1._And as they spoke _Hereby it appeareth how watchful the wicked be, because they are always ready at an inch to stop the mouth of the servants of Christ. And, undoubt edly, they came together, as it were, to quench some great fire; which thing Luke signifieth, when as he saith that the ruler or ca... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And many of them which heard _The apostles are put in prison, but the force of their preaching is spread far and wide, and the course thereof is at liberty. Of which thing Paul boasteth very much, that the Word of God is not bound with him, (2 Timothy 2:9.) And here we see that Satan and the wick... [ Continue Reading ]
5.It is a thing worthy to be noted in this place, that the wicked do omit no subtilty that they may blot out the gospel and the name of Christ, and yet do they not obtain that which they hoped for; because God doth make their counsels frustrate. For they make an assembly, wherein they do all things... [ Continue Reading ]
7._In what power _They do yet seem to have some zeal of God. For they feign that they are careful that the honor due unto God may not be given to any other. _Name _is taken in this place for authority. In sum, they deal as if they were most earnest defenders and maintainers of God’s glory. In the me... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Peter, being filled with the Holy Ghost _It is not without great cause that Luke addeth this, to the end we may know that Peter spake not with such a majesty of himself. And surely, seeing he had denied his Master, Christ, being afraid at the voice of a silly woman, (Matthew 26:70,) he should hav... [ Continue Reading ]
9._If we be judged. _Undoubtedly Peter layeth tyranny to the charge of the priests and the scribes, because they examine them unjustly concerning a benefit which deserveth praise, as if he and his fellow had committed some heinous offense. If, saith he, we be accused for this cause, because we have... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Be it known unto you. _Peter might (as I have already said) have turned aside unto many starting-holes, (206) if he would not have entered the cause; (207) but because the miracle was wrought, to this end, that the name of Christ might be glorified, he descendeth by and by unto this. For he knew... [ Continue Reading ]
11._This is the stone. _He confirmeth by testimony of Scripture that it is no new thing that the ringleaders (208) of the Church, which have glorious titles given them, and have the chief room in the temple of God, have, notwithstanding, wickedly rejected Christ. Therefore he citeth a place out of t... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Neither is there salvation in any other. _He passeth from the _species _[salvation] unto the _genus, _[or more particular,] and he goeth from the corporal benefit unto perfect health, [or general.] And assuredly Christ had showed this one token of his grace, to the end he might be known to be th... [ Continue Reading ]
13.Here may we see an evil conscience; for being destitute of right and reason, they break out into open tyranny, the hatred whereof they had essayed to escape. Therefore, he doth first declare that they were convict, that it may appear that they did war against God wittingly and willingly like gian... [ Continue Reading ]
17._In threatening let us threaten. _Here may we see what a deadly evil power void of the fear of God is. For when that religion and reverence which ought doth not reign, the more holy the place is which a man doth possess, the more boldly (211) doth he rage. For which cause we [should] always take... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Whether it be right. _Let us remember to whom they make this answer. For this council did undoubtedly represent the Church; but because they do abuse their authority, the apostles say flatly that they are not to be obeyed. And (as men use to do in an evident matter) they refer over the judgment... [ Continue Reading ]
20._For we cannot _Many things which are found out by hearing and seeing may, yea, ought to be concealed, when as the question is concerning the redeeming of peace. For this is a point of discourtesy and of wicked stubbornness to move and raise a tumult about unnecessary matters; but the apostles do... [ Continue Reading ]
21._And when they had threatened them. _And here is the end of sedition, that the wicked cease not to breathe out their fury, yet are they bridled by the secret power of God, so that they cannot tell how to do any hurt. (218) How is it that being content with threatenings, they do not also rage agai... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Furthermore when they were let go. _It shall appear by and by to what end they declared to the other disciples what things had befallen them, to wit, that they might be the more emboldened and encouraged by the grace of God hereafter; secondly, that they might arm themselves with prayer against... [ Continue Reading ]
We are taught by this example what is our duty to do when our adversaries do imperiously threaten us; for we must not carelessly laugh in time of danger, but the fear of danger ought to drive us to crave help at the hands of God, and this is a remedy to comfort and set us up on foot, lest, being ter... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Who by the mouth of David. _They descend now into the second member, that they ask nothing but that which God hath promised to perform, so that his will and power are joined together, to the end they may fully assure themselves that they shall obtain their requests; and because the kingdom of Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Against the Lord, and his Christ. _The Spirit teacheth by this word, that all those do make war against God which refuse to submit themselves to Christ; they do full little think this oftentimes, notwithstanding it is so that because God will reign in the person of his Son alone, we refuse to ob... [ Continue Reading ]
27_Have met together in this city. _They declare that this prophecy was proved to be true by the event, to the end they may believe the same more assuredly, for the sense is, Lord, thou hast spoken it and we have in truth tried [experienced] the same to be true; and they call to mind that which was... [ Continue Reading ]
28._That they might do. _I have already declared to what end this is spoken; that the kingdom of Christ was so far from being overrun by that conspiracy, that in truth it did then flourish. Notwithstanding herein is contained a singular doctrine, that God doth so govern and guide all things by his s... [ Continue Reading ]
29._And now O Lord. _They do very well extend that unto themselves which they cited concerning Christ; because he will not, be separated from the gospel; yea, what trouble so ever befalleth his members, he applieth that to his own person. And they crave at God’s hands that he will beat down the crue... [ Continue Reading ]
30._Grant unto thy servants. _Seeing that one miracle had stinged the enemy so sore how is it that these holy men do desire to have new miracles done daily? Therefore we gather that hence which I have already touched, that they make so great account of the glory of God, that in comparison of this, t... [ Continue Reading ]
31._And when they had prayed. _Luke declareth now that God did not only hear this prayer, but did also testify the same by a visible sign from heaven. For the shaking of the place should, of itself, have done them small good; but it tendeth to another end, that the faithful may know that God is pres... [ Continue Reading ]
32._And the multitude. _In this place there are three things commended; that the faithful were all of one mind; that there was a mutual partaking of goods amongst them; that the apostles behaved themselves stoutly in announcing the resurrection of Christ. He saith that the multitude_had one heart; _... [ Continue Reading ]
33._And with great power. _This third member appertaineth to doctrine. For Luke doth signify that the zeal which the apostles had to preach the gospel was so far from being diminished, that they were rather endowed with new power. Whereas he doth only name the resurrection of Christ, it is _synecdoc... [ Continue Reading ]
34._For so many as were. _Although this be an universal speech, yet is it all one as if it were indefinite. And assuredly it is to be thought that there were many which did not diminish their possessions, and that may be gathered out of the text, [context.] For when he speaketh of Joses anon, undoub... [ Continue Reading ]