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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>A C T S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. I.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The inspired historian begins his narrative of the Acts of the
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Apostles,
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I. With a reference to, and a brief recapitulation of, his gospel, or
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history of the life of Christ, inscribing this, as he had done that, to
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his friend Theophilus,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. With a summary of the proofs of Christ's resurrection, his
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conference with his disciples, and the instructions he gave them during
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the forty days, of his continuance on earth,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>.
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III. With a particular narrative of Christ's ascension into heaven, his
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disciples' discourse with him before he ascended, and the angels'
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discourse with them after he ascended,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:6-11">ver. 6-11</A>.
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IV. With a general idea of the embryo of the Christian church, and its
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state from Christ's ascension to the pouring out of the Spirit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:12-14">ver. 12-14</A>.
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V. With a particular account of the filling up of the vacancy that was
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made in the sacred college by the death of Judas, by the electing of
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Matthias in his room,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:15-26">ver. 15-26</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ac1_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac1_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac1_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac1_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac1_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Proofs of Christ's Resurrection; Christ's Address to His Apostles.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that
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Jesus began both to do and teach,
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2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through
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the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he
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had chosen:
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3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by
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many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and
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speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
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4 And, being assembled together with <I>them,</I> commanded them
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that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the
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promise of the Father, which, <I>saith he,</I> ye have heard of me.
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5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
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with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses,
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I. Theophilus is put in mind, and we in him, of St. Luke's gospel,
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which it will be of use for us to cast an eye upon before we enter upon
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the study of this book, that we may not only see how this begins where
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that breaks off, but that, <I>as in water face answers to face,</I> so
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do the acts of the apostles to the acts of their Master, the acts of
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his grace.</P>
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<P>
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1. His patron, to whom he dedicates this book (I should rather say his
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<I>pupil,</I> for he designs, in dedicating it to him, to instruct and
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direct him, and not to crave his countenance or protection), is
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Theophilus,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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In the epistle dedicatory before his gospel, he had called him <I>most
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excellent Theophilus;</I> here he calls him no more than <I>O
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Theophilus;</I> not that he had lost his excellency, nor that it was
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diminished and become less illustrious; but perhaps he had now quitted
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his place, whatever it was, for the sake of which that title was given
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him,--or he was now grown into years, and despised such titles of
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respect more than he had done,--or Luke was grown more intimate with
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him, and therefore could address him with the more freedom. It was
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usual with the ancients, both Christian and heathen writers, thus to
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inscribe their writings to some particular persons. But the directing
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some of the books of the scripture so is an intimation to each of us to
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receive them as if directed to us in particular, to us by name; for
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<I>whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
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learning.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. His gospel is here called <I>the former treatise which he had
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made,</I> which he had an eye to in writing this, intending this for a
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continuation and confirmation of that, <B><I>ton proton
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logon</I></B>--<I>the former word.</I> What is written of the gospel is
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the word as truly as what was spoken; nay, we now know no unwritten
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word that we are to give credit to, but as it agrees with that which is
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written. He made the former treatise, and now is divinely inspired to
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make this, for Christ's scholars must <I>go on towards perfection,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:1">Heb. vi. 1</A>.
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And therefore their guides must help them on, must <I>still teach the
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people knowledge</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+12:9">Eccl. xii. 9</A>),
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and not think that their former labours, though ever so good, will
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excuse them from further labours; but they should rather be quickened
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and encouraged by them, as St. Luke here, who, because he had laid the
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foundation in a former treatise, will build upon it in this. Let not
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this therefore drive out that; let not new sermons and new books make
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us forget old ones, but put us in mind of them, and help us to improve
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them.</P>
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<P>
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3. The contents of his gospel were <I>that, all that, which Jesus began
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both to do and teach;</I> and the same is the subject of the writings
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of the other three evangelists. Observe,
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(1.) Christ both did and taught. The doctrine he taught was confirmed
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by the miraculous works he did, which proved him <I>a teacher come from
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God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:2">John iii. 2</A>);
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and the duties he taught were copied out in the holy gracious works he
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did, for he hath <I>left us an example,</I> and that such as proves him
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a <I>teacher come from God</I> too, for <I>by their fruits you shall
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know them.</I> Those are the best ministers that both do and teach,
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whose lives are a constant sermon.
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(2.) <I>He began both to do and teach;</I> he laid the foundation of
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all that was to be taught and done in the Christian church. His
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apostles were to carry on and continue what he began, and to do and
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teach the same things. Christ set them in, and then left them to go on,
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but sent his Spirit to empower them both to do and teach. It is a
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comfort to those who are endeavouring to carry on the work of the
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gospel that Christ himself began it. The great salvation <I>at the
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first began to be spoken by the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:3">Heb. ii. 3</A>.
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(3.) The four evangelists, and Luke particularly, have handed down to
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us <I>all that Jesus began both to do and to teach;</I> not all the
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particulars--the world could not have contained them; but all the heads,
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samples of all, so many, and in such variety, that by them we may judge
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of the rest. We have the beginnings of his doctrine
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:17">Matt. iv. 17</A>),
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and the beginnings of his miracles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:11">John ii. 11</A>.
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Luke had spoken, had treated, of all Christ's sayings and doings, had
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given us a general idea of them, though he had not recorded each in
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particular.</P>
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<P>
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4. The period of the evangelical story is fixed <I>to the day in which
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he was taken up,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Then it was that he left this world, and his bodily presence was no
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more in it. St. Mark's gospel concludes with <I>the Lord's being
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received up into heaven</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:19">Mark xvi. 19</A>),
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and so does St. Luke's,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:51">Luke xxiv. 51</A>.
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Christ continued doing and teaching to the last, <I>till he was taken
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up</I> to the other work he had to do within the veil.</P>
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<P>
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II. The truth of Christ's resurrection is maintained and evidenced,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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That part of what was related in <I>the former treatise</I> was so
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material that it was necessary to be upon all occasions repeated. The
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great evidence of his resurrection was that <I>he showed himself alive
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to his apostles;</I> being alive, he showed himself so, and <I>he was
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seen of them.</I> They were honest men, and one may depend upon their
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testimony; but the question is whether they were not imposed upon, as
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many a well-meaning man is. No, they were not; for,
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1. The proofs were infallible, <B><I>tekmeria</I></B>--<I>plain
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indications,</I> both that he was <I>alive</I> (he walked and talked
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with them, he ate and drank with them) and that <I>it was he himself,
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and not another;</I> for he showed them again and again the marks of
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<I>the wounds in his hands, and feet, and side,</I> which was the
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utmost proof the thing was capable of or required.
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2. They were many, and often repeated: <I>He was seen by them forty
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days,</I> not constantly residing with them, but frequently appearing
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to them, and bringing them by degrees to be fully satisfied concerning
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it, so that all their sorrow for his departure was done away by it.
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Christ's staying upon earth so long after he had entered upon his state
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of exaltation and glory, to confirm the faith of his disciples and
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comfort their hearts, was such an instance of condescension and
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compassion to believers as may fully assure us <I>that we have a high
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priest that is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. A general hint given of the instructions he furnished his
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disciples with, now that he was about to leave them, and they, since
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<I>he breathed on them</I> and <I>opened their understandings,</I> were
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better able to receive them.
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1. He instructed them concerning the work they were to do: <I>He gave
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commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen.</I> Note, Christ's
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choice is always attended with his charge. Those whom he elected into
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the apostleship expected he should give them preferments, instead of
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which <I>he gave them commandments.</I> When <I>he took his journey,
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and gave authority to his servants, and to every one his work</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+13:34">Mark xiii. 34</A>),
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<I>he gave them commandments through the Holy Ghost,</I> which he was
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himself filled with as Mediator, and which he had breathed into them.
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In giving them the Holy Ghost, he gave them his commandments; for the
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Comforter will be a commander; and his office was <I>to bring to their
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remembrance what Christ had said. He charged those that were apostles
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by the Holy Ghost;</I> so the words are placed. It was their receiving
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the Holy Ghost that sealed their commission,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+20:22">John xx. 22</A>.
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He was not taken up till after he had given them their charge, and so
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finished his work.
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2. He instructed them concerning the doctrine they were to preach:
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<I>He spoke to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.</I>
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He had given them a general idea of that kingdom, and the certain time
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it should be set up in the world (in his parable,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+13:1-37">Mark xiii</A>.),
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but here he instructed them more in the nature of it, as a kingdom of
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grace in this world and of glory in the other, and opened to them that
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covenant which is the great charter by which it is incorporated. Now
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this was intended,
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(1.) To prepare them to receive the Holy Ghost, and to go through that
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which they were designed for. He tells them in secret what they must
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tell the world; and they shall find that the Spirit of truth, when he
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comes, will say the same.
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(2.) To be one of the proofs of Christ's resurrection; so it comes in
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here; the disciples, to whom <I>he showed himself alive,</I> knew that
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it was he, not only by what he showed them, but by what he said to
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them. None but he could speak thus clearly, thus fully, <I>of the
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things pertaining to the kingdom of God.</I> He did not entertain them
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with discourses of politics or the kingdoms of men, of philosophy or
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the kingdom of nature, but pure divinity and the kingdom of grace, the
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things which most nearly concerned them, and those to whom they were
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sent.</P>
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<P>
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IV. A particular assurance given them that they should now shortly
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receive the Holy Ghost, with orders given them to expect it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>),
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he <I>being assembled together with them,</I> probably in the interview
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at the mountain in Galilee which he had appointed before his death; for
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there is mention of their <I>coming together again</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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to attend his ascension. Though he had now ordered them to Galilee, yet
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they must not think to continue there; no, they must return to
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Jerusalem, and not depart thence. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. The command he gives them to wait. This was to raise their
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expectations of something great; and something very great they had
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reason to expect from their exalted Redeemer.
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(1.) They must wait till the time appointed, which is now <I>not many
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days hence.</I> Those that by faith hope promised mercies will come
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must with patience wait till they do come, according <I>to the time,
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the set time.</I> And when <I>the time draws nigh,</I> as now it did,
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we must, as Daniel, look earnestly for it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:3">Dan. ix. 3</A>.
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(2.) They must wait in the place appointed, <I>in Jerusalem,</I> for
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there the Spirit must be first poured out, because Christ was to be as
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<I>king upon the holy hill of Zion;</I> and because <I>the word of the
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Lord must go forth from Jerusalem;</I> this must be the mother-church.
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There Christ was put to shame, and therefore there he will have this
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honour done him, and this favour is done to Jerusalem to teach us to
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forgive our enemies and persecutors. The apostles were more exposed to
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danger at Jerusalem than they would have been in Galilee; but we may
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cheerfully trust God with our safety, when we keep in the way of our
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duty. The apostles were now to put on a public character, and therefore
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must venture in a public station. Jerusalem was the fittest candlestick
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for those lights to be set up in.</P>
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<P>
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2. The assurance he gives them that they shall not wait in vain.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The blessing designed them shall come, and they shall find it was
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worth waiting for; <I>You shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost;</I>
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that is,
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[1.] "The Holy Ghost shall be poured out upon you more plentifully than
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ever." They had already been breathed upon with the Holy Ghost
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+20:22">John xx. 22</A>),
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and they had found the benefit of it; but now they shall have larger
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measures of his gifts, graces, and comforts, and <I>be baptized with
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them,</I> in which there seems to be an allusion to those Old-Testament
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promises of the pouring out of the Spirit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joe+2:28,Isa+44:3,Isa+32:15">Joel ii. 28; Isa. xliv. 3; xxxii. 15</A>.
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[2.] "You shall be cleansed and purified by the Holy Ghost," as the
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priests were baptized and washed with water, when they were consecrated
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to the sacred function: "They had the sign; you shall have the thing
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signified. You shall be sanctified by the truth, as the Spirit shall
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lead you more and more into it, and have your consciences purged by the
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witness of the Spirit, that you may serve the living God in the
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apostleship."
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[3.] "You shall hereby be more effectually than ever engaged to your
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Master, and to his guidance, as Israel was <I>baptized unto Moses in
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the cloud, and in the sea;</I> you shall be tied so fast to Christ that
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you shall never, for fear of any sufferings, forsake him again, as once
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|
you did."</P>
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<P>
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(2.) Now this gift of the Holy Ghost he speaks of,</P>
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<P>
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[1.] As <I>the promise of the Father, which they had heard of him,</I>
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|
and might therefore depend upon. <I>First,</I> The Spirit was given by
|
|
promise, and it was at this time the great promise, as that of the
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|
Messiah was before
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:72">Luke i. 72</A>),
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and that of eternal life is now,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+2:25">1 John ii. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Temporal good things are given by Providence, but the Spirit and
|
|
spiritual blessings are given by promise,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:18">Gal. iii. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Spirit of God is not given as the spirit of men is given us, and
|
|
formed within us, by a course of nature
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+12:1">Zech. xii. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
but by the word of God.
|
|
|
|
1. That the gift may be the more valuable, Christ thought the promise
|
|
of the Spirit a legacy worth leaving to his church.
|
|
|
|
2. That it may be the more sure, and that the heirs of promise may be
|
|
confident of the immutability of God's counsel herein.
|
|
|
|
3. That it may be of grace, peculiar grace, and may be received by
|
|
faith, laying hold on the promise, and depending upon it. As Christ, so
|
|
the Spirit, is received by faith. <I>Secondly,</I> It was <I>the
|
|
promise of the Father,</I>
|
|
|
|
1. Of Christ's Father. Christ, as Mediator, had an eye to God as his
|
|
Father, fathering his design, and owning it all along.
|
|
|
|
2. Of our Father, who, if he give us <I>the adoption of sons,</I> will
|
|
certainly give us <I>the Spirit of adoption,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:4,6">Gal. iv. 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
He will give the Spirit, as <I>the Father of lights,</I> as <I>the
|
|
Father of spirits,</I> and as <I>the Father of mercies;</I> it is
|
|
<I>the promise of the Father. Thirdly,</I> This promise of the Father
|
|
they had heard from Christ many a time, especially in the farewell
|
|
sermon he preached to them a little before he died, wherein he assured
|
|
them, again and again, that <I>the Comforter</I> should come. This
|
|
confirms the promise of God, and encourages us to depend upon it, that
|
|
we have heard it from Jesus Christ; <I>for in him all the promises of
|
|
God are yea, and amen.</I> "You have heard it from me; and I will make
|
|
it good."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] As the prediction of John Baptist; for so far back Christ here
|
|
directs them to look
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
|
|
|
|
"You have not only heard it from me, but you had it from John; when he
|
|
turned you over to me, he said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:11">Matt. iii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I indeed baptize you with water, but he that comes after me shall
|
|
baptize you with the Holy Ghost.</I>" It is a great honour that Christ
|
|
now does to John, not only to quote his words, but to make this great
|
|
gift of the Spirit, now at hand, to be the accomplishment of them. Thus
|
|
<I>he confirmeth the word of his servants, his messengers,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:26">Isa. xliv. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
But Christ can do more than any of his ministers. It is an honour to
|
|
them to be employed in dispensing the means of grace, but it his
|
|
prerogative to give <I>the Spirit of grace. He shall baptize you with
|
|
the Holy Ghost,</I> shall teach you by his Spirit, and give his Spirit
|
|
to make intercession in you, which is more than the best ministers
|
|
preaching with us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Now this gift of the Holy Ghost thus promised, thus prophesied of,
|
|
thus waited for, is that which we find the apostles received in the
|
|
next chapter, for in that this promise had its full accomplishment;
|
|
this was it <I>that should come,</I> and <I>we look for no other;</I>
|
|
for it is here promised to be given <I>not many days hence.</I> He does
|
|
not tell them how many, because they must keep every day in a frame fit
|
|
to receive it. Other scriptures speak of <I>the gift of the Holy
|
|
Ghost</I> to ordinary believers; this speaks of that particular power
|
|
which, by the Holy Ghost, the first preachers of the gospel, and
|
|
planters of the church, were endued with, enabling them infallibly to
|
|
relate to that age, and record to posterity, the doctrine of Christ,
|
|
and the proofs of it; so that by virtue of this promise, and the
|
|
performance of it, we receive the New Testament as of divine
|
|
inspiration, and venture our souls upon it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_6"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_7"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_11"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Address to His Apostles; Christ's Ascension into Heaven.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
|
|
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
|
|
Israel?
|
|
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or
|
|
the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
|
|
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
|
|
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
|
|
and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
|
|
the earth.
|
|
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he
|
|
was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
|
|
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went
|
|
up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
|
|
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
|
|
into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
|
|
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
|
|
heaven.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In Jerusalem Christ, by his angel, had appointed his disciples to meet
|
|
him in Galilee; there he appointed them to meet him in Jerusalem again,
|
|
such a day. Thus he would try their obedience, and it was found ready
|
|
and cheerful; <I>they came together,</I> as he appointed them, to be
|
|
<I>the witnesses</I> of his ascension, of which we have here an
|
|
account. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The question they asked him at this interview. <I>They came
|
|
together</I> to him, as those that had consulted one another about it,
|
|
and concurred in the question <I>nemine contradicente--unanimously;</I>
|
|
they came in a body, and put it to him as the sense of the house,
|
|
<I>Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
|
|
Israel?</I> Two ways this may be taken:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. "Surely thou wilt not at all restore it to the present rulers of
|
|
Israel, the chief priests and the elders, that put thee to death, and,
|
|
to compass that design, tamely gave up the kingdom to Cæsar, and owned
|
|
themselves his subjects. What! Shall those that hate and persecute thee
|
|
and us be trusted with power? <I>This be far from thee.</I>" Or
|
|
rather,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. "Surely thou wilt now restore it to the Jewish nation, as far as it
|
|
will submit to thee as their king." Now two things were amiss in this
|
|
question:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Their expectation of the thing itself. They thought Christ would
|
|
<I>restore the kingdom to Israel,</I> that is, that he would make the
|
|
nation of the Jews as great and considerable among the nations as it
|
|
was <I>in the days of David and Solomon, of Asa and Jehoshaphat;</I>
|
|
that, as Shiloh, he would <I>restore the sceptre to Judah, and the
|
|
lawgiver;</I> whereas Christ came to set up his own kingdom, and that a
|
|
kingdom of heaven, not to <I>restore the kingdom to Israel,</I> an
|
|
earthly kingdom. See here,
|
|
|
|
[1.] How apt even good men are to place the happiness of the church too
|
|
much in external pomp and power; as if Israel could not be glorious
|
|
unless the kingdom were restored to it, nor Christ's disciples honoured
|
|
unless they were peers of the realm; whereas we are told to expect the
|
|
cross in this world, and to wait for the kingdom in the other world.
|
|
|
|
[2.] How apt we are to retain what we have imbibed, and how hard it is
|
|
to get over the prejudices of education. The disciples, having sucked
|
|
in this notion with their milk that the Messiah was to be a temporal
|
|
prince, were long before they could be brought to have any idea of his
|
|
kingdom as spiritual.
|
|
|
|
[3.] How naturally we are biassed in favour of our own people. They
|
|
thought God would have no kingdom in the world unless it were
|
|
<I>restored to Israel;</I> whereas the kingdoms of this world were to
|
|
become his, in whom he would be glorified, whether Israel should sink
|
|
or swim.
|
|
|
|
[4.] How apt we are to misunderstand scripture--to understand that
|
|
literally which is spoken figuratively, and to expound scripture by our
|
|
schemes, whereas we ought to form our schemes by the scriptures. But,
|
|
<I>when the Spirit shall be poured out from on high,</I> our mistakes
|
|
will be rectified, as the apostles' soon after were.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Their enquiry concerning the time of it: "<I>Lord, wilt thou</I>
|
|
do it <I>at this time?</I> Now that thou hast called us together is it
|
|
for this purpose, that proper measures may be concerted for the
|
|
restoring of the kingdom to Israel? Surely there cannot be a more
|
|
favourable juncture than this." Now herein they missed their mark,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That they were inquisitive into that which their Master had never
|
|
directed nor encouraged them to enquire into.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That they were impatient for the setting up of that kingdom in
|
|
which they promised themselves so great a share, and would anticipate
|
|
the divine counsels. Christ had told them that they should <I>sit on
|
|
thrones</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:30">Luke xxii. 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
and now nothing will serve them but they must be in the throne
|
|
immediately, and cannot stay the time; whereas <I>he that believeth
|
|
doth not make haste,</I> but is satisfied that God's time is the best
|
|
time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The check which Christ gave to this question, like that which he
|
|
had a little before given to Peter's enquiry concerning John, <I>What
|
|
is that to thee?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>It is not for you to know the times and seasons.</I> He does not
|
|
contradict their expectation that the kingdom would be restored to
|
|
Israel, because that mistake would soon be rectified by the pouring out
|
|
of the Spirit, after which they never had any more thoughts of the
|
|
temporal kingdom; and also because there is a sense of the expectation
|
|
which is true, the setting up of the gospel kingdom in the world; and
|
|
their mistake of the promise shall not make it of no effect; but he
|
|
checks their enquiry after the time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The knowledge of this is not allowed to them: <I>It is not for you
|
|
to know,</I> and therefore it is not for you to ask.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Christ is now parting from them, and parts in love; and yet he
|
|
gives them this rebuke, which is intended for a caution to his church
|
|
in all ages, to take heed of splitting upon the rock which was fatal to
|
|
our first parents--an inordinate desire of forbidden knowledge, and
|
|
intruding into things which we have not seen because God has not shown
|
|
them. <I>Nescire velle quæ magister maximus docere non vult,
|
|
erudita inscitia est--It is folly to covet to be wise above what is
|
|
written, and wisdom to be content to be no wiser.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Christ had given his disciples a great deal of knowledge above
|
|
others (<I>to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
|
|
God</I>), and had promised them his Spirit, to teach them more; now,
|
|
lest they should be puffed up with the abundance of the revelations, he
|
|
here lets them understand that there were some things which it was not
|
|
for them to know. We shall see how little reason we have to be proud of
|
|
our knowledge when we consider how many things we are ignorant of.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Christ had given his disciples instructions sufficient for the
|
|
discharge of their duty, both before his death and since his
|
|
resurrection, and in this knowledge he will have them to be satisfied;
|
|
for it is enough for a Christian, in whom vain curiosity is a corrupt
|
|
humour, to be mortified, and not gratified.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Christ had himself told his disciples <I>the things pertaining to
|
|
the kingdom of God,</I> and had promised that the Spirit should <I>show
|
|
them things to come</I> concerning it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:13">John xvi. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had likewise given them <I>signs of the times,</I> which it was
|
|
their duty to observe, and a sin to overlook,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:33,Mt+16:3">Matt. xxiv. 33; xvi. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
But they must not expect nor desire to know either all the particulars
|
|
of future events or the exact times of them. It is good for us to be
|
|
kept in the dark, and left at uncertainty concerning <I>the times and
|
|
moments</I> (as Dr. Hammond reads it) of future events concerning the
|
|
church, as well as concerning ourselves,--concerning all the periods of
|
|
time and the final period of it, as well as concerning the period of
|
|
our own time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><BR>Prudens futuri temporis exitum
|
|
<BR>Caliginosa nocte premit Deus--
|
|
<BR>
|
|
<BR>But Jove, in goodness ever wise,
|
|
<BR> Hath hid, in clouds of thickest night,
|
|
<BR>All that in future prospect lies
|
|
<BR> Beyond the ken of mortal sight.--H<FONT SIZE=-1>OR</FONT>.</TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
As to the times and seasons of the year, we know, in general, there
|
|
will be summer and winter counterchanged, but we know not particularly
|
|
which day will be fair or which foul, either in summer or in winter;
|
|
so, as to our affairs in this world, when it is a summer-time of
|
|
prosperity, that we may not be secure, we are told there will come a
|
|
wintertime of trouble; and in that winter, that we may not despond and
|
|
despair, we are assured that summer will return; but what this or that
|
|
particular <I>day will bring forth</I> we cannot tell, but must
|
|
accommodate ourselves to it, whatever it is, and make the best of
|
|
it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The knowledge of it is reserved to God as his prerogative; it is
|
|
what <I>the Father hath put in his own power;</I> it is hid with him.
|
|
None besides can reveal the times and seasons to come. <I>Known unto
|
|
God are all his works,</I> but not to us,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+15:18"><I>ch.</I> xv. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is in his power, and in his only, <I>to declare the end from the
|
|
beginning;</I> and by this he proves himself to be God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+46:10">Isa. xlvi. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
"And though he did think fit sometimes to let the Old-Testament
|
|
prophets know the times and the seasons (as of the Israelites' bondage
|
|
in Egypt four hundred years, and in Babylon seventy years), yet he has
|
|
not fit to let you know the times and seasons, no not just how long it
|
|
shall be before Jerusalem be destroyed, though you be so well assured
|
|
of the thing itself. He hath not said that he will not give you to know
|
|
something more than you do of the times and seasons;" he did so
|
|
afterwards <I>to his servant John;</I> "but he has put it in his own
|
|
power to do it or not, as he thinks fit;" and what is in that
|
|
New-Testament prophecy discovered concerning the times and the seasons
|
|
is so dark, and hard to be understood, that, when we come to apply it,
|
|
it concerns us to remember this work, that it is not for us to be
|
|
positive in determining the times and the seasons. Buxtorf mentions a
|
|
saying of the rabbin concerning the coming of the Messiah: <I>Rumpatur
|
|
spiritus eorum qui supputant tempora--Perish the men who calculate the
|
|
time.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He appoints them their work, and with authority assures them of an
|
|
ability to go on with it, and of success in it. "<I>It is not for you
|
|
to know the times and the seasons</I>--this would do you no good; but
|
|
know this
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
|
|
|
|
that you shall receive a spiritual <I>power,</I> by the <I>descent of
|
|
the Holy Ghost upon you,</I> and shall not receive it in vain, for
|
|
<I>you shall be witnesses unto me</I> and my glory; and your testimony
|
|
shall not be in vain, for it shall be received here in Jerusalem, in
|
|
the country about, and all the world over,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
If Christ make us serviceable to his honour in our own day and
|
|
generation, let this be enough for us, and let not us perplex ourselves
|
|
about times and seasons to come. Christ here tells them,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That their work should be honourable and glorious: <I>You shall be
|
|
witnesses unto me.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They shall proclaim him king, and publish those truths to the
|
|
world by which his kingdom should be set up, and he would rule. They
|
|
must openly and solemnly preach his gospel to the world.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They shall prove this, shall confirm their testimony, not as
|
|
witnesses do, with an oath, but with the divine seal of miracles and
|
|
supernatural gifts: <I>You shall be martyrs to me,</I> or <I>my
|
|
martyrs,</I> as some copies read it; for they attested the truth of the
|
|
gospel with their sufferings, even unto death.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. That their power for this work should be sufficient. They had not
|
|
strength of their own for it, nor wisdom nor courage enough; they were
|
|
naturally of <I>the weak and foolish things of the world;</I> they
|
|
durst not appear as witnesses for Christ upon his trial, neither as yet
|
|
were they able. "<I>But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost
|
|
coming upon you</I>" (so it may be read), "shall be animated and
|
|
actuated by a better spirit than your own; you shall have power to
|
|
preach the gospel, and to prove it out of the scriptures of the Old
|
|
Testament" (which, when they were <I>filled with the Holy Ghost,</I>
|
|
they did to admiration,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+18:28"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
"and to confirm it both by miracles and by sufferings." Note, Christ's
|
|
witnesses shall receive power for that work to which he calls them;
|
|
those whom he employs in his service he will qualify for it, and will
|
|
bear them out in it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. That their influence should be great and very extensive: "<I>You
|
|
shall be witnesses</I> for Christ, and shall carry his cause,"
|
|
|
|
(1.) "<I>In Jerusalem;</I> there you must begin, and many there will
|
|
receive your testimony; and those that do not will be left
|
|
inexcusable."
|
|
|
|
(2.) "Your light shall thence shine throughout all Judea, where before
|
|
you have laboured in vain."
|
|
|
|
(3.) "Thence you shall proceed <I>to Samaria,</I> though at your first
|
|
mission you were forbidden to preach in <I>any of the cities of the
|
|
Samaritans.</I>"
|
|
|
|
(4.) "Your usefulness shall reach <I>to the uttermost part of the
|
|
earth,</I> and you shall be blessings to the whole world."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Having left these instructions with them, he leaves them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When he had spoken these things,</I> and had said all that he had to
|
|
say, <I>he blessed them</I> (so we were told,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:50">Luke xxiv. 50</A>);
|
|
|
|
and <I>while they beheld him,</I> and had their eye fixed upon him,
|
|
receiving his blessing, <I>he was</I> gradually <I>taken up, and a
|
|
cloud received him out of their sight.</I> We have here Christ's
|
|
ascending on high; not fetched away, as Elijah was, with <I>a chariot
|
|
of fire and horses of fire,</I> but rising to heaven, as he rose from
|
|
the grave, purely by his own power, his body being now, as the bodies
|
|
of the saints will be at the resurrection, a spiritual body, and raised
|
|
in power and incorruption. Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. He began his ascension in the sight of his disciples, even <I>while
|
|
they beheld.</I> They did not see him come up out of the grave, because
|
|
they might see him after he had risen, which would be satisfaction
|
|
enough; but they saw him go up towards heaven, and had actually their
|
|
eye upon him with so much care and earnestness of mind that they could
|
|
not be deceived. It is probable that he did not fly swiftly up, but
|
|
moved upwards gently, for the further satisfaction of his disciples.
|
|
|
|
2. He <I>vanished out of their sight, in a cloud,</I> either a thick
|
|
cloud, for God said that he would <I>dwell in the thick darkness;</I>
|
|
or a bright cloud, to signify the splendour of his glorious body. It
|
|
was a bright cloud that overshadowed him in his transfiguration, and
|
|
most probably this was so,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+17:5">Matt. xvii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
This <I>cloud received him,</I> it is probable, when he had gone about
|
|
as far from the earth as the clouds generally are; yet it was not such
|
|
a spreading cloud as we commonly see, but such as just served to
|
|
enclose him. Now he <I>made the clouds his chariot,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+104:3">Ps. civ. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
God had often come down in a cloud; now he went up in one. Dr. Hammond
|
|
thinks that the clouds receiving him here were the angels receiving
|
|
him; for the appearance of angels is ordinarily described by a cloud,
|
|
comparing
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+25:22,Le+16:2">Exod. xxv. 22 with Lev. xvi. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
By the clouds there is a sort of communication kept up between the
|
|
upper and lower world; in them the vapours are sent up from the earth,
|
|
and the dews sent down from heaven. Fitly therefore does he ascend in
|
|
a cloud who is <I>the Mediator between God and man,</I> by whom God's
|
|
mercies come down upon us and our prayers come up to him. This was the
|
|
last that was seen of him. The eyes of a great many witnesses followed
|
|
him into the cloud; and, if we would know what became of him then, we
|
|
may find
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:13">Dan. vii. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>That one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and
|
|
came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him</I> in the clouds as
|
|
he came <I>near before him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The disciples, when he had gone out of their sight, yet still
|
|
continued <I>looking up stedfastly to heaven</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and this longer than it was fit they should; and why so?
|
|
|
|
1. Perhaps they hoped that Christ would presently come back to them
|
|
again, to restore the kingdom to Israel, and were loth to believe they
|
|
should now part with him for good and all; so much did they still dote
|
|
upon his bodily presence, though he had told them that <I>it was
|
|
expedient for them that he should go away.</I> or, they looked after
|
|
him, as doubting whether he might not be dropped, as <I>the sons of the
|
|
prophets</I> thought concerning Elijah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+2:16">2 Kings ii. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
and so they might have him again.
|
|
|
|
2. Perhaps they expected to see some change in the visible heavens now
|
|
upon Christ's ascension, that either <I>the sun should be ashamed or
|
|
the moon confounded</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+24:23">Isa. xxiv. 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
as being out-shone by his lustre; or, rather, that they should show
|
|
some sign of joy and triumph; or perhaps they promised themselves a
|
|
sight of the glory of the invisible heavens, upon their opening to
|
|
receive him. Christ had told them that hereafter they should <I>see
|
|
heaven opened</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:51">John i. 51</A>),
|
|
|
|
and why should not they expect it now?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. Two angels appeared to them, and delivered them a seasonable
|
|
message from God. There was a world of angels ready to receive our
|
|
Redeemer, now that he made his public entry into <I>the Jerusalem
|
|
above:</I> we may suppose these two loth to be absent then; yet, to
|
|
show how much Christ had at heart the concerns of his church on earth,
|
|
he sent back to his disciples two of those that came to meet him, who
|
|
appear as <I>two men in white apparel,</I> bright and glittering; for
|
|
they know, according to the duty of their place, that they are really
|
|
serving Christ when they are ministering to his servants on earth. Now
|
|
we are told what the angels said to them,
|
|
|
|
1. To check their curiosity: <I>You men of Galilee, why stand you
|
|
gazing up into heaven?</I> He calls them <I>men of Galilee,</I> to put
|
|
them in mind of <I>the rock out of which they were hewn.</I> Christ had
|
|
put a great honour upon them, in making them his ambassadors; but they
|
|
must remember that they are men, earthen vessels, and men of Galilee,
|
|
illiterate men, looked upon with disdain. Now, say they, "<I>Why stand
|
|
you here,</I> like Galileans, rude and unpolished men, <I>gazing up
|
|
into heaven?</I> What would you see? You have seen all that you were
|
|
called together to see, and why do you look any further? <I>Why stand
|
|
you gazing,</I> as men frightened and perplexed, as men astonished and
|
|
at their wits' end?" Christ's disciples should never stand at a gaze,
|
|
because they have a sure rule to go by, and a sure foundation to build
|
|
upon.
|
|
|
|
2. To confirm their faith concerning Christ's second coming. Their
|
|
Master had often told them of this, and the angels are sent at this
|
|
time seasonably to put them in mind of it: "<I>This same Jesus, who is
|
|
taken up from you into heaven,</I> and whom you are looking thus long
|
|
after, wishing you had him with you again, is not gone for ever; for
|
|
there is a day appointed in which he <I>will come in like manner
|
|
thence, as you have seen him go thither,</I> and you must not expect
|
|
him back till that appointed day."
|
|
|
|
(1.) "<I>This same Jesus</I> shall come again in his own person,
|
|
clothed with a glorious body; <I>this same Jesus,</I> who came once
|
|
<I>to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, will appear a second
|
|
time without sin</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:26,28">Heb. ix. 26, 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
who came once in disgrace to be judged, will come again in glory to
|
|
judge. <I>The same Jesus</I> who has given you your charge will come
|
|
again to call you to an account how you have performed your trust;
|
|
<I>he, and not another,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+19:27">Job xix. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) "He <I>shall come in like manner.</I> He is gone away in a
|
|
<I>cloud,</I> and <I>attended with angels;</I> and, <I>behold, he comes
|
|
in the clouds, and with him an innumerable company of angels!</I> He is
|
|
<I>gone up with a shout and with the sound of a trumpet</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+47:5">Ps. xlvii. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he will <I>descend from heaven with a shout and with the trump of
|
|
God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:16">1 Thess. iv. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
You have now lost the sight of him in the clouds and in the air; and
|
|
<I>whither he is gone you cannot follow him now,</I> but shall then,
|
|
when you shall <I>be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
|
|
air.</I>" When we stand gazing and trifling, the consideration of our
|
|
Master's second coming should quicken and awaken us; and, when we stand
|
|
gazing and trembling, the consideration of it should comfort and
|
|
encourage us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_14"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostles in Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called
|
|
Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
|
|
13 And when they were 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 <I>the son</I> of
|
|
Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas <I>the brother</I> of James.
|
|
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and
|
|
supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and
|
|
with his brethren.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We are here told,
|
|
|
|
I. Whence Christ ascended--<I>from the mount of Olives</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
from that part of it where the town of Bethany stood,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:50">Luke xxiv. 50</A>.
|
|
|
|
There he began his sufferings
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:39">Luke xxii. 39</A>),
|
|
|
|
and therefore there he rolled away the reproach of them by his glorious
|
|
ascension, and thus showed that his passion and his ascension had the
|
|
same reference and tendency. Thus would he enter upon his kingdom in
|
|
the sight of Jerusalem, and of those undutiful ungrateful citizens of
|
|
his that would not have him to reign over them. It was prophesied of
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+14:4">Zech. xiv. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>That his feet should stand upon the mount of Olives, which is before
|
|
Jerusalem,</I> should stand last there; and presently it follows,
|
|
<I>The mount of Olives shall cleave in two. From the mount of Olives
|
|
he</I> ascended who is <I>the good olive-tree,</I> whence we receive
|
|
<I>the unction,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+4:12,Ro+11:24">Zech. iv. 12; Rom. xi. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
This mount is here said to be near Jerusalem, <I>a sabbath day's
|
|
journey</I> from it, that is, a little way; no further than devout
|
|
people used to walk out on a sabbath evening, after the public worship
|
|
was over, for meditation. Some reckon it a thousand paces, others two
|
|
thousand cubits; some seven furlongs, others eight. Bethany indeed was
|
|
<I>fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:18">John xi. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
but that part of the mount of Olives which was next to Jerusalem,
|
|
whence Christ began to ride in triumph, was but seven or eight furlongs
|
|
off. The Chaldee paraphrast on Ruth 1 says, <I>We are commanded to keep
|
|
the sabbaths and the holy days, so as not to go above two thousand
|
|
cubits,</I> which they build upon
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:4">Josh. iii. 4</A>,
|
|
|
|
where, in their march through Jordan, the space between them and the
|
|
ark was to be <I>two thousand cubits.</I> God had not then thus limited
|
|
them, but they limited themselves; and thus far it is a rule to us, not
|
|
to journey on the sabbath any more than in order to the sabbath work;
|
|
and as far as is necessary to this we are not only allowed, but
|
|
enjoined,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+4:23">2 Kings iv. 23</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Whither the disciples returned: They came to Jerusalem, according
|
|
to their Master's appointment, though there they were in the midst of
|
|
enemies; but it should seem that though immediately after Christ's
|
|
resurrection they were watched, and were <I>in fear of the Jews,</I>
|
|
yet after it was known that they were gone into Galilee no notice was
|
|
taken of their return to Jerusalem, nor any further search made for
|
|
them. God can find out hiding-places for his people in the midst of
|
|
their enemies, and so influence Saul that he shall not seek for David
|
|
any more. At Jerusalem they <I>went up into an upper room, and there
|
|
abode;</I> not that they all lodged and dieted together in one room,
|
|
but there they assembled every day, and spent time together in
|
|
religious exercises, in expectation of the descent of the Spirit.
|
|
Divers conjectures the learned have about this upper room. Some think
|
|
it was one of the upper rooms in the temple; but it cannot be thought
|
|
that the chief priests, who had the letting of these rooms, would
|
|
suffer Christ's disciples constantly to reside in any of them. It was
|
|
said indeed, by the same historian, that <I>they were continually in
|
|
the temple</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:53">Luke xxiv. 53</A>),
|
|
|
|
but that was <I>in the courts of the temple, at the hours of
|
|
prayer,</I> where they could not be hindered from attending; but, it
|
|
should seem, this upper room was in a private house. Mr. Gregory, of
|
|
Oxford, is of this opinion, and quotes a Syriac scholiast upon this
|
|
place, who says that it was <I>the same upper room in which they had
|
|
eaten the passover;</I> and though that was called
|
|
<B><I>anogeon</I></B>, this <B><I>hyperoon</I></B>, both may signify
|
|
the same. "Whether," says he, "it was in the house of St. John the
|
|
evangelist, as Euodius delivered, or that of Mary the mother of John
|
|
Mark, as others have collected, cannot be certain." Notes,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="MHC44013.HTM"><I>ch.</I> xiii</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Who the disciples were, that kept together. The eleven apostles
|
|
are here named
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
so is Mary the mother of our Lord
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it is the last time that ever any mention is made of her in the
|
|
scriptures. There were others that are here said to be the brethren of
|
|
our Lord, <I>his kinsmen according to the flesh;</I> and, to make up
|
|
<I>the hundred and twenty</I> spoken of
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
we may suppose that all or most of <I>the seventy disciples</I> were
|
|
with them, that were associates with the apostles, and were employed as
|
|
evangelists.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. How they spent their time: <I>They all continued with one accord in
|
|
prayer and supplication.</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. <I>They prayed, and made supplication.</I> All God's people are
|
|
praying people, and <I>give themselves to prayer.</I> It was now a time
|
|
of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; they were as sheep
|
|
in the midst of wolves; and, <I>Is any afflicted? Let him pray;</I>
|
|
this will silence cares and fears. They had new work before them, great
|
|
work, and, before they entered upon it, <I>they were instant in prayer
|
|
to God</I> for his presence with them in it. Before they were first
|
|
sent forth Christ spent time in prayer for them, and now they spent
|
|
time in prayer for themselves. They were waiting for the descent of the
|
|
Spirit upon them, and therefore abounded thus in prayer. The Spirit
|
|
descended upon our Saviour when he was praying,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+3:21">Luke iii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those are in the best frame to receive spiritual blessings that are in
|
|
a praying frame. Christ had promised now shortly to send the Holy
|
|
Ghost; now this promise was not to supersede prayer, but to quicken and
|
|
encourage it. God will be enquired of for promised mercies, and the
|
|
nearer the performance seems to be the more earnest we should be in
|
|
prayer for it.
|
|
|
|
2. <I>They continued in prayer,</I> spent much time in it, more than
|
|
ordinary, prayed frequently, and were long in prayer. They never
|
|
missed an hour of prayer; they resolved to persevere herein till the
|
|
Holy Ghost came, according to the promise, <I>to pray, and not to
|
|
faint.</I> It is said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:53">Luke xxiv. 53</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>They were praising and blessing God;</I> here, <I>They continued in
|
|
prayer and supplication;</I> for as praise for the promise is a decent
|
|
way of begging for the performance, and praise for former mercy of
|
|
begging further mercy, so, in seeking to God, we give him the glory of
|
|
the mercy and grace which we have found in him.
|
|
|
|
3. They did this <I>with one accord.</I> This intimates that they were
|
|
together in holy love, and that there was no quarrel nor discord among
|
|
them; and those who so keep <I>the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
|
|
peace</I> are best prepared to receive the <I>comforts of the Holy
|
|
Ghost.</I> It also intimates their worthy concurrence in the
|
|
supplications that were made; though but one spoke, they all prayed,
|
|
and if, when <I>two agree to ask, it shall be done for them,</I> much
|
|
more when many agree in the same petition. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+18:19">Matt. xviii. 19</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac1_26"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>
|
|
The Death of Judas; Matthias Elected to Be an Apostle.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
|
|
disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an
|
|
hundred and twenty,)
|
|
16 Men <I>and</I> 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.
|
|
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this
|
|
ministry.
|
|
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity;
|
|
and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his
|
|
bowels gushed out.
|
|
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem;
|
|
insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue,
|
|
Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
|
|
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation
|
|
be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let
|
|
another take.
|
|
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the
|
|
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
|
|
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that
|
|
he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness
|
|
with us of his resurrection.
|
|
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was
|
|
surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
|
|
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the
|
|
hearts of all <I>men,</I> show whether of these two thou hast chosen,
|
|
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from
|
|
which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own
|
|
place.
|
|
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon
|
|
Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The sin of Judas was not only his shame and ruin, but it made a vacancy
|
|
in the college of the apostles. They were ordained twelve, with an eye
|
|
<I>to the twelve tribes of Israel,</I> descended from the twelve
|
|
patriarchs; they were <I>the twelve stars</I> that make up the church's
|
|
crown
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:1">Rev. xii. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
and for them <I>twelve thrones</I> were designated,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+19:28">Matt. xix. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now being twelve when they were learners, if they were but eleven when
|
|
they were to be teachers, it would occasion every one to enquire what
|
|
had become of the twelfth, and so revive the remembrance of the scandal
|
|
of their society; and therefore care was taken, before the descent of
|
|
the Spirit, to fill up the vacancy, of the doing of which we now have
|
|
an account, our Lord Jesus, probably, having given directions about it,
|
|
among other things which he spoke <I>pertaining to the kingdom of
|
|
God.</I> Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The persons concerned in this affair.
|
|
|
|
1. The house consisted of <I>about a hundred and twenty.</I> This was
|
|
<I>the number of the names,</I> that is, the persons; some think the
|
|
men only, distinguished from the women. Dr. Lightfoot reckons that
|
|
<I>the eleven apostles, the seventy disciples,</I> and about
|
|
thirty-nine more, all of Christ's own kindred, country, and concourse,
|
|
made up this <I>one hundred and twenty,</I> and that these were a sort
|
|
of synod, or congregation of ministers, a standing presbytery
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:23"><I>ch.</I> iv. 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>to whom none of the rest durst join themselves</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+5:13"><I>ch.</I> v. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and that they continued together till the persecution at Stephen's
|
|
death dispersed them all but the apostles
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:1"><I>ch.</I> viii. 1</A>);
|
|
|
|
but he thinks that besides these there were many hundreds in Jerusalem,
|
|
if not thousands, at this time, that believed; and we have indeed read
|
|
of many that <I>believed on him there, but durst not confess him,</I>
|
|
and therefore I cannot think, as he does, that they were now formed
|
|
into distinct congregations, for the preaching of the word and other
|
|
acts of worship; nor that there was any thing of this till after the
|
|
pouring out of the Spirit, and the conversions recorded in the
|
|
following chapter. Here was the beginning of the Christian church: this
|
|
hundred and twenty was the grain of mustard-seed that grew into a tree,
|
|
the leaven that leavened the whole lump.
|
|
|
|
2. The speaker was Peter, who had been, and still was, the most forward
|
|
man; and therefore notice is taken of his forwardness and zeal, to show
|
|
that he had perfectly recovered the ground he lost by his denying his
|
|
Master, and, Peter being designed to be the apostle of the
|
|
circumcision, while the sacred story stays among the Jews, he is still
|
|
brought in, as afterwards, when it comes to speak of the Gentiles, it
|
|
keeps to the story of Paul.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The proposal which Peter made for the choice of another apostle. He
|
|
<I>stood up in the midst of the disciples,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
He did not sit down, as one that gave laws, or had any supremacy over
|
|
the rest, but stood up, as one that had only a motion to make, in which
|
|
he paid a deference to his brethren, standing up when he spoke to them.
|
|
Now in his speech we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The account he gives of the vacancy made by the death of Judas, in
|
|
which he is very particular, and, as became one that Christ had
|
|
breathed upon, takes notice of the fulfilling of the scriptures in it.
|
|
Here is,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The power to which Judas had been advanced
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry</I>
|
|
which we are invested with. Note, Many are numbered with the saints in
|
|
this world that will not be found among them in the day of separation
|
|
between the precious and the vile. What will it avail us to be added to
|
|
the number of Christians, if we partake not of the spirit and nature of
|
|
Christians? Judas's having obtained part of this ministry was but an
|
|
aggravation of his sin and ruin, as it will be of theirs who
|
|
<I>prophesied in Christ's name,</I> and yet were <I>workers of
|
|
iniquity.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The sin of Judas, notwithstanding his advancement to this honour.
|
|
He was <I>guide to those that took Jesus,</I> not only informed
|
|
Christ's persecutors where they might find him (which they might have
|
|
done effectually though he had kept out of sight), but he had the
|
|
impudence to appear openly at the head of the party that seized him. He
|
|
went before them to the place, and, as if he had been proud of the
|
|
honour, gave the word of command: <I>That same is he, hold him
|
|
fast.</I> Note, Ringleaders in sin are the worst of sinners, especially
|
|
if those that by their office should have been guides to the friends of
|
|
Christ are guides to his enemies.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) The ruin of Judas by this sin. Perceiving the chief priests to
|
|
seek the life of Christ and his disciples, he thought to save his by
|
|
going over to them, and not only so, but to get an estate under them,
|
|
of which his wages for his service, he hoped, would be but an earnest;
|
|
but see what came of it.
|
|
|
|
[1.] He lost his money shamefully enough
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He purchased a field</I> with the <I>thirty pieces of silver,</I>
|
|
which were the <I>reward of his iniquity.</I> He did not purchase the
|
|
field, but the wages of his unrighteousness did, and it is very
|
|
elegantly expressed thus, in derision of his projects to enrich himself
|
|
by this bargain. He thought to have purchased a field for himself, as
|
|
Gehazi did with what he got from Naaman by a lie (see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+5:26">2 Kings v. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
but it proved the purchase of a field to bury strangers in; and what
|
|
was he or any of his the better for this? It was to him an unrighteous
|
|
mammon, it deceived him; and the reward of his iniquity was the
|
|
<I>stumbling-block of his iniquity.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He lost his life m ore shamefully. We were told
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+27:5">Matt. xxvii. 5</A>)
|
|
|
|
that he <I>went away</I> in despair, and was suffocated (so the word
|
|
signifies there, and no more); here it is added (as latter historians
|
|
add to those who went before) that, being strangled, or choked with
|
|
grief and horror, he <I>fell headlong,</I> fell <I>on his face</I> (so
|
|
Dr. Hammond), and partly with the swelling of his own breast, and
|
|
partly with the violence of the fall, he <I>burst asunder in the
|
|
midst,</I> so that <I>all his bowels tumbled out.</I> If, when the
|
|
devil was cast out of a child, he <I>tore him, threw him down,</I> and
|
|
<I>rent him,</I> and almost killed him (as we find
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+9:26,Lu+9:42">Mark ix. 26; Luke ix. 42</A>),
|
|
|
|
no wonder if, when he had full possession of Judas, he threw him
|
|
headlong, and burst him. The suffocation of him, which Matthew relates,
|
|
would make him swell till he burst, which Peter relates. He burst
|
|
asunder <I>with a great noise</I> (so Dr. Edwards), which was heard by
|
|
the neighbours, and so, as it follows, it came <I>to be known</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>His bowels gushed out;</I> Luke writes like a physician,
|
|
understanding all the entrails of the middle and lower ventricle.
|
|
Bowelling is part of the punishment of traitors. Justly do those
|
|
bowels gush out that were shut up against the Lord Jesus. And perhaps
|
|
Christ had an eye to the fate of Judas, when he said of the wicked
|
|
servant that he would <I>cut him in sunder,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:51">Matt. xxiv. 51</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) The public notice that was taken of this: <I>It was known to all
|
|
the dwellers in Jerusalem.</I> It was, as it were, put into the
|
|
newspapers, and was all the talk of the town, as a remarkable judgment
|
|
of God upon him that betrayed his Master,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was not only discoursed of among the disciples, but it was in every
|
|
body's mouth, and nobody disputed the truth of the fact. <I>It was
|
|
known,</I> that is, it was known to be true, incontestably so. Now one
|
|
would think this should have awakened those to repentance that had had
|
|
any hand in the death of Christ when they saw him that had the first
|
|
hand thus made an example. But their hearts were hardened, and, as to
|
|
those of them that were to be softened, it must be done by the word,
|
|
and the Spirit working with it. Here is one proof of the notoriety of
|
|
the thing mentioned, that the field which was purchased with Judas's
|
|
money was called <I>Aceldama--the field of blood,</I> because it was
|
|
bought with the <I>price of blood,</I> which perpetuated the infamy not
|
|
only of him that sold that innocent precious blood, but of those that
|
|
bought it too. Look how they will answer it, when God shall make
|
|
inquisition for blood.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(5.) The fulfilling of the scriptures in this, which had spoken so
|
|
plainly of it, <I>that it must needs be fulfilled,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let none be surprised nor stumble at it, that this should be the exit
|
|
of one of the twelve, for David had not only foretold his sin (which
|
|
Christ had taken notice of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+13:18,Ps+41:9">John xiii. 18, from Ps. xli. 9</A>,
|
|
|
|
He that <I>eateth bread with me</I> hath <I>lifted up the heel against
|
|
me</I>), but had also foretold,
|
|
|
|
[1.] His punishment
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:25">Ps. lxix. 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Let his habitation be desolate.</I> This Psalm refers to the
|
|
Messiah. Mention is made but
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:21,Mt+27:34">two or three verses before</A>
|
|
|
|
of their giving him gall and vinegar, and therefore the following
|
|
predictions of the destruction of David's enemies must be applied to
|
|
the enemies of Christ, and particularly to Judas. Perhaps he had some
|
|
habitation of his own at Jerusalem, which, upon this, every body was
|
|
afraid to live in, and so it became desolate. This prediction
|
|
signifies the same with that of Bildad concerning the wicked man, that
|
|
his <I>confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and shall
|
|
bring him to the king of terrors: it shall dwell in his tabernacle,
|
|
because it is none of his; brimstone shall be scattered upon his
|
|
habitation,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+18:14,15">Job xviii. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] The substitution of another in his room. His <I>bishopric,</I> or
|
|
<I>his office</I> (for so the word signifies in general) <I>shall
|
|
another take,</I> which is quoted from
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+109:8">Ps. cix. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
With this quotation Peter very aptly introduces the following proposal.
|
|
Note, We are not to think the worse of any office that God has
|
|
instituted (whether magistracy or ministry) either for the wickedness
|
|
of any that are in that office or for the ignominious punishment of
|
|
that wickedness; nor will God suffer any purpose of his to be
|
|
frustrated, any commission of his to be vacated, or any work of his to
|
|
be undone, for the miscarriages of those that are entrusted therewith.
|
|
<I>The unbelief of man shall not make the promise of God of no
|
|
effect.</I> Judas is hanged, but his bishopric is not lost. It is said
|
|
of <I>his habitation,</I> that <I>no man shall dwell therein,</I> there
|
|
he shall have no heir; but it is not said so of his bishopric, there he
|
|
shall not want a successor. It is with the officers of the church as
|
|
with the members of it, if the <I>natural branches</I> be <I>broken
|
|
off,</I> others shall be <I>grafted in,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:17">Rom. xi. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ's cause shall never be lost for want of witnesses.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The motion he makes for the choice of another apostle,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) How the person must be qualified that must fill the vacancy. It
|
|
must be one of <I>these men,</I> these seventy disciples, <I>that have
|
|
companied with us,</I> that have constantly attended us, <I>all the
|
|
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,</I> preaching and
|
|
working miracles for three years and a half, <I>beginning from the
|
|
baptism of John,</I> from which the gospel of Christ commenced, <I>unto
|
|
that same day that he was taken up from us.</I> Those that have been
|
|
diligent, faithful, and constant, in the discharge of their duty in a
|
|
lower station, are fittest to be preferred to a higher; those that have
|
|
been faithful in a little shall be entrusted with more. And none should
|
|
be employed as ministers of Christ, preachers of his gospel, and rulers
|
|
in his church, but those that are well acquainted with his doctrine and
|
|
doings, from first to last. None shall be an apostle but one that has
|
|
companied with the apostles, and that continually; not that has visited
|
|
them now and then, but been intimately conversant with them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) To what work he is called that must fill up the vacancy: He must
|
|
be <I>a witness with us of his resurrection.</I> By this it appears
|
|
that others of the disciples were with the eleven when Christ appeared
|
|
to them, else they could not have been <I>witnesses with them,</I> as
|
|
competent witnesses as they, of his resurrection. The great thing which
|
|
the apostles were to attest to the world was Christ's resurrection, for
|
|
this was the great proof of his being the Messiah, and the foundation
|
|
of our hope in him. See what the apostles were ordained to, not to a
|
|
secular dignity and dominion, but to preach Christ, and the power of
|
|
his resurrection.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The nomination of the person that was to succeed Judas in his
|
|
office as an apostle.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Two, who were known to have been Christ's constant attendants, and
|
|
men of great integrity, were set up as candidates for the place
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They appointed two;</I> not the <I>eleven,</I> they did not take
|
|
upon them to determine who should be put up, but the <I>hundred and
|
|
twenty,</I> for to them Peter spoke, and not to the eleven. The two
|
|
they nominated were <I>Joseph</I> and <I>Matthias,</I> of neither of
|
|
whom do we read elsewhere, except this Joseph be the same with that
|
|
<I>Jesus who is called Justus,</I> of whom Paul speaks
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+4:11">Col. iv. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
and who is said to be <I>of the circumcision,</I> a native Jew, as this
|
|
was, and who was a <I>fellow-worker with Paul in the kingdom of God</I>
|
|
and a comfort to him; and then it is observable that, though he came
|
|
short of being an apostle, he did not therefore quit the ministry, but
|
|
was very useful in a lower station; for, <I>Are all apostles? Are all
|
|
prophets?</I> Some think this Joseph is he that is called <I>Joses</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+6:3">Mark vi. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
the <I>brother of James the less</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:40">Mark xv. 40</A>),
|
|
|
|
and was called <I>Joses the just,</I> as he was called <I>James the
|
|
just.</I> Some confound this with that Joses mentioned
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:36">Acts iv. 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
But that was of Cyprus, this of Galilee; and, it should seem, to
|
|
distinguish them, that was called <I>Barnabas--a son of
|
|
consolation;</I> this <I>Barsabas--a son of the oath.</I> These two
|
|
were both of them such worthy men, and so well qualified for the
|
|
office, that they could not tell which of them was the fitter, but all
|
|
agreed it must be one of these two. They did not propose themselves nor
|
|
strive for the place, but humbly sat still, and were appointed to
|
|
it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. They applied to God by prayer for direction, not which of the
|
|
seventy, for none of the rest could stand in competition with these in
|
|
the opinion of all present, but <I>which of these two?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:24,25"><I>v.</I> 24, 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They appeal to God as the searcher of hearts: "<I>Thou, Lord, who
|
|
knowest the hearts of all men,</I> which we do not, and better than
|
|
they know their own." Observe, When an apostle was to be chosen, he
|
|
must be chosen by his heart, and the temper and disposition of that.
|
|
Yet Jesus, who knew all men's hearts, for wise and holy ends chose
|
|
Judas to be one of the twelve. It is comfortable to us, in our prayers
|
|
for the welfare of the church and its ministers, that the God to whom
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we pray <I>knows the hearts of all men,</I> and has them not only under
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his eye, but in his hand, and turns them which way soever he will, can
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|
make them fit for his purpose, if he do not find them so, by giving
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|
them another spirit.
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(2.) They desire to know which of these God had chosen: <I>Lord, show
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us this,</I> and we are satisfied. It is fit that God should choose his
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own servants; and so far as he in any way by the disposals of his
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providence or the gifts of his Spirit, shows whom he hath chosen, or
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what he hath chosen, for us, we ought to comply with him.
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(3.) They are ready to receive him as a brother whom God hath chosen;
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for they are not contriving to have so much the more dignity
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|
themselves, by keeping out another, but desire to have one to <I>take
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part of this ministry and apostleship,</I> to join with them in the
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|
work and share with them in the honour, <I>from which Judas by
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transgression fell,</I> threw himself, by deserting and betraying his
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Master, <I>from the place</I> of an apostle, of which he was unworthy,
|
|
that he might go <I>to his own place,</I> the place of a traitor, the
|
|
fittest place for him, not only to the gibbet, but to hell--this was
|
|
his own place. Note, Those that betray Christ, as they fall from the
|
|
dignity of relation to him, so they fall into all misery. It is said of
|
|
Balaam
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+24:25">Num. xxiv. 25</A>)
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|
that he <I>went to his own place,</I> that is, says one of the rabbin,
|
|
<I>he went to hell.</I> Dr. Whitby quotes Ignatius saying, There is
|
|
appointed to every man <B><I>idios topos</I></B>--<I>a proper
|
|
place,</I> which imports the same with that of God's rendering to every
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|
man according to his works. And our Saviour had said that Judas's own
|
|
place should be such that <I>it had been better for him that he had
|
|
never been born</I>
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:24">Matt. xxvi. 24</A>)
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|
|
|
--his misery such as to be worse than not being. Judas had been a
|
|
hypocrite, and hell is the proper place of such; other sinners, as
|
|
inmates, have their portion with them,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:51">Matt. xxiv. 51</A>.
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(4.) The doubt was determined by lot
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
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|
|
|
which is an appeal to God, and lawful to be used for determining
|
|
matters not otherwise determinable, provided it be done in a solemn
|
|
religious manner, and with prayer, the prayer of faith; for <I>the lot
|
|
is cast into the lap, but the whole disposal thereof is of the
|
|
Lord,</I>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:33">Prov. xvi. 33</A>.
|
|
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|
Matthias was not ordained by the imposition of hands, as presbyters
|
|
were, for he was chosen by lot, which was the act of God; and
|
|
therefore, as he must be baptized, so he must be ordained, by the Holy
|
|
Ghost, as they all were not many days after. Thus the number of the
|
|
apostles was made up, as afterwards, when James, another of the twelve,
|
|
was martyred, Paul was made an apostle.</P>
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