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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Acts XIII].</TITLE>
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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. XIII.</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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We have not yet met with any things concerning the spreading of the
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gospel to the Gentiles which bears any proportion to the largeness of
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that commission, "Go, and disciple all nations." The door was opened in
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the baptizing of Cornelius and his friends; but since then we had the
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gospel preached to the Jews only,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+11:19"><I>ch.</I> xi. 19</A>.
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It should seem as if the light which began to shine upon the Gentile
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world had withdrawn itself. But here in this chapter that work, that
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great good work, is revived in the midst of the years; and though the
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Jews shall still have the first offer of the gospel made to them, yet,
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upon their refusal, the Gentiles shall have their share of the offer of
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it. Here is,
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I. The solemn ordination of Barnabas and Saul, by divine direction, to
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the ministry, to the great work of spreading the gospel among the
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nations about (and it is probable that other apostles or apostolical
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men dispersed themselves by order from Christ, upon the same errand,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>).
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II. Their preaching the gospel in Cyprus, and the opposition they met
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with there from Elymas the sorcerer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:4-13">ver. 4-13</A>.
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III. The heads of a sermon which Paul preached to the Jews at Antioch
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in Pisidia, in their synagogue, which is given us as a specimen of what
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they usually preached to the Jews, and the method they took with them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:14-41">ver. 14-41</A>.
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IV. The preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles at their request, and
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upon the Jews' refusal of it, wherein the apostles justified themselves
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against the displeasure which the Jews conceived at it, and God owned
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:42-49">ver. 42-49</A>.
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V. The trouble which the infidel Jews gave to the apostles, which
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obliged them to remove to another place
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:50-52">ver. 50-52</A>),
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so that the design of this chapter is to show how cautiously, how
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gradually, and with what good reason the apostles carried the gospel
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into the Gentile world, and admitted the Gentiles into the church,
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which was so great an offence to the Jews, and which Paul is so
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industrious to justify in his epistles.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ac13_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_3"> </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>The Mission of Paul and Barnabas.</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 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain
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prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called
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Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought
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up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
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2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost
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said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have
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called them.
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3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid <I>their</I> hands
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on them, they sent <I>them</I> away.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a divine warrant and commission to Barnabas and Saul to go
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and preach the gospel among the Gentiles, and their ordination to that
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service by the imposition of hands, with fasting and prayer.</P>
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<P>
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I. Here is an account of the present state of the church at Antioch,
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which was planted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+11:20"><I>ch.</I> xi. 20</A>.</P>
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<P>
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1. How well furnished it was with good ministers; there were there
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<I>certain prophets and teachers</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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men that were eminent for gifts, graces, and usefulness. Christ, when
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he <I>ascended on high,</I> gave <I>some prophets and some teachers</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+4:11">Eph. iv. 11</A>);
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these were both. Agabus seems to have been a prophet and not a teacher,
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and many were teachers who were not prophets; but those here mentioned
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were at times divinely inspired, and had instructions immediately from
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heaven upon special occasions, which gave them the title of prophets;
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and withal they were stated teachers of the church in their religious
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assemblies, expounded the scriptures, and opened the doctrine of Christ
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with suitable applications. These were the prophets, and scribes, or
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teachers, which Christ promised to send
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:34">Matt. xxiii. 34</A>),
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such as were every way qualified for the service of the Christian
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church. Antioch was a great city, and the Christians there were many,
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so that they could not all meet in one place; it was therefore
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requisite they should have many teachers, to preside in their
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respective assemblies, and to deliver God's mind to them. Barnabas is
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first named, probably because he was the eldest, and Saul last,
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probably because he was the youngest; but afterwards the last became
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first, and Saul more eminent in the church. Three others are
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mentioned.
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(1.) <I>Simeon,</I> or Simon, who for distinction-sake was called
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<I>Niger, Simon the Black,</I> from the color of his hair; like him
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that with us was surnamed the Black Prince.
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(2.) <I>Lucius</I> of Cyrene, who some think (and Dr. Lightfoot
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inclines to it) was the same with this Luke that wrote the Acts,
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originally a Cyrenian, and educated in the Cyrenian college or
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synagogue at Jerusalem, and there first receiving the gospel.
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(3.) <I>Manaen,</I> a person of some quality, as it should seem, for he
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was <I>brought up with Herod the tetrarch,</I> either nursed of the
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same milk, or bred at the same school, or pupil to the same tutor, or
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rather one that was his constant colleague and companion--that in every
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part of his education was his comrade and intimate, which gave him a
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fair prospect of preferment at court, and yet for Christ's sake he
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quitted all the hopes of it; like Moses, who, <I>when he had come to
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years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.</I> Had he
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joined in with Herod, with whom he was brought up, he might have had
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Blastus's place, and have been his chamberlain; but it is better to be
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fellow-sufferer with a saint than fellow-persecutor with a
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tetrarch.</P>
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<P>
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2. How well employed they were
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>They ministered to the Lord, and fasted.</I> Observe,
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(1.) Diligent faithful teachers do truly minister unto the Lord. Those
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that instruct Christians serve Christ; they really do him honour, and
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carry on the interest of his kingdom. Those that minister to the
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church in praying and preaching (both which are included here),
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<I>minister unto the Lord,</I> for they are the church's servants for
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Christ's sake; to him they must have an eye in their ministrations, and
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from him they shall have their recompence.
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(2.) Ministering to the Lord, in one way or other, ought to be the
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stated business of churches and their teachers; to this work time ought
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to be set apart, nay, it is set apart, and in this work we ought to
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spend some part of every day. What have we to do as Christians and
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ministers but to <I>serve the Lord Christ?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+3:24,Ro+14:18">Col. iii. 24; Rom. xiv. 18</A>.
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(3.) Religious <I>fasting</I> is of use in our ministering to the Lord,
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both as a sign of our humiliation and a means of our mortification.
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Though it was not so much practised by the disciples of Christ,
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<I>while the bridegroom was with them,</I> as it was by the disciples
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of John and of the Pharisees; yet, after the bridegroom was taken away,
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they abounded in it, as those that had well learned to deny themselves
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and to endure hardness.</P>
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<P>
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II. The orders given by the Holy Ghost for the setting apart of
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Barnabas and Saul, while they were engaged in public exercises, the
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ministers of the several congregations in the city joining in one
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solemn fast or day of prayer: The <I>Holy Ghost said,</I> either by a
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voice from heaven, or by a strong impulse on the minds of those of them
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that were prophets, <I>Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
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whereunto I have called them.</I> He does not specify the work, but
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refers to a former call of which they themselves knew the meaning,
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whether others did or no: as for Saul, he was particularly told that he
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must <I>bear Christ's name to the Gentiles</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:15"><I>ch.</I> ix. 15</A>),
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that <I>he must be sent to the Gentiles</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+22:21"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 21</A>);
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the matter was settled between them at Jerusalem before this, that as
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Peter, James, and John laid out themselves among those of the
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circumcision, so Paul and Barnabas should <I>go to the heathen,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+2:7-9">Gal. ii. 7-9</A>.
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Barnabas, it is likely, knew himself designed for this service as well
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as Paul. Yet they would not thrust themselves into this harvest, though
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it appeared plenteous, till they received their orders from the Lord of
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the harvest: <I>Thrust in thy sickle for the harvest is ripe,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:15">Rev. xiv. 15</A>.
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The orders were, <I>Separate me Barnabas and Saul.</I> Observe here,
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1. Christ by his Spirit has the nomination of his ministers; for it is
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by the Spirit of Christ that they are qualified in some measure for his
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services, inclined to it, and taken off from other cares inconsistent
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with it. There are some whom the Holy Ghost has separated for the
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service of Christ, has distinguished from others as men that are
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offered and that willingly offer themselves to the temple service; and
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concerning them directions are given to those who are competent judges
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of the sufficiency of the abilities and the sincerity of the
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inclination: <I>Separate</I> them.
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2. Christ's ministers are separated to him and to the Holy Ghost:
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<I>Separate them to me;</I> they are to be employed in Christ's work
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and under the Spirit's guidance, to the glory of God the Father.
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3. All that are separated to Christ as his ministers are separated to
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work; Christ keeps no servants to be idle. <I>If any man desires the
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office of a bishop, he desires a good work;</I> that is what he is
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separated to, <I>to labour in the word and doctrine.</I> They are
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separated to take pains, not to take state.
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4. The work of Christ's ministers, to which they are to be separated,
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is work that is already settled, and that which all Christ's ministers
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hitherto have been called to, and which they themselves have first
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been, by an external call, directed to and have chosen.</P>
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<P>
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III. Their ordination, pursuant to these orders: not to the ministry in
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general (Barnabas and Saul had both of them been ministers long before
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this), but to a particular service in the ministry, which had something
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peculiar in it, and which required a fresh commission, which commission
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God saw fit at this time to transmit by the hands of <I>these prophets
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and teachers,</I> for the giving of this direction to the church, that
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teachers should ordain teachers (for prophets we are not now any longer
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to expect), and that those who have the dispensing of the oracles of
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Christ committed to them should, for the benefit of posterity,
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<I>commit the same to faithful men, who shall be able also to teach
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others,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:2">2 Tim. ii. 2</A>.
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So here, Simeon, and Lucius, and Manaen, faithful teachers at this time
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in the church of Antioch, <I>when they had fasted and prayed, laid
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their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and sent them away</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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according to the directions received. Observe,
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1. They prayed for them. When good men are going forth about good
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work, they ought to be solemnly and particularly prayed for, especially
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by their brethren that are their fellow-labourers and fellow-soldiers.
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2. They joined fasting with their prayers, as they did in their other
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ministrations,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Christ has taught us this by his abstaining from sleep (a night-fast,
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if I may so call it) the night before he sent forth his apostles, that
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he might spend it in prayer.
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3. They laid their hands on them. Hereby,
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(1.) They gave them their manumission, dismission, or discharge from
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the present service they were engaged in, in the church of Antioch,
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acknowledging that they went off not only fairly and with consent, but
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honourably and with a good report.
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(2.) They implored a blessing upon them in their present undertaking,
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begged that God would be with them, and give them success; and, in
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order to this, that <I>they might be filled with the Holy Ghost</I> in
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their work. This very thing is explained
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+14:26"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 26</A>,
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where it is said, concerning Paul and Barnabas, that from <I>Antioch
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they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they
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fulfilled.</I> As it was an instance of the humility of Barnabas and
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Saul that they submitted to the imposition of the hands of those that
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were their equals, or rather their inferiors; so it was of the good
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disposition of the other teachers that they did not envy Barnabas and
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Saul the honour to which they were preferred, but cheerfully committed
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it to them, with hearty prayers for them; and <I>they sent them
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away</I> with all expedition, out of a concern for those countries
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where they were to break up fallow ground.</P>
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<A NAME="Ac13_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ac13_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Elymas Struck with Blindness.</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>4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto
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Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
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5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God
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in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to <I>their</I>
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minister.
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6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they
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found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name
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<I>was</I> Bar-jesus:
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7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a
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prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to
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hear the word of God.
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8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by
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interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy
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from the faith.
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9 Then Saul, (who also <I>is called</I> Paul,) filled with the Holy
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Ghost, set his eyes on him,
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10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, <I>thou</I>
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child of the devil, <I>thou</I> enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou
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not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
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11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord <I>is</I> upon thee, and
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thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And
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immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went
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about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
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12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being
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astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
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13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came
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to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to
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Jerusalem.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. A general account of the coming of Barnabas and Saul to the famous
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island of Cyprus; and perhaps thitherward they steered their course
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|
because Barnabas was a native of that country
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:36"><I>ch.</I> iv. 36</A>),
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and he was willing they should have the first-fruits of his labours,
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pursuant to his new commission. Observe,
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1. Their being sent forth by the Holy Ghost was the great thing that
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|
encouraged them in this undertaking,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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If the Holy Ghost send them forth, he will go along with them,
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strengthen them, carry them on in their work, and give them success;
|
|
and then they fear no colours, but can cheerfully venture upon a stormy
|
|
sea from Antioch, which was now to them a quiet harbour.
|
|
|
|
2. They came to Seleucia, the sea-port town opposite to Cyprus, thence
|
|
crossed the sea to Cyprus, and in that island the first city they came
|
|
to was Salamis, a city on the east side of the island
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>);
|
|
|
|
and, when they had sown good seed there, <I>thence they</I> went onward
|
|
<I>through the isle</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
|
|
|
|
till they came to Paphos, which lay on the western coast.
|
|
|
|
3. <I>They preached the word of God</I> wherever they came, <I>in the
|
|
synagogues of the Jews;</I> so far were they from excluding them that
|
|
they gave them the preference, and so left those among them who
|
|
believed not inexcusable; <I>they would have gathered them, but they
|
|
would not.</I> They did not act clandestinely, nor preach the Messiah
|
|
to others unknown to them, but laid their doctrine open to the censure
|
|
of the rulers of their synagogues, who might, if they had any thing to
|
|
say, object against it. Nor would they have acted separately, but in
|
|
concert with them, if they had not driven them out from them, and from
|
|
their synagogues.
|
|
|
|
4. <I>They had John for their minister;</I> not their servant in
|
|
common things, but their assistant in the things of God, either to
|
|
prepare their way in places where they designed to come or to carry on
|
|
their work in places where they had begun it, or to converse familiarly
|
|
with those to whom they preached publicly, and explain things to them;
|
|
and such a one might be many ways of use to them, especially in a
|
|
strange country.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. A particular account of their encounter with <I>Elymas the
|
|
sorcerer,</I> whom they met with at Paphos, where the governor resided;
|
|
a place famous for a temple built to Venus there, thence called
|
|
<I>Paphian Venus;</I> and therefore there was more than ordinary need
|
|
that <I>the Son of God</I> should there <I>be manifested to destroy the
|
|
works of the devil.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. There the <I>deputy,</I> a Gentile, <I>Sergius Paulus</I> by name,
|
|
encouraged the apostles, and was willing to hear their message. He was
|
|
governor <I>of the country,</I> under the Roman emperor; proconsul or
|
|
proprætor, such a one as we should call <I>lord lieutenant of the
|
|
island.</I> He had the character of <I>a prudent man,</I> an
|
|
intelligent, considerate man, that was ruled by reason, not passion nor
|
|
prejudice, which appeared by this, that, having a character of Barnabas
|
|
and Saul, he sent for them, <I>and desired to hear the word of God.</I>
|
|
Note, When that which we hear has a tendency to lead us to God, it is
|
|
prudence to desire to hear more of it. Those are wise people, however
|
|
they may be ranked among the foolish of this world, who are inquisitive
|
|
after the mind and will of God. Though he was a great man, and a man in
|
|
authority, and the preachers of the gospel were men that made no
|
|
figure, yet, if they have a message from God, let him know what it is,
|
|
and, if it appear to be so, he is ready to receive it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. There Elymas, a Jew, a <I>sorcerer,</I> opposed them, and did all he
|
|
could to obstruct their progress. This justified the apostles in
|
|
<I>turning to the Gentiles,</I> that this Jew was so malignant against
|
|
them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) This Elymas was a pretender <I>to the gift of prophecy, a
|
|
sorcerer, a false-prophet</I>--one that would be taken for a divine,
|
|
because he was skilled in the arts of divination; he was a conjurer,
|
|
and took on him to tell people their fortune, and to discover things
|
|
lost, and probably was in league with the devil for this purpose;
|
|
<I>his name was Bar-jesus--the son of Joshua;</I> it signifies <I>the son
|
|
of salvation;</I> but the Syriac calls him, <I>Bar-shoma--the son of
|
|
pride; filius inflationis--the son of inflation.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He was hanging on at court, <I>was with the deputy</I> of the
|
|
country. It does not appear that the deputy called for him, as he did
|
|
for Barnabas and Saul; but he thrust himself upon him, aiming, no
|
|
doubt, to make a hand of him, and get money by him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) He made it his business to withstand Barnabas and Saul, as the
|
|
magicians of Egypt, in Pharaoh's court, <I>withstood</I> Moses and
|
|
Aaron,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+3:8">2 Tim. iii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
He set up himself to be a messenger from heaven, and denied that they
|
|
were. And <I>thus he sought to turn away the deputy from the faith</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
to keep him from receiving the gospel, which he saw him inclined to do.
|
|
Note, Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men of
|
|
power, to keep them from being religious; because he knows that their
|
|
example, whether good or bad, will have an influence upon many. And
|
|
those who are in any way instrumental to prejudice people against the
|
|
truths and ways of Christ are doing the devil's work.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) Saul (who is here for the first time called Paul) fell upon him
|
|
for this with a holy indignation. <I>Saul, who is also called Paul,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew, and of the tribe of Benjamin;
|
|
Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Hitherto we have had him
|
|
mostly conversant among the Jews, and therefore called by his Jewish
|
|
name; but now, when he is sent forth among the Gentiles, he is called
|
|
by his Roman name, to put somewhat of a reputation upon him in the
|
|
Roman cities, Paulus being a very common name among them. But some
|
|
think he was never called Paul till now that he was instrumental in the
|
|
conversion of Sergius Paulus to the faith of Christ, and that he took
|
|
the name Paulus as a memorial of this victory obtained by the gospel of
|
|
Christ, as among the Romans he that had conquered a country took his
|
|
denomination from it, as <I>Germanicus, Britannicus, Africanus;</I> or
|
|
rather, Sergius Paulus himself gave him the name Paulus in token of his
|
|
favour and respect to him, as Vespasian gave his name Flavius to
|
|
Josephus the Jew. Now of Paul it is said,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] That he was <I>filled with the Holy Ghost</I> upon this occasion,
|
|
filled with a holy zeal against a professed enemy of Christ, which was
|
|
one of the graces of the Holy Ghost--<I>a spirit of burning;</I> filled
|
|
with power to denounce the wrath of God against him, which was one of
|
|
the gifts of the Holy Ghost--<I>a spirit of judgment.</I> He felt a more
|
|
than ordinary fervour in his mind, as the prophet did when he was
|
|
<I>full of power by the Spirit of the Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+3:8">Mic. iii. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
and another prophet when <I>his face was made harder than flint</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:9">Ezek. iii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and another when his <I>mouth was made like a sharp sword,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:2">Isa. xlix. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
What Paul said did not come from any personal resentment, but from the
|
|
strong impressions which the Holy Ghost made upon his spirit.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He <I>set his eyes upon him,</I> to face him down, and to show a
|
|
holy boldness, in opposition to his wicked impudence. He set his eyes
|
|
upon him, as an indication that the eye of the heart-searching God was
|
|
upon him, and saw through and through him; nay, <I>that the face of the
|
|
Lord was against him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+34:16">Ps. xxxiv. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
He fixed his eyes upon him, to see if he could discern in his
|
|
countenance any marks of remorse for what he had done; for, if he could
|
|
have discerned the least sign of this, it would have prevented the
|
|
ensuing doom.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] He gave him his true character, not in passion, but by the Holy
|
|
Ghost, who knows men better than they know themselves,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
He describes him to be, <I>First,</I> An agent for hell; and such there
|
|
have been upon this earth (the seat of the war between <I>the seed of
|
|
the woman and of the serpent</I>) ever since Cain <I>who was of that
|
|
wicked one,</I> an incarnate devil, <I>slew his brother,</I> for no
|
|
other reason than because <I>his own works were evil and his brother's
|
|
righteous.</I> This Elymas, though called <I>Bar-jesus--a son of
|
|
Jesus,</I> was really a <I>child of the devil,</I> bore his image, did
|
|
his lusts, and served his interests,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+8:44">John viii. 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
In two things he resembled the devil as a child does his father--
|
|
|
|
1. In craftiness. <I>The serpent was more subtle than any beast of the
|
|
field</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:1">Gen. iii. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Elymas, though void of all wisdom, was <I>full of all subtlety,</I>
|
|
expert in all the arts of deceiving men and imposing upon them.
|
|
|
|
2. In malice. He was <I>full of all mischief</I>--a spiteful
|
|
ill-conditioned man, and a sworn implacable enemy to God and goodness.
|
|
Note, A fulness of subtlety and mischief together make a man indeed a
|
|
child of the devil. <I>Secondly,</I> An adversary to heaven. If he be a
|
|
child of the devil, it follows of course that he is <I>an enemy to all
|
|
righteousness,</I> for the devil is so. Note, Those that are enemies to
|
|
the doctrine of Christ are enemies to all righteousness, for in it all
|
|
righteousness is summed up and fulfilled.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[4.] He charged upon him his present crime, and expostulated with him
|
|
upon it: "<I>Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the
|
|
Lord,</I> to misrepresent them, to put false colours upon them, and so
|
|
to discourage people from entering into them, and walking in them?"
|
|
Note, <I>First,</I> The ways of the Lord are right: they are all so,
|
|
they are perfectly so. The ways of the Lord Jesus are right, the only
|
|
right ways to heaven and happiness. <I>Secondly,</I> There are those
|
|
who pervert these right ways, who not only wander out of these ways
|
|
themselves (as Elihu's penitent, who owns, <I>I have perverted that
|
|
which was right and it profited me not</I>), but mislead others, and
|
|
suggest to them unjust prejudices against these ways: as if the
|
|
doctrine of Christ were uncertain and precarious, the laws of Christ
|
|
unreasonable and impractical, and the service of Christ unpleasant and
|
|
unprofitable, which is an unjust perverting of the right ways of the
|
|
Lord, and making them seem crooked ways. <I>Thirdly,</I> Those who
|
|
pervert the right ways of the Lord are commonly so hardened in it that,
|
|
though the equity of those ways be set before them by the most powerful
|
|
and commanding evidence, yet they will not cease to do it. <I>Etsi
|
|
suaseris, non persuaseris--You may advise, but you will never
|
|
persuade;</I> they will have it their own way; <I>they have loved
|
|
strangers, and after them they will go.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[5.] He denounced the judgment of God upon him, in a present blindness
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee,</I> a righteous
|
|
hand. God is now about to lay hands on thee, and make thee his
|
|
prisoner, for thou art taken in arms against him; <I>thou shalt be
|
|
blind, not seeing the sun for a season.</I>" This was designed both for
|
|
the proof of his crime, as it was a miracle wrought to confirm the
|
|
right ways of the Lord, and consequently to show the wickedness of him
|
|
who would not cease to pervert them, as also for the punishment of his
|
|
crime. It was a suitable punishment; he shut his eyes, the eyes of his
|
|
mind, against the light of the gospel, and therefore justly were the
|
|
eyes of his body shut against the light of the sun; he sought to blind
|
|
the deputy (as an agent for <I>the god of this world, who blindeth the
|
|
minds of those that believe not, lest the light of the gospel should
|
|
shine unto them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:4">2 Cor. iv. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
and therefore is himself struck blind. Yet it was a moderate
|
|
punishment: he was only struck blind, when he might most justly have
|
|
been struck dead; and it was only <I>for a season;</I> if he will
|
|
repent, and give glory to God, by making confession, his sight shall be
|
|
restored; nay, it should seem, though he do not, yet his sight shall be
|
|
restored, to try if he will be led to repentance either by the
|
|
judgments of God or by his mercies.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[6.] This judgment was immediately executed: <I>There fell on him a
|
|
mist and a darkness,</I> as on the Sodomites when they persecuted
|
|
Elisha. This silenced him presently, filled him with confusion, and was
|
|
an effectual confutation of all he said against the doctrine of Christ.
|
|
Let not him any more pretend to be a guide to the deputy's conscience
|
|
who is himself struck blind. It was also an earnest to him of a much
|
|
sorer punishment if he repent not; for he is one of those <I>wandering
|
|
stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:13">Jude 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Elymas did himself proclaim the truth of the miracle, when <I>he went
|
|
about seeking some to lead him by the hand;</I> and where now is all
|
|
his skill in sorcery, upon which he had so much valued himself, when he
|
|
can neither find his way nor find a friend that will be so kind as to
|
|
lead him!</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Notwithstanding all the endeavours of Elymas <I>to turn away the
|
|
deputy from the faith,</I> he was brought to believe, and this miracle,
|
|
wrought upon the magician himself (like <I>the boils of Egypt,</I>
|
|
which <I>were upon the magicians, so that they could not stand before
|
|
Moses,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+9:11">Exod. ix. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
contributed to it. The deputy was a very sensible man, and observed
|
|
something uncommon, and which intimated its divine original,
|
|
|
|
(1.) In Paul's preaching: he was <I>astonished at the doctrine of the
|
|
Lord,</I> the Lord Christ--the doctrine that <I>is from him,</I> the
|
|
discoveries he has made of the Father--the doctrine that <I>is
|
|
concerning him,</I> his person, natures, offices, undertaking. Note,
|
|
The doctrine of Christ has a great deal in it that is astonishing; and
|
|
the more we know of it the more reason we shall see to wonder and stand
|
|
amazed at it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) In this miracle: <I>When he saw what was done,</I> and how much
|
|
Paul's power transcended that of the magician, and how plainly Elymas
|
|
was baffled and confounded, he believed. It is not said that he was
|
|
baptized, and so made a complete convert, but it is probable that he
|
|
was. Paul would not do his business by the halves; <I>as for God, his
|
|
work is perfect.</I> When he became a Christian, he neither laid down
|
|
his government, nor was turned out of it, but we may suppose, as a
|
|
Christian magistrate, by his influence helped very much to propagate
|
|
Christianity in that island. The tradition of the Romish church, which
|
|
has taken care to find bishoprics for all the eminent converts we read
|
|
of in <I>the Acts,</I> has made this Sergius Paulus bishop of Narbon in
|
|
France, left there by Paul in his journey to Spain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Their departure from the island of Cyprus. It is probable that
|
|
they did a great deal more there than is recorded, where an account is
|
|
given only of that which was extraordinary--the conversion of the
|
|
deputy. When they had done what they had to do,
|
|
|
|
1. They quitted the country, and <I>went to Perga.</I> Those that went
|
|
were <I>Paul and his company,</I> which, it is probable, was increased
|
|
in Cyprus, many being desirous to accompany him. <B><I>Anachthentes
|
|
hoi peri ton Paulon</I></B>--<I>Those that were about Paul loosed from
|
|
Paphos,</I> which supposes that he went too; but such an affection had
|
|
his new friends for him that they were always about him, and by their
|
|
good will would be never from him.
|
|
|
|
2. Then John <I>Mark quitted them, and returned to Jerusalem,</I>
|
|
without the consent of Paul and Barnabas; either he did not like the
|
|
work, or he wanted to go and see his mother. It was his fault, and we
|
|
shall hear of it again.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_41"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul at Antioch in Pisidia.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in
|
|
Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat
|
|
down.
|
|
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers
|
|
of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, <I>Ye</I> men <I>and</I> brethren,
|
|
if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
|
|
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with <I>his</I> hand said, Men
|
|
of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
|
|
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and
|
|
exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of
|
|
Egypt, and with a high arm brought he them out of it.
|
|
18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners
|
|
in the wilderness.
|
|
19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of
|
|
Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
|
|
20 And after that he gave <I>unto them</I> judges about the space of
|
|
four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
|
|
21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them
|
|
Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space
|
|
of forty years.
|
|
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to
|
|
be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have
|
|
found David the <I>son</I> of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which
|
|
shall fulfil all my will.
|
|
23 Of this man's seed hath God according to <I>his</I> promise
|
|
raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
|
|
24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism
|
|
of repentance to all the people of Israel.
|
|
25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye
|
|
that I am? I am not <I>he.</I> But, behold, there cometh one after me,
|
|
whose shoes of <I>his</I> feet I am not worthy to loose.
|
|
26 Men <I>and</I> brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and
|
|
whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this
|
|
salvation sent.
|
|
27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because
|
|
they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are
|
|
read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled <I>them</I> in condemning
|
|
<I>him.</I>
|
|
28 And though they found no cause of death <I>in him,</I> yet
|
|
desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
|
|
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him,
|
|
they took <I>him</I> down from the tree, and laid <I>him</I> in a
|
|
sepulchre.
|
|
30 But God raised him from the dead:
|
|
31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him
|
|
from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
|
|
32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise
|
|
which was made unto the fathers,
|
|
33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that
|
|
he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the
|
|
second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
|
|
34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, <I>now</I>
|
|
no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will
|
|
give you the sure mercies of David.
|
|
35 Wherefore he saith also in another <I>psalm,</I> Thou shalt not
|
|
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
|
|
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the
|
|
will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and
|
|
saw corruption:
|
|
37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
|
|
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men <I>and</I> brethren, that
|
|
through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
|
|
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things,
|
|
from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
|
|
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken
|
|
of in the prophets;
|
|
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a
|
|
work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe,
|
|
though a man declare it unto you.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Perga in Pamphylia was a noted place, especially for a temple there
|
|
erected to the goddess Diana, yet nothing at all is related of what
|
|
Paul and Barnabas did there, only that <I>thither they came</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>thence they departed,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
But the history of the apostles' travels, as that of Christ's, passes
|
|
by many things worthy to have been recorded, because, <I>if all had
|
|
been written, the world could not have contained the books.</I> But the
|
|
next place we find them in is another Antioch, said to be in Pisidia,
|
|
to distinguish it from that Antioch in Syria from which they were sent
|
|
out. Pisidia was a province of the Lesser Asia, bordering upon
|
|
Pamphylia; this Antioch, it is likely, was the metropolis of it.
|
|
Abundance of Jews lived there, and to them <I>the gospel was to be
|
|
first preached;</I> and Paul's sermon to them is what we have in these
|
|
verses, which, it is likely, is the substance of what was preached by
|
|
the apostles generally to the Jews in all places; for in dealing with
|
|
them the proper way was to show them how the New Testament, which they
|
|
would have them to receive, exactly agreed with the Old Testament,
|
|
which they not only received, but were zealous for. We have here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The appearance which Paul and Barnabas made in a religious assembly
|
|
of the Jews at Antioch,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though they had lately had such good success with a Roman deputy, yet,
|
|
<I>when they came to Antioch,</I> they did not enquire for the chief
|
|
magistrate, nor make their court to him, but they applied to the Jews,
|
|
which is a further proof of their good affection to them and their
|
|
desire of their welfare.
|
|
|
|
1. They observed their time of worship, <I>on the sabbath day,</I> the
|
|
Jewish sabbath. <I>The first day of the week</I> they observed among
|
|
themselves as a Christian sabbath; but, if they will meet the Jews, it
|
|
must be on the seventh-day sabbath, which therefore, upon such
|
|
occasions, they did as yet sometimes observe. For, though it was by the
|
|
death of Christ that the ceremonial law died, yet it was in the ruins
|
|
of Jerusalem that it was to be buried; and therefore, though the
|
|
morality of the fourth commandment was entirely transferred to the
|
|
Christian sabbath, yet it was not incongruous to join with the Jews in
|
|
their sabbath sanctification.
|
|
|
|
2. They met them in their place of worship, <I>in the synagogue.</I>
|
|
Note, Sabbath days should be kept holy in solemn assemblies; they are
|
|
instituted chiefly for public worship. <I>The sabbath day is a holy
|
|
convocation,</I> and for that reason <I>no servile work must be done
|
|
therein.</I> Paul and Barnabas were strangers; but, wherever we come,
|
|
we must enquire out God's faithful worshippers, and join with them (as
|
|
these apostles here did), as those that desire to keep up a communion
|
|
with all saints; though they were strangers, yet they were admitted
|
|
into the synagogue, and to sit down there. Care should be taken in
|
|
places of public worship that strangers be accommodated, even the
|
|
poorest; for, of those of whom we know nothing else, we know this, that
|
|
they have precious souls, for which our charity binds us to be
|
|
concerned.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The invitation given them to preach.
|
|
|
|
1. The usual service of the synagogue was performed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The law and the prophets were read,</I> a portion of each, the
|
|
lessons for the day. Note, When we come together to worship God, we
|
|
must do it not only by prayer and praise, but by the reading and
|
|
hearing of the word of God; hereby we <I>give him the glory due to his
|
|
name,</I> as our Lord and Lawgiver.
|
|
|
|
2. When that was done, they were asked by <I>the rulers of the
|
|
synagogue</I> to give them a sermon
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
They sent a messenger to them with the respectful message, <I>Men and
|
|
brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say
|
|
on.</I> It is probable that the rulers of the synagogue had met with
|
|
them, and been in private conversation with them before; and, if they
|
|
had not an affection to the gospel, yet they had at least the curiosity
|
|
to hear Paul preach; and therefore not only gave him permission, but
|
|
begged the favour of him that he would speak a <I>word of exhortation
|
|
to the people.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The bare reading of the scriptures in the public assemblies is not
|
|
sufficient, but they should be expounded, and the people exhorted out
|
|
of them. This is spreading the net, and assisting people in doing that
|
|
which is necessary to the making of the word profitable to them--that
|
|
is, the applying of it to themselves.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Those that preside, and have power, in public assemblies, should
|
|
provide for a word of exhortation to the people, whenever they come
|
|
together.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Sometimes a word of exhortation from a strange minister may be of
|
|
great use to the people, provided he be well approved. It is likely
|
|
Paul did <I>often preach in the synagogue,</I> when he was not thus
|
|
invited to it by the rulers of the synagogues; for he often preached
|
|
<I>with much contention,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+2:2">1 Thess. ii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
But these were more noble, more generous, than the rulers of the
|
|
synagogues generally were.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The sermon Paul preached in the synagogue of the Jews, at the
|
|
invitation of the rulers of the synagogue. He gladly embraced the
|
|
opportunity given him to preach Christ to his countrymen the Jews. He
|
|
did not object to them that he was a stranger, and that it was none of
|
|
his business; nor object to himself, that he might get ill-will by
|
|
preaching Christ among the Jews; but <I>stood up,</I> as one prepared
|
|
and determined to speak, <I>and beckoned with his hand,</I> to excite
|
|
and prepare them to hear. He waved his hand as an orator, not only
|
|
desiring silence and attention, but endeavouring to move affection, and
|
|
to show himself in earnest. Perhaps, upon the moving of them <I>to give
|
|
an exhortation to the people,</I> there were those in the synagogue
|
|
that were ready to mutiny against the rulers, and opposed the
|
|
toleration of Paul's preaching, and that occasioned some tumult and
|
|
commotion, which Paul endeavoured to quiet by that decent motion of his
|
|
hand; as also by his modest desire of a patient impartial hearing:
|
|
"<I>Men of Israel,</I> that are <I>Jews</I> by birth, <I>and you that
|
|
fear God,</I> that are proselyted to the Jewish religion, <I>give
|
|
audience;</I> let me beg your attention a little, for I have something
|
|
to say to you which concerns your everlasting peace, and would not say
|
|
it in vain." Now this excellent sermon is recorded, to show that those
|
|
who preached the gospel to the Gentiles did it not till they had first
|
|
used their utmost endeavours with the Jews, to persuade them to come in
|
|
and take the benefit of it; and that they had no prejudice at all
|
|
against the Jewish nation, nor any desire <I>that they should perish,
|
|
but rather that they should turn and live.</I> Every thing is touched
|
|
in this sermon that might be proper either to convince the judgment or
|
|
insinuate into the affections of the Jews, to prevail with them to
|
|
receive and embrace Christ as the promised Messiah.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He owns them to be God's favourite people, whom he had taken into
|
|
special relation to himself, and for whom he had done great things.
|
|
Probably <I>the Jews of the dispersion,</I> that lived in other
|
|
countries, being more in danger of mingling with the nations, were more
|
|
jealous of their peculiarity than those that lived in their own land
|
|
were; and therefore Paul is here very careful to take notice of it, to
|
|
their honour.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That <I>the God of the whole earth</I> was, in a particular
|
|
manner, <I>the God of this people Israel,</I> a God <I>in covenant with
|
|
them,</I> and that he had given them a revelation of his mind and will,
|
|
such as he <I>had not given to any other nation or people;</I> so that
|
|
hereby they were distinguished from, and dignified above, all their
|
|
neighbours, having peculiar precepts to be governed by, and peculiar
|
|
promises to depend upon.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he had <I>chosen their fathers</I> to be his friends: Abraham
|
|
was called <I>the friend of God;</I> to be his prophets, by whom he
|
|
would reveal his mind to his church, and to be the trustees of his
|
|
covenant with the church. He puts them in mind of this, to let them
|
|
know that the reason why God favoured them, though undeserving, and ill
|
|
deserving, was because he would adhere to the choice he had made of
|
|
<I>their fathers,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+7:7,8">Deut. vii. 7, 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>They were beloved</I> purely <I>for the fathers' sakes,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:28">Rom. xi. 28</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) That he had <I>exalted that people,</I> and put a great deal of
|
|
honour upon them, had advanced them into a people, and raised them from
|
|
nothing, <I>when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt,</I> and
|
|
had nothing in them to recommend them to the divine favour. They ought
|
|
to remember this, and to infer hence that God was no debtor to them;
|
|
for it was <I>ex mero motu--out of his mere good pleasure,</I> and not
|
|
upon a valuable consideration, that they had the grant of the divine
|
|
favour; and therefore it was revocable at pleasure; and God did them no
|
|
wrong if he at length plucked up the hedge of their peculiarity. But
|
|
they were debtors to him, and obliged to receive such further
|
|
discoveries as he should make to his church.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) That he had <I>with a high hand brought them out of Egypt,</I>
|
|
where they were not only strangers, but captives, had delivered them at
|
|
the expense of a great many miracles, both of mercy to them and
|
|
judgment on their oppressors (<I>signs and wonders,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:34">Deut. iv. 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
and at the expense of a great many lives, <I>all the first-born of
|
|
Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his host, in the Red Sea; I gave Egypt for thy
|
|
ransom, gave men for thee.</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:3,4">Isa. xliii. 3, 4</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(5.) That <I>he had suffered their manners forty years in the
|
|
wilderness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>,
|
|
|
|
<B><I>Etropophoresen.</I></B> Some think it should be read,
|
|
<B><I>etrophophoresen</I></B>--<I>he educated them,</I> because this is
|
|
the word the Septuagint use concerning the fatherly care God took of
|
|
that people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+1:31">Deut. i. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Both may be included; for,
|
|
|
|
[1.] God made a great deal of provision for them for forty years in the
|
|
wilderness: miracles were their daily bread, and kept them from
|
|
starving: <I>They lacked not any thing.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He exercised a great deal of patience with them. They were a
|
|
provoking, murmuring, unbelieving people; and yet he bore with them,
|
|
did not deal with them as they deserved, but suffered his anger many a
|
|
time to be turned away by the prayer and intercession of Moses. So many
|
|
years as we have each of us lived in this world, we must own that God
|
|
has thus been as a tender father to us, has supplied our wants, has
|
|
<I>fed us all our life long unto this day,</I> has been indulgent to
|
|
us, a God of pardons (as he was to Israel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+9:17">Neh. ix. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>not extreme to mark what we have done amiss;</I> we have tried
|
|
his patience, and yet not tired it. Let not the Jews insist too much
|
|
upon the privileges of their peculiarity, for they have forfeited them
|
|
a thousand times.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(6.) That he had put them in possession of the land of Canaan
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,</I> that
|
|
were doomed to be rooted out to make room for them, <I>he divided their
|
|
land to them by lot,</I> and put them in possession of it. This was a
|
|
signal favour of God to them, and he owns that hereby a great honour
|
|
was put upon them, from which he would not in the least derogate.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(7.) That he had raised up men, inspirited from heaven, to deliver them
|
|
out of the hands of those that invaded their rights, and oppressed them
|
|
after their settlement in Canaan,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] He <I>gave them judges,</I> men qualified for public service, and,
|
|
by an immediate impulse upon their spirits, called to it, <I>pro re
|
|
nata--as the occasion required.</I> Though they were a provoking
|
|
people, and were never in servitude but their sin brought them to it,
|
|
yet upon their petition a deliverer was raised up. The critics find
|
|
some difficulty in computing <I>these four hundred and fifty years.</I>
|
|
From the <I>deliverance out of Egypt</I> to David's expulsion of <I>the
|
|
Jebusites from the stronghold of Zion,</I> which completed the casting
|
|
out of the heathen nations, <I>was four hundred and fifty years;</I>
|
|
and most of that time they were under judges. Others thus: The
|
|
government of the judges, from the death of Joshua to the death of Eli,
|
|
was just <I>three hundred and thirty-nine years,</I> but it is said to
|
|
be [<B><I>os</I></B>] as it were <I>four hundred and fifty years,</I>
|
|
because the years of their servitude to the several nations that
|
|
oppressed them, though really they were included in the years of the
|
|
judges, are yet mentioned in the history as if they had been distinct
|
|
from them. Now these, all put together, make <I>one hundred and eleven
|
|
years,</I> which added to the <I>three hundred and thirty nine,</I>
|
|
make them <I>four hundred and fifty;</I> as so many, though not really
|
|
so many.
|
|
|
|
[2.] He governed them by a <I>prophet, Samuel,</I> a man divinely
|
|
inspired to preside in their affairs.
|
|
|
|
[3.] He <I>afterwards</I> at their request <I>set a king over them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Saul, the son of Cis.</I> Samuel's government and his lasted
|
|
<I>forty years,</I> which was a kind of transition from the theocracy
|
|
to the kingly government.
|
|
|
|
[4.] At last, he made David their king,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>When God had removed Saul,</I> for his mal-administration, <I>he
|
|
raised up unto them David to be their king,</I> and made <I>a covenant
|
|
of royalty with him, and with his seed.</I> When he had removed one
|
|
king, he did not leave them as sheep without a shepherd, but soon
|
|
raised up another, raised him up from a mean and low estate, <I>raised
|
|
him up on high,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+23:1">2 Sam. xxiii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
He quotes the testimony God gave concerning him, <I>First,</I> That his
|
|
choice was divine: <I>I have found David,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:20">Ps. lxxxix. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
God himself pitched upon him. Finding implies seeking; as if God had
|
|
ransacked all the families of Israel to find a man fit for his purpose,
|
|
and this was he. <I>Secondly,</I> That his character was divine: <I>A
|
|
man after my own heart,</I> such a one as I would have, one on whom the
|
|
image of God is stamped, and therefore one in whom God is well pleased
|
|
and whom he approves. This character was given of him before he was
|
|
first anointed,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+13:14">1 Sam. xiii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord hath sought out a man after his own heart,</I> such a one
|
|
as he would have. <I>Thirdly,</I> That his conduct was divine, and
|
|
under divine direction: <I>He shall fulfil all my will.</I> He shall
|
|
desire and endeavour to do the will of God, and shall be enabled to do
|
|
it, and employed in the doing of it, and go through with it. Now all
|
|
this seems to show not only the special favour of God to the people of
|
|
Israel (with the acknowledgment of which the apostle is very willing to
|
|
oblige them) but the further favours of another nature which he
|
|
designed them, and which were now, by the preaching of the gospel,
|
|
offered to them. Their deliverance out of Egypt, and settlement in
|
|
Canaan, <I>were types and figures of good things to come.</I> The
|
|
changes of their government showed that it <I>made nothing perfect,</I>
|
|
and therefore must give way to the spiritual kingdom of the Messiah,
|
|
which was now in the setting up, and which, if they would admit it and
|
|
submit to it, would be <I>the glory of their people Israel;</I> and
|
|
therefore they needed not conceive any jealousy at all of the preaching
|
|
of the gospel, as if it tended in the least to damage the true
|
|
excellences of the Jewish church.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He gives them a full account of our Lord Jesus, passing from David
|
|
to the Son of David, and shows that this Jesus is his promised Seed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Of this man's seed,</I> from that <I>root of Jesse,</I> from that
|
|
<I>man after God's own heart, hath God, according to his promise,
|
|
raised unto Israel a Saviour--Jesus,</I> who carries salvation in his
|
|
name.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) How welcome should the preaching of the gospel of Christ be to the
|
|
Jews, and how should they embrace it, as <I>well worthy of all
|
|
acceptation,</I> when it brought them the tidings,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Of a Saviour, to deliver <I>them out of the hands of their
|
|
enemies,</I> as the judges of old, who were therefore called
|
|
<I>saviours;</I> but this <I>a Saviour</I> to do that for them which,
|
|
it appears by the history, those could not do--<I>to save them from
|
|
their sins,</I> their worst enemies.
|
|
|
|
[2.] A Saviour of God's raising up, that has his commission from
|
|
heaven.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Raised up <I>to be a Saviour unto Israel,</I> to them in the first
|
|
place: <I>He was sent to bless them;</I> so far was the gospel from
|
|
designing the gathering of them.
|
|
|
|
[4.] Raised up <I>of the seed of David,</I> that ancient royal family,
|
|
which the people of Israel gloried so much in, and which at this time,
|
|
to the great disgrace of the whole nation, was buried in obscurity. It
|
|
ought to be a great satisfaction to them <I>that God had raised up this
|
|
horn of salvation for them in the house of his servant David,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:69">Luke i. 69</A>.
|
|
|
|
[5.] Raised up <I>according to his promise,</I> the promise to David
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+132:11">Ps. cxxxii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
the promise to the Old-Testament church in the latter times of it: <I>I
|
|
will raise unto David a righteous branch,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+23:5">Jer. xxiii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
This promise was it <I>to which the twelve tribes hoped to come</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+26:7"><I>ch.</I> xxvi. 7</A>);
|
|
|
|
why then should they entertain it so coldly, now that it was brought to
|
|
them? Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Concerning this Jesus, he tells them,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] That John the Baptist was his harbinger and forerunner, that great
|
|
man whom all acknowledged to be a prophet. Let them not say that the
|
|
Messiah's coming was a surprise upon them, and that this might excuse
|
|
them if they took time to consider whether they should entertain him or
|
|
no; for they had sufficient warning by John, who <I>preached before his
|
|
coming,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Two things he did--<I>First,</I> He made way for his entrance, by
|
|
preaching <I>the baptism of repentance,</I> not to a few select
|
|
disciples, but <I>to all the people of Israel.</I> He showed them their
|
|
sins, <I>warned them of the wrath to come, called them to
|
|
repentance,</I> and <I>to bring forth fruits meet for repentance,</I>
|
|
and bound those to this who were willing to be bound by the solemn rite
|
|
or sign of baptism; and by this he <I>made ready a people prepared for
|
|
the Lord Jesus,</I> to whom his grace would be acceptable when they
|
|
were thus brought to know themselves. <I>Secondly,</I> He gave notice
|
|
of his approach
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>As he fulfilled his course,</I> when he was going on vigorously in
|
|
his work, and had had wonderful success in it, and an established
|
|
interest: "Now," saith he to those that attended his ministry, "<I>Whom
|
|
think you that I am?</I> What notions have you of me, what expectations
|
|
from me? You may be thinking that I am <I>the Messiah,</I> whom you
|
|
expect; but you are mistaken, <I>I am not he</I> (see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:20">John i. 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
but he is at the door; <I>behold, there cometh one</I> immediately
|
|
<I>after me,</I> who will so far exceed me upon all accounts, <I>that I
|
|
am not worthy</I> to be employed in the meanest office about him, no,
|
|
not to help him on and off with his shoes--<I>whose shoes of his feet I
|
|
am not worthy to loose,</I> and you may guess who that must be."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] That the rulers and people of the Jews, who should have welcomed
|
|
him, and been his willing, forward, faithful subjects, were his
|
|
persecutors and murderers. When the apostles preach Christ as <I>the
|
|
Saviour,</I> they are so far from concealing his ignominious death, and
|
|
drawing a veil over it, that they always <I>preach Christ
|
|
crucified,</I> yea, and (though this added much to the reproach of his
|
|
sufferings) crucified by his own people, by <I>those that dwelt in
|
|
Jerusalem,</I> the holy city--the royal city, and <I>their rulers,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> Their sin was <I>that though they found no cause of death
|
|
in him,</I> could not prove him, no, nor had any colour to suspect him,
|
|
guilty of any crime (the judge himself that tried him, when he had
|
|
heard all they could say against him, declared he <I>found no fault
|
|
with him), yet they desired Pilate that he might be slain</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
and presented their address against Christ with such fury and outrage
|
|
that they compelled Pilate to crucify him, not only contrary to his
|
|
inclination, but contrary to his conscience; they condemned him <I>to
|
|
so great a death,</I> though they could not convict him of the least
|
|
sin. Paul cannot charge this upon his hearers, as Peter did
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:23"><I>ch.</I> ii. 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>You have with wicked hands crucified and slain him;</I> for these,
|
|
though Jews, were far enough off; but he charges it upon the Jews at
|
|
Jerusalem and the rulers, to show what little reason those Jews of the
|
|
dispersion had to be so jealous for the honour of their nation as they
|
|
were, when it had brought upon itself such a load and stain of guilt as
|
|
this, and how justly they might have been cut off from all benefit by
|
|
the Messiah, who had thus abused him, and yet they were not; but,
|
|
notwithstanding all this, the preaching of this gospel shall begin at
|
|
Jerusalem. <I>Secondly,</I> The reason of this was because <I>they knew
|
|
him not,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
They knew not who he was, nor what errand he came into the world upon;
|
|
for, <I>if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of
|
|
glory.</I> Christ owned this in extenuation of their crime: <I>They
|
|
know not what they do;</I> and so did Peter: <I>I wot that through
|
|
ignorance you did this,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+3:17"><I>ch.</I> iii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was also because they knew not the voice of the prophets though they
|
|
heard them read every sabbath day. They did not understand nor consider
|
|
that it was foretold that the Messiah should suffer, or else they would
|
|
never have been the instruments of his suffering. Note, Many that read
|
|
the prophets do not know the voice of the prophets, do not understand
|
|
the meaning of the scriptures; they have the sound of the gospel in
|
|
their ears, but not the sense of it in their heads, nor the savour of
|
|
it in their hearts. And <I>therefore</I> men do not know Christ, nor
|
|
know how to carry it towards him, because they do not know the voice of
|
|
the prophets, who <I>testified beforehand concerning Christ.
|
|
Thirdly,</I> God overruled them, for the accomplishment of the
|
|
prophecies of the Old-Testament: <I>Because they knew not the voice of
|
|
the prophets,</I> which warned them not to touch God's Anointed,
|
|
<I>they fulfilled them in condemning him;</I> for so it was written
|
|
that <I>Messiah the prince shall be cut off, but not for himself.</I>
|
|
Note, It is possible that men may be fulfilling scripture prophecies,
|
|
even when they are breaking scripture precepts, particularly in the
|
|
persecution of the church, as in the persecution of Christ. And this
|
|
justifies the reason which is sometimes given for the obscurity of
|
|
scripture prophecies, that, if they were too plain and obvious, the
|
|
accomplishment of them would thereby be prevented. So Paul saith here,
|
|
<I>Because they knew not the voice of the prophets,</I> therefore
|
|
<I>they have fulfilled them,</I> which implies that if they had
|
|
understood them they would not have fulfilled them. <I>Fourthly,</I>
|
|
All that was foretold concerning the sufferings of the Messiah was
|
|
fulfilled in Christ
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When they had fulfilled all</I> the rest <I>that was written of
|
|
him,</I> even to the giving of him vinegar to drink in his thirst, then
|
|
they fulfilled what was foretold concerning his being buried. They
|
|
<I>took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.</I> This
|
|
is taken notice of here as that which made his resurrection the more
|
|
illustrious. Christ was separated from this world, as those that are
|
|
buried have nothing more to do with this world, nor this world with
|
|
them; and therefore our complete separation from sin is represented by
|
|
our being <I>buried with Christ.</I> And a good Christian will be
|
|
willing to be buried alive with Christ. They laid him in a sepulchre,
|
|
and thought they had him fast.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] That he <I>rose again from the dead,</I> and saw no corruption.
|
|
This was the great truth that was to be preached; for it is the main
|
|
pillar, by which the whole fabric of the gospel is supported, and
|
|
therefore he insists largely upon this, and shows,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> That he rose by consent. When he was imprisoned in the
|
|
grave for our debt, he did not break prison, but had a fair and legal
|
|
discharge from the arrest he was under
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>God raised him from the dead,</I> sent an angel on purpose to roll
|
|
away the stone from the prison-door, returned to him the spirit which
|
|
at his death he had committed into the hands of his Father, and
|
|
quickened him by the Holy Ghost. His enemies laid him in a sepulchre,
|
|
with design he should always lay there; but God said, <I>No;</I> and it
|
|
was soon seen whose purpose should stand, his or theirs.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> That there was sufficient proof of his having risen
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He was seen many days,</I> in divers places, upon divers occasions,
|
|
by those that were most intimately acquainted with him; for they
|
|
<I>came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem,</I> were his constant
|
|
attendants, and <I>they are his witnesses unto the people.</I> They
|
|
were appointed to be so, have attested the thing many a time, and are
|
|
ready to attest it, though they were to die for the same. Paul says
|
|
nothing of his own seeing him, which was more convincing to himself
|
|
than it could be when produced to others.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> That the resurrection of Christ was the performance of
|
|
the promise made to the patriarchs; it was not only true news, but good
|
|
news: "In declaring this, we <I>declare unto you glad tidings</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:32,33"><I>v.</I> 32, 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
which should be in a particular manner acceptable to you Jews. So far
|
|
are we from designing to put any slur upon you, or do you any wrong,
|
|
that the doctrine we preach, if you receive it aright, and understand
|
|
it, brings you the greatest honour and satisfaction imaginable; for it
|
|
is in the resurrection of Christ that <I>the promise which was made to
|
|
your fathers is fulfilled to you.</I>" He acknowledges it to be the
|
|
dignity of the Jewish nation that <I>to them pertained the promises</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:4">Rom. ix. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
that they were the heirs of the promise, as they were the children of
|
|
the patriarchs to whom the promises were first made. The great promise
|
|
of the Old Testament was that of the Messiah, <I>in whom all the
|
|
families of the earth should be blessed,</I> and not the family of
|
|
Abraham only; though it was to be the peculiar honour of that family
|
|
that he should be raised up of it, yet it was to be the common benefit
|
|
of all families that he should be raised up to them. Note,
|
|
|
|
1. God hath <I>raised up Jesus,</I> advanced him, and exalted him;
|
|
<I>raised</I> him <I>again</I> (so we read it), meaning <I>from the
|
|
dead.</I> We may take in both senses. God raised up Jesus to be a
|
|
prophet at his baptism, to be a priest to make atonement at his death,
|
|
and to be a king to rule over all at his ascension; and <I>his raising
|
|
him up from the dead</I> was the confirmation and ratification of all
|
|
these commissions, and proved him raised of God to these offices.
|
|
|
|
2. This is the fulfilling of the promises made to the fathers, the
|
|
promise of sending the Messiah, and of all those benefits and blessings
|
|
which were to be had with him and by him: "This is he that should come,
|
|
and in him you have all that God promised in the Messiah, though not
|
|
all that you promised yourselves." Paul puts himself into the number of
|
|
the Jews to whom the promise was fulfilled: <I>To us their
|
|
children.</I> Now, if those who preached the gospel brought them
|
|
<I>these glad tidings,</I> instead of looking upon them as enemies to
|
|
their nation, they ought to caress them as their best friends, and
|
|
embrace their doctrine with both arms; for if they valued the promise
|
|
so much, and themselves by it, much more the performance. And the
|
|
preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles, which was the great thing that
|
|
the Jews found themselves aggrieved at, was so far from infringing the
|
|
promise made to them that the promise itself, that <I>all the families
|
|
of the earth</I> should be blessed in the Messiah, could not otherwise
|
|
be accomplished.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Fourthly,</I> That the resurrection of Christ was the great proof of
|
|
his being the Son of God, and confirms what was written in the second
|
|
Psalm (thus ancient was the order in which the Psalms are now placed),
|
|
<I>Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.</I> That the
|
|
resurrection of Christ from the dead was designed to evidence and
|
|
evince this is plain from that of the apostle
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:4">Rom. i. 4</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He was declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection
|
|
from the dead.</I> When he was first raised up out of obscurity, God
|
|
declared concerning him by a voice from heaven, <I>This is my beloved
|
|
Son</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:17">Matt. iii. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
which has a plain reference to that in the second Psalm, <I>Thou art my
|
|
Son.</I> Abundance of truth there is couched in those words: that this
|
|
Jesus was <I>begotten of the Father before all worlds</I>--was <I>the
|
|
brightness of his glory and the express image of his person,</I> as the
|
|
son is of the father's--that he was the <B><I>logos,</I></B> the
|
|
<I>eternal thought of the eternal mind,</I>--that he was conceived by
|
|
the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin; for upon this
|
|
account, also, <I>that holy thing was called the Son of God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:35">Luke i. 35</A>),
|
|
|
|
that he was God's agent in creating and governing the world, and in
|
|
redeeming it and reconciling it to himself, and <I>faithful as a son in
|
|
his own house,</I> and as such was <I>heir of all things.</I> Now all
|
|
this, which was declared at Christ's baptism and again at his
|
|
transfiguration, was undeniably proved by his resurrection. The decree
|
|
which was so long before declared was then confirmed; and the reason
|
|
why it was impossible he should be held by the bands of death was
|
|
because he was the Son of God, and consequently had <I>life in
|
|
himself,</I> which he could not lay down but with a design to resume
|
|
it. When his eternal generation is spoken of, it is not improper to
|
|
say, <I>This day have I begotten thee;</I> for <I>from everlasting to
|
|
everlasting</I> is with God as it were one and the same eternal day.
|
|
Yet it may also be accommodated to his resurrection, in a subordinate
|
|
sense, "This day have I made it to appear that I have begotten thee,
|
|
and this day have I begotten all that are given to thee;" for it is
|
|
said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:3">1 Pet. i. 3</A>)
|
|
|
|
that <I>the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,</I> as our God and
|
|
Father, <I>hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection
|
|
of Jesus Christ from the dead.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Fifthly,</I> That his being raised the third day, so as not to see
|
|
corruption, and to a heavenly life, so as no more to return to
|
|
corruption, that is, to the state of the dead, as others did who were
|
|
raised to life, further confirms his being the Messiah promised.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>a.</I> He rose to die no more; so it is expressed,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+6:9">Rom. vi. 9</A>:
|
|
|
|
<I>As concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to
|
|
return to corruption,</I> that is, to the grave, which is called
|
|
<I>corruption,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+17:14">Job xvii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Lazarus came out of the grave with his grave-clothes on, because he was
|
|
to use them again; but Christ, having no more occasion for them, left
|
|
them behind. Now this was the fulfilling of that scripture
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+55:3">Isa. lv. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I will give you the sure mercies of David;</I> <B><I>ta hosia Dabid
|
|
ta pista</I></B>--<I>the holy things of David, the faithful things;</I>
|
|
for in the promise made to David, and in him to Christ, great stress is
|
|
laid upon the faithfulness of God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:1,2,5,24,33">Ps. lxxxix. 1, 2, 5, 24, 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
and upon the oath God had sworn <I>by his holiness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:35">Ps. lxxxix. 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now this makes them sure mercies indeed that he who is entrusted with
|
|
the dispensing of them has risen to die no more; so that he ever lives
|
|
to see his own will executed, and the blessings he hath purchased for
|
|
us given out to us. As, if Christ had died and had not risen again, so
|
|
if he had risen to die again, we had come short of the sure mercies, or
|
|
at least could not have been sure of them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>b.</I> He rose so soon after he was dead that his body did not see
|
|
corruption; for it is not till the third day that the body begins to
|
|
change. Now this was promised to David; it was one of <I>the sure
|
|
mercies of David,</I> for it was said to him in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:10">Ps. xvi. 10</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
God had promised to David that he would raise up the Messiah of his
|
|
seed, who should therefore be a man, but should not, like other men,
|
|
see corruption. This promise could not have its accomplishment in
|
|
David, but looked forward to Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(<I>a.</I>) It could not be accomplished in David himself
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
for <I>David, after he had served his own generation, by the will of
|
|
God,</I> who raised him up to be what he was, <I>fell asleep, and was
|
|
laid to his fathers, and saw corruption.</I> Here we have a short
|
|
account of the life, death, and burial, of the patriarch David, and his
|
|
continuance under the power of death.
|
|
|
|
[<I>a.</I>] His life: <I>He served his own generation, by the will of
|
|
God,</I> before he slept the sleep of death. David was a useful good
|
|
man; he did good in the world <I>by the will of God.</I> He made God's
|
|
precepts his rule; he <I>served his own generation</I> so as therein to
|
|
serve God; he so <I>served</I> and <I>pleased men (as whatever the king
|
|
did pleased the people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+3:36">2 Sam. iii. 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
as still to keep himself the faithful servant of God. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+1:10">Gal. i. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
He served the good of men, but did not serve the will of men. Or, by
|
|
the will of God's providence so ordering it, qualifying him for, and
|
|
calling him to, a public station, he <I>served his own generation;</I>
|
|
for every creature is that to us which God makes it to be. David was a
|
|
great blessing to the age wherein he lived; he was the <I>servant</I>
|
|
of his generation: many are the curse, and plague, and burden of their
|
|
generation. Even those that are in a lower and narrower sphere must
|
|
look upon it that they live to <I>serve their generation;</I> and those
|
|
that will do good in the world must make themselves <I>servants of
|
|
all,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:19">1 Cor. ix. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
We were not born for ourselves, but are members of communities, to
|
|
which we must study to be serviceable. Yet here is the difference
|
|
between David and Christ, that David was to serve only his own
|
|
generation, that generation in which he lived, and therefore when he
|
|
had done what he had to do, and written what he had to write, he died,
|
|
and continued in the grave; but Christ (not by his writings or words
|
|
upon record only as David, but by his personal agency) was to serve
|
|
<I>all</I> generations, must ever live to reign over the house of
|
|
Jacob, not as David, for forty years, but for all ages, as long as the
|
|
sun and moon endure,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:29,36,37">Ps. lxxxix. 29, 36, 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
His throne must be as the days of heaven, and all generations must be
|
|
blessed in him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+72:17">Ps. lxxii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
[<I>b.</I>] His death: <I>He fell asleep.</I> Death is a sleep, a quiet
|
|
rest, to those who, while they lived, laboured in the service of God
|
|
and their generation. Observe, He did not fall asleep till he had
|
|
served his generation, till he had done the work for which God raised
|
|
him up. God's servants have their work assigned them; and, when they
|
|
have <I>accomplished as a hireling their day,</I> then, and not till
|
|
then, they are called to rest. God's witnesses never die till they have
|
|
finished their testimony; and then <I>the sleep,</I> the death, <I>of
|
|
the labouring man will be sweet.</I> David was not permitted to build
|
|
the temple, and therefore when he had made preparation for it, which
|
|
was the service he was designed to, he fell asleep, and left the work
|
|
to Solomon.
|
|
|
|
[<I>c.</I>] His burial: <I>He was laid to his fathers.</I> Though he
|
|
was buried in <I>the city of David</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+2:10">1 Kings ii. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and not in the sepulchre of Jesse his father in Bethlehem, yet he might
|
|
be said to be <I>laid to his fathers;</I> for the grave, in general, is
|
|
the habitation of our fathers, of those that are gone before us,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:19">Ps. xlix. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
[<I>d.</I>] His continuance in the grave: <I>He saw corruption.</I> We
|
|
are sure he did not rise again; this Peter insists upon when he freely
|
|
speaks of the patriarch David
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:29"><I>ch.</I> ii. 29</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this
|
|
day.</I> He saw corruption, and therefore that promise could not have
|
|
its accomplishment in him. But,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(<I>b.</I>) It was accomplished in the Lord Jesus
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He whom God raised again saw no corruption;</I> for it was in him
|
|
that the sure mercies were to be reserved for us. He rose the third
|
|
day, and therefore did not see corruption then; and he rose to die no
|
|
more, and therefore never did. Of him therefore the promise must be
|
|
understood, and no other.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>c.</I> Having given them this account of the Lord Jesus, he comes to
|
|
make application of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(<I>a.</I>) In the midst of his discourse, to engage their attention,
|
|
he had told his hearers that they were concerned in all this
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>To you is the word of this salvation sent,</I> to you first. If you
|
|
by your unbelief make it a word of rejection to you, you may thank
|
|
yourselves; but it is sent to you for a word of salvation; if it be not
|
|
so, it is your own fault." Let them not peevishly argue that because it
|
|
was sent to the Gentiles, who had no communion with them, therefore it
|
|
was not sent to them; for to them it was sent in the first place.
|
|
"<I>To you men</I> this is sent, and not to the angels that sinned. To
|
|
you living men, and not to the congregation of the dead and damned,
|
|
whose day of grace is over." He therefore speaks to them with
|
|
tenderness and respect: You are <I>men and brethren;</I> and so we are
|
|
to look upon all those that stand fair with us for the great salvation
|
|
as having the word of salvation sent to them. Those to whom he does by
|
|
warrant from heaven here bring the <I>word of salvation</I> are,
|
|
|
|
[<I>a.</I>] The native Jews, Hebrews of the Hebrews, as Paul himself
|
|
was: "<I>Children of the stock of Abraham,</I> though a degenerate
|
|
race, yet to you is this word of salvation sent; nay, it is therefore
|
|
sent to you, to save you from your sins." It is an advantage to be of a
|
|
good stock; for, though salvation does not always follow the children
|
|
of godly parents, yet the word of salvation does: <I>Abraham will
|
|
command his children and his house-hold after him.</I>
|
|
|
|
[<I>b.</I>] The proselytes, the Gentiles by birth, that were in some
|
|
degree brought over to the Jews' religion: "<I>Whosoever among you that
|
|
feareth God.</I> You that have a sense of natural religion, and have
|
|
subjected yourselves to the laws of that, and taken hold of the
|
|
comforts of that, <I>to you is the word of this salvation sent;</I> you
|
|
need the further discoveries and directions of revealed religion, are
|
|
prepared for them, and will bid them welcome, and therefore shall
|
|
certainly be welcome to take the benefit of them."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(<I>b.</I>) In the close of his discourse he applies what he had said
|
|
concerning Christ to his hearers. He had told them a long story
|
|
concerning <I>this Jesus;</I> now they would be ready to ask, What is
|
|
all this to us? And he tells them plainly what it is to them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[<I>a.</I>] It will be their unspeakable advantage if they embrace
|
|
Jesus Christ, and believe this word of salvation. It will relieve them
|
|
where their greatest danger lies; and that is from the guilt of their
|
|
sins: "<I>Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren</I>--we are
|
|
warranted to proclaim it to you, and you are called to take notice of
|
|
it." He did not stand up to preach before them, but to preach to them,
|
|
and not without hopes of prevailing with them; for they are men,
|
|
reasonable creatures, and capable of being argued with; they are
|
|
<I>brethren,</I> spoken to, and dealt with, by men like themselves; not
|
|
only of the same nature, but of the same nation. It is proper for the
|
|
preachers of the gospel to call their hearers brethren, as speaking
|
|
familiarly to them, and with an affectionate concern for their welfare,
|
|
and as being equally interested with them in the gospel they preach.
|
|
Let all that hear the gospel of Christ know these two
|
|
things--<I>1st,</I> That it is an act of indemnity granted by the King
|
|
of kings to the children of men, who stand attainted at his bar of
|
|
treason against his crown and dignity; and it is for and in
|
|
consideration of the mediation of Christ between God and man that this
|
|
act of grace is passed and proclaimed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>"Through this man,</I> who died and rose again, <I>is preached unto
|
|
you the forgiveness of sins.</I> We have to tell you, in God's name,
|
|
that your sins, though many and great, may be forgiven, and how it is
|
|
come about that they may be so, without any injury to God's honour, and
|
|
how you may obtain the forgiveness of your sins. We are to preach
|
|
repentance for the remission of sins, and divine grace giving both
|
|
<I>repentance and remission of sins.</I> The remission of sins is
|
|
<I>through this man.</I> By his merit it was purchased, in his name it
|
|
is offered, and by his authority it is bestowed; and therefore you are
|
|
concerned to be acquainted with him, and interested in him. We preach
|
|
to you <I>the forgiveness of sins.</I> That is the salvation we bring
|
|
you, the word of God; and therefore you ought to bid us welcome and
|
|
look upon us as your friends, and messengers of good tidings."
|
|
<I>2ndly,</I> That it does that for us which the law of Moses could not
|
|
do. The Jews were jealous for the law, and because it prescribed
|
|
expiatory and pacificatory sacrifices, and a great variety of
|
|
purifications, fancied they might be justified by it before God. "No,"
|
|
saith Paul, "be it known to you that it is by Christ only that <I>those
|
|
who believe in him,</I> and none else, are <I>justified from all
|
|
things,</I> from all the guilt and stain of sin, <I>from which you
|
|
could not be justified by the law of Moses</I>"
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>);
|
|
|
|
therefore they ought to entertain and embrace the gospel, and not to
|
|
adhere to the law in opposition to it, because the gospel is
|
|
perfective, not destructive, of the law. Note,
|
|
|
|
1. The great concern of sinners it to be justified, to be acquitted
|
|
from guilt and accepted as righteous in God's sight.
|
|
|
|
2. Those who are truly justified are acquitted from all their guilt;
|
|
for if any be left charged upon the sinner he is undone.
|
|
|
|
3. It was impossible for a sinner to be justified by the law of Moses.
|
|
Not by his moral law, for we have all broken it, and are transgressing
|
|
it daily, so that instead of justifying us it condemns us. Not by his
|
|
remedial law, for it was not possible that the <I>blood of bulls and
|
|
goats should take away sin,</I> should satisfy God's offended justice,
|
|
or pacify the sinner's wounded conscience. It was but a ritual and
|
|
typical institution. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:9,10:1,4">Heb. ix. 9; x. 1, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
4. By Jesus Christ we obtain a complete justification; for by him a
|
|
complete atonement was made for sin. We are justified, not only by him
|
|
as our Judge, but by him as our righteousness, <I>the Lord our
|
|
righteousness.</I>
|
|
|
|
5. All that believe in Christ, that rely upon him and give up
|
|
themselves to be ruled by him, are justified by him, and none but they.
|
|
|
|
6. What the law <I>could not do</I> for us, <I>in that it was weak,</I>
|
|
that the gospel of Christ does; and therefore it was folly, out of a
|
|
jealousy for the law of Moses and the honour of that institution, to
|
|
conceive a jealousy of the gospel of Christ and the designs of that
|
|
more perfect institution.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[<I>b.</I>] It is at their utmost peril if they reject the gospel of
|
|
Christ, and turn their backs upon the offer now made them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:40,41"><I>v.</I> 40, 41</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Beware therefore;</I> you have a fair invitation given you, look to
|
|
yourselves, lest you either neglect or oppose it." Note, Those to whom
|
|
the gospel is preached must see themselves upon their trial and good
|
|
behaviour, and are concerned to beware lest they be found refusers of
|
|
the grace offered. "Beware lest you not only come short of the
|
|
blessings and benefits spoken of in the prophets as coming upon those
|
|
that believe, but fall under the doom spoken of in the prophets as
|
|
coming upon those that persist in unbelief: <I>lest that come upon you
|
|
which is spoken of.</I>" Note, The threatenings are warnings ; what we
|
|
are told will come upon impenitent sinners is designed to awaken us to
|
|
beware lest it should come upon us. Now the prophecy referred to we
|
|
have
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+1:5">Hab. i. 5</A>,
|
|
|
|
where the destruction of the Jewish nation by the Chaldeans is foretold
|
|
as an incredible unparalleled destruction; and this is here applied to
|
|
the destruction that was coming upon that nation by the Romans, for
|
|
their rejecting the gospel of Christ. The apostle follows the
|
|
Septuagint translation, which reads, <I>Behold, you despisers</I> (for,
|
|
<I>behold, you among the heathen</I>); because it made the text more
|
|
apposite to his purpose.
|
|
|
|
1<I>st,</I> "Take heed lest the guilt come upon you which was spoken of
|
|
in the prophets--the guilt of despising the gospel and the tenders of
|
|
it, and despising the Gentiles that were advanced to partake of it.
|
|
Beware lest it be said to you, <I>Behold, you despisers.</I>" Note, It
|
|
is the ruin of many that they despise religion, they look upon it as a
|
|
thing below them, and are not willing to stoop to it.
|
|
|
|
2<I>ndly,</I> "Take heed lest the judgment come upon you which was
|
|
spoken of in the prophets: that <I>you shall wonder and perish,</I>
|
|
that is, wonderfully perish; your perdition shall be amazing to
|
|
yourselves and all about you." Those that will not wonder and be saved
|
|
shall wonder and perish. Those that enjoyed the privileges of the
|
|
church, and flattered themselves with a conceit that these would save
|
|
them, will wonder when they find their ,,am presumption overruled and
|
|
that their privileges do but make their condemnation the more
|
|
intolerable. Let the unbelieving Jews expect that God will <I>work a
|
|
work in their days which you shall in no wise believe, though a man
|
|
declare it unto you.</I> This may be understood as a prediction,
|
|
either,
|
|
|
|
1. Of their sin, that they should be incredulous, that that great work
|
|
of God, the redemption of the world by Christ, though it should be in
|
|
the most solemn manner declared unto them, yet they would <I>in no wise
|
|
believe it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:1">Isa. liii. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Who hath believed our report?</I> Though it was of God's working, to
|
|
whom nothing is impossible, and of his declaring, who cannot lie, yet
|
|
they would not give credit to it. Those that had the honour and
|
|
advantage to have this work wrought in their days had not the grace to
|
|
believe it. Or,
|
|
|
|
2. Of their destruction. The dissolving of the Jewish polity, the
|
|
taking of the kingdom of God from them and giving it to the Gentiles,
|
|
the destruction of their holy house and city, and the dispersion of
|
|
their people, was a work which one would not have believed should have
|
|
ever been done, considering how much they had been the favourites of
|
|
Heaven. The calamities that were brought upon them were such as were
|
|
never before brought upon any people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:21">Matt. xxiv. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was said of their destruction by the Chaldeans, and it was true of
|
|
their last destruction, <I>All the inhabitants of the world would not
|
|
have believed that the enemy would have entered into the gates of
|
|
Jerusalem as they did,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+4:12">Lam. iv. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus is there a <I>strange punishment to the workers of iniquity,</I>
|
|
especially to the despisers of Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+31:3">Job xxxi. 3</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ac13_52"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Paul at Antioch in Pisidia.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the
|
|
Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the
|
|
next sabbath.
|
|
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews
|
|
and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who,
|
|
speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
|
|
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together
|
|
to hear the word of God.
|
|
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with
|
|
envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul,
|
|
contradicting and blaspheming.
|
|
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was
|
|
necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to
|
|
you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy
|
|
of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
|
|
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, <I>saying,</I> I have set thee
|
|
to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for
|
|
salvation unto the ends of the earth.
|
|
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and
|
|
glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to
|
|
eternal life believed.
|
|
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the
|
|
region.
|
|
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and
|
|
the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul
|
|
and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
|
|
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and
|
|
came unto Iconium.
|
|
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy
|
|
Ghost.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The design of this story being to vindicate the apostles, especially
|
|
Paul (as he doth himself at large,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:1-36">Rom. xi.</A>),
|
|
|
|
from the reflections of the Jews upon him for preaching the gospel to
|
|
the Gentiles, it is here observed that he proceeded therein with all
|
|
the caution imaginable, and upon due consideration, of which we have
|
|
here an instance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. There were some of the Jews that were so incensed against the
|
|
preaching of the gospel, not to the Gentiles, but to themselves, that
|
|
they would not bear to hear it, but <I>went out of the synagogue</I>
|
|
while Paul was preaching
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>),
|
|
|
|
in contempt of him and his doctrine, and to the disturbance of the
|
|
congregation. It is probable they whispered among themselves, exciting
|
|
one another to it, and did it by consent. Now this bespoke,
|
|
|
|
1. An open infidelity, as plain a profession of unbelief as coming to
|
|
hear the gospel is of faith. They thus publicly avowed their contempt
|
|
of Christ and of his doctrine and law, were not ashamed, neither could
|
|
they blush; and they thus endeavoured to beget prejudices in the minds
|
|
of others against the gospel; they went out to draw others to follow
|
|
their pernicious ways.
|
|
|
|
2. An obstinate infidelity. They went out of the synagogue, not only to
|
|
show that they did not believe the gospel, but because they were
|
|
resolved they would not, and therefore got out of the hearing of those
|
|
things that had a tendency to convince them. They stopped their ears
|
|
like the deaf adder. Justly therefore was the gospel taken from them,
|
|
when they first took themselves from it, and turned themselves out of
|
|
the church before they were turned out of it. For it is certainly true
|
|
that God never leaves any till they first leave him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The Gentiles were as willing to hear the gospel as those rude and
|
|
ill-conditioned Jews were to get out of the hearing of it: <I>They
|
|
besought that these words,</I> or words to this effect, <I>might be
|
|
preached to them the next sabbath;</I> in <I>the week between,</I> so
|
|
some take it; on the second and fifth days of the week, which in some
|
|
synagogues were their lecture days. But it appears
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>)
|
|
|
|
that it was the next sabbath day that they came together. They begged,
|
|
|
|
1. That the same offer might be made to them that was made to the Jews.
|
|
Paul in this sermon had brought the word of salvation to the Jews and
|
|
proselytes, but had taken no notice of the Gentiles; and therefore they
|
|
begged that forgiveness of sins through Christ might be preached to
|
|
them, as it was to the Jews. The Jews' leavings, nay, loathings, were
|
|
their longings. This justifies Paul in his preaching to them, that he
|
|
was invited to it, as Peter was sent for to Cornelius. Who could refuse
|
|
to break the bread of life to those who begged so hard for it, and to
|
|
give that to the poor at the door which the children at the table threw
|
|
under their feet?
|
|
|
|
2. That the same instructions might be given to them. They had heard
|
|
the doctrine of Christ, but did not understand it at the first hearing,
|
|
nor could they remember all that they had heard, and therefore they
|
|
begged it might be preached to them again. Note, It is good to have the
|
|
word of Christ repeated to us. What we have heard we should desire to
|
|
hear again, that it may take deep root in us, and the nail that is
|
|
driven may be clenched and be <I>as a nail in a sure place.</I> To hear
|
|
<I>the same things</I> should not be grievous, because it is safe,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:1">Phil. iii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
It aggravates the bad disposition of the Jews that the Gentiles desired
|
|
to hear that often which they were not willing to hear once; and
|
|
commends the good disposition of the Gentiles that they did not follow
|
|
the bad example which the Jews set them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. There were some, nay, there were many, both of Jews and
|
|
proselytes, that were wrought upon by the preaching of the gospel.
|
|
Those who aggravated the matter of the Jews' rejection by the preaching
|
|
of the gospel, cried out, as is usual in such cases, "They have cast
|
|
away, and cast off, all the people of God." "Nay," says Paul, "it is
|
|
not so; for abundance of the Jews have embraced Christ, and are taken
|
|
in;" himself for one,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:1,5">Rom. xi. 1, 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
So it was here: <I>Many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed
|
|
Paul and Barnabas,</I> and received further instructions and
|
|
encouragement from them.
|
|
|
|
1. They submitted to the grace of God, and were admitted to the benefit
|
|
and comfort of it, which is implied in their being exhorted to continue
|
|
in it. They <I>followed Paul and Barnabas;</I> they became their
|
|
disciples, or rather the disciples of Christ, whose agents they were.
|
|
Those that join themselves to Christ will join themselves to his
|
|
ministers, and follow them. And Paul and Barnabas, though they were
|
|
sent to the Gentiles, yet bade those of the Jews welcome that were
|
|
willing to come under their instructions, such hearty well-wishers were
|
|
they to all the Jews and their friends, if they pleased.
|
|
|
|
2. They were exhorted and encouraged to persevere herein: <I>Paul and
|
|
Barnabas, speaking to them</I> with all the freedom and friendship
|
|
imaginable, <I>persuaded them to continue in the grace of God,</I> to
|
|
hold fast that which they had received, to continue in their belief of
|
|
the gospel of grace, their dependence upon the Spirit of grace, and
|
|
their attendance upon the means of grace. And the grace of God shall
|
|
not be wanting to those who thus continue in it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. There was a cheerful attendance upon the preaching of the gospel
|
|
the <I>next sabbath day</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Almost the whole city</I> (the generality of whom were Gentiles)
|
|
<I>came together to hear the word of God.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. It is probable that Paul and Barnabas were not idle in the
|
|
week-days, but took all opportunities in the week between (as some
|
|
think the Gentiles desired) to bring them acquainted with Christ, and
|
|
to raise their expectations from him. They did a great deal of service
|
|
to the gospel in private discourse and conversation, as well as in
|
|
their public sermons. Wisdom cried in the chief places of concourse,
|
|
and the opening of the gates, as well as in the synagogues,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:20,21">Prov. i. 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. This brought a vast concourse of people to the synagogue on the
|
|
sabbath day. Some came out of curiosity, the thing being new; others
|
|
longing to see what the Jews would do upon the second tender of the
|
|
gospel to them; and many who had heard something of the word of God
|
|
came to hear more, and to hear it, <I>not as the word of men but as the
|
|
word of God,</I> by which we must be ruled and judged. Now this
|
|
justified Paul in preaching to the Gentiles, that he met with the most
|
|
encouraging auditors among them. There <I>the fields were white to the
|
|
harvest,</I> and therefore why should he not there put in his
|
|
sickle?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The Jews were enraged at this; and not only would not receive the
|
|
gospel themselves, but were filled with indignation at those that
|
|
crowded after it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When the Jews saw the multitudes,</I> and considered what an
|
|
encouragement it was to Paul to go on in his work when he saw the
|
|
people thus flying like doves to their windows, and what probability
|
|
there was that among these multitudes some would be, without doubt,
|
|
wrought upon, and probably the greater part, to embrace Christ--this
|
|
<I>filled them with envy.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. They grudged the interest the apostles had in the people, were vexed
|
|
to see the synagogue so full when they were going to preach. This was
|
|
the same spirit that worked in the Pharisees towards Christ; they were
|
|
cut to the heart when they saw <I>the whole world go after him.</I>
|
|
When the kingdom of heaven was opened they not only would not go in
|
|
themselves, but were angry with those that did.
|
|
|
|
2. They opposed the doctrine the apostles preached: <I>They spoke
|
|
against those things that were spoken by Paul,</I> cavilled at them,
|
|
started objections against them, finding some fault or other with every
|
|
thing he said, <I>contradicting and blaspheming;</I> <B><I>antelegon
|
|
antilegontes</I></B>--<I>contradicting, they contradicted.</I> They did
|
|
it with the utmost spite and rage imaginable: they persisted in their
|
|
contradiction, and nothing would silence them, they contradicted for
|
|
contradiction-sake, and denied that which was most evident; and, when
|
|
they could find no colour of objection, they broke out into ill
|
|
language against Christ and his gospel, blaspheming him and it. From
|
|
the language of the carnal man that receives not the things of the
|
|
Spirit of God, and therefore contradicts them, they proceed to the
|
|
language of incarnate devils, and blaspheme them. Commonly those who
|
|
begin with contradicting end with blaspheming.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. The apostles hereupon solemnly and openly declare themselves
|
|
discharged from their obligations to the Jews, and at liberty to bring
|
|
the word of salvation to the Gentiles, even by the tacit consent of the
|
|
Jews themselves. Never let the Jew lay the fault of the carrying of the
|
|
kingdom of God to the Gentiles upon the apostles, for that complaint of
|
|
theirs is for ever silenced by their own act and deed, for what they
|
|
did here is for ever a bar to it. "Tender and refusal (we say) are good
|
|
payment in law." The Jews had the tender of the gospel, and did refuse
|
|
it, and therefore ought not to say any thing against the Gentiles
|
|
having it. In declaring this, it is said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:46"><I>v.</I> 46</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Paul and Barnabas waxed bold,</I> more bold than they had been while
|
|
they were shy of looking favourably upon the Gentiles, for fear of
|
|
giving offence to the Jews, and laying a stumbling-block in their way.
|
|
Note, There is a time for the preachers of the gospel to show as much
|
|
of the boldness of the lion as of the wisdom of the serpent and the
|
|
harmlessness of the dove. When the adversaries of Christ's cause begin
|
|
to be daring, it is not for its advocates to be timid. While there is
|
|
any hope of working upon those that oppose themselves they must be
|
|
<I>instructed with meekness</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:25">2 Tim. ii. 25</A>);
|
|
|
|
but, when that method has long been tried in vain, we must wax bold,
|
|
and tell them what will be the issue of their opposition. The impudence
|
|
of the enemies of the gospel, instead of frightening, should rather
|
|
embolden its friends; for they are sure that they have a good cause,
|
|
and they know in whom they have trusted to bear them out. Now Paul and
|
|
Barnabas, having made the Jews a fair offer of gospel grace, here give
|
|
them fair notice of their bringing it to the Gentiles, <I>if by any
|
|
means</I> (as Paul says
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:14">Rom. xi. 14</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>they might provoke them to emulation.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. They own that the Jews were entitled to the first offer: "<I>It was
|
|
necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to
|
|
you,</I> to whom the promise was made, to you <I>of the lost sheep of
|
|
the house of Israel,</I> to whom Christ reckoned himself first sent."
|
|
And his charge to the preachers of his gospel to <I>begin at
|
|
Jerusalem</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:47">Luke xxiv. 47</A>)
|
|
|
|
was a tacit direction to all that went into other countries to begin
|
|
with the Jews, <I>to whom pertained the giving of the law,</I> and
|
|
therefore the preaching of the gospel. <I>Let the children first be
|
|
served,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+7:27">Mark vii. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. They charge them with the refusal of it: "<I>You put it from
|
|
you;</I> you will not accept of it; nay, you will not so much as bear
|
|
the offer of it, but take it as an affront to you." If men put the
|
|
gospel from them, God justly takes it from them; why should manna be
|
|
given to those that loathe it and call it <I>light bread,</I> or the
|
|
privileges of the gospel forced on those that put them away, and say,
|
|
<I>We have no part in David?</I> Herein they <I>judge themselves
|
|
unworthy of everlasting life.</I> In one sense we must all judge
|
|
ourselves unworthy of everlasting life, for there is nothing in us, nor
|
|
done by us, by which we can pretend to merit it, and we must be made
|
|
sensible of this; but here the meaning is, "You discover, or make it to
|
|
appear, that you are not meet for eternal life; you throw away all your
|
|
claims and give up your pretensions to it; since you will not take it
|
|
from his hands, into whose hand the Father has given it,
|
|
<B><I>krinete,</I></B> <I>you do,</I> in effect, <I>pass this
|
|
judgment</I> upon yourselves, and <I>out of your own mouth you shall be
|
|
judged;</I> you will not have it by Christ, by whom alone it is to be
|
|
had, and so shall your doom be, you shall not have it at all."
|
|
|
|
3. Upon this they ground their preaching the gospel to the
|
|
uncircumcised: "Since you will not accept eternal life as it is
|
|
offered, our way is plain, <I>Lo, we turn to the Gentiles.</I> If one
|
|
will not, another will. If those that were first invited to the
|
|
wedding-feast will not come, we must invite out of the highways and
|
|
hedges those that will, for <I>the wedding must be furnished with
|
|
guests.</I> If he that is next of kin will not do the kinsman's part,
|
|
he must not complain that another will,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ru+4:4">Ruth iv. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
4. They justify themselves in this by a divine warrant
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>For so hath the Lord commanded us;</I> the Lord Jesus gave us
|
|
directions to witness to him in Jerusalem and Judea first, and after
|
|
that <I>to the utmost part of the earth,</I> to preach the gospel to
|
|
<I>every creature,</I> to <I>disciple all nations.</I>" This is
|
|
according to what was foretold in the Old-Testament. When the Messiah,
|
|
in the prospect of the Jews' infidelity, was ready to say, <I>I have
|
|
laboured in vain,</I> he was told, to his satisfaction, that though
|
|
<I>Israel were not gathered,</I> yet <I>he should be glorious,</I> that
|
|
his blood should not be shed in vain, nor his purchase made in vain,
|
|
nor his doctrine preached in vain, nor his Spirit sent in vain--"For
|
|
<I>I have set thee,</I> not only raised thee up, but established thee,
|
|
to be <I>a light of the Gentiles,</I> not only a shining light for a
|
|
time, but a standing light, set thee for a light, <I>that thou shouldst
|
|
be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.</I>" Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Christ is not only the Saviour, but the salvation, is himself our
|
|
righteousness, and life, and strength.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Wherever Christ is designed to be salvation, he is set up to be a
|
|
light; he enlightens the understanding, and so saves the soul.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He is, and is to be, light and salvation to the Gentiles, to the
|
|
ends of the earth. Those of every nation shall be welcome to him, some
|
|
of every nation have heard of him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+10:18">Rom. x. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
and all nations shall at length become his kingdom. This prophecy has
|
|
had its accomplishment in part in the setting up of the kingdom of
|
|
Christ in this island of ours, which lies, as it were, in the <I>ends
|
|
of the earth,</I> a corner of the world, and shall be accomplished more
|
|
and more when the time comes for the <I>bringing in of the fulness of
|
|
the Gentiles.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. The Gentiles cheerfully embraced that which the Jews scornfully
|
|
rejected,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:48,49"><I>v.</I> 48, 49</A>.
|
|
|
|
Never was land lost for want of heirs; <I>through the fall of the Jews,
|
|
salvation is come to the Gentiles:</I> the <I>casting off of them was
|
|
the reconciling of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of
|
|
the Gentiles;</I> so the apostle shows at large,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:11,12,15">Rom. xi. 11, 12, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Jews, the natural branches, were broken off, and the Gentiles, that
|
|
were branches of the wild olive, were thereupon grafted in,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:17,19"><I>v.</I> 17, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now here we are told how the Gentiles welcomed this happy turn in their
|
|
favour.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. They took the comfort of it: <I>When they heard this they were
|
|
glad.</I> It was good news to them that they might have admission into
|
|
covenant and communion with God by a clearer, nearer, and better way
|
|
than submitting to the ceremonial law, and being proselyted to the
|
|
Jewish religion--that the partition-wall was taken down and they were as
|
|
welcome to the benefits of the Messiah's kingdom as the Jews
|
|
themselves, and might share in their promise, without coming under
|
|
their yoke. This was indeed <I>glad tidings of great joy to all
|
|
people.</I> Note, Our being put into a possibility of salvation, and a
|
|
capacity for it, ought to be the matter of our rejoicing; when the
|
|
Gentiles did but hear that the offers of grace should be made them, the
|
|
word of grace preached to them, and the means of grace afforded them,
|
|
<I>they were glad.</I> "Now there is some hope for us." Many grieve
|
|
under doubts whether they have an interest in Christ or no, when they
|
|
should be rejoicing that they have an interest in him; the golden
|
|
sceptre is held out to them, and they are invited to come and touch the
|
|
top of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. They gave God the praise of it: <I>They glorified the word of the
|
|
Lord;</I> that is, Christ (so some), the essential Word; they
|
|
entertained a profound veneration for him, and expressed the high
|
|
thoughts they had of him. Or, rather, <I>the gospel;</I> the more they
|
|
knew of it, the more they admired it. Oh! what a light, what a power,
|
|
what a treasure, does this gospel bring along with it! How excellent
|
|
are its truths, its precepts, its promises! How far transcending all
|
|
other institutions! How plainly divine and heavenly is its origin! Thus
|
|
they <I>glorified the word of the Lord,</I> and it is this which he has
|
|
himself <I>magnified above all his name</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+138:2">Ps. cxxxviii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and will <I>magnify</I> and <I>make honourable,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+42:21">Isa. xlii. 21</A>.
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They glorified the word of the Lord,
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|
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(1.) Because now the knowledge of it was diffused and not confined to
|
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the Jews only. Note, It is the glory of the word of the Lord that the
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|
further it spreads the brighter it shines, which shows it to be not
|
|
like the light of the candle, but like that of the sun when he goes
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|
forth in his strength.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Because now the knowledge of it was brought to them. Note, Those
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|
speak best of the honour of the word of the Lord that speak
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|
experimentally, that have themselves been subdued by its power, and
|
|
comforted by its sweetness.</P>
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|
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<P>
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3. Many of them became, not only professors of the Christian faith, but
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sincerely obedient to the faith: <I>As many as were ordained to eternal
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|
life believed.</I> God by his Spirit wrought true faith in those for
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|
whom he had in his councils from everlasting designed a happiness to
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|
everlasting.
|
|
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|
(1.) Those believed to whom God gave grace to believe, whom by a secret
|
|
and mighty operation he brought into subjection to the gospel of
|
|
Christ, and made willing in the day of his power. Those came to Christ
|
|
whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call
|
|
effectual. It is called <I>the faith of the operation of God</I>
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:12">Col. ii. 12</A>),
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and is said to be <I>wrought by the same power that raised up
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Christ,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+1:19,20">Eph. i. 19, 20</A>.
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(2.) God gave this grace to believe to all those among them who were
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ordained to eternal life (for <I>whom he had predestinated, them he
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|
also called,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:30">Rom. viii. 30</A>);
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or, <I>as many as were disposed to eternal life,</I> as many as had a
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|
concern about their eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal
|
|
life, believed in Christ, in whom God hath treasured up that life
|
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+5:11">1 John v. 11</A>),
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|
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|
and who is the only way to it; and it was the grace of God that wrought
|
|
it in them. Thus all those captives, and those only, took the benefit
|
|
of Cyrus's proclamation, <I>whose spirit God had raised up to build the
|
|
house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+1:5">Ezra i. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those will be brought to believe in Christ that by his grace are well
|
|
disposed to eternal life, and make this their aim.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. When they believed they did what they could to spread the knowledge
|
|
of Christ and his gospel among their neighbours
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the
|
|
region.</I> When it was received with so much satisfaction in the chief
|
|
city, it soon spread into all parts of the country. Those new converts
|
|
were themselves ready to communicate to others that which they were so
|
|
full of themselves. <I>The Lord gave the word, and then great was the
|
|
company of those that published it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:11">Ps. lxviii. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that have become acquainted with Christ themselves will do what
|
|
they can to bring others acquainted with him. Those in great and rich
|
|
cities that have received the gospel should not think to engross it, as
|
|
if, like learning and philosophy, it were only to be the entertainment
|
|
of the more polite and elevated part of mankind, but should do what
|
|
they can to get it published in the country among the ordinary sort of
|
|
people, the poor and unlearned, who have souls to be saved as well as
|
|
they.</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VIII. Paul and Barnabas, having sown the seeds of a Christian church
|
|
there, quitted the place, and went to do the like else-where. We read
|
|
not any thing of their working miracles here, to confirm their
|
|
doctrine, and to convince people of the truth of it; for, though God
|
|
then did ordinarily make use of that method of conviction, yet he
|
|
could, when he pleased, do his work without it; and begetting faith by
|
|
the immediate influence of his Spirit was itself the greatest miracle
|
|
to those in whom it was wrought. Yet, it is probable that they did work
|
|
miracles, for we find they did in the next place they came to,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+14:3"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now here we are told,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. How <I>the unbelieving Jews</I> expelled the apostles out of that
|
|
country. They first turned their back upon them, and then <I>lifted up
|
|
the heel against them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas,</I> excited the
|
|
mob to persecute them in <I>their</I> way by insulting their persons as
|
|
they went along the streets; excited the magistrates to persecute them
|
|
in <I>their</I> way, by imprisoning and punishing them. When <I>they
|
|
could not resist the wisdom and spirit wherewith they spoke,</I> they
|
|
had recourse to these brutish methods, the last refuge of an obstinate
|
|
infidelity. Satan and his agents are most exasperated against the
|
|
preachers of the gospel when they see them go on successfully, and
|
|
therefore then will be sure to raise persecution against them. Thus it
|
|
has been the common lot of the best men in the world to suffer ill for
|
|
doing well, to be persecuted instead of being preferred for the good
|
|
services they have done to mankind. Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) What method the Jews took to give them trouble: <I>They stirred up
|
|
the devout and honourable women</I> against them. They could not make
|
|
any considerable interest themselves, but they applied to some ladies
|
|
of quality in the city, that were well affected to the Jewish religion,
|
|
and were proselytes of the gate, therefore called <I>devout women.</I>
|
|
These, according to the genius of their sex, were zealous in their way,
|
|
and bigoted; and it was easy, by false stories and misrepresentations,
|
|
to incense them against the gospel of Christ, as if it had been
|
|
destructive of all religion, of which really it is perfective. It is
|
|
good to see honourable women devout, and well affected to religious
|
|
worship: The less they have to do in the world, the more they should do
|
|
for their souls, and the more time they should spend in communion with
|
|
God; but it is sad when, under colour of devotion to God, they conceive
|
|
an enmity to Christ, as those here mentioned. What! women persecutors!
|
|
Can they forget the tenderness and compassion of their sex? What!
|
|
honourable women! Can they thus stain their honour, and disgrace
|
|
themselves, and do so mean a thing? But, which is strangest of all,
|
|
devout women! Will they kill Christ's servants, and think therein they
|
|
do God service? Let those therefore that have zeal see that it be
|
|
according to knowledge. By these devout and honourable women they
|
|
stirred up likewise <I>the chief men of the city,</I> the magistrates
|
|
and the rulers, who had power in their hands and set them against the
|
|
apostles, and they had so little consideration as to suffer themselves
|
|
to be made the tools of this ill-natured party, who <I>would neither go
|
|
into the kingdom of heaven themselves nor suffer those who were
|
|
entering to go in.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) How far they carried it, so far that <I>they expelled them out of
|
|
their coasts;</I> they banished them, ordered them to be carried, as we
|
|
say, from constable to constable, till they were forced out of their
|
|
jurisdiction; so that it was not by fear, but downright violence, that
|
|
they were driven out. This was one method which the overruling
|
|
providence of God took to keep the first planters of the church from
|
|
staying too long at a place; as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:23">Matt. x. 23</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>When they persecute you in one city flee to another,</I> that thus
|
|
you may the sooner <I>go over the cities of Israel.</I> This was
|
|
likewise a method God took to make those that were well disposed the
|
|
more warmly affected towards the apostles; for it is natural to us to
|
|
pity those that are persecuted, to think the better of those that
|
|
suffer when we know they suffer unjustly, and to be the more ready to
|
|
help them. The expelling of the apostles out of their coasts made
|
|
people inquisitive what evil they had done, and perhaps raised them
|
|
more friends than conniving at them in their coasts would have
|
|
done.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. How the apostles abandoned and rejected the unbelieving Jews
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They shook off the dust of their feet against them.</I> When they
|
|
went out of the city they used this ceremony in the sight of those that
|
|
sat in the gate; or, when they went out of the borders of their
|
|
country, in the sight of those that were sent to see the country rid of
|
|
them. Hereby,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They declared that they would have no more to do with them, would
|
|
take nothing that was theirs; for <I>they sought not theirs, but
|
|
them.</I> Dust they are, and let them keep their dust to themselves, it
|
|
shall not cleave to them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They expressed their detestation of their infidelity, and that,
|
|
though they were Jews by birth, yet, having rejected the gospel of
|
|
Christ, they were in their eyes no better than heathen and profane. As
|
|
Jews and Gentiles, if they believe, are equally acceptable to God and
|
|
good men; so, if they do not, they are equally abominable.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Thus they set them at defiance, and expressed their contempt of
|
|
them and their malice, which they looked upon as impotent. It was as
|
|
much as to say, "Do your worst, we do not fear you; we know whom we
|
|
serve and whom we have trusted."
|
|
|
|
(4.) Thus they left a testimony behind them that they had had a fair
|
|
offer made them of the grace of the gospel, which shall be proved
|
|
against them in the day of judgment. This dust will prove that the
|
|
preachers of the gospel had been among them, but were expelled by them.
|
|
Thus Christ had ordered them to do, and for this reason,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:14,Lu+9:5">Matt. x. 14; Luke ix. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
When <I>they left them, they came to Iconium,</I> not so much for
|
|
safety, as for work.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What frame they left the new converts in <I>at Antioch</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:52"><I>v.</I> 52</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The disciples,</I> when they saw with what courage and cheerfulness
|
|
Paul and Barnabas not only bore the indignities that were done them,
|
|
but went on with their work notwithstanding, they were in like manner
|
|
inspirited.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They were very cheerful. One would have expected that when Paul
|
|
and Barnabas were expelled out of their coasts, and perhaps forbidden
|
|
to return upon pain of death, the disciples would have been full of
|
|
grief and full of fear, looking for no other than that, if the planters
|
|
of Christianity go, the plantation would soon come to nothing; or that
|
|
it would be their turn next to be banished the country, and to them it
|
|
would be more grievous, for it was their own. But no; <I>they were
|
|
filled with joy</I> in Christ, had such a satisfactory assurance of
|
|
Christ's carrying on and perfecting his own work in them and among
|
|
them, and that either he would screen them from trouble or bear them up
|
|
under it, that all their fears were swallowed up in their believing
|
|
joys.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They were courageous, wonderfully animated with a holy resolution
|
|
to cleave to Christ, whatever difficulties they met with. This seems
|
|
especially to be meant by <I>their being filled with the Holy
|
|
Ghost,</I> for the same expression is used of Peter's boldness
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:8"><I>ch.</I> iv. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Stephen's
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:55"><I>ch.</I> vii. 55</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Paul's,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:9"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
The more we relish the comforts and encouragements we meet with in the
|
|
power of godliness, and the fuller our hearts are of them, the better
|
|
prepared we are to face the difficulties we meet with in the profession
|
|
of godliness.</P>
|
|
|
|
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