Chapter XXIV (continued, part 8)
12, 13).
5-25. Success of Philip's Preaching in Samaria— Case of Simon Magus. 5. Then Philip-not the apostle of that name, as was by some of the fathers supposed; for besides that the apostles remained at .Jerusalem, they would in that case have had no occasion to send a deputation of their own number to lay their hands on the baptized Af^iples. [Grotius.] It was the deacon of that name, who comes next after Stephen in the catalogue of the seven, probably as being the next most prominent. The persecution may have been directed especially against Stephen's colleagues. [Meyer.] the city of Samaria or 'a city of Samaria;' but the former seems more likely. 'It furnished the bridge between Jerusalem and the world.' [BaumOARTEN.] 6-8. the people with one accord gave heed to . . . Philip—the way being prepared perhaps by the fruits of our Lord's sojourn, as Himself seems to intimate (see on John 4. 31-38; p. 72,t second column). But 'we may mark the providence of God In sending a "Grecian," or a Hellenistic Jew, to a people who from national antipathy would have been unlikely to attend to a native of Judea.' [Webster and Wilkinson.] great Joy in that city—over the change wrought on it by the Gospel, as well as the cures which attested
its Divine character. 9-13, used sorcery—magical arts, some great one . . . the great power of God—a sort of incarnation of Divinity. To whom all gave heed . . . because of long time he had bewitched tliem—This, coupled with the rapidity with which they deserted him and attached themselves to Philip, shows the ripeness of Samaria for some religious change, were baptlied, both men and women—The detection of Simon's frauds helping to extend and deepen the efTects of Pliilip's proaclilng. Then Simon himself believed also—Left without followers, he thinks it best to join the man who had fairly outstripped him, not without a touch of real conviction, and . . . was baptized—What a light does this throw on what Is called Baptismal Regeneration! he continued with Philip—'was in constant attendance upon' him. 14-17. the apostles . . . sent Peter and .John—sliowing that Ihejregarded Peter as no more than their own equal, prayed . . . they might receive tl«e Holy Ghost, for only titey were baptized in the name of the Lord Jcaua.
(A. D. no or 111), says it wa.s part of the regular Christian service to sing. In alternate strains, a hymn to Christ as God. IfOrd Jesus, receive my spirit—In presenting to Jesus the identical prayer which Himself had on the cross offered to His Father, Stephen renders to his glorified Lord absolute divine worship. In the most sublime form, and at the most solemn moment of his life. In this commitment of his spirit to Jesus, Paul afterwards followed his footsteps with a oalm, exultant confidence tliat v^lth Him it was safe for eternity (2 Timothy 1. 12). cried with a loud voice-with something of the gathered energy of his dying Lord (see on John 19. l(^-.30, p. »6 [1] second column from middle). Lord—i.e., Jesus, beyond doubt, whom he had Just before addressed as Lord, lay
Pfiillp Sent by an An/jd ACTS VIII. to Baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch,
—As the baptism of adults presupposed "the renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3. 5-7; 1 Corinthians 12. 13), of which the profession of faith had to be talien for evidence,
recent feast of Pentecost, as a Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faitli. (See Isaiah 56. 3-8. and John 1'2. 20.) wat returning—Having coine so far, lie not only stayed out the days of the festival, but prolonged his stay till nuw. It says much for his fidelity and value to his royal mistress that lie had sucii liberty. But the faith in Jehovah and love of his worship and word, with which he was imbued, sufficiently explain this, and sittihg in his chariot, read Ksaias—Not contented witli the statutory services in wliich he had joined, he beguiles the tedium of the journey lionieward by reading the Scriptures. But
tills coraniunication of tiie Holy Ghost by tlie laying on of tlie apostles' hands was clearly a superadded tiling; and as it was only occasional, so it was invarialjly attended with miraculous manifestations (see ch. 10. U, wliere it followed Peter's preaching; and ch. 19. 1-7, where, as here, it followed the laying on of liands;. In the present case an Important object was served by it—'tlie sudden appearance of a body of baptized disciples in Samaria, by the agency of one wlio was not an apostle, requiring the presence and power of apostles to perform their special pari as tlie divinely appointed founders of the Church.' [Alford.] Beautiful, too, was tlie spectacle exhibited of Jew and Samaritan one in Christ. IS-lJl. offered tliem money—Hence the term Simony, to denote trafflcking in sacred tilings, but chiefly the purcliase of ecclesiastical
tills is not all ; for as Philip " heard liim read the prophet Esaias," he must have been reading aloud and not (as is customary still in the East) so as merely to be audible, but in a louder voice than he would naturally have used
if intent on his own benefit only: evidently therefore he was reading to his charioteer. 39-31. tl»e Spirit said—by an unmistakable voice within, as ch. 10. 19; 16.6,7. go near and join this chariot—This would reveal to Philip the hitherto unknown object of his journey, and encourage him to expect something. Understandest wlial thou readesti—To one so engaged this would be deemed no rude question, while the eager appearance of the speaker, and the question itself, would Indicate a readi ness to supply any want of insight that might be felt. How can I, except some man guide me J—Beautiful expression at once of humility aiid docility; the invitation to Philip which immediatt ly followed, to "come up and sit witli him," being but the natural expression of this. 33, 3.3. The place . . . was this. He was led as a lamb, &c.—One cannot but wonder that this, of all predictions of Messiah's sufferings in the Old Testament the most striliing, should have been that which the eunuch was reading before Philip joined him. He could hardly miss to have heard at Jerusalem of the sufferings and death of Jesus, and of the existence of a continually-increasing party who acknowledged him to be the Messiah. But his question to Philip, whether the prophet In tliis passage meant himself or some other man, clearly shows that h« had not the least Idea of any connection between thU prediction and those fact.s. 34:-38. And the eunuch an« swered, I pray thee, &c.—The respect with which he here addresses Philip was prompted by his reverence for one whom he perceived to be his superior in Divine things; his own worldly position sinking before this. Then Philip opened his mouth—See on Matthew 5. 2, began at the same scripture—founding on it as his text, preached unto him Jesus—showing Him to be the glorious Burden of this wonderful prediction, and Interpreting it in the liglit of the facts of His history. See, here is water—more simply, 'Behold water!' as If already, his mind filled with light and his soul set free, he was eagerly looking out for the first water in which ho might seal his reception of the truth and be enrolled among the visible disciples of the Lord Jesus, what doth hinder me to be baptized?—Philip had probably told him that this was the ordained sign and seal of disclpleship, but the eunuch's question was likel.v the first proposal of its application in this case. CVerse 37 Is wantlug In the principal MSS. and most venerable versions of the New Testament. It seems to have been added from the formularies for baptism which came into current use.) they went dowi» both info the water, and he baptized ikim, Ac.—probably laving the water upon
offices, tliat on wiLomsoevcr I lay liajids Ue may receive the Holy Ghost Spiritual ambition here shows itself
tlie icej' to this wretclied man's character. Thy money perUh with thee q. d., 'Accursed be thou and thy money with thee.' It is the language of mingled horror and indignation, not unlike our Lord's rebuke of Peter liimself (Matthew 16. 23). thou hast ueitlier jjat-t nor lot . . . thy heart In not right, &c.—This is the fidelity of a minister of Christ to oue deceiving himself in a very awful manner. Repent . . . pray. . . it' perhaps the tJiought of thine heart may be fb«-given— this expression of doubt lieing designed to imprt-ss upon liim the greatness of his sin, and the need of alarm on his part. In the gall of bitterness and . . . bond of iniquity — Expressing both the awt'ulness of his oondition and the captivity to
it ill which he was held. Pray ye to the Lord for me Peter had urged him to pray for himself: he asks those wonder-working men to do it for him; having no confidence in the prayer of faith, but thinking that those men possessed some peculiar interest with lieaven. that none of tliose things come upon me—not that the thought of his wicked heart might be forgiven him, but only that the ovils threatened niighC be averleil from him. While this throws great light on Peter's view of his melancholy case,
it shows that Christianity, as somelhing divine, still retained its hold of him. (Tradition represents him as turning out a great lieresiarcli, mingling Oriental or Grecian philosophy with some elements of Christianity.) 35. and they (Peter and John), when they had preaehed (in the city where Philip's labours had been so richly blessed), relurned . . . and preached In many villages of the Samaritans—embracing tlie opportunity of theirjourney back to Jerusalem to fulfil tlieir Lord's commission to the Tvhole region of Samaria (cli. 1. 8). 2(M0. The Ethiopian Eunuch. 'With this narrative of the progress of the Gospel among the Samaritans is connected another which points to the difTusion of the doctrine of the Cross among the remotest nations. The simplicity of the chamberlain of Meroe forms a remarkable contrast with the craftof the magician just described.' [OL.SIIAUSEN.] a6-38. the angel of tlkc I-ord—rather, 'an angel.' go south, the way that gocth down from Jerusalem to fciaza—There was such a road, across Mount Hebron, whicli Philip might talce without going to Jerusalem (as VON Haumek's "Palajstina" shows), which
Is dese»-t i. e., the way ; not Ga/.a itself, which was the souHiernmost city of Palestine, in the territory of the ancient Philistines. To go from a city, where his hands .lad been full of work, so far awa.y on a desert road, could not but be staggering to the faitli of Philip, especially as he was k(!ptin ignorance of the object of tiie journey. But like Paul, he "was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;" and like Abram, "he went out not knowing whillier he went" (ch. 26. 19; Hebrews II. 8). a man of Ktliiopia—Upper Egypt, Meroe, an eunuch of great authority—Eunuchs were generally employed for confidenlial ofllces In the East, and to some o.vtent are still. Candace—the family name of the queens of Upper Egypt,
liim, though the precise mode Is neither certnln nor of any consequence. 39, 40. the Spirit of the Lord canght away Philip—To deny [as Meyer, Olshausen, Bi,oomFiEi.n] the miraculous nature of Philip's disappearance.
Is vain. It stands out on the face of the words, as Just a repetition of what we read of the ancient prophets, in
Kings IS. 12; 2 Kings 2. 16. And the spme word (as P.ek
G151. remarks) is employed to express a similar Idea in CorinlhliUis 12. 2, 4; 1 Tliessalonlnns •1.17. (he e»in«ir» saw him no more—nor, perhaps, for very Jt i, eJiicd I SCO him. [BEN(iKl,. 1 and he went on his way rejolf —He had found Christ, and fhe ke.y to the Scriptures; h'.! soul was set free, and his discipleship sealed; he had li>' t his teacher, but gained what was Infinitely better: II"
llki! Pharaoh, C(Esar,&c. (asappears from classics authors), had come to JeniKolem to wurHhi)>—t. c., to keep the 182
&ttU. going louards Damascus, ACTS IX. is Stricken Down to the Enrlh,
felt himself a new man, and "his joy was full." TradiUou says he was Uie first preaclier of the Gospel in Ethi-
daring to alter, in the smallest tittle, the overpowering words addressed to him. why persec«itest tlkou met— No language can express the altecting character of this question, addressed from the right hand of the Majesty on high to a poor, infuriated, persecuting mortal. (See Matthew 23. 43, and on that whole judgment scene.) Who art thou, Lord 1 — 'Jesus knew Saul ere .Saul knew Jesus.' [Bengel.] The term "Lord" here is an indefinite term of respect forsome unknown but august speaker. Tliat Saul saw as well ne, heard this glorious Speaker, Is expressly said by Ananias (r. 17; 22. 14), by Barnabas (ch.
opia; and liow, indeed, could he choose but "tell what the Lord had done for his soul?" Yet there is no cer-
tainty as to any historical connection between his labours and tlie introduction of Christianity into that country. PUUip was found—g. d., 'found himself,' •made his appearance:' an expression conflrming the miraculous manner of his transportation, at Azotus the ancient Aslidod. preached In all tlie cities—along
the coast, proceeding northwai-d. till lie came to Ci«;salea—tilty-five miles north-west of Jerusalem, on the Mediterranean, just south of Mount Carmel; and so named
9. 27), and by himself (ch. 26. 16) ; and in claiming aposlle-
siiip, he explicitly states that he had "seen the Lord" (1 Coi iuthiaus 9. 1 ; 15. 8), which can refer only to this scene. I am Jrsns whom tliou persecutest—The " I" and "thou" here are touchinglj' emphatic in the original; while the term " Jksu.s" is purposely chosen, to convey to him the thrilling information that the hated name which he sought to hunt down "the Nazarene," as it is in ch. 22. 8—was now speaking to him from the skies, " crowned with glory and honour" (seech. 26. !)). It is hard for tliec to kick agninst the pricks. And lie, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt tliou have me to do 1 And the Lord said—(The most ancient M.SS. and versions of the New Testament want all these words here; but they occur in ch. 26.14 and ch. 22. 10, from which they appear to have been inserted hei'e.) The metaphor of an ox, onlj' driving the goad deeper by kicking against it, is a classic one, and here forcibly ex-. presses, not only the vanity of all his measures for crushing the Gospel, but the deeper wound which every such
bj' Herod, who rebuilt it, in honor of Cresar Auj;;ustus. Henceforth we lose si^jlit of zealous and honoured Philip,
as by and by we shall lose sight even of Peter. As the chariot of the Gospel rolls on, other agents are raised up, each suited to his work. But "he that soweth and he that
rt-apeth shall rejoice together." (See on John 4. 31-38.)
Ver. 1-25. Conversion of Sactl, and beginnings of HIS MlNlSTKY. 1. Saul, yet breatliing tlireaf inings and slau;;liter against the disciples of ti»e Lord, Ac. The empliatic "yet" is intended to note the remarkable
f;ict, tljat up to this moment his blind persecuting rage against the disciples of tlie Jjord burned as liercx'ly as
ever. (In the teeth of this, JJkandeu and Oi.shauskn picture him 'deeply impressed with Stephen's joyful
faith, remembering passages of tlie Old Testament coiiflrnialoryof the Messiahship of Jesus, and experiencing Buch a violent struggle as would inwardly prepare the way
ell'ort inflicted upon himself. The question, " What shall
I do. Lord?" or, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" indicates a state of mind singularly interesting (see on eh. 2. 37). Its elements seem to be these: (1.) Resistless conviction that " Jesus whom he persecuted," now speaks ing to him, was "Christ the Lord." See on Galatians 1.15,
for the designs of God towards him. Is not dislike, it not unconscious disbelief, of sudden conversion at tlie bottom
of this?) The word "slaugliter" here points to cruelties not yet recorded, but the particulars of which are supplied by himself nearly thirty years afterwards: "And I persecuted this way unto the death" (eli. 22. 4); " and vvlu'U they were put to death, I gave my voice ('vote') against Ihem. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to ('did my utmost to make them') blaspheme and being exceedingly mad against tliem, I persecuted them even unto strange (' foreign') cities" (ch. 26. 10, 11). All
16. ('2.) As a consequence of this, that not only all his religious views, but his whole religious character, had been an entire mistake; that hewas up to that moment fundamentally and wholly wrong. (3.) That though his whole future was now a blank, he had absolute confidence in Him who had so tenderly arrested him in his blind career, and was ready both to take in all His teaching, and to carry out all His directions (see more on v. 9). Arise, and go Into the city, and it shall be told thee, &c.—See on ch. 8. 26-28. 7. the men . . . stood speechless—This may mean merely that they 'remained so; but if the standing posture be intended, we have only to suppose that though at first they "all fell to the earth"
this Wius before his present journey. 'Z, desired letters—of aulliorizalion—to Damascus—the capital of .Syria and the great highway l)etween eastern and western Asia, about
130 miles uorth-east of Jerusalem ; the most ancient city perhaps in the world, and 'lying in the centre of a verdant and Inexhaustible paradise.' It abounded (as appears from JosEPHUS, Wars, II. 20, 2) with Jews, and with Gentile proselytes to the Jewish faith. Thither the Gospel had penetrated; and .Saul, flushed with past successes, undertakes to crush it out. tliat if lie found any of tiiat way, wliethermenor women—Thrice ai e women specified as objects of his cruelty, as an aggravated feature of it (ch. 8. 3; 22.4; and here). 3. lie came near Damascus—so ch. 22. 6. Tradition points to a bridge near the city as the spot referred to. Events which are the turning points in one's history so imprint themselves upon the memory, that circumstances tlie most trifling in themselves acquire by connection with them .something of their importance, and are recalled with inexpressible
(ch. 26. 14), they arose of their own accord while Saul yet lay prostrate, hearing a (rather ' the') voice—Paul him-
self says they "heard not the voice of Him that spake to him" (ch. 22. 9). But just as "the people that stood by heard" the voice that sainted our Lord with recorded words of consolation and assurance, and yet heard not the articulate words, but thought "it thundered" or that some "angel spake to Him" (John 12. 28, 29)—so these men heard the voice that spake to Saul, but heard not the artio ulale words. Apparent discrepancies like these, in the different narratives of the same scene In one and the same book of Acts, fui'nlsh the strongest confirmation both of the facts themselves and of the book which records them. Saul arose . . . and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man—after beholding the Lord, since he "could not see for the glory of that light" (ch. 22. 11), ho
Interest, suddenly—at what time of day, it is not said;
for artless simplicity reigns here. But he himself emphatically states. In one of his narratives, that it was "about noon" (ch. 22.6), and in the other, "at mid-day"
h.ad involuntarily closed his eyes to protect them from the glare; and on opening them again he found his vision gone. 'It Is not said, however, that he was bUnd, for
(ch. 26. 13), when there could be no deception, there sliined round about him a light from lieaven—" a great light" (he himself says) "^bove the brightness of the sun," then shining In Its full strength. 4-6. he fell to the earth—and his companions with him (ch. 26. 14), who "saw the light" (ch. 22. 9)—and heard a voice saying unto him—" In the Hebrew tongue" (ch. 26. 14)—Saul, Saul—a reduplication full of tenderness. [De WET-rE.J Though his name was soon changed into " Paul," we find
It was no punishment.' [Bengel.] 9. And he wag three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drinks, e., according to the Hebrew mode of computation : he took no food during the remainder of that day, the entire day following, and so much of the subsequent day as elapsed before the visit of Ananias. Such a period of entire abstinence from food, in that state of mental absorption and revolution Into which he had been so suddenly thrown, Is in perfect harmony with known laws
him, in both his own narratives of the scene, after the lapse of so many years, retaining the original form, as not
So.vJ. is Called fo the Apo^tleship. ACTS IX. Tfie Jeicg Lay in Wait to KUt him.
must suffer for my name—7. d., ' Much he has done against tliat Name; but now, when I show him what great things he must sutler for that Name, he shall count It his honour and privilege. 17-19. Ananias went Itia way, and putting Ills hands on him, said, Brother Saul—How beautifully child-like is the obedience of Ananias to " the heavenly vision !" the Lord, even Jesus— Tills clearly shows in what sense the term "Lord" is used in this book. It is Jesus that is meant, as almost invariably in tlie Epistles also, who appearefl unto thee in the way—This knowledge by an inhabitant of Damascus of what had happened to Saul befoi'e entering It, would show him at once that this was the man whom Jesus liaU already prepared him to expect, antl be tilled with the Holy Ghost—which Ananias probably, witliout any express instructions on that subject, took it for granted would descend upon him; and not necessarily after his baptism [Baumgarten, Webster and Wilkinson]—for Cornelius and his company received it before theirs (ch.
and numerous facts. But what three days must those nave been! 'Only one otlier space of three days' duration can be mentioned of equal Importance in the history of the world.' [Hows.] Since Jesus had been revealed not only to his eyes but to his soul (see on Galalians
1. 15, 16), the double conviction must have immediately flashed upon him, that his whole re.ading of the Old Testament hitherto had been wrong, and that the system of legal righteousness in which he had, up to that moment, rested and prided himself was false and fatal. What materials these for spiritual exercise during those three days of total darkness, fasting, and solitude ! On the one hand, what self-condemnation, what anguish, what death of legal hope, what difficulty in believing that in such a case there could be hope at all; on the other hand, what heart-breaking admiration of the grace that had "pulled him out of the lire," what resistless conviction that there must be a purpose of love in it, and what tender expectation of being yet honoured, as a chosen vessel, to declare what the Lord had done for his soul, and spread abroad the savour of that Name which he had so wickedly, though ignorantly, sought to destroy must have struggled in his breast during those memorable days ! Is It too much to say that all that profound insight into the Old Testament, that comprehensive grasp of the principles of the Divine economy, that penetrating spirituality, that vivid apprehension of man's lost st.ate, and those glowing views of the perfection and glory of the Divine remedy, that beautiful ideal of the loftiness and the lowliness of the Christian character, that large philanthropy and burning zeal to spend and be spent through all his future life for Christ, which distinguish the writings of this chiefest of the apostles and greatest of men, were all quickened into life during those three successive days? 10-lG. a certnln disciple
10. 14-48)—but perhaps immediately after the recovery of his sight by the laying on of Ananias' hands, there fell from his eyes as It were scales—'This shows that the blindness as well as the cure was supernatural. Substances like scales would not form naturally in so short a time.' [Webster and Wilkinson.] And the medical precision of Luke's language here is to be noted, was baptized—as directed by Ananias (ch. 22. 16). when he had received meat he was strengthened—for the exhaustion occasioned by his three days' fast would not be tiie less real, though unfelt during his struggles. See on Matthew
4. 2. then was Saul certain days with the disciples at Damascus—making their acquaintance, in another way than either he or they had anticipated, and regaining his tone by the fellowship of the saints; but not certainly in order to learn from them what he was to teach, which he expresslj' disavows (Galatians 1. 12, 16). 30-32. iireached Clirist . . . that he Is the Son of God—rather, ' preached Jesus," according to all the most ancient MSS. and versions of the New Testament (so t). 21, "all that call on this name," t. e., Jesus ; and r. 2'2, " proving that this" Jesus " is very Christ"). 33. And after many days were fuIAlled, the Jews took counsel to kill him Had we no other record than this, ire s/ioiild have supposed thai what is Itere related took place while Saul continued at Damascus after his baptiim. But in Oalatians 1. 17, 18 rve learn from Paid him-
. . nnmed Ananias—See on ch. 22. 12. to Uliii sairt (lie Lord i. e., Jesus. See i'. 13, 14, 17. go into the street
, . . called Straight—Tliere is still a street of this name
in Damascus, about half a mile in length, running from east to west through the city. [Maundrell.] aiid Inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus—There is something toucliing in the minuteness of these directions. Tarsus was the capital of the province of
Cilicia, lying along the north-east coast of the Mediterranean. It was situated on the river Cydnus, was a 'large and populous city' (says Xenophon, and see ch. 21. 39), and under the Romans had the privilege of self-government, beliold, he prayetli—" breathing out" no longer " threatenings and slaughter," but struggling desires after light and life in tlie Persecuted One. Beautiful note of encouragement as to the frame in which Ananias would find the persecutor! And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, &c. Thus, as in the case of Cornelius and Peter afterwards, there was a mutual preparation of each for each. But we have no account of the vision which .Saul had of Ananias coming into him and putting his hands upon him for the restoration of his sight, save this interesting allusion to it in the vision which Ananias himself had. Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, &c.—'The objections of Ananias, and the removal of them by the Lord, display in a very touching manner the childlike relation of the believing Boul to its Redeemer. The Saviour speaks with Ananias as a man does with hisfriend.' [Olshausen.] how much evil he hath done to thy saints " 7'hy saint.s," says Ananias to Christ ; therefore Christ is God. [Bengel.] So, In the verj' next verse, Ananias describes the disciples as " those that called on Clirist's name." See on ch. 7. 59, (iO; and cf. 1 Corinthians 1. 2. here he liath autliority, &c.— So that the terror not only of the great persecutor's name,
self that he " went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus,'' and that from the time of his frst visit to the close 0/
?ils second, both of which appear to have been short, a period
of three years elapsed ; either three full years, or one full year and part of two others. See on Galatians 1. 16-18. That such a blank should occur in the Acts, and be filled up in Galatians, is not more remarkable than that the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, their stay there, and their return thence, recorded only by Matthew, should be so entirely passed over by Luke, that If we had only his Gospel, we should have supposed that they returned to Nazareth immediately after the presentation in the temple. (Indeed in one of his narratives, ch. 22. 16,
17, Paul himself takes no notice of this period.) But wherefore this journey ? Perhaps (1.) because he felta period of repose and partial seclusion to be needful to his spirit, after the violence of the change and the excitement of his new occupation. (2.) To prevent the rising storm which was gathering against him from coming too soon to a head. (3.) To exercise his ministry in the Jewish synagogues, as opportunity afl'orded. On his return, refreshed and strengthened In spirit, he immediately resumed his ministry, but soon to the Imminent hazard of his life. 34,35. they watched the gates night and day to kill him—The full extent of his danger appears only from his own ncci)unt (2 Corinthians 11. 3'2): " lu Damascus, the governor under .Xretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me ;" the exasperated Jews havingobtained from the governor a inilllary force, the more surely to compass his di'slructlon. Then the disciples . . . by night let hlin down (" through a window," 2 Uorinthians 11. '&',) by
but of this commission to Damascus, had travelled before him from the capital to the doomed spot. Go thy wayDo as thou art bidden, without gainsaying, he Is a chosen vessel—a word often used by Paul in illustrating God's govereignty in election (Romans 9. 21-'2;i; 2 Coriuthlan.s 4.
7; 2 Timothy 2.20,21. [Alfokd.] Cf. Zechariah 3.2;. I will how him—(see ch. 20. 23, 21 ; '21. 11). how.grcut things he
SauTs First Visit to Jerusalem. ACTS X. Conversion ana Baptism of ComdiuB.
the wall— 8nch overhanging windows In the walls of Eastern cities were common, and are to be seen in Damascus to this day.
Peter, in order to introduce the all-important narrative of Cornelius (ch. 10). The occurrences here related probablj' took place during Saul's sojourn in Arabia. 39-39. as Peter passed throughout all quarters—not now fleeing from persecution, but peacefully visiting the churches, to the saints whlclt dwelt at Dydda—,ibout five miles east of Joppa. And Peter said unto him, Enens, Jesus Christ mitketh thee whole—See on ch. 3. 6. make thy bed—See on Jolin 5.8. all that dwelt at I/ydda and Saron—(or " Sharon," a rich vale between Joppa and Csesarea). saw Itim, and turnefl to the Lord i. p., there was a general conversion in consequence. 35-39. at Joppa—the modern JnfTa, on the Mediterranean, a very ancient city of the Philistines, afterwards and still the seaport of Jerusalem, from which it lies distant forty-flve miles to the north-west. Tabitha . . . Dorcas—the SyroChaldaio and Greek names for an antelope or gazelle, which, from its loveliness, was frequently employed as a proper name for women. [Meyer, Olshausen.] Doubtless the interpretation, as here given, is but an echo of the remarks made by the Christians regarding her—how well her character answered to her name, full of good works and Rlms-dee<ls—eminent for the activities and generosities of the Christian character, when tliey had washed—according to the custom of civilized natioijs towards the dead. In an frather, 'the') upper cliamber—
26-31. Saul's First Visit to Jerusalem after his Conversion. 26. And when Sanl was come to Jernalem^' three years after" his conversion, and particularly "to see Peter," Galatians 1. 18; no doubt because he
•was the leading apostle, and to communicate to him tlie prescribed sphere of his labours, specially to "the Gen-
tiles." he assayed to Join himself to the disciples— simply as one of them, leaving his apostolic commission
to manifest itself, they were afraid of him, &c.—knowing him only as a persecutor of the faith ; the rumour of his conversion. If it ever was cordially believed, passing away during his long absence in Arabia, and the news of his subsequent labours in Damascus perhaps not having reached them. 37. Bnt Barnabas . . . brought him to the apostles—f. e., to Peter and James; tor "other of the apostles saw I none," says he fourteen years after. Galatians 1. IS, 19. Probably none of the other apostles were there at the time (ch. 4. 36). Barnabas being of Cyprus, which was within a few hours' sail of Cilicia, and annexed to it as a Roman province, and Saul and he being Hellenistic Jews and eminent in their respective
localities, they may very well have been acquainted with each other before this. [Hows.] What is here said of Barnabas is in fine consistency with the "goodness" ascribed to him (ch. 11. 24), and with the name "Son of Consolation," given him by the apostles (ch. 4. 3fi); and after Peter and James were satisfied, the disciples generally would at once receive him. how he had seen the liOrd . . . and he (t. e., the Lord) had spoken to htm
(cf. 1 Kings 17. 19). the disciples sent unto Peter—showing that the disciples generally did not possess miraculous gifts. [Renrel.] all the widows—whom she had ciad or fed. stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made i. e. (as the tense implies*, showing these as specimens only of what she wris in the hcihit of malcinr/. 40-43. Peter put them all forti», and kneeled down—the one in imitation of his Master's way (Luke 8.5); and cf. 2 Kings 4.33); the other, in striking contrast with it. The kneelinr/ hecame the lowly servant, but not the Lord himself, of whom
i, e., how he had received his commission direct from the Lord liimsplf. 38, 29. And he was with them, coming In and going ont at Jerusalem—for fifteen days, lodging with Peter (Galatians 1. 18). disputed with the Grecians— See on ch. 6. 1; addressing himself specially to them, perhaps, as being of his own class, and that against which he had in the days of his ignorance been the fier-
it i.1 never once recorded that he knelt in the perlormance of a miracle, opened her eyes, and when slie saw Peter, slie gat up—The graphic minuteness of detail here imparts to the narrative an air of charming reality, he gave her his hand, and lifted her up—as his Lord had done to his own mother-in-law (Mark 1. 31), with one Simon a tanner—a trade regarded by the Jews as half unclean, and consequently disreputable, from the contact with dead animals and blood which was connected with it. For this reason, even by other nations, it is usually carried on at some distance from towns; accordingly, Simon's house was "by the seaside" (ch. 10. 6). Peter's lodging there shows him already to some extent above Jewish prejudice.
cest, they went about to slay him—Thus was he made to
feel, throughout his whole course, what he himself had made others so cruelly to feel, the cost of disciplexhip. 30. they brought him down to Coesarea—on the coast (see onch.8. 40); accompanying him thus far. But Paul had another reason than his own apprehension for quitting Jerusalem so soon. "While he was praying in the tem-
ple, he was in a trance," and received express injunctions to tliis effect. See on ch. 22. 17, <tc. and sent him forth to Tarsus—In Galatians 1. 21 he himself says of tills Journey, that he "came into the regions of Syriaand Cilicia ;" from which it is natural to infer that Instead of sailing direct for Tarsus, he landed at Seleucia, travelled thence to Antioch,and penetrated from this northward into Cilicia, ending his Journey at Tarsus. As this was his first visit to his native city since his conversion, so it is not certain that he ever was there again. See on ch. 11.25,26. Now
Ver. 1-48. Accession and Baptism of Cornelius and his party; or, The first-fruits of the Gentiles. We here enter on an entirely new phase of the Christian Church, the "opening of the door of faith to the Gentiles;" in other words, the recognition of Gentile, on terms of perfect equality with Jewish, discipleship without the necessity of circumcision. Some beginnings appear to have been already made In this direction (see on ch. 11.20,21); and Saul probably acted on this principle from the first, both in Arabia and in Syria and Cilicia. But had he been the prime mover in tlieadmission of uncircumclsed Gentiles into the Church, the .Tewish party, who were never friendly to him, would have acquired such strength as to bring the Church to the venge of a disastrous schism. But on Peter, "the apostle" specially " of the circumcision," was conferred the honour of initiating this great movement, as before of the first admission of .Jewish believers. (See on Matthew 16. 19.) After
It probably was that he became the instrument of gathering into the fold of Christ those "kinsmen," that "sis-
ter," and perhaps her " son," of whom mention is made
In Romans 16. 7, 11, 21 ; ch. Xi. 16, &c. [Hows.]
31. FLOURisiiiNfJ State of the CnuRCH in Palestine AT THIS Time. 31. Then had the churches rest—rather, 'the Church,' according to the best MSS. and versions. But this rest was owing not so much to the conversion of
8aul, as probably to the Jews being engrossed with the emperor Caligula's attempt to have his own image set up in the temple of .lernsalem CJosephus, Antiquities, 18.
8; 1, <tc.). throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and SamariaThis Incidental notice of distinct churches already dotting all the regions which were the chief scenes of our Lord's ministry, and that were best able to
this, however, one who had already come upon the stage was to eclipse this "chiefest of the apostles." 1,2. Coesarea—.See on ch.8.40. the Italian band—a cohort of Italians, as distinguished from native soldiers, quartered at Cfesarea, probably as a body-guard to the Roman procurator who resided there. An ancient coin makes express mention of such a cohort in Syria. ( A kkkm an's Aumi*-
test the facts on which the whole preaching of the apos-
tles was based, is extremely Interesting. "The fear of the Lord" expresses their holy walk; "the comfort of the Holy Ghost," their "peace and joy In believing," under
tfie slli-nt operation of the blessed Comforter.
Pktkh Heals Kneas at Lydda, and Raises Ta-
iiiTiiA TO LiFK AT Joppa. The historian now returns to
ISO
Peter's Visiun upon the Housetop. ACTS X. He Preaches to Cornelius and his Househoia,
malic niusiraiions of the Neiv Testament.) A devout man, &c. — an uncircumcised Geutile proselyte to the Jewish faith, of whom thei'e were a very great number .it this time ; a distinguished proselyte, who had brought liis whole household establishment under tiie hallowing influence of the Jewisli faith and the regular observance of
cuee he was not ashamed to Invite to a religious meeting of tlie most solemn n.ature. 25-a9. as Peter was coming
li», Coiiielius met him—a mark of the highest respect, fell down at his feet, and worshipped liim—In the East
tills way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans it was reserved for the gods. Peter, therefore, declines it as due to no mort.al. [Ghc-
its principal seasons of worship, gave mitc.U alms to
tile people i. e., the Jewish people, on the same principle as anotlier centurion before him (Luke 7. o) ; thinking it no "great thing," if they had "sown unto liim spiritual things, that thejshould reap his carnal things" (1 Corinthians 9. 11). prayed to God alvvay—at the stated daily seasons. See on ti. 3. 3-6. saw . . . evidently—'distinctly' —the iLiBttU liour of tlie day—three o'clock, the hour of the evening sacrifice. But he had been "fasting until tliat hour" (v. .SO), perliaps from the sixth hour {v. 9). "What is
Tiirs.] ' Those who claim to have succeeded Peler, haie tioi imitated this part of his conduct' [AlfordJ, therein only verifying 2 Thessalouians 2. 4, and cf. Revelation 19. 10;
22. 9. ye Isiiow it Is . . . unlaivful . . . for ... a Jew to keep company, or come unto one ofanother nation, &c.—There was noexpress prohibition to this eflect, and to
.a certain extent intercourse was certainly kept up. (Se« the Gospel historj', towards the end.) But intimate social fellowship was not practised, as being adverse to the spirit of the law. I ask therefore, &c.—The whole speecii is full of dignity, the apostle seeing in the compan.y before him a new brotherhood, into whose devout and inquiring minds he was divinel.y directed to pour the light of new truth. 30-33. Four days ago—the messengers being despatched on the first; on thesecond reaching Joppa (f.9); starting for Cass.area on the third; and on the fourth arriving, we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God—Beautiful expression of entire preparedness to receive the expected Divine teaching through the lips of this heaven-commissioned teacher, and delightful encouragement to Peter to give free utterance to what was doubtless already on his lips ! 3i, 35. Peter opened his mouth—See on Matthew
It, Lord I—language which, tremulously though it was uttered, betokened child-like reverence and humility. Thy prayers aiid thine alms— The w.ay in which both are specified is emphatic. The one denotes tlie spiritual outgoing of his soul to God, the other its practical outgoing to men. are come up for a memorial before God—i. e., as a sacrifice well-pleasing unto God, as an odour of a sweet smell (Revelation 8. 4). sendtoJoppa . . . for one Simon, &c.—See on ch. 9. 11. 7, 8. when the angel was departed, he called—immediately doing as directed, and thereb.y showing the simplicity of his faith, a devont soldier of them that waited on him continually—of the "soldiers under liim," such as tlie centurion at Capernaum haii, Mattliew 8. 9. Who this "devoutsoldier " was, can only be matter of conjecture. Da Costa (" Four Witnesses") gives a number of ingenious reasons for thinking tliat, having attached himself henceforth to Peter whose influence in the composition of the second Gospel
5. 2. Of a. truth I perceive i. e., ' I have it now demonstrated before mine eyes.' that God is no respecter of persons—Not ' I see there is no eapricious/(iyonr/</.s-r». with God,' for Peter would never imagine such a thing; but (as the next clause shows), ' I see that God has respect only to personal character and state in the aceept.ance of men, national and ecclesiastical distinctions being of no account.' but in every nation—not (observe), in every relif/im; according to a common distortion of these words, he tliut fenretli him, and worketh righteousness—This being the well-known phraseology of the Old Testament in describing the truly godl.y man, within the pale of revealed religion, it 'annot be alleged that Peter meant
Is attested by the earliest tradition, and is stamped on that Gospel itself—he Is no other than the Evangelist Mark. 9-16. upon the housetop—the flat roof, the chosen
plp-ce in the East for cool retirement, the sixtit hour noon—a trance—differing from the " vision " of Cornelius, in so far as the things seen liad not tlie same objective reality, though both were supernatural, all manner of foii.r-footed beasts, &c. i. e., the clean and the unelcati (ceremonially) all mixed together. Not so. Lord— See Marginnl roferencte. I have never eaten nnythinK that
it to denote a merely virtuous character, in the heathen setise ; and as Peter had learnt enough, from the messengers of Cornelius and from his own lips, to convince him that the whole religious character of this Roman officer had been moulded in the Jewish faith, there can be no doubt that the apostle intended to describe exactly such saintship—In its internal spirituality and external fruitfulness—as God had already pronounced to be genuine and approved. And since to such "He giveth more grace," according to the law of His Kingdom (.lames 4. 6; INlattliew 2.5. 29), he sends Peter, not to be the instrument of his conversion, as this is ver.v frequently called, but simply to "show him the way of God more perfectly," as before
Is comition i. e., not sanctified, by Divine permission to eat of it, and so "unclean." 'The distinction of meats was a sacrament of national distinction, separation and consecration.' [Webster and Wilkinson.] What God hath cleansed, that call not tliou common—The ceremonial distinctions are at an end, and Gentiles, ceremonially separated from the chosen people {v. 28), and debarred from tliat access to God in the visible ordinances of His Church which the.v enjoyed, are now on a perfect equality with them done thrice—See Genesis 41. .'12.
JT-iit. while Peler donbted . . . what this should mea», beliold, the tikree men , , . stood before the gate
. . . and asked—'were inquiring,' i. e., in the act of doing
so. Tlie preparations here made—of Peter for his Gentile visitors, as of Cornelius for him—are devoutly to be noted. But besides this, at the same moment, "the Spirit" expressly informs him that three men were inquiring
to the devout Ethiopian eunuch. 36-38. the word . . . sent unto the children of Israel—for to them (he would have tlu iii distinctly know) the Gospel was first preached, even as tlie fitcts of it took place on the special theatre of the ancient economy, preaching peace by Jesus Christ —the glorious sum of all Gospel truth, 1 Corinthians 1. 20-
for him, and l)ids him unhesitatingly go with them, as sent by Him. I am he whom ye seek—This seems to have been said without any communication being made to Peter regarding tlie men or their errand, they saitl, Corntlliis, a Just man, &c.—fine testimony this from his own servants, of good report among nil the nation of (he Jews—specified, no doubt, to conciliate the favourable regard of tlie Jewish apostle, to liear words of tl«ee —See on ch. 11. 14. called them in and lodged them thus partially anticipating this fellowship with Gentiles. Peter went . . . with them, and certain bretltren—six
22. he is Lord of all—exalted to emlirace under the can-
op.v of His peace, Jew and Gentile alike, whom the blood of His Cross had cemented into one reconciled and accepted family of God, Ephesians 2. l.'}-18. that word y© kjiow-The facts, it seems, were too notorious and extraordinary to be unknown to those who mixed so much with Jews, and took so tender an Interest In all Jewish matters as they did; though, like the eunuch, they knew not tlie sigiiillcance of them, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee — Seo Luke 4. 14, 37, 44; 7. 17; 9.6; 23. 5. aaer the baptism wl>ich John preached—See on ch. 1. 22. how GoA anointed Jesus of Nazareth— rather, 'Jesus of Nazareth
In number, ch. 11. 12. from .loppa—as witnesses of a transaction which Peter was prepared to believe pregnant witli great consequences. Cornelius . . . called togetlier Itis kinsmen and near friends—Implying that he had t)een long enough at Cresarea to form relationships there and that he had intimate friends there whose pres-
(as tlie burden of tliat "published word"), how God auolEted lilm
' with the Holy Ghost and with power.
Cornelius and his Household Baptized. ACTS XI. Peter's Defence for Preaching to the OentUcs.
Ac.—!, e.. at His baptism, thns visibly proclaiming Him Messiah, " the Lord's Christ." See Lulce 4. 18-21. For it is
THE Gentiles, l-ll. the apostles and brethren ... In Judea—rather, 'throughout Judea.' they ... of the circumcision—not the Jewish Christians generally, forhere there were no other, bnt such as, from their Jealousy for "the middle wall of partition" whioli circumcision raised between Jew and Gentile, were a/tencards known as " they of the circumcision." They doubtless embraced apostles as well as others. Thou wentest In, &c. B»it Peter rehearsed the matter, &c.—These objectors scruple not to demand from Peter, though the first among llie apostles, an explanation of his conduct; nor is there any Insinuation on Peter's part of disrespect towards his authority in that demand—a manifest proof that such authority was unknown both to the complainers and to himself. 1!S-18. we entered the man's house—No mention of Cornelius' name, much less of his high position, as if that afi'ected the question. To the charge, "Thou wentest in to men unclrcumcised," he simply speaks of the unclrcumcised "man" to whom he had been divinely sent, seen an angel— 'the angel,' for tlie rumour took that definite shape, who shall tcH thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved—The historian makes the angel express this much more generally, ch. 10. 6. So also the subsequent report of it by the deputies and by Cornelius himself to Peter, ch. 10. 22,
not His unction for personal holiness at his incarnation
that is referred to—as many of the Falhers and some
moderris take it/-but His investiture with the insignia of
the Messianic office, in which He presented Himself after His baptism to the acceptance of the people, went about doing good—holding up the beneficeiU cliaracter of all His miracles, which was their predicted character (Isa-
iah 35. 5, 6, &c.). healing all that were oppressed with the devil—whether in the form of demoniacal posses-
sions, or more indirectly, as in her "wliom Satan had
l)Ound with a spirit of infirmity eighteen years" (Luke 13.
16) ; thereby showing Himself the Redeemer from all evil, for God was with him—Thus gently does the apostle rise
to the supreme dignity of Christ with whicli he closes, accommodating himself to his hearers. 39-43. we are witnesses of all he did-not objects of superstitious rev-
erence, but simply witnesses to the great historical facts on which the Gospel is founded, slew and hanged (i. e., slew by hanging) on a tree—So ch. 5. 30; and see on Gala-
tians 3. 13. showed him openly j not to all the people—
for it was not fitting that He should suliject Himself, in Hts risen condition, to a second rejection In Person, but onto witnesses chosen before of God, ... to us, who 4ld eat and drink with him after he arose, &c.—Not the
32. But as Peter tarried witli Cornelius certain days, and they doubtless talked over the wonderful scene together, perhaps this fuller and richer form of what the angel said was given to Peter; or the apostle himself may have expressed what the angel certainly designed by directing
less certain, therefore, was the fact of His resurrection, though withholding Himself from general gaze in His
risen body. He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead—He had l>efore proclaimed Him "Lord of all," for the dispensing of "peace" to all alike; now he announces Him in the same supreme lordBhip, for the exercise of judgment upon all alike. On this Divine ordination, see John 5. 22, 23, 27; ch. 17. 31. Thus we have here all Gospel truth in brief, hwt, I<\>rgiveness through this exalted One is the closing note of Peter's Itean-
them to send for him. Observe, "Salvation" is here made to hang upon "words," i. e., the Gospel message concerning Christ. But on the "salvation" of Cornelius, see on ch. 10. 34, 35: On that of his "house," see on Luke
19. 10. Then remembered I the words . . . J«!l»n . . . baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then, &c.—g. d., 'Since God himself has put them on a level with ourselves, by bestowing on them what the Lord Jesus pronounced tlie higher baptism of the Holy Ghost, would it not have been to withstand God if I had withheld from them the lower baptism of water, and kept aloof from them as still "unclean ?" ' held their peace and glorlfled God—WoU had
tifully simple discourse. To him give all the prophets witness—t. e., This is the burden, generally, of the prophetic testimony. It wa.s fitter thus to give the spirit of their testimony, than to quote them in detail on sucli an occasion. But let this apostolic statement of tlie evan-
gelical import of the Old Testament writings be devoutly weighed by those wlio are disposed to rationalize away this element In the Old Testament, whosoever belleveth In him—This was evidently said with special reference to the Gentile audience then before him, and formed a noble practical conclusion to the whole discourse. 44, 45. While he yet spake, the Holy Ghost fell—by visible and audible manifestation {v. 46). they of the circumcision . . . were astonished, . . . because that on the Gentiles also was poured out, &c.—without circumcision, heard them speak witli tongues and magnify God—As on the day of Pentecost it was no empty miracle, no mere speaking of foreign languages, bnt utterance of " the wonderful works of God" In tongues to them unknown (ch. 2. 11), so here; but more remarkable In this case, as the speakers were perhaps less familiar with the Old Testament songs of praise. 4t6-48. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water . . . which have received the Holy Ghost, &c.— Mark, he does not say. They have received the Spirit, what need have they for water? hut. Having the living disclpleship Imparted to them and visibly stamped upon them, what objection can there be to admitting them, by the seal of baptism, into the full feliowsliip of the Church 7 who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we—and are thus, in all that is essential to salvation, on a level with ourselves, he commanded them to be baptizednot doing it with his own hands, as neither did Paul, save on rare occasions, 1 Corinthians 1. 14-17; cf. cli. 2. 38, and John 4.2. prayed him to tarry certain days—'golden days' [Bengei.], spent, doubtless, in refreshing Cliristian fellowship, and In Imparting and receiving fuller teaching on the several topics of the apostle's discourse.
it been if, when Paul afterwards adduced equally resistless evidence In justification of the same line of procedure, this Jewish party had shown the same reverential and glad submission ! Then hath God also grante<l to the Gentiles, &c.—rather, 'granted to the Gentiles also.' (See a similar misplacement of "also" In Hebrews 12. 1.) To "grant repentance unto life"—f. e., 'such as issues la-
life' (cf. 2 Corinthians 7. 10, " repentance unto salvation") —is more than to be willing to pardon upon repentance. [GrotiuS.] The case of Cornelius is so manifestly one of grace reigning in every stage of his religious history, thai we can hardly doubt that this was Just the feature of it which they meant here to express. And this is the grace that reigns in every conversion,
19-24. The Gospel being preached to Gentiles av Antioch also, Barnabas is sent tiiithek from Jkrusalem, who hails their accession and labours among them. 19-34. they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen —and who " went everywhere preaching the word" (ch. 8.
4). travelled as far as Phenice—that part of the Mediterranean coast which, commencing a little north of Csesarea, stretches northwards for upwards of 100 miles, halfway to Antioch. and Cyprus—See on ch. 4. 36. Alt active commercial intercourse subsisted between Phenice and Cyprus, and Antioch—near the head of the northeast coast of the Mediterranean, on the river Orontes, and containing a large colony of Jews, to whose religion there were there numerous prdsely tes. ' It was almost aii Oriental Rome, In which all the forms of the civilized
life of the empire found some representative; and through the two first centuries of the Christian era it was what Constantinople became afterwards, 'the Gate of the East.' [Hows.] some of them were nmii at Cyprus and Cyrene— (see on Luke 23. 26).— as. Lucius, meu187
Ver. 1-18. Pbter Vindicates Himself before the CuuRCB IN Jerusalem for nia procedure toward*
Bamahax Goes to Tarsus for Saul, ACTS XIL Hie Church Persecuted by Herod Agrippa.
tloned ch. 13. 1. kpake unto the Grecians— rather, "the Greeks," i. e., uncirciinicised Gentiles (as tlie true reading beyond doubt is). Tlie Gospel had, from the
continually on His name, and glorying in It—so It wa«
felt to be too apposite and beautiful to be allowed to die.
27-30. By occasion of a fa.mine, Barnabas andSaui. RETURN to Jerusalem with a contribution for thb relief of their suffering brethren, came prophcta from Jerusalem—Inspired teachers, a class we shall afterwards frequently meet with, who sometimes, but not necessarily, foretold future events. They are classed next to apostles, 1 Corinthians 12. 28, 20 ; Ephesians 4. 11. that there should be great dearth throughout all the world—the whole Roman empire, which came to pass In the days of Claudius Csesar. Four famines occurred during his reign. This one in Judca and the adjacent countries took place, a. d. 41. [Josefhus, Antiquities, 20.
first, been preached to " the Grecians" or Greek-speaking Jews, and these 'men of Cyprus and Cyrene' were themselves "Grecians." How, then, can we suppose that the historian would note, as something new and singular (v.
22), that some of the dispersed Christians preached to themf a great number believed—Tlius the accession of Cornelius and his party was not the first admission of nncircumcised Gentiles into the Church. (See on ch. 10.
1.) Nay, we read of no influence which the accession of Cornelius and his house had on the further progress of the Go.spel among theGentiles; whereas there here open npon us operations upon the Gentiles from quite a different quarter, and attended with ever-growing success. The only great object served by the case of Cornelius was the formal recognition of the principles which that case afterwards secured. (See on ch. 15.) sent . . . Barnabas . . . as far as Antioch—implying that even on the way to Antioch he found churches to visit. [Ol.shaxjsen.] It was in the first instance, no doubt, a mission of inquiry; and no one could be more suitable to inquire into the proceedings of those Cyprians and Cyrenians than one who was himself a " Grecian" of Cyprus (ch. 4. 36), and " a son of consolation." when he . . . had seen the grace of God (in the new converts), was glad—owned and rejoiced In it at once as Divine, though they were nncircumcised. exhorted them all that witli piu-pose of heart (as opposed to a hasty and fickle discipleship) they would cleave unto the Lord—the Lord .Tesus. For lie was a good man—The sense of "good" here is plainly ' largehearted,' 'liberal-minded,' rising above narrow Jewish sectarianism, and that because, as the historian adds, he was "full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." and much people were added unto tlie Lord—This proceeding of Barnabas, so full of wisdom, love and zeal, was bles.sed to the great increase of the Christian community in that Important city.
2, 5.J An important dale for tracing out the chronology of the Acts. (But this subject is too difficult and extensive to admit of being handled here.) Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send re-
lief, &c. This was the pure prompting of Christian love, which shone so bright in those earliest days of the Gospel, sent it to the elders— an office well known to be borrowed from the synagogue; after the model of which, and not cU all of the temple, the Christian Chwches were constituted by the apostles, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul—This was Saul's second visit to Jerusalem after his conversion.
Ver. 1-19. Persecution of the Church by Herotj Agrippa I.—Martyrdom of James and miraculous deliverance of Peter. 1-3. Herod the king—grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus. He at this time ruled over all his father's dominions. Paley has remarked the accuracy of the historian here. For thirty years before this there was no king at Jerusalem exercising supreme authority over Judea, nor was there ever afterwards, save during the three last years of Herod's life, within which the transactions occurred, killed James . . . with the sword— beheaded him; a most ignominious mode of punishment, according to the Jews. Blessed martyr! Thou hast indeed "drunk of thy Lord's cup, and hast been baptized with his baplism." (See on Mark 10. 38-40.) A grievous loss this would be to the Church; for though nothing is known of him beyond what we read In the Gospels, the place which he had as one of the three whom the Lord admitted to his closest intimacy would lead the Church to look up to him with a reverence and afTection which even their enemies would come to hear of. They could spring only upon one more prized victim ; and flushed with their flrst success, they prevail upon Herod to seize him also, because h« saw It pleased the Jews—Popularity was the ruling pa.ssion of this Herod, not naturally so cruel a.s some of the family. [Joskphus, Antiquities, 19. 7, 3. J to take Peter also—whose loss, at this stage of the Church, would have been, so far as we can see, irreparable. Tlien were the days of unleavened bread— seven In number, during which, after killing and eating the Passover, no leaven was allowed In Jewish houses (Exodus 12). 4. dellvere«l him to four quaternions of soldiers—i. e., to four parties of four each, corresponding to the four Roman watches; two watching In prison and two at the gates, and each party being on duty for the space of one watch, intending after Easter—rather, after the Passover; i.e., after the whole festival was over. (The word In our authorized version is an ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to have been employed here.) to bring him forth to the people—for execution ; for during "the days of unleavened bread," or the currency of any religious
25, 26. Barnabas, findihq the work in Antiooh TOO 3IUCH FOR HIM, GOES TO TARSUS FOR SAUI^THEY I.AB0UR THERE TOGETHER FOR A WHOLE YEAR WITH MUCH SUCCESS, AND ANTIOCH BECOMES THE HONOURED BIRTH-PLACE OF THE TERM CHRISTIAN. Then departetl Barnabas to Tarsus for to seeh Saul—Of course, then, this was after the hasty despatch of Saul to Tarsus, no doubt by Barnabas himself among others, to escape the fury of the Jews at Jerusalem. And as Barnabas was the first to take the converted persecutor by the hand and procure his recognition as a disciple by the brethren at Jerusalem (ch. 9. 27), so he alone seems at that early period to have discerned in him those peculiar endowments by virtue of which he was afterwards to eclipse all others. Accordingly, Instead of returning to Jerusalem, to which, no doubt, he sent accounts of his proceedings from time to time, finding that the mine in Antioch was rich in promise and required an additional and powerful hand to work, he leaves it for a time, takes a journey to Tarsus, "finds Saul" (seemingly implying—not that he lay hid [Bengel], but that he was engaged at the time In some preaching circuit— see on ch. 15. 23), and returns with him to Antioch. Nor wore his hopes disappointed. As co-pastors, for the time being, of the Church there, they so laboured that the Gospel, even in that great and many-sided community, achieved for Itself a name which will live and be gloried in as long as this world lasts, as the symbol of all that Is most precious to the fallen fam-
ily of man :—" The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." This name originated not within, but without, the Church; not with their Jewish enemies, by whom they were styled "Nazarenes" (ch. 24. 5), but with the heathrm in Antioch, and (as the form of the word shows) with
festival, the Jews had a prejudice against trying or putting any one to death. 3, 6. prayer was made without cea*> Ing—rather (Jl/ar^'n), 'instant,' 'earnest,' 'urgent ;' as la I;Uke 22. 44; ch. 26. 7; and 1 Peter 4. 8 (see Greek), of tlM Church unto God for him—not In public assembly, for
the iJowa?!*, not the Grcc*4 there. [Olshausbn.] It was not at flist used in a good sense (as ch. 26. 28, and 1 Pet«r 4. 16 show), though hardly framed out of contempt [as Dk ^'ette, BAirMGARTEN, &c.]; but as it was a noble testimony to the light in which the Church regarded Christ honouring lilna as their only Lord and Saviour, dwelling
It was evidently not safe to meet thus; but In llttl« groups in private houses, one of which was Mary's, v. 12. And this was kept up during all the days of unleavened
Tlie Miracalotis Deliverance of Peler. ACTS XII. The Growing Success of the GospcL
tread, and wnea Herod would have bronsht Iilm fortli—' was going to bring hlra forth.' the 8am» night but a few hours before the Intended execution. Thus long w*re the disciples kept waiting ; their prayers apparently unavailing, and their faith, as would seem from the
vent prayers during all the days of unleavened bread they dispute themselves out of it as a thing incredible.
Still, it is but the unbelief of the disciples who " believed not /or ,;oy and wondered" at the tidings of their Lord's resurrection. How often do we pray for what we can hardly credit the bestowment of, when it comes in answer to our prayers! This, however, argues not so much hard unbelief as that kind of it incident to the best in this land of shadows, which perceives not so clearly as it might how very near heaven and eartli, the Lord and his praying people, are to each other. Peter continned knocking—delay being dangerous. But lie, beckoning . . . with his hand to hold their peace— lively touch this. In the hubbub ofjoyful and wondering interrogatories there might mingle reflections, thrown out by one against another, for holding out so long against the testimony of Rhoda; while the emotion of the apostle's own spirit would be too deep and solemn to take part in such demonstrations or utter a word
sequel, waxing feeble. Such, however, is the Jaw of God's procedure (Deuteronomy 32. 36, and see on John 21. Z). Peter \yas sleeping between ttvo soldiers, bonnd tvlth two chains—Roman prisoners had a chain fastened at one end to the wrist of their right hand, and at the other
to the wrist of a soldier's left hand, leaving the right arm
of the keeper free in case of any attempt to escape. For greater security the prisoner was sometimes, as here, chained to two soldiers, one on each side. (See ch. 21. 23.) Ye think your prey secure, bloodthirsty priests and thou obsequious tyrant who, to " please the Jews," hast shut in this most eminent of the servants of Christ within double gates, guarded by double sentinels, .while double keepers and double chains seem to defy all rescue! So thought the chief priests, who "made the sepulchre of the Lord sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch." But "He that sitteth in heaven shall laugh at you." Meanwhile, "Peter is sleeping!" In a few hours he ex-
till, with his hand, lie had signified his wish for perfect silence. Go show tliese tilings unto James and to the brethren—Whetlier James the son of Alpheus, one of the Twelve, usually known as 'James the Less,' and "James the Lord's brother" (Galatians 1. 19), were the same person; and if not, whether the James here referred to was the former or the latter, critics are singularly divided, and the whole question is one of tlie most difficult. To us, it appears that there are strong reasons for thinking that they were nol the same person, and that the one here meant, and throughout the Acta, is t?ie apostle James. (But on this more hereafter.) James is singled out, because he had probably begun ro take the oversight of the Church in Jerusalem, which we afterwards find him exercising (ch. 1.5). And he departed, and went Into another place—according to liis Lord's express command, Matthew 10. Zi. When told, on a former miraculous liberation from prison, to go and speak unto the people (ch. 5.20), he did it; but in this case to present himself in public would have been to tempt God by rushing upon c#rtain destruction. 18, 19. as soon as it was day, &c.—His deliverance must have been during the fourth watch (three to six A. M.) else he must have been missed by the keepers at the change of the watch. [Wies.] examined the keepers who, either like the keepers of our Lord's sepulchre, had "shaken and become as dead men" (Matthew 28. 4), or had slept on their watch and been divinely kept from awaking, commanded that they should be put to death—Impotent vengeance
pects a stlngless death ; "neither counts he his life dear unto him, so that he may finish his course with joy and the ministry which he has received of the Lord Jesus." In this frame of spirit he has dropt asleep, and lies the picture of peace. 7-11. the angel of the Liord—rather, 'an angel'—came upon him—So in Lulie 2. 9, expressive of the unexpected nature of the visit, smote Peter on the side . , . Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off
, . . Gird thyself . . , And so he did . . . Cast thy garment (tunic, which he had tlirown off for the night) about thee . . . follow me—In such graphic minuteness of detail we have a charming mark of reality: while the rapidity and curtness of the orders, and tlie promptitude with which they were obeyed, betoken the despatch which, in the circumstances, was necessary, wist not that it was true ; but thought he saw a vision—So lit-
tle did the apostle look for deliverance! ftrst and . . . second ward , . . the iron gate that leadeth unto the city—We can only conjecture the precise meaning of all
this, not knowing the position of the prison, passed on through one street, and forthwith the angel departe<l from him—when he had placed him beyond pur-
suit. Thus " He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so thai, their heads cannot perform their enterprise" (Job
5.12). when Peter was come to himself— recovered from his bewilderment, and had time to look back upon
20-25. Herod's Miserable Eun—Growing Success OF THE Gospel—Barnabas and Sacl Return to AnTIOCH. iJO. Herod was . . . displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon—for some reason unknown ; but the
all the steps that had followed each other in such rapid succession. Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me, &c.—another evidence that Peter expected nothing but to seal his testimony with his blood on this occasion. 12-17. he came to the house of Mary, <S:c.—who ' must have had a house of sora./ pretensions to receive a large number; and, accordingly, we read that her brother Barnabas (Colossians 4. 10) was a person of substance (ch. 4. 37). She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution.' [\VebSTEB and Wilkinson.] To such a house it was natural that Peter should come, mother of John . . . Mark so called to distinguish him from the apostle of that name, and she to distinguish her from the other Maries, where many were gathered together praying—doubt-