Acts 13:1
Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod — His foster brother, now freed from the temptations of a court.... [ Continue Reading ]
Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod — His foster brother, now freed from the temptations of a court.... [ Continue Reading ]
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them — This was not ordaining them. St. Paul was ordained long before, and that not of men, neither by man: it was only inducting him to the province for which our Lord had appointed him from the beginning, and which was now revealed... [ Continue Reading ]
Then having fasted — Again. Thus they did also, Acts 14:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the synagogues — Using all opportunities that offered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Paphos was on the western, Salamis on the eastern part of the island.... [ Continue Reading ]
The proconsul — The Roman governor of Cyprus, a prudent man — And therefore not overswayed by Elymas, but desirous to inquire farther.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Saul, who was also called Paul — It is not improbable, that coming now among the Romans, they would naturally adapt his name to their own language, and so called him Paul instead of Saul. Perhaps the family of the proconsul might be the first who addressed to or spoke of him by this name. And f... [ Continue Reading ]
O full of all guile — As a false prophet, and all mischief — As a magician. Thou son of the devil — A title well suited to a magician; and one who not only was himself unrighteous, but laboured to keep others from all goodness. Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? — Even now th... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately a mist — Or dimness within, and darkness without, fell upon him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord — Confirmed by such a miracle.... [ Continue Reading ]
John withdrawing from them returned — Tired with the fatigue, or shrinking from danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
Antioch in Pisidia — Different from the Antioch mentioned Acts 13:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the chief of the synagogue sent to them — The law was read over once every year, a portion of it every Sabbath: to which was added a lesson taken out of the prophets. After this was over, any one might speak to the people, on any subject he thought... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye that fear God — Whether proselytes or heathens.... [ Continue Reading ]
The God — By such a commemoration of God's favours to their fathers, at once their minds were conciliated to the speaker, they were convinced of their duty to God, and invited to believe his promise, and the accomplishment of it. Acts 13:17, contain the whole sum of the Old Testament. Of this people... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 1:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
Seven nations — Enumerated Deuteronomy 7:1; about four hundred and fifty years — That is, from the choice of the fathers to the dividing of the land; it was about four hundred and fifty years.... [ Continue Reading ]
He gave them Saul forty years — Including the time wherein Samuel judged Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having removed him — Hence they might understand that the dispensations of God admit of various changes. I have found David, a man after my own heart — This expression is to be taken in a limited sense. David was such at that time, but not at all times. And he was so, in that respect, as he performe... [ Continue Reading ]
John having first preached — He mentions this, as a thing already known to them. And so doubtless it was. For it gave so loud an alarm to the whole Jewish nation, as could not but be heard of in foreign countries, at least as remote as Pisidia.... [ Continue Reading ]
His course — His work was quickly finished, and might therefore well be termed a course or race. Luke 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers — He here anticipates a strong objection, "Why did not they at Jerusalem, and especially their rulers, believe?" They know not him, because they understood not those very prophets whom they read or heard continually. Their very condemning him, innoc... [ Continue Reading ]
They fulfilled all things that were written of him — So far could they go, but no farther.... [ Continue Reading ]
He was seen many days by them who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem — This last journey both presupposes all the rest, and was the most important of all.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee — It is true, he was the Son of God from eternity. The meaning therefore is, I have this day declared thee to be my Son. As St. Paul elsewhere, declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead, Romans 1:4. And it is with pecul... [ Continue Reading ]
No more to return to corruption — That is, to die no more. I will give you the sure mercies of David — The blessings promised to David in Christ. These are sure, certain, firm, solid, to every true believer in him. And hence the resurrection of Christ necessarily follows; for without this, those ble... [ Continue Reading ]
He saith — David in the name of the Messiah. Psalms 16:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
David, having served the will of God in his generation, fell asleep — So his service extended not itself beyond the bounds of the common age of man: but the service of the Messiah to all generations, as his kingdom to all ages. Served the will of God — Why art thou here thou who art yet in the world... [ Continue Reading ]
Every one that believeth is justified from all things — Has the actual forgiveness of all his sins, at the very time of his believing; from which ye could not be justified — Not only ye cannot now; but ye never could. For it afforded no expiation for presumptuous sins. By the law of Moses — The whol... [ Continue Reading ]
Beware — A weighty and seasonable admonition. No reproof is as yet added to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
I work a work which ye will in nowise believe — This was originally spoken to those, who would not believe that God would ever deliver them from the power of the Chaldeans. But it is applicable to any who will not believe the promises, or the works of God. Habakkuk 1:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
When the Jews were going out — Probably many of them, not bearing to hear him, went out before he had done. The Sabbath between — So the Jews call to this day the Sabbath between the first day of the month Tisri (on which the civil year begins) and the tenth of the same month, which is the solemn da... [ Continue Reading ]
Who speaking to them — More familiarly, persuaded them to continue — For trials were at hand, in the grace of God — That is, to adhere to the Gospel or Christian faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Paul and Barnabas speaking boldly, said — Those who hinder others must be publicly reproved. It was necessary — Though ye are not worthy: he shows that he had not preached to them, from any confidence of their believing, but seeing ye judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life — They indeed judg... [ Continue Reading ]
For so hath the Lord commanded us — By sending us forth, and giving us an opportunity of fulfilling what he had foretold. I have set thee — The Father speaks to Christ. Isaiah 49:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
As many as were ordained to eternal life — St. Luke does not say fore — ordained. He is not speaking of what was done from eternity, but of what was then done, through the preaching of the Gospel. He is describing that ordination, and that only, which was at the very time of hearing it. During this... [ Continue Reading ]