In this extraordinary and miraculous descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles; Observe, 1. The time, WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME; that is, fifty days after Christ's resurrection. The day of Pentecost is probably believed to have fallen then upon the Lord's day; it is certain, from A... [ Continue Reading ]
The fame of the foregoing miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit being instantly spread abroad in Jerusalem, and there being present at that time great multitudes of Jews, who had come from all parts of Judea, to the feast of Pentecost, and also many other Jews and proselytes born in other nations,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, The holy courage of St. Peter, in defending the innocency of the apostles, and confuting the calumny of drunkenness, which was now cast upon himself and them: THESE MEN ARE NOT DRUNKEN, AS YE SUPPOSE, SEEING IT IS BUT THE THIRD HOUR OF THE DAY. Where note, 1. How he argues negatively... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Peter having wiped off the unjust aspersion of drunkenness cast upon himself and his brethren in the foregoing verses; in these he makes it his business to convince the Jews that they were the murderers of the best man that ever lived in the world, even Jesus of Nazareth, the true and promised M... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Peter here proceeds in this memorable sermon, which he preached at the feast of Pentecost, to convince the Jews, that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was undoubtedly the promised Messias, because he was raised from the grave according to the prophetical prediction, THOU WILT NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, God the Father hath ordained and appointed this Jesus whom we have crucified, to be the head and Saviour of his church, he being the true and promised Messiah. Learn hence, That the Lord Jesus Christ was constituted and appointed by his Father, to be the supreme Governor and only Saviour o... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the success of St. Peter's sermon is recorded; The auditors were not only affected, but their hearts were touched with. kindly remorse; they mourn for sin and inquire what they should do to be saved; Some in our days would have been offended at such an inquiry, and told them, it was not doing,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, 1. St. Peter exhorts them to repentance. But did they not repent already? were they not now pricked at their hearts? and will the apostle add grief to grief, and pain to smart? Know, that the apostle advises them to join to their legal sorrow, evangelical repentance, such as is attended and... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The wonderful success of St. Peter's sermon: About three thousand were converted to the profession of the Christian religion in one day, by hearing. single sermon. How many thousands of sermons have been since preached, without the conversion of. single person! Oh! what an high hol... [ Continue Reading ]
Which words give us an account of the behaviour of the first Christians, particularly in their religious assemblies, and of the way of worship used in the church of Jerusalem, the true mother church in the time of the apostles. Where observe, 1. The doctrine which they adhered to, the doctrine of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. What awful respect God obliged the people of Jerusalem to pay unto the apostles: FEAR CAME UPON EVERY SOUL, AT THE SIGHT OF THOSE WONDERS AND SIGNS WHICH WERE WROUGHT BY THE APOSTLES. 'Tis God that keeps up the authority and reverence of his ministers in the minds of their people: D... [ Continue Reading ]
This chapter concludes with giving us an account how these primitive Christians spent their time together in the service of God, and in great simplicity and sincerity amongst themselves. They continued daily in the temple; that is, at the usual time of prayer they joined with the Jews in their praye... [ Continue Reading ]