And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Ver. 1. _The captain of the temple_] The Jews had a band of garrison soldiers deputed for the service and safety of the temple, Matthew 27:65. These forces had many officers, Luke 22:4,... [ Continue Reading ]
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. Ver. 2. _Being grieved_] Being sick of the devil's disease, as Moab was, Numbers 22:3,4 "fretting and vexing" at God's Israel, and eating up their own hearts, because they could not tear out theirs... [ Continue Reading ]
And they laid hands on them, and put _them_ in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Ver. 3. _Put them in hold_] In the sergeant's ward, τηρησις, not in the jail or dungeon. God doth by degrees inure his to suffer hardship. _Pauciores_ (saith Cajuto in an epistle to the brethren of Basil... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. Ver. 4. _And the number_] A goodly increase. The lily is said to be increased by its own juice that flows from it. (Pliny.) So the Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, Ver. 5. _On the morrow_] Malice is restless. Stephen Gardiner would not sit down to dinner till he had heard of the bishops burnt at Oxford.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. Ver. 6. _And Annas_] The same old man, still no changeling, ηη παλαι γυνη, as it was said of Helena.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Ver. 7. _By what power_] God's, or the devil's? in God's name, or by the black art?... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, Ver. 8. _Filled with the Holy Ghost_] _i.e._ with wisdom and fortitude, according to Christ's promise, Mat 10:19-20 Luke 21:15. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 10:19 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 10:20 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Ver. 9. _If we this day be examined of the good deed_] _q.d._ Evil times we must needs say they are, when good deeds and evil are dangerous alike; when to cure or to kill is equally criminal. "Shou... [ Continue Reading ]
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, _even_ by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Ver. 10. _Be it known unto you all_] Here was spiritual mettle, steeling the soul again... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Ver. 11. _You builders_] Such you should be, and profess to be, _sed aedificatis in Gehennam, _ ye build backward.... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Ver. 12. _For there is no other name_] We have no co-saviour, we need no other master of requests in heaven, but Christ. Say we of Popish saints and mediators, as that heath... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Ver. 13. _Unlearned and ignorant men_] _Indoctos elegit Christus et idiotas, sed oculavit in prudentes: simulque... [ Continue Reading ]
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. Ver. 14. _They could say nothing_] The Arabian interpreter adds, _Ut authoritate uterentur in eos, _ That they might punish them. They were clearly convinced, and yet ran away with the bit between their te... [ Continue Reading ]
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Ver. 15. _They conferred_] _Sic festucam quaerentes unde oculos sibi eruant, _ as Bernard hath it. They sought straws to put out their own eyes also.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them _is_ manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny _it_. Ver. 16. _A notable miracle_] A signal sign that all the country rang of.... [ Continue Reading ]
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. Ver. 17. _That they spake henceforth to none_] They must cut out their tongues then, for, as new wine, they must vent or burst. When Valens the Arian emperor threatened... [ Continue Reading ]
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Ver. 18. _Command them not to speak at all_] So in the year of grace 494, Anastasius the emperor persecuted those that would not obey an edict of his, That no man should commend or condemn the Council of Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Ver. 19. _Whether it be right, &c._] This was a principle held very fast by the heathens. Antigona in Sophocles saith, _Magis obtemperandum est Diis apud quos di... [ Continue Reading ]
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Ver. 20. _For we cannot but speak_] As Croesus' dumb son did for his father, _a_ Strong affections if they find no vent, the heart will cleave; as the waters undermine when they cannot overflow. _ a_ ανθρωπε, μη κτεινε τον Κροισον .... [ Continue Reading ]
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all _men_ glorified God for that which was done. Ver. 21. _Finding nothing how_] With what face they could do anything against them, though their fingers even itched to... [ Continue Reading ]
For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. Ver. 22. _Above forty years old_] An old cripple, therefore the greater miracle; so it is to convert an old sinner (that is habituated and long accustomed to evil courses) from the error of his way; since it is true... [ Continue Reading ]
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. Ver. 23. _And being let go_] For there was no hope of altering them. The heavens shall sooner fall than I will renounce my religion, said one martyr. And if I had as many lives t... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou _art_ God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Ver. 24. _Lord_] Master, controller, Δεσποτα. Thou that madest and managest all things. Pitch upon fit attributes of... [ Continue Reading ]
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? Ver. 25. _The heathen rage_] Or make a stir. The devil being cast out of heaven makes ado, so do unruly spirits led by him.... [ Continue Reading ]
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. Ver. 26. _Gathered together_] Heb. Took counsel together. They plot and plough mischief to the Church, but all in vain, Psalms 37:12; Job 4:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, Ver. 27. _Both Herod and Pontius Pilate, &c._] So of old,Psalms 2:1,3; Psalms 83:5,7. So lately against Luther, the emperor, the... [ Continue Reading ]
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Ver. 28. _For to do whatsoever, &c._] _Divinum consilium dum devitatur, impletur. Humana sapientia dum reluctatur, comprehenditur._ (Greg.)... [ Continue Reading ]
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, Ver. 29. _Behold their threatenings_] The Church fares the better for the menaces and blasphemies of their enemies. _Quo magis illi furunt, eo amplius procedo, _ saith Luther.... [ Continue Reading ]
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Ver. 30. _And that signs and wonders_] _Etiamsi rumpantur adversarii, et toti inferi in rabiem ebulliant, _ saith Calvin here; though earth and hell both burst with envy.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Ver. 31. _The place was shaken_] So God testifieth to his Church that he shook them, as men do young trees, to settle them,... [ Continue Reading ]
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any _of them_ that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Ver. 32. _Were of one heart_] _In primitiva Ecclesia, _ saith Tertullian, _Christiani animo animaque inter s... [ Continue Reading ]
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Ver. 33. _Great grace was upon them all_] Dropped down, as it were, upon them from heaven. God it is that fashioneth men's opinions, and maketh them think well of us. He gave Sol... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, Ver. 34. _Neither was there any_] This got them so much favour among all. Heathens acknowledged that there was no such love as among Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
And laid _them_ down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. Ver. 35. _According as he had need_] The distribution was done with discretion. SeePsalms 112:5. King Edward VI, moved thereto by a sermon of Bishop Ridley's, gave Christ's Hospital, the S... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, _and_ of the country of Cyprus, Ver. 36. _Surnamed Barnabas_] _See Trapp on "_ Act 1:23 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Phm 1:7 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Having land, sold _it_, and brought the money, and laid _it_ at the apostles' feet. Ver. 37. _At the apostles' feet_] As the fittest place. Do we tread upon the minerals, and cannot we contemn them?... [ Continue Reading ]