jews, who were
so long accustomed to circumcise their children, would not now
devote them to God by baptism? She entreated us-The souls of
the faithful cleave to those by whom they were gained to God.
She constrained us-By her importunity. They did not immediately
comply, lest any should imagine they sought their own profit by
coining into Macedonia.
17. These men are-A great truth: but St. Paul did not need, nor
would accept, of such testimony.
19. The magistrates-The supreme magistrates of the city. In the
next verse they are called by a title which often signifies
pretors. These officers exercised both the military and civil
authority.
20. Being Jews-A nation peculiarly despised by the Romans.
21. And teach customs which it is not lawful for us to receive
-The world has received all the rules and doctrines of all the
philosophers that ever were. But this is a property of Gospel
truth: it has something in it peculiarly intolerable to the world.
23. They laid many stripes upon them-Either they did not
immediately say they were Romans, or in the tumult it was not
regarded. Charging the jailer-Perhaps rather to quiet the
people than because they thought them criminal.
24. Secured their feet in the stocks-These were probably those
large pieces of wood, in use among the Romans, which not only
loaded the legs of the prisoner, but also kept them extended in
a very painful manner.
25. Paul and Silas sung a hymn to God-Notwithstanding weariness,
hunger stripes, and blood. And the prisoners heard-A song to
which they were not accustomed.
28. But Paul cried-As they were all then in the dark, it is not
easy to say, how Paul knew of the jailer's purpose; unless it
were by some immediate notice from God, which is by no means
incredible. With a loud voice-Through earnestness, and because
he was at some distance. Do thyself no harm-Although the
Christian faith opens the prospect into another life, yet it
absolutely forbids and effectually prevents a man's discharging
himself from this.
30. Sirs-He did not style them so the day before. What must I
do to be saved?-From the guilt I feel and the vengeance I fear?
Undoubtedly God then set his sins in array before him, and
convinced him in the clearest and strongest manner that the
wrath of God abode upon him.
31. Thou shalt be saved and thy household-If ye believe.
They did so, and were saved.
33. He washed their stripes-It should not be forgot, that the
apostles had not the power of working miraculous cures when they
pleased, either on themselves, or their dearest friends. Nor
was it expedient they should, since it would have frustrated many
wise designs of God, which were answered by their sufferings.
34. He set a table before them and rejoiced-Faith makes a man
joyful, prudent, liberal.
35. The pretors sent-Being probably terrified by the earthquake;
saying, Let those men go-How different from the charge given a
few hours before! And how great an ease of mind to the jailer!
37. They have beaten us publicly, being Romans-St. Paul does not
always plead this privilege. But in a country where they were
entire strangers, such treatment might have brought upon them a
suspicion of having been guilty of some uncommon crime, and so
have hindered the course of the Gospel.
40. When they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and
departed-Though many circumstances now invited their stay, yet
they wisely complied with the request of the magistrates, that
they might not seem to express any degree of obstinacy or
revenge, or give any suspicion of a design to stir up the people.
XVII. 1. And taking their journey through Amphipolis and
Apollonia-St. Luke seems to have been left at Philippi; and to
have continued in those parts, travelling from place to place
among the Churches, till St. Paul returned thither. For here
he leaves off speaking of himself as one of St. Paul's company;
neither does he resume that style, till we find them together
there, # Acts 20:5,6. After this he constantly uses it to the
end of the history. Amphipolis and Apollonia were cities of
Macedonia.
2. And Paul, according to his custom-Of doing all things, as
far as might be, in a regular manner, went in to them three
Sabbath days-Not excluding the days between.
4. Of the principal women, not a few-Our free thinkers pique
themselves upon observing, that women are more religious than
men; and this, in compliment both to religion and good manners,
they impute to the weakness of their understandings. And indeed
as far as nature can go, in imitating religion by performing the
outward acts of it, this picture of religion may make a fairer
show in women than in men, both by reason of their more tender
passions, and their modesty, which will make those actions
appear to more advantage. But in the case of true religion,
which always implies taking up the cross, especially in time of
persecution, women lie naturally under a great disadvantage, as
having less courage than men. So that their embracing the Gospel
was a stronger evidence of the power of him whose strength is
perfected in weakness, as a stronger assistance of the Holy
Spirit was needful for them to overcome their natural fearfulness.
11. These were more ingenuous-Or generous. To be teachable in
the things of God is true generosity of soul. The receiving the
word with all readiness of mind, and the most accurate search
into the truth, are well consistent.
12. Many of the-Of the Jews. And of the Grecian women-Who were
followed by their husbands.
16. While Paul was waiting for the-Having no design, as it
seems, to preach at Athens, but his zeal for God drew him
into it unawares, without staying till his companions came.
18. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosopher-The Epicureans
entirely denied a providence, and held the world to be the effect
of mere chance; asserting sensual pleasure to be man's chief
good, and that the soul and body died together. The Stoics
held, that matter was eternal; that all things were governed by
irresistible fate; that virtue was its own sufficient reward,
and vice its own sufficient punishment. It is easy to see, how
happily the apostle levels his discourse at some of the most
important errors of each, while, without expressly attacking
either, he gives a plain summary of his own religious principles.
What would this babbler say?-Such is the language of natural
reason, full of, and satisfied with itself. Yet even here St.
Paul had some fruit; though nowhere less than at Athens. And
no wonder, since this city was a seminary of philosophers, who
have ever been the pest of true religion. He seemeth to be a
proclaimer-This he returns upon them at the 23d verse;
# Acts 17:23
of strange gods-Such as are not known even at Athens.
Because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection-A god and
a goddess. And as stupid as this mistake was, it is the less
to be wondered at, since the Athenians might as well count the
resurrection a deity, as shame, famine, and many others.
19. The Areopagus, or hill of Mars, (dedicated to Mars, the
heathen god of war,) was the place where the Athenians held
their supreme court of judicature. But it does not appear he
was carried thither as a criminal. The original number of its
judges was twelve; but afterward it increased to three hundred.
These were generally men of the greatest families in Athens,
and were famed for justice and integrity.
21. And the strangers sojourning there-And catching the
distemper of them. Some new thing-The Greek word signifies
some newer thing. New things quickly grew cheap, and they
wanted those that were newer still.
22. Then Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus-An ample
theatre; said-Giving them a lecture of natural divinity, with
admirable wisdom, acuteness, fulness, and courtesy. They
inquire after new things: Paul in his divinely philosophical
discourse, begins with the first, and goes on to the last things,
both which were new things to them. He points out the origin
and the end of all things, concerning which they had so many
disputes, and equally refutes both the Epicurean and Stoic.
I perceive-With what clearness and freedom does he speak!
Paul against Athens!
23. I found an altar-Some suppose this was set up by Socrates,
to express in a covert way his devotion to the only true God,
while he derided the plurality of the heathen gods, for which
he was condemned to death: and others, that whoever erected this
altar, did it in honour to the God of Israel, of whom there was
no image, and whose name Jehovah was never made known to the
idolatrous Gentiles. Him proclaim I unto you-Thus he fixes
the wandering attention of these blind philosophers;
proclaiming to them an unknown, and yet not a new God.
24. God who made the world-Thus is demonstrated even to reason,
the one true, good God; absolutely different from the creatures,
from every part of the visible creation.
25. Neither is he served as though he needed any thing-or person
-The Greek word equally takes in both. To all-That live and
breathe;-in him we live; and breathe-In him we move. By
breathing life is continued. I breathe this moment: the next
is not in my power: and all things-For in him we are. So exactly
do the parts of this discourse answer each other.
26. He hath made of one blood the whole nation of men-By this
expression the apostle showed them in the most unaffected
manner, that though he was a Jew, be was not enslaved to any
narrow views, but looked on all mankind as his brethren: having
determined the times-That it is God who gave men the earth
to inhabit, Paul proves from the order of times and places,
showing the highest wisdom of the Disposer, superior to
all human counsels. And the bounds of their habitation-By
mountains, seas, rivers, and the like.
27. If haply-The way is open; God is ready to be found. But he
will lay no force upon man; they might feel after him-This is
in the midst between seeking and finding. Feeling being the
lowest and grossest of all our senses, is fitly applied to the
low knowledge of God; though he be not far from every one of us
-We need not go far to seek or find him. He is very near us;
in us. It is only perverse reason which thinks he is afar off.
28. In him-Not in ourselves, we live, and move, and have our
being-This denotes his necessary, intimate, and most efficacious
presence. No words can better express the continual and
necessary dependence of all created beings, in their existence
and all their operations, on the first and almighty cause,
which the truest philosophy as well as divinity teaches. As
certain also of your own poets have said-Aratus, whose words
these are, was an Athenian, who lived almost three hundred years
before this time. They are likewise to be found, with the
alteration of one letter only, in the hymn of Cleanthes to
Jupiter or the supreme being, one of the purest and finest pieces
of natural religion in the whole world of Pagan antiquity.
29. We ought not to think-A tender expression especially in the
first per son plural. As if he had said, Can God himself be a
less noble being than we who are his offspring? Nor does he
only here deny, that these are like God, but that they have any
analogy to him at all, so as to be capable of representing him.
30. The times of ignorance-What! does he object ignorance to the
knowing Athenians? Yes, and they acknowledge it by this very
altar. God overlooked-As one paraphrases, "The beams of his
eye did in a manner shoot over it." He did not appear to take
notice of them, by sending express messages to them as he did to
the Jews. But now-This day, this hour, saith Paul, puts an end
to the Divine forbearance, and brings either greater mercy or
punishment. Now he commandeth all men every where to repent
-There is a dignity and grandeur in this expression, becoming an
ambassador from the King of heaven. And this universal demand
of repentance declared universal guilt in the strongest manner,
and admirably confronted the pride of the haughtiest Stoic of
them all. At the same time it bore down the idle plea of
fatality. For how could any one repent of doing what he could
not but have done?
31. He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world-How
fitly does he speak this, in their supreme court of justice?
By the man-So he speaks, suiting himself to the capacity of his
hearers. Whereof he hath given assurance to all men, in that
he hath raised him from the dead-God raising Jesus demonstrated
hereby, that he was to be the glorious Judge of all. We are by
no means to imagine that this was all which the apostle intended
to have said, but the indolence of some of his hearers and the
petulancy of others cut him short.
32. Some mocked-Interrupting him thereby. They took offence at
that which is the principal motive of faith, from the pride of
reason. And having once stumbled at this, they rejected all
the rest.
33. So Paul departed-Leaving his hearers divided in their judgment.
34. Among whom was even Dionysius the Areopagite-One of the judges
of that court: on whom some spurious writings have been fathered
in later ages, by those who are fond of high sounding nonsense.
XVIII. 1. Paul departing from Athens-He did not stay there long.
The philosophers there were too easy, too indolent, and too wise
in their own eyes to receive the Gospel.
2. Claudius, the Roman emperor, had commanded all the Jews to
depart from Rome-All who were Jews by birth. Whether they were
Jews or Christians by religion, the Romans were too stately to
regard.
3. They were tent makers by trade-For it was a rule among the
Jews (and why is it not among the Christians?) to bring up all
their children to some trade, were they ever so rich or noble.
5. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia-Silas
seems to have stayed a considerable time at Berea: but Timotheus
had come to the apostle while he was at Athens, and been sent by
him to comfort and confirm the Church at Thessalonica,
# 1Thess 3:1-5. But now at length both Silas and Timotheus
came to the apostle at Corinth. Paul was pressed in spirit-The
more probably from what Silas and Timotheus related. Every
Christian ought diligently to observe any such pressure in his
own spirit, and if it agree with Scripture, to follow it: if he
does not he will feel great heaviness.
6. He shook his raiment-To signify he would from that time
refrain from them: and to intimate, that God would soon shake
them off as unworthy to be numbered among his people. I am
pure-None can say this but he that has borne a full testimony
against sin. From henceforth I will go to the Gentiles-But not
to them altogether. He did not break off all intercourse with
the Jews even at Corinth. Only he preached no more in their
synagogue.
7. He went into the house of one named Justus-A Gentile,
and preached there, though probably he still lodged with Aquila.
8. And many hearing-The conversation of Crispus, and the
preaching of Paul.
10. I am with thee: therefore fear not all the learning,
politeness, grandeur, or power of the inhabitants of this
city. Speak and hold not thy peace-For thy labour shall
not be in vain. For I have much people in this city-So he
prophetically calls them that afterward believed.
11. He continued there a year and six months-A long time! But
how few souls are now gained in a longer time than this? Who is
in the fault? Generally both teachers and hearers.
12. When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia-Of which Corinth was
the chief city. This Gallio, the brother of the famous Seneca,
is much commended both by him and by other writers, for the
sweetness and generosity of his temper, and easiness of his
behaviour. Yet one thing he lacked! But he knew it not and
had no concern about it.
15. But if it be-He speaks with the utmost coolness and contempt,
a question of names-The names of the heathen gods were fables
and shadows. But the question concerning the name of Jesus is
of more importance than all things else under heaven. Yet there
is this singularity (among a thousand others) in the Christian
religion, that human reason, curious as it is in all other
things, abhors to inquire into it.
17. Then they all took Sosthenes-The successor of Crispus, and
probably Paul's chief accuser, and beat him-It seems because he
had occasioned them so much trouble to no purpose, before the
judgment seat-One can hardly think in the sight of Gallio,
though at no great distance from him. And it seems to have had
a happy effect. For Sosthenes himself was afterward a Christian,
# 1Cor 1:1.
18. Paul continued many days-After the year and six months, to
confirm the brethren. Aquila having shaved his head-As was the
custom in a vow, # Acts 21:24; Num 6:18.
At Cenchrea-A seaport town, at a small distance from Corinth.
21. I must by all means keep the feast at Jerusalem-This was not
from any apprehension that he was obliged in conscience to keep
the Jewish feasts; but to take the opportunity of meeting a great
number of his countrymen to whom he might preach Christ, or whom
he might farther instruct, or free from the prejudices they had
imbibed against him. But I will return to you-So he did,
# Acts 19:1.
22. And landing at Cesarea, he went up-Immediately to Jerusalem;
and saluted the Church-Eminently so called, being the mother
Church of Christian believers: and having kept the feast there,
he went down from thence to Antioch.
23. He went over the country of Galatia and Phrygia-It is
supposed, spending about four years therein, including the
time he stayed at Ephesus.
24. An eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures-Of the Old
Testament. Every talent may be of use in the kingdom of God, if
joined with the knowledge of the Scriptures and fervour of spirit.
25. This man had been instructed-Though not perfectly, in the way
of the Lord-In the doctrine of Christ. Knowing only the baptism
of John-Only what John taught those whom he baptized, namely, to
repent and believe in a Messiah shortly to appear.
26. He spake-Privately; and taught publicly. Probably he
returned to live at Alexandria, soon after he had been baptized
by John; and so had no opportunity of being fully acquainted
with the doctrines of the Gospel, as delivered by Christ and his
apostles. And explained to him the way of God more perfectly-He
who knows Christ, is able to instruct even those that are mighty
in the Scriptures.
27. Who greatly helped through grace-It is through grace only
that any gift of any one is profitable to another. Them that
had believed-Apollos did not plant, but water. This was the
peculiar gift which he had received. And he was better able
to convince the Jews, than to convert the heathens.
XIX. 1. Having passed through-Galatia and Phrygia, which were
termed the upper parts of Asia Minor. Certain disciples-Who
had been formerly baptized by John the Baptist, and since
imperfectly instructed in Christianity.
2. Have ye received the Holy Ghost?-The extraordinary gifts of
the Spirit, as well as his sanctifying graces? We have not so
much as heard-Whether there be any such gifts.
3. Into what were ye baptized-Into what dispensation? To the
sealing of what doctrine? Into John's baptism-We were baptized
by John and believe what he taught.
4. John baptized-That is, the whole baptism and preaching of
John pointed at Christ. After this John is mentioned no more
in the New Testament. Here he gives way to Christ altogether.
5. And hearing this, they were baptized-By some other. Paul
only laid his hands upon them. They were baptized-They were
baptized twice; but not with the same baptism. John did not
administer that baptism which Christ afterward commanded, that
is, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
9. The way-The Christian way of worshipping God. He departed
-Leaving them their synagogue to themselves. Discoursing daily
-Not on the Sabbath only, in the school of one Tyrannus-Which we
do not find was any otherwise consecrated, than by preaching the
Gospel there.
10. All who desired it among the inhabitants of the proconsular
Asia, now heard the word: St. Paul had been forbidden to preach
it in Asia before, # Acts 16:6. But now the time was come.
11. Special miracles-Wrought in a very uncommon manner.
12. Evil spirits-Who also occasioned many of those diseases,
which yet might appear to be purely natural.
13. Exorcists-Several of the Jews about this time pretended to
a power of casting out devils, particularly by certain arts or
charms, supposed to be derived from Solomon. Undertook to name
-Vain undertaking! Satan laughs at all those who attempt to
expel him either out of the bodies or the souls of men but by
Divine faith. All the light of reason is nothing to the craft
or strength of that subtle spirit. His craft cannot be known
but by the Spirit of God nor can his strength be conquered but
by the power of faith.
17. And the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified-So that even the
malice of the devil wrought for the furtherance of the Gospel.
18. Many came confessing-Of their own accord, and openly
declaring their deeds-The efficacy of God's word, penetrating
the inmost recesses of their soul, wrought that free and open
confession to which perhaps even torments would not have
compelled them.
19. Curious arts-Magical arts, to which that soft appellation
was given by those who practised them. Ephesus was peculiarly
famous for these. And as these practices were of so much
reputation there, it is no wonder the books which taught them
should bear a great price. Bringing their books together-As it
were by common consent, burnt them-Which was far better than
selling them, even though the money had been given to the poor.
Fifty thousand pieces of silver-If these pieces of silver be
taken for Jewish shekels, the sum will amount to six thousand
two hundred and fifty pounds.
20. So powerfully did the word of God grow-In extent, and
prevail-In power and efficacy.
21. After these things were ended-Paul sought not to rest, but
pressed on, as if he had yet done nothing. He is already
possessed of Ephesus and Asia. He purposes for Macedonia and
Achaia. He has his eye upon Jerusalem, then upon Rome;
afterward on Spain, # Rom 15:28. No Cesar, no Alexander the
Great, no other hero, comes up to the magnanimity of this little
Benjamite. Faith and love to God and man had enlarged his heart,
even as the sand of the sea.
24. Silver shrines-Silver models of that famous temple, which
were bought not only by the citizens, but by strangers from all
parts. The artificers-The other silversmiths.
25. The workmen-Employed by him and them.
26. Saying, that they are not gods which are made with hands-This
manifestly shows, that the contrary opinion did then generally
prevail, namely, that there was a real Divinity in their sacred
images. Though some of the later heathens spoke of them just as
the Romanists do now.
27. There is danger, not only that this our craft [trade] should
come into disgrace, but also that the temple of the great
goddess Diana should be despised-No wonder a discourse should
make so deep an impression, which was edged both by interest
and superstition. The great goddess was one of the standing
titles of Diana. Her majesty destroyed-Miserable majesty, which
was capable of being thus destroyed! Whom all Asia and the world
-That is, the Roman empire, worshippeth-Although under a great
variety of titles and characters. But the multitude of those
that err does not turn error into truth.
29. They rushed with one accord-Demetrius and his company, into
the theatre -Where criminals were wont to be thrown to the wild
beasts, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus-When they could
not find Paul. Probably they hoped to oblige them to fight with
the wild beasts, as some think St. Paul had done before.
30. When Paul would have gone in to the people-Being above all
fear, to plead the cause of his companions, and prove they are
not gods which are made with hands.
31. The principal officers of Asia-The Asian priests, who
presided over the public games, which they were then
celebrating in honour of Diana.
32. The greater part did not know for what they were come
together-Which is commonly the case in such an assembly.
33. And they thrust forward-Namely, the artificers and workmen,
Alexander-Probably some well-known Christian whom they saw in
the crowd: the Jews pushing him on-To expose him to the more
danger. And Alexander waving with his hand-In token of desiring
silence, would have made a defence-For himself and his brethren.
34. But when they knew that he was a Jew-And consequently an
enemy to their worship of images; they prevented him, by crying,
Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35. The register-Probably the chief governor of the public games.
The image which fell down from Jupiter-They believed that very
image of Diana, which stood in her temple, fell down from Jupiter
in heaven. Perhaps he designed to insinuate, as if falling down
from Jupiter, it was not made with hands, and so was not that
sort of idols which Paul had said were no gods.
37. Nor blasphemers of your goddess-They simply declared the one
God, and the vanity of idols in general.
38. There are proconsuls-One in every province. There was one
at Ephesus.
39. In a lawful assembly-In such a regular assembly as has
authority to judge of religious and political affairs.
40. This concourse-He wisely calls it by an inoffensive name.
XX. 1. After the tumult was ceased-So Demetrius gained nothing.
Paul remained there till all was quiet.
2. He came into Greece-That part of it which lay between
Macedonia and Achaia.
3. An ambush being laid for him-In his way to the ship.
4. To Asia-There some of them left him. But Trophimus went with
him to Jerusalem, # Acts 21:29. Aristarchus, even to Rome,
# Acts 27:2.
6. We set sail-St. Luke was now with St. Paul again, as we learn
from his manner of expressing himself.
7. To break bread-That is, to celebrate the Lord's Supper;
continued his discourse-Through uncommon fervour of spirit.
8. There were many lamps in the room where they were
assembled-To prevent any possible scandal.
9. In the window-Doubtless kept open, to prevent heat, both
from the lamps and the number of people.
10. Paul fell or him-It is observable, our Lord never used
this gesture. But Elijah and Elisha did as well as Paul.
His life is in him-He is alive again.
11. So departed-Without taking any rest at all.
12. And they brought the young man alive-But alas! How many of
those who have allowed themselves to sleep under sermons, or as
it were to dream awake, have slept the sleep of eternal death,
and fallen to rise no more!
13. Being himself to go on foot-That he might enjoy the
company of his Christian brethren a little longer, although
he had passed the night without sleep, and though Assos was
of difficult and dangerous access by land.
14. Mitylene-Was a city and part of the isle of Lesbos, about
seven miles distant from the Asiatic coast.
`16. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus-Which lay on
the other side of the bay. He hasted to be at Jerusalem on
the day of pentecost-Because then was the greatest concourse
of people.
17. Sending to Ephesus, he called the elders of the Church-These
are called bishops in the 28th verse, # Acts 20:28 (rendered
overseers in our translation.) Perhaps elders and bishops were
then the same; or no otherwise different than are the rector of
a parish and his curates.
18. Ye know-Happy is he who can thus appeal to the conscience
of his hearers.
19. Serving-See the picture of a faithful servant! The Lord
-Whose the church is, with all humility, and with tears, and
trials-These are the concomicants of it. The service itself
is described more particularly in the following verse. This
humility he recommends to the Ephesians themselves, # Eph 4:2.
His tears are mentioned again, # Ac 20:31, as also # 2Cor 2:4;
# Php 3:18. These passages laid together supply us with the
genuine character of St. Paul. Holy tears, from those who seldom
weep on account of natural occurrences, are no mean specimen of
the efficacy and proof of the truth of Christianity. Yet joy
is well consistent therewith, # Ac 20:24. The same person may
be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
20. I have preached-Publicly; and taught-From house to house.
Else he had not been pure from their blood. For even an apostle
could not discharge his duty by public preaching only. How
much less can an ordinary pastor!
21. Repentance toward God-The very first motion of the soul
toward God is a kind of repentance.
22. Bound by the Spirit-Strongly impelled by him.
23. Save that-Only this I know in general; the Holy Ghost
witnesseth-By other persons. Such was God's good pleasure
to reveal these things to him, not immediately, but by the
ministry of others.
24. Nor do I count my life precious-It adds great force
to this and all the other passages of Scripture, in which
the apostles express their contempt of the world, that they
were not uttered by persons like Seneca and Antoninus, who
talked elegantly of despising the world in the full affluence
of all its enjoyments; but by men who daily underwent the
greatest calamities, and exposed their lives in proof of
their assertions.
25. Ye shall see my face no more-He wisely inserts this,
that what follows might make the deeper impression.
27. For I have not shunned-Otherwise if any had perished,
their blood would have been on his head.
28. Take heed therefore-I now devolve my care upon you; first
to yourselves; then to the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath
made you overseers-For no man, or number of men upon earth, can
constitute an overseer, bishop, or any other Christian minister.
To do this is the peculiar work of the Holy Ghost: to feed the
Church of God-That is, the believing, loving, holy children of
God; which he hath purchased-How precious is it then in his
sight! with his own blood-For it is the blood of the only
begotten Son of God, # 1John 1:7.
29. Grievous wolves-From without, namely, false apostles.
They had, not yet broke in on the Church at Ephesus.
30. Yea, from among yourselves men will arise-Such were the
Nicolaitans, of whom Christ complains, # Rev 2:6;
to draw away disciples-From the purity of the Gospel and the
unity of the body.
31. I ceased not to warn every one night and day-This was
watching indeed! Who copies after this example?
32. The word of his grace-It is the grand channel of it, to
believers as well as unbelievers. Who is able to build you
up-To confirm and increase your faith, love, holiness. God
can thus build us up, without any instrument. But he does build
us up by them. O beware of dreaming that you have less need of
human teachers after you know Christ than before! And to give
you an inheritance-Of eternal glory, among them that are
sanctified-And so made meet for it. A large number of these
Paul doubtless knew, and remembered before God.
33. I have coveted-Here the apostle begins the other branch
of his farewell discourse, like old Samuel, # 1Sam 12:3,
taking his leave of the children of Israel.
34. These hands-Callous, as you see, with labour. Who is he
that envies such a bishop or archbishop as this?
35. I have showed you-Bishops, by my example, all things-And
this among the rest; that thus labouring-So far as the labours
of your office allow you time; ye ought to help the weak-Those
who are disabled by sickness, or any bodily infirmity, from
maintaining themselves by their own labour. And to remember
-Effectually, so as to follow it; the word which he himself
said-Without doubt his disciples remembered many of his words
which are not recorded. It is happier to give-To imitate God,
and have him, as it were, indebted to us.
37. They all wept-Of old, men, yea, the best and bravest of
men, were easily melted into tears; a thousand instances of
which might be produced from profane as well as sacred writers.
But now, notwithstanding the effeminacy which almost universally
prevails, we leave those tears to women and children.
38. Sorrowing most for that word which he spake, that they
should see his face no more-What sorrow will be in the great
day, when God shall speak that word to all who are found on
the left hand, that they shall see his face no more!
XXI. 1. And when we were torn away from the in-Not without
doing violence both to ourselves and them.
3. We landed at Tyre-That there should be Christians there was
foretold, # Psa 87:4. What we read in that psalm of the Philistines
and Ethiopians also may be compared with # Acts 8:40; 27:4.
4. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days-ln order
to spend a Sabbath with them. Who told Paul by the Spirit-That
afflictions awaited him at Jerusalem. This was properly what
they said by the Spirit. They themselves advised him not to go
up. The disciples seemed to understand their prophetic impulse
to be an intimation from the Spirit, that Paul, if he were so
minded, might avoid the danger, by not going to Jerusalem.
7. Having finished our voyage-From Macedonia,
# Acts 20:6,
we came to Ptolemais-A celebrated city on the sea coast,
anciently called Accos. It is now, like many other once
noble cities, only a heap of ruins.
8. We came to Cesarea-So called from a stately temple which
Herod the Great dedicated there to Augustus Cesar. It was the
place where the Roman governor of Judea generally resided and
kept his court. The evangelist, who was one of the seven
deacons-An evangelist is a preacher of the Gospel to those who
had never heard it, as Philip had done to the Samaritans, to the
Ethiopian eunuch, and to all the towns from Azotus to Cesarea,
# Acts 8:5,26,40. It is not unlikely he spent the following
years preaching in Tyre and Sidon, and the other heathen cities
in the neighbourhood of Galilee, his house being at Cesarea, a
convenient situation for that purpose. We abode with him-We
lodged at his house during our stay at Cesarea.
10. A certain prophet came-The nearer the event was, the more
express were the predictions which prepared Paul for it.
11. Binding his own feet and hands-In the manner that
malefactors were wont to be bound when apprehended. So shall
the Jews bind the man whose girdle this is-St. Paul's bonds
were first particularly foretold at Cesarea, to which he
afterward came in bonds, # Acts 23:33.
12. Both we, (his fellow travellers,) and they of the place,
besought him not to go up to Jerusalem-St. Paul knew that this
prediction had the force of a command. They did not know this.
13. Breaking my heart-For the apostles themselves were not void
of human affections. I am ready not only to be bound, but to
die-And to him that is ready for it, the burden is light.
14. And when he would not be persuaded-This was not obstinacy,
but true Christian resolution. We should never be persuaded,
either to do evil, or to omit doing any good which is in our
power; saying, the will of the Lord be done-Which they were
satisfied Paul knew.
15. We took up our carriages-Our baggage; which probably went
by sea before. What they took with them now in particular was
the alms they were carrying to Jerusalem, # Acts 24:17.
16. The disciples brought us to one Mnason, a Cyprian, an old
disciple-He was a native of Cyprus, but an inhabitant of
Jerusalem, and probably one of the first converts there.
18. Paul went in with us-That it might appear we are all of
one mind, to James-Commonly called the Lord's brother; the
only apostle then presiding over the Churches in Judea.
20. They are all zealous for the law-For the whole Mosaic
dispensation. How astonishing is this! Did none of the
apostles, beside St. Paul, know that this dispensation was
now abolished? And if they did both know and testify this,
how came their hearers not to believe them?
21. They have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest
the Jews-not to circumcise their children, nor to walk after the
customs-Of the Mosaic law. And so undoubtedly he did. And so he
wrote to all the Churches in Galatia, among whom were many Jews.
Yea, and James himself had long before assented to Peter,
affirming before all the apostles and all the brethren,
# Acts 15:10, That this very law was a yoke which (said he)
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear-Amazing! that they
did not know this! Or, that if they did, they did not openly
testify it at all hazards, to every Jewish convert in Jerusalem!
22. What is it therefore-What is to be done? The multitude must
needs come together-They will certainly gather together in a
tumultuous manner, unless they be some way pacified.
23. Therefore-To obviate their prejudice against thee: do this
that we say to thee-Doubtless they meant this advice well: but
could Paul follow it in godly sincerity? Was not the yielding
so far to the judgment of others too great a deference to be paid
to any mere men?
24. And all will know-that thou thyself walkest orderly, keeping
the law-Ought he not, without any reverence to man, where the
truth of God was so deeply concerned, to have answered plainly,
I do not keep the Mosaic law; neither need any of you. Yea,
Peter doth not keep the law. And God himself expressly commanded
him not to keep it; ordering him to go in to men uncircumcised,
and to eat with them,
# Acts 11:3, which the law utterly forbids.
26. Then Paul took the men-Yielding his own judgment to their
advice, which seemed to flow not out of spiritual but carnal
wisdom; seeming to be what he really was not: making as if he
believed the law still in force. Declaring-Giving notice to
the priests in waiting, that he designed to accomplish the days
of purification, till all the sacrifice should be offered, as the
Mosaic law required, # Num 6:13.
27. And when the seven days were about to be accomplished-When
after giving notice to the priests, they were entering upon the
accomplishment of those days. It was toward the beginning of
them that Paul was seized. The Jews that were from Asia-Some
of those Jews who came from Asia to the feast.
28. Against the people-The Jewish nation; and the law-Of Moses;
and this place-The temple. Yea, and hath even brought Greeks
into the temple-They might come into the outer court. But they
imagined Paul had brought then into the inner temple, and had
thereby polluted it.
30. And immediately the gates were shut-Both to prevent any
farther violation of the temple; and to prevent Paul's taking
sanctuary at the horns of the altar.
31. And as they went about to kill him-It was a rule among the
Jews, that any uncircumcised person who came into the inner
temple, might be stoned without farther process. And they
seemed to think Paul, who brought such in thither, deserved
no better treatment. Word came to the tribune-A cohort or
detachment of soldiers, belonging to the Roman legion, which
lodged in the adjacent castle of Antonia, were stationed on
feast days near the temple, to prevent disorders. It is evident,
Lysias himself was not present, when the tumult began. Probably
he was the oldest Roman tribune (or colonel) then at Jerusalem.
And as such he was the commanding officer of the legion
quartered at the castle.
33. Then the tribune-Having made his way through the multitude,
came near and took him-And how many great ends of providence
were answered by this imprisonment? This was not only a means
of preserving his life, (after he had suffered severely for
worldly prudence,) but gave him an opportunity of preaching the
Gospel safely, in spite of all tumult, # Acts 22:22, yea, and
that in those places to which otherwise he could have had no
access, # Acts 21:40.
And commanded him to be bound with two chains-Taking it for
granted he was some notorious offender. And thus the prophecy of
Agabus was fulfilled, though by the hands of a Roman.
35. When he came upon the stairs-The castle of Antonia was
situate on a rock fifty cubits high, at that corner of the
outward temple, where the western and northern porticos joined,
to each of which there were stairs descending from it.
37. As Paul was about to be brought into the castle-The wisdom
of God taught to make use of that very time and place.
38. Art not thou that Egyptian-Who came into Judea when Felix
had been some years governor there! Calling himself a prophet,
he drew much people after him; and having brought them through
the wilderness, led them to Mount Olivet, promising that the
walls of the city should fall down before them. But Felix
marching out of Jerusalem against him, his followers quickly
dispersed, many of whom were taken or slain; but he himself
made his escape.
40. In the Hebrew tongue-That dialect of it, which was then
commonly spoken at Jerusalem.
XXII. 1. Hear ye now my defence-Which they could not hear
before for the tumult.
3. I am verily-This defence answers all that is objected,
# Acts 21:28. As there, so here also mention is made of the
person of Paul,
# Acts 22:3, of
the people and the law,
# Acts 22:3,5,12; of
the temple,
# Acts 22:17; of
teaching all men,
# Acts 22:15-17,21; and of
the truth of his doctrine,
# Acts 22:6.
But he speaks closely and nervously, in few words, because the
time was short. But brought up at the feet of Gamaliel-The
scholars usually sat on low seats, or upon mats on the floor,
at the feet of their masters, whose seats were raised to a
considerable height. Accurately instructed-The learned education
which Paul had received was once no doubt the matter of his
boasting and confidence. Unsanctified learning made his bonds
strong, and furnished him with numerous arguments against the
Gospel. Yet when the grace of God had changed his heart, and
turned his accomplishments into another channel, he was the
fitter instrument to serve God's wise and merciful purposes,
in the defence and propagation of Christianity.
4. And persecuted this way-With the same zeal that you do now.
Binding both men and women-How much better was his condition,
now he was bound himself.
5. The high priest is my witness-Is able to testify. The
brethren-Jews: so this title was not peculiar to the Christians.
6. About noon-All was done in the face of the sun. A great light
shone-By whatever method God reveals himself to us, we shall have
everlasting cause to recollect it with pleasure. Especially when
he has gone in any remarkable manner out of his common way for
this gracious purpose. If so, we should often dwell on the
particular circumstances, and be ready, on every proper occasion,
to recount those wonders of power and love, for the encouragement
and instruction of others.
9. They did not hear the voice-Distinctly; but only a confused noise.
12. A devout man according to the law-A truly religious person,
and though a believer in Christ, yet a strict observer of the
law of Moses.
16. Be baptized, and wash away thy sins-Baptism administered to
real penitents, is both a means and seal of pardon. Nor did God
ordinarily in the primitive Church bestow this on any, unless
through this means.
17. When I was returned to Jerusalem-From Damascus, and was
praying in the temple-Whereby he shows that he still paid the
temple its due honour, as the house of prayer. I was in a
trance-Perhaps he might continue standing all the while, so
that any who were near him would hardly discern it.
18. And I saw him-Jesus, saying to me, Depart quickly out of
Jerusalem-Because of the snares laid for thee: and in order to
preach where they will hear.
19. And I said-It is not easy for a servant of Christ, who is
himself deeply impressed with Divine truths, to imagine to what
a degree men are capable of hardening their hearts against thee.
He is often ready to think with Paul, It is impossible for any
to resist such evidence. But experience makes him wiser and
shows that wilful unbelief is proof against all truth and reason.
20. When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was
standing by-A real convert still retains the remembrance of his
former sins. He confesses thorn and is humbled for them, all
the days of his life.
22. And they heard him to this word-Till he began to speak of
his mission to the Gentiles, and this too in such a manner as
implied that the Jews were in danger of being cast off.
23. They rent their garments-In token of indignation and horror
at this pretended blasphemy, and cast dust into the air-Through
vehemence of rage, which they knew not how to vent.
25. And as they-The soldiers ordered by the tribune, were binding
him with thongs-A freeman of Rome might be bound with a chain
and beaten with a staff: but he might not be bound with thongs,
neither scourged, or beaten with rods: Paul said to the centurion
-The captain, who stood by to see the orders of the tribune executed.
26. Consider what thou art about to do; for this man is a Roman
-Yea, there was a stronger reason to consider. For this man was
a servant of God.
28. But I was free born-Not barely as being born at Tarsus;
for this was not Roman colony. But probably either his father,
or some of his ancestors, had been made free of Rome, for
some military service.
We learn hence, that we are under no obligation as Christians
to give up our civil privileges (which we are to receive and
prize as the gift of God) to every insolent invader. In a
thousand circumstances, gratitude to God, and duty to men,
will oblige us to insist upon them; and engage us to strive
to transmit them improved, rather than impaired to posterity.
XXIII. 1. And Paul earnestly beholding the council-Professing
a clear conscience by his very countenance; and likewise
waiting to see whether any of them was minded to ask him any
question, said, I have lived in all good conscience before God
till this day-He speaks chiefly of the time since he became a
Christian. For none questioned him concerning what he had been
before. And yet even in his unconverted state, although he was
in an error, yet he had acted from conscience, before God
-Whatever men may think or say of me.
3. Then said Paul-Being carried away by a sudden and prophetic
impulse. God is about to smite thee, thou whited wall-Fair
without; full of dirt and rubbish within. And he might well be
so termed, not only as he committed this outrage, while gravely
sitting on the tribunal of justice but also as, at the same time
that he stood high in the esteem of the citizens, he cruelly
defrauded the priests of their legal subsistence, so that some
of them even perished for want. And God did remarkably smite
him; for about five years after this, his house being reduced to
ashes, in a tumult begun by his own son, he was besieged in the
royal palace; where having hid himself in an old aqueduct, he
was dragged out and miserably slain.
5. I was not aware, brethren, that it was the high priest-He
seems to mean, I did not advert to it, in the prophetic transport
of my mind: but he does not add, that his not adverting to it
proceeded from the power of the Spirit coming upon him; as
knowing they were not able to bear it. This answer admirably
shows the situation of mind he was then in, partly with regard
to the bystanders, whom he thus softens, adding also the title
of brethren, and justifying their reproof by the prohibition of
Moses; partly with regard to himself, who, after that singular
transport subsided, was again under the direction of the general
command. # Exod 22:28.
6. I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for the hope of the
resurrection of the dead am I called in question-So he was in
effect; although not formally, or explicitly.
8. The Pharisees confess both-Both the resurrection, and the
existence of angels and separate spirits.
9. And the scribes of the Pharisees' side arising-Every sect
contains both learned and unlearned. The former used to be the
mouth of the party. If a spirit-St. Paul in his speech from the
stairs had affirmed, that Jesus, whom they knew to have been
dead, was alive, and that he had spoken to him from heaven, and
again in a vision. So they add nothing, only they construe it
in their own way, putting an angel or spirit for Jesus.
11. And the night following, the Lord Jesus-What Paul had before
purposed in spirit, # Acts 19:21, God now in due time confirms.
Another declaration to the same effect is made by an angel of
God, # Acts 27:23. And from the 23d chapter the sum of this
book turns on the testimony of Paul to the Romans. How would the
defenders of St. Peter's supremacy triumph, could they find out
half as much ascribed to him! Be of good courage, Paul-As he
laboured under singular distresses and persecutions, so he was
favoured with extraordinary assurances of the Divine assistance.
Thou must testify-Particular promises are usually given when all
things appear desperate. At Rome also-Danger is nothing in the
eyes of God: all hinderances farther his work. A promise of what
is afar off, implies all that necessarily lies between. Paul
shall testify at Rome: therefore he shall come to Rome; therefore
he shall escape the Jews, the sea, the viper.
12. Some of the Jews bound themselves-Such execrable vows were
not uncommon among the Jews. And if they were prevented from
accomplishing what they had vowed, it was an easy matter to
obtain absolution from their rabbis.
15. Now therefore ye-Which they never scrupled at all, as not
doubting but they were doing God service.
17. And Paul-Though he had an express promise of it from Christ,
was not to neglect any proper means of safety.
19. And the tribune taking him by the hand-In a mild,
condescending way. Lysias seems to have conducted this whole
affair with great integrity, humanity, and prudence.
24. Provide beasts-If a change should be necessary, to set Paul
on-So we read of his riding once; but not by choice.
27. Having learned that he was a Roman-True; but not before he
rescued him. Here he uses art.
31. The soldiers brought him by night to Antipatris-But not the
same night they set out. For Antipatris was about thirty-eight
of our miles northwest of Jerusalem. Herod the Great rebuilt
it, and gave it this name in honour of his father Antipater:
Cesarea was near seventy miles from Jerusalem, and about thirty
from Antipatris.
35. In Herod's palace-This was a palace and a court built by
Herod the Great. Probably some tower belonging to it might be
used for a kind of state prison.
XXIV. 1. Ananias-Who would spare no trouble on the occasion,
with several of the elders, members of the sanhedrim.
2. Tertullus began-A speech how different from St. Paul's; which
is true, modest, solid, and without paint. Felix was a man of
the most infamous character, and a plague to all the provinces
over which he presided.
4. But that I may not trouble thee any farther-By trespassing
either on thy patience or modesty. The eloquence of Tertullus
was as bad as his cause: a lame introduction, a lame transition,
and a lame conclusion. Did not God confound the orator's language?
10. Knowing-for several years thou hast been a judge over this
nation-And so not unacquainted with our religious rites and
customs, and consequently more capable of understanding and
deciding a cause of this nature. There was no flattery in
this. It was a plain fact. He governed Judea six or seven
years. I answer for myself-As it may be observed, his answer
exactly corresponds with the three articles of Tertullus's
charge: sedition, heresy, and profanation of the temple. As
to the first, he suggests,. that he had not been long enough
at Jerusalem to form a party and attempt an insurrection: (for
it was about twelve days since he came up thither; five of which
he had been at Cesarea, # Acts 24:1; one or two were spent in
his journey thither, and most of the rest he had been confined
at Jerusalem.) And he challenges them, in fact, to produce any
evidence of such practices, # Acts 24:11-13. As to the second,
he confesses himself to be a Christian; but maintains this to be
a religion perfectly agreeable to the law and the prophets, and
therefore deserving a fair reception, # Acts 24:14,16. And as
for profaning the temple, he observes that he behaved there in a
most peaceful and regular manner, so that his innocence had been
manifest even before the sanhedrim, where the authors of the
tumult did not dare to appear against him.
14. After the way which they call heresy-This appellation St.
Paul corrects. Not that it was then an odious word; but it was
not honourable enough. A party or sect (so that word signifies)
is formed by men. This way was prescribed by God. The apostle
had now said what was sufficient for his defence; but having a
fair occasion, he makes an ingenuous confession of his faith in
this verse, his hope in the next, his love in the 17th.
# Acts 24:14,15,17
So worship I the God of my fathers-This was a very proper plea
before a Roman magistrate; as it proved that he was under
the protection of the Roman laws, since the Jews were so:
whereas had he introduced the worship of new gods he would
have forfeited that protection. Believing all things which
are written-Concerning the Messiah.
15. Both of the just and of the unjust-In a public court this
was peculiarly proper to be observed.
16. For this cause-With a view to this, I also exercise
myself-As well as they.
19. Who ought to have been present before thee-But the world
never commit greater blunders, even against its own laws, than
when it is persecuting the children of God.
21. Unless they think me blamable for this one word-Which
nevertheless was the real truth. # Acts 23:6.
22. After I have been more accurately informed-Which he afterward
was; and he doubtless (as well as Festus and Agrippa) transmitted
a full account of these things to Rome.
23. He commanded the centurion to let him have liberty-To be only
a prisoner at large. Hereby the Gospel was spread more and more;
not to the satisfaction of the Jews. But they could not hinder it.
24. And after Paul had been kept some days in this gentle
confinement at Cesarea, Felix, who had been absent for a short
time, coming thither again, with Drusilla, his wife-The daughter
of Herod Agrippa, one of the finest women of that age. Felix
persuaded her to forsake her husband, Azizus, king of Emessa,
and to be married to himself, though a heathen. She was
afterward, with a son she had by Felix, consumed in an eruption
of Mount Vesuvius. Concerning the faith in Christ-That is, the
doctrine of Christ.
25. And as he reasoned of justice, temperance, and judgment to
come-This was the only effectual way of preaching Christ to an
unjust, lewd judge. Felix being terrified-How happily might this
conviction have ended, had he been careful to pursue the views
which were then opening upon his mind! But, like thousands, he
deferred the consideration of these things to a more convenient
season. A season which, alas! never came. For though he heard
again, he was terrified no more.
In the meantime we do not find Drusilla, though a Jewess, was
thus alarmed. She had been used to hear of a future judgment:
perhaps too she trusted to the being a daughter of Abraham,
or to the expiation of the law, and so was proof against the
convictions which seized on her husband, though a heathen. Let
this teach us to guard against all such false dependencies as
tend to elude those convictions that might otherwise be produced
in us by the faithful preaching of the word of God. Let us stop
our ears against those messengers of Satan, who appear as angels
of light; who would teach us to reconcile the hope of salvation
with a corrupt heart or an unholy life. Go thy way for this time
-O how will every damned soul one day lament his having neglected
such a time as this!
26. He hoped also-An evil hope: so when he heard his eye was not
single. No marvel then that he profited nothing by all St.
Paul's discourses: that money would be given-By the Christians
for the liberty of so able a minister. And waiting for this,
unhappy Felix fell short of the treasure of the Gospel.
27. But after two years-After St. Paul had been two years a
prisoner, Felix desiring to gratify the Jews, left Paul bound
-Thus men of the world, to gratify one another, stretch forth
their hands to the things of God! Yet the wisdom of Felix did
not profit him, did not satisfy the Jews at all. Their
accusations followed him to Rome, and had utterly ruined him,
but for the interest which his brother Pallas had with Nero.
XXV. 2. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews appeared
against Paul-In so long a time their rage was not cooled. So
much louder a call had Paul to the Gentiles.
4. But Festus answered-So Festus's care to preserve the imperial
privileges was the means of preserving Paul's life. By what
invisible springs does God govern the world! With what silence,
and yet with what wisdom and energy!
5. Let those of you who are able-Who are best able to undertake
the journey, and to manage the cause. If there be any wickedness
in him-So he does not pass sentence before he hears the cause.
6. Not more than ten days-A short space for a new governor
to stay at such a city as Jerusalem. He could not with any
convenience have heard and decided the cause of Paul within
that time.
7. Bringing many accusations-When many accusations are heaped
together, frequently not one of them is true.
8. While he answered-To a general charge a general answer was
sufficient.
9. Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem-Festus could have
ordered this without asking Paul. But God secretly overruled
the whole, that he might have an occasion of appealing to Rome.
10. I am standing at Cesar's judgment seat-For all the courts
of the Roman governors were held in the name of the emperor, and
by commission from him. No man can give me up-He expresses it
modestly: the meaning is, Thou canst not. I appeal to Cesar
-Which any Roman citizen might do before sentence was passed.
12. The council-It was customary for a considerable number of
persons of distinction to attend the Roman governors. These
constituted a kind of council, with whom they frequently advised.
13. Agrippa-The son of Herod Agrippa,
# Acts 12:1;
and Bernice-His sister, with whom he lived in a scandalous
familiarity. This was the person whom Titus Vespasian so
passionately loved, that he would have made her empress, had
not the clamours of the Romans prevented it.
15. Desiring judgment against him-As upon a previous conviction,
which they falsely pretended.
16. It is not the custom of the Romans-How excellent a rule, to
condemn no one unheard! A rule, which as it is common to all
nations, (courts of inquisition only excepted,) so it ought to
direct our proceedings in all affairs, not only in public, but
private life.
18. Such things as I supposed-From their passion and vehemence.
19. But had certain questions-How coldly does he mention the
things of the last importance! And about one Jesus-Thus does
Festus speak of Him, to whom every knee shall bow! Whom Paul
affirmed to be alive-And was this a doubtful question? But why,
O Festus, didst thou doubt concerning it? Only because thou
didst not search into the evidence of it. Otherwise that
evidence might have opened to thee, till it had grown up into
full conviction; and thy illustrious prisoner have led thee into
the glorious liberty of the children of God.
23. With the tribunes and principal men of the city-The chief
officers, both military and civil.
XXVI. And Paul stretching forth his hand-Chained as it was: a
decent expression of his own earnestness, and proper to engage
the attention of his hearers; answered for himself-Not only
refuting the accusations of the Jews, but enlarging upon the
faith of the Gospel.
2. King Agrippa-There is a peculiar force in thus addressing
a person by name. Agrippa felt this.
3. Who art accurately acquainted-Which Festus was not; with the
customs-In practical matters; and questions-In speculative. This
word Festus had used in the absence of Paul, # Acts 25:19, who,
by the Divine leading, repeats and explains it. Agrippa had
had peculiar advantages for an accurate knowledge of the Jewish
customs and questions, from his education under his father Herod,
and his long abode at Jerusalem.
Nothing can be imagined more suitable or more graceful,
than this whole discourse of Paul before Agrippa; in which
the seriousness of the Christian, the boldness of the apostle,
and the politeness of the gentleman and the scholar, appear
in a most beautiful contrast, or rather a most happy union.
4. From my youth, which was from the beginning-That is, which
was from the beginning of my youth.
5. If they would testify-But they would not, for they well knew
what weight his former life must add to his present testimony.
6. And now-This and the two following verses are in a kind of
# Acts 26:6,7,8
parenthesis, and show that what the Pharisees rightly taught
concerning the resurrection, Paul likewise asserted at this day.
The ninth verse is connected with the fifth. For Pharisaism
# Acts 26:9,5
impelled him to persecute. I stand in judgment for the hope
of the promise-Of the resurrection. So it was in effect. For
unless Christ had risen, there could have been no resurrection
of the dead. And it was chiefly for testifying the resurrection
of Christ, that the Jews still persecuted him.
7. Our twelve tribes-For a great part of the ten tribes also had
at various times returned from the east to their own country,
# James 1:1; 1Pet 1:1.
Worshipping continually night and day-That is, this is what
they aim at in all their public and private worship.
8. Is it judged by you an incredible thing-It was by Festus,
# Acts 25:19, to whom Paul answers as if he had heard him
discourse.
9. I thought-When I was a Pharisee: that I ought to do many
things-Which he now enumerates.
10. I shut up many of the saints-Men not only innocent, but
good, just, holy. I gave my vote against them-That is, I joined
with those who condemned them. Perhaps the chief priests did
also give him power to vote on these occasions.
11. I compelled them-That is, some of them; to blaspheme-This is
the most dreadful of all! Repent, ye enemies of the Gospel. If
Spira, who was compelled, suffered so terribly, what will become
of those who compel, like Saul, but do not repent like him.
12. # Acts 9:2.
13. O King-Most seasonably, in the height of the narration,
does he thus fix the king's attention. Above the brightness
of the sun-And no marvel. For what is the brightness of this
created sun, to the Sun of righteousness, the brightness of the
Father's glory?
14. In the Hebrew tongue-St. Paul was not now speaking
in Hebrew: when he was, # Acts 23:7, he did not add,
In the Hebrew tongue. Christ used this tongue both on
earth and from heaven.
17. Delivering thee from the people-The Jews and the Gentiles, to
whom, both Jews and Gentiles, I now send thee-Paul gives them to
know, that the liberty he enjoys even in bonds, was promised to
him, as well as his preaching to the Gentiles. I, denotes the
authority of the sender. Now, the time whence his mission was
dated. For his apostleship, as well as his conversion, commenced
at this moment.
18. To open-He opens them, who sends Paul; and he does it by Paul
who is sent; their eyes-Both of the Jews and Gentiles: that they
may turn-Through the power of the Almighty, from the spiritual
darkness wherein they were involved, to the light of Divine
knowledge and holiness, and from the power of Satan, who now
holds them in sin, guilt, and misery, to the love and happy
service of God: that they may receive through faith-(He seems to
place the same blessings in a fuller light,) pardon, holiness,
and glory.
19. From that time-Having received power to obey,
I was not disobedient-I did obey, I used that power,
# Gal 1:16. So that even this grace whereby St Paul
was influenced was not irresistible.
20. I declared-From that hour to this, both to Jew and Gentile,
that they should repent-This repentance, we may observe, is
previous both to inward and outward holiness.
21. For these things-The apostle now applies all that he had said.
22. Having obtained help from God-When all other help failed,
God sent the Romans from the castle, and so fulfilled the
promise he had made, # Acts 26:17.
24. Festus said, Paul, thou art beside thyself-To talk of men's
rising from the dead! And of a Jew's enlightening not only his
own nation, but tho polite and learned Greeks and Romans! Nay,
Festus, it is thou that art beside thyself. That strikest quite
wide of the mark. And no wonder: he saw that nature did not act
in Paul; but the grace that acted in him he did not see. And
therefore he took all this ardour which animated the apostle
for a mere start of learned phrensy.
25. I am not mad, most excellent Festus-The style properly
belonging to a Roman propretor. How inexpressibly beautiful is
this reply! How strong! yet how decent and respectful! Mad
men seldom call men by their names, and titles of honour. Thus
also St. Paul refutes the charge. But utter the words of truth
(confirmed in the next verse) and sobriety-The very reverse of
madness. And both these remain, even when the men of God act
with the utmost vehemence.
26. For the king knoweth of these things-St. Paul having refuted
Festus, pursues his purpose, returning naturally, and as it were,
step by step, from Festus to Agrippa. To whom I speak with
freedom-This freedom was probably one circumstance which Festus
accounted madness.
27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?-He that believes
these, believes Paul, yea, and Christ. The apostle now comes
close to his heart. What did Agrippa feel when he heard this?
I know that thou believest!-Here Paul lays so fast hold on the
king that he can scarce make any resistance.
28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to
be a Christian!-See here, Festus altogether a heathen, Paul
alogether a Christian, Agrippa halting between both. Poor
Agrippa! But almost persuaded! So near the mark, and yet fall
short! Another step, and thou art within the vail. Reader,
stop not with Agrippa; but go on with Paul.
29. I would to God-Agrippa had spoke of being a Christian, as
a thing wholly in his own power. Paul gently corrects this
mistake; intimating, it is the gift and the work of God; that
all that hear me-It was modesty in St. Paul, not to apply
directly to them all; yet he looks upon them and observes them;
were such as I am-Christians indeed; full of righteousness,
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. He speaks from a full sense
of his own happiness, and an overflowing love to all.
30. And as he said this, the king rose up-An unspeakably
precious moment to Agrippa. Whether he duly improved it
or no, we shall see in that day.
31. This man doth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds-They
speak of his whole life, not of one action only. And could
ye learn nothing more than this from that discourse? A
favourable judgment of such a preacher, is not all that God
requires.
XXVII. 1. As soon as it was determined to sail-As being a
shorter and less expensive passage to Rome.
2. Adramyttium-was a sea port of Mysia. Aristarchus and Luke
went with Paul by choice, not being ashamed of his bonds.
3. Julius treating Paul courteously-Perhaps he had heard him
make his defence.
4. We sailed under Cyprus-Leaving it on the left hand.
7. Cnidus-was a cape and city of Caria.
8. The Fair Havens still retain the name. But the city of Lasea
is now utterly lost, together with many more of the hundred
cities for which Crete was once so renowned.
9. The fast, or day of atonement, was kept on the tenth of Tisri,
that is, the 25th of September. This was to them an ill time
of sailing; not only because winter was approaching, but also
because of the sudden storms, which are still common in the
Mediterranean at that time of the year. Paul exhorted them-Not
to leave Crete. Even in external things, faith exerts itself
with the greatest presence of mind, and readiness of advice.
10. Saying to them-To the centurion and other officers.
11. The centurion regarded the master-And indeed it is a general
rule, believe an artificer in his own art. Yet when there is the
greatest need, a real Christian will often advise even better
than him.
12. Which is a haven-Having a double opening, one to the
southwest, the other to the northwest.
14. There arose against it-The south wind; a tempestuous wind,
called in those parts Euroclydon. This was a kind of hurricane,
not carrying them any one way, but tossing them backward and
forward. These furious winds are now called levanters, and blow
in all directions from the northeast to the southeast.
16. We were hardly able to get masters of the boat-To prevent
its being staved.
18. They lightened the ship-Casting the heavy goods into the sea.
19. We cast out the tackling of the ship-Cutting away even those
masts that were not absolutely necessary.
20. Neither sun nor stars appeared for many days-Which they could
the less spare, before the compass was found out.
21. This loss-Which is before your eyes.
23. The God whose I am, and whom I serve-How short a compendium
of religion! Yet how full! Comprehending both faith, hope, and
love.
24. God hath given-Paul had prayed for them. And God gave him
their lives; perhaps their souls also. And the centurion,
subserving the providence of God, gave to Paul the lives of the
prisoners. How wonderfully does his providence reign in the most
contingent things! And rather will many bad men be preserved
with a few good, (so it frequently happens,) than one good man
perish with many bad. So it was in this ship: so it is in the
world. Thee-At such a time as this, there was not the same
danger, which might otherwise have been, of St. Paul's seeming
to speak out of vanity, what he really spoke out of necessity.
All the souls-Not only all the prisoners, as Julius afterward
did, # Acts 27:43; ask for souls, they shall be given thee:
yea, more than thou hopest for, that sail with thee-So that
Paul, in the sight of God, was the master and pilot of the ship.
27. The fourteenth night-Since they left Crete,
# Acts 27:18,19.
In the Adriatic sea-So the ancients called all that part of the
Mediterranean, which lay south of Italy.
30. The sailors were attempting to flee out of the ship-Supposing
the boat would go more safely over the shallows.
31. Unless these mariners abide in the ship-Without them ye know
not how to manage her, ye cannot be saved-He does not say we.
That they would not have regarded. The soldiers were not careful
for the lives of the prisoners: nor was Paul careful for his own.
We may learn hence, to use the most proper means for security
and success, even while we depend on Divine Providence, and wait
for the accomplishment of God's own promise. He never designed
any promise should encourage rational creatures to act in an
irrational manner; or to remain inactive, when he has given them
natural capacities of doing something, at least, for their own
benefit. To expect the accomplishment of any promise, without
exerting these, is at best vain and dangerous presumption, if all
pretence of relying upon it be not profane hypocrisy.
33. Ye continue fasting, having taken nothing-No regular meal,
through a deep sense of their extreme danger. Let us not wonder
then, if men who have a deep sense of their extreme danger of
everlasting death, for a time forget even to eat their bread,
or to attend to their worldly affairs. Much less let us censure
that as madness, which may be the beginning of true wisdom.
34. This is for your preservation-That ye may be the better able
to swim to shore.
36. Then they were all encouraged-By his example, as well as words.
38. Casting out the wheat-So firmly did they now depend on what
St. Paul had said.
39. They did not know the land-Which they saw near them: having
a level shore.
40. Loosing the rudder bands-Their ships had frequently two
rudders, one on each side. were fastened while they let the
ship drive; but were now loosened, when they had need of them
to steer her into the creek.
41. A place where two seas met-Probably by reason of a sand
bank running parallel with the shore.
42. The counsel-Cruel, unjust, ungrateful.
44. They all escaped safe to land-And some of them doubtless
received the apostle as a teacher sent from God. These would
find their deliverance from the fury of the sea, but an earnest
of an infinitely greater deliverance, and are long ere this
lodged with him in a more peaceful harbour than Malta, or than
the earth could afford.
XXVIII. 1. Melita or Malta, is about twelve miles broad, twenty
long, and sixty distant from Sicily to the south. It yields
abundance of honey, (whence its name was taken,) with much
cotton, and is very fruitful, though it has only three feet depth
of earth above the solid rock. The Emperor Charles the Fifth
gave it, in 1530, to the knights of Rhodes, driven out of Rhodes
by the Turks. They are a thousand in number, of whom five
hundred always reside on the island.
2. And the barbarians-So the Romans and Greeks termed all
nations but their own. But surely the generosity shown by these
uncultivated inhabitants of Malta, was far more valuable than
all the varnish which the politest education could give, where
it taught not humanity and compassion.
4. And when the barbarians saw-they said-Seeing also his chains,
Doubtless this man is a murderer-Such rarely go unpunished even
in this life; whom vengeance hath not suffered to live-They look
upon him as a dead man already.
It is with pleasure that we trace among these barbarians the
force of conscience, and the belief of a particular providence:
which some people of more learning have stupidly thought it
philosophy to despise. But they erred in imagining, that
calamities must always be interpreted as judgments. Let us guard
against this, lest, like them, we condemn not only the innocent,
but the excellent of the earth.
5. Having shaken off the venomous animal, he suffered no harm
-The words of an eminent modern historian are, "No venomous kind
of serpent now breeds in Malta, neither hurts if it be brought
thither from another place. Children are seen there handling and
playing even with scorpions; I have seen one eating them." If
this be so, it seems to be fixed by the wisdom of God, as an
eternal memorial of what he once wrought there.
6. They changed their minds, and said he was a god-Such is the
stability of human reason! A little before he was a murderer;
and presently he is a god: (just as the people of Lystra; one
hour sacrificing, and the next stoning:) nay, but there is a
medium. He is neither a murderer nor a god, but a man of God.
But natural men never run into greater mistakes, than in judging
of the children of God.
7. The chief man of the island-In wealth if not in power also.
Three days-The first three days of our stay on the island.
11. Whose sign was-It was the custom of the ancients to have
images on the head of their ships, from which they took their
names. Castor and Pollux-Two heathen gods who were thought
favourable to mariners.
15. The brethren-That is, the Christians, came out thence to
meet us-It is remarkable that there is no certain account by
whom Christianity was planted at Rome. Probably some inhabitants
of that city were at Jerusalem on the day of pentecost,
# Acts 2:10; and being then converted themselves, carried the
Gospel thither at their return. Appii-Forum was a town fifty-one
miles from Rome; the Three Taverns about thirty. He took courage
-He saw Christ was at Rome also, and now forgot all the troubles
of his journey.
16. With the soldier-To whom he was chained, as the Roman
custom was.
17. And after three days-Given to rest and prayer, Paul called
the chief of the Jews together-He always sought the Jews first;
but being now bound, he could not so conveniently go round to
them. Though I have done nothing-Seeing him chained, they
might have suspected he had. Therefore he first obviates this
suspicion.
19. When the Jews opposed it-He speaks tenderly of them, not
mentioning their repeated attempts to murder him. Not that I
had any thing to accuse my nation of-Not that I had any design
to accuse others, but merely to defend myself.
20. The hope of Israel-What Israel hopes for, namely, the Messiah
and the resurrection.
21. We have neither received letters concerning thee-There must
have been a peculiar providence in this, nor has any of the
brethren-The Jews, related-Professedly, in a set discourse,
or spoke-Occasionally, in conversation, any evil of thee-How
must the bridle then have been in their mouth!
22. This sect we know is every where spoken against-This is
no proof at all of a bad cause, but a very probable mark of
a good one.
23. To whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God, and
persuading them concerning Jesus-These were his two grand topics,
1. That the kingdom of the Messiah was of a spiritual, not
temporal nature: 2. That Jesus of Nazareth was the very person
foretold, as the Lord of that kingdom. On this head he had as
much need to persuade as to convince, their will making as strong
a resistance as their understanding.
24. And some believed the things that were spoken-With the heart,
as well as understanding.
25. Well spake the Holy Ghost to your fathers-Which is equally
applicable to you.
26. Hearing ye shall hear-That is, ye shall most surely hear,
and shall not understand-The words manifestly denote a judicial
blindness, consequent upon a wilful and obstinate resistance of
the truth. First they would not, afterward they could not,
believe. # Isaiah 6:9, &c; Matt 13:14; John 12:40.
28. The salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles-Namely, from
this time. Before this no apostle had been at Rome. St. Paul
was the first.
30. And Paul continued two whole years-After which this book
was written, long before St. Paul's death, and was undoubtedly
published with his approbation by St. Luke, who continued with
him to the last, # 2Tim 4:11.
And received all that came to him-Whether they were Jews or
Gentiles. These two years completed twenty-five years after our
Saviour's passion. Such progress had the Gospel made by that
time, in the parts of the world which lay west of Jerusalem, by
the ministry of St. Paul among the Gentiles. How far eastward
the other apostles had carried it in the same time, history does
not inform us.
31. No man forbidding him-Such was the victory of the word of
God. While Paul was preaching at Rome, the Gospel shone with
its highest lustre. Here therefore the Acts of the Apostles
end; and end with great advantage. Otherwise St. Luke could
easily have continued his narrative to the apostle's death.
Menu Page for John Wesley's Notes Upon the New Testament - Hypertext Edition
Menu Page for John Wesley's Notes Upon the New Testament - Plain Text Edition
Webmaster
©1997 William H. Lawson, Jr.
bill@livingweb.com
Updated: Friday, June 27, 1997