And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Ver. 1. _And when the day of Pentecost_] This feast was instituted in remembrance of the law delivered to Moses in the mount, fifty days after their departure out of Egypt. Answerably whereunto the Holy Ghost... [ Continue Reading ]
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Ver. 2. _As of a rushing mighty wind_] _Nescit tarda molimina gratia Spirltus Sancti, _ saith Ambrose. "The Spirit of God is a spirit of power,"2 Timothy 1:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Ver. 3. _Cloven tongues_] Teaching them both ορθοτομειν, to divide the word aright, and also ορθοποδειν, as some will have it; their tongues being cloven, as their feet were into toes, teaching them too to fo... [ Continue Reading ]
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Ver. 4. _As the Spirit gave them utterance_] αποφθεγγεσθαι, to utter divine apothegms, grave and gracious sentences, or rather oracles; those _Magnalia Dei, _ great things of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Ver. 5. _And there were dwelling, &c._] Even in Jerusalem (for their ancient idolatries and latter unthankfulness) there be not to be found at this time a hundred households of the Jews. (Breerwood's Inquiries.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Ver. 6. _Were confounded_] Or troubled, transported, amazed, and amused, συνεχυθη, as Acts 2:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Ver. 7. _Galileans_]- _crassoque sub aere nati._ (Martial.)... [ Continue Reading ]
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Ver. 8. _Every man in our our tongue_] Cleopatra was so skilful in the Eastern tongues that she could readily answer the Ethiopian, Hebrew, Arabian, Syrian, Median, Parthian ambassadors that came unto her; turning and tuning her ton... [ Continue Reading ]
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Ver. 9. _Parthians and Medes, &c._] Those strangers of the dispersion,1 Peter 1:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Ver. 10. _Proselytes_] Jethro was the first proselyte to the Jewish Church that we read of in Scripture.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Ver. 12. _The wonderful works_] The magnifical, majestical things of God; they praised him according to his excellent grea... [ Continue Reading ]
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. Ver. 13. _Others mocking, said, These men, &c._] χλευαζοντες, contumeliously cavilling, as those epicures at Athens did, Acts 17:32. And that mocker, Doctor Morgan, who being set to examine Mr Philpot, martyr, asked him, How know you that you hav... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all _ye_ that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: Ver. 14. _But Peter standing up_] (σταθεις, _consistens._) Buckling close to them, and not suffering them to carr... [ Continue Reading ]
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is _but_ the third hour of the day. Ver. 15. _Seeing it is but the third hour_] This was then an argument more than probable. Now men are grown such husbands, as that by that time they will return their stocks, and have their brains crowing before... [ Continue Reading ]
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Ver. 16. _But this is that_] Thus the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Ver. 17. _In the last days_] God keeps his best till last. Not so the devil... [ Continue Reading ]
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: Ver. 18. _And on mine handmaids_] Souls have no sexes, Galatians 3:28 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: Ver. 19. _Wonders in heaven_] See Joel 3:15; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24; Luke 21:25 .... [ Continue Reading ]
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: Ver. 20. _The sun shall be turned_] He seems to set forth the great troubles of the world under the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, _that_ whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ver. 21. _Shall be saved_] Therefore to be able to pray is better than to be able to prophesy, Matthew 7:22 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Ver. 22. _A man_] From Adam, but not by Adam.... [ Continue Reading ]
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Ver. 23. _And by wicked hands, &c._] _Facinus vincire civem Romanum, _ It is a crime to bind a Roman citizen, saith the orator. It was much (may we say) for the Son... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Ver. 24. _It was not possible_] For he was life essential, and therefore "swallowed up death in victory,"1 Corinthians 15:54 . _ Him being delivered by the determinate counsel of... [ Continue Reading ]
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Ver. 25. _Be moved_] Tossed as a ship by tempest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Ver. 26. _My tongue_] Heb. "my glory." With the tongue bless we God, James 3:9, which is the best way of ennobling it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Ver. 27. _My soul in hell_] That is, my body in the grave. So Revelation 20:13. Death and hell, _i.e._ the grave, are cast into the burning lake. To the three degrees of our Saviour's humiliation... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Ver. 28. _Thou hast made known_] _i.e._ Thou givest me experience, or thou hast made me partaker of.... [ Continue Reading ]
Men _and_ brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Ver. 29. _His sepulchre is with us_] Repaired, likely, when the city was rebuilt. See Matthew 23:29 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; Ver. 30. _Out of the fruit of his loins_] That is, out of the Virgin Mary; the son of whose womb Christ was, being he... [ Continue Reading ]
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Ver. 31. _Neither his flesh_] It was a pious error in those good women that embalmed his body to preserve it from corruption.... [ Continue Reading ]
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Ver. 32. _Hath God raised up_] Adam died, and we hear no more of him; but the second Adam rose and reigneth for ever.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Ver. 33. _Exalted_] _See Trapp on "_ Act 2:27 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Ver. 34. _Is not ascended_] viz. Bodily, and to sit at God's right hand as King of the Church: that is Christ's royalty.... [ Continue Reading ]
Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Ver. 35. _Thy footstool_] They that will not bend shall break; Christ will fetch in his rebels, and set his feet of fine brass on the necks of them,Revelation 1:15 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Ver. 36. _Lord and Christ_] Messiah the Prince, Daniel 9:25 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when they heard _this_, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men _and_ brethren, what shall we do? Ver. 37. _They were pricked_] Punctually pricked and pierced (κατενυγησαν). They felt the nails wherewith they had crucified Christ sticking fast... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 38. _Peter said unto them, Repent_] μετανοησατε. Hence then they had not yet repented, for all they were pricked at heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, _even_ as many as the Lord our God shall call. Ver. 39. _Even as many_] The devil sweeps all (of maturity) that are not called, as out of the covenant.... [ Continue Reading ]
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Ver. 40. _With many words did he testify_] διεμαρτυρετο, in God's name, for his sake, and by his authority, as Paul charged Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:14, and as Bradford spoke to his friend: I bes... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added _unto them_ about three thousand souls. Ver. 41. _Were baptized_] They gave up their names to Christ, and took his mark upon them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ver. 42. _Doctrine and fellowship_] So the Philippians,Philippians 1:5. _See Trapp on "_ Php 1:5 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. Ver. 43. _Fear came upon_] The enemies were overawed, and dared not moot or attempt against the Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; Ver. 44. _Were together_] There is a special tie to constancy in the communion of saints and community of supplies. _ And had all things common_] This was voluntary, not necessary. _Non fuit praeceptum, sed susceptum, _ saith Piscator... [ Continue Reading ]
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all _men_, as every man had need. Ver. 45. _And sold_] So Tyre when once converted, Isaiah 23:17,18 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Ver. 46. _Breaking bread_] Friendly feeding together, and (after their love feasts) celebrating the Lord's Supper every Lord's day at least: wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Ver. 47. _Such as should be saved_] Heirs of the kingdom, James 2:5. Heads destinated to the diadem, saith Tertullian.... [ Continue Reading ]