Notes on Acts
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
Ac 1:1
1:1 The {1} former treatise have I
made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to {a} do and
teach,
(1) Luke switches over from the
history of the Gospel, that is from the history of the sayings and doings of
Christ, unto the Acts of the Apostles.
(a) The acts of Jesus are the
miracles and deeds which showed his Godhead, and his most perfect holiness,
and examples of his doctrine.
Ac 1:3
1:3 {2} To whom also he shewed himself
alive after his passion by many {b} infallible proofs, being seen of them
forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God:
(2) Christ did not immediately
ascend into heaven after his resurrection in order to thoroughly prove his
resurrection, and with his presence strengthen and encourage his Apostles in
the doctrine which they had heard.
(b) He called those things infallible
proofs which are otherwise termed necessary: now in that Christ spoke, and
walked, and ate, and was felt by many, these are sure signs and proofs that
he truly rose again.
Ac 1:4
1:4 And, being {c} assembled together
with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but
wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of
me.
(c) They were dispersed here and
there, but he gathers them together so that all of them might together be
witnesses of his resurrection.
Ac 1:5
1:5 For John truly baptized with water;
but ye shall be baptized {d} with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence.
(d) Either by the Father, or by me:
so that either the Father or Christ is set here contrasted with John, as the
Holy Spirit is contrasted with water, as things that are comparable to one
another.
Ac 1:6
1:6 {3} When they therefore were come
together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time {e} restore
again the kingdom to Israel?
(3) We must fight before we triumph,
and we must not search curiously after those things which God has not
revealed.
(e) To the old and ancient state.
Ac 1:7
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not
for you to know the times or the {f} seasons, which the Father hath put in his
own power.
(f) That is, the proper occasions
that provide opportunities for doing matters, which occasions the Lord has
appointed to bring things to pass in.
Ac 1:9
1:9 {4} And when he had spoken these
things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of
their sight.
(4) After Christ had promised the
full power of the Holy Spirit, with whom he would govern his church (even
though he would be absent in body), he took up his body from us into
heavenly tabernacles to remain there until the latter day of judgment, as
the angels witness.
Ac 1:11
1:11 Which also said, Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken
up {g} from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him
go into heaven.
(g) That is, out of your
sight.
Ac 1:12
1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath {h} day's
journey.
Ac 1:13
1:13 {5} And when they were {i} come
in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and
John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the
son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of
James.
(5) Ecclesiastical assemblies to
hear the word, and to make common prayer, were first instituted and kept in
private houses by the Apostles.
(i) They went into the house which the
Church had chosen at that time to be a gathering place for the whole
assembly.
Ac 1:14
1:14 These all {k} continued with {l}
one accord in {m} prayer and supplication, with the {n} women, and Mary the
mother of Jesus, and with his {o} brethren.
(k) The Greek word signifies an
invincible constancy and steadfastness.
(l) It is to good purpose that
this agreement is mentioned: for those prayers are most acceptable to God
which are made with agreeing minds and wills.
(m) The disciples prayed
for the sending of the Holy Spirit, and also to be delivered from present
dangers, of which there were many that they were experiencing.
(n) For it
was appropriate to have the wives strengthened and encouraged who would
afterwards be partakers of the dangers with their husbands.
(o) With his
relatives.
Ac 1:15
1:15 {6} And in those days Peter stood
up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of {p} names together
were about an hundred and twenty,)
(6) Peter is made the spokesman and
interpreter of the whole company of the Apostles, either by secret
revelation of the Holy Spirit, or by the express judgment of the
congregation.
(p) Because men are commonly referred to and enrolled by
their names.
Ac 1:16
1:16 {7} Men [and] brethren, this
scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of
David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took
Jesus.
(7) Peter anticipates the offence
that might be taken at the falling away of Judas the betrayer, showing that
all things which happened to him were foretold by God.
Ac 1:18
1:18 Now this man {q} purchased a field
with the reward of iniquity; and {r} falling headlong, he burst asunder in the
midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
(q) Luke did not consider Judas'
purpose, but that which followed it, and so we used to say that a man has
done himself harm, not that he wanted and intended to, but in respect of
that which followed.
(r) The Greek words signify this much, that Judas
fell down flat and was torn apart in the middle, with a tremendously great
noise.
Ac 1:20
1:20 For it is written in the book of
Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his
{s} bishoprick let another take.
(s) His office and ministry: David
wrote these words against Doeg the King's herdsman: and these words
"shepherd", "sheep", and "flock" are used with reference to the Church
office and ministry, so that the Church and the offices are called by these
names.
Ac 1:21
1:21 {8} Wherefore of these men which
have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus {t} went in and out
among us,
(8) The Apostles do not deliberate
at all, but first they consult and take guidance from God's word: and again
they do nothing that concerns and is incumbent upon the whole body of the
congregation, without making the congregation a part of the decision.
(t)
This kind of speech signifies as much in the Hebrew language as the
exercising of a public and difficult office, when they speak of such as are
in any public office; De 31:2; 1Ch 27:1 .
Ac 1:22
1:22 Beginning from the baptism of
John, unto that same day that he was taken up {u} from us, must one be
ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Ac 1:23
1:23 {9} And they {x} appointed two,
Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and
Matthias.
(9) The Apostles must be chosen
immediately from God: and therefore after praying, Matthias is chose by lot,
which is as it were God's own voice.
(x) Openly, and by the voices of the
entire company.
Ac 1:25
1:25 That he may take {y} part of this
ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression {z} fell, that he
might go to his own place.
(y) That he may be a member and
partaker of this ministry.
(z) Departed from, or fallen from: and it is a
metaphor taken from the word "way": for callings are signified by the name
of "ways" with the Hebrews.
Ac 2:1
2:1 And {1} when the day of Pentecost
was {a} fully come, they were {b} all with one accord in one
place.
(1) The Apostles being gathered
together on a most solemn feast day in one place, that it might evidently
appear to all the world that they all had one office, one Spirit, and one
faith, are by a double sign from heaven authorised, and anointed with all
the most excellent gifts of the Holy Spirit, and especially with an
extraordinary and necessary gift of tongues.
(a) Literally, "was
fulfilled": that is, was begun, as in Lu 2:21 . For the Hebrews say that a
day or a year is fulfilled or ended when the former days or years are ended,
and the other has begun; Jer 25:12 : "And it will come to pass that when
seventy years are fulfilled, I will visit, etc." For the Lord did not bring
his people home after the seventieth year was ended, but in the seventieth
year: Now the day of Pentecost was the fiftieth day after the feast of the
Passover.
(b) The twelve apostles, who were to be the patriarchs as it
were of the Church.
Ac 2:4
2:4 And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and began to speak with {c} other tongues, as the {d} Spirit gave
them utterance.
(c) He calls them "other tongues"
which were not the same as the apostles commonly used, and Mark calls them
"new tongues".
(d) By this we understand that the apostles were not
speaking one language and then another by chance at random, or as eccentric
men used to do, but that they kept in mind the languages of their hearers:
and to be short, that they only spoke as the Holy Spirit directed them to
speak.
Ac 2:8
2:8 {e} And how hear we every man in
our own tongue, wherein we were born?
(e) Not that they spoke one
language, and different languages were heard, but the apostles spoke with
different languages: for otherwise the miracle would have been in the
hearers, whereas it is really in the speakers; Nazianzen in his oration of
Whitsunday.
Ac 2:10
2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt,
and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, {f} Jews and
proselytes,
(f) By Jews he means those that were
both Jews by birth and Jews by profession of religion, though they were born
in other places: and these latter ones were proselytes, who were born
Gentiles, and embraced the Jewish religion.
Ac 2:12
2:12 {2} And they were all amazed, and
were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
(2) God's word pierces some in such
a way that it drives them to seek out the truth, and it so chokes others
that it forces them to be witnesses of their own impudency.
Ac 2:13
2:13 Others {g} mocking said, These men
are full of new wine.
(g) The word which he uses here
signifies a kind of mocking which is reproachful and insolent: and by this
reproachful mocking we see that no matter how great and excellent the
miracle, the wickedness of man still dares to speak evil against it.
Ac 2:14
2:14 But Peter, standing up with the
eleven, {h} lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all
[ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my
words:
(h) The holiness of Peter is to be
marked, in which the grace of the Holy Spirit is to be seen, even from the
very beginning.
Ac 2:15
2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye
suppose, seeing it is [but] the {i} third hour of the
day.
(i) After the sunrise, which may be
about seven or eight o'clock to us.
Ac 2:16
2:16 But this is that which was spoken
by the {k} prophet Joel;
(k) There is nothing that can
dissolve questions and doubt except testimony taken out of the Prophets: for
men's reasonings may be overturned, but God's voice cannot be
overturned.
Ac 2:17
2:17 {3} And it shall come to pass in
the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon {l} all {m} flesh:
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
(3) Peter setting forth the truth of
God against the false accusations of men, shows in himself and in his
companions that the prophecy of Joel concerning the full giving of the Holy
Spirit in the latter days has been fulfilled: and this grace is also offered
to the whole Church, to the certain and undoubted destruction of those who
condemn it.
(l) All without exception, both upon the Jews and
Gentiles.
(m) That is, men.
Ac 2:21
2:21 {4} And it shall come to pass,
[that] whosoever shall {n} call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved.
(4) The most important use of all
the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to bring men to salvation by faith.
(n)
These words "call on" signify in Holy Scriptures and earnest praying and
craving for help from God's hand.
Ac 2:22
2:22 {5} Ye men of Israel, hear these
words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man {o} approved of God among you by miracles and
wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves
also know:
(5) Christ, being innocent, was by
God's providence crucified by wicked men.
(o) Who is by those works which
God did by him so manifestly approved and admitted of, that no man can deny
him.
Ac 2:23
2:23 Him, being delivered by the
determinate counsel and {p} foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked
{q} hands have crucified and {r} slain:
(p) God's everlasting foreknowledge,
which can neither be separated from his determinate counsel, as the
Epicureans say, neither yet be the cause of evil: for God in his everlasting
and unchangeable counsel appointed the wicked act of Judas to an excellent
end: and God does that well which the instrument does wickedly.
(q) God's
counsel does not excuse the Jews, whose hands were wicked.
(r) The fact
is said to be theirs by whose counsel and urging on it is done.
Ac 2:24
2:24 {6} Whom God hath raised up,
having loosed the {s} pains of death: because it was not possible that he
should be holden of it.
(6) As David foretold, Christ did
not only rise again, but also was void of all decay in the grave.
(s) The
death that was full of sorrow both of body and mind: therefore when death
appeared conqueror and victor over those sorrows, Christ is rightly said to
have overcome those sorrows of death when, as being dead, he overcame death,
to live forever with his Father.
Ac 2:27
2:27 Because thou wilt not {t} leave my
soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption.
(t) You will not allow me to remain
in the grave.
Ac 2:28
2:28 Thou hast {u} made known to me the
ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance.
(u) You have opened to me the way of
true life.
Ac 2:30
2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and
knowing that God had {x} sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his
loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his
throne;
Ac 2:32
2:32 {7} This Jesus hath God raised up,
whereof we all are witnesses.
(7) Peter witnesses that Jesus
Christ is the appointed everlasting King, which he manifestly proves by the
gifts of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of David.
Ac 2:33
2:33 Therefore being by the {y} right
hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy
Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and
hear.
(y) Might and power of God.
Ac 2:36
2:36 Therefore let all the house of
Israel know assuredly, that God hath {z} made that same Jesus, whom ye have
crucified, both Lord and Christ.
(z) Christ is said to be "made"
because he was advanced to that dignity, and therefore it is not spoken with
reference to his nature, but with reference to his position and high
dignity.
Ac 2:38
2:38 {8} Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
(8) Repentance and remission of sins
in Christ are two principles of the Gospel and therefore of our salvation:
and they are obtained by the promises apprehended by faith, and are ratified
by us in baptism; and with our salvation comes the power of the Holy Spirit
(Ed.).
Ac 2:39
2:39 For the {a} promise is unto you,
and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord
our God shall call.
(a) The word that is used here shows
us that it was a free gift.
Ac 2:40
2:40 {9} And with many other words did
he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation.
(9) He is truly joined to the Church
who separates himself from the wicked.
Ac 2:41
2:41 {10} Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them]
about three thousand souls.
(10) A notable example of the power
of the Holy Spirit: but such are not baptized until they make confession of
their faith. (Ed.)
Ac 2:42
2:42 {11} And they continued stedfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and {b} fellowship, and in {c} breaking of bread,
and in prayers.
(11) The marks of the true Church
are the doctrine of the apostles, the duties of charity, the pure and simple
administration of the ordinances, and the true invocation used by all of the
faithful.
(b) Sharing of goods, and all other duties of charity, as is
shown afterwards.
(c) The Jews used thin loaves, and therefore they broke
them rather than cut them: so by breaking of bread they meant living
together, and the banquets which they used to keep. And when they kept their
love feasts, they used to celebrate the Lord's supper, which even in those
days began to be corrupted, and Paul corrects this in 1Co 11:17-34 .
Ac 2:43
2:43 {12} And fear came upon every
soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the
apostles.
(12) As often as the Lord thinks it
to be expedient, he bridles the rage of strangers, so that the Church may be
planted and have some refreshing.
Ac 2:44
2:44 {13} And all that believed were
together, and had all things common;
(13) Charity makes all things common
with regard to their use, according as necessity requires.
Ac 2:46
2:46 {14} And they, continuing daily
with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat
their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(14) The faithful came together at
the beginning with tremendous results, not only for the hearing of the word,
but also to eat.
Ac 3:1
3:1 Now {1} Peter and John went up
together into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth
[hour].
(1) Christ, in healing a man that
was born lame and well known to all men, both in a famous place and at a
popular time, by the hands of his apostles partly strengthens and encourages
those who believed, and partly also calls others to believe.
Ac 3:5
3:5 And he {a} gave heed unto them,
expecting to receive something of them.
(a) Both with heart and eyes.
Ac 3:11
3:11 And as the lame man which was
healed {b} held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the
porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
(b) Either because he loved them who
had healed him, or because he feared that if he let them go out of his sight
that he would become lame again.
Ac 3:12
3:12 {2} And when Peter saw [it], he
answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look
ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this
man to walk?
(2) Miracles are appointed to
convince the unbelievers, and therefore they wickedly abuse the miracles
who, standing amazed, either at the miracles themselves or at the
instruments and means which is pleases God to use, take an occasion to
establish idolatry and superstition by that which God has provided for the
knowledge of his true worship, that is, Christianity.
Ac 3:15
3:15 And killed the Prince {c} of life,
whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are
witnesses.
(c) Who has life in himself, and
gives life to others.
Ac 3:16
3:16 And his name through faith in his
name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: {d} yea, the faith which
is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you
all.
(d) Because he believed on him who
was raised from the dead, whose name he heard about from us.
Ac 3:17
3:17 {3} And now, brethren, I wot that
through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your
rulers.
(3) It is best of all to receive
Christ as soon as he is offered to us: but those who have neglected so great
a benefit through man's weakness, yet have repentance as a means. As for the
shame of the cross, we have to set against that the decree and purpose of
God for Christ, foretold by the Prophets, how that first of all he would be
crucified here upon the earth, and then he would appear from heaven the
judge and restorer of all things, that all believers might be saved, and all
unbelievers utterly perish.
Ac 3:18
3:18 But those things, which God before
had shewed {e} by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he
hath so fulfilled.
(e) Though there were many Prophets,
yet he speaks only of one mouth, to show us the consent and agreement of the
Prophets.
Ac 3:21
3:21 {f} Whom the heaven must receive
until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the
mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
(f) Or, be taken up into
heaven.
Ac 3:22
3:22 For Moses truly said unto the
fathers, {g} A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your
brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall
say unto you.
(g) This promise referred to an
excellent and singular Prophet.
Ac 3:24
3:24 Yea, and all the prophets {h} from
Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise
foretold of these days.
(h) At which time the kingdom of
Israel was established.
Ac 3:25
3:25 {4} Ye are the {i} children of the
prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto
Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed.
(4) The Jews that believed are the
first begotten in the kingdom of God.
(i) For whom the Prophets were
especially appointed.
Ac 3:26
3:26 Unto you first God, having {k}
raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from his iniquities.
(k) Given to the world, or raised
from the dead, and advanced to his kingdom.
Ac 4:1
4:1 And {1} as they spake unto the
people, the priests, and the {a} captain of the temple, and the Sadducees,
came upon them,
(1) There are none more commonly
diligent or bold enemies of the Church than those who profess themselves to
be the chief builders of it, but the more they rage, the more steadfastly
the faithful servants of God continue.
(a) The Jews had certain troops
for the guard and safety of the temple and holy things (see Mt 26:47 ).
These garrisons had a captain, such as Eleazarus Ananias, the high Priest's
son in the time of the war that was in Judea, being a very impudent and
proud young man; Josephus, lib. 2, of the taking of Judea.
Ac 4:4
4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard
the word believed; and the {b} number of the men was about five
thousand.
(b) While they thought to diminish
the number, they actually increased it.
Ac 4:5
4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow,
that their {c} rulers, and elders, and scribes,
(c) These were those who were
members of the Sanhedrin, who were all from the tribe of Judah, until Herod
came to power.
Ac 4:6
4:6 And Annas the high priest, and
Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the {d} kindred of
the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
(d) From whom the high Priests were
usually chosen and made. At this time the former high Priest was stepping
down, and a new high Priest was being appointed.
Ac 4:7
4:7 {2} And when they had set them in
the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what {e} name, have ye done
this?
(2) Against those who brag of a
succession of persons, without a succession of doctrine, and by that means
beat down the true ministers of the word, as much as they are able.
(e)
By what authority.
Ac 4:9
4:9 {3} If we this day be examined of
the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made
whole;
(3) The wolves who come after true
pastors plead their own cause and not God's, neither the cause of the
Church.
Ac 4:10
4:10 {4} 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.
(4) He is indeed a true shepherd
that teaches his sheep to rest upon Christ alone as upon one that is not
dead, but has conquered death, and has all rule in his own hands.
Ac 4:12
4:12 Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other {f} name {g} under heaven {h} given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
(f) There is no other man, or no
other power and authority at all; and this kind of speech was common among
the Jews, and arose from this, that when we are in danger we call upon those
at whose hands we look for help.
(g) Anywhere: and this shows us the
largeness of Christ's kingdom.
(h) Of God.
Ac 4:13
4:13 {5} Now when they saw the boldness
of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and {i} ignorant
men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with
Jesus.
(5) The good liberty and boldness of
the servants of God does yet this much good, that those who lay hidden under
a mask of zeal at length betray themselves to indeed be wicked men.
(i)
The word used here is "idiot", which signifies a private man when it is used
in reference to a magistrate: but with reference to sciences and studies, it
signifies one that is unlearned, and with regard to honour and estimation,
it implies one of base degree, and of no estimation.
Ac 4:15
4:15 But when they had commanded them
to go aside out of the council, they {k} conferred among
themselves,
(k) Laid their heads
together.
Ac 4:16
4:16 {6} 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].
(6) He that flatters himself in
ignorance, at length comes to do open wickedness, and that against his own
conscience.
Ac 4:19
4:19 {7} 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.
(7) We must obey men to whom we are
subject, but especially and before all things we must obey God.
Ac 4:21
4:21 {8} 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.
(8) The wicked are so far off from
doing what they wish, that God uses them contrary to their desires to set
forth his glory, which he gives them permission to do.
Ac 4:23
4:23 {9} And being let go, they went to
their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said
unto them.
(9) The apostles share their
troubles with the congregation.
Ac 4:24
4:24 {10} 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:
(10) We should neither be afraid of
the threats of our enemies, neither yet foolishly condemn their rage and
madness against us: but we have to set against their force and malice an
earnest thinking upon the power and good will of God (both which we
manifestly behold in Christ) and so flee to the aid and assistance of our
Father.
Ac 4:27
4:27 For of a truth against thy holy
child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the
Gentiles, and the {l} people of Israel, were gathered
together,
(l) Although the people of Israel
were but one people, yet the plural number is used here, not so much for the
twelve tribes, every one of which counted as a people, but because of the
great multitude of them, as though many nations had assembled themselves
together, as in Jud 5:14 .
Ac 4:28
4:28 For to {m} do whatsoever {n} thy
hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
(m) The wicked execute God's
counsel, even though they think nothing of it, but they are not therefore
without fault.
(n) You had determined by your absolute authority and
power.
Ac 4:31
4:31 {11} 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.
(11) God witnesses to his Church by
a visible sign that it is he that will establish it, by shaking the powers
both of heaven and of earth.
Ac 4:32
4:32 {12} And the multitude of them
that believed were of {o} 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.
(12) An example of the true Church,
in which there is equal consent both in doctrine and in charity toward one
another: and the pastors deliver true doctrine both sincerely and
constantly.
(o) They agreed in counsel, will, and all plans.
Ac 4:34
4:34 {13} 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,
(13) True charity helps the need of
the poor with its own loss, but in such a way that all things are done well
and orderly.
Ac 5:1
5:1 But {1} a certain man named
Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
(1) Luke shows by contrary examples
how great a sin hypocrisy is, especially in those who under a false pretence
and cloak of zeal seem to shine and be of great importance in the
Church.
Ac 5:2
5:2 And {a} kept back [part] of the
price, his wife also being privy [to it], and brought a certain part, and laid
[it] at the apostles' feet.
Ac 5:3
5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath
Satan {b} filled thine heart {c} to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back
[part] of the price of the land?
(b) Fully possessed.
(c) For when
they had appointed that farm or possession for the Church, they were foolish
to keep away a part of the price, as though they were dealing with men, and
not with God, and therefore he says afterwards that they tempted God.
Ac 5:4
5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not
thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou
{d} conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto
God.
(d) By this is meant an advised and
purposeful deceit, and the fault of the man in listening to the devil's
suggestions.
Ac 5:9
5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it
that ye have agreed together to {e} tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the
feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the {f} door, and shall
carry thee out.
(e) Look how often men do things
with an evil conscience; and so they pronounce sentence against themselves,
and as much as in them lies, they provoke God to anger, as they do this on
purpose, in order to test whether he is just and almighty or not.
(f) Are
at hand.
Ac 5:11
5:11 {2} And great fear came upon all
the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
(2) The Lord by his marvellous power
bridles some so that they may not hurt the Church: others he keeps in awe
and fear of him: and others he draws unto himself.
Ac 5:13
5:13 And of the rest durst no man join
himself to them: but the people {g} magnified them.
Ac 5:17
5:17 {3} Then the high priest rose up,
and all they that were with him, (which is the {h} sect of the Sadducees,) and
were filled with indignation,
(3) The more that the Church
increases, the more the rage os Satan increases, and therefore they proceed
from threats to imprisonment.
(h) The word which is used here is
"heresy", which signifies a choice, and so is taken for a right form of
learning, or faction, or study and course of life, which the Latins call a
sect: at first this word was used indifferently, but at length it came to be
used only in reference to evil, whereupon came the name of "heretic" which
is taken for one that goes astray from sound and wholesome doctrine in such
a way that he thinks lightly of the judgment of God and his Church, and
continues in his opinion, and breaks the peace of the Church.
Ac 5:19
5:19 {4} But the angel of the Lord by
night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and
said,
(4) Angels are made servants of the
servants of God.
Ac 5:20
5:20 {5} Go, stand and speak in the
temple to the people all the {i} words of this life.
(5) God therefore delivers his own,
so that they may more vigorously provoke his enemies.
(i) Words by which
the way unto life is shown.
Ac 5:21
5:21 {6} And when they heard [that],
they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high
priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and
all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them
brought.
(6) God mocks his enemies attempts
from above.
Ac 5:25
5:25 {7} Then came one and told them,
saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and
teaching the people.
(7) The more openly that Christ's
power shows itself, the more the madness of his enemies who conspire against
him increases.
Ac 5:26
5:26 {8} Then went the captain with the
officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest
they should have been stoned.
(8) Tyrants who do not fear God are
forced to fear his servants.
Ac 5:28
5:28 {9} Saying, Did not we straitly
command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled
Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend {k} to bring this man's blood upon
us.
(9) It is the characteristic of
tyrants to set down their own commandments as right and proper, be they ever
so wicked.
(k) Make us guilty of murdering that man whom yet they will
not condescend to name.
Ac 5:29
5:29 {10} Then Peter and the [other]
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than
men.
(10) We should obey man only in so
far that in obeying him we also obey God.
Ac 5:30
5:30 {11} The God of our fathers raised
up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
(11) Christ is appointed and indeed
declared Prince and preserver of his Church, in spite of his enemies.
Ac 5:32
5:32 {12} And we are his witnesses of
these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them
that obey him.
(12) It is not sufficient for us
that there is a proper goal, but we must also according to our calling go
forward until we come to it.
Ac 5:33
5:33 When they heard [that], they {l}
were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them.
(l) This shows that they were in a
most vehement rage, and tremendously disquieted in mind, for it is a
borrowed kind of speech taken from those who are harshly cut in pieces with
a saw.
Ac 5:34
5:34 {13} Then stood there up one in
the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in
reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a
little space;
(13) Christ finds defenders of his
cause, even in the very company of his enemies, as often as he thinks
necessary.
Ac 5:36
5:36 {14} For before these days rose up
Theudas, {m} boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about
four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed
him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
(14) In matters of religion we must
take good heed that we attempt nothing under a pretence of zeal to which we
have not been called.
(m) To be of same fame.
Ac 5:38
5:38 And now I say unto you, {n}
Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work
be of {o} men, it will come to nought:
(n) He dissuades his fellows from
murdering the apostles, neither does he think it good to refer the matter to
the Roman magistrate, for the Jews could endure nothing worse than to have
the tyranny of the Romans confirmed.
(o) If it is counterfeit and
devised.
Ac 5:41
5:41 {15} And they departed from the
presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for his name.
(15) The apostles, accustomed to
suffer and bear words, are eventually accustomed to bearing stripes, and yet
in such a way that by means of them they become stronger.
Ac 5:42
5:42 And daily in the {p} temple, and
in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus
Christ.
(p) Both publicly and
privately.
Ac 6:1
6:1 And {1} in those days, when the
number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the {a}
Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the {b}
daily ministration.
(1) When Satan has assailed the
Church on the outside, and with little result and in vain, he assails it on
the inside, with civil dissension and strife between themselves: but the
apostles take occasion by this to set order in the Church.
(a) From among
their own members, who became religious Jews from among the Greeks.
(b)
In the bestowing of alms according to their need.
Ac 6:2
6:2 {2} Then the twelve called the
multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not {c} reason that we
should leave the word of God, and serve {d} tables.
(2) The office of preaching the
word, and dispensing the goods of the Church, are different from one
another, and not rashly to be joined together, as the apostles institute
here. And the deacons must seek the consent of the Church more than the
apostles.
(c) It is such a matter that we may in no way accept it.
(d)
Banquets: though by the name of tables other offices are also meant, which
are added to it, such as those which pertain to the care of the poor.
Ac 6:3
6:3 {3} Wherefore, brethren, look ye
out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,
whom we may appoint over this business.
(3) In choosing deacons (and much
more in choosing ministers) there must be an examination of both their
learning and their manners of life.
Ac 6:6
6:6 {4} Whom they set before the
apostles: and when they had prayed, they {e} laid [their] hands on
them.
(4) The ancient Church, with the
laying on of hands, as it were consecrated to the Lord those who were
lawfully elected.
(e) This ceremony of the laying on of hands came from
the Jews, who used this ceremony both in public affairs, and in the offering
of sacrifices, and also in private prayers and blessings, as appears in Ge
48:13-22 ; and the Church also observed this ceremony, as is evident from
1Ti 5:22; Ac 8:17 . However, there is no mention made here either of cream,
or shaving, or razing, or crossing, etc.
Ac 6:7
6:7 {5} And the word of God increased;
and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
company of the priests were obedient to the {f} faith.
(5) A happy result of
temptation.
(f) This is the figure of speech metonymy, meaning by "faith"
the doctrine of the Gospel which brings about faith.
Ac 6:8
6:8 {6} And Stephen, full of faith and
{g} power, did great wonders and miracles among the
people.
(6) God trains his Church first with
evil words and slanders, then with imprisonments, afterwards with
scourgings, and by these means prepares it in such a way that at length he
causes it to meet in combat with Satan and the world, even to bloodshed and
death.
(g) Excellent and singular gifts.
Ac 6:9
6:9 {7} Then there arose certain of the
{h} synagogue, which is called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing
with Stephen.
(7) Schools and universities in
ancient times were addicted to false pastors, and were the instruments of
Satan to spread abroad and defend false doctrines.
(h) Of the people and
the school, as it were.
Ac 6:10
6:10 {8} And they were not able to
resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
(8) False teachers, because they
will not be overcome, flee from disputations and resort to manifest and open
slandering and false accusations.
Ac 6:12
6:12 {9} And they stirred up the
people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon [him], and caught him,
and brought [him] to the council,
(9) The first bloody persecution of
the Church of Christ, began and sprang from a council of priests, by the
suggestion of the university teachers.
Ac 6:13
6:13 {10} And set up false witnesses,
which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy
place, and the law:
(10) An example of frivolous
objectors or false accusers, who gather false conclusions from things that
are well uttered and spoken.
Ac 6:15
6:15 And all that sat in the council,
looking stedfastly on him, {i} saw his face as it had been the face of an
angel.
(i) By this it appears that Steven
had an excellent and wholesome countenance, having a quiet and settled mind,
a good conscience, and certain conviction that his cause was just: for
seeing as he was to speak before the people, God beautified his countenance,
so that by the very beholding of him the Jews' minds might be penetrated and
amazed.
Ac 7:1
7:1 Then {1} said the high priest, Are
these things so?
(1) Steven is allowed to plead his
cause, but for this reason and purpose, that under a disguise and pretence
of the Law he might be condemned.
Ac 7:2
7:2 {2} And he said, Men, brethren, and
fathers, hearken; The God of {a} glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when
he was in {b} Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
(2) Steven witnesses to the Jews
that he acknowledges the true fathers, and the only true God, and more than
this shows this that these are more ancient than the temple and all the
temple service appointed by the Law, and therefore they ought to lay another
foundation of true religion, that is to say, the free covenant that God made
with the fathers.
(a) The mighty God full of glory and majesty.
(b)
When he says afterwards in Ac 7:4 that Abraham came out of Chaldea, it is
evident that Mesopotamia contained Chaldea which was near to it, and
bordered upon it; and so writes Plinius, book 6, chap. 27.
Ac 7:5
7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in
it, no, not [so much as] to {c} set his foot on: yet he {d} promised that he
would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when [as
yet] he had no child.
(c) Not enough ground to even set
his foot upon.
(d) The promise of the possession was certain, and
belonged to Abraham, though it was his posterity that enjoyed it a great
while after his death: and this is the figure of speech synecdoche.
Ac 7:6
7:6 And God spake on this wise, That
his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them
into bondage, and entreat [them] evil {e} four hundred
years.
(e) Four hundred years are counted
from the beginning of Abraham's progeny, which was at the birth of Isaac:
and four hundred and thirty years which are spoken of by Paul in Ga 3:17 ,
from the time that Abraham and his father departed together out of Ur of the
Chaldeans.
Ac 7:9
7:9 {3} And the patriarchs, moved with
envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was {f} with him,
(3) Steven diligently recounts the
horrible misdeeds of some of the fathers, to teach the Jews that they ought
not rashly to rest in the authority or examples of the fathers.
(f) By
these words are meant the peculiar favour that God shows men: for he seems
to be away from those whom he does not help: and on the other hand, he is
with those whom he delivers out of troubles, no matter how great the
troubles may be.
Ac 7:10
7:10 And delivered him out of all his
afflictions, and gave him {g} favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king
of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his
house.
(g) Gave him favour in Pharaoh's
sight because of his wisdom.
Ac 7:16
7:16 And were {h} carried over into
Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of
the sons of Emmor [the father] of Sychem.
(h) The patriarchs who were the sons
of Jacob, though only Joseph is mentioned; Jos 24:32 .
Ac 7:19
7:19 The same {i} dealt subtilly with
our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young
children, to the end they might not live.
(i) He devised a subtle plan against
our stock, in that he commanded all the males to be cast out.
Ac 7:20
7:20 In which time Moses was born, and
was {k} exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three
months:
(k) This child was born through
God's merciful goodness and favour, to be of a lovely and fair
countenance.
Ac 7:30
7:30 And when forty years were expired,
there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an {l} angel of the Lord
in a flame of fire in a bush.
(l) Now, he calls the Son of God an
angel, for he is the angel of great counsel, and therefore immediately after
he describes him as saying to Moses, "I am the God of thy fathers,
etc."
Ac 7:35
7:35 This Moses whom they refused,
saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send [to be] a
ruler and a deliverer by the {m} hand of the angel which appeared to him in
the bush.
Ac 7:37
7:37 {4} This is that Moses, which said
unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto
you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
(4) He acknowledges Moses as the
Lawgiver, but in such a way that he proves by his own witness that the Law
had respect to a more perfect thing, that is to say, to the prophetical
office which accompanied Christ, the head of all Prophets.
Ac 7:41
7:41 And they made a {n} calf in those
days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their
own hands.
(n) This was the superstition of the
Egyptian's idolatry: for they worshipped Apis, a strange and marvellous
looking calf, and made beautiful images of cows.
Ac 7:42
7:42 Then God turned, and {o} gave them
up to worship the {p} host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the
prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and
sacrifices [by the space of] forty years in the
wilderness?
(o) Being destitute and void of his
Spirit, he gave them up to Satan, and wicked lusts, to worship stars.
(p)
By "the host of heaven" here he does not mean the angels, but the moon, and
sun, and other stars.
Ac 7:43
7:43 Yea, ye {q} took up the tabernacle
of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship
them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
(q) You took it upon your shoulders
and carried it.
Ac 7:44
7:44 {5} Our fathers had the tabernacle
of {r} witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses,
that he should make it according to the fashion that he had
seen.
(5) Moses indeed erected a
tabernacle, but that was to call them back to the one whom he had seen on
the mountain.
(r) That is, of the covenant.
Ac 7:45
7:45 Which also our fathers that came
after {s} brought in with Jesus into the {t} possession of the Gentiles, whom
God drave out {u} before the face of our fathers, unto the days of
David;
(s) Delivered from hand to
hand.
(t) This is said using the figure of speech metonymy, and refers to
the countries which the Gentiles possessed.
(u) God drove them out that
they should yield up the possession of those countries to our fathers when
they entered into the land.
Ac 7:47
7:47 {6} But Solomon built him an
house.
(6) Solomon built a temple according
to God's commandment, but not under any condition that the majesty of God
should be enclosed within it.
Ac 7:51
7:51 {7} Ye stiffnecked and {x}
uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your
fathers [did], so [do] ye.
(7) Steven, moved with the zeal of
God, at length judges his own judges.
(x) They are of uncircumcised
hearts who still lie drowned in the sins of nature, and are stuck fast in
them: for otherwise all the Jews were circumcised with regard to the flesh,
and therefore there are two kinds of circumcision; Ro 2:28-29 .
Ac 7:53
7:53 Who have received the law by the
{y} disposition of angels, and have not kept [it].
(y) By the ministry of
angels.
Ac 7:54
7:54 {8} When they heard these things,
they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their]
teeth.
(8) The more Satan is pressed, the
more he breaks out into an open rage.
Ac 7:55
7:55 {9} But he, being full of the Holy
Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
{z} standing on the right hand of God,
(9) The nearer that martyrs approach
to death, the nearer that they rise up, even into heaven, as they behold
Christ.
(z) Ready to affirm him in the confession of the truth, and to
receive him unto himself.
Ac 7:57
7:57 {10} Then they cried out with a
loud voice, and stopped their ears, and {a} ran upon him with one
accord,
(10) The zeal of hypocrites and
superstitious people eventually breaks out into a most open madness.
(a)
This was done in a rage and fury, for at that time the Jews could put no man
to death by law, as they confessed before Pilate saying that it was no
lawful for them to put any man to death, and therefore it is reported by
Josephus that Ananus, a Sadducee, slew James the brother of the Lord, and
for so doing was accused before Albinus, the president of the country; lib.
20.
Ac 7:58
7:58 And cast [him] out of the city,
and stoned [him]: and the {b} witnesses laid down their clothes at a young
man's feet, whose name was Saul.
(b) It was appointed by the Law that
the witnesses should cast the first stones; De 17:7 .
Ac 7:60
7:60 {11} And he kneeled down, and
cried with a loud voice, Lord, {c} lay not this sin to their charge. And when
he had said this, he {d} fell asleep.
(11) Faith and charity never forsake
the true servants of God, even to the last breath.
(c) The word which he
uses here refers to a type of imputing or laying to one's charge that
remains firm and steady forever, never to be remitted.
(d) See 1Th 4:13
.
Ac 8:1
8:1 And {1} Saul was consenting unto
his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church
which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the
regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
(1) Christ uses the rage of his
enemies in the spreading forth and enlarging of his kingdom.
Ac 8:2
8:2 {2} And devout men {a} carried
Stephen [to his burial], and made great lamentation over
him.
(2) The godly mourn for Steven after
his death, and bury him, showing in this an example of singular faith and
charity: but no man prays to him.
(a) Amongst all the duties of charity
which the godly perform, there is no mention made of enshrining
relics.
Ac 8:3
8:3 {3} As for Saul, he made havock of
the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed
[them] to prison.
(3) The dispersion or scattering
abroad of the faithful is the gathering together of churches.
Ac 8:5
8:5 {4} Then Philip went down to the
city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
(4) Philip, who was before a deacon
in Jerusalem, is made an evangelist by God in an extraordinary way.
Ac 8:9
8:9 {5} But there was a certain man,
called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used {b} sorcery, and {c}
bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great
one:
(5) Christ overcomes Satan as often
as he desires, and carries him about as it were in triumph, in the sight of
those whom Satan deceived and bewitched.
(b) The word which is used in
this place was at first used of good things, and is borrowed from the
language of the Persians, who call their wise men by that name; but
afterwards it was used of evil things.
(c) He had so allured the
Samaritans with his witchcraft that as blind and mad idiots they were wholly
addicted to him.
Ac 8:13
8:13 {6} Then Simon himself believed
also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered,
beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
(6) The wicked and the highly
reprobate are often forced to taste the good gift of God, but they
immediately spit it out again.
Ac 8:14
8:14 {7} Now when the apostles which
were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent
unto them Peter and John:
(7) Peter, not chief but as an
ambassador sent from the whole company of the apostles, and John his
companion, according to the authority which was committed unto them,
strengthen, encourage, and build up the churches of Samaria, whose
foundation had been laid before by Philip.
Ac 8:15
8:15 Who, when they were come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive the {d} Holy
Ghost:
(d) Those excellent gifts which are
necessary, especially for those that were to be appointed rulers and
governors of the Church.
Ac 8:18
8:18 {8} And when Simon saw that
through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered
them money,
(8) Covetousness and the seeking of
glory at length remove the hypocrites from their dens.
Ac 8:20
8:20 (9) But Peter said unto him, Thy
money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be
purchased with money.
(9) They are the successors of Simon
Magus, and not Simon Peter, who either buy or sell holy things.
Ac 8:21
8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in
this {e} matter: for thy heart is not {f} right in the sight of
God.
(e) In this doctrine which I
preach.
(f) Is not upright indeed and without the concealing of
hypocritical motives.
Ac 8:22
8:22 {10} Repent therefore of this thy
wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be
forgiven thee.
(10) We must hope well even for the
vilest sinners, as long as and as much as we can.
Ac 8:23
8:23 For I perceive that thou art in
the {g} gall of bitterness, and [in] the {h} bond of
iniquity.
(g) He calls the inward malice of
the heart and the venomous and demonic wickedness with which the magician
was wholly filled with the gall of bitterness: and he is said to be in the
gall, as though he were wholly overwhelmed with gall, and buried in
it.
(h) Entangled in the bonds of iniquity.
Ac 8:26
8:26 {11} And the angel of the Lord
spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that
goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
(11) Christ, who calls freely whom
he wishes, now uses Philip, who was not thinking about any such thing, to
unexpectedly instruct and baptize the eunuch, and by this means extends the
limits of his kingdom even into Ethiopia.
Ac 8:27
8:27 And he arose and went: and,
behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch {i} of great authority under Candace
queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come
to Jerusalem for to worship,
(i) A man of great wealth and
authority with Candace. Now this word "Candace" is a common name of all the
Queens of Ethiopia.
Ac 8:31
8:31 And he said, How can I, except
some man should {k} guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and
sit with him.
(k) To show me the way to understand
it.
Ac 8:32
8:32 {12} The place of the scripture
which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a
lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth:
(12) Those things which seem to come
most by chance or fortune
(as men term it) are governed by the secret
providence of God.
Ac 8:33
8:33 In his {l} humiliation his
judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his {m} generation? for his
life is taken from the earth.
(l) The Hebrew text reads it in this
way, "out of a narrow strait, and out of judgment was he taken": and by the
"narrow strait" he means the grave and the very bonds of death, and by
"judgment" he means the punishment which was laid upon him, and the
miserable state which Christ took upon himself for our sakes, in bearing his
Father's wrath.
(m) How long he will endure: for Christ, having once
risen from the dead, dies no more; Ro 6:9 .
Ac 8:37
8:37 {13} And Philip said, If thou
believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, {n} I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
(13) Profession of faith is required
of those being baptized, and therefore it is evident that we are not first
ingrafted into Christ when we are baptized, but are already ingrafted, and
then are baptized. (Ed.)
(n) The sum of the confession which is necessary
for baptism.
Ac 9:1
9:1 And {1} Saul, yet {a} breathing out
threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the
high priest,
(1) Saul (who is also Paul),
persecuting Christ most cruelly, who did as it were flee before him, falls
into Christ's hands, and is overcome: and with a singular example of the
goodness of God, in place of punishment which he justly deserved for his
cruelty, is not only kindly received, but is also even by the mouth of God
appointed an apostle, and is confirmed by the ministry and witness of
Ananias.
(a) This is a sign that Saul's stomach boiled and cast out great
threats to murder the disciples.
Ac 9:2
9:2 And desired of him letters to
Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this {b} way, whether they
were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem.
(b) Any trade of life which a man
take upon himself the Jews call a "way".
Ac 9:5
9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord?
And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] {c} hard for thee
to kick against the pricks.
(c) This is a proverb which is
spoken of those who through their stubbornness hurt themselves.
Ac 9:7
9:7 And the men which journeyed with
him {d} stood speechless, hearing a {e} voice, but seeing no
man.
(d) Stood still and could not go one
step forward, but remained amazed as stood still like statues.
(e) They
heard Paul's voice: for afterwards it is plainly said in Ac 22:9 that they
did not hear the voice of the one who spoke. Others, however, try to
reconcile these places (which seem to contradict) by saying that the men
with Saul heard the sound of a voice, but did not hear it clearly.
Ac 9:11
9:11 And the Lord [said] unto him,
Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the
house of Judas for [one] called Saul, of {f} Tarsus: for, behold, he
prayeth,
(f) Tarsus was a city of Cilicia
near to Anchiala. It is said that Sardanapalus built these two cities in one
day.
Ac 9:15
9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy
way: for he is a {g} chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Ac 9:16
9:16 For I will {h} shew him how great
things he must suffer for my name's sake.
(h) I will plainly show him.
Ac 9:17
9:17 And Ananias went his way, and
entered into {i} the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul,
the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest,
hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the
Holy Ghost.
Ac 9:20
9:20 {2} And straightway he preached
Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
(2) Paul begins immediately to
execute the office which was given and commanded to him, never consulting
with flesh and blood.
Ac 9:22
9:22 {3} But Saul increased the more in
strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, {k} proving that
this is very Christ.
(3) Paul does not do battle only
with his own authority, but also with the testimonies of the
Prophets.
(k) By conferring places of the Scripture together, as skilful
craftsman do when they make something, they used to gather all parts
together, to make them agree fitly one with another.
Ac 9:23
9:23 {4} And after that many days were
fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
(4) Paul, who was before a
persecutor, now has persecution planned against himself, though it will not
happen for a long time.
Ac 9:25
9:25 {5} Then the disciples took him by
night, and let [him] down by the wall in a basket.
(5) We are not forbidden to avoid
and eschew the dangers and conspiracies that the enemies of God lay for us,
but only if we do not swerve from our vocation.
Ac 9:26
9:26 {6} And when Saul was come to
Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all
afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
(6) In ancient times no man was
rashly or lightly received into the members and the sheep of the Church,
much less to be a pastor.
Ac 9:28
9:28 {7} And he was {l} with them
coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
(7) The steadfast servants of God
must look out for danger after danger: yet God watches out for them.
(l)
With Peter and James, for he says that he saw none of the apostles but them;
Ga 1:18-19 .
Ac 9:29
9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of
the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the {m} Grecians: but they went about to
slay him.
Ac 9:30
9:30 {8} [Which] when the brethren
knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to
Tarsus.
(8) The ministers of the word may
change their place with the advice and counsel of the congregation and
church.
Ac 9:31
9:31 {9} Then had the churches rest
throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were {n} edified; and
walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were
multiplied.
(9) The result of persecutions is
the building of the Church, so that we will patiently wait for the
Lord.
(n) This is a borrowed type of speech which signifies establishment
and increase.
Ac 9:32
9:32 {10} And it came to pass, as Peter
passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt
at Lydda.
(10) Peter's apostleship is
confirmed by the healing of the man who suffered from paralysis.
Ac 9:35
9:35 And all that dwelt at {o} Lydda
and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
(o) Lydda was a city of Palestine,
and Saron a first-class country, and a place which was excellent for
grazing, between Caesarea of Palestine and Mount Tabor, and the lake of
Gennesaret, which goes far beyond Joppa.
Ac 9:36
9:36 {11} Now there was at Joppa a
certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this
woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she
did.
(11) Peter clearly declares, by
raising up a dead body through the name of Christ, that he preaches the glad
tidings of life.
Ac 10:1
10:1 There {1} was a certain man in
Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian
[band],
(1) Peter consecrates the first
fruits of the Gentiles to God by the means of two miracles.
Ac 10:2
10:2 [A] {a} devout [man], and one that
feared God with {b} all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and
prayed to God alway.
(a) So that he worshipped one God,
and was not an idolater, and neither could he be void of faith in Christ,
because he was a devout man: but as of yet he did not know that Christ had
come.
(b) This is a commendable thing about the man, that he laboured to
have all his household, and well-known friends, and acquaintances to be
religious and godly.
Ac 10:4
10:4 And when he looked on him, he was
afraid, and said, {c} What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and
thine alms are {d} come up for {e} a memorial before
God.
(c) What do you want with me Lord?
For he prepares himself to hear.
(d) This is a borrowed kind of speech
which the Hebrews used very much, taken from sacrifices and applied to
prayers: for it is said of whole burnt sacrifices that the smoke and smell
of them goes up into God's nostrils, and so do our prayers, as a sweet
smelling sacrifice which the Lord takes great pleasure in.
(e) That is,
in as much that they will not allow God as it were to forget you: for so the
Scripture often talks childish with us as nurses do with little children,
when they prepare their tongues to speak.
Ac 10:10
10:10 And he became very hungry, and
would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a {f}
trance,
(f) For though Peter does not stand
amazed as one that is tongue tied, but talks with God and is instructed in
his mysteries, yet his mind was far from being as it normally was; shortly,
however, it returned to its normal state.
Ac 10:11
10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a
certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the
{g} four corners, and let down to the earth:
(g) So that it seemed to be a square
sheet.
Ac 10:12
10:12 Wherein were {h} all manner of
{i} fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and {k} creeping things,
and fowls of the air.
(h) Here is this word "all" which is
general, plainly used for something indefinite and uncertain, that is to
say, for some of all sorts, not for all of every sort.
(i) That is, such
as were proper for men's use.
(k) To see what is meant by these creeping
things see Le 11:2-47 .
Ac 10:14
10:14 {2} But Peter said, Not so, Lord;
for I have never eaten any thing that is common or
unclean.
(2) Peter learns daily in the
knowledge of the benefit of Christ, yea, even after he had received the Holy
Spirit.
Ac 10:15
10:15 And the voice [spake] unto him
again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] {l} call not thou
common.
(l) Do not consider them to be
unprofitable.
Ac 10:25
10:25 {3} And as Peter was coming in,
Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped
[him].
(3) Religious adoration of worship
is proper only to God: but civil worship is given to the ministers of the
word, although not without danger.
Ac 10:30
10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago
I was fasting until {m} this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house,
and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
(m) He does not mean the very hour
at the present time (as it was nine o'clock when he spoke to Peter), but the
like, that is, about nine o'clock the other day.
Ac 10:31
10:31 {4} And said, Cornelius, thy
prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of
God.
(4) Cornelius' faith demonstrated
itself by prayer and charity.
Ac 10:32
10:32 {5} Send therefore to Joppa, and
call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of [one]
Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto
thee.
(5) As faith comes by hearing, so it
is nourished and grows up by the same.
Ac 10:34
10:34 {6} Then Peter opened [his]
mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that {n} God is no respecter of
persons:
(6) Distinction of nations is taken
away by the coming of Christ: and it is evidently seen by their faith and
righteousness, which ones are agreeable to him and which ones he accepts.
{n} That God does not judge according to the outward appearance.
Ac 10:35
10:35 But in every nation he that {o}
feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with
him.
(o) By the "fear of God" the Hebrews
understood the whole service of God, by which we perceive that Cornelius was
not void of faith, no more than they were who lived before Christ's time:
and therefore they deal incorrectly who deduce meritorious works and free
will from this passage.
Ac 10:36
10:36 The {p} word which [God] sent
unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of
all:)
(p) God showed the Israelites that
whoever lives godly is acceptable to God, no matter what nation he comes
from, for he preached peace to men through Jesus Christ, who is Lord not
only of one nation, that is, of the Jews, but of all.
Ac 10:37
10:37 {7} That word, [I say], ye know,
which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the
baptism which John preached;
(7) The sum of the Gospel (which
will be made manifest at the latter day, when Christ himself will sit as
judge both of the living and the dead), is this, that Christ promised to the
fathers and exhibited in his time with the mighty power of God (which was
demonstrated by all means) and at length crucified to reconcile us to God,
did rise again the third day, so that whoever believes in him should be
saved through the remission of sins.
Ac 10:38
10:38 How God {q} anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him.
(q) This manner of speaking is taken
from an old custom of the Jews, who used to anoint their kings and priests,
because of which it came to pass to call those anointed upon whom God
bestowed gifts and virtues.
Ac 10:41
10:41 Not to all the people, but unto
witnesses {r} chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with
him after he rose from the dead.
(r) This choosing of the apostles is
properly given to God: for though God is president in the lawful election of
ministers, yet there is in this place a secret opposition and setting of
God's choosing and men's voices against one another, for the apostles are
appointed directly by God, and the Church ministers indirectly.
Ac 10:44
10:44 {8} While Peter yet spake these
words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word.
(8) The Spirit of God seals that in
the heart of the hearers which the minister of the word speaks by the
commandment of God, as is evident by the results.
Ac 10:47
10:47 {9} Can any man forbid water,
that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well
as we?
(9) Baptism does not sanctify or
make those holy who receive it, but is an outward sign to the world of the
profession of faith. (Ed.)
Ac 11:1
11:1 And {1} the apostles and brethren
that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of
God.
(1) Peter, being reprehended without
reason by the unskilful and ignorant, does not object and say that he should
not be judged by any, but openly gives an account of his actions.
Ac 11:18
11:18 {2} When they heard these things,
they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the
Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
(2) Those who ask a question of the
truth which they do not know, ought to be quietly heard, and must also
quietly yield to the declaration of the truth.
Ac 11:19
11:19 {3} Now they which were scattered
abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as
Phenice, and Cyprus, and {a} Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the
Jews only.
(3) The scattering abroad of
Jerusalem is the cause of the gathering together of many other
churches.
(a) He speaks of Antioch which was in Syria and bordered upon
Cilicia.
Ac 11:20
11:20 {4} And some of them were men of
Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the
Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
(4) The church of Antioch, the new
Jerusalem of the Gentiles, was extraordinarily called.
Ac 11:22
11:22 {5} Then tidings of these things
came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
(5) The apostles do not rashly
condemn an extraordinary calling, but instead they judge it by the
effects.
Ac 11:25
11:25 {6} Then departed Barnabas to
Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
(6) There was no contention amongst
the apostles, either with regard to usurping, or with regard to holding
places of degree.
Ac 11:27
11:27 {7} And in these days came
prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
(7) God punishes his Church when he
punishes the wicked, in his scourges and plagues which he sends upon the
earth, in such a way that he nonetheless conveniently provides for
it.
Ac 11:29
11:29 {8} Then the disciples, every man
according to his ability, determined to send {b} relief unto the brethren
which dwelt in Judaea:
(8) All congregations or churches
make one body.
(b) That is, that the deacons might help the poor with it:
for it was appropriate and helpful to have all these things done orderly and
decently, and therefore it is said that they sent these things to the
elders, that is, to the governors of the Church.
Ac 12:1
12:1 Now {1} about that time {a} Herod
the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the
church.
(1) God gives his Church peace only
for a short time.
(a) This name Herod was common to all those that come
from the stock of Herod Ascalonites, whose surname was Magnus: but he that
is spoken of here was nephew to Herod the great, son to Aristobulus, and
father to the Agrippa who is spoken of afterwards.
Ac 12:2
12:2 And he {b} killed James the
brother of John with the sword.
(b) Violently, his cause not being
heard at all.
Ac 12:3
12:3 {2} And because he saw it pleased
the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of
unleavened bread.)
(2) It is an old habit of tyrants to
attain the favour of the wicked, with the blood of the godly.
Ac 12:4
12:4 {3} And when he had apprehended
him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of
soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the
people.
(3) The tyrants and wicked make a
gallows for themselves even then when they do most according to their own
will and fantasy.
Ac 12:5
12:5 {4} Peter therefore was kept in
prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for
him.
(4) The prayers of the godly
overturn the counsel of tyrants, obtain angels from God, break the prison,
unloose the chains, put Satan to flight, and preserve the Church.
Ac 12:7
12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord
came upon [him], and a light shined in the {c} prison: and he smote Peter on
the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off
from [his] hands.
(c) Literally, "habitation";
(Ed.).
Ac 12:12
12:12 {5} And when he had considered
[the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname
was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
(5) Holy meetings in the nights of
both men and women (when they cannot take place in the day time) are
allowable by the example of the apostles.
Ac 12:13
12:13 {6} And as Peter knocked at the
door of the gate, a damsel {d} came to hearken, named
Rhoda.
(6) We obtain more from God than we
dare well hope for.
(d) Out of the place where they were assembled, but
not out of the house.
Ac 12:17
12:17 {7} But he, beckoning unto them
with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought
him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to
the brethren. And he departed, and went into another
place.
(7) We may sometimes give place to
the rage of the wicked, but yet only in such a way that our diligence which
ought to be used in God's business does not slacken in the least.
Ac 12:18
12:18 {8} Now as soon as it was day,
there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of
Peter.
(8) Evil counsel in the end results
in the hurt of those who devised it.
Ac 12:20
12:20 {9} And Herod was highly
displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him,
and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace;
because their country was nourished by the king's
[country].
(9) A miserable and shameful example
of what happens to the enemies of the Church.
Ac 12:22
12:22 {10} And the people gave a shout,
[saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man.
(10) The flattery of people makes
fools glad.
Ac 12:23
12:23 {11} And immediately the angel of
the Lord smote him, because he {e} gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of
worms, and gave up the ghost.
(11) God resists the proud.
(e)
Josephus records that this king did not repress the flatterer's tongues, and
therefore at his death he complained and cried out about their empty
praise.
Ac 12:24
12:24 {12} But the {s} word of God grew
and multiplied.
(12) Tyrants build up the Church by
destroying it.
(s) Those that heard the word of God.
Ac 13:1
13:1 Now {1} there were in the church
that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon
that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been
brought up with {a} Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
(1) Paul with Barnabas is again the
second time appointed apostle of the Gentiles, not of man, neither by man,
but by an extraordinary commandment of the Holy Spirit.
(a) This was the
same Antipas who put John the Baptist to death.
Ac 13:2
13:2 As they {b} ministered to the
Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the
work whereunto I have {c} called them.
(b) While they were busy doing their
office, that is, as Chrysostom expounds it, while they were
preaching.
(c) The Lord is said to call, from which this word "called"
comes from, which is common in the Church, when he causes that to be which
was not, whether you refer it to the matter itself, or to any quality or
thing about the matter: and the use of the word "call" has come about
because when things begin to be, then they have some name: and furthermore
this also declares God's mighty power, in that he spoke the word, and things
were made.
Ac 13:3
13:3 {2} And when they had fasted and
prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them]
away.
(2) Fasting and solemn prayers were
used before the laying on of hands.
Ac 13:4
13:4 {3} So they, being sent forth by
the Holy Ghost, departed unto {d} Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to
Cyprus.
(3) Paul and his companions first
bring Cyprus to the subjection and obedience of Christ.
(d) Seleucia was
a city of Cilicia, so called after Seleucus, one of Alexander's
successors.
Ac 13:8
13:8 {4} But Elymas the sorcerer (for
so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the
deputy from the faith.
(4) The devil makes Christ's victory
more glorious in that he sets himself against him.
Ac 13:10
13:10 {5} And said, O full of all
subtilty and all {e} mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all
righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the
Lord?
(5) The sorcerer, who was stricken
by Paul with a physical punishment (although extraordinarily), shows an
example to lawful magistrates how they ought to punish those who wickedly
and obstinately hinder the course of the Gospel.
(e) He points out a
fault of those who run eagerly and with great desire into all types of
wickedness with the least bit of prompting from the world.
Ac 13:11
13:11 And now, behold, the {f} hand of
the Lord [is] upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a
season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went
about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
(f) His power which he shows in
striking and beating down his enemies.
Ac 13:13
13:13 {6} Now when Paul and his company
loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from
them returned to Jerusalem.
(6) An example in one and the very
same group of people both of singular steadfastness, and also of great
weakness.
Ac 13:14
13:14 But when they departed from
Perga, they came to Antioch in {g} Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the
sabbath day, and sat down.
(g) This distinguishes between it,
and Antioch which was in Syria.
Ac 13:15
13:15 {7} And after the reading of the
law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, [Ye]
men [and] brethren, if ye {h} have any word of exhortation for the people, say
on.
(7) In the Synagogue of the Jews
(according to the pattern of which Christian congregations were instituted)
the Scriptures were read first, then those who were learned were licensed by
the rulers of the Synagogue to speak and expound.
(h) Literally, "If
there is any word in you": this is a kind of speech taken from the Hebrews,
by which is meant that the gifts of God's grace are in us, as it were in
treasure houses, and that they are not ours, but God's. In the same way
David says, "Thou hast put a new song in my mouth"; Ps 40:3 .
Ac 13:16
13:16 {8} Then Paul stood up, and
beckoning with [his] hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give
audience.
(8) God bestowed many wonderful
benefits upon his chosen Israel, but especially this, that he promised them
the everlasting redeemer.
Ac 13:17
13:17 The God of this people of Israel
chose our fathers, and {i} exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in
the land of Egypt, and with an {k} high arm brought he them out of
it.
(i) Advanced and brought to
honour.
(k) Openly and with strong power, breaking in pieces the enemies
of his people.
Ac 13:20
13:20 And after that he gave [unto
them] judges about the space of {l} four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel
the prophet.
(l) There were from the birth of
Isaac until the destruction of the Canaanites under the governance of Joshua
four hundred and forty-seven years, and therefore he adds in this place the
word "about", for three years are missing; the apostle, however, uses the
whole greater number.
Ac 13:21
13:21 And afterward they desired a
king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of
Benjamin, by the space of {m} forty years.
(m) In this space of forty years the
time of Samuel must be counted and included with the days of Saul, for the
kingdom did as it were include his administration.
Ac 13:23
13:23 {9} Of this man's seed hath God
according to [his] promise raised unto Israel a Saviour,
Jesus:
(9) He proves by the witness of John
that Jesus is the Saviour who would come from David.
Ac 13:24
13:24 When John had first preached {n}
before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of
Israel.
(n) John as a herald did not show
Christ coming from afar off, as the other prophets did, but right at hand
and having already begun his journey.
Ac 13:26
13:26 {10} Men [and] brethren, children
of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the
word of this salvation sent.
(10) Christ was promised and sent
appropriately to the Jews.
Ac 13:27
13:27 {11} For they that dwell at
Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of
the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled [them] in
condemning [him].
(11) All things came to pass to
Christ, which the Prophets foretold concerning the Messiah: so that by this
also it appears that he is the true and only saviour: and yet nonetheless
they are not to be excused who did not only not receive him, but also
persecuted him most cruelly, even though he was innocent.
Ac 13:30
13:30 {12} But God raised him from the
dead:
(12) We must set the glory of the
resurrection against the shame of the cross, and the grave. And the
resurrection is equally proved by the witnesses who saw it, and by the
testimonies of the Prophets.
Ac 13:33
13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto
us their children, in that he {o} hath raised up Jesus again; {13} as it is
also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten
thee.
(o) For then he appeared plainly and
manifestly as the only Son of God, when he left behind his weakness and came
out of the grave, having conquered death.
(13) If Christ had remained
dead, he would not have been the true Son of God, neither would the covenant
which was made with David have been certain.
Ac 13:34
13:34 And as concerning that he raised
him up from the dead, [now] no more to return to corruption, he said on this
wise, I will give you the {p} sure mercies of David.
(p) The Greeks call those things
"holy things" which the Hebrews call "gracious bounties": and they are
called David's bounties in the passive voice, because God bestowed them upon
David. Moreover, they are termed "sure", after the manner of speech which
the Hebrews use, who terms those things "sure" which are steady and certain,
and such things which never alter or change.
Ac 13:35
13:35 {14} Wherefore he saith also in
another [psalm], Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption.
(14) The Lord was in the grace in
such a way that he experienced no corruption.
Ac 13:38
13:38 {15} Be it known unto you
therefore, men [and] brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the
forgiveness of sins:
(15) Christ was sent to give them
free remission of sins who were condemned by the Law.
Ac 13:39
13:39 And by him all that believe are
justified from {q} all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law
of Moses.
(q) Whereas the ceremonies of the
Law could not absolve you from your sins, this man absolves you, if you lay
hold of him by faith.
Ac 13:40
13:40 {16} Beware therefore, lest that
come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
(16) The benefits of God turn to the
utter undoing of those that condemn them.
Ac 13:42
13:42 {17} And when the Jews were gone
out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached
to them the next sabbath.
(17) The Gentiles go before the Jews
into the kingdom of heaven.
Ac 13:43
13:43 Now when the congregation was
broken up, many of the Jews and {r} religious proselytes followed Paul and
Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of
God.
(r) Who had forsaken their heathen
religion, and embraced the religion set forth by Moses.
Ac 13:45
13:45 {18} But when the Jews saw the
multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which
were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
(18) The favour on the very same
Gospel is to the reprobate and unbelievers death, and to the elect and those
who believe it is life.
Ac 13:46
13:46 {19} Then Paul and Barnabas waxed
bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been
spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and {s} judge yourselves
unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles.
(19) The Gospel is proclaimed to the
Gentiles by the express commandment of God.
(s) By this your doing you
pronounce as it were sentence upon yourselves, and judge yourselves.
Ac 13:48
13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were {t}
ordained to eternal life believed.
(t) Therefore either all were not
appointed to everlasting life, or either all believed, but because all did
not believe, it follows that certain ones were ordained: and therefore God
did not only foreknow, but also foreordained, that neither faith nor the
effects of faith should be the cause of his ordaining, or appointment, but
his ordaining the cause of faith.
Ac 13:50
13:50 {20} But the Jews stirred up the
{u} devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised
persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their
coasts.
(20) Such is the craft and subtlety
of the enemies of the Gospel, that they abuse the simplicity of some who are
not altogether evil men, in order to execute their cruelty.
(u) Those who
embraced the Law of Moses.
Ac 13:51
13:51 {21} But they shook off the dust
of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
(21) The wickedness of the world
cannot prevent God from gathering his Church together, and to foster and
cherish it, when it is gathered together.
Ac 14:1
14:1 And {1} it came to pass in {a}
Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so
spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks
believed.
(1) We should be no less constant in
the preaching of the Gospel than the perversity of the wicked is obstinate
in persecuting it.
(a) Iconium was a city of Lycaonia.
Ac 14:2
14:2 But the {b} unbelieving Jews
stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the
brethren.
(b) Who did not obey the
doctrine.
Ac 14:3
14:3 {2} Long time therefore abode they
speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace,
and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
(2) We should not leave our places
and give in to threatenings, or to open rage, but only when there is no
other remedy, and that not for our own peace and quiet, but only so that the
Gospel may be spread further abroad.
Ac 14:6
14:6 They were ware of [it], and {c}
fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth
round about:
(c) It is sometimes proper to flee
dangers, at the appropriate times.
Ac 14:8
14:8 {3} And there sat a certain man at
Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who
never had walked:
(3) It is an old subtlety of the
devil, either to cause the faithful servants of God to be immediately
banished, or to be worshipped as idols: and he does this by taking occasion
of miracles which they have done.
Ac 14:13
14:13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which
was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the {d} gates, and would
have done sacrifice with the people.
(d) Of the house where Paul and
Barnabas were.
Ac 14:15
14:15 {4} And saying, Sirs, why do ye
these things? We also are men of {e} like passions with you, and preach unto
you that ye should turn from these {f} vanities unto the living God, which
made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are
therein:
(4) That is also called idolatry
which gives to creatures, be they ever so holy and excellent, that which is
proper to the only One God, that is, invocation, or calling upon.
(e)
Men, as you are, and partakers of the very same nature of man as you
are.
(f) He calls idols "vanities", after the manner of the
Hebrews.
Ac 14:16
14:16 {5} Who in times past {g}
suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
(5) Custom, be it ever so old, does
not excuse the idolaters.
(g) Allowed them to live as they wished,
prescribing and appointing them no type of religion.
Ac 14:19
14:19 {6} And there came thither
[certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having
stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been
dead.
(6) The devil, when he is brought to
his last chance, at length rages openly, but in vain, even at that time when
he seems to have the upper hand.
Ac 14:21
14:21 {7} And when they had preached
the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra,
and [to] Iconium, and Antioch,
(7) We must go forward in our
calling through a thousand deaths.
Ac 14:22
14:22 {8} Confirming the souls of the
disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
(8) It is the office of the
ministers, not only to teach, but also to confirm those that are taught, and
prepare them for the cross.
Ac 14:23
14:23 {9} And when they had ordained
them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them
to the Lord, on whom they believed.
(9) The apostles committed the
churches which they had planted to proper and special pastors, who they
appointed not rashly, but with prayers and fastings preceding their choice:
neither did they thrust them upon churches through bribery, or lordly
superiority, but chose and placed them by the voice of the
congregation.
Ac 14:24
14:24 {10} And after they had passed
throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
(10) Paul and Barnabas, having
completed their journey, and having returned to Antioch, give an account of
their journey to the congregation or church.
Ac 14:25
14:25 And when they had preached the
word in Perga, they went down into {h} Attalia:
(h) Attalia was a sea city of
Pamphylia, near to Lycia.
Ac 14:26
14:26 And thence sailed to {i} Antioch,
from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which
they fulfilled.
Ac 15:1
15:1 And {1} {a} certain men which came
down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised
after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
(1) The Church is at length troubled
with dissension within itself, and the trouble rises from the proud and
stubborn intellects of certain evil men. The first strife was concerning the
office of Christ, whether we are saved only by his righteousness apprehended
by faith, or if we also have need to observe the Law.
(a) Epiphanius is
of the opinion that this was Cerinthus.
Ac 15:2
15:2 {2} When therefore Paul and
Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined
that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem
unto the apostles and elders about this question.
(2) Meetings of congregations were
instituted to suppress heresies, to which certain were sent by common
consent on behalf of all.
Ac 15:3
15:3 And {b} being brought on their way
by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the
conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the
brethren.
(b) Courteously and lovingly brought
on their way by the Church, that is, by certain ones appointed by the
Church.
Ac 15:6
15:6 {3} And the apostles and elders
came together for to consider of this matter.
(3) The matter is first handled,
both parts being heard, in the assembly of the apostles and elders, and
after is communicated to the people.
Ac 15:7
15:7 And when there had been much
disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, {4} Men [and] brethren, ye know
how that a {c} good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by
my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and
believe.
(4) God himself, in the calling of
the Gentiles who are uncircumcised, taught that our salvation consists in
faith, without the worship appointed by the Law.
(c) Literally, "of old
time", that is, even from the first time that we were commanded to preach
the Gospel, and immediately after that the Holy Spirit came down upon
us.
Ac 15:9
15:9 And put no {d} difference between
us and them, purifying their hearts {e} by faith.
(d) He put no difference between us
and them, with regard to the benefit of his free favour.
(e) Christ
proclaims those blessed who are pure of heart: and here we are plainly
taught that men are made pure of heart by faith.
Ac 15:10
15:10 {5} Now therefore why {f} tempt
ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our
fathers nor we were able to bear?
(5) Peter, passing from the
ceremonies to the Law itself in general, shows that no one could be saved,
if salvation were to be sought for by the Law, and not by grace alone in
Jesus Christ; and this is because no man could ever fulfil the Law, neither
the patriarch nor the apostle.
(f) Why do you tempt God, as though he
could not save by faith?
Ac 15:12
15:12 {6} Then all the multitude kept
silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and
wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
(6) A true pattern of a lawful
council, where God's truth alone reigns.
Ac 15:13
15:13 And after they had held their
peace, {g} James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto
me:
(g) The son of Alphaeus, who is also
called the Lord's brother.
Ac 15:14
15:14 {7} Simeon hath declared how God
at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his
name.
(7) James confirms the calling of
the Gentiles out of the word of God, in this agreeing with Peter.
Ac 15:18
15:18 {h} Known unto God are all his
works from the beginning of the world.
(h) And therefore nothing comes to
pass by chance, but only by God's appointment.
Ac 15:19
15:19 {8} Wherefore my sentence is,
that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to
God:
(8) In indifferent matters, we may
be patient with the weakness of our brethren with the end in view that they
may have time to be instructed.
Ac 15:20
15:20 But that we write unto them, that
they abstain from {i} pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from]
things strangled, and [from] blood.
(i) From sacrifices, or from feasts
which were kept in idol's temples.
Ac 15:22
15:22 {9} Then pleased it the apostles
and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas,
chief men among the brethren:
(9) In a lawful synod, neither those
who are appointed and chosen judges, appoint and determine anything
tyrannously or upon a lordly superiority, neither do the common multitude
stir up disorder against those who sit as judges by the word of God: and the
like manner of doing things is also used in proclaiming and ratifying those
things which have been so determined and agreed upon.
Ac 15:24
15:24 {10} Forasmuch as we have heard,
that certain which {k} went out from us have troubled you with words, {l}
subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to
whom we gave no [such] commandment:
(10) The council of Jerusalem
concludes that the ones who trouble men's consciences are they who teach us
to seek salvation in any other means than in Christ alone, apprehended by
faith, no matter where they come from, and whoever they pretend to be the
author of their calling.
(k) From our congregation.
(l) A borrowed
type of speech taken of those who pull down that which was built up: and it
is a very common metaphor in the scriptures, to say "the Church is built",
for "the Church is planted and established".
Ac 15:28
15:28 {11} For it seemed good to the
{n} Holy Ghost, and {o} to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these
{p} necessary things;
(11) That is a lawful council, which
the Holy Spirit rules.
(n) First they made mention of the Holy Spirit, so
that it may not seem to be any man's work.
(o) Not that men have any
authority of themselves, but to show the faithfulness that they used in
their ministry and labour.
(p) This was no absolute necessity, but in
respect of the state of that time, so that the Gentiles and the Jews might
live together more peaceably, with less occasion to quarrel.
Ac 15:29
15:29 {12} That ye abstain from meats
offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from
fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye
well.
(12) Charity is required even in
indifferent matters.
Ac 15:30
15:30 {13} So when they were dismissed,
they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they
delivered the epistle:
(13) It is required for all people
to know certainly what to hold in matters of faith and religion, and not
that the Church by ignorance and knowing nothing, should depend upon the
pleasure of a few.
Ac 15:33
15:33 And after they had tarried
[there] a space, they were let go in {q} peace from the brethren unto the
apostles.
(q) This is a Hebrew idiom, which is
the same as saying, "as the brethren wished them all prosperous success, and
the church dismissed them with good leave."
Ac 15:36
15:36 {14} And some days after Paul
said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where
we have preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they
do.
(14) Congregations or churches
easily degenerate unless they are diligently watched over, and therefore
these apostles went to oversee the churches they had planted, and for this
reason also synods were instituted and appointed.
Ac 15:37
15:37 {15} And Barnabas determined to
take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
(15) A lamentable example of discord
between excellent men and very great friends, yet not because of profane
matters or their own private affairs, neither yet because of
doctrine.
Ac 15:39
15:39 {16} And {r} the contention was
so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so
Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
(16) God uses the faults of his
servants to the profit and building of the Church: yet we have to take heed,
even in the best matters, that we do not let our anger overflow.
(r) They
were in great heat: but in this we have to consider the power of God's
counsel, for by this means it came to pass that the doctrine of the Gospel
was spread into many places.
Ac 16:1
16:1 Then {1} came he to Derbe and
Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of
a certain woman, which was a {a} Jewess, and believed; but his father [was] a
Greek:
(1) Paul himself does not receive
Timothy into the ministry without sufficient testimony, and permission of
the brethren.
(a) Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, commends the
godliness of Timothy's mother and grandmother.
Ac 16:2
16:2 Which was {b} well reported of by
the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
(b) Both for his godliness and
honesty.
Ac 16:3
16:3 {2} Him would Paul have to go
forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in
those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a
Greek.
(2) Timothy is circumcised, not
simply for any necessity, but in respect of the time only, in order to win
the Jews.
Ac 16:4
16:4 {3} And as they went through the
cities, they delivered them the {c} decrees for to keep, that were ordained of
the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
(3) Charity is to be observed in
things indifferent so that regard is had both of the weak, and of the peace
of the Church.
(c) These decrees which he spoke of in the former
chapter.
Ac 16:6
16:6 {4} Now when they had gone
throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were {d} forbidden of the
Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
(4) God appoints certain and
determinate times to open and set forth his truth, so that both the election
and the calling may proceed of grace.
(d) He does not show why they were
forbidden, but only that they were forbidden, teaching us to obey and not to
enquire.
Ac 16:9
16:9 {5} And a vision appeared to Paul
in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come
over into Macedonia, and help us.
(5) They are the ministers of the
Gospel by whom he helps those who are likely to perish.
Ac 16:10
16:10 {6} And after he had seen the
vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering
that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto
them.
(6) The Saints did not easily
believe every vision.
Ac 16:13
16:13 {7} And on the sabbath we went
out of the city by a river side, where {e} prayer was wont to be made; and we
sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted
[thither].
(7) God begins his kingdom in
Macedonia by the conversion of a woman, and so shows that there is no
exception of persons in the Gospel.
(e) Where they customarily assembled
themselves.
Ac 16:14
16:14 {8} And a certain woman named
Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God,
heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things
which were spoken of Paul.
(8) The Lord opens the heart to hear
the word which is preached.
Ac 16:15
16:15 {9} And when she was baptized,
and her household, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be
faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she
constrained us.
(9) An example of a godly
housewife.
Ac 16:16
16:16 {10} And it came to pass, as we
went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of {f} divination met
us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
(10) Satan transforms himself into
an angel of light, and covets to enter by undermining, but Paul openly stops
him, and casts him out.
(f) This is a sure sign of the god Apollo, who
would give answers to those that asked him.
Ac 16:18
16:18 And this did she {g} many days.
But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the
name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same
hour.
(g) Paul made no haste to do this
miracle, for he did all things only as he was led by the Spirit.
Ac 16:19
16:19 {11} And when her masters saw
that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew
[them] into the marketplace unto the rulers,
(11) Covetousness of evil gain and
of profit is an occasion for persecuting the truth. In the meanwhile, God
sparing Timothy, calls Paul and Silas as the stronger to battle.
Ac 16:20
16:20 {12} And brought them to the
magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our
city,
(12) Covetousness pretends a desire
for common peace and godliness.
Ac 16:21
16:21 {13} And teach customs, which are
not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being
Romans.
(13) It is an argument of the devil
to use the authority of ancestors, though not distinguishing exactly which
ancestors.
Ac 16:22
16:22 {14} And the multitude rose up
together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and
commanded to beat [them].
(14) An example of evil magistrates,
to obey the fury and rage of the people.
Ac 16:24
16:24 Who, having received such a
charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet {h} fast in the
stocks.
(h) Because he wanted to be more
sure that they did not escape, he set them fast in the stocks.
Ac 16:25
16:25 {15} And at midnight Paul and
Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard
them.
(15) The prayers of the godly do
shake both heaven and earth.
Ac 16:27
16:27 {16} And the keeper of the prison
awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his
sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been
fled.
(16) The merciful Lord, as often as
he desires, draws men to life even through the midst of death, and whereas
they justly deserved great punishment, he shows them great mercy.
Ac 16:28
16:28 {17} But Paul cried with a loud
voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
(17) In means which are especially
extraordinary, we should not move our foot forward, unless God goes before
us.
Ac 16:33
16:33 {18} And he took them the same
hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all
his, straightway.
(18) God with the very same hand
wounds and heals when it pleases him.
Ac 16:35
16:35 {19} And when it was day, the
magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men
go.
(19) Shame and confusion is in due
time the reward of wicked and unjust magistrates.
Ac 16:37
16:37 {20} But Paul said unto them,
They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast [us] into
prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come
themselves and fetch us out.
(20) We must not render injury for
injury, and yet nonetheless it is lawful for us to use such helps as God
gives us, to bridle the outrageousness of the wicked, so that they do not
hurt others in a similar way.
Ac 16:38
16:38 {21} And the serjeants told these
words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were
Romans.
(21) The wicked are not moved with
the fear of God, but with the fear of men: and by that means also God
provides for his, when it is needed.
Ac 16:40
16:40 {22} And they went out of the
prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had seen the
brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
(22) We may avoid dangers in such a
way that we never neglect our duty.
Ac 17:1
17:1 Now {1} when they had passed
through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a
synagogue of the Jews:
(1) The casting out of Silas and
Paul was the saving of many others.
Ac 17:3
17:3 {2} Opening and alleging, that
Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this
Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
(2) Christ is therefore the
mediator, because he was crucified and rose again: and he is certainly not
to be rejected because the cross is shameful.
Ac 17:5
17:5 {3} But the Jews which believed
not, moved with envy, took unto them certain {a} lewd fellows of the baser
sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted
the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the
people.
(3) Although the zeal of the
unfaithful seems ever so virtuous, yet at length it is found to have neither
truth nor fairness. Yet the wicked cannot do what they wish, for even among
themselves God stirs up some, whose help he uses for the deliverance of his
own.
(a) Certain companions which do nothing but walk the streets, wicked
men, to be hired for every man's money to do any mischief, such as we
commonly call the rabble and very cesspools and dunghill knaves of all towns
and cities.
Ac 17:6
17:6 And when they found them not, they
drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These
that have turned the {b} world upside down are come hither
also;
(b) Into whatever country and place
they come, they cause sedition and tumult.
Ac 17:9
17:9 And when they had taken {c}
security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
(c) When Jason had put them in good
assurance that they would appear.
Ac 17:10
17:10 {4} And the brethren immediately
sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into
the synagogue of the Jews.
(4) That is indeed the wisdom of the
Spirit which always sets the glory of God before itself as a mark with which
it directs itself, and never wavers from it.
Ac 17:11
17:11 {5} These were more {d} noble
than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness
of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so.
(5) The Lord sets out in one short
period of time, and in one people, different examples of his unsearchable
wisdom to cause them to fear him.
(d) He compares the Jews with the
Jews.
Ac 17:13
17:13 {6} But when the Jews of
Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea,
they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
(6) Satan has his who are zealous
for him, and those who one would least suspect.
Ac 17:14
17:14 {7} And then immediately the
brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus
abode there still.
(7) There is neither counsel, nor
fury, nor madness against the Lord.
Ac 17:15
17:15 {8} And they that conducted Paul
{e} brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and
Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they
departed.
(8) The sheep of Christ also watch
their pastor's health and safety, but yet in the Lord.
(e) It is not for
nothing that the Jews of Berea were so commended, for they brought Paul safe
from Macedonia to Athens, and there is in between these two places all of
Thessalia, and Boeotia, and Attica.
Ac 17:16
17:16 {9} Now while Paul waited for
them at Athens, his spirit was {f} stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly
given to {g} idolatry.
(9) In comparing the wisdom of God
with man's wisdom, men scoff and mock at that which they do not understand:
and God uses the curiosity of fools to gather together his elect.
(f) He
could not forbear.
(g) Slavishly given to idolatry: Pausanias writes that
there were more idols in Athens than in all Greece; yea they had altars
dedicated to Shame, and Fame, and Lust, whom they made goddesses.
Ac 17:17
17:17 Therefore disputed he in the
synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily
with {h} them that met with him.
(h) Whoever Paul met with that would
allow him to talk with him, he reasoned with him, so thoroughly did he burn
with the zeal of God's glory.
Ac 17:18
17:18 {10} Then certain philosophers of
the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will
this {i} babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange
gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the
resurrection.
(10) Two special sects of the
philosophers set themselves against Christ: the Epicures, who mock and scoff
at religion: and the Stoics, who decide religious matters according to their
own thinking.
(i) Literally, "seed gatherer": a borrowed kind of speech
taken from birds which spoil corn, and is applied to those who without any
skill blurt out the knowledge which they have gotten by hearing this man and
that man.
Ac 17:19
17:19 And they took him, and brought
him unto {k} Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof
thou speakest, [is]?
(k) This was a place called, as one
would say, Mars hill, where the judges sat who were called Areopagita upon
important matters, who in ancient time arraigned Socrates, and afterward
condemned him of impiety.
Ac 17:21
17:21 {11} (For all the Athenians and
strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to
tell, or to hear some new thing.)
(11) The wisdom of man is
vanity.
Ac 17:22
17:22 {12} Then Paul stood in the midst
of Mars' hill, and said, [Ye] men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye
are too {l} superstitious.
(12) The idolaters themselves
provide most strong and forcible arguments against their own
superstition.
(l) To stand in too foolish and slavish a fear of your
gods.
Ac 17:23
17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld
your {m} devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE {n} UNKNOWN
GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto
you.
(m) Whatever men worship for
religion's sake, that we call religion.
(n) Pausanias in his Atticis
makes mention of the altar which the Athenians had dedicated to unknown
gods: and Laertius in his Epimenides makes mention of an altar that had no
name entitled upon it.
Ac 17:24
17:24 {13} God that made the world and
all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not
in temples made with hands;
(13) It is a most foolish and vain
thing to compare the Creator with the creature, to limit him within a place
who can be comprehended in no place, and to think to allure him with gifts,
from whom all men have received all things whatever they have: and these are
the fountains of all idolatry.
Ac 17:26
17:26 {14} And hath made of {o} one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath
determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their
habitation;
(14) God is wonderful in all his
works, but especially in the work of man: not that we should stand amazed at
his works, but that we should lift our eyes to the workman.
(o) Of one
stock and one beginning.
Ac 17:27
17:27 That they should seek the Lord,
if haply they might {p} feel after him, and find him, though he be not far
from every one of us:
(p) For as blind men we could not
seek out God except by groping, before the true light came and enlightened
the world.
Ac 17:29
17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the
offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or
silver, or stone, {q} graven by art and man's device.
(q) Which things (gold, silver, and
stones) are custom engraved as much as a man's mind can devise, for men will
not worship those things as they are, unless by some art it has formed into
an image of some sort.
Ac 17:30
17:30 {15} And the times of this
ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to
repent:
(15) The oldness of the error does
not excuse those that err, but it commends and sets forth the patience of
God, who nonetheless will be a just judge to those who condemn him.
Ac 17:31
17:31 Because he hath appointed a day,
in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he
hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given {r} assurance unto all [men], in that
he hath raised him from the dead.
(r) By declaring Christ to be the
judge of the world through the resurrection from the dead.
Ac 17:32
17:32 {16} And when they heard of the
resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee
again of this [matter].
(16) Men, to show forth their
vanity, are affected and moved differently by the very same Gospel, which
nonetheless does not cease to be effectual in the elect.
Ac 18:1
18:1 After {1} these things Paul
departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
(1) The true ministers are so far
from seeking their own profit, that they willingly depart from what is
rightfully theirs, rather than hindering the course of the Gospel in the
slightest way.
Ac 18:2
18:2 And found a certain Jew named
Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla;
(because that {a} Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and
came unto them.
(a) Suetonius records that Rome
banished the Jews because they were never at rest, and that because of
Christ.
Ac 18:4
18:4 {2} And he reasoned in the
synagogue every sabbath, and {b} persuaded the Jews and the
Greeks.
(2) The truth ought always to be
freely uttered, yet nonetheless the doctrine may be moderated in accordance
with the hearers, so that they are most profited.
(b) Exhorted so that he
persuaded, and that is what the word signifies.
Ac 18:5
18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were
come from Macedonia, Paul {c} was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the
Jews [that] Jesus [was] Christ.
(c) Was very much grieved in mind:
by which is signified the great earnestness of his mind, which was greatly
moved: for Paul was so zealous that he completely forgot himself, and with a
wonderful courage gave himself to preach Christ.
Ac 18:6
18:6 {3} And when they opposed
themselves, and blasphemed, he shook [his] raiment, and said unto them, Your
{d} blood [be] upon your own heads; I [am] clean: from henceforth I will go
unto the Gentiles.
(3) Although we have tried all
possible means, and yet in vain, we must not stop our work, but forsake the
rebellious, and go to those that are more obedient.
(d) This is a type of
speech taken from the Hebrews, by which he means that the Jews are the cause
of their own destruction, and as for him, that he is without fault in
forsaking them and going to other nations.
Ac 18:9
18:9 {4} Then spake the Lord to Paul in
the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy
peace:
(4) God does confirm and maintain
the steadfastness of his servants.
Ac 18:11
18:11 And he {e} continued [there] a
year and six months, teaching the word of God among
them.
(e) Literally, "sat", whereupon they
in former time took the name of their bishop's seat: but Paul sat, that is,
continued teaching the word of God: and this type of seat does not belong to
those who never took their seats with a mind to teach in them.
Ac 18:12
18:12 {5} And when Gallio was the
deputy of {f} Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul,
and brought him to the judgment seat,
(5) The wicked are never weary of
doing evil, but the Lord wonderfully mocks their endeavours.
(f) That is,
of Greece, yet the Romans did not call him deputy of Greece, but of Achaia,
because the Romans brought the Greeks into subjection by the Achaians, who
in those days were Princes of Greece, as Pausanias records.
Ac 18:14
18:14 And when Paul was now about to
open [his] mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or
wicked lewdness, O [ye] Jews, {g} reason would that I should bear with
you:
(g) As much as I rightly
could.
Ac 18:15
18:15 But if it be a question of {h}
words and {i} names, and [of] your law, look ye [to it]; for I will be no
judge of such [matters].
(h) As if a man has not spoken well,
as judged by your religion.
(i) For this profane man thinks that the
controversy of religion is merely a fight about words, and over nothing
important.
Ac 18:18
18:18 {6} And Paul [after this] tarried
[there] yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed
thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; {k} having shorn [his]
head in {l} Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
(6) Paul is made all to all, to win
all to Christ.
(k) That is, Paul.
(l) Cenchrea was a haven of the
Corinthians.
Ac 18:20
18:20 {7} When they desired [him] to
tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
(7) The apostles were carried about
not by the will of man, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Ac 18:21
18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I
must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return
again unto you, {m} if God will. And he sailed from
Ephesus.
(m) So we should promise nothing
without this clause, for we do not know what the following day will bring
forth.
Ac 18:24
18:24 {8} And a certain Jew named
Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, [and] {n} mighty in the
scriptures, came to Ephesus.
(8) Apollos, a godly and learned
man, does not refuse to profit in the school of a base and abject
handicraftsman, and also of a woman: and so becomes and excellent minister
of the Church.
(n) Very well instructed in the knowledge of the
scriptures.
Ac 18:26
18:26 And he began to speak boldly in
the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto
[them], and expounded unto him the {o} way of God more
perfectly.
(o) The way that leads to
God.
Ac 18:27
18:27 And when he was disposed to pass
into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who,
when he was come, helped them much which had believed through {p}
grace:
(p) Through God's gracious favour,
or by those excellent gifts which God had bestowed upon him.
Ac 19:1
19:1 And {1} it came to pass, that,
while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came
to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
(1) Paul, not being offended at the
rudeness of the Ephesians, plants a church amongst them.
Ac 19:2
19:2 He said unto them, Have ye
received the {a} Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have
not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(a) Those excellent gifts of the
Holy Spirit, which were in the Church in those days.
Ac 19:3
19:3 {2} And he said unto them, Unto
{b} what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto {c} John's
baptism.
(2) John only began to instruct the
disciples whom Christ would make perfect.
(b) In what doctrine then are
you taught and instructed?
(c) To be baptized into John's baptism is to
profess the doctrine which John preached and to be identified with his
baptism.
Ac 19:9
19:9 {3} But when divers were hardened,
and believed not, but spake evil of that {d} way before the multitude, he
departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school
of one {e} Tyrannus.
(3) For a man to separate himself
and others from infidels who are utterly desperate, is not to divide the
Church, but rather to unite it, and make it one.
(d) By this word "way",
the Hebrews understand any type of life, and here it is taken for
Christianity.
(e) This was a man's proper name.
Ac 19:13
19:13 {4} Then certain of the vagabond
Jews, {f} exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits
the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul
preacheth.
(4) Satan is forced to give witness
against himself.
(f) So were they called who cast out demons by forcing
them to leave in the name of God: and in the beginning of the Church, those
who had the gift of working miracles, and laid their hands on those that
were possessed with demons, were called the same.
Ac 19:16
19:16 And the man in whom the evil
spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and {g} prevailed against them,
so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
(g) He prevailed against them,
though they struggled ever so much.
Ac 19:18
19:18 {5} And many that believed came,
and {h} confessed, and shewed their deeds.
(5) Conjuring and sorcery is
condemned by open testimony, and by the authority of the apostle.
(h)
Confessed their errors, and openly detested them, being terrified with the
fear of the judgment of God: and how does this compare to confession to a
priest?
Ac 19:19
19:19 Many of them also which used
curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all [men]:
and they counted the price of them, and found [it] {i} fifty thousand [pieces]
of silver.
(i) Those that give the lowest
estimate, reckon it to be about eight hundred pounds English.
Ac 19:21
19:21 {6} After these things were
ended, Paul purposed in the {k} spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia
and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also
see Rome.
(6) Paul is never weary.
(k) By
the motion of God's Spirit: therefore we may not say that Paul ran rashly
unto death, but as the Spirit of God led him.
Ac 19:23
19:23 {7} And the same time there arose
no small stir about that way.
(7) Gain cloaked with a show of
religion is the very cause why idolatry is strongly and stubbornly
defended.
Ac 19:24
19:24 For a certain [man] named
Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver {l} shrines for Diana, brought no
small gain unto the craftsmen;
(l) These were special counterfeit
temples with Diana's picture in them, which those who worshipped her
bought.
Ac 19:27
19:27 So that not only {m} this our
craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great
goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed,
whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
(m) As if he said, "If Paul goes on
in this way as he has begun, to confuse the opinion which men have of
Diana's image, all of our gain will come to nothing."
Ac 19:31
19:31 {8} And certain of the chief of
Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring [him] that he would not
adventure himself into the theatre.
(8) There ought to be in all
Christians, and especially in the ministers, an invincible steadfastness
which may not by any storms or assaults be overcome, which nonetheless must
modestly allow itself to be governed by wisdom.
Ac 19:34
19:34 {9} But when they knew that he
was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great
[is] Diana of the Ephesians.
(9) Instead of reason, the idolaters
are sufficiently contented with their own madness and outcries, and those
are the greatest defence that they have.
Ac 19:35
19:35 {10} And when the townclerk had
appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that
knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great
goddess Diana, and of the [image] which {n} fell down from
Jupiter?
(10) An example of a political man
who redeems peace and quietness with lies, which Paul would have never
done.
(n) The Ephesians believed superstitiously that the image of Diana
came down to them from heaven.
Ac 19:38
19:38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the
craftsmen which are with him, have a {o} matter against any man, the {p} law
is open, and there are {q} deputies: let them implead one
another.
(o) Have anything to accuse any man
of.
(p) For there are certain days appointed for civil causes and matters
of judgment, and the deputies sit on those days.
(q) By the deputies are
meant also the deputies' substitutes, that is, those who sat for
them.
Ac 19:39
19:39 But if ye enquire any thing
concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a {r} lawful
assembly.
(r) He speaks of a lawful assembly
not only to speak against the disordered tumult of the people, but also
against all meeting and coming together which was not by order: for there
were certain days appointed to call people together in.
Ac 20:1
20:1 And {1} after the uproar was
ceased, Paul called unto [him] the disciples, and embraced [them], and
departed for to go into Macedonia.
(1) Paul departs from Ephesus by the
consent of the church, not to be idle or at rest, but to take pains in
another place.
Ac 20:2
20:2 And when he had gone over those
parts, and had given them {a} much exhortation, he came into
Greece,
(a) For after so great trouble,
there was need of much exhortation.
Ac 20:3
20:3 {2} And [there] abode three
months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into
Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
(2) A perverse zeal is the guider
and instructor to murderers: and we are not excluded by the wisdom of God to
prevent the endeavours of wicked men.
Ac 20:7
20:7 {3} And upon the {b} first [day]
of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached
unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until
midnight.
(3) Assemblies in the night-time
cannot be justly condemned, neither should they be, when the cause is
good.
(b) Literally, "the first day of the Sabbath", that is, upon the
Lord's day: so that by this place, and by 1Co 16:2 we properly understand
that in those days the Christians habitually assembled themselves solemnly
together upon that day.
Ac 20:8
20:8 {4} And there were many lights in
the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
(4) The devil, taking care to
trouble the Church with a great offence, gives Paul a singular occasion to
confirm the Gospel
Ac 20:16
20:16 {5} For Paul had determined to
sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted,
if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of
Pentecost.
(5) Paul, an earnest and diligent
follower of Christ, making haste to his bonds without any ceasing or
stopping in his race, first of all as it were makes his testament, wherein
he gives an account of his former life, defends the doctrine which he
taught, and exhorts the pastors of the church to persevere and go forward
with continuance in their office.
Ac 20:17
20:17 And from {c} Miletus he sent to
Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
(c) According as the situation of
these places is set forth, the distance between Ephesus and Miletus was
almost 50 miles or 80 km.
Ac 20:18
20:18 {6} And when they were come to
him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia,
after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
(6) A graphic image of a true
pastor.
Ac 20:20
20:20 [And] how I kept {d} back nothing
that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you
publickly, and from house to house,
(d) I did not refrain form speaking,
neither did I conceal my motives in any way at all, either for fear or for
wicked gain.
Ac 20:22
20:22 {7} And now, behold, I go {e}
bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall
me there:
(7) He testifies that he goes to his
imprisonment by the commandment of God.
(e) He calls the guiding
direction of the Holy Spirit, who forced him to take his journey to
Jerusalem, the bond of the Sprit, whom he followed with all his
heart.
Ac 20:26
20:26 Wherefore I take you to record
this day, that I [am] {f} pure from the blood of all
[men].
(f) If you perish, yet there will
fault with me. See Geneva (d) "Ac 18:6"
Ac 20:27
20:27 {8} For I have not shunned to
declare unto you all the counsel of God.
(8) The doctrine of the apostles is
most perfect and absolute.
Ac 20:28
20:28 Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to {g} feed the church of God, which {h} he hath purchased with {i}
his own blood.
(g) To keep it, to feed and govern
it.
(h) A notable sentence for Christ's Godhead: which shows plainly in
his person, how that by reason of the joining together of the two natures in
his own person, that which is proper to one is spoken of the other, being
taken as deriving from one another, and not in the original: which in old
time the godly fathers termed a communicating or fellowship of properties or
attributes, that is to say, a making common of that to two, which belongs
but to one.
(i) The words "his own" show forth the excellency of that
blood.
Ac 20:29
20:29 {9} For I know this, that after
my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock.
(9) A prophecy of pastors that would
immediately degenerate into wolves, against those who boast and brag only of
a succession of persons.
Ac 20:30
20:30 Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to {k} draw away disciples after
them.
(k) This is great misery, to want
the presence of such a shepherd, but it is a greater misery to have wolves
enter in.
Ac 20:32
20:32 {10} And now, brethren, I commend
you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and
to give you an {l} inheritance among all them which are
sanctified.
(10) The power of God, and his free
promises revealed in his word, are the props and upholders of the ministry
of the Gospel.
(l) As children, and therefore an inheritance of free love
and good will.
Ac 20:33
20:33 {11} I have coveted no man's
silver, or gold, or apparel.
(11) Pastors must before all things
beware of covetousness.
Ac 20:35
20:35 I have shewed you all things, how
that so labouring ye ought {m} to support the weak, and to remember the words
of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to
receive.
(m) As it were by reaching out the
hand to those who otherwise are about to slip and fall away, and so to
steady them.
Ac 20:37
20:37 {12} And they all wept sore, and
fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
(12) The Gospel does not take away
natural affections, but rules and bridles them in good order.
Ac 21:1
21:1 And {1} it came to pass, that
after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight
course unto Coos, and the [day] following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto
Patara:
(1) Not only ordinary men, but even
our friends, and such as are endued with the Spirit of God, sometimes go
about to hinder the course of our calling: but it is our part to go forward
without any stopping or staggering, after we are sure of our calling from
God.
Ac 21:4
21:4 And finding disciples, we tarried
there seven days: who said to Paul through the {a} Spirit, that he should not
go up to Jerusalem.
(a) They foretold through the Spirit
what dangers were about to befall Paul, and this they did as prophets: but
they misdirected him away from Jerusalem because of a fleshly
affection.
Ac 21:8
21:8 And the next [day] we that were of
Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house
of Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the {b} seven; and abode with
him.
(b) He speaks of the seven deacons
which he mentioned before in Ac 6:1-7 .
Ac 21:9
21:9 And the same man had four
daughters, virgins, which did {c} prophesy.
(c) They had a peculiar gift of
foretelling things to come.
Ac 21:14
21:14 {2} And when he would not be
persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be
done.
(2) The will of God bridles all
affections in those who earnestly seek the glory of God.
Ac 21:19
21:19 {3} And when he had saluted them,
he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his
ministry.
(3) God is to be praised, who is the
author of all good sayings and deeds.
Ac 21:20
21:20 {4} And when they heard [it],
they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many
thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the
law:
(4) In things indifferent (of which
sort the traditions of the Pharisees were not, but rather the ceremonies of
the Law, until the time when Christian liberty was more fully revealed to
the Jews) charity exhorts us to conform or apply ourselves willingly so far
as we may, to our brethren who do not stubbornly and maliciously resist the
truth (but are not thoroughly instructed), especially if the question
pertains to a whole multitude.
Ac 21:24
21:24 Them take, and {d} purify thyself
with them, and {e} be at charges with them, that they may shave [their] heads:
and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning
thee, are nothing; but [that] thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest
the law.
(d) That is, consecrate thyself: for
he does not speak here of the unclean, but of those who are subject to the
vow of the Nazarites.
(e) That it may be known that you were not only
present at the vow, but also a main participator in it: and therefore it is
said afterwards that Paul declared the days of purification: for although
the offerings for the Nazarites offerings were appointed, yet they might add
somewhat unto them; see Nu 6:21 .
Ac 21:26
21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the
next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, {f} to signify
the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should
be offered for every one of them.
(f) The priests were to be informed
of the accomplishment of the days of the purification, because there were
sacrifices to be offered the same day that their vow was ended.
Ac 21:27
21:27 {5} And when the seven days were
almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple,
stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
(5) A preposterous zeal is the cause
of great confusion and great troubles.
Ac 21:31
21:31 {6} And as they went about to
kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem
was in an uproar.
(6) God finds some even amongst the
wicked and profane themselves, to hinder the endeavours of the rest.
Ac 21:38
21:38 Art not thou that {g} Egyptian,
which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness
four thousand men that were murderers?
(g) Concerning this Egyptian who
assembled thirty thousand men, read Josephus, book 2, chap. 12.
Ac 22:3
22:3 {1} I am verily a man [which am] a
Jew, born in Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the
{a} feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law
of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this
day.
(1) Paul, making a short declaration
of his former life, proves both his calling and doctrine to be from
God.
(a) That is, his daily hearer: the reason of this speech is this:
those who teach commonly sit in the higher place, speaking to their students
who sit upon benches beneath, and therefore he says "at the feet of
Gamaliel".
Ac 22:20
22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr
Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and
kept the raiment of them that {b} slew him.
(b) This is properly spoken, for
Steven was murdered by a bunch of cutthroats, not by order of justice, but
by open force: for at that time the Jews could not put any man to death by
law.
Ac 22:22
22:22 {2} And they gave him audience
unto this word, and [then] lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a
[fellow] from the earth: for it is not fit that he should
live.
(2) Resolute and stubborn pride will
neither embrace the truth itself, neither allow others to receive it.
Ac 22:23
22:23 And as they {c} cried out, and
cast off [their] clothes, and threw dust into the air,
(c) The description of a seditious
tumult, and of a foolish and mad multitude.
Ac 22:24
22:24 {3} The chief captain commanded
him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by
scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against
him.
(3) The wisdom of the flesh does not
consider what is just, but what is profitable, and in addition takes into
account the profit that can be gained, according as it presently
appears.
Ac 22:25
22:25 {4} And as they bound him with
thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to
scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
(4) There is no reason why we may
not use those lawful means which God gives us in order to repel or prevent
an injury.
Ac 22:29
22:29 Then straightway they departed
from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was
afraid, after he knew that he was {d} a Roman, and because he had bound
him.
(d) Not by nation, but by the law of
his city of birth.
Ac 23:1
23:1 And {1} Paul, earnestly beholding
the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience
before God until this day.
(1) Paul, against the false
accusations of his enemies, displays a clear conscience, for proof of which
he repeats the whole course of his life.
Ac 23:2
23:2 {2} And the high priest Ananias
commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the
mouth.
(2) Hypocrites are forced at length
to betray themselves by their violence.
Ac 23:3
23:3 {3} Then said Paul unto him, God
shall smite thee, [thou] {b} whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after
the law, and commandest me to be smitten {c} contrary to the
law?
(3) It is lawful for us to complain
of injuries, and to summon the wicked to the judgment seat of God, but yet
we must do it without hatred, and with a quiet and peaceable mind.
(b)
This is a vehement and severe speech, but yet not reproachful: for the godly
may speak severely, and yet be void of the bitter affection of a severe and
angry mind.
(c) For the Law commands the judge to hear the person that is
accused patiently, and to pronounce the sentence judiciously.
Ac 23:5
23:5 {4} Then said Paul, I wist not,
brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak
evil of the ruler of thy people.
(4) We must willingly and from the
heart give honour to magistrates, although they are tyrants.
Ac 23:6
23:6 {5} But when Paul perceived that
the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the
council, Men [and] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the
hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in
question.
(5) We may sometimes lawfully set
the wicked against themselves, so that they stop assaulting us, in order
that the truth is not hindered.
Ac 23:7
23:7 {6} And when he had so said, there
arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude
was divided.
(6) The agreement between the wicked
is weak, even though they conspire together to oppress the truth.
Ac 23:8
23:8 {7} For the Sadducees say that
there is no resurrection, neither {d} angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees
confess both.
(7) It is an old heresy of the
Sadducees to deny the existence of angels and souls, and in addition the
resurrection of the dead.
(d) Things that exist without a body.
Ac 23:9
23:9 {8} And there arose a great cry:
and the {e} scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove,
saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken
to him, let us not fight against God.
(8) The Lord, when it pleases him,
finds defenders of his cause, even amongst his enemies.
(e) The scribe's
office was a public office, and the name of the Pharisees was the name of a
sect.
Ac 23:10
23:10 {9} And when there arose a great
dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in
pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force
from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.
(9) God will not forsake his own,
even to the very end.
Ac 23:12
23:12 {10} And when it was day, certain
of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves {f} under a curse, saying
that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed
Paul.
(10) Those who are carried away with
a foolish zeal think that they may lie and murder, and do whatever mischief
they wish.
(f) Cursing and prohibiting themselves, they promised.
Ac 23:15
23:15 Now therefore ye with the {g}
council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to
morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him:
and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
(g) You and the senate ask that the
same thing should be done, so that the tribune will not think that it was
demanded of him because of an individual's private interests.
Ac 23:17
23:17 {11} Then Paul called one of the
centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain:
for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
(11) The wisdom of the Spirit must
be joined with simplicity.
Ac 23:22
23:22 {12} So the chief captain [then]
let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou
hast shewed these things to me.
(12) There is no counsel against the
Lord and his servants.
Ac 23:26
23:26 {13} Claudius Lysias unto the
most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.
(13) Lysias is suddenly made by the
Lord to be Paul's protector.
Ac 24:1
24:1 And {1} after five days Ananias
the high priest descended with the elders, and [with] a certain orator [named]
Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
(1) Hypocrites, when they can not do
what they want to do by force and deceit, at length they go about to
accomplish it by a show of law.
Ac 24:2
24:2 And when he was called forth,
Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, Seeing that {a} by thee we enjoy
great quietness, and that very {b} worthy deeds are done unto this nation by
thy providence,
(a) Felix ruled that province with
great cruelty and covetousness, and yet Josephus records that he did many
worthy things, such as taking Eleazar the captain of certain cutthroats, and
put that deceiving wretch the Egyptian to flight, who caused great troubles
in Judea.
(b) He uses a word which the Stoics defined as a perfect duty
and perfect behaviour.
Ac 24:5
24:5 For we have found this man [a] {c}
pestilent [fellow], and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the
world, and a {d} ringleader of the sect of the {e}
Nazarenes:
(c) Literally, "a plague".
(d) As
one would say, a ringleader, or a flag bearer.
(e) So they scoffingly
called the Christians, taking the name from the towns where they thought
that Christ was born, whereupon it happened that Julian the apostate called
Christ a Galilean.
Ac 24:9
24:9 And the Jews also {f} assented,
saying that these things were so.
(f) Confirmed what Tertullus
said.
Ac 24:10
24:10 {2} Then Paul, after that the
governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that
thou hast been of {g} many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more
cheerfully answer for myself:
(2) Tertullus, by the devil's
rhetoric, begins with flattery and finishes with lies: but Paul using
heavenly eloquence, and but a simple beginning, casts off from himself the
crime of sedition, with which he was being charged, with a simple
denial.
(g) Paul pleaded his cause two years before Felix departed out of
the province, see Ac 24:27 , but he had governed Trachonite, and Batanea,
and Galavnite, before Claudius made him governor of Judea; see Josephus in
the History of the Jewish War, lib. 2, cap. 11.
Ac 24:13
24:13 Neither can they {h} prove the
things whereof they now accuse me.
(h) They cannot lay forth before you
and prove with good reasons.
Ac 24:14
24:14 {3} But this I confess unto thee,
that after the way which they call {i} heresy, so worship I the God of my
fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the
prophets:
(3) Paul proceeds in the case of
religion from a conjectural state to a practical state, not only admitting
of the religion which he was accused of, but also proving it to be true, to
be heavenly and from God, and to be the oldest of all religions.
(i) Here
this word "heresy" or "sect" is taken in a good sense.
Ac 24:17
24:17 {4} Now after many years I came
to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
(4) Paul in conclusion tells the
things thing which was truly done, which Tertullus before him had corrupted
in various ways.
Ac 24:18
24:18 {k} Whereupon certain Jews from
{l} Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with
tumult.
(k) And while I was occupied with
those things.
(l) By this it is evident that these from Asia were Paul's
enemies, and the ones that stirred up the people against him.
Ac 24:20
24:20 Or else let these same [here]
say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the {m}
council,
(m) Where the tribune brought
me.
Ac 24:22
24:22 {5} And when Felix heard these
things, having more {n} perfect knowledge of [that] way, he deferred them, and
said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost
of your matter.
(5) The judge suspends his sentence
because the matter is doubtful.
(n) Felix could not judge whether he had
done wickedly in the matter of his religion or not until he had a better
understanding of the way which Paul professed: and as for other matters with
regard to the charge of sedition, he considers it good to defer it until he
hears Lysias, and therefore he gives Paul somewhat more liberty.
Ac 24:23
24:23 {6} And he commanded a centurion
to keep Paul, and to let [him] have liberty, and that he should forbid none of
his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
(6) God is a most faithful keeper of
his servants, and the power of the truth is wonderful, even amongst men who
are otherwise profane.
Ac 24:24
24:24 And after certain days, when
Felix came with his wife {o} Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul,
and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
(o) This Drusilla was Agrippa's
sister of whom Luke speaks afterwards, a harlot and very licentious woman,
and being the wife of Azizus king of the Emesens, who was circumcised,
departed from him, and went to this Felix the brother of Pallas, who was at
one time the slave of Nero.
Ac 24:27
24:27 {7} But after two years Porcius
Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to {p} shew the Jews a
pleasure, left Paul bound.
(7) With an evil mind, that is
guilty in itself, and although sometimes there is some show of fairness, yet
eventually the conscience will be extinguished: but in the meanwhile we have
need of continual patience.
(p) For he had behaved himself very wickedly
in the province, and had it not been for favour of his brother Pallas, he
would have died for it: so that we may gather by this why he would have
pleased the Jews.
Ac 25:1
25:1 Now {1} when Festus was come into
the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to
Jerusalem.
(1) Satan's ministers are subtle and
diligent in seeking every occasion: but God who watches for his own, easily
hinders all their counsels.
Ac 25:6
25:6 {2} And when he had tarried among
them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting
on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
(2) We may justly avoid an injury,
but not with an injury.
Ac 25:7
25:7 And when he was come, the Jews
which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous
complaints against Paul, which {a} they could not prove.
(a) They could not prove them
certainly and without undoubted reasons.
Ac 25:9
25:9 {3} But Festus, willing to do the
Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and
there be judged of these things before me?
(3) God does not only turn aside the
counsel of the wicked, but also turns it upon their own heads.
Ac 25:13
25:13 {4} And after certain days king
{b} Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute
Festus.
(4) Festus, without even trying to,
even before kings, brings to light the wickedness of the Jews, and Paul's
innocence, and in this way marvellously confirms the Church of God.
(b)
This Agrippa was the son of Agrippa whose death Luke spoke of before, and
Bernice was his sister.
Ac 25:16
25:16 To whom I answered, It is not the
manner of the Romans to {c} deliver any man to die, before that he which is
accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself
concerning the crime laid against him.
(c) The Romans did not used to
deliver any man to be punished before, etc.
Ac 25:19
25:19 {5} But had certain questions
against him of their own {d} superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead,
whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
(5) The profane and wicked take an
occasion to condemn the true doctrine, because of private controversies and
contentions of men between themselves: but the truth nevertheless abides
safe and sure in the meantime.
(d) This profane man calls the Jewish
religion "superstition", and that before King Agrippa, but it is no wonder:
for the rulers of provinces, because of the majesty of the empire of Rome,
used to think themselves better than kings.
Ac 25:22
25:22 {6} Then Agrippa said unto
Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear
him.
(6) That is fulfilled in Paul which
the Lord had told to Ananias about him; see Ac 9:15 .
Ac 25:23
25:23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa
was come, and Bernice, with great {e} pomp, and was entered into the place of
hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus'
commandment Paul was brought forth.
(e) Gorgeously, like a
prince.
Ac 25:26
25:26 Of whom I have no certain thing
to write unto my {f} lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and
specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might
have somewhat to write.
(f) To Augustus. Good princes
refused this name at the first, that is, to be called lords, but afterwards
they allowed it, as we read of Traianus.
Ac 26:2
26:2 {1} I think myself happy, king
Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all
the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
(1) To have a skilful judge is a
great and singular gift of God.
Ac 26:4
26:4 {2} My manner of life from my
youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the
Jews;
(2) Paul divides the history of his
life into two times: for the first he calls his adversaries as witnesses:
for the latter, the fathers and Prophets.
Ac 26:5
26:5 Which {a} knew me from {b} the
beginning, if they would testify, that after the {c} most straitest sect of
our religion I lived a Pharisee.
(a) That I was, and where, and how I
lived.
(b) That my parents were Pharisees.
(c) The sect of the
Pharisees was the most exquisite amongst all the sects of the Jews, for it
was better than all the rest.
Ac 26:6
26:6 {3} And now I stand and am judged
for the hope of the promise made of God unto our
fathers:
(3) There are three chief and
principal witnesses of true doctrine: God, the true fathers, and the consent
of the true Church of God.
Ac 26:8
26:8 {4} Why should it be thought a
thing incredible with you, that God should raise the
dead?
(4) He proves the resurrection of
the dead, first by the power of God, then by the resurrection of Christ, of
which he is a sufficient witness.
Ac 26:10
26:10 Which thing I also did in
Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received
authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave {d}
my voice against [them].
(d) I consented to and allowed their
actions: for he was not a judge.
Ac 26:11
26:11 And I punished them oft in every
synagogue, and {e} compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad
against them, I persecuted [them] even unto strange
cities.
(e) By extreme punishment.
Ac 26:18
26:18 {5} To open their eyes, [and] to
turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which
are sanctified by faith that is in me.
(5) The end of the Gospel is to save
those who are brought to the knowledge of Christ, and are justified and
sanctified in him, being laid hold on by faith.
Ac 26:19
26:19 {6} Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I
was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
(6) Paul alleges God to be author of
the office of his apostleship, and that God's grace is a witness.
Ac 26:22
26:22 {7} Having therefore obtained
help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to {f} small and great,
saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say
should come:
(7) Christ is the end of the Law and
the Prophets.
(f) To everyone.
Ac 26:23
26:23 That Christ should {g} suffer,
[and] that he should be the {h} first that should rise from the dead, and
should shew {i} light unto the people, and to the
Gentiles.
(g) That Christ would not be such a
king as the Jews dreamed of, but one appointed to bear our miseries, and the
punishment of our sins.
(h) The first of those who are raised from the
dead.
(i) Life, yea and that a most blessed life which will be endless:
and this is set against darkness, which almost in all languages sometimes
signifies death, and sometimes misery and calamity.
Ac 26:24
26:24 {8} And as he thus spake for
himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much
learning doth make thee mad.
(8) The wisdom of God is madness to
fools, yet nonetheless we must boldly confirm the truth.
Ac 26:26
26:26 For the king knoweth of these
things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these
things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a {k}
corner.
(k) Secretly and privately.
Ac 26:27
26:27 {9} King Agrippa, believest thou
the prophets? I know that thou believest.
(9) Paul, as it were forgetting that
he stood a prisoner to defend his cause, does not forget the office of his
apostleship.
Ac 26:29
26:29 And Paul said, {l} I would to
God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost,
and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
(l) I would to God that not only
almost, but thoroughly and altogether, both you and all that hear me this
day, might be made as I am, only except for my bonds.
Ac 26:30
26:30 {10} And when he had thus spoken,
the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with
them:
(10) Paul is solemnly acquitted, and
yet not dismissed.
Ac 27:1
27:1 And {1} when it was determined
that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other
prisoners unto [one] named Julius, a centurion of Augustus'
band.
(1) Paul, with many other prisoners
and through the midst of many deaths, is brought to Rome, but yet by God's
own hand as it were, and set forth and commended to the world with many
singular testimonies.
Ac 27:7
27:7 And when we had sailed slowly many
days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we
sailed under Crete, over against {a} Salmone;
(a) Which was a high hill of
Crete.
Ac 27:9
27:9 {2} Now when much time was spent,
and when sailing was now dangerous, because the {b} fast was now already past,
Paul admonished [them],
(2) God's providence does not take
away the causes which God uses as means, but rather orders and disposes
their right use, even when he reveals an extraordinary issue.
(b) This
refers to the Jews fast which they kept in the feast of expiation, as we
read in Le 23:17 , which fell in the seventh month which we call October,
and is not good for navigating or sailing.
Ac 27:11
27:11 {3} Nevertheless the centurion
believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which
were spoken by Paul.
(3) Men cast themselves willingly
into an infinite amount of dangers, when they choose to follow their own
wisdom, rather than God, when he speaks by the mouth of his servants.
Ac 27:14
27:14 But not long after there arose
against {c} it a tempestuous wind, called {d}
Euroclydon.
(c) By Crete, from whose shore our
ship was driven by that means.
(d) Northeast wind.
Ac 27:18
27:18 {4} And we being exceedingly
tossed with a tempest, the next [day] they lightened the
ship;
(4) The result proves that none
provide worse for themselves than those who commit themselves to be governed
only by their own wisdom.
Ac 27:21
27:21 {5} But after long abstinence
Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have
hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this
harm and loss.
(5) God spares the wicked for a
time, for the sake of his elect and chosen.
Ac 27:25
27:25 {6} Wherefore, sirs, be of good
cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told
me.
(6) The promise is made effectual
through faith.
Ac 27:27
27:27 {7} But when the fourteenth night
was come, as we were driven up and down in {e} Adria, about midnight the
shipmen deemed {f} that they drew near to some country;
(7) We attain and come to the
promised and sure salvation through the midst of tempests and death
itself.
(e) For Ptolemy writes that the Adriatic Sea beats upon the east
shore of Cecilia.
(f) Or, some country drew near to them.
Ac 27:30
27:30 {8} And as the shipmen were about
to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under
colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the
foreship,
(8) No matter how foul the act,
distrust and an evil conscience can always compel men to commit it.
Ac 27:31
27:31 {9} Paul said to the centurion
and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be
saved.
(9) Although the performing of God's
promises does not depend upon secondary causes, yet they make themselves
unworthy of God's bountifulness who do not embrace those means which God
offers them, either upon rashness or distrust.
Ac 27:33
27:33 {10} And while the day was coming
on, Paul besought [them] all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth
day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken
nothing.
(10) When the world trembles, the
faithful alone are not only at peace, but strengthen and encourage others by
their example.
Ac 27:34
27:34 Wherefore I pray you to take
[some] meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an {g} hair fall
from the head of any of you.
(g) This is a proverb which the
Hebrews use, by which is meant that they will be safe, and that not one of
them will perish.
Ac 27:39
27:39 {11} And when it was day, they
knew not the land: but they discovered a certain {h} creek with a shore, into
the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the
ship.
(11) Then are tempests most of all
to be feared and looked for, when the port or haven is nearest.
(h) A
creek is a sea within land, as the Adriatic Sea, and the Persian Sea.
Ac 27:41
27:41 And falling into a place where
{i} two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and
remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the
waves.
(i) So is an isthmus called, because
the Sea touches it on both sides.
Ac 27:42
27:42 {12} And the soldiers' counsel
was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and
escape.
(12) There is nowhere more
unfaithfulness and unthankfulness in unbelievers.
Ac 27:43
27:43 {13} But the centurion, willing
to save Paul, kept them from [their] purpose; and commanded that they which
could swim should cast [themselves] first [into the sea], and get to
land:
(13) God finds even amongst his
enemies those whose help he uses to preserve his own.
Ac 27:44
27:44 {14} And the rest, some on
boards, and some on [broken pieces] of the ship. And so it came to pass, that
they escaped all safe to land.
(14) The goodness of God overcomes
man's malice.
Ac 28:1
28:1 And when they were escaped, then
they knew that the island was called {a} Melita.
(a) That place which we today call
Malta.
Ac 28:3
28:3 {1} And when Paul had gathered a
bundle of sticks, and laid [them] on the fire, there came a viper out of the
heat, and fastened on his hand.
(1) The godly are sure to have
danger upon danger, but they alway have a glorious outcome.
Ac 28:4
28:4 {2} And when the barbarians saw
the [venomous] beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt
this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet {b}
vengeance suffereth not to live.
(2) Although adversity is the
punishment of sin, yet seeing that God in punishing men does not always
punish because of sin, they judge rashly who either do not wait for the end,
or who judge and esteem of men according to prosperity or adversity.
(b)
Right and proper.
Ac 28:6
28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should
have {c} swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: {3} but after they had looked
a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said
that he was a god.
(c) The Greek word signifies to be
inflamed or to swell: moreover, Dioscorides in his sixth book, chap. 38,
witnesses that the biting of a viper causes a swelling of the body, and so
says Nicander, in his remedies against poisons.
(3) There are none who
are more changing in every way than they who are ignorant of true
religion.
Ac 28:7
28:7 {4} In the same quarters were
possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who
received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
(4) It never yet was a regret to any
man who received the servant of God, were he ever so miserable and
poor.
Ac 28:9
28:9 {5} So when this was done, others
also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were
healed:
(5) Although Paul was a captive, yet
the power of God was not captive.
Ac 28:10
28:10 {6} Who also honoured us with
many honours; and when we departed, they laded [us] with such things as were
necessary.
(6) God does well to strangers for
his children's sake.
Ac 28:11
28:11 {7} And after three months we
departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose {d}
sign was Castor and Pollux.
(7) Idols do not defile the saints,
who do in no way give consent of them.
(d) So they used to deck the front
part of their ships, because of which their ships were called by such
names.
Ac 28:14
28:14 {8} Where we found brethren, and
were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward
Rome.
(8) God bows and bends the hearts
even of profane men, as it pleases him to show favour to his own.
Ac 28:15
28:15 {9} And from thence, when the
brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as {e} Appii forum, and The
three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took
courage.
(9) God never allows his own to be
afflicted beyond their strength.
(e) Appius was a paved road made by
Appius the blind, with the help of his soldiers, long and broad, and it ran
out towards the sea, and there were three taverns on it.
Ac 28:16
28:16 And when we came to Rome, the
centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was
suffered to dwell by {f} himself with a soldier that kept
him.
(f) Not in a common prison, but in a
house which he rented for himself.
Ac 28:17
28:17 {10} And it came to pass, that
after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they
were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have
committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I
delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the
Romans.
(10) Paul in every place remembers
himself to be an apostle.
Ac 28:19
28:19 {11} But when the Jews spake
against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to
accuse my nation of.
(11) We may use the means which God
gives us, but in such a way that we seek the glory of God, and not of
ourselves.
Ac 28:23
28:23 {12} And when they had appointed
him a day, there came many to him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and
{g} testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out
of the law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till
evening.
(12) The Law and the Gospel agree
well together.
(g) With good reasons, and proved that the kingdom of God
foretold to them by the Prophets had come.
Ac 28:24
28:24 {13} And some believed the things
which were spoken, and some believed not.
(13) The Gospel is a taste of life
to those that believe, and a taste of death to those that are
disobedient.
Ac 28:26
28:26 {14} Saying, Go unto this people,
and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall
see, and not perceive:
(14) The unbelievers willingly
resist the truth, and yet not by chance.
Ac 28:27
28:27 For the heart of this people is
waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they {h}
closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears,
and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal
them.
(h) They made as though they did not
see that which they saw against their desires: yea, they did see, but they
would not see.
Ac 28:28
28:28 {15} Be it known therefore unto
you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will
hear it.
(15) The unbelief of the reprobate
and castaways cannot cause the truth of God to be of no effect.
Ac 28:29
28:29 {16} And when he had said these
words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among
themselves.
(16) Not the Gospel, but the
contempt of the Gospel is the cause of strife and debate.
Ac 28:30
28:30 {17} And Paul dwelt two whole
years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto
him,
(17) The word of God cannot be
bound.
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