Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Stephen's Defence a(/ainst Ma Accusers. ACTS VII. Sis Denunciation of his Judge».
he removed Into tlilg land—Though Abraham "^as la Canaan before Terah"s death, his settlement in it as the land of promise is here said to be alter it, as being in no way dependent on the family movement, but a transaction purely between Jehovak and Abraliam himself. 6- last and proper object of the Church's faith, brtt only a humble precursor and small model of Him to whom their absolute submission was due. In the Church—the collective body of Go{l's chosen people; hence used to denote the whole body of the faithful under the Gospel, or particular sections of them, tills Is he that was in the Church In th« wilderness, with the angel . . . and with our fathers —alike near to the Angel of the Covenant, from whom he received all the institutions of the ancient economy, and to the people, to whom he faithfully reported the living oracles and among whom he set up the prescribed institutions. By this high testimony to Moses, Stephen rebuts the main charge for which he was on trial, to whom our fatliers would not obey, <fcc. Here he shows that the deepest dishonour done to Moses came from the nation thai now professed the greatest jealousy for his honour, in tlieir hearts turned back into Egypt In this Stephen would have his hearers read the downward career on which they were themselves entering. 43-50. gave them up—judicially, as written In the book of the propliets — the twelve minor prophets, reckoned as one: the passage la from Amos 5. 25. have ye offered to Me . . . sacrifices? The answer is. Yes, but as if ye did it not ; for ' neither did ye of Ter to Me only, nor always, nor with a perfect and
8. four liiuulred years—using round numbers, as in Genesis 15. 13, 16 (see on Galatians 3. 17). after tliat shall they come forth, and serve me In this place—Here the promise to Abraham (Genesis 15. 16), and that to Moses (Exodus 3. 12), are combined ; Stephen's object being merely to give a rapid summary of the leading facts, the covenant of circumcision i. c, the covenant of which circumcision was the token, and so i. e., according to the terms of this covenant, on wliich Paul reasons (Galatians 3). the twelve patriarchs—so called as the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. 9-16. the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him—Here Stephen gives his first example of Israel's opposition to God's purposes, in spite of which and by means of wliich tliose purposes were accomplished, threescore and fifteen souls—according to the Septuagint version of Genesis 46. 27, which Stephen follows, including the five children and grandchildren of Joseph's two sons. But wheii (rather 'as') the time of the promise i. e,, for its fulfilment, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt—For more than 200 years they umounted to no more than seventy-five souls; how prodigious, then, must have been their multiplication during the latter two centuries, when 600,000 men, fit for war, besides women and children, lelt E<;ypt ! 30-23. In which time—of deepest depression. Moses was born the destined deliverer, exceeding fair lit., 'fair to God' (Margin), or, perhaps, divinely 'fair' (see on Hebrews 11.
willing heart.' [Bengbs..] Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Molech, &c. Two kinds of idolat ry are charged upon the Israelites : that of the golden calf and that of the heavenly bodies; Molech and Remphan being deities, representing apparently the Divine powers ascribed to nature, under diflerent aspects, carry you beyond Babylon—the well-known region of the captivity of Judah; while " Damascus" Is used by the prophet (Amos 5. 27), whither the ten tribes were carried. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness In the wilderness— wliicll aggravated the guilt of that idolatry in which they indulged, with the tokens of the Dlvine presence constantly in the midst of them, which our fathers that came in after—rather (Margin) 'having received it by succession,'
23). mighty in word—Though defective in utterance (Exodus 4. 10), his recorded speeches fully bear out what is here said, and deed—Referring probably to unrecorded circumstances in his early life. If we are to believe JoSEPHUS, his ability was acknowledged ere he left Egypt.
3.3-'37. In verses 23, 30, and 36, the life of Moses is represented as embracing three periods, of forty years each; i.e., the custody of the tabernacle from their ancestors, brouglit In with Jesus—or Joshua. Into tlie possession —rather, 'at the taking possession of [the territorjof] the Gentiles.' unto the days of David—for till then Jerusalem continued in the hands of the Jebusites. But Stephen's object in mentioning David Is to hasten from the tabernacle which he set up, to the temple which his son tlie .lewish writers say the same; and though this is not expressly stated in the Old Testament, his age at death,
120 years (Deuteronomy 34. 7), agrees with it. Itcamt .nto his heart to visit his brethren—his heart yearning with love to them as God's chosen people, and heaving with the consciousness of a Divine vocation to set them free, n venged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egypbuilt, in Jerusalem; and this only to show, from their own Scriptures (Isaiah 66. 1, 2), that even that temple, magnificent though it was, was not the proper rest'mg-place of Jehovah upon earth; as his audience and the nations had
fiirther in the heat of his indignation than he jirobably intended. For he supposed his brethren ivoald have understood, &c.—and perhaps Imagined this a suitable occasion for rousing and rallying them under him as their leader; thus anticipating his work, nnil so running unsent. but they understood not Ileekoning on a spirit in them congenial with his own. he had the mortification to find It far otherwise. This furall along been prone to imagine. (What that resting-place was, even "the contrite heart, that trembleth at Ood's word," he leaves to be gathered from the prophet referred to.) 51-53. Ye stiffnecked ... ye do always resist tlie Holy Ghost, &c. It has been thought that symptoms of impatience and irritation in the audience induced Stephen to cut short his historical sketch. But as little farther light could have been thrown upon Israel's obstinacy from subsequent periods of the national history on the testimony of their own Scriptures, we should view this as the sum7ning up, the brief import of the whole Israelitish history grossness of heart, spiritual deafness, continuous resistance of the Holy Ghost, dotvn to the very cotmcil before whom Stephen xvas pleading. Which of, etc. Deadly hostility to iiislies to Stephen another example of Israel's slowness to fipprehend and fall in vnth the Divine purposes of tove. next day he sliowed Ikimself unto them as they «trove Here, not an Israelite and an Egyptian, but two parties in Israel it self,,are in collision with each other; Mosen, grieved iit the spectacle, interposes as a mediator; but his interference, as unauthorized, is resented by the partj' in the wrong, V'hom Stephen identifies with the mass of the nation (v.
the viessengei-s of God, whose high office It was to tell of " the Righteous One," that well-known prophetic title of Messiah (Isaiah 53. 11; Jeremiah 2;i 6, &c.), and this consummated by the betrayal and murder of Messiah Himself, on the part of those now sitting In Judgment on the speaker, are the still darker features of the national character depicted in these withering words, who have received just as Messiah's own Interposition had been spurned. 3H, 39. Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday!—Moses had thought the deed unseen (Exodus 2. 12), but It now appeared he was mistaken. Tlien fled Moses, &c.—for "when Pharaoh heard this tiling lie sought to slay Moses" (Exodus 2.15). 30-34. an angel of tlie Lord-Rather, 'the Angel' of the covenant, who Immediately calls himself .Iehovah (cf. t>.
tlie law by the disposition ('at the appointment' or
3.S). 33-4^1. This Moses whom they refused, saying. Who made thee a ruler and a Judge, i&c.—Here, again, " the stone which the builders refused is made the head of the
' ordination,' i. e., by the ministry) of angels, and have not kept It^—This closing word Is designed to slait up those Idollzers of the law under the guilt of high disobedience to it, aggravated by the august manner In wlilch they had received It. 54-56. When they heard tlila, they were cut to the heart, ifec— If they could have answered him, how different would have been their temper corner^' (Psalm 118. 22). Tltis Is that Moses which said. . A prophet . . . him shall ye hear—This is quoted to .-emlnd his Moses-worshlpping audience of the grand tcslimonv of their faithful lawgiver, that himself was not the
Sutphen Stoned to Death by the People. ACTS VIII. Success of Philip's Preaching in Sarmna.
not this sin to their charge—Comparing this wilh nearly the same prayer of his dying Lord, it will be seen how very richly this martyr of Jesus had drunk into hia Master's spirit, in its divinest form, he fell asleep never said of the death of Christ. See on 1 Thessalonians 4. 14. How bright the record of this first martyrdom for Christ, amidst all the darkness of Us perpeti-ators ; and how many have been cheered by it to like faithfulness even unto death of mind ! But he, being full of »lic Holy Ghost, looked ap steadfastly Into heaveii, and saw the glory of God —Ye who can transfer to canvas such scenes as these, In which the rage of hell grins horribly from men, as they
8tt condemned by a frail prisoner of their own, and see heaven beaming from his countenance and opening full upon his view—I envy you, for I find no words to paint what, In the majesty of the Divine text, is here so simply told. 'But how could Stephen, in the council-chamber,
CHAPTER VIII.
see heaven at all 7 I suppose this question never occurred but. to critics of narrow soul, one of whom [Meyer] con-
Ver. 1-4. Persecution continued, rfr which Saul TAKES A prominent PART—HOW OVERRULED FOK GOOD— jectures that he saw it through the window! and another, of better mould, that the scene lay in one of the courts of
1. Saul was consenting unto his death—The word expresses hearty approval, they were all scattered abroad —all the leading Clirlstians, particularly the preachers, agreeably to their Lord's Injunctions (Matthew 10. 23), though many doubtless remained, and others (as appears by ch. 9. 26-30) soon returned, except the apostles—who remained, not certainly as being less exposed to danger, but, at whatever risk, to watch over the infant cause where it was most needful to cherish it. a. and devout men—pious Jews, probably, impressed with admiration the temple.' [Alford.] As the sight was witnessed by Stephen alone, the opened heavens are to be viewed as revealed to his bright beaming spirit, and Jesns stand-
Inj? on the right hand of God—Why " standing," and not sitimg, the posture in which tlie glorified Saviour Is elsewhere represented 7 Clearly, to express the eager interest with which He watched from the skies the scene in that council-chamber, and the full tide of .His Spirit which he was at that moment engaged in pouring into the heart of his heroical witness, till it beamed in radla.ice from his very countenance. I see . . . the Son of man standing, Ac.-This Is the only time tliat our Lord is by human lips for Stephen and secretly Inclined to Christianity, but not yet openly declared. 3. Saul . . . entering into every house—like an inquisitor. [Bengel.] haling men nud women, &c. See his own aflecting confessions afterwards called THE Son of man after his ascension (Revelation 1.
13; 11. H are not instances). And why here? Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost, speaking now not of himself at all
(ch. 22. 4; 26. 9, 10; 1 Corinthians 1.5. 9; Galatians 1. 13; Philemon 3. 6; 1 Timotliy 1. 13). Tliey that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching. Though solemnly enjoined to do this (Luke 24. 47; ch. 1. 8), they would probably have lingered at Jerusalem, but for this besom of persecution which swept them out. How often has the rage of Christ's enemies thus " turned out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (see Philippians 1.
(v. 55), but entirely by the Spirit, is led to repeat the very words in which Jesus Himself, before thin same council, had foretold His glorification (Matthew 26.64), assuring them that that exaltatldli of the Son of man which they should hereafter witness to their dismay, was already begun and actual, fAi.FORD.] 57, 58. Then they cried out and ran upon him with one accord, &c.—To men of their mould and in their temper, Stephen's la,st seraphic words could but bring matters to extremities, though that only revealed the diabolical spirit which they breathed, cast him out of the city—according to lifivltlcus 24. 14; Numbers 15. 3.5; 1 Kings 21. 13; and see Hebrews 13. 12. and toned—'proceeded to stone' him. The actual stoning is recorded in next verse, and the witnesses—whose hands were to be first upon the criminal (Deuteronomy 17.7). laid dow^» their clothes—their loose outer garments, to have them taken charge of. at a young man's feet whose name wag Saul — How thrilling Is this our first introduction to one to whom Christianity—whether as developed in the New Testament or as established In the world—owes more perhaps than to all the other apostles together ! Here he Is, having perhaps already a seat in the Sanhedrim, some 30 years of age. In the thick of this tumultuous murder of a distinguished witness for Christ, not only "consenting unto his death" fch. 8. 1), but doing his own part of the dark deed. 59, 00. calling upon [God] and saying, Liord Jesus, Ac.—An unhappy supplement of our translators is the word "God" here; as if, while addressing the Son, he was really calling upon the Father. The sense is perfectly clear without any supplement at all — "calling upon (invoking) and saying. Lord Jesus;" Christ being the Person directly Invoked and addressed by name (cf. ch. 9. 14). Even Grotids, De Wette, Meyer, Ac, admit this, adding several other examples of direct prayer to Christ; and Pliny, In his well-known letter to the Emperor Trajan
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 Afiples. [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 ef Tects 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 vlth 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 wi Lomsoevcr 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 dif Tusion 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 sou Hiernmost 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 wur Hhi)>—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 Ethidaring 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 certainty 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 aposllesiiip, 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 sijlit 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.)
CHAPTER IX.
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 himself 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 Apotleship. 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