_PETER BEING ACCUSED FOR GOING IN TO THE GENTILES, MAKETH HIS DEFENCE, WHICH IS ACCEPTED. THE GOSPEL BEING SPREAD INTO PHENICE, AND CYPRUS, AND ANTIOCH, BARNABAS IS SENT TO CONFIRM THE BELIEVERS. THE DISCIPLES AT ANTIOCH ARE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS: THEY SEND RELIEF TO THE BRETHREN IN JUDEA IN TIME... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT WERE OF THE CIRCUMCISION CONTENDED WITH HIM,— How good an argument soever this may be against the supremacy of St. Peter, it is none against the inspiration of the apostles; for it only proves that some who did not well understand the principles on which they acted, took upon them, without... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, THOU WENTEST IN TO MEN UNCIRCUMCISED,— _Saying, wherefore_— διατι — _did you associate and eat with the uncircumcised?_ See Genesis 44:4.Luke 2:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER REHEARSED THE MATTER, &C.— _But Peter beginning, opened to them the matter in order._ As it is probable that they were only some of the Jewish converts who questioned St. Peter about what he had done, he might, no doubt, have overborne them by urging his apostolical authority, and referrin... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAW—A CERTAIN VESSEL DESCEND, &C.— _I saw—somewhat descending, in the form of a great sheet._ See on ch. Acts 10:11. It is generally supposed, that in this sheet all sorts of creatures, clean and unclean, were represented, promiscuously mixed together; but some expositors are of opinion, that they... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL TELL THEE WORDS,— _Who shall teach thee what is necessary for the salvation of thyself and thy family._... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH THEN AS GOD GAVE THEM, &C.— _Since therefore God has granted the same gift to them as to us,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS, &C.— When they had heard St. Peter's apology, they were silent, and acquiesced, turning their accusations of theapostle into praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God, who had granted unto the devout Gentiles, through Jesus Christ his Son, all the privileges of the gospel... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOME OF THEM WERE MEN OF CYPRUS— _But some of them,_ &c. St. Peter having opened the door of Christian faith, and laid the foundation of a Christian church among the Gentiles, after God had testified very plainly that it was agreeable to his mind and will,—otherChristians, hearing of this event,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRACE OF GOD,— The happy effects of the divine goodness, in taking such a number of uncircumcised Gentiles into the Christian church. Barnabas, like a true _son of exhortation,_ exhorted them to persevere with steadfastness and resolution;—_to adhere to the Lord with full determination of heart;... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD FOUND HIM, HE BROUGHT HIM UNTO ANTIOCH.— Barnabas might go in quest of Paul, from a persuasion, that, as he was by his country a Greek, though by descent _an Hebrew of the Hebrews;_ that is, descended from two Jewish parents, he would be peculiarly fit to assist him in his great work, es... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE STOOD UP ONE OF THEM NAMED AGABUS,— Agabus prophesied that the famine should spread _throughout the whole world,_ which phrase was frequently used in those times to signify the whole Roman empire, which included most of the then known world. Accordingly, Eusebius says of this famine, that... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DISCIPLES, EVERY MAN, &C.— It had been a custom for the Jews and proselytes, in their several dispersions, to send presents to Judea, and especially to Jerusalem; and the Jews in Judea seem to have expected it, as in some sort their due; particularly we find that Helena, queen of the Adiabe... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT IT TO THE ELDERS— The _elders_ in the primitive church, were of three sorts, 1st, αυτοπται, the _eye-witnesses,_ or those who had seen our Lord in the flesh, and were among the first disciples or most early converts; 2nd, απαρχαι, the first converts in any particular place, who were always hono... [ Continue Reading ]