THE FORMER TREATISE - The former book. The Gospel of Luke is here evidently intended. Greek: the former λόγος logos, meaning “a discourse,” or “a narrative.” O THEOPHILUS - See the notes on Luke 1:3. Since this book was written to the same individual as the former, it was evidently written with the... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE DAY - The 40th day after the resurrection, Acts 1:3. See Luke 24:51. IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP - In which he ascended to heaven. He was taken up into a cloud, and is represented as having been borne or carried to heaven, Acts 1:9. AFTER THAT ... - This passage has been variously rendered.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHOWED HIMSELF - The resurrection of Jesus was the great fact on which the truth of the gospel was to be established. Hence, the sacred writers so often refer to it, and establish it by so many arguments. As the fact of his resurrection lay at the foundation of all that Luke was about to record i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER - Margin, “or, eating together.” This sense is given to this place in the Latin Vulgate, the Ethiopic, and the Syriac versions. But the Greek word has not properly this signification. It has the meaning of “congregating, or assembling.” It should have been, however, tran... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED ... - These are the words of Jesus to his apostles, and he evidently has reference to what was said of John’s baptism compared with his own in Matthew 3:11; John 1:33. In those verses John is represented as baptizing with water, but the Messiah who was to come, as baptizing w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY THEREFORE WERE COME TOGETHER - At the Mount of Olives. See Acts 1:9, Acts 1:12. WILT THOU AT THIS TIME ... - The apostles had entertained the common opinions of the Jews about the temporal dominion of the Messiah. They expected that he would reign as a prince and conqueror, and would free... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW - The question of the apostles respected the time of the restoration; it was not whether he would do it. Accordingly, his answer meets precisely their inquiry; and he tells them in general that the time of the great events of God’s kingdom was not to be understood by them.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER ... - Literally, as it is translated in the margin, “Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you.” This was said to them to console them. Though they could not know the times which God reserved in his own appointment, yet they should receive the promised... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THEY BEHELD - While they saw him. It was of importance to state that circumstance, and to state it distinctly. It is not affirmed in the New Testament that they “saw him rise” from the dead, because the evidence of that fact could be better established by their seeing him after he was risen. B... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKED STEDFASTLY - They fixed their eyes, or gazed intently toward heaven. Luke 4:20, “and the eyes of all them in the synagogue were fastened (Greek: the same word as here) on him.” It denotes the intense gaze when we are deeply interested, and wish to see clearly and distinctly. They were amazed... [ Continue Reading ]
YE MEN OF GALILEE - Galilee was the place of their former residence, and they were commonly known by the name of Galileans. WHY STAND YE ... - There is doubtless a slight degree of censure implied in this, as well as a design to call their attention away from a vain attempt to see the departed Savi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM - In Luke 24:52, we are told that they worshipped Jesus before they returned, and it is probable that the act of worship to which he refers was what is mentioned in this chapter their gazing intently on their departing Lord. FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET - From the... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE COME IN - To Jerusalem. THEY WENT UP INTO AN UPPER ROOM - The word ὑπερῷον huperoōn, here translated “upper room,” occurs only four times in the New Testament: Acts 9:37, “She (Dorcas) was sick and died; whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber” (see also Acts 9:39); Act... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ALL CONTINUED ... - The word “continued” denotes “persevering and constant attention.” The main business was devotion. Acts 6:4, “we will give ourselves continually to the ministry of the word.” Romans 12:12, “continuing instant in prayer”; Romans 13:6, “Attending continually upon this very th... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOSE DAYS - On one of the days intervening between the ascension of Jesus and the day of Pentecost. PETER STOOD UP - Peter standing up, or rising. This is a customary expression in the Scriptures when one begins to do a thing, Luke 15:18. The reason why Peter did this may be seen in the notes o... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN AND BRETHREN - This is a customary mode of address, implying affection and respect, Acts 13:26. The Syriac renders it more appropriately than by the introduction of the conjunction “and” - “Men, our brethren.” THIS SCRIPTURE - This prediction contained in the writings of the Old Testament. Compa... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS NUMBERED WITH US - He was chosen as an apostle by the Lord Jesus, Luke 6:13. This does not mean that he was a true Christian, but that he was reckoned among the apostles. Long before he betrayed him, Jesus declared that he was a devil, John 6:70. He knew his whole character when he chose him,... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS MAN ... - The money which was given for betraying the Lord Jesus was thrown down in the temple, and the field was purchased with it by the Jewish priests. See Matthew 27:5, Matthew 27:10, and the notes on that place. A man is said often to do a thing when he furnishes means for doing it. Co... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS KNOWN ... - , Matthew 27:8. The scene in the temple; the acts of the priests in purchasing the field, etc., would make it known; and the name of the field would preserve the memory of the guilt of Judas. THEIR PROPER TONGUE - The language spoken by the Jews the Syro-Chaldaic. ACELDAMA - Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS WRITTEN ... - See Psalms 69:25. This is the prediction doubtless to which Peter refers in Acts 1:16. The intermediate passage in Acts 1:18, is probably a parenthesis; the words of Luke, not of Peter. So Calvin, Kuinoel, Olshausen, DeWette, and Hackett understand it. It is not probable that... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE OF THESE MEN - Of those who had witnessed the life and works of Christ, and who were therefore qualified to discharge the duties of the office from which Judas fell. Probably Peter refers to the seventy disciples, Luke 10:1. WENT IN AND OUT - A phrase signifying that he was their constant... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN - The words “beginning from” in the original refer to the Lord Jesus. The meaning may be thus expressed, “during all the time in which the Lord Jesus, beginning (his ministry) at the time when he was baptized by John, went in and out among us, until the time when h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY APPOINTED TWO - They proposed, or, as we should say, nominated two. Literally, they placed two, or made them to stand forth, as persons do who are candidates for office. These two were probably-more distinguished by prudence, wisdom, piety, and age than the others, and they were so nearly e... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY PRAYED - As they could not agree on the individual, they invoked the direction of God in their choice - an example which should be followed in every selection of an individual to exercise the duties of the sacred office of the ministry. WHICH KNOWEST THE HEARTS OF ALL MEN - This is often de... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MAY TAKE PART OF THIS MINISTRY - The word rendered “part” - κλῆρον klēron - is the same which in the next verse is rendered lots. It properly means a lot or portion the portion divided to a man, or assigned to him by casting lots; and also the instrument or means by which the lot is determ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS - Some have supposed that this means they voted. But to this interpretation there are insuperable objections: * The word “lots,” κλήρους klērous, is not used to express votes, or suffrage. * The expression “the lot fell upon” is not consistent with the notion of... [ Continue Reading ]