THE CHURCH THAT WAS AT ANTIOCH - See the notes on Acts 11:20. CERTAIN PROPHETS - See the notes on Acts 11:27. AND TEACHERS - Teachers are several times mentioned in the New Testament as an order of ministers, 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Peter 2:1. Their precise rank and duty are not know... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD - It is probable that this took place on some day set apart for fasting and prayer. The expression “ministered to the Lord” means as they were engaged in prayer to the Lord, or as they were engaged in divine service. The Syriac thus renders the passage. THE HOLY GHOST... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD FASTED - They were fasting when they were commanded to set them apart. Yet this probably refers to an appointed day of prayer, with reference to this very purpose. The first formal mission to the Gentiles was an important event in the church, and they engaged in this appointment wi... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING SENT FORTH BY THE HOLY GHOST - Having been called to this world by the Holy Spirit, and being under his direction. DEPARTED UNTO SELEUCIA - This city was situated at the mouth of the river Orontes, where it fails into the Mediterranean. Antioch was connected with the sea by the Orontes River.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY WERE AT SALAMIS - This was the principal city and seaport of Cyprus. It was situated on the southeast part of the island, and was afterward called Constantia. IN THE SYNAGOGUES OF THE JEWS - Jews were living in all the countries adjacent to Judea, and in those countries they had synag... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD GONE THROUGH THE ISLE - The length of the island, according to Strabo, was 1,400 stadia, or nearly 170 miles. UNTO PAPHOS - Paphos was a city at the western extremity of the island. It was the residence of the proconsul, and was distinguished for a splendid temple erected to Venus... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WAS WITH THE DEPUTY - Or with the proconsul. The exact accuracy of Luke in this statement is worthy of special remark. In the time when Augustus united the world under his own power, the provinces were divided into two classes. Augustus found two names which were applied to public officers in... [ Continue Reading ]
}BUT ELYMAS THE SORCERER (FOR SO IS HIS NAME BY INTERPRETATION) - Elymas the magician. Elymas is the interpretation, not of the name Bar-jesus, but of the word rendered “the sorcerer.” It is an Arabic word, and means the same as Magus. It seems that he was better known by this foreign name than by h... [ Continue Reading ]
}THEN SAUL, (WHO IS ALSO CALLED PAUL) - This is the last time that this apostle is called “Saul.” Henceforward, he is designated by the title by which he is usually known, as “Paul.” When, or why, this change occurred in the name, has been a subject on which commentators are not agreed. From the fac... [ Continue Reading ]
O FULL OF ALL SUBTILTY AND ALL MISCHIEF - The word “subtilty” denotes “deceit and fraud,” and implies that he was practicing an imposition, and that he knew it. The word rendered “mischief” ῥᾳδιουργίας radiourgias denotes properly “facility of acting,” and then “sleight of hand; sly;, cunning art... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HAND OF THE LORD IS UPON THEE - God shall punish thee. By this sudden and miraculous punishment he would be awed and humbled, and the proconsul and others would be convinced that he was an impostor, and that the gospel was true. His wickedness deserved such punishment; and at the same time that... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DEPUTY ...BELIEVED - Was convinced that Elymas was an impostor, and that the doctrine of Paul was true. There seems no reason to doubt that his faith was what is connected with eternal life; and if so, it is an evidence that the gospel was not always confined to the poor, and to those in ob... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL AND HIS COMPANY - Those with him - Barnabas and John - and perhaps others who had been converted at Paphos; for it was common for many of the converts to Christianity to attend on the apostles in their travels. See Acts 9:3 O. LOOSED FROM PAPHOS - Departed from Paphos. See the notes on Acts 13... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAME TO ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA - Pisidia was a province of Asia Minor, and was situated north of Pamphylia. Antioch was not in Pisidia, but within the limits of Phrygia; but it belonged to Pisadia, and was called Antioch of Pisidia to distinguish it from Antioch in Syria - Pliny, Nat. Hist., 5, 27;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THE READING OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS - See notes on Luke 4:16. THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE - Those were persons who had the general charge of the synagogue and its service, to keep everything in order, and to direct the affairs of public worship. They designated the individuals who were... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN OF ISRAEL - Jews. The design of this discourse of Paul was to introduce to them the doctrine that Jesus was the Messiah. To do this, he evinced his usual wisdom and address. To have commenced at once on this would have probably excited their prejudice and rage. He therefore pursued a train of ar... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF THIS PEOPLE - Who has manifested himself as the special friend and protector of this nation. This implied a belief that he had been particularly their God; a favorite doctrine of the Jews, and one that would conciliate their favor toward Paul. OF ISRAEL - The Jews. CHOSE OUR FATHERS - S... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ABOUT THE TIME OF FORTY YEARS - They were this time going from Egypt to the land of Canaan. Exodus 16:35; Numbers 33:38. SUFFERED HE THEIR MANNERS - This passage has been very variously rendered. See the margin. Syriac, “He nourished them,” etc. Arabic, “He blessed them, and nourished them,” etc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD DESTROYED - Subdued, cast out, or extirpated them as nations. It does not mean that all were put to death, for many of them were left in the land; but that they were subdued as nations, they were broken up and overcome, Deuteronomy 7:1, “And hath cast out many nations before them,” e... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GAVE UNTO THEM JUDGES - Men who were raised up in an extraordinary manner to administer the affairs of the nation, to defend it from enemies, etc. See Judges 2:16. ABOUT THE SPACE OF FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS - This is a most difficult passage, and has exercised all the ingenuity of chronologi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTERWARD THEY DESIRED A KING - See 1 Samuel 8:5; Hosea 13:10. It was predicted that they would have a king, Deuteronomy 17:14. SAUL, THE SON OF CIS - is the Greek mode of writing the Hebrew name Kish. In the Old Testament it is uniformly written as “Kish,” and it is to be regretted that this h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD REMOVED HIM - This was done because he rebelled against God in sparing the sheep and oxen and valuable property of Amalek, together with Agag the king, when he was commanded to destroy all, 1 Samuel 15:8. He was put to death in a battle with the Philistines, 1 Samuel 31:1. The phrase... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THIS MAN’S SEED - Of his posterity. ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE - See the notes on Acts 2:30. RAISED UNTO ISRAEL - See the notes on Acts 2:30. A SAVIOUR, JESUS - See the notes on Matthew 1:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JOHN HAD FIRST PREACHED ... - After John had preached and prepared the way, Matthew 3:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS JOHN FULFILLED HIS COURSE - As he was engaged in completing his work. His ministry is called a course or race, that which was to be run, or completed. HE SAID ... - These are not the precise words which the evangelists have recorded, but the sense is the same. See the John 1:20 note; Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN AND BRETHREN - Paul now exhorts them to embrace the Lord Jesus as the Messiah. He uses, therefore, the most respectful and fraternal language. CHILDREN OF THE STOCK OF ABRAHAM - Descendants of Abraham; you who regard Abraham as your ancestor. He means here to address particularly the native-bor... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY KNEW HIM NOT - The statement in this verse is designed, not to reproach the Jews at Jerusalem, but to introduce the fact that Jesus had died, and had risen again. With great wisdom and tenderness, Paul speaks of the murderers of the Saviour in such a manner as not to exasperate, but, as... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOUGH THEY FOUND ... - They found no crime which deserved death. This is conclusively shown by the trial itself. After all their efforts; after the treason of Judas; after their employing false witnesses; still no crime was laid to his charge. The Sanhedrin condemned him for blasphemy; and yet... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TOOK HIM DOWN ... - That is, it was done by the Jews. Not that it was done by those who put him to death, but by Joseph of Arimathea, and by Nicodemus, who were Jews. Paul is speaking of what was done to Jesus by the Jews at Jerusalem; and he does not affirm that the same persons put him to dea... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD RAISED HIM ... - See the notes on Acts 2:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WAS SEEN - See the notes at the end of Matthew. MANY DAYS - Forty days, Acts 1:3. OF THEM WHICH CAME UP - By the apostles particularly. He was seen by others; but they are especially mentioned as having been chosen for this object, to bear witness to him, and as having been particularly qua... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE - We who are here present. Paul and Barnabas. DECLARE UNTO YOU GLAD TIDINGS - We preach the gospel the good news. To a Jew, nothing could be more grateful intelligence than that the Messiah had come; to a sinner convinced of his sins nothing can be more cheering than to hear of a Saviour. T... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD HATH FULFILLED - God has completed or carried into effect by the resurrection of Jesus. He does not say that every part of the promise had reference to his resurrection; but his being raised up completed or perfected the fulfillment of the promises which had been made respecting him. IN THE SEC... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS CONCERNING - In further proof of this. To show that he actually did it, he proceeds to quote another passage of Scripture. NO MORE TO RETURN TO CORRUPTION - The word “corruption” is usually employed to denote “putrefaction, or the mouldering away of a body in the grave; its returning to its... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE - Διὸ Dio. To the same intent or end. In proof of the same thing - that he must rise and live forever. HE SAITH - God says by David, or David spake the promises made by God. IN ANOTHER PSALM - Psalms 16:10. THOU WILT NOT SUFFER ... - See this explained in the notes on Acts 2:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR DAVID ... - This verse is designed to show that the passage in Psalms 16:1; could not refer to David, and must therefore relate to some other person. In Acts 13:37 it is affirmed that this could refer to no one, in fact, but to the Lord Jesus. AFTER HE HAD SERVED HIS OWN GENERATION - See the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE, WHOM GOD RAISED AGAIN - The Lord Jesus. SAW NO CORRUPTION - Was raised without undergoing the usual change that succeeds death. As David had returned to corruption, and the Lord Jesus had not, it followed that this passage in Psalms 16:1 referred to the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE IT KNOWN ... - Paul, having proved his resurrection, and shown that he was the Messiah, now states the benefits that were to be derived from his death. THROUGH THIS MAN - See the notes on Luke 24:47.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BY HIM - By means of him; by his sufferings and death. ALL THAT BELIEVE - See the notes on Mark 16:16. ARE JUSTIFIED - Are regarded and treated as if they were righteous. They are pardoned, and admitted to the favor of God, and treated as if they had not offended. See this point explained in t... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE, THEREFORE - Avoid what is threatened. It will come on some; and Paul exhorted his hearers to beware lest it should come on them. It was the more important to caution them against this danger, as the Jews held that they were safe. LEST THAT COME - That calamity; that threatened punishment. I... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, YE DESPISERS - Hebrew, “Behold, ye among the pagan.” The change from this expression to “ye despisers” was made by the Septuagint translators by a very slight alteration in the Hebrew word - probably from a variation in the copy which they used. It arose from reading בּוגדים bowgadiym instea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE JEWS ... - There is a great variety in the mss. on this verse, and in the ancient versions. Griesbach and Knapp read it, “And when they were gone out, they besought them that these words might be spoken, etc.” The Syriac reads it, “When they departed from them, they sought from them tha... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE CONGREGATION - Greek: when the synagogue was dissolved. BROKEN UP - Dismissed. It does not mean that it was broken up by violence or disorder. It was dismissed in the usual way. MANY OF THE JEWS - Probably the majority of them rejected the message. See Acts 13:45. Still a deep impression... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE NEXT SABBATH-DAY - This was the regular day for worship, and it was natural that a greater multitude should convene on that day than on the other days of the week. CAME ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY - Whether this was in the synagogue is not affirmed; but it is probable that that was the place wher... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE FILLED WITH ENVY - Greek: “zeal.” The word here denotes “wrath in dignation,” that such multitudes should be disposed to hear a message which they rejected, and which threatened to overthrow their religion. SPAKE AGAINST - Opposed the doctrine that Jesus was the Messiah; that the Messiah... [ Continue Reading ]
WAXED BOLD - Became bold; spake boldly and openly. They were not terrified by their strife, or alarmed by their opposition. The contradictions and blasphemies of sinners often show that their consciences are alarmed; that the truth has taken effect; and then is not the time to shrink, but to declare... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SO ... - Paul, as usual, appeals to the Scriptures to justify his course. Here he appeals to the Old Testament rather than to the command of the Saviour, because the Jews recognized the authority of their own Scriptures, while they would have turned in scorn from the command of Jesus of Nazareth... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE GENTILES HEARD THIS - Heard that the gospel was to be preached to them. The doctrine of the Jews had been that salvation was confined to themselves. The Gentiles rejoiced that from the mouths of Jews themselves they now heard a different doctrine. THEY GLORIFIED THE WORD OF THE LORD - They... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE JEWS STIRRED UP - Excited opposition. HONOURABLE WOMEN - See the notes on Mark 15:43. Women of influence, and connected with families of rank. Perhaps they were proselytes, and were connected with the magistrates of the city. AND RAISED PERSECUTION - Probably on the ground that they produc... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY SHOOK OFF THE DUST ... - See the notes on Matthew 10:14. AND CAME UNTO ICONIUM - This was the capital of Lycaonia. It is now called Konieh, and is the capital of Caramania. “Konieh extends to the east and south over the plain far beyond the walls, which are about two miles in circumference... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DISCIPLES - The disciples in Antioch. WERE FILLED WITH JOY - This happened even in the midst of persecution, and is one of the many evidences that the gospel is able to fill the soul with joy even in the severest trials.... [ Continue Reading ]