I: 1, 2. A NARRATIVE of Jesus of Nazareth, designed to convince men that he is the Christ, would most naturally begin with his birth and terminate with his ascension to heaven. Such was the "former narrative" which Luke had addressed to Theophilus, and he alludes to it as such in introducing his pre... [ Continue Reading ]
I: 1, 2. A NARRATIVE of Jesus of Nazareth, designed to convince men that he is the Christ, would most naturally begin with his birth and terminate with his ascension to heaven. Such was the "former narrative" which Luke had addressed to Theophilus, and he alludes to it as such in introducing his pre... [ Continue Reading ]
3. As our author is about to present the apostles testifying to the resurrection of Jesus, he sees proper, in his introduction, to state briefly the ground of the qualifications for this testimony. He does this in the remainder of the paragraph of which we have already quoted a part: (3) “_ To whom,... [ Continue Reading ]
4, 5. To account for the delay of the apostles in Jerusalem after receiving their commission, and to prepare the reader for the scenes of the coming Pentecost, the historian next relates a part of the conversation which had taken place on the day of the ascension: (4) “_ And being assembled with the... [ Continue Reading ]
6-8. We are informed by Matthew that Jesus prefaced the commission by announcing, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me." It was, probably, this announcement that led to the inquiry which Luke next repeats. Being informed that all authority is now given to him, the disciples expected... [ Continue Reading ]
9. Having completed his brief notice of the last interview between Jesus and the disciples, Luke says, (9) "_ And when he had spoken these things, while they were beholding, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. " We learn from Luke's former narrative, that it was while Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
10, 11. Not only the ascension of Jesus to heaven, but his future coming to judgment, is to be a prominent topic in the coming narrative, hence the introduction here of another fact, which not even Luke had mentioned before. (10) "_ And while they were gazing into heaven, as he went away, behold, tw... [ Continue Reading ]
12. At the rebuke of the angel, the disciples withdrew their longing gaze from the cloud into which Jesus had entered, and cheered by the promise of his return, (12) "_ Then they returned into Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which was near Jerusalem, distant a Sabbath-day's journey. " The as... [ Continue Reading ]
13. "_ And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where were abiding Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas brother of James. " This enumeration of the apostles very appropriately finds... [ Continue Reading ]
14. The manner in which these men spent the time of their waiting, which was an interval of ten days, was such as we would expect: (14) "_ These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. " The chief scene of this wo... [ Continue Reading ]
15-18. We next have an account of the selection of an apostle to fill the place of Judas. There is no intimation that Jesus had authorized this procedure; on the contrary, it would be presumed that, as he himself had selected the original twelve, he would, in like manner, fill the vacancy, if he int... [ Continue Reading ]
19. The next statement, (19) "_ And it was known to all the dwellers in Jerusalem, so that that field is called, in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, the field of blood, " is undoubtedly a parenthesis by Luke. Peter was addressing the very people in whose proper tongue the place was cal... [ Continue Reading ]
20. The historian now resumes the report of Peter's speech, which he had interrupted by the parenthesis. In the remarks already quoted, Peter bases the action which he proposes, not upon any commandment of Jesus, but upon a prophesy uttered by David. He also states, as the ground for the application... [ Continue Reading ]
21, 22. It is of some moment to observe here that the question on which Peter is discoursing has not reference to the original appointment of an apostle, but to the selection of a _successor_ to an apostle. The qualifications, therefore, are found necessary to an election, must always be possessed b... [ Continue Reading ]
23-26. "_ Then they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus and Matthias._ (24) _And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen_ (25) _to receive the lot of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas,... [ Continue Reading ]