_CHRIST, PREPARING HIS APOSTLES FOR THE BEHOLDING OF HIS ASCENSION, GATHERETH THEM TOGETHER UNTO THE MOUNT OLIVET, COMMANDETH THEM TO EXPECT IN JERUSALEM THE SENDING DOWN OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND PROMISETH AFTER A FEW DAYS TO SEND IT: BY VIRTUE WHEREOF THEY SHOULD BE WITNESSES UNTO HIM, EVEN TO THE UT... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FORMER TREATISE— This _former treatise,_ undoubtedly, means the gospel, which was written by St. Luke, and dedicated by him to _Theophilus._ See the note on Luke 1:3._All_ in this verse, cannot mean every one of the miracles and sermons which Jesus wrought and preached. See John 20:30; John 21:2... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST HAD GIVEN, &C.— By the influence and assistance of the Holy Spirit, with which he himself was anointed, "the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily." It is no wonder, considering how short a history we have between Christ's resurrection and ascension, that this should b... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEWED HIMSELF ALIVE BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS,— By _infallible proofs_ are meant such proofs as amount to a demonstration, and cannot admit of the least doubt. Thus the actions of speaking, walking, eating, and drinking, are the undoubted proofs of life; and it should be observed, that the disciple... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY SHOULD NOT DEPART, &C.— This seems a plain intimation that, after our Lord had met his disciples in Galilee, he appointed the apostles to meet him in Jerusalem, or perhaps accompanied them thither, and as man spent his last days on earth there; doing his last honour to the place where the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST— Baptism was a rite of initiation, by which disciples were admitted not only among the Jews, but also among other nations. John the Baptist adopted this rite after the Jewish manner, making use of _water_ for this purpose: but Christ's disciplesbeing designed... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, WILT THOU AT THIS TIME, &C.— The disciples seem to have expected, that, when the Spirit was in so extraordinary a manner poured out, and the _world,_ according to Christ's prediction (John 16:8.) _convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment,_ the whole nation of the Jews would own him... [ Continue Reading ]
A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM, &C.— That is, some bright appearance like a _cloud,_ accompanied by angels. It was for majesty, and not for necessity, that our Lord used the ministration of angels on this occasion. See 2 Kings 2:11. Our Lord ascended into heaven from the mount of Olives, at or near the place... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD TWO MEN, &C.— Two angels in human form. As Christ's resurrection had been honoured with the appearance of angels, it is natural to expect that his ascension into heaven would be so likewise. The angels spake of our Lord's coming to judgethe world at the last day, a description of which he him... [ Continue Reading ]
A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY.— That is, about a mile. See the note on Luke 24:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WENT UP INTO AN UPPER ROOM,— This might be rendered _into the upper room._ There was in Jerusalem an upper room in which the apostles had been used to assemble with their Lord, where they had eaten the last supper with him, and where perhaps they had assembled since his resurrection, and been f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NUMBER OF THE NAMES, &C.— Of the persons. See Rev. ch. Acts 3:4 and Virg. AEn. 6: ver. 763. _An hundred and twenty_ was the number of a Jewish council. It is very likely that most of the disciples who met our Lord in Galilee after his resurrection, did either live in Galilee, in the remotest par... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN AND BRETHREN,— Literally, _men brethren._ So chap. Acts 2:29. See chap. Acts 7:2. Some have taken this for a Hebraism; and it is true, that it was usual with the Hebrews; but it was used also by the politest Greeks,—Xenophon, Homer, Herodotus, &c. Instead of _must needs have been fulfilled,_ Dr.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS MAN PURCHASED A FIELD, &C.— It means, _Occasioned the purchasing a field._ It is worth observing, that an action is sometimes said in scripture to be done by a person who was the occasion of doing it. See Genesis 42:38. Exodus 23:8. Romans 14:15. 1 Corinthians 7:16 and 1 Timothy 4:16. To wh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS KNOWN, &C.— Aringhius mentions a funeral inscription dug up in the _Via Nomentana,_ by which it appears that the fate of Judas became a proverbial form of cursing. See his _Roma Subterran._ p. 436. The best critics seem universally to read this verse in a parenthesis, considering it not a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS BISHOPRICK LET ANOTHER TAKE.— _And let another take his office._ Heylin.... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST ONE BE ORDAINED, &C.— They must reasonably and modestly conclude, that it was fit the number of apostles whom Christ first chose, should be kept up, perhaps in allusion to the twelve tribes of Israel. But it is impossible, as well as quite unnecessary, that we at this distance of time should be... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSEPH CALLED BARSABAS, &C.— That this Joseph was a different person from _Joses,_ surnamed _Barnabas,_ mentioned ch. Acts 4:36 will appear more than probable, when it has been considered, _first,_ that the character of _Barnabas_ is given chap. 4: as if he had no where been mentioned before: _secon... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH KNOWEST THE HEARTS— See Proverbs 15:11. 1 Samuel 16:7. Jeremiah 17:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MIGHT GO TO HIS OWN PLACE.— That is, to the place and state of lost souls. It was a maxim among the Jews, "He who betrayeth an Israelite, shall have no part in the world to come." The term _his own place,_ or _his due_ or _appointed place,_ was very frequently used by the primitive Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY GAVE FORTH, &C.— This was, no doubt, most impartially adjusted, though we know not in what particular method. The honour which God had in peculiar instances conferred on inquiries by lot, (see Judges 7:14. 1 Samuel 10:20.) and the custom of fixing the offices of the priests in the temple, w... [ Continue Reading ]