ACTS CHAPTER 3 ACTS 3:1 The lame man healed by Peter and John. ACTS 3:12 Peter declares to the people that this cure was not wrought by any power or holiness in himself or John, but by the power of God through faith in the name of Jesus, whom they had ignorantly crucified, but whom God had raised fr... [ Continue Reading ]
LAME FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB, and not by any casualty, that so the miracle might be the greater, and the power of the God of nature appear. THEY LAID DAILY; by which it was manifest, that it could not be by any correspondence between the apostles and the lame man upon this occasion. AT THE GATE OF TH... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING, though lame: every one hath something that is truly valuable, and matter of praise and thanks unto God.... [ Continue Reading ]
The eye affects the heart, and speaks the compassion he had of this poor man, whom he did not disdain thoroughly and seriously to behold: he excites the lame man's expectation, and requires his attention, that he might the more mind the manner and means of his cure, and be the better prepared to giv... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE HEED, with his eyes and mind too, being intent upon the apostles; this he was commanded to do, and it succeeds beyond all hopes. Thus we receive of God daily more than we can ask or think.... [ Continue Reading ]
SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE; that is, at hand, or about me; neither had he much elsewhere; the apostles abounded indeed, but in grace, not in riches. SUCH AS I HAVE; a power from Christ to heal. GIVE I THEE; I apply it to thee, and will make it effectual for thee. IN THE NAME, in the power, or at th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TOOK HIM BY THE RIGHT HAND; not disdaining to take hold of a poor cripple or beggar; as also being fully persuaded of Christ's presence with him for his cure. AND IMMEDIATELY, that it might the more evidently appear that this was the work of God, who can without means, and on a sudden, bring augh... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, ISAIAH 35:6, THEN SHALL THE LAME MAN LEAP AS AN HART; and thus the lame man manifested that he was perfectly cured, though in an instant, WALKING, AND LEAPING, AND PRAISING GOD, to whom alone he attributed that sudden and perfect (and therefore miraculous)... [ Continue Reading ]
This miracle was so publicly done, that none could deny the matter of fact; which the enemies of the gospel are forced to confess, ACTS 4:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS HE; the very same lame beggar, probably notoriously known to many. THEY WERE FILLED WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT AT THAT WHICH HAD HAPPENED UNTO HIM; being so much contrary to what they had seen him but a little while before, when he had begged their alms; and, as he reasoned well... [ Continue Reading ]
HELD PETER AND JOHN, in an ecstasy of thankfulness unto them, they having been the instruments of so great a mercy from God towards him; as also out of fear, lest when they were gone he might relapse: he that found so great a change in himself could not but be as much surprised as they that saw the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ANSWERED, for he said, an ordinary Hebraism, though no question was put unto him: thus the evangelist tells us that our Saviour _answered and said, _ when there was no previous question spoken of, MATTHEW 11:25. Nay, _Jesus answered and said unto_ the fig tree, MARK 11:14; that is, he spake power... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND OF ISAAC, AND OF JACOB; he mentions them, because the promise of the Messiah was made to them, HATH GLORIFIED HIS SON JESUS; or his servant, for so also he is called, ISAIAH 53:11; and that he might redeem us, he took upon him the form of a servant, and was obedient to the de... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE DENIED THE HOLY ONE; Christ the anointed, when they cried out as with one voice, WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR, 1 THESSALONIANS 19:15; disclaiming our Redeemer, and his being anointed over them. AND DESIRED A MURDERER; to wit, Barabbas, crying out, _Not this man, but Barabbas,_ 1 THESSALONIANS 1... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRINCE OF LIFE; as God, he is the Author of our temporal life too, in whom we live, and move, &c., and in whose hand is our breath; but Christ, as Mediator, is the guide and way to eternal life, 1 THESSALONIANS 14:6. These are said to have killed our Saviour, though neither Herod, nor Pilate, no... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS NAME; his power; for by it he is known, as men or things are by their several names; or the _name_ of Christ is put for Christ himself, as the name of God is put for God commonly. THROUGH FAITH IN HIS NAME; calling by faith on the name of Christ, being thoroughly persuaded that he could and woul... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest the corrosive in ACTS 3:13 should pierce too far, to prevent despair in his auditors the apostle useth in this verse a lenitive, calling them yet BRETHREN, though guilty of so great a mistake in their judgment, and fault in their practice. THROUGH IGNORANCE YE DID IT; whatsoever they did agains... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophets did all speak the same things, as if they had spoken out of one MOUTH, as they did speak by one Spirit. God used the ignorance of some, and the malice of others, for his own holy ends: and that it was prophesied THAT CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER, is very plain, ISAIAH 1:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
REPENT YE THEREFORE, AND BE CONVERTED; this is the true end, use, and application, both of the preceding miracle and sermon, to persuade unto repentance and conversion. THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT; alluding to the manner of writing upon tables in those times, and not much disagreeing from what... [ Continue Reading ]
To remove all evils and miseries from his people; when that Sun shines all clouds and mists are scattered. This refers especially to Christ's second coming, which is here promised, to encourage us to do good, and to deter us from doing evil; as also to move us to repentance, and to comfort us when p... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM THE HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE; that is, contain after it hath received him, as a real place doth a true body; for such Christ's body was, which was received into heaven: and heaven is the palace and throne of this King of kings and Lord of lords, where he shall reign until he hath put all his enemies... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MOSES TRULY SAID UNTO THE FATHERS; their ancestors in the wilderness, DEUTERONOMY 18:15, as also in the DEUTERONOMY 18:18. St. Peter names here but one of their prophets, but a most remarkable one. LIKE UNTO ME; 1. In wisdom. 2. In miracles. 3. In being a Mediator between God and his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY SOUL; that is every one. HEAR THAT PROPHET; that is believe and obey him. SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE; as those that disobeyed Moses were destroyed, many perishing by strange and sudden deaths: we read of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and all that belonged to them, swallowed up for t... [ Continue Reading ]
Though there were some prophets betwixt Moses and Samuel, yet they were but such as prophesied in some particular exigences and cases; and in Samuel's days _the word of the Lord was precious, _ or rare, 1 SAMUEL 3:1; but then David, that lively type of Christ, appearing at the throne, the Messiah be... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN OF THE PROPHETS; the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are called _prophets,_ PSALMS 105:15, and did prophesy, foretelling things to come, &c. The disciples of the prophets are also called their children, or sons, 2 KINGS 2:3; and so these pretended and desired to be accounted. Childre... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO YOU FIRST; the Jews and inhabitants of Jerusalem, who are the lost sheep of the house of Israel. St. Peter did not yet know, that the Gentiles should be called, until he was taught it by the vision, ACTS 10:1; and though our Saviour had told the apostles that they should be his _witnesses unto... [ Continue Reading ]