CHAPTER XIII. _Of the prophets and teachers in the Church of Antioch_, 1. _By command of the Holy Spirit the Church appoints Saul and_ _Barnabas to a particular work_, 2, 3. _They depart, and travel to Seleucia, Cyprus, and Salamis,_ _preaching in the Jewish synagogues_, 4, 5. _At Paphos they... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:2. _AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD, AND FASTED_] On Mondays and Thursdays it was usual with the more pious Jews to attend the public service in their synagogues, and to fast: the former is what we are to understand by _ministering to the Lord_. On the Sabbaths they attended the service... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:3. _AND WHEN THEY HAD FASTED AND PRAYED, AND LAID_ THEIR _HANDS ON THEM_] 1. _They fasted_: this was probably done by the whole Church. 2. _They prayed_, that God would bless and prosper them in their work. 3. _They land hands upon them_; thus solemnly appointing them to that partic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:4. _BEING SENT FORTH BY THE HOLY GHOST_] By his _influence,_ _authority_, and under his _continual direction_. Without the _first_, they were not _qualified_ to go; without the _second_, they had no _authority_ to go; and without the _third_, they could not _know_ _where to go_. _DEPA... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:5. _SALAMIS_] The capital of the island of Cyprus; afterwards called _Constantia_, and now _Salina_, situated on the eastern part of the island. _THEY PREACHED THE WORD OF GOD_] τον λογον, The doctrine of God, the Christian religion, emphatically so called. _THEY HAD ALSO JOHN TO_ th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:6. _GONE THROUGH THE ISLE_] ολην, _The WHOLE isle_, is added here by ABCDE, several others, both the _Syrian, Coptic,_ _AEthiopic, Armenian, Vulgate_, and _Itala_; and also by several of the Greek fathers; and this must be the true reading, for it is evident they ran through the whole... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:7. _THE DEPUTY OF THE COUNTRY_] ανθυπατω, The _proconsul_. Rosenmuller and others remark, that in those days the Romans sent two different kinds of governors into the provinces. Some of the provinces were _Caesarean_ or _imperial_, and into those they sent _propretors_; others belonged... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:8. _BUT ELYMAS, THE SORCERER, (FOR SO IS HIS NAME BY_ _INTERPRETATION)_] That is, Elymas is the interpretation of the word μαγος, or _sorcerer_; not of the word _Bar-Jesus_ as some have imagined; and to support which they have been led into strange etymologies on the word βαριησους, B... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:9. _SAUL, WHO ALSO_ IS - _PAUL_] This is the first time the name Paul occurs, and the last time in which this apostle is called Saul, as his common or general name. _Saul_, שאול Shaul, was the name of the first Israelitish king, and signifies _asked, sought_; from שאל _shaal_, he aske... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:10. _O FULL OF ALL SUBTILTY_] δολου, _Deceit_, pretending to supernatural powers without possessing any, and having only _cunning_ and _deceit_ as their substitutes. _AND-MISCHIEF_] ραδιουργιας, from ραδιος, _easy_, and εργον, _a work_; one who is _ready at his work_; a word which exc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:11. _THE HAND OF THE LORD_ IS _UPON THEE_] The _power_ of God is now about to deal with thee in the way of _justice_. _THOU SHALT BE BLIND_] Every word here proves the immediate inspiration of Paul. He was full of the Holy Ghost when he began this address: by the light of that Spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:12. _THE DEPUTY - BELIEVED_] This was a proof that the doctrine was true; and that the power of God, from which nothing could be concealed, and which nothing could resist, was with these preachers. _BEING ASTONISHED_] εκπλησσομενος, Being struck with astonishment, as Elymas was struck... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:13. _PAUL AND HIS COMPANY LOOSED FROM PAPHOS_] They sailed away from this island, leaving, it may be presumed, Elymas a sincere and deeply humbled _penitent_; and Sergius Paul, a thorough and happy _believer_ in the doctrine of Christ. Previously to this time, St. Luke always mentions... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:14. _THEY CAME TO ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA_] This place is mentioned thus to distinguish it from _Antioch_ in _Syria_, with which it had nothing in common but the name. There were several cities and towns in various districts of these countries called _Antioch_: some have reckoned up not les... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:15. _AFTER THE READING OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS_] A certain portion of the _law_ and another of the _prophets_, was read every Sabbath; and the law was so divided as to be read over once every year. In the notes at the conclusion of Deuteronomy, I have considered this subject at lar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:16. _MEN OF ISRAEL_] Ye that are _Jews by birth_; and _ye that_ _fear God_-ye that are _proselytes_ to the Jewish religion. In this discourse Paul proves that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, sent from God, not only for the salvation of the _Jews_, but of the _whole_ _human race_. And this... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:17. _THE GOD OF - OUR FATHERS_] The apostle begins his discourse with the Egyptian bondage, and their deliverance from it, as points the most remarkable and striking in their history; in which the providence and mighty power of God, exerted so frequently in their behalf, were peculiarl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:18. _ABOUT THE TIME OF FORTY YEARS_] The space of time between their coming out of Egypt, and going into the promised land. _SUFFERED HE THEIR MANNERS_] ετροποφορησεναυτους; He dealt indulgently with them: howsoever they behaved towards him, he mercifully bore with, and kindly treate... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:19. _DESTROYED SEVEN NATIONS_] The _Canaanites, Hittites,_ _Girgasites, Amorites, Hivites, Peresites_, and _Jebusites_. The rabbins frequently call them שבעה אומות _Shebaah Omoth_, the _Seven_ _Nations_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:20. _AND AFTER THAT HE GAVE UNTO THEM JUDGES ABOUT THE_ _SPACE OF FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS_] This is a most difficult passage, and has been termed by Scaliger, _Crux Chronologorum_. The apostle seems here to contradict the account in 1 Kings 6:1: _And it came to pass in the four hu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:21. _SAUL THE SON OF CIS_] In all proper names quoted from the Old Testament, we should undoubtedly follow, as nearly as possible, the same orthography: קיש _Kish_, was the name of this king's father, and so we spell it in the Old Testament, and yet have transformed it into _Cis_ in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:22. _DAVID - A MAN AFTER MINE OWN HEART_] That is, a man who would rule the kingdom according to God's will. Dr. Benson's observation on this point is very judicious: "When it is said that David was _a man after God's own heart_, it should be understood, not of his _private_, but of h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:23. _OF THIS MAN'S SEED HATH GOD - RAISED - A SAVIOUR_] That Jesus Christ came in a direct and indisputable line from David, according to both _promise_ and _prophecy_, may be seen in the notes on Matthew 1:1, c., and particularly in the notes at the end of Luke 3. And that the Messiah... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:24. _JOHN - PREACHED - THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE_] On the nature and effects of John's preaching, Matthew 3:1, c., and Luke 3:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:25. _AS JOHN FULFILLED HIS COURSE_] _As John was fulfilling_ _his race, he said_, c. It has been supposed that the word δρομον, _course_, or _race_, is used here to point out the _short duration_ of the Baptist's ministry, and the fervent zeal with which he performed it. It signifies p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:26. _MEN_ AND _BRETHREN_] This should have been translated brethren simply. Acts 7:2. _CHILDREN OF THE STOCK OF ABRAHAM_] All ye that are _Jews_. _AND WHOSOEVER AMONG YOU FEARED GOD_] That is, all ye who are _Gentiles_, and are now _proselytes_ to the Jewish religion. _THE WORD OF T... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:27. _BECAUSE THEY KNEW HIM NOT_] A gentle excuse for the persecuting high priests, c. They did not know that Jesus was the Christ, because they did not know the prophets: and _why_ did they not know the prophets, _which were read every Sabbath day_? Because they did _not desire to know... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:28. _THEY FOUND NO CAUSE OF DEATH IN HIM_] No reason why he should be condemned. Though they accused him of several things, yet they could not substantiate the most trifling charge against him; and yet, in opposition to all justice and equity, desired Pilate to put him to death! This p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _THEY TOOK_ HIM _DOWN FROM THE TREE_] The apostle passes rapidly over several circumstances of his _death_, that he might establish the fact of his _resurrection_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _BUT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD_] And thus gave the fullest proof of his innocence. God alone can raise the dead; and he would not work a miracle so very extraordinary, but on some extraordinary occasion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _HE WAS SEEN MANY DAYS_, c.] The thing was done but a very short time since and many of the witnesses are still alive, and ready to attest the fact of this resurrection in the most unequivocal manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _WE DECLARE UNTO YOU GLAD TIDINGS_] We proclaim that Gospel to you which is the fulfilment of the promise made unto the fathers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _WRITTEN IN THE SECOND PSALM_] Instead of τω ψαλμω τω δευτερω _the second Psalm_, πρωτω ψαλμω, _the first Psalm_, is the reading of D, and its _Itala_ version, and several of the primitive fathers. Griesbach has received it into the text; but not, in my opinion, on sufficient evidence. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _NO MORE TO RETURN TO CORRUPTION_] To the _grave_, to _death_, the _place_ and _state_ of _corruption_; for so we should understand the word διαφθοραν in the text. _THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID._] τα οσια δαβιδ τα πιστα. These words are quoted literatim from the _Septuagint version_ of Isai... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _DAVID - FELL ON SLEEP - AND SAW CORRUPTION_] David died, was buried, and never rose again; therefore, David cannot be the person spoken of here: the words are true of some other person; and they can be applied to Jesus Christ _only_; and in him they are most exactly fulfilled. See the not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _BE IT KNOWN UNTO YOU, THEREFORE_] This is the legitimate conclusion: seeing the word of God is true, and he has promised an endless succession to the seed of David; seeing David and all his family have failed in reference to the _political_ kingdom, a spiritual kingdom and a spiritual su... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _AND BY HIM_] On his account, and through him, _all that_ _believe_ in his Divine mission, and the end for which he has been manifested, namely, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, _are justified from all things_, from the guilt of all transgressions committed against God; _from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 40. _BEWARE - LEST THAT COME UPON YOU_, c.] If you reject these benefits, now freely offered to you in this preaching of Christ crucified, you may expect such judgment from the hand of God as your forefathers experienced, when, for their _rebellion_ and their _contempt_ of his benefits, their... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 41. _BEHOLD, YE DESPISERS_] There is a remarkable difference here between the Hebrew text in Habakkuk, and that in the Septuagint, which is a little abridged here by St. Paul. I shall exhibit the three texts. Heb:- ראו בגוים והביטו והתמהו תמהו כי פעל פעל בימיכם לא תאמינו כי יספר _Reu bagoyim... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 42. _WHEN THE JEWS WERE GONE OUT_] That part of them in whom the words of the prophet were fulfilled, viz. those who, though they had the clearest relation of so interesting a history, would not believe it: they shut their eyes against the light, and hardened their hearts against the truth. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 43. _MANY OF THE JEWS_] Direct descendants from some of the twelve tribes; _and religious proselytes_, heathens who had been converted to Judaism, and, having submitted to circumcision, had become _proselytes of the covenant_: though some think that the expression means _proselytes_ of the _ga... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 44. _THE NEXT SABBATH DAY_] The good news had spread far and wide, by means of the converted Jews and proselytes. _ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY_] _Jews, proselytes_, and _Gentiles_, came together to hear τον λογον του θεου, _this doctrine of God_, this Divine teaching, by which so many of their kind... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 45. _THE JEWS - WERE FILLED WITH ENVY_] Acts 5:17. These could not bear the Gentiles, who believed in Christ, to be _equal_ with them; and yet; according to the Gospel, it was really the case. _CONTRADICTING_] The arguments and statements brought forward by the disciples; _and blaspheming_, s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 46. _WAXED BOLD_] παρρησιασαμενοι; Having great liberty of speech; a strong, persuasive, and overpowering eloquence. They had eternal _truth_ for the basis of this discourse; a multitude of _incontestable facts_ to support it; an all-persuading eloquence to illustrate and maintain what they ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 47. _FOR SO THE LORD COMMANDED US_] The apostles could quote a pertinent scripture for every thing they did; because the outlines of the whole Gospel dispensation are founded in the _law_ and the _prophets_; and they were now building the Church of God according to the pattern shown them in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 48. _AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED._] This text has been most pitifully misunderstood. Many suppose that it simply means that those in that assembly who were _fore-ordained_; or _predestinated_ by God's decree, to eternal life, believed under the influence of that decree.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 49. _THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS PUBLISHED_, c.] Those who had come from different parts, and were converted, carried the glad tidings to their respective neighbourhoods and thus the doctrine was _published throughout all the region_ of Pisidia, where they then were. Acts 13:44, Acts 13:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:50. _DEVOUT AND HONOURABLE WOMEN_] It is likely that these were _heathen matrons_, who had become _proselytes_ to the Jewish religion; and, as they were persons of affluence and respectability, they had considerable influence with the _civil_ magistracy of the place, and probably their... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:51. _THEY SHOOK OFF THE DUST OF THEIR FEET AGAINST THEM_] This was a very significant rite; by it, they in effect said: Ye are worse than the heathen: even your very land is accursed for your opposition to God, and we dare not permit even its dust to cleave to the soles of our feet; an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 13:52. _THE DISCIPLES WERE FILLED WITH JOY AND WITH THE HOLY_ _GHOST._] Though in the world they had tribulation, yet in Christ they had peace; and, while engaged in their Master's work, they always had their Master's wages. The happiness of a genuine Christian lies far beyond the reach o... [ Continue Reading ]