Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
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 liili 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.
CHAPTER III.
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.' throalk 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 himture 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 furtherself 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—comprehending, 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 distinctuess. 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
CHAPTER IV.
Ver. 1-13. PTER 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, ef Tectuttlly 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 asto Dish 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 el Pect 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 specified, 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.
CHAPTER V.
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 ecclesiastics, 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 suggesch. 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 sacrifices 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 *«
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 lnstea<l of disparaging the followers of the Lord Jesus, as tUey might otherwise have done on the di-scovery of such
LTfe