Acts 1:14

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD - knit by a bond stronger than death. The word [ homothumadon (G3661)] "with one accord," is worthy of notice as a characteristic of Luke's diction, and of this book; being used by no other New Testament writer, except his own associate Paul, and by him only once (Romans 15:6); but by Luke eleven times, and all in the Acts. IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION - for what? In the first place, no doubt, for the descent of the promised Spirit, and for preparedness to receive the gift; then for courage to fulfill the high commission they had received, and for the success of it. These topics-a...

14._With their wives _Some translate it _women; _and they think that he speaketh of those which accompanied Christ. As I will not contend with any man concerning this matter, so have I not doubted to prefer that which I thought was more probable. I grant that the word which Luke useth may be interpreted both ways. But this is my reason, why I do think that he speaketh rather of wives, because, seeing that they used afterward to carry their wives about with them, as Paul doth testify, (1 Corinthians 9:5,) it is not likely that they were then asunder. For they might more easily rest together in one place, than by wandering to and fro oftentimes to change their abiding; and, secondly, seeing that they did look for the coming of the Holy Ghost, which was even then at hand, what reason was there why they should deprive their wives of so great goodness? Peter’s wife was about to be a h

12-14 God can find hiding-places for his people. They made supplication. All God's people are praying people. It was now a time of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; but if any is afflicted, let him pray; that will silence cares and fears. They had now a great work to do, and before they entered upon it, they were earnest in prayer to God for his presence. They were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, and abounded in prayer. Those are in the best frame to receive spiritual blessings, who are in a praying frame. Christ had promised shortly to send the Holy Ghost; that promise was not to do away prayer, but to quicken and encourage it. A little company united in love, exemplary in their conduct, fervent in prayer, and wisely zealous to promote the cause of Christ, are likely to increase rapidly....

Verse Acts 1:14. _THESE - CONTINUED - IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION_] Waiting for the promise of the Father, according to the direction of our Lord, Luke 24:49. The words και τη δεησει, _and in supplication_, are omitted by ABC*DE, both the _Syriac_, the _Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, Itala_, and some of the primitive fathers. On this evidence, _Griesbach_ has left them out of the text; and others contend for the propriety of this _omission_, because, say they, τη προσευχη and τη δεησει, _prayer and_ _supplication, mean the same thing_. Whether the reading be _genuine_ or _spurious_, this inference is not just. _Prayer_ may simply imply any address to God, in the way of _petition_ or _request; supplication_, the earnest, affectionate, and continued...

THESE ALL CONTINUED ... - The word “continued” denotes “persevering and constant attention.” The main business was devotion. Acts 6:4, “we will give ourselves continually to the ministry of the word.” Romans 12:12, “continuing instant in prayer”; Romans 13:6, “Attending continually upon this very thing.” It is their main and constant employment. Compare Colossians 4:2. WITH ONE ACCORD - Greek: ὁμοθυμαδόν homothumadon - “with one mind.” The word denotes the entire harmony of their views and feelings. There were no schisms

EXPOSITION ACTS 1:1 _I made_ for _have I made, _A.V.; _concerning _for _of, _A.V.; _to teach _for _teach, _A.V. THE FORMER TREATISE; literally, _the first _history, narrative, or discourse. The form of the Greek, τὸν μὲν τρῶτον, shows that the writer had in his mind at the time to contrast the _second history_, which he was just beginning, and that naturally τὸν δὲ δεύτερον or τοῦτον δὲ τὸν λόγον, ought both grammatically and logically, to have followed. But the mention of "the apostles whom he had chosen" drew him, as it were, into the stem of his history before he was able to describe it. O THEOPHILUS. The omission of the title "most excellent," given to Theophilus in the Gospel (Luke 1:3

THESE ALL CONTINUED, WITH ONE ACCORD, IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION,.... For the promise of the Spirit Christ had given them reason to expect; and that they might be preserved from their enemies, and kept faithful to their Lord; and be abundantly qualified for the preaching of the Gospel, and succeeded in it; and that their hearts might be comforted, and knit together in love: and they were unanimous in their requests, and so were under the promise of being heard; and in this work they were constant, and assiduous, and followed it with importunity. The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions leave out the last clause, "and supplication"; and so likewise the Alexandrian copy: "with the women"; that followed Christ from Galilee, and were at his cross, and at his grave; among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Salome the wife of Zebedee. Some render the words, "w...

ACTS 1:14 th|/ proseuch|/ The addition of kai. th|/ deh,sei after th|/ proseuch|/ in the later witnesses (C3 and most minuscules), followed by the Textus Receptus (“in prayer and supplication,” AV), is due to the influence of Philippians 4:6....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS Part I The Witness to Jerusalem. The Advent of the Spirit and the Formation of the Church. The Offer to Israel and its Rejection. Chapter s 1-7 CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Introduction (Acts 1:1)._ 2. The final words of the risen Lord (Acts 1:4). 3. The ascension (Acts 1:9). 4. The waiting company (Acts 1:12). 5. Matthias chosen in the place of Judas (Acts 1:15). The introductory words prove that Luke is the writer. In the former treatise, Luke had addressed to Theophilus (the Gospel of Luke)

THE COMMUNITY AT JERUSALEM. The scene of the Ascension was not mentioned before; we hear of it now. Luke 24:50 puts it at Bethany which is (John 11:18) fifteen stades (about 1¾ miles) from Jerusalem; the Mount of Olives (here expressed in one word _Elaion,_ hence, EV properly, _Olivet),_ is less than half that distance. (For the tradition that the Messiah was to appear first on the Mount of Olives, see Ezekiel 11:23; Zechariah 14:4, and _cf._ Mark 11:1 *.) The account is written for people unacquainted with Jerusalem....