Ver. 1. THE FORMER TREATISE HAVE I MADE,.... Meaning the Gospel written by him the Evangelist Luke, for from that he makes a transition to this, beginning here where he there left off; namely, at the ascension of Christ; see Luke 24:51. O THEOPHILUS; Luke 1:3 OF ALL THAT JESUS BEGAN BOTH TO DO AND... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP,.... That is, into heaven. The historian suggests, that his former treatise took in the main and principal things Jesus did and taught, until such time that he ascended to heaven: AFTER THAT HE, THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST, HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENTS UNTO THE APOSTLES,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM ALSO HE SHOWED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS PASSION,.... That is, after his sufferings and death; for that he suffered many things, and at last death itself, is certain from the acknowledgment of the Jews themselves, who own, that they put him to death on the passover eve d; as well as from the a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH THEM,.... At their last meeting at Bethany, or Mount Olivet, which was by appointment: some render the words, as the Vulgate Latin, "and eating with them"; which was one of the proofs he gave of his being alive; and so the Syriac version renders it, "and when he had... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED WITH WATER,.... Or "in water", as he himself says, Matthew 3:11 John's baptism was water baptism, an immersion of persons in water: he was the first administrator of it, and therefore is here mentioned by name; and his, and the baptism of the Spirit, are opposed; for there we... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY THEREFORE WERE COME TOGETHER,.... That is, Christ, and his eleven apostles; for not the hundred and twenty disciples hereafter mentioned, nor the five hundred brethren Christ appeared to at once, are here intended, but the apostles, as appears from Acts 1:2 THEY ASKED OF HIM, SAYING, WILT... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... To his disciples, IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR THE SEASONS; meaning, not the times that are past from Adam to Christ; as how long the world stood; when the flood came; when Sodom and Gomorrha were burned to ashes; when the children of Israel came out of Egypt, a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER,.... From on high, with which they were to be endured, Luke 24:49 meaning the power of the Holy Ghost, strength from him to preach the Gospel, and work miracles in confirmation of it, and courage and greatness of mind, amidst all reproaches and persecutions, to face and op... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN THESE THINGS,.... That the times and seasons were not to be known by them, but to be kept a secret by the Father: that they should tarry at Jerusalem, and in a few days be baptized with the Holy Ghost, and receive such power, abilities, strength, and courage thereby, as to bea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHILE THEY LOOKED STEADFASTLY TOWARD HEAVEN,.... For though he was taken out of their sight by the cloud, they kept looking upwards, and after him, if they could see him again, or any more of him: AS HE WENT UP; they looked up to heaven after him, as he went up from the earth, before the cloud... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH ALSO SAID, YE MEN OF GALILEE,.... And which was said by them, not to reproach them with their country, but partly to let them know that they knew them, who they were, and from whence they came; and partly to observe the rich and distinguishing grace of God in choosing such mean and contemptibl... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM,.... With great joy, after the angels had told them that he should come again in like manner: FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET; which was on the east side of Jerusalem, a mountain Christ much frequented, and from whence he ascended to heaven. This is the hill which in... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 13 AND WHEN THEY WERE COME IN,.... "Into it", as the Arabic version reads; that is, into the city of Jerusalem, and into some house in that city; but what house it was is needless to inquire, since it cannot be known. Some think it was the house of John the Evangelist, whither he had taken Mary... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ALL CONTINUED, WITH ONE ACCORD, IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION,.... For the promise of the Spirit Christ had given them reason to expect; and that they might be preserved from their enemies, and kept faithful to their Lord; and be abundantly qualified for the preaching of the Gospel, and succeeded... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THOSE DAYS PETER STOOD UP,.... That is, in one of the days after Christ's ascension, and before the day of Pentecost, whilst the disciples were waiting for the promise of the Spirit. The Ethiopic version reads, "on that day"; as if it was the same day they came first into Jerusalem, and went... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN AND BRETHREN,.... Which is said not so much by Peter to express his modesty, and humility, and his brotherly love; or on account of the spiritual relation that subsisted between him and the persons he speaks to, as it was a common form used in addresses; see Acts 7:2 it should seem, that the wom... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE WAS NUMBERED WITH US,.... He was chosen an apostle with: the rest, and was ordained into that office when they were, and was always reckoned one of the twelve, and stands in the catalogue when they are mentioned: AND HAD OBTAINED PART OF THIS MINISTRY; by lot, as the word signifies; the prov... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS MAN PURCHASED A FIELD,.... This verse, with the following, seem to be the words of Luke the historian, which should be read in a parenthesis; for there was no need to have acquainted the disciples with the manner of Judas's death, which was so well known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS KNOWN UNTO ALL THE DWELLERS AT JERUSALEM,.... As that he betrayed Jesus of Nazareth into the hands of the chief priests, for thirty pieces of silver; that this was the reward of his iniquity; and that with this a field was purchased for the burying of strangers in; and that he died in suc... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS,.... In Psalms 69:25. These are the words of Peter, citing the Scripture he had said must be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by David, had spoke concerning Judas: LET HIS HABITATION BE DESOLATE. The Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it, "his city"; meanin... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE OF THESE MEN WHICH HAVE COMPANIED WITH US,.... Seeing there was such an imprecation, which carried in it the nature of a prophecy, that another should take the bishopric of Judas, or be made an apostle in his room, it was absolutely necessary that one should be immediately chosen to that o... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN,.... Not from the time trial John first administered the ordinance of baptism; for Christ was not so soon made known, or had followers; but from the time of the administration of it by John, to Christ, when he was made known to Israel; and quickly upon this, he cal... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY APPOINTED TWO,.... The motion made by Peter was attended to by the whole company; they approved of it, and accordingly proposed two persons by name; one of which was to be chosen, not by the apostles, but by the whole assembly. The Arabic version reads, "he appointed two", as if Peter singl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY PRAYED AND SAID,.... Having proposed the above two persons, and not well knowing which to pitch upon, they being both very agreeable and fit for such service; they chose not to determine the affair without seeking to God for direction; a method to be taken in all cases, and especially in ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MAY TAKE PART OF THIS MINISTRY AND APOSTLESHIP,.... Of the ministry of the apostles, or of the apostolical ministration; which lay in preaching the Gospel, administering ordinances, planting churches, and working miracles; and which part, lot, or inheritance, Judas had; see Acts 1:17. AND F... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS,.... Or "gave forth lots for them", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; for Joseph and Matthias; some for one, and some for another; and which were cast into a man's lap, or into a vessel, and was no other than balloting for them; and so he that had the majorit... [ Continue Reading ]