Chapter XXIV (continued, part 7)
The genuineness, authenticity, and canonical authority of this book were never called in question within the ancient Church. It stands immediately after the Gospels, in the catalogues of the Homologoumena, or universally acknowledged books of the New Testament (see Introduction to our larger Commentary, Vol. V., pp. iv. v.). It was rejected, Indeed, by certain heretical sects in the second and third centuries— • y the Ebionites, the Severians (see EusEBius, Ecclesiastical History, 4. 29), the Marcionites, and the Manicheans : but the totally uncritical character of their objections (see Introduction above referred to, pp. xiii. xiv.) not only deprives them of all weight, but Indirectly Bhows on what solid grounds tlie Christian Church had all along proceeded in recognizing this book.
In our day, however, its authenticity has, like that of all the leading books of the New Testament, been made in Germany the subject of keen and protracted controversy. First, De Wettk, while admitting Luke to be the author of the entire work, pronounces the earlier portion of it to have been drawn up from unreliable sources ('Einleitung,' 2 a and 2 C). But the Tubingen school, with Baur at their head, liave gone much farther. As their fantastic theory of the post-Joannean date of the Gospels could not pretend even to a hearing so long as the authenticity of the Acts of the Apostles remained unshaken, they contend that the earlier portion of this work can be shown to be unworthy of credit, while the latter portion is in flat contradiction to the Epistle to the Galatians—which this school regard as unassailable—and bears internal evidence of being a designed distortion of facts for the purpose of setting up the catholic form which Paul gave to Christianity in opposition to tlie narrow Judaic but original form of it which Peter preached, and which after the death of the apostles was held exclusively by the sect of the Ebionites. It is painful to think that one so lately deceased should have sijent so many years, and, aided by learned and acute disciples in different parts of the argument, should have expended so much learning, research, and ingenuity in attempting to build up a hypothesis regarding the origination of the leading books of the New Testament which outrages all the principles of sober criticism and legitimate evidence. As a school, this party at length broke up: its head, after living to find himself the sole defender of the theorjas a whole, left this earthly scene complaining of desertion ; while some of his associates have abandoned such heartless studies altogether for the more congenial pursuits of philosophy, others have modified their attacks on the historical truth of the New Testament records, retreating into positions into which it is not worth wliile to follow them, while others still have been gradually approximating
to sound principles. The one compensation for all this mischief is the rich additions to the apologetlcal and critical literature of the books of the New Testament, and the earliest history of the Christian Church, which it has drawn from the pens of THIERSCH, Ebrard, and many otliers. Any allusions which it may be necessary for us to make to the assertions of this school will be made in connection with the passages to which they relate—In Acts, 1 Corinthians and Galatians.
The manifest connection between this book and the third Gospel—of which It professes to be simply the continuation by the same author—and the strilcing similarity which marks the style of both productions, leave no room to doubt that tlie early Church was right in ascribing it with one consent to Luke. The difficulty which some fastidious
critics have made about the sources of the earlier portion of the history has no solid ground. That the historian himself was an eye-witness of the earliest scenes—as Huo concludes from the circumstantiality of the narrative—is altogether Improbable : but there were hundreds of eye-witnesses of some of the scenes, and enough of all the rest, to give to the historian, partly by oral, partly l)y written testimony, all the details which he has embodied so graphically in his history; and it will appear, we trust, from the commentary, that De Wette's complaints of confusion, contradiction, and error in this portion are without foundation. The same critic, and one or two others, would ascribe to Timothy those later portions of tlie book in which the historian speaks in the first person plural " we;" supposing him to have taken notes of all that passed under his own eye, which Luke embodied in his history Just as they stood. It is impossible here to refute this gratuitous hypothesis In detail ; but the reader will find it done by Ebuard (' Gospel History,' sect. 110, Clark's translation ; sect. 127 of the original work, 'Wissenschaftliche Krltik der Evangel. Geschichte,' IS.'iO), and by Davidson (' Introduction to New Testament,' Vol. II., pp. 9-21). The undesigned coincidences between this History and the Apostolic Epistles have been brought out and handled, as an argument for the truth of the facts thus attested, with unrivalled felicity by Paley in his 'Horse PaulintB,' to which Mr. Bikks has made a number of Ingenious additions in his 'Horse Apostolicse.' Exception haH been taken to some of these liy Jowett ('.St. Paul's Epistles,' Vol. I., pp. 108, &c.), not without a measure of reason in certain cases—for our day, at least—though even he admits that in this line of evidence the work of Palby, taken as a whole, is unassailable.
Muclfhas been written about the object of this history. Certainly ' the Acts of the Apostles' are but very partially recorded. But for this title the historian Is not responsible. Between the two extremes—of supposing tliat the work bas no plan at all, and that It is constructed on an elaborate and complex plan, we shall probably be as near the txuth us Is necessary if we take the design to ue to record tlie dlfTiislou of Cl-irlstianlty and the rise of the Christlao
Last Days of our Lord on Earth. ACi'S I. Return of the Eleven to Jeruealem.
Church, first among tlie JeAvs of Palcstiiio, the seat of the ancient P'aith, and next among the surrounding Gentiles, Willi Amioch for il.s heaiUiuarlers, until, finally, it is seen wavinf< over imperial Rome, loretokeniug its universal triumph. In this view of il, there is no tiiiHculty in accounting lor tlie almost exclusive place which it gives to the labours of Peter in the first instance, and the all but entire disappearance from the liistory both of him and of the rest of the Eleven after the great apostle of the Gentiles came upon the stage—like tlie lesser lights on the rise of the great luminary.
16; but it was expressed thus indefinitely to exerci.se their
faitli. G-S. wilt thoii at this time restore the kingdom to Israel 1 —Doubtless their carnal views of Messiah's kingdom had by this time been modified, though liosv f^r
Ver. 1-11. I>;TRODtJCTioN— Last Days of our Lord UPON Eautu—His Ascension, l, ^. ftirmer treatiseLuke's Gospel. TiieopliUus—see on Luke 1. 8. beguit to do awd teaclk—a very important statement, dividing the work of Christ into two great branches:' the one embracing His work <m earth, tlie other His subsequent work /ro)n heaven; the one in His own Person, Ihe oUicr by His Spirit; the one the " beginning," the other tlie continuance of the same work; the one complete when He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, the other to continue till His second appearing; tlie one recorded in "The Gospels," the beginnings only of the other related in tliis book of "The Acts." 'Hence the grand history of what Jesus did and tauglit does not conclude with His departure to the Father; but Luke now begins it in a higher strain ; for all the subsequent labours of the apostles are just an exhibition of the ministry of tlie glorified licdeemer Himself, because they were acting under His autliority, and He was the principle tliat operated in tliein
it is impossible to say. But, as they plainly look. d lor some restoration of the kingdom to Israel, so they are neither rebuked nor contradicted on this point. It Is not for yon to know the times, &c.—implying not only that this was not the time, but that the question was irrelevant to their present business and future work, receive power—See Luke '21. 49. and ye shall be witnesses nnto me ... In Jerusalem ... In all Judea . . . and unto tlie uttermost part of tlie wov\A-—This order of apostolic jireaching and success supplies the jrroper key to the plan of
the Acts, which relates first the progress of the Gospel "in Jerusalem, and all Jndea and .Samaria" (ch. 1. to ch. 9.), and then "unto the uttermost part of the earth " (ch. 10. to ch. '2S.) 9-11. while tJiey belield he was taken up— See on Luke 24. 50-53. Lest il should be thought He had disappeared when they were looking In some other direction, and so was only concluded to have gone up to heaven,
all.' [Olshausen.] after he, tSiroiigJi tlie Holy Ghost, had given coinmandment, &c.—referring to the charge recorded in Matthew 28. 18-20; Mark 10. 15-18; Luke 2-1. t+-
it is here expressly said that "while they were looking lie was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight." So Elijah, "If thou see me when I am taken from thee"
(2 Kings '2. 10); " And Elisha sajo it" (r. 12). SeeonLuke9.
49. It is worthy of notice that nowhere else are such communications of the risen lledeemer said to have been given " through t'ue Holy Ghost." In general, this might have been said of all He uttered and all He did in His
32. wti ile they looked steadfastly toward heaven—FoN lowing Him wilh their eager eyes, in rapt amazement. Not, however, as a mere fact is this recorded, but as a part of that resistless evidence of their senses on which their whole subsequent testimony was to be borne, two men In white ajiparel—Angels in human form, as Luke 24. 4, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up Into heaven, &c.—' As if your now glorified Head were gone from you never to return: He is coming again; nnt another, but "this same Jesus;" and "as ye huvesetn Him go, in the like manner shall He come"—us person-
official character; for it was for this very end tliat God "gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him" (John 3. 31). But after His resurrection, as if to signify the new relat ion in which He now stood to the Church, He signalized His
first meeting with the assembled disciples by "breathing on them (immediately after dispensing to them His peace) and saying, Receive ye the Holy Ghost," thus anticipating
th-e donation of the Spirit from His hands (see on John
ally, as visibly, as gloriously ; and let the joyful expectation of this coming swallow up the sorrow of that ileparture.'
20. 21, 22); and on the same principle His parting charges are here said to have been given "througVi the Holy Ghost," as if to mark that He was now all redolent wilh the Spirit; that what had been husbanded, during His suffering work, for His own necessary uses, liad now been set free, was already overflowing from Iliinsclf to His disciples, and needed but his ascension and glorification to flow all forth. (See on John 7. 3!1.) 3-5. sliowed hiingelf alive—As the author is about to tell us tlial "the resurrection of tlie Lord Jesus" was the great burden of apos-
12-20. Retiir.n' of the Ei^even to Jerusalem—Proceedings IN THE Upper Room till Pentecost. i>J-i t. a sabbath day's journey—About 2000 cubits, went up to an upper room—Perhaps the same "large upper room" where with their Lord they had celebrated the last Passover and the first Supper (Luke 22. 12). where abode—Not lodged, but had lor their place of rendezvous. Peter, &c.—See on Matthew 10. '2-4. eontluued with one accord—Knit by a bond stronger than death. In prayer and suppllcntlon—for the promised baptism, the need of which In their orphan stale would be increasingly felt, and Mary the mother of Jesus—Distinguished from the oilier "women," but 'so as to exclude the idea of her having any pre-eminence over the disciples. We find her witli the rest in prayer to her glorified Son.' ["Weilster and Wilkinson.] This is the last mention of her in the New Testament. The fable of the Assumption of the Virgin has no foundation even in tradition. [Alkord.] with hU bretlireu—.See on John 7. 3-^5. 15-3(>, In those days-Of expectant prayer, and prolmbly towards the close of them, when the nature of their future work began more clearly to dawn upon them, and the Holy Ghost, already
tolic preaching, so the subject is here fitly introduced by an allusion to the primary evidence on which tliat great fact rests, the repeated and undeniable manifestations of Himself in the body to the assemliled disciples, who, instead of being predisposed to believe it, had to bo overpowered by the resistless evidence of their own Benses, and were slow of yielding even to this. (Mark Ifi. H.) alter htg passion—Or 'Suffering.' This primary sense of the word " Passion " has fallen into disuse ; hut it
is nobly consecrated in the jihraseology of the Church to express the Uedeemer's final enduran<?es. seen of them forty days—This important specification of time occurs here only, speaking of—rather ' speaking '—the things pertaining to the klngfloin of Clodtill now only in germ, but soon to take visible form; the earliest and tlie
" breathed" on trie Eleven (John '20.22), was stirring in Peter, who was to be the leading spirit of tlie infant community (Matthew 10. 19). the number . . . about an hundred and twenty—Many, therefore, of the "500 brethren" who saw their risen Lord "at once" (1 Corinthians l.\ 0), must have remained In Galilee, fnlllitg headlong, Ac— This Information supplements, but by no means contradicts, what is said in Matthew 27.5. Hl» bishopric—Or
latest burden of His teaching on earth, should not depart from Jcrnsalem—Because th(! Spirit was to glorify the existing economy, by descending on the disciples at
its metropolitan seat, and at the next of Its gre.it festivals
after the ascension of the Church's Head; in order that "out of Zion miglit go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem " (Isaiah 2. 3 ; and cf. Luke 2t. 19). ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days Uence Ten days hence, us appears from Leviticus 23. 15, 174
' charge.' The words are a combination
of Psulm 09. 25 aud 109. 8; lu which the upostle discerns a
The Aposlles Filled wUh Ihe Huly Gliost. ACTS II. Peter <i Sermon on the Day of Pentecost,
Christ. 14r-^l. Peter, standing up with the Eleven—In advance, perhaps, of the rest, these are not drunken meaning, not the Eleven, but the body of the disciples, but ti»e third hour—9 A. M. (see Ecclesiastes 10. !(!; Isaiah 5.11; 1 Thessalonians 5.7). in the last days—meaning, the days of the Messiah (Isaiah 2.2); as closing all preparatory arrangements, and constituting the final dispensation of God's kingdom on earth, poiir out of my Spirit—In contrast with the mere drops of all preceding time, upon all flesh—hitherto confine<l to the seed of Abraham. song . . . daughters . . . young men . . . old men . . . servants . . . handmaidens—Without distinction of sex, age, or rank, see visions . . . dream dreams—This is a mere accommodation to the ways in which the Spirit operated under the ancient economy, when the prediction was delivered ; for, in the New Testament, visions and dreams are rather the exception than the rule. I will show wonders, &c.—referring to the signs which were to precede the destruction of Jerusalem (see on Luke 21. 25, &c.). whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved—This points to the permanent establishment of the economy of salvation, which followed on the breaking up of the Jewish state. ttZ-'ZS. a man approved of God—Rather, 'authenticated,' 'proved,' or 'demonstrated to be from God.' I>y miracles . . . which God did by him—This is not a low view of our Lord's mirai;)es, as has been alleged, nor inconsistent with John 11, but is in strict accordance with his progress from humiliation to glory, and with his own word! in John 5. 19. This view of Christ is here dwelt on to exhibit to the Jews the whole course of Jesus of Nazareth a.s the ordinance and doing of the God of Israel. [Alford.] determinate counsel and foreknowledge—God's fixed plan and perfect loresight of all the steps involved in it. ye have taken, and by wicked hands have cruclticd and slain — How strikingly is the criminality of Christ's murderers here presented in harmony with the eternal purpo.se to surrender him into their liands ! was not possible he should be holden of It—Glorious saying ! It was indeed impossible that " the Living One" should remain "among the dead" (Luke 24.5); but here, the impossibility seems to refer to the prophetic assurance that He should not see corruption, wilt not leave my soul in hell—In its disembodied state (see on Luke 16. 23). neither . . . suffer thine Holy One to see corruption—in the grave. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life i. e., Resur rection-life. thou shalt make me full of Joy with thy countenance—t. e., in glory; as is plain from the whole connection and the actual words of the Psalm. 39-36. David . . . is . . . dead and burled, &e.—Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, sees in this Kith Psalm, one Holy Man, whose life of high devotedness and lofty spirituality is crowned with the assurance, that though He taste of death He shall rise again without seeing corruption, and be admitted to the bliss of God's immediate presence. Now as this was palpably untrue of David, it could be meant only of One other, even of Him whom David was taught to e-xpect as the final Occupant of the throne of Israel. (Those, therefore, and they are many, who take David himself to be the subject of this Psalm, and the words quoted to refer to Christ only in a more eminent sense, nullity the whole argument of the apostle.) The Psalm is then affirmed to have had its only proper fulfilment in Jesu.s, of whose resurrection and ascension they were witnesses, while the glorious effusion of tlie Spirit by the hand of the asceiideil One, .setting an infallible seal upon all, was even then witnessed by the thousands who stood listening to Him. A further illuiitration of Messiah's ascension and session at God's right hand is drawn from Psalm 110. 1, in which David cannot be thought to spi-ak of himself, seeing he is still In his grave. Therefore—
greater than David, and a worse than Ahithophel and his
fellow-conspirators against David, all the time the
Lionl Jesus went in and out among us—in the close in-
timacies of a tliree years' public life, beginning from
the baptism of John—by wlioin our Lord was not only Himself baptized, but first oflicially announced and in-
Iroduced to his own disciples. nnfU that same day trhen he -was taken up from us, must one be ordained
to be a witness with us of his resurrection — How
Clearly is the primary office of the apixstles here expressed: (1.) to testify, from personal observation, to the one great fact of "the lesurrection of the Lord Jesus;"
(2.) to show how this glorified His whole previous life, of which they were constant observers, and establislied His Divine claims, they appointed— ' Put up' in nomina-
tion; meaning not the Eleven but the whole company, of
whom Peter was the spokesman, two—The choice would
lie between a very few. prayed and saltl, Tlion, Lord, &c.—'The word "Lord," placed absolutely, denotes in the New Testament almost universally the Son; and the words "Show whom thou hast chosen," are decisive. The
apostles are just Christ's messengers : It is He that sends them, and of Him they bear witness. Here, therefoi-e, we have the first example of a prayer offered to the ex-
alted Redeemer; furnishing indirectly tlie strongest proof
of his divinity.' [Olshaosen.] which Unowest the hearts of all men—See John 2. 24, 25 ; 21. l.>-17 ; Uevelation
2.23. that he might goto his own place—A euphem-
istic or softened expression of the awful future of the
traitor, implying not only destined habitation but congenial element, was numbered— ' Voted in' by general
suffrage, with the eleven apostles—Completing the broken Twelve.
Ver. 1-13. Descent of the SPiRtrThe Disciples Bpkak with Tongues—Amazement of the Multitude.
1 '1. when the day of Pentecost was fully come—The
flflicth from the morrow after the first Passover sabbath (Leviticus 23. 15, 16). with one accord—The solemnity of the day, perhaps, unconsciously raising their expecta-
tions. ^* And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing migltty wlud, &c. — 'Tlie * lio'e description is so picturesque and striking that it could only come from an eye-witnoss.' [Olshausen.] The suddenness, strength, and difl'usiveness of the sound Btrike with deepest awe the whole company, and thus complete their preparation for the heavenly gift. Wind was a familiar emblem of the Spirit (Ezekiel 37.0; John
8.8; 21X22). liut this was not a rush of actual wind. It was only a sound " as of it. 3. cloven tongues, like as of fire, Ac— ' disparted tongues,' i. e., tongue-shaped, flame-like appearances, rising from a common centre or root, and resting upon each of that large company: beautiful visible symbol of the barniug energy of the Spirit now descending in all His plenitude upon the Church, and about to pour itself through every tongue, and over every tribe of men under heaven ! 4. tUey began to speak with . , , tongues, &c.—Real, living languages, as is plain from what follows. The tiling uttered, probably the same by all, wa-s "the wonderful works of God," perhaps in the Inspired words of the Old Testament evangelical hymns; though it is next to certain that tlie speakers themselves understood nothing of wliat they uttered (see on 1 Corinthians H). 5-11, there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men oittof every nation— not, it would seem, pei'iiiaiii nily setthd there
(see t>.9), though the langu.age seemed to imply more than a temporary visit to keep this one feast. Pnrthlans, Ac. —Beginning with the farthest east, llie Partliians, the ennm(:ratlon proceeds farther and farther westward till
it comes lo Judea; next come the western countries, Iioin Cnppa<locla toPamphylia; then the soullu-rn, from Kgypt to Cyrene; finally, apart from all geographical consideration, Cretes and Arabians are placed together. This enumeration Is evidently designed to convey an impresBion of universality. [Baumgakten.]
' lo sum up all.' let all tlic house of Israel— for in this first discourse tlie ai)peal is formally made to the v.'hole house of Israel, as the then existing Kingdom of God. know a«»ure«lly—by indisputable lacts, fullilled predictions, and the seal of the Holy Ghost set upon all. that God liath made—for Peter's object was to show 17o
1-I-3B. PeTEK, for the FiH.STTI.MK, PUHLICLV Pl£EArHE.S
The Beginnings of the Christian Church, ACTS III. Peter Heals a Lame Man at the Temple.
them that, Instead of interfering with the arrangements of the God of Israel, these events were His own lii^li movements, this same Jesns, whom ye have crucified—'The sting is at tlie close.' [Bengel.] To prove to them merely that Jesus was the Messiali might liave
saved.' ' The young Church had but few peculiarities In its outward form, or even in its doctrine: the single discriminating principle of its few members was that tliey all recognized the crucified Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. This confession would have been a thing of no importance, if it had only presented itself as a naked declaration, and would never in such a case have been able to form a community that would spread itself ovef the whole Roman empire. It acquired its value only through the power of the Holy Ghost, passing from th« apostles as they preached to tlie hearers; for He brought the confession from the very hearts of men (1 Corinthians
left tliem all unchanged in heart. But to convince them (hat He whom they had crucified had been by the riglit liand of God exalted, and constituted the "Lord" whom David in spirit adored, to whom every knee sliall bow, and the Christ of God, was to bring them to "look on Him whom they had pierced and mourn for Him." 3740. pricked 111 their hearts—the begun fulfilment of Zechariah 12. 10, whose full accomplishment is reserved for the day when "all Israel shall be saved" (see on Romans
12. 3), and like a burning flame made their souls glow witii love. By the power of this Spirit, therefore, we behold the first Cliristians not only in a state of active fellowship, but also internally changed: the narrow views of the natural man are broken through; they have their possessions in common, and they regard themselves as one family.' [Olshausen.J
11). what shall we do!—This is that beautiful spirit of genuine compunction aud childlike docility, which, discovering its whole past career to have been one frightful mistake, seeks only to be set right for the future, be the change involved and the sacrifices required what they may. So Saul of Tarsus (ch. 9. 6). Repent—The word denotes change of mind, and here includes the reception of the Gospel as the proper issue of that revolution of mind which they were then undergoing, baptized . . . for the remission of sins—as the visible seal of that remissioi. For the promise—of the Holy Ghost, through the risen Saviour, as the grand blessing of the new covenant, all afar off—the Gentiles, as Ephesians 2. 17. But " to the Jew first." With many other words did he testify and exhort—Thus we have here but a summary of Peter's discourse; though from the next words it would seem that only the more practical parts, the home appeals, are omitted. Save yourselves from this untoward generation—as if Peter already foresaw the hopeless impenitence of the nation at large, and would have his hearers hasten in for themselves aud secure their own salvation.
Ver. 1-26. Peter Heals a Lame Man at the Temple Gate — His Address to the Wondering Multitude. 1-11. Peter and John—already associated by their Master, first with James (Mark 1.29; 5. .W; 9.2), then by themselves (Luke 22. 8; and see John 13. 23, 24). Now we find them constantly together, but John (yet young) only as a silent actor, went up—
' were going up,' were on their way. a certain man lame from his mother's womb—and now "above 40 j'ears old" (ch. 4. '22)—was carried—' was wont to be carried.' Peter fastening his eyes on him with John, said, Lrf>ok on us . . , And he gave heed—that, through the eye, faith might be aided in its birth. Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee, &o.—What a lofty superiority breathes in these words ! In the name of Jesus of Nazareth riso up and walk, &c.—These words, uttered with supernatural power, doubtless begat In this poor man the faitli that sent healing virtue through his diseased members. And he took . . . and lifted him up—precisely what hia Lord had done to his own mother-in-law (Mark 1. 31). hU feet (or soles) and ankle-bones, &c.—the technical language ofa physician (Colossians 4.14). leaping up, stood.
41-17. BEADTirtri, Beginnings of the Christian Church. 41-47. They that gladly received his word were baptized—'It is difficult to say how 3000 could be baptized in one day, according to the old practice of a complete submersion ; and the more as in Jerusalem there
was no water at hand except Kidron and a few pools. The difficulty can only be removed by supposing that they already employed sprinkling, or baptized in houses in large vessels. Formal submersion in rivers, or larger quantities of water, probably took place only where the locality conveniently allowed it.' [Olshausen.] the same day there were added to the Church about 3000 souls
walked . . . entered the temple walking, leaping, and praising God—Every word here is emphatic, expressing the perfection of the cure, as t>. 7 its Immediateness. all the people saw him, <fec.—as they assembled at the hour of public prayer, in tlie temple courts; so that the miracle liad the utmost publicity, they knew that it was he which sat for alms, &c.—(Cf. John 9. 8.) the lame man held, &c.—This Is nature, all the people ran together unto them in the porch, &c.—How vividly do these graphic details bring the whole scene before us! Thus was Peter again furnished with a vast audience, whose wonder at the spectacle of the healed beggar clinging to
fitting inauguration of the new kingdom, as an economy of the Spirit ! continued steadfastly In—
' attended constantly upon.' the apostles' doctrine—or 'teaching;' giving themselves up to the Instructions which, in their raw state, would be indispensable to the consolidation of the Immense multitude suddenly admitted to visible discipleship. fellowship—in its largest sense, breaking of bread-not certainly in the Lord's Supper alone, but rather in frugal repasts taken together, with which the Lord's Supper was probably conjoined until abuses and persecution led to the discontinuance of the common meal, prayers—probably, stated seasons of it. fear came upon every soul—a deep awe rested upon tlie whole community, all that believed were together, and liad all things common, &e.—(.See on ch. 4. 34-37.) dully in the temple—observing tlie hours of Jewish worship—and breaking bread from house to house—Hather, 'at home' (margin), i. e., in private, as contrasted with their /empie-worsliip, but in some stated place or places of meeting, eat their meat wltli gladness ('exultation') and singleness of heart ; praiiiing God— " Go thy w.ay, eat thy bread with Joy, and drink thy wine witli a merry
liis benefactors prepared them to listen with reverence to his words. 1!J-16. why marvel at this?—For miracles are marvels only in relation to the limited powers of man. as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk, &c.—Neither the might nor the merit of the cure are due to us, mere agents of Him whom we preach. The God of Abraham, <fec.—See on cli. 2. 22, 30-hath glorified his Son Jesus—rather,
' his Servant Jesus,' as the same word is rendered in Matthew 12. 18, but in tliat high sense in which Isaiah applies
it always to Messiah (Isaiah 42.1; 49.6; 52.13; 53. 11). When ' Son' is intended a different word is used, whom ye delivered up, Ac—With what heroic courage does Peter here charge his auditors with tlie heaviest of all conceivable crimes, and witli what terrific strength of language are these charges clothed ! killed the Princa of Life—Glorious paradox, but how piercing to the conscience of tlie auditors ! His name, through faith in hIa name, hatli made tills man strong, <S:c.—With what skiU does tlie apostle use the miracle both to glorify his ascended Lord and bring the guilt of Ills blood more rot»UUessly home to his audience! 17-ttU And uowt
lieart, for Ood now accejdeth thy works" (Kccleslastos 'J. 7, see also on ch. 8. 39). having favour with all Ihc people—commending themselves by their lovely demeanour
to tlie admiration of all who observed them. And tlie lioifl—i. e., Jesus, as llie glorified Head and Kuler of ttie Ctiurch. adiled—'kept adding;' t. e., to the visible community of believers, though tlie words "to the Church"
aie wanting, in the most ancient MSS. sucit as should be »aved—Kalher, * the saved,' or ' those who were being 176
Peter's Efhortalion to the People. ACTS IV. Peter and John before the Sanhedrim.
brethren, Ac—Our preacher, like his Master, " will not break the bruised reed." His heaviest charges are pioinptod by love, which now liastens to assuage the wounds it was necessary to inflict. I wot—or 'know.' throa^lk Igwornnce ye did It—(Bee marginal reference.) that Christ—Tlie best MSS. read, ' that His Christ'— should suficr—The doctrine of a suffering Messiah was totally at variance with tlie current views of tlie Jewish Church, and hard to digest even by tlie Twelve, up to tbedayof their Lord's resurrection. Our preacher him-
ture or crushing the fanaticism, If such It had been, W6ie within every one's reach, and where there was every inducement to sift it to the bottom, their rulers, &c.— This was a regular meeting of the Sanhedrim (see on Matthew 2. 4). Annas . . . and Caiaphas—(See on Luke
3. 2.) John and Alexander—Of whom nothing is known, by what power or . . , name Itave ye done tliis thus admitting the reality of the miracle, wlilch afterwards they confess themselves unable to deny (v. 10). then Peter, tilled -with the Holy Gliost, said—(See Mark
13. 11 ; Luke 21. IS.) be it known unto you . . . and to all tlie people of Israel—As if emitting a formal Judicial testimony to tlie entire nation through its rulers now convened, by the name of Jesus, <tc.—(See on ch. 3. 13, itc.) even by him doth this man stand before you whole for from v. H it appears that the healed man was at that moment before their eyes. This is the stone wltlcli vi as set at naught of you builders, &c.—This application of Psalm 118. 22, already made by our Lord Himself before some of the same "builders" (Matthew 21. 42), is here repeated with peculiar propriety after the deed of rejection had been consummated, and the rejected One had, by His exaltation to the right hand of the Majesty on high, become " tlie head of the corner." neither is there salvation in any other ; for there Is none other name viuder heaven given among men whereby we must be saved —How sublimely does the apostle, in these closing words, shut up these rulers of Israel to Jesus for salvation, and in what universal and emphatic terms does he hold up his Lord as the one Hope of men ! 13-17. perceived tliat they were unlearned and ignorant men— i.e., un instructed in the learning of the Jewish schools, and of the common sort ; men in private life, untrained to teaching, took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus—Recognized tliem as having been in His company; remembering possibly, that they had seen them with Him [Meyek, Bloomfield, Alfokd] ; but, more probably, perceiving in their whole bearing what identified them with Jesus : q. d., ' We thought we had got rid of Him ; but lol He reappears In these men, and all that troubled us in the Nazarene Himself has yet to be put down in tliese His disciples.' What a testimony to these primitive witnesses! Would that the same could be .said of tlieir successors ! a notable miracle . . . done by thein is manifest to all In Jerusalem } and we cannot deny It—And why should ye wish to deny it, O ye rulers, but that hate the light, and will not come to the liglit lest your deeds should be reproved ? But that It spread no further-
self revolted at it, and protested against it, when first nakedly announced, lor which he received a terrible rebuke. Here he affirms it to be the fundamental truth of ancient prophecy realized unwittingly by the Jews themselves, yet by a glorious Divine ordination. How great a change had the Pentecostal illumination wrought upon his views! -when the times of refreshing sliall come—Rather, ' in order that the times of refreshing may come :' that long period of repose, prosperity and joy, which all the prophets hold forth to the distracted Church and this miserable world, as eventually to come, and which is here, as in all the prophets, made to turn upon the national conversion of
Israel, he gliall send Jesus Clirist, itc—The true reading is, ' He shall send your predestinated (or foreordained) Messiah, Jesus.' until the times, &c.—embracing the whole period between the ascension and the second advent of Christ, restitution of all things—comprehend-
ing, probably, the rectification of all the disoiders of the
fall. 23-26. a prophet like unto me—particularly in intimacy of communication with Ood (Numbers 12. G-8), and as
the mediatorial Head of a new order of things (Hebrews 3. 2-
6). Peter takes It for granted that, in the light of all he had just said, it would be seen at once that One only had any claim to be that Prophet. Him shall ye hear in all things, (fee.—This part of the prediction is emphatically added. In order to shut up the audience to the obedience of faith, on pain of being finally "cut off"" from the congregation of the righteous (Psalm 1. 1). foretold of these days—of Messiah; all pointing to "tlie time of reformation" (Hebrews 9. 10), though with more or less distinct-
uess. ye are the children ... of the covenant—and so the natural heirs of its promises, in tliy seed, &c.—(See on Galatians 3. 8, Ac.) God having raised up—not from the dead, but having provided, prepared, and given, his Son Jesus—
' His Servant Jesus' (see on v. 13). sent him to bless yovL—lit., 'sent Him blessing you,' as if laden with blessing, in turning away every one of you fxom. his iniquities q. d., 'Hitherto we have all been looking too much for a Messiah who should shed outward blessings upon the nation generally, and through
. . . let us straltly (strictly) tlireaten . . . tliat they,. speak henceforth to no man in this name—Impotent device! Little knew they the fire that was burning ii», the bones of tliose heroic disciples. 18-3'J. Wliether Itbo right ... to hearken to you more than . . . Clod, judgfl ye. For we cannot but speak the things which wehave seen and heard—There is here a wonderiul union of sober, respectful appeal to the better reason of tiieir judges, and calm, deep determination to abide tiie con-, sequences of a constrained testimony, whicli betokens a power above their own resting upon them, according to promise, finding nothing how they miglit punish them, because of the people—Not at a loss lor a pretext, but at a loss how to do It so as not to rouse the oppositioa of the people.
it upon the world. But we have learnt other things, and now announce to you that the great blessing with which Messiah has come laden is the turning away of every one of you from his Iniquities. With wliat Divine
skill does the apostle, founding on resistless facts, here drive home to the conscience of his auditors their guilt in crucifying the Lord of Glory; then soothe tlieir awakened minds by assurances of forgiveness on turning to the Lord, and a glorious future as soon-as this shall come to pass, to terminate with the Personal Return of Christ from the heavens whither He has ascended; ending all with warnings, from their own Scriptures, to submit to Him if they would not perish, and calls to receive from nim the blessings of salvation.
23-37. Peter and John, dismissed from the Sanhedrim, report THE PROCEEDINGS TO THE ASSEMBLED Disciples-They engage in prayer—The astonishing Answer and Results. 33-30. being let go, they went to their own company—Observe the two opposite classes, representing the tWo interests which were about to come Into deadly conflict, they lifted up their voice —the assembled disciples, on hearing Peter's report, witlt one accord—the breasts of all present echoing every word of this sublime prayer. Lord—See on Lube 2. 2<,t. Applied to God, the term expresses absolute authority. God, which hast made heaven and earth—against wiiom. therefore, all creatures are powerless, by tite mouth of David—to whom the Jews ascribed the 2d Psalm, though anonymous ; and Internal evidence confirms it. David's 177
Ver. 1-13. P^TER AND John before the Sanhedrim. 1-12. the captain (of the Levitical guard) of the temple—annoyed at the disturbance created around it. and the Sadducecs—who "say that there is no resurrection"
(ch. 23. 8), Irritated at the apostles "preaching through (rather, ' In') Jesus the resurrection from tlie dead ;" for the resurrection of Christ, If a fact, efTectuttlly overthrew the Sadducean doctrine, the number of the men—Or 'males,' exclusive of women; though tiie word sometimes Includes both, about flve thousand—And this
111 Jerusalem, where the means of detecting the impos-
The Death nf Ananias and SappKira, ACTS V. TVic Progress of the Kcu' Cause, ett.
hypocrisy, were awed at the manifest presence of Divinity amongst them, and the mysterious power of tlirowing oil such corrupt matter which resteil upon the .young Cliureh.
"spirit, sees with as^toDish merit "the lip.ithcn, the peoplps, the kings and princes of the earth," in (ipodly combination ngaiLSt the sway of Jeliovah anrl hin Anointed (his Messiah, or Christ), and asks " why " it is. Tliis tierce confederacy our praying disciples see in full operation, in the "gatliering together of Herod and Pilate, tlie Gentiles (the Roman anthority), and the people of Israel, against God's holy Child (' Servant') Jesus " (see on cli. 3. ]:i). The best ancient copies read, after " were gathered to<:etlier," 'in this city,' which prol)ably answers to "upon my holy hill of Zion," in the Psalm, thy Itand and thy counsel determined ... to be done i.e., "tliy counsel" determined to be done "by thy hand." now, Lord, hehold their threatening'8—Recognizing in the threatenings of the Sanhedrim a declaration of war by the poml)ined powers of the world against their infant cause, they seek not enthusiastically to hide from themselves its critical position, but calmly ask the Lord of heaven and earth to "look upon their threatenings." that with all boldness they may speak thy word—Rising aliove self, they ask only fearless courage to testily for their Master, and Divine attestation to their testimony by miracles of healing, &c., in His name. 31-37. place was shaken—Glorious token of the commotion which the Gospel was to make (ch. 17. 6; cf. 16.26), and the overthrow of all opposing powers in which this was to issue . they were all
tl»e young men—.some of the younger and more active members of the Church, not as oflice-bearers, nor coming forward now for the first time, ljul wlio prol>Hbl.v had already volunteered their services in making suliordlnate arrangements. In every lliriviiig Christian community such volunteers ma.y he expected, and wjU bo found eminently useful. 7-11. tell me vthrlher ye sold
llie land for so much—naming the sum. itow is it tliat ye liave agreed together—See on v. 2. to leinpt the Spirit tri/ wliether they could escape detection liy that oniui.scient Spirit of whose supernatural presence with the apostles the.v had had such full evidence, feet of theiu that burled tliy husband are at the door—How awfully graphic! burletl her by her husband — The later Jews buried before sunset of the day of death, great fenr on all the C'liurch, Ac-This elPect on the Cliristian community itself wa^ the chief design of so startling a judgment ; which had Us counterpart, as the sin itself had, in Achan (Joshua 7.), while the Zi.-ic—at the commencement of a new career—was similar.
12-26. The progress of the new cause leads to the arrest of the apostles—They are miraculouslv delivered FROM PRISON, RESUME THEIR TEACHING, B€T ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE CONDtlCTBD BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM. 13. Solomon's Poi-ch—See on John 10. 2;i 13-
filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake, &c.—The Spirit rested upon the entire community, first, in the very way they had asked, so that they "spake the word with boldness" (v. 29,31); next, in melting down all selfishness, and absorbing even the feeling of individuality in an Intense and glowing realization of Christian unity. The community of goods was but an outward expression of this, and natural in such circumstances, with great power—effect on men's minds, great grace was upon them all—The grace of God copiously rested on the whole community, laid ... at the apostles' feet—sitting, it may be, above the rest. But the expression may be merely derived from that practice, and here meant figuratively. Joses, &c.—This is specified merely as an eminent example of that spirit of generous
lt>. of the rest durst no man join himself, &c.—of the unconverted none ventured, alter what had taken place, to profess discipleship; but yet tiieir numbers continually Increased, into the streets—
' in every street.' in beds and couches—The words denote the softer couches of tho rich and the meaner cribs of the poor. [Bengel.] shadow of Peter might overshadow some of them—Cf. ch. 19.
12; Luke 8.40. So Elisha. Now the predicted greatness of Peter (Matthew 16. IS), as the directing spirit of the earliest Church, was at its height. Xl-'i'i. sect of th« Sadducecs—See on ch. 4. 2 for tlie reason why this is speci-
fied, by night—the same night, all tlte words of litis life—Beautiful expression for that Life in the PJsen Ono which was the burden of their preaching! entered into the temple, &c.—How self-possessed! the indwelling Spirit raising them above fear, called . . . all the senate, itc—an unusually general convention, though hastily summoned, the prison shut . . . keepers before the doors, btit . . . no man within—the reverse of the miracle in ch. 16. 26; a similar contrast to that of the nets at the miraculous draughts of fishes (Luke 5. G; and John 21.
sacrifice which pervaded all. son of consolation—no doubt so surnamed from the character of his ministry, a Levite—who, though as a tribe having no inheritance, might and did acquire property as Individuals (Deuteronomy 18. 8). Cyprus—a well-known island in the Mediterranean.
Ver. 1-11. Ananias and Sappiiira. 'The first trace of a shade upon the bright form of the young Church. Probably among the new Christians a kind of holy rivalry had sprung up, every one eager to place his means at the disposal of the apostles. [Olsuausen.] Thus miglit the new-born zeal of some outrun their abiding principle, while others might be tempted to seek credit for a liljer-
11). 24-aC. they donbted-' were in perplexity.' without violence, for they feared, &c.—hardened ecclesi-
astics, all unawed by tlie miraculous tokens of God's presence with the apostles, and the fear of the mob only before their e.yes
27-42. Second appearance and testimony beforb THE. Sanhedrim—Its rage calmed by G.^maliei.— Being dismissed, they depart rejoicing, and continue THEIR preaching. !47, 'JS. ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine—noble testimony to the success of tlieir preaching, and (for the reason mentioned on
ality which was not in their character, a. Itia wife kept back ptirt of the price, also being privy to it—The cool-
)iess with which they planned the deception aggravated the guilt of this couple, brought a certain part—pretending it to be the whole proceeds of tlie.sale. 3-0. wliy hath Satan tilled (i. e., why hast tliou sull'ered him to till) ilhine Ikeart, &c.—so criminally entertaining his sugges-
ch. 4. 4) to the truth of their testimony, from reluctant Hps! Intend to bring this man's blood upon ug—They avoid naming Him whom Peter gloried in holding up. | Hengel.] In speaking thus, they seem to betray a di.sagreenble recollection of their own recent imprecation. " His blood be upon us," Ac. (Matthew 27.25), and of the traitor's words as he threw down themone.v, "I have sinned In that I have betrayed Innocent blood" (Matthew 'Zi. 4). 29, 30. Then Peter, &c.—See on ch. 2. 22, and on ch. .1. 13, Ac. 31. Prince and Saviour—the one word expressing
tion? Cf. V. 4. "Why hast thou conceived tills thing in
tliine heart?" and see John 13. 2, 27. to lie to tl»e Holy Ghost— to men under His supernatural illumination,
tvliilrs it remained, was it not tliinc own ! and after
it was sold, was it not in thine own power 1—from
wlii<:h we see how purely voluntary were all these sacri-
fices for the support of the Infant community, not lo men l»nt God—to men so entirely the Instruments of the directing Bplrit that the lie was rather told to Him : lanpuage clearly Implying both the distinct persnnaHt}/ and the proper divinity of the Holy Ghost. Ananias . . . gave
tliat iio2/a</.(y which all Israel looked for In Messiah, the other the Saving character of it which they had utterly
lost sight of. Each of these features in our Lord's work enters into the other, and both make one glorious whole
(cf. ch. 3. 15; Hebrews 2. 10). lo give—dispensing as *«
<iip the gltost . , , great fear came on all tlvnt kcar<« these tilings—on those without the Christian eirck^
Prince." repentance and remission of sins—as "u Saviour;" 'repentance' embracing all that change which issues In the faith which secures ' forgiveness' (cf ch. 1
; who,
lnstea<l of disparaging the followers of the Lord Jesus, as tUey might otherwise have done on the di-scovery of such
LTfe
The First Election of Deacons. ACTS VI, VII. Stephen Arraigned before the Sanhecirir^.
88; 20.21). How gloriously Is Christ here exhibited ; not, as In other places, as the Medium, but as the Dispenser of
crowning the beautiful spirit which reigned in this motlier-comraunity. a great company of Ihe priests were obedient, ifec.—This was tlie crowning tiiuinpli of the Gospel, whose peaceful prosperity v/as now at its greatest height. After Stephen's teaching and trial made
all spiritual blessings! 33,33. we are witnesses . . . KncI the Holy Ghost—they as competent human witnesses to facts, and the Holy Ghost as attesting them by undeniable miracles, cut to the heai-t and took ('were
it clear that sacerdotal interests could not stand with the Gospel, such priestly accessions became rare indeed. Noteil.) how easily misunderstandings may arise among the most loving and devoted followers of the Lord Jesus: but (2,) How quickly and effectually such misunderstandings may be healed, where honest intentions, love and wisdom reign: (3.) Wliat a beautiful model for imitation
taking') counsel to slay them—How different this feeling and the effect of it from that " pricking of the heart" which drew from the first converts on the day of Penle- • ooet the cry, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (ch.
2. 37). The words used in the two places are strikingly
different. 3*. then stood up . . . Gamaliel—in all probability one of tliat name celebrated in the Jewisli writings for his wisdom, the son of Simeon (possibly the same who took the infant Saviour In his arms, Luke 2. 2-5, Ac), and grandson of Hi 1 lei, another celebrated rabbi. He died eigliteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem. [LiGHTFOOT.] 35-39. Theudag— not the same with a deceiver of that name whom Josephus mentions as heading an insurrection some twelve years after this [Anti-
is furnished by the class here complained of, who, though themselves the majority, chose tlie new office-bearers from amongst the complaining minoritj' ! (4.) How superior to the lust of power do the apostles here sliow themselves to be, in not only divesting themselves of the immediate superintendence of temporal affairs in the Christian community, but giving the choice of those who were to be entrusted with it to the disciples at large ! (5.) How little of formal oi-ganlzation did the apostles give to the Church at first, and when an emergency arose wliicli demanded something more, how entirely was the remedy suggested by the reason of the thing! (6.) Though the new otiice-bearers are not expressly called Deacons here,
quities, 20. 5. 1], but some other of whom he makes no mention. Such insurrections were frequent. Judas of Galilee—See on Luke 2. 2, and 13. 1-3. [Josephus, AntiquUies, 13. 1. l.J If of men, it will come to naught, &e,. —This neutral policy was true wisdom, In the then temper of tlie council. But individual neutrality is hostility to Christ, as Himself teaches (Luke 11. 23). 40-4:8. befaten them—for disobeying tlieir orders (cf. Luke 23. 16). departed rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name—
it is universally admitted that this was the first institution of that order in the Church ; the success of tlie expedient securing Its permanency, and the qualifications for " the office of a Deacon" being laid down in one of the apostolical Epistles immediately after those of " a Bishop"
' thought worthy by God to be dishonoured by man' (Matthew 5. 12; 1 Peter 4. li, 16). [Webster and Wilkinson.] This was their first taste of persecution, and it felt sweet for His sake whose disciples
(1 Timothy 3. 8-13.)
8-15. Stephen Arraigned before the Sanhedrim. 3. And Stephen, &c.—The foregoing narrative seems to be only an introduction to what follows, full of faitli Rattier, ' of grace,' as the best MSS, read, 9, 10. synngoffue of tile l.lbertlnes—Jewish freednieii; iiianuniitted Roman captives, or the children of such, expelled iVoiii Roiaa (as appears from Josephus and Tacitus), and now ivsiding at Jerusalem, Cyrenlans—Jewsof Cyrene, in Lihya, on I he coast of Africa, them of Cillcia—amongst wiiom may have been Saul of Tarsus (ch. 7. 5S; 21. mul of AsiaSee on ch, 16. 6, not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which lie spake—What he .said, and tlie power with wliicli he spake it, were alike resistless. H-14. blasphemous words against Moses—doulitless referring to the impending disappearance of tlie whole Mosaic system, and against God—Tliis must refer to the supreme dignity and authority which he claimed forClirist,
tliey were. In every house—or ' in private.' See on ch. 2.
46. ceased not to preach Jesus Christ—t. e., Jesus (to be the) Christ.
Ver. 1-7. First Election of Deacons. 1. the Grecians —the Greek-speaking Jews, mostly born in the provinces, the H«l>rcw8— those Jews born in Palestine who used their native tongue, and were wont to look down on the "Grecians" as an inferior class, were neglected—'overlooked' by those whom the apostles employed, and who were probably of the Hebrew class, as being the most numerous. The comp'aint was In all likeliliood well founded, though we cannot suspect the distributors of intentional partiality. 'It was really Just an emulation of love, each party wishing to have their own poor taken care of in the best manner.' [OI/SHAUSen.] the dally ministration-the daily distribution of alms or of food. prol)ably the latter. 8-4. the multitude — the general bodj' of the disciples. It is not reason—The word expresses dislike ; q. d., ' We cannot submit.' to leave the Word ofGod—to have our time and attention withdrawn from preaching; which, it thus appears, they regarded as their primary duty, to serve tables—oversee tlie distribution of provisions, look ye out (from) among you—
,as tlie head of that new economy wliicli was so spci i'.ily
to supersede the old (cf. ch. 7. 56, 59, 60). 15. as tlie face of an angel—a play of supernatural radiance attesting to all who beheld his couutenance the divine calm of the spirit within.
Ver. 1-60. Defence and Martyrdom of Stephen, In this long defence Stephen takes a much wider range, and goes less directly into the point raised by his accusers, than we should have expected. His object seems to liave been to show (1) that so far from disparaging, lie deeply reverenced, and was intimately conversant with, the whole history of the ancient economy ; and (2) that in resisting the erection of the Gospel kingdom they were hut treading in their fathers' footsteps, the wliole history of their nation being little else than one continued luisu))- prehenslon of God's high designs towards fallen man mikI rebellion against them. 1-5. The God of glory—A nimj,- nificent appellation, fitted at the very outset to rivet tlie devout attention of his audience; denoting not lluit visible glory which attended many of the Divine niaiiifestations, but the glory of those manilestations th«m-
i. e., ye " the multitude" from amongst yourselves, seven men of honest report—good reputation (ch. 10. 22; 1 Timothy 3. 7). full of the Holy Ghost—not full of miraculous gifts, which would have been no qualification for the duties required, but spiritually gifted; althougli on two of them miraculous power did rest, and wisdom discretion, aptitude for practical business, whom we may appoint—for while the election was vested in the Christian people, the appointment lay with tlie apostles, as spiritual rulers, we will give ourselves to prayerpublic prayer, as along with preaching their great work. Stephen, &c.—A.H this and the following names are all Greek, it is likely they were all of the "Grecian" class, which would effectually restore mutual confidence, when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them—tlie one proclaiming that all oflloial gifts flowed from the Churcn"8 glorified Hea<I, the otlier symbolizing the eommanication of these to the chosen office-bearers througti
selves, of which tills was regarded by eveiy Jew as the fundamental one. It is the glory of absolutely free grace, appeared unto our father Abraham before lie dwelt in Charran, and said, &c.—Though this first call is not expressly recorded in Genesis, It is clearly imiilied in Genesis 15.7 and Nehemiah 9.7; and the Jewish writers speak the same language, when his fatlier was dead;
tlie recognized channels, word of God Increased . . . diaclpira multiplied in Jerusalem greatly—prosperity
Stephen's Defence a(/ainst Ma Accusers. ACTS VII. Sis Denunciation of his Judge».
he removed Into tlilg land—Though Abraham "^as la Canaan before Terah"s death, his settlement in it as the land of promise is here said to be alter it, as being in no way dependent on the family movement, but a transaction purely between Jehovak and Abraliam himself. 6-
last and proper object of the Church's faith, brtt only a humble precursor and small model of Him to whom their absolute submission was due. In the Church—the collective body of Go{l's chosen people; hence used to denote the whole body of the faithful under the Gospel, or particular sections of them, tills Is he that was in the Church In th« wilderness, with the angel . . . and with our fathers —alike near to the Angel of the Covenant, from whom he received all the institutions of the ancient economy, and to the people, to whom he faithfully reported the living oracles and among whom he set up the prescribed institutions. By this high testimony to Moses, Stephen rebuts the main charge for which he was on trial, to whom our fatliers would not obey, <fcc. Here he shows that the deepest dishonour done to Moses came from the nation thai now professed the greatest jealousy for his honour, in tlieir hearts turned back into Egypt In this Stephen would have his hearers read the downward career on which they were themselves entering. 43-50. gave them up—judicially, as written In the book of the propliets — the twelve minor prophets, reckoned as one: the passage la from Amos 5. 25. have ye offered to Me . . . sacrifices? The answer is. Yes, but as if ye did it not ; for ' neither did ye ofTer to Me only, nor always, nor with a perfect and
8. four liiuulred years—using round numbers, as in Genesis 15. 13, 16 (see on Galatians 3. 17). after tliat shall they come forth, and serve me In this place—Here the promise to Abraham (Genesis 15. 16), and that to Moses (Exodus 3. 12), are combined ; Stephen's object being merely to give a rapid summary of the leading facts, the covenant of circumcision i. c, the covenant of which circumcision was the token, and so i. e., according to the terms of this covenant, on wliich Paul reasons (Galatians 3). the twelve patriarchs—so called as the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. 9-16. the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him—Here Stephen gives his first example of Israel's opposition to God's purposes, in spite of which and by means of wliich tliose purposes were accomplished, threescore and fifteen souls—according to the Septuagint version of Genesis 46. 27, which Stephen follows, including the five children and grandchildren of Joseph's two sons. But wheii (rather 'as') the time of the promise i. e,, for its fulfilment, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt—For more than 200 years they umounted to no more than seventy-five souls; how prodigious, then, must have been their multiplication during the latter two centuries, when 600,000 men, fit for war, besides women and children, lelt E<;ypt ! 30-23. In which time—of deepest depression. Moses was born the destined deliverer, exceeding fair lit., 'fair to God' (Margin), or, perhaps, divinely 'fair' (see on Hebrews 11.
willing heart.' [Bengbs..] Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Molech, &c. Two kinds of idolat ry are charged upon the Israelites : that of the golden calf and that of the heavenly bodies; Molech and Remphan being deities, representing apparently the Divine powers ascribed to nature, under diflerent aspects, carry you beyond Babylon—the well-known region of the captivity of Judah; while " Damascus" Is used by the prophet (Amos 5. 27), whither the ten tribes were carried. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness In the wilderness— wliicll aggravated the guilt of that idolatry in which they indulged, with the tokens of theDlvine presence constantly in the midst of them, which our fathers that came in after—rather (Margin) 'having received it by succession,'
23). mighty in word—Though defective in utterance (Exodus 4. 10), his recorded speeches fully bear out what is here said, and deed—Referring probably to unrecorded circumstances in his early life. If we are to believe JoSEPHUS, his ability was acknowledged ere he left Egypt.
3.3-'37. In verses 23, 30, and 36, the life of Moses is represented as embracing three periods, of forty years each;
i.e., the custody of the tabernacle from their ancestors, brouglit In with Jesus—or Joshua. Into tlie possession —rather, 'at the taking possession of [the territorj^of] the Gentiles.' unto the days of David—for till then Jerusalem continued in the hands of the Jebusites. But Stephen's object in mentioning David Is to hasten from the tabernacle which he set up, to the temple which his son
tlie .lewish writers say the same; and though this is not expressly stated in the Old Testament, his age at death,
120 years (Deuteronomy 34. 7), agrees with it. Itcamt .nto his heart to visit his brethren—his heart yearning with love to them as God's chosen people, and heaving with the consciousness of a Divine vocation to set them free, n venged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyp-
built, in Jerusalem; and this only to show, from their own Scriptures (Isaiah 66. 1, 2), that even that temple, magnificent though it was, was not the proper rest'mg-place of Jehovah upon earth; as his audience and the nations had
<ian—yoing fiirther in the heat of his indignation than he jirobably intended. For he supposed his brethren ivoald have understood, &c.—and perhaps Imagined this a suitable occasion for rousing and rallying them under him as their leader; thus anticipating his work, nnil so running unsent. but they understood not Ileekoning on a spirit in them congenial with his own. he had the mortification to find It far otherwise. This fur-
all along been prone to imagine. (What that resting-place was, even "the contrite heart, that trembleth at Ood's word," he leaves to be gathered from the prophet referred to.) 51-53. Ye stiffnecked ... ye do always resist tlie Holy Ghost, &c. It has been thought that symptoms of impatience and irritation in the audience induced Stephen to cut short his historical sketch. But as little farther light could have been thrown upon Israel's obstinacy from subsequent periods of the national history on the testimony of their own Scriptures, we should view this as the sum7ning up, the brief import of the whole Israelitish history grossness of heart, spiritual deafness, continuous resistance of the Holy Ghost, dotvn to the very cotmcil before whom Stephen xvas pleading. Which of, etc. Deadly hostility to
iiislies to Stephen another example of Israel's slowness to fipprehend and fall in vnth the Divine purposes of tove. next day he sliowed Ikimself unto them as they «trove Here, not an Israelite and an Egyptian, but two parties in Israel it self,,are in collision with each other; Mosen, grieved
iit the spectacle, interposes as a mediator; but his interference, as unauthorized, is resented by the partj' in the wrong, V'hom Stephen identifies with the mass of the nation (v.
the viessengei-s of God, whose high office It was to tell of " the Righteous One," that well-known prophetic title of Messiah (Isaiah 53. 11; Jeremiah 2;i 6, &c.), and this consummated by the betrayal and murder of Messiah Himself, on the part of those now sitting In Judgment on the speaker, are the still darker features of the national character depicted in these withering words, who have received
just as Messiah's own Interposition had been spurned. 3H, 39. Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday!—Moses had thought the deed unseen (Exodus 2. 12), but It now appeared he was mistaken. Tlien fled Moses, &c.—for "when Pharaoh heard this
tiling lie sought to slay Moses" (Exodus 2.15). 30-34. an angel of tlie Lord-Rather, 'the Angel' of the covenant, who Immediately calls himself .Iehovah (cf. t>.
tlie law by the disposition ('at the appointment' or
3.S). 33-4^1. This Moses whom they refused, saying. Who made thee a ruler and a Judge, i&c.—Here, again, " the stone which the builders refused is made the head of the
' ordination,' i. e., by the ministry) of angels, and have not kept It^—This closing word Is designed to slait up those Idollzers of the law under the guilt of high disobedience to it, aggravated by the august manner In wlilch they had received It. 54-56. When they heard tlila, they were cut to the heart, ifec— If they could have answered him, how different would have been their temper
corner^' (Psalm 118. 22). Tltis Is that Moses which said
. . A prophet . . . him shall ye hear—This is quoted to .-emlnd his Moses-worshlpping audience of the grand tcslimonv of their faithful lawgiver, that himself was not the
Sutphen Stoned to Death by the People. ACTS VIII. Success of Philip's Preaching in Sarmna.
not this sin to their charge—Comparing this wilh nearly the same prayer of his dying Lord, it will be seen how very richly this martyr of Jesus had drunk into hia Master's spirit, in its divinest form, he fell asleep never said of the death of Christ. See on 1 Thessalonians 4. 14. How bright the record of this first martyrdom for Christ, amidst all the darkness of Us perpeti-ators ; and how many have been cheered by it to like faithfulness even unto death
of mind ! But he, being full of »lic Holy Ghost, looked ap steadfastly Into heaveii, and saw the glory of God —Ye who can transfer to canvas such scenes as these, In which the rage of hell grins horribly from men, as they
8tt condemned by a frail prisoner of their own, and see heaven beaming from his countenance and opening full upon his view—I envy you, for I find no words to paint
what, In the majesty of the Divine text, is here so simply
told. 'But how could Stephen, in the council-chamber,
see heaven at all 7 I suppose this question never occurred
but. to critics of narrow soul, one of whom [Meyer] con-
Ver. 1-4. Persecution continued, rfr which Saul TAKES A prominent PART—HOW OVERRULED FOK GOOD—
jectures that he saw it through the window! and another,
of better mould, that the scene lay in one of the courts of
1. Saul was consenting unto his death—The word expresses hearty approval, they were all scattered abroad —all the leading Clirlstians, particularly the preachers, agreeably to their Lord's Injunctions (Matthew 10. 23), though many doubtless remained, and others (as appears by ch. 9. 26-30) soon returned, except the apostles—who remained, not certainly as being less exposed to danger, but, at whatever risk, to watch over the infant cause where it was most needful to cherish it. a. and devout men—pious Jews, probably, impressed with admiration
the temple.' [Alford.] As the sight was witnessed by Stephen alone, the opened heavens are to be viewed as
revealed to his bright beaming spirit, and Jesns stand-
Inj? on the right hand of God—Why " standing," and not
sitimg, the posture in which tlie glorified Saviour Is elsewhere represented 7 Clearly, to express the eager interest with which He watched from the skies the scene in that council-chamber, and the full tide of .His Spirit which he was at that moment engaged in pouring into the heart of
his heroical witness, till it beamed in radla.ice from his very countenance. I see . . . the Son of man standing, Ac.-This Is the only time tliat our Lord is by human lips
for Stephen and secretly Inclined to Christianity, but not yet openly declared. 3. Saul . . . entering into every house—like an inquisitor. [Bengel.] haling men nud women, &c. See his own aflecting confessions afterwards
called THE Son of man after his ascension (Revelation 1.
13; 11. H are not instances). And why here? Stephen,
full of the Holy Ghost, speaking now not of himself at all
(ch. 22. 4; 26. 9, 10; 1 Corinthians 1.5. 9; Galatians 1. 13; Philemon 3. 6; 1 Timotliy 1. 13). Tliey that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching. Though solemnly enjoined to do this (Luke 24. 47; ch. 1. 8), they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of persecution which swept them out. How often has the rage of Christ's enemies thus " turned out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (see Philippians 1.
(v. 55), but entirely by the Spirit, is led to repeat the very words in which Jesus Himself, before thin same council, had
foretold His glorification (Matthew 26.64), assuring them
that that exaltatldli of the Son of man which they should hereafter witness to their dismay, was already begun and actual, fAi.FORD.] 57, 58. Then they cried out and ran upon him with one accord, &c.—To men of their mould and in their temper, Stephen's la,st seraphic words could but bring matters to extremities, though that only revealed the diabolical spirit which they breathed, cast him out of the city—according to lifivltlcus 24. 14; Numbers 15. 3.5; 1 Kings 21. 13; and see Hebrews 13. 12. and toned—'proceeded to stone' him. The actual stoning is recorded in next verse, and the witnesses—whose hands were to be first upon the criminal (Deuteronomy 17.7). laid dow^» their clothes—their loose outer garments, to have them taken charge of. at a young man's feet whose name wag Saul — How thrilling Is this our first introduction to one to whom Christianity—whether as developed in the New Testament or as established In the world—owes more perhaps than to all the other apostles together ! Here he Is, having perhaps already a seat in the Sanhedrim, some 30 years of age. In the thick of this tumultuous murder of a distinguished witness for Christ, not only "consenting unto his death" fch. 8. 1), but doing his own part of the dark deed. 59, 00. calling upon [God] and saying, Liord Jesus, Ac.—An unhappy supplement of our translators is the word "God" here; as if, while addressing the Son, he was really calling upon the Father. The sense is perfectly clear without any supplement at all — "calling upon (invoking) and saying. Lord Jesus;" Christ being the Person directly Invoked and addressed by name (cf. ch. 9. 14). Even Grotids, De Wette, Meyer, Ac, admit this, adding several other examples of direct prayer to Christ; and Pliny, In his well-known letter to the Emperor Trajan