ARREST OF PETER AND JOHN 1-22. Arrest of Peter and John. Peter's speech before the Sanhedrin. The proceedings of the Apostles displeased the authorities, (1) because they taught the people (Acts 4:2) without having received the education and ordination of rabbis (cp. Acts 4:13); (2) because they pre... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY SPAKE] Clearly John also addressed the people. THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE] a priest next in dignity to the high priest, having under him a body of priests and Levites, who maintained order in the Temple. THE SADDUCEES] Most of the chief priests belonged to this party. They denied the oral tr... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR RULERS] A full and important meeting of the Sanhedrin was summoned. 'Rulers' = chief priest; 'scribes' = rabbis or 'lawyers,' professional teachers of the Law. Most of the scribes were Pharisees. 'Elders' = such members of the Sanhedrin as were neither chief priests nor scribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANNAS THE HIGH PRIEST] see on John 18:13. JOHN] An unknown person. But D reads 'Jonathan.' This is probably correct, for Jonathan was son of Annas, and succeeded Caiaphas. ALEXANDER] is unknown.... [ Continue Reading ]
FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST] in fulfilment of the promise Luke 12:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE STONE] In Psalms 118:22 the stone is Israel, which the heathen builders of the world's great empires reject and despise, but which nevertheless is destined to play the chief part in the world's history. In the NT. the stone is interpreted as the Messiah, and the builders as the rulers of... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER] Though salvation is offered to men through Jesus, and Jesus alone, it does not follow that those who are ignorant of His name are lost. God can save, through Christ, those who have never heard the gospel, if they respond to the degree of grace and enlightenme... [ Continue Reading ]
UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN] This rendering gives a false impression. What is meant is that the Apostles had not received the training of rabbis, and were consequently unskilled in rabbinical traditions, and had no authority to teach. 'Ignorant' should be translated 'private persons,' or, 'laymen.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAYER OF THE APOSTLES ON THEIR RELEASE. 24. WITH ONE ACCORD] The prayer was probably led by St. Peter, the others repeating the words after him.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BY THE MOUTH] RV 'who by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David, didst say,' etc. WHY DID THE HEATHEN RAGE? etc.] verbatim from Psalms 2:1; (LXX). This Ps. is directly Messianic, though it may have been suggested by the historical circumstances of some actual Davidic king, e.g. Solomo... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILD] or, 'servant': see on Acts 3:13. WERE GATHERED TOGETHER] add 'in this city' (RV).... [ Continue Reading ]
THY COUNSEL] There is a theological difficulty here. God is said to have foreordained the iniquitous proceedings of the scribes and Pharisees who condemned Jesus. The explanation is that God is said to foreordain what he foresees and permits. God permitted the death of Jesus, intending by it to rede... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WITH ALL BOLDNESS THEY MAY SPEAK THY WORD] rather, 'that with all boldness _we_ may speak thy word.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BY STRETCHING] RV 'while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PLACE WAS SHAKEN, etc.] The physical phenomena of Pentecost (see Acts 2:3) were partly reproduced. THEY SPAKE THE WORD] They continued their public preaching to the people, and their private exhortations to the disciples, in spite of the opposition of the Jewish authorities. 32—C. ACTS 5:16. TH... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH GREAT POWER] The expression suggests that the preaching was supported by miracles.... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSES] RV 'Joseph.' BARNABAS] lit. 'the Son of Prophecy.' We learn from Acts 13:1 that he was a prophet; and he probably gained his name 'Barnabas' from some specially comforting or consoling prophecy which he delivered to the Church of Jerusalem, soon after his conversion. A LEVITE] By the Mosaic L... [ Continue Reading ]