The (1) former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus
began both to (a) do and teach,
(1) Luke switches over from the history of the Gospel, that is from
the history of the sayings and doings of Christ, unto the Acts of the
Apostles.
(a) The acts of Jesus are the miracles and deeds... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many (b)
infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the
things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
(2) Christ did not immediately ascend into heaven after his
resurrection in order to thoroughly prove his resurrectio... [ Continue Reading ]
And, being (c) assembled together with [them], commanded them that
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.
(c) They were dispersed here and there, but he gathers them together
so that all of them might together be witnes... [ Continue Reading ]
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized (d) with
the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(d) Either by the Father, or by me: so that either the Father or
Christ is set here contrasted with John, as the Holy Spirit is
contrasted with water, as things that are comparable to one anoth... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying,
Lord, wilt thou at this time (e) restore again the kingdom to Israel?
(3) We must fight before we triumph, and we must not search curiously
after those things which God has not revealed.
(e) To the old and ancient state.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the (f)
seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
(f) That is, the proper occasions that provide opportunities for doing
matters, which occasions the Lord has appointed to bring things to
pass in.... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was
taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
(4) After Christ had promised the full power of the Holy Spirit, with
whom he would govern his church (even though he would be absent in
body), he took up his body from us into... [ Continue Reading ]
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up (g) from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
(g) That is, out of your sight.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which
is from Jerusalem a sabbath (h) day's journey.
(h) About two miles.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) And when they were (i) come in, they went up into an upper room,
where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and
Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and
Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James.
(5) Ecclesiastical assemblies to hear the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
These all (k) continued with (l) one accord in (m) prayer and
supplication, with the (n) women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and
with his (o) brethren.
(k) The Greek word signifies an invincible constancy and
steadfastness.
(l) It is to good purpose that this agreement is mentioned: for those
pra... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples,
and said, (the number of (p) names together were about an hundred and
twenty),
(6) Peter is made the spokesman and interpreter of the whole company
of the Apostles, either by secret revelation of the Holy Spirit, or by
the express... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled,
which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning
Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
(7) Peter anticipates the offence that might be taken at the falling
away of Judas the betrayer, showing that all... [ Continue Reading ]
Now this man (q) purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and
(r) falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his
bowels gushed out.
(q) Luke did not consider Judas' purpose, but that which followed it,
and so we used to say that a man has done himself harm, not that he
wanted an... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be
desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his (s) bishoprick let
another take.
(s) His office and ministry: David wrote these words against Doeg the
King's herdsman: and these words "shepherd", "sheep", and "flock" are
used with refer... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time
that the Lord Jesus (t) went in and out among us,
(8) The Apostles do not deliberate at all, but first they consult and
take guidance from God's word: and again they do nothing that concerns
and is incumbent upon the whole body of... [ Continue Reading ]
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was
taken up (u) from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of
his resurrection.
(u) From our company.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) And they (x) appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was
surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
(9) The Apostles must be chosen immediately from God: and therefore
after praying, Matthias is chose by lot, which is as it were God's own
voice.
(x) Openly, and by the voices of the entire company.... [ Continue Reading ]
That he may take (y) part of this ministry and apostleship, from which
Judas by transgression (z) fell, that he might go to his own place.
(y) That he may be a member and partaker of this ministry.
(z) Departed from, or fallen from: and it is a metaphor taken from the
word "way": for callings are... [ Continue Reading ]