ALTHOUGH there is not attached to this book any designation of the author, yet very early and unanimous tradition attributes it to Luke, the companion of Paul in his later travels, and the writer of the Gospel which bears his name. The allusion to a former treatise, and to Theophilus, contained in the first verse, and the use of the first person in the narrative of the travels of Paul, towards the close of the history, abundantly confirm the supposition.

      The book could not have been written until after Paul's imprisonment at Rome, since it brings down the history to that event; and it is supposed that it must have been written soon after the expiration of the two years, commencing at that period, which are mentioned at the conclusion of the last chapter, or it would have carried the history farther. Where, and under what circumstances, Luke wrote the book, there are no means of ascertaining.

      1. The former treatise; the Gospel of Luke. (See Luke 1:1-4.)

      3. Passion; suffering, referring here to the Savior's crucifixion.

      4. Promise of the Father; promised gift of the Holy Spirit, which was to be sent from the Father, according to the promise recorded in John 14:16-26.

      5. Baptized with the Holy Ghost; abundantly imbued with its influences.

      6. Restore the kingdom to Israel; as in the days of David and Solomon [254] when Israel was governed by its own kings, instead of being, as in our Savior's time, subject to the rule of a foreign power. This question shows what were still the ideas of the apostles in respect to the nature of the redemption which Christ was to procure.

      13. These are the names of the eleven remaining apostles.

      14. Mary the mother of Jesus. From this time Mary the mother of Jesus disappears from the sacred history.--And with his brethren. On the catalogue of the apostles there are three names, James, and Simon, and Judas, corresponding with three of the names used in Matt. 13:55, and in Mark 6:37 to designate what are there called the brethren of Jesus. These individuals may have been the same, though the statement made in John 7:5, that his brethren did not believe on him, and the manner in which they are spoken of here, as distinct from the apostles, indicate that different individuals were intended in these two cases. The names were very common names among the Jews. A more full account of the state of this question is given in the introductory remarks to the Epistle of James.

      15. Peter stood up. Peter was one of the first called among the apostles, (Matt. 4:18,) and his name is always placed at the head of the catalogue: he was prominent among his brethren during the lifetime of Christ: he was one of the first to believe and to acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah, as recorded Matt. 16:16,--and on that occasion Jesus spoke of him as in some peculiar sense the foundation of the future church; (v. 17-19;) and now, after the ascension, he appears among the disciples as their acknowledge leader. It is on these grounds that the Roman Catholics maintain that he was constituted by Christ the head of the church, and claim for his supposed successors, the popes of Rome, supreme ecclesiastical jurisdiction throughout the world. But there is no evidence that Peter's preëminence was official. In this case only he does not act; he only proposes action. He does not appoint; he simply recommends an election. [255]

      22. To be a witness with us of his resurrection; an object pertaining exclusively to that time, and showing that the apostolical office was not intended to be a permanent one. Accordingly we do not learn that any subsequent vacancies in the number of the twelve were filled.

      23. And they appointed; that is, the assembly of one hundred and twenty disciples appointed them. It does not appear that the apostles acted as such at all in this case; the election seems to have been made by the disciples generally. And yet, on some subsequent occasions, the apostles appear to exercise a certain official power. (Acts 6:2, 3.)--Appointed two; that is, they agreed upon two prominent candidates, but, for some reason or other, it was not clear to the assembly which should be selected; and they agreed, accordingly, to appeal solemnly to the decision of the lot. Had it been their design really to refer the subject of filling the vacant office to the Lord, the lot should obviously have been unrestricted,--as in the cases of Achan, (Josh. 7:14-18,) Saul, (1 Sam. 10:19-21,) and Jonathan, (1 Sam. 14:40-42.)

      1. The day of Pentecost; the fiftieth day; that is, the day after the expiration of seven weeks from the Passover. It was celebrated by the Jews as the anniversary of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. It would seem (comp. 1:3) that there was an interval of eight or ten days between the ascension of Christ and this occasion, as he continued to appear to his disciples for forty days, and the day of Pentecost was the fiftieth.

      2. House; apartment or hall. [256]

      5. Out of every nation under heaven; that is, from a great many of the neighboring nations, to which the Jews had emigrated.

      15. Third hour; about nine o'clock in the morning.

      16. Joel; Joel 2:28-32.

      17, 18. Prophesy,--see visions,--dream dreams. These are metaphorical expressions, denoting, in a general manner, all special communications from the Spirit of God.

      19, 20. These, also, are figurative expressions, referring to the portentous events which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem.

      23. This bold assertion of the precedent and entire control which God [257] exercises even over the events accomplished by the greatest human wickedness, strikingly accords with the declaration of Christ on a similar occasion. (Luke 22:22.) The human mind will probably ever continue to speculate in vain upon this subject. No one has yet resolved the theoretical difficulties in which it is involved,--although, practically, no difficulty arises from it whatever.

      25. The quotation here made is from Ps. 16:8-11.

      27. In hell. The word hell is used here, as in many other passages, to mean simply death, or the grave.

      29. He, is both dead and buried, &c., and of course the above language cannot apply to him.

      30. Of the fruit of his loins; of his descendants.

      31. His soul; that is, Christ's soul.

      33. Shed forth this; the spiritual influence which had awakened their wonder.

      34. Is not ascended, &c.; has not risen from the grave.

      36. Peter, in the foregoing speech, as he is addressing a Jewish audience, builds his argument on the predictions of the Old Testament Scriptures, in which they believed. [258]

      40. Untoward; perverse, wicked.

      44. Had all things common; as explained below.

      45. And parted them to all men, &c. that is, they sold their goods for the purpose of distributing to the poor, so far as there was need; and they did this so freely that they might be said to have all things common. The idea which has been sometimes entertained, that the early Christians adopted the principle of a community of goods, as the basis of their system of social polity is clearly erroneous. All the allusions to the subject of property which occur hereafter in this book, and in the Epistles, show that the title to property continued to be held personally, by individuals, and was not vested in the church. Hence the rich and the poor are constantly spoken of, and contributions are taken up in the churches when required.

      47. Having favor with all the people. A truly good man will ordinarily be respected and beloved by the community. His firm principle will command respect, and his kindness and sympathy secure affection. It is a mistake to suppose that a Christian who is faithful must necessarily and always be the object of popular dislike.

      1. Ninth hour; about three o'clock in the afternoon. [259]

      11. Held; detained.

      12. Nothing can be more striking than the change which the day of Pentecost seems to have produced upon the traits of character manifested by the apostles. It seems to have inspired them with new intelligence, as well as with new energy. The courage, the decision, the moral dignity, and power, that mark the position which Peter now assumes, and which henceforth seem to characterize the measures and demeanor of all the apostles, are strongly contrasted with the timidity, the indecision, and the perpetual misconceptions, which had marked their conduct and conversation before.

      17. I wot; I am aware. Observe the gentleness, as well as fidelity, with which Peter reproves this sin.

      19. Refreshing; spiritual renewal.

      21. Restitution, &c.; accomplishment of all things which, &c.

      22. This passage is found in Deut. 18:15-19. [260]

      26. To bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Here, for the first time, we have evidence that the apostles had arrived at a full understanding of the real nature of the redemption which Jesus Christ came to procure. Their erroneous ideas, which had continued even after the resurrection, (Acts 1:6,) seem to have been now forever removed.

      2. Grieved; displeased, angry. The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection.

      3. In hold; in confinement.

      4. Five thousand. This may perhaps include the converts made before.

      6. Annas. He had been high priest, and still retained the title. Caiaphas was his son-in-law, and was then high [261] priest.--John and Alexander; influential members of the Sanhedrim.

      13. Took knowledge of them, &c. They recognized them as having been among the followers of Jesus when he was alive.

      21. Because of the people. They feared creating a tumult among the people.

      25. Ps. 2:1, 2.--Imagine vain things; vainly imagine that they could contend against God.

      27. Anointed; invested with power.

      28. We observe that the apostles constantly gather strength and encouragement, in all their trials, from the reflection that every event that takes place, is only the fulfilment of God's predetermined plan. However great the philosophical difficulty involved in it, they clearly believed that his sovereign purposes cover and control even those events which are accomplished by crime. This belief, in the decided form in which they held and expressed it, appears very obviously to be the foundation of the undaunted courage, and boundless confidence in God, which they displayed. [262]

      32. All things common; that is, their property was surrendered, so far as was necessary, with the utmost readiness and freedom.

      34. Sold them; so far as there was any occasion. There is abundant proof, in the subsequent narrative, that property was still generally held as a private possession.

      36. A Levite. Very few of the priests or Levites had hitherto embraced Christianity.--Cyprus; an island in the Mediterranean.

      2. Brought a certain part; pretending that it was the whole.

      3. To lie to the Holy Ghost; by attempting a fraud upon those who were under the special influences of the Holy Spirit.

      4. While it remained, &c. These questions imply that whatever sacrifices of property were thus made were entirely voluntary.

      6. Wound him up; in preparation for burial. [263]

      13. Of the rest; that is, besides the common people mentioned in the last clause of the verse. The meaning is, the common people magnified him, but of the rest, that is, of the higher classes, durst no man, &c.

      17. They that were with him; his associates and partisans.

      20. Of this life; of this salvation; that is, salvation from sin by Jesus Christ.

      26. Feared the people. We are [264] often reminded, by such expressions as this, of the veneration and regard which the people entertained for the apostles.

      28. This man's blood. This contemptuous mode of designating the Savior shows that their feelings towards him remained unchanged.

      31. With his right hand; by his supreme power.

      34. Gamaliel. One or two prominent men of this name appear in the secular history of those times. Gamaliel was the name of the early instructor of Paul. (Acts 22:3.)

      37. Drew away, &c.; in an attempt, probably, to resist the tax.

      40. To him they agreed; that is, so far as to spare the lives of their prisoners.

      1. Grecians; Grecian Jews; that is, those who, having been born and [265] educated in the Grecian countries around Palestine, spoke the Greek language, used a Greek version of the Scriptures, and conformed in many respects to Greek customs, though by parentage and in their religion they were Jews.--Daily ministration; the daily distribution of money or food to the needy.

      2. Serve tables; attend to secular business. The tables referred to were not tables spread with food, but such as were used in receiving and paying money. For another allusion to such tables, see John 2:15.

      4. Ministry of the word; public religious instruction.

      5. These are nearly all Grecian names; indicating either that they were appointed to take charge of the distribution to the Grecian portion of the church only; or else, if their charge was general, that special exertion was made to conciliate those who had complained, by making the appointments mainly from their own number.--A proselyte; a man born a Gentile, and converted to the Jewish faith.

      6. They laid their hands on them; ordained them by that ceremony. Joshua was inducted into office in the same way by Moses, (Num. 27:23. Deut. 34:9,) which shows it to have been a very ancient custom among the Jews. The laying on of hands, even in the apostles' time, was not the peculiar and distinctive ceremony of ordination, as it is now; for it was used on almost any occasion of religious solemnity. (Acts 8:17. 9:17. 28:8.) This account of the appointment and ordination of deacons has given rise to a great deal of speculation and discussion among those of all denominations who look to the practices of the early Christians for models of church organization and government, binding on the followers of the Savior in all subsequent times. Various systems have been deduced from this narrative, each made out by the help of many inferences and much conjecture. But, in fact, the appointment of these officers, made to meet an emergency so peculiarly local and temporary, seems too narrow a foundation for such a superstructure as a system of ecclesiastical polity of permanent and universal obligation. It would seem that, if the apostles had intended to found an order of ministry which was to continue through all ages, and remain permanently the same among all the nations of the earth,--under every degree of civilization, and every variety of political condition,--instead of ingrafting their plan upon an incident like this, they would have formed it expressly and deliberately, and would have laid down its regulations in comprehensive and general terms.

      9. These are different classes of [266] Jews from the countries around, but resident then in Jerusalem. The names generally denote the places from which they came.

      10. The preaching of Stephen seems not to have been by virtue of his office of deacon, as that office was constituted expressly for the service of tables, that is, for attending to the secular business connected with money and accounts.

      11. Suborned; procured by bribery.

      15. Saw his face, &c. It beamed with an expression of holy peace and joy.

      4. When his father was dead. By a comparison of Gen. 11:26, 11:32, and 12:4, it would seem that Abraham's father must have been alive at this time. There are many such apparent discrepancies between the statements made in this discourse, and those in the books of Genesis and Exodus, of which only conjectural explanations can be given.

      7. Judge; punish. [267]

      9. The patriarchs; Joseph's brethren.

      14. Threescore and fifteen; Moses says seventy. (Gen. 46:27.)

      16. From Gen. 23:16, it would seem that Abraham purchased his burial-field of Ephron. In Gen. 33:18, 19, there is an account of Jacob's buying a burying-places in Sychem, of the sons of Emmor, there called Hamor. This is another of the instances in which Stephen's account appears not to correspond respond with the Mosaic history, and of which no satisfactory explanation has yet been given. The necessity of finding such explanation depends upon the question whether we consider this address of Stephen as divinely inspired. The sacred writers often record the discourse of uninspired men.

      17. The promise; to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham. [268]

      30. An angel of the Lord. This expression is employed to represent any of the visible forms by which God made communications to men. God himself, being a spirit, is necessarily invisible. See v. 38, where even the voice which held communication with Moses upon Mount Sinai, is represented as that of an angel. (Comp. Ex. 19:18-21.)

      33. Put off thy shoes. To remove the shoes or sandals from the feet, was a token of respect or of reverence.

      34. I have seen. The repetition is to give emphasis to the declaration.

      38. This is he; that is, this Moses is he,--the expression referring to what is said at the commencement of the preceding verse.--The church in the wilderness; the children of Israel--Lively; life-giving.

      40. We wot not; we know not.

      41. Rejoiced; that is, with festivities of religious worship, mentioned, in Ex. 32:6.

      43. There seems to be no account, [269] in the Mosaic history, of the particular forms of idolatrous worship, to which these allusions refer. The passage appears to be a quotation from Amos, 5:25, 26, through the Greek version then in use,--with some differences, however, in the phraseology, which have not been satisfactorily accounted for.

      44. The tabernacle of witness. The tabernacle was the sacred tent, under which the ark containing the covenant made by Jehovah with his people, accompanied by visible tokens of his presence, was received. It was hence called the tabernacle of witness, as containing the testimony or witness of God's promised protection and blessing.

      45. Jesus, Joshua, the successor of Moses. Jesus is the Greek, and Joshua the Hebrew form.--Possession of the Gentiles; Canaan.--Unto the days of David; that is, it was kept until his days.

      46. A tabernacle; another tabernacle, referring to the temple which David desired to build.

      53. Here Stephen's historical narrative suddenly terminates. It is somewhat difficult to say how he considered such a summary of the Jewish history available for the purposes of his defence. Some portions have an indirect bearing upon the circumstances of his case, especially those relating to the Israelites' rebelling against, and rejecting Moses, (v. 39, 40,) from which he may have intended to deduce a warning for his hearers, against rejecting Christ. The general applicability of the discourse, however, is not obvious. To account for the abrupt change which here takes place, from an unfinished historical review to severe reproach and invective, commentators have supposed him to have been interrupted by indications of tumult and violence in the assembly. [270]

      58. Their clothes; that is, such as it was necessary to put off in order to leave the arms free. The throwing of the stones was to be commenced by the witnesses.--Saul; afterwards called Paul. This is the first mention of his name.

      59. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. The example of Stephen, in addressing his dying prayer to Jesus Christ, has had deservedly great influence, as evidence of the light in which the person of the Redeemer was then regarded.

      The book of the Acts has been considered divisible into three parts--the first, containing an account of the doings of the church at Jerusalem after our Savior's ascension; the second, which begins at the eighth chapter, narrating the general history of the church in Judea, after its dispersion from Jerusalem; and the third, from the beginning of the thirteenth chapter to the end of the book, containing the personal history of Paul. This division is convenient for some purposes, though there is no reason to suppose that the author of the book had it, himself, particularly in mind.

      3. Haling; seizing. He acted under authority from the chief priests, as he states in his defence before Agrippa. (Acts 26:10.)

      5. Philip. There was an apostle, (Matt. 10:3,) and also one of the seven deacons, (Acts 6:5,) of the name of Philip. It would seem, from v. 14, that this individual was not one of the apostles; it is inferred, therefore, that Philip the deacon is here intended.

      9. Used sorcery; pretended to possess supernatural powers.--Bewitched the people; amazed and bewildered them. [271]

      15. For them; for the Samaritan converts. This account of the visit of Peter and John to the new converts, supported by other cases somewhat similar, which are hereafter recorded, is made, by the Episcopal church, the basis of their rite of confirmation.--Receive the Holy Ghost. There is some difficulty in determining how much is implied in "receiving the Holy Ghost," in the various connections in which the expression occurs. It would seem that, in this case, it must have been attended by some visible and extraordinary manifestation, in order to attract so strongly the attention of Simon.

      20. Thy money perish with thee; an expression of strong detestation at so base a proposal.

      27. Ethiopia; a part of Africa, south of Egypt.--Eunuch; a name [272] denoting a certain class of high officers of state, connected with the royal household.

      28. Esaias; Isaiah. He was reading, undoubtedly, a Greek translation, which had been made at Alexandria, and was then much in use.

      32. Was this; Isa. 53:7, 8. The quotation, being made from the Alexandrian translation, varies, in its phraseology, from our text, which was translated from the Hebrew. One cannot but wonder that this, of all predictions of the Messiah's sufferings in the Old Testament the most striking, should have been that which the eunuch was reading before Philip joined him. He could hardly miss to have heard at Jerusalem of the sufferings and death of Jesus, and of the existence of a continually increasing party who acknowledged him to be the Messiah. But his question to Philip, whether the prophet in this passage meant himself or some other man, clearly shows that he had not the least idea of any connection between this prediction and those facts.

      34. I pray thee. The respect with which he here addresses Philip was prompted by his reverence for one whom he perceived to be his superior in divine things, his own worldly position sinking before this.

      35. Then Philip opened his mouth. See on Matthew 5:2. Began at the same Scripture, founding on it as his text, preached unto him Jesus, showing him to be the glorious Burden of this wonderful prediction, and interpreting it in the light of the facts of his history.

      36. See, here is water; more simply, "Behold water!" As if already, his mind filled with light and his soul set free, he was eagerly looking out for the first water in which he might seal his reception of the truth, and be enrolled among the visible disciples of the Lord Jesus,--What doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip had probably told him that this was the ordained sign and seal of discipleship.

      39. Caught away Philip; led or [273] induced him to go away. That is, he immediately withdrew, under the guidance of the Spirit.

      40. Azotus; a city on the sea-coast, about thirty miles north of Gaza,--the Ashdod of the Old Testament.--Cesarea. Cesarea was then the capital of Judea, being the residence of the Roman governors. It was a large seaport on the Mediterranean, about sixty miles north of Azotus.

      2. Damascus; a city of great power and splendor, more than a hundred miles from Jerusalem, and in another province. Saul's design of pursuing the Christians who had fled from Jerusalem, to such a distance, and into another jurisdiction, in order to strike a decisive blow against them in this great city, evinces the boldness and energy of his character.-- To the synagogues; that is, to the Jewish authorities in Damascus, the officers of the synagogues.

      5. Kick against the pricks; an image taken from the case of the ox, kicking against the goad by which he is driven.

      7. Hearing, a voice. In some cases, where God is said to have spoken to men, the communication appears to have been made, not by audible words, but by inward suggestion; and hence it has sometimes been supposed that the dialogue here recorded represents the train of reflection which was awakened in Saul's mind by this event, and that the voice here spoken of was some sound, not articulate, which accompanied the light. The language, however, which Paul uses in Acts 22:9 where he says that his companions did not hear--that is, did not understand--the voice of him which spake to him, and in 26:14, where he says that the words which he heard were in the Hebrew tongue, seems to be utterly inconsistent with this interpretation. The accounts are plainly intended to convey the idea that this was actually a personal interview between the determined persecutor and the Lord Jesus Christ. [274]

      11. Tarsus; a large city of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, the birthplace of Saul.

      17. This and many other cases show that the ceremony of laying on of hands was not a distinctive ceremony, exclusively peculiar to ordination. It would seem not to have been considered essential as a mode of induction to the ministerial office, as is evident from the cases of Matthias, Paul, and Apollos, who do not appear to have been thus ordained; and it was often used on other occasions.

      22. In strength; in confidence and ability.

      26. To Jerusalem. This was a long time afterwards; for it must have been during this interval that, Paul, went to Arabia, as he states in Gal. 1:17. [275]

      29. Grecians; Grecian Jews, that is, Jews from foreign cities, who spoke the Greek language, and who were, perhaps, more intellectual and more highly educated than the Hebrew Jews.

      30. To Cesarea; in order that he might embark at that place, it being a noted seaport.

      32. Lydda; a large village, between Jerusalem and Cesarea.

      34. It is worthy of notice that, in this and in all similar cases, the power by which the miracle was performed, is ascribed directly to the Lord Jesus Christ.

      35. Saron; a fertile and populous tract of country near to Lydda.

      36. Joppa; a large seaport, south of Cesarea, and nearly opposite to Jerusalem. On account of this its situation in respect to Jerusalem, and other circumstances, the place has been much celebrated, in modern times, under the name of Jaffa. The name Tabitha is of Hebrew origin; Dorcas is Greek.--Alms-deeds; deeds of kindness to the poor. [276]

      1. Cesarea was a large seaport, and the residence of the Roman governors.--Centurion; a captain, commander of about one hundred men.--Italian band; a part of the army which had been brought into the country from Italy.

      3. Evidently; distinctly.--Ninth hour; about the middle of the afternoon.

      4. Come up for a memorial; are remembered.

      9. The sixth hour; noon.

      11. Knit; that is, drawn together at the four corners.

      12. All manner, &c.; mingled promiscuously, without regard to the distinction of clean and unclean, made by the Jewish laws. (Lev. 11:2-27. Deut. 14:3-20.)

      14. Common or unclean; animals forbidden by the Mosaic law. [277]

      24. The morrow after. Cesarea was at a considerable distance from Joppa.

      25. Fell down, &c.; as it was the custom to do, in those days, when paying homage to men of high rank and distinction.

      29. Gainsaying; hesitating, or making objections.

      34. I perceive, &c. Peter now fully understood what the vision was intended to teach him; viz., that the ceremonial distinctions of the Mosaic law were to be abrogated, and that [278] Christianity was to be preached to other nations, as well as to the Jews.

      36, 37. There is an obscurity in the construction of this passage, and in its connections with the context, which cannot be satisfactorily removed.

      42. Quick and dead; the living and the dead.

      43. All the prophets, &c. The whole Mosaic economy of sacrifices, with all its imposing rites and ceremonies, was a prophetic representation of an atoning Savior. The expiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world, gives a profound and affecting significance to a ritual which would otherwise be trivial and unmeaning.--Believeth in him. To believe in Christ is to believe so cordially in all that he has taught and suffered in our behalf, that our conduct shall be in accordance with our faith.

      45. They of the circumcision; the Jews.--Were astonished. This offer of the gospel to a Roman centurion was a great event, and it constitutes a very important era in the history of Christianity. Now, for the first time, was that seemingly impassable barrier transcended, which, since the days of Abraham, had circumscribed the Jewish people, and had so effectually separated them, in regard to the truths and institutions of religion, from all the rest of mankind.

      46. Magnify; extol.

      48. Prayed they him; urged him. [279]

      1. The Gentiles; the Roman centurion and his friends.

      2. They that were of the circumcision; the apostles and brethren, who were Jews.

      3. To men uncircumcised; to Gentiles. This complaint shows that the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles and brethren at the day of Pentecost and afterwards, however powerful its influence, was not the means of removing all their erroneous conceptions, or of communicating to them at once even all the fundamental principles of Christian truth. A divine and infallible inspiration can only be claimed for the early Christians as authors,--that is, so far as they were commissioned to write the sacred books of the New Testament for posterity. In their administration of the affairs of the church in their own day, they acted according to their own judgment; and, though they were divinely enlightened and guided in a great degree, still they often erred. We ought to be greatly influenced by their example; but there cannot be claimed for it any absolute divine authority. It is only the Scriptures as writings, which have any claim to be considered as inspired.

      15. At the beginning; at the day of Pentecost.

      16. Acts 1:5. [280]

      19. Phenice; Phenicia, a country north of Galilee.--Cyprus; a large island in the Mediterranean.--Antioch; a very wealth and populous city, in Syria, which became, from this time, one of the most important centres of operation occupied by the Christians.

      20. Grecians. It is supposed that Gentile Greeks, not Grecian Jews, are meant here, and that this fact is mentioned to show the progress of the new principle in respect to preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

      22. Barnabas. He was originally a Levite of Cyprus. (Acts 4:36.)

      25. To Tarsus; whither Saul had gone, as related in Acts 9:30.

      26. Called Christians; by their enemies. The sacred writers themselves never employ the term to designate the followers of Christ, excepting that Peter uses it in one instance, in a connection which allows it to be considered a term of reproach. (1 Pet. 4:16.)

      28. Claudius Cesar; a Roman emperor.

      29. According a to his ability. This expression shows conclusively that there was no community of goods, at least in this branch of the church.

      30. Elders; the leading members.

      1. Herod. This was Herod Agrippa, grandson of the old king, and nephew to Herod Antipas, who caused [281] John the Baptist to be beheaded, and who took a part in the trial of Jesus Christ. During the life of Christ, Judea was under Roman governors; but it had been again erected into a kingdom, and, with several other neighboring countries, placed under the sway of this representative of the Herod family.

      3. The days of unleavened bread; the Passover.

      4. Four quaternions; making sixteen. A quaternion was a company of four.--Easter; the Passover. The word is now used to denote the anniversary of the resurrection, which nearly coincides, of course, with the Jewish Passover.

      6. Sleeping; a striking image of quiet confidence in God, and resignation to his will, in extreme and imminent danger.

      8. Gird thyself. The garments then worn were confined by a girdle which was laid aside or loosened when the person slept.--Cast thy garment; an outer garment.

      9. Wist; knew. [282]

      17. James; James the less, the son of Alpheus.--Another place. Some other retreat,--perhaps one of greater retirement and safety. This expression, as well as the precaution of the damsel, (v. 13,) indicates the state of anxiety and fear which Herod's cruelty produced, at this time, among all the disciples in Jerusalem. Peter is mentioned once after this time, (Acts 15:7,) and then he finally disappears from the sacred history. Henceforth, Paul rises to a higher prominence, and the chief interest of the narrative, in relation to the prosperity and extension of the church, centres in him. In after ages, the metropolitan bishops of Rome, having gradually come into possession of vast ecclesiastical power, the rightfulness of which it became very important to defend, found traces of a tradition that Peter went to Rome, and was the first of the Christian bishops there; and the authority, which has since been wielded by the long line of Roman pontiffs, they profess to hold as successors of Peter in the bishopric of Rome.--It is perhaps worthy of notice that John is no more named, after this, in the sacred history; so that these three distinguished disciples, Peter, James, and John, who have hitherto been the foremost actors in the scenes which have been described, and the most prominent objects of attention and interest to the reader, now disappear together.

      20. Their country was nourished, &c. Tyre and Sidon were great commercial cities on the Mediterranean, and dependent for their prosperity on intercourse with the interior.

      23. He gave not God the glory; that is, he did not reject these divine honors.--Eaten of worms. This expression refers to a very dreadful and painful disease, with which Herod was suddenly attacked, and by means of which God destroyed his life.

      25. Their ministry; referring to the commission with which they had been intrusted, as recorded Acts 11:30.--John. See v. 12. He was the author of the Gospel of Mark. [283]

      At this place commences the third of the parts into which commentators have considered this book divisible, viz., the narrative of the personal ministry of Paul. (See 8:1.)

      1. Antioch. This city was now, for some time, one of the chief centres of influence and communication occupied by the Christians.--Had been brought up; in childhood.

      2. The Holy Ghost said; perhaps by some extraordinary mode of communication to the church in general; or possibly the meaning may be, that some one under the influence of the Holy Spirit made this proposal.

      3. Laid their hands on them; as a ceremony of consecration, not to the work of the ministry in general, but to this special enterprise. This form, connected with fasting, and prayer, was used on a great variety of occasions.

      4. Seleucia; the seaport of Antioch, on the Mediterranean, at the mouth of the Orontes, Antioch being about twenty miles inland.--Cyprus. This island was the place from which Barnabas originally came. (Acts 4:36.) It was large and populous island, about one hundred and seventy miles long from Salamis to Paphos.

      5. To their minister; to be their minister; that is, their attendant, to aid them in their work. This was John Mark, mentioned 12:12.

      6. Bar-jesus; that is, the son of Jesus or Joshua. The prefix Bar is often used in that sense, as In Bar-jona, Bar-tholomew, Bar-timeus.

      7. The deputy; the Roman officer who had command of the island.

      9. Who also is called Paul. Paul is a Latin or Roman name, Saul being of Hebrew origin. This new name is henceforth always used in the sacred history, as from this time the scene of the apostle's labors was chiefly in Greek and Roman communities. It was often the case that native Jews, associating extensively with these foreign nations, substituted for their Hebrew name one that was analogous to it, or derived from it, but of a classical form. As the Greeks and Romans were far superior to the Hebrews in cultivation, wealth, refinement, and power, it is probable that such a name was deemed a more honorable appellation. It has been supposed that there might be some connection between this change in the apostle's name, and the visit to Cyprus here described; as the proconsul of Cyprus, or the deputy, as he is here called, [284] bore the name of Paulus, or Paul,--the name which the apostle now assumes. But this is uncertain.

      13. And John returned; discouraged, perhaps, by the difficulties and dangers of the enterprise. An unhappy contention arose afterwards, from this circumstance, between Barnabas and Paul. (Acts 15:37-40.)

      14. Antioch in Pisidia; thus distinguished from Antioch in Syria, where Paul and Barnabas had been commissioned for their work.

      16. Beckoning; gesturing.

      20. Four hundred and fifty years. This does not agree with the chronological statements of the Old Testament, as the numbers stand in modern copies. (1 Kings 6:1.) Various conjectures have been offered to account for the discrepancy.

      23. Seed; posterity.

      24. John; John the Baptist. [285]

      25. Mark 1:7.

      27. Knew--not--the voices; understood not the words, &c.

      29. The tree; the cross.

      34. No more to return, &c,; his case being thus, distinguished from that of all other individuals who had been raised from the dead.--Sure mercies; mercies or blessings made sure to him by the divine promise.

      35-37. Peter argued in a similar manner from this passage, Acts 2:22-36.

      41. Hab. 1:5. [286]

      48. As many as were ordained; that is, in the counsels of God. The great principle which Jesus himself announced in his memorable words, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," viz., that the human heart is acted upon, in experiencing the great spiritual change, is here distinctly recognized again. Whatever philosophical difficulties may attend it, we cannot deny that it is part of the gospel. Besides the frequent occurrence of such incidental allusions as these, the truth is repeatedly laid down in the most direct and strongest manner, as in Rom. 9: Eph. 2:1-10.

      3. Boldly in the Lord; through confidence in the Lord.--Gave testimony; by enabling them to perform miracles.

      5. An assault; a movement; that is, a plan arranged. [287]

      11. In the speech of Lycaonia; which it appears Paul did not understand; so that he was not aware of their design until they had, in part, carried it into effect.

      12. Jupiter--Mercurius; prominent deities worshipped in those times. Jupiter was the supreme god, and Mercury the god of eloquence,--the attendant and messenger of Jupiter.

      13. Gates; the gates or doors of the building in which the apostles then were.

      16, 17. That is, he left them to themselves, without any special revelation; while yet there was sufficient evidence of his existence and character, in the visible creation, if they had been disposed to be guided by it.

      19. Who persuaded the people; not necessarily the same individuals as those who had been ready to regard the apostles as gods. It is very probable that there was a suppressed and secret hostility before, which the influence of these Jews concentrated, and strengthened, and brought out into action, while the others withdrew. And generally, in fact, the fluctuations of the popular will, so proverbial for their frequency and suddenness, arise not from reversals of opinion in the same parties, but from alternations of ascendency, in respect to opposite and contending ones. In our Savior's case, for example, when the populace shouted "Hosanna" on one day, and "Crucify him" on another, we are not necessarily to suppose that the same individuals were changed from friends to enemies, but only that friends were predominant while he was entering Jerusalem in triumph, and enemies [288] when he was brought in as a criminal. Very slight circumstances are sometimes sufficient, in such cases, to turn the scale,--to throw one party, hitherto prominent, into discouragement and inaction, and to bring up another, hitherto overawed and restrained, to ascendency and power.

      21. Lystra, &c.; the very cities from which they had just been expelled.

      22. Through much tribulation; referring to the exposure and suffering which they had just been called to endure.

      23. Ordained them elders; instituted officers with such duties and powers as the circumstances here required. Ordaining them was inducting them to office, as in Acts 6:6, where the designation of the individuals had been previously made by the church. In this case, it is not stated how the individuals were designated. There has been a great deal of discussion, between different branches of the modern church, on the question whether religious teachers ought to be elected by the church, or appointed by superior ecclesiastical officers. We should have supposed that, if it had been intended that either practice should be considered an essential feature in the future administration of the church, the mode in this, and in other similar cases, would have been distinctly specified.

      26. From whence they had been recommended, &c.; as related Acts 13:1-4.

      1. Came down from Judea; to Antioch.--Except ye be, circumcised; referring to the Gentile converts. Their meaning was, that they must become Jews as well as Christians, and conform to the Mosaic institutions. They regarded Christianity as only the end and consummation of Judaism,--the exclusive inheritance of those who had been, or who were willing to become, a part of the great family of Abraham. [289]

      3. Phenice and Samaria; provinces which will be seen by the map to be intermediate between Antioch and Jerusalem.

      5. Them; the Gentile converts.

      6. The--elders; the leading and influential men. That the assembly was numerous, is shown by allusions in v. 12, 22, and 23. Perhaps these expressions, especially that in v. 23, where the brethren particularly are mentioned, imply that the disciples generally were convened; as there is no evidence that the body of believers was very large at this time in Jerusalem, for a very considerable proportion of the early converts were residents of other places; and of those who belonged to the city, the persecution had driven many away. The account, however, leaves the constitution of the council uncertain, and has led, consequently, to eager discussion between those advocates of the different systems of ecclesiastical polity, who feel bound to discover models in the Acts for the institutions and customs which they find prevailing in their respective communions.

      7. God made choice, &c.; referring to the circumstances related Acts 10:

      9. Faith; that is, simply by faith in Christ, without requiring of them obedience to the ceremonial law.

      11. Through the grace, &c.; and not by our Jewish ceremonies.

      13. James; James the less,--James the brother of John having been slain. (12:1, 2.)

      14. Simeon; Peter. [290]

      19. My sentence; that is, my judgment.

      20. That is, while they were held excused from positive acts of conformity with the Jewish ceremonial law, they were bound to abstain from all those practices of paganism, which were either immoral in themselves, or were held in peculiar abhorrence by Jews. Thus the Jews were not to impose the burdens of their ceremonial law upon the Gentile converts, nor were the Gentile converts to do any thing which should countenance idolatry, or shock the feelings of their Jewish brethren.

      21. The meaning seems to be, "As a Christian church, we neither enjoin nor condemn Judaism. We leave it to its own established means of defence and dissemination."

      23. The apostles, and elders, and brethren. There is no more remarkable trait in the character of the apostles than the scrupulousness with which they refrain from the assumption of ecclesiastical authority over the church. Men were never placed in circumstances more favorable for forming, or for the means of executing, ambitious designs. Notwithstanding the high personal influence which they must necessarily have possessed, they are always very slow to assume the exercise of any great official authority. They call meetings for consultation; they suggest; they propose; but it is the whole body of disciples that decide and act. (Acts 1:15, 21, 22, 23. 6:2, 3.) In the remarkable case here recorded, they do not assume that they are to decide the question. They call a meeting; they consult; they argue; they state facts; and they admit of counter arguments and statements, and then the decision, when it is made, goes forth in the name of the apostles, and elders, and brethren.

      24. Certain which went out from us; as is related v. 1.

      28. To the Holy Ghost, and to us; [291] to us under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

      31. The narrative contained in the preceding verses of this chapter, has been the subject of a great deal of discussion, this council being claimed by the advocates of various systems of ecclesiastical polity, as the original model of the institutions which they respectively defend; the arguments on all sides being built on inferences drawn from the few and doubtful intimations given in the account,--and, where these fail on imagination and conjecture If it had been intended as a model, it is impossible to doubt that its constitution and rules of procedure would have been more definitely detailed. He who reads the narrative without a point to carry, will see in it only an informal and an unpremeditated meeting for consultation, arising out of a peculiar and unique emergency,--without any idea, on the part of the actors, that they were establishing any precedent either for themselves or for others; far less that they were founding a system to extend over all the nations of Christendom, and to endure for all periods of time. It seems to have been simply a consultation, conforming, in its arrangements, to the situation of the parties interested, and to the nature of the emergency which called it forth. The apostles laid down no definite system of ecclesiastical organization, but adapted measures to emergencies, and instituted such forms of organization as were suited to their circumstances, and to the ideas of their age. The successive generations of Christians, in all branches of the church, have followed the apostolical example in this respect; and though, in theory, some profess to follow closely the original models, in practice, all agree in modifying their forms as required by the various exigencies of nations, and by the changes resulting from the lapse of time.

      32. Prophets; preachers.

      38. And went not with them; as related Acts 13:13,

      39. The contention. The historian leaves us uninformed in regard to the merits of this controversy. It is uncertain whether Paul was unreasonable or Mark unfaithful. Paul was afterwards reconciled to Mark, and [292] sent for him to come to Rome. (2 Tim. 4:11.) The disposition of Barnabas to judge more leniently than Paul, in this case, may have arisen from the fact that Mark was his relative. (Col. 4:10.)

      40. Silas; one of those who had been sent from Jerusalem with the letter. (v. 27.)

      1. Derbe and Lystra. He had visited these cities before, and been exposed to great danger through the hostility of the Jews.

      2. Which; which disciple,--Timotheus.

      3. And circumcised him. Although a Gentile convert was under no obligation to submit to this rite, still he was at liberty to do so, if he judged it expedient on any account.

      4. Decrees; relating to the duties of Gentile converts, as expressed in the letter contained in the last chapter.

      10. We. Here Luke, the author of this history, first uses a form of expression implying that he was Paul's companion in those journeys.

      11. To go to Macedonia it was necessary to cross the Egean Sea.--Samothracia; an island in that sea.--Neapolis; a port of Macedonia.

      13. By a river side. Philippi was [293] remote from Jerusalem, and the few Jews who resided there appear to have had only this place of retirement and prayer, instead of the customary synagogue, within the city.

      14. Of--Thyatira; from Thyatira. Her residence at this time was at Philippi. (v. 15.)

      15. Her household; her family.

      16. Went to prayer; were going to the place of prayer, mentioned in v. 13, on some occasion subsequent to their meeting with Lydia.--Soothsaying. It scarcely need be said that these powers of divination were pretended. Paul treats the case as one of demoniacal possession.

      22. Rent of their clothes; that is, the clothes of Paul and Silas, preliminary to the punishment. The case is different from that recorded Matt 26:65, where the judge rent his own clothes as an expression of affected abhorrence for the prisoner's guilt.

      24. Stocks; a wooden instrument, with holes, into which the feet were secured in a constrained and painful position. Under these circumstances, prisoners could not sleep. It is necessary to observe this, in order to understand the full force of the statement, that at midnight Paul and Silas were occupied in singing praises. [294]

      27. Would have killed himself; dreading the terrible punishment which he might have incurred.

      31. And thou shalt be saved. The brevity, simplicity, and directness of this reply are, in the circumstances, singularly beautiful. Enough at that moment to have his faith directed simply to the Savior, with the assurance that this would bring to his soul the needed and sought salvation,--the how being a matter for after teaching.

      33. Was baptized. Probably at the same fountain, since it took place "straightway," the one washing the stripes on his part being immediately succeeded by the baptism of the keeper "and all his" on theirs.

      37. Being Romans. The Roman laws gave to Roman citizens many peculiar and exclusive privileges, and the government punished severely any infraction of them. Over the natives of the conquered provinces, the magistrates exercised a far more arbitrary and irresponsible power. This privilege of Roman citizenship pertained not merely to Rome, but to many other places, on which the freedom had been conferred; and it might be purchased by individuals for money. See the dialogue between Paul and the Roman chief captain. (Acts 22:25-29.)--And fetch us out. They demanded this as an act of public acknowledgment that they had beet unjustly condemned. [295]

      1. Thessalonica; a large city of Macedonia.--Where was a synagogue, &c. Few places so remote from Jerusalem had a synagogue for the Jews.

      3. Must needs; that is, according to the Jewish Scriptures.--Whom I preach unto you; the word I referring to Paul.

      4. Consorted with; united with.

      5. Jason; at whose house the apostles were entertained as guests.

      9. Taken security; made a satisfactory arrangement, in some way, for insuring the termination of the difficulty.

      11. Whether those things were so, that is, whether, according to the predictions of the Scriptures, the Messiah was to suffer death, and then be restored to life again, as Paul contended. (v. 3.) [296]

      17. Disputed; argued.--Market; the forum; a place of great public resort, in which assemblies of various kinds were often held.

      18. Epicureans and--Stoics; two prominent sects of philosophers. The doctrine of the Epicureans was, that the true end and aim of life was enjoyment, and that the test and the essence of philosophy was to carry human happiness to the highest point, and to give it the most permanent and uninterrupted character; the rules of virtue were inculcated as the best means to this end. The philosophers of this class saw no evidence of any future state, or of the existence of any divine being to whom they were accountable. Their theory, therefore, was, that every man should aim to secure for himself and for others the highest degree of rational and substantial pleasure in the present state, and all possible exemption from pain. The Stoics, on the other hand, believed in the existence of God, and in a future state, and in the moral accountability of man; and they held up an ideal of virtue, which they maintained was the highest good, and should be the end and aim of human efforts, without regard to the pain or the pleasure which might attend the pursuit. While, therefore, the Epicureans taught men to value enjoyment, and to seek for it through all the safe avenues by which it might be attained, the Stoics inculcated indifference and insensibility to sensations of pain and pleasure, and supreme devotedness to the principles of a stern and inflexible virtue. The terms Epicurean and Stoic have gradually acquired, in modern times, opprobrious significations; and the ordinary representations of the two systems, made to set off, by contrast, the superiority of Christianity, are caricatures, which convey no just idea of the intent and meaning of their originals. They were both right, and both wrong; for Christianity shows us that virtue and happiness, one and indivisible, constitute the highest and only good, and the proper end and aim of being.

      19. Areopagus; or Mars-hill, as it is called below; a public part of the city,--the seat of an august tribunal, called also the Areopagus. Whether Paul was taken before this court as a party accused, or only invited to address an assembly in or near the edifice, is uncertain.

      21. Strangers which were there. Athens was a city celebrated throughout the world for its wealth, its refinement, and its high intellectual character. It was consequently a place of great resort.

      22. Too superstitious; meaning very superstitious, that is, very religiously disposed. That the expression is to be understood in a good sense, meaning deeply interested in what relates [297] to the spiritual world, and to the divine character, the following verses plainly show.

      23. Whom therefore, &c. The method which Paul adopted in instructing these pagans was, to elevate and correct their own vague and erroneous conceptions of the Divinity,--not to attack and denounce them. It is worthy of very serious consideration, how far an in what cases this example, ought to be followed, in respect to the instruction of pagan nations, at the present day.

      25. As though he needed any thing. In his sacrifices to the gods, the heathen worshipper imagined that he was supplying their wants.

      28. Modern scholars have found an expression like the one quoted here in several of the Greek poets then known and read at Athens.

      34. The Areopagite; a member of the council of Areopagus.

      1. Corinth was another of the most celebrated cities of Greece.

      2. Claudius; the Roman emperor. [298]

      5. And when Silas and Timotheus were come, &c., as directed by Paul. (17:15.)

      9, 10. Paul seems to allude to the anxiety and fear which he suffered on this occasion in his first letter to the Corinthian Christians. (1 Cor. 2:1-3.)

      12. The deputy of Achaia; the magistrate appointed by the Romans to the government of the province of Achaia, of which Corinth was the capital.--Made insurrection; raised a tumult.

      17. Sosthenes; he having been probably a prominent actor in the tumult. It is a remarkable instance of the revolutions in personal character and position, which Christianity often effects, that Sosthenes, who appears on this occasion as the representative of so violent a hostility to the Christian name, and who, we should have supposed, would have been rendered, by this public beating, exasperate and irreconcilable, afterwards has his name joined with that of Paul, in one of the Epistles, as his fellow-Christian, companion, and friend. (1 Cor. 1:1.)

      18. He had a vow. For the regulations respecting such a vow, see Num. 6. Paul, being a Jew, continued himself to conform to the usages of the Jewish law, though the Gentile converts were not required to submit to them. [299]

      19. Ephesus; is; a large and wealthy city, on the western coast of Asia Minor.

      21. This feast; probably the passover. The occasion would bring together a large concourse, both of Christians and also of Jews, many of whom might be disposed to listen to the preaching of the gospel.

      22. The church; at Jerusalem.

      24. Ephesus; where Paul had left Aquila and Priscilla, as stated Acts 18:19.

      27. Into Achaia; to the city of Corinth. There are frequent allusions to Apollos in Paul's writings to the Corinthians.

      1. Coasts; regions. The more interior provinces were so designated. [300]

      9. Disputing; publicly defending Christianity. In consequence of the opposition made by the Jews, he withdrew from the synagogue with those who adhered to him, and afterwards held his religious assemblies in the apartment of a private individual.

      10. Asia; Asia Minor. Ephesus was a place of great resort for the whole country.

      13. Vagabond; wandering; having no settled residence.

      15. And the evil spirit answered and said. They who suppose that the cases of demoniacal possession were cases of common insanity, understand that this maniac had heard of Paul and Jesus through the long-continued preaching of the former in that community. The form of expression, however, certainly indicates that Luke considered an evil spirit as the real actor.

      17. Fear; wonder and awe.

      19. Curious arts; arts of divination, necromancy, and imposture.--Books; rolls and parchments with pretended magical inscriptions.--Fifty thousand pieces of silver. Fruitless attempts have been made to fix the value of this sum in modern money. All that can be now known of it is, that it was a very large sum.

      21. It was during this residence at Ephesus that Paul probably wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians, as is more fully shown in the introduction to that book. [301]

      24. Silver shrines for Diana; silver models of the temple of Diana, a most magnificent edifice at Ephesus, celebrated all over the world.

      27. But also, &c. They who, in public contests and discussions, are secretly contending for their own private ends, generally cloak their designs under pretended zeal for the cause of virtue and religion.

      29. The theatre; a large edifice, used for public assemblages of all sorts.

      30. Would have entered in; desirous of at least sharing the danger of his friends, even though be might not be able to avert it.

      31. The chief of Asia; certain magistrates.

      33. Who Alexander was, and what was the motive of the Jews in endeavoring to secure for him a hearing, is not known.

      35. Which fell down from Jupiter. Such a legend was in circulation among the people. The great temple was built to receive the image which thus descended. [302]

      36. Spoken against; called in question.

      38. Deputies; the magistrates appointed to try such causes.

      3. And there abode three months; probably in the city of Corinth. It was during this residence at Corinth, that Paul is supposed to have written his Epistle to the Romans. See the introductory remarks prefixed to that Epistle.--Through Macedonia; so as to avoid their ambuscade, by taking this circuitous route. The direct route to Antioch would have been across the Egean Sea to Ephesus, instead of around it through Macedonia and Troas.

      5. Troas; near the head of the Egean Sea, on the eastern side.

      6. The days of unleavened bread. It seems that the passover occurred while they were there, and during its continuance their journey was suspended.

      7. The first day of the week; the Christian Sabbath; the Jewish Sabbath being on the seventh day. [303]

      16. By Ephesus; leaving it on the left. To have touched at Ephesus, would have taken them somewhat out of their course.

      19. Temptations; trials, in the sense of dangers and sufferings.

      22. Bound in the spirit; urged or impelled by the spirit.

      28. Overseers. In v. 17, they are called elders; here, overseers, which is, in the original, the same as the word rendered sometimes bishops. There have been endless disputes among different churchmen whether the terms elder and bishop, as used in the New Testament, denote the same office, or [304] whether the one was of higher rank than the other. But on an impartial examination of the subject, it will appear that these terms, and the many other similar ones, such as pastor, teacher, angel of the church, were often used interchangeably, and without any idea of technical precision and strictness in their applications; and this shows that they were employed, like ordinary words of discourse, as general terms of designation,--not as the technical titles of office. To attempt to make out from these primitive institutions any nice system, which shall be adapted to modern wants, and conformed to modern ideas, is to mistake altogether the nature of all primitive institutions, which are essentially provisional, extemporaneous, informal, and changeable.--Of God. In all the most ancient copies of the New Testament, and those most to be relied upon for correctness, it reads, "The church of the Lord, which," &c.

      29. Grievous wolves; cruel enemies, persecutors.

      30. Of your own selves; that is, false teachers from within the church.

      35. These words are not recorded by any of the evangelists among the sayings of the Savior.

      36. And when he had thus spoken. The reader who possesses a heart of true Christian sensibility, will not fail to be affected by the manner in which the most sublime, and also the most delicate and tender, traits of the Christian character are blended in the expression of this solemn farewell. We see in it a strong assertion of conscious rectitude, made in a spirit of humility and lowliness of mind; a determined and undaunted courage, tinged with the depression and sadness awakened by dark forebodings of future danger; and feelings of peaceful and quiet [305] happiness, beaming through and overcoming mournful recollections of the past, and the sadness of a final separation. Thus the tender sensibilities, and the calm but indomitable courage and energy of the great apostle's character, are here seen in a combination which Christianity alone is able to produce.

      4. That he should not go up; that is, warned him of the danger of going.

      8. We that were of Paul's company; that is, the whole company, including Paul himself.--Seven; seven deacons.

      9. Prophesy. This word, as very often used in such a connection, denotes, here, publicly preaching the gospel.

      10. Agabus; mentioned before, 11:28.

      15. Carriages; used here in the sense of things to be carried.

      16. An old disciple; an early disciple.--With whom we should lodge; that is, at Jerusalem.

      18. James. James seems to have occupied a prominent place among the [306] Christians at Jerusalem at this time. There is a tradition that the church at that place was officially under his charge. (See Acts 12:17. 15:13.)

      21. That thou teachest, &c. This was not true. Paul had taught that the Gentiles themselves were not bound to obey the laws of Moses, as a condition of admission to the Christian church; but he had not interfered at all with the continued observance of these laws by the Jews themselves.--To walk after the customs; to observe the customs of the Jewish law.

      24. Purify thyself with them, &c.; that is, they proposed that he should publicly engage in the performance of a Jewish rite, in order that the people might see that he still, himself, adhered to the Jewish law. It is very doubtful, however, whether it was wise for Paul to accede to this proposal. Assuming appearances for the sake of effect, is generally very unsafe policy. It places us in false positions, which are very apt to end in disastrous results, as, in fact, was the case in this instance. We must judge of such an act as this in the history of Paul, upon its own merits, and no, consider it sanctioned by his inspiration. Inspiration can be claimed only for the writings of the apostles. In their acts they were liable to err, as well as Moses, or David, or any other of the sacred penmen. (See 23:3-5.) For the law relating to the ceremonies referred to in this transaction, see Num. 6:13-21.

      25. We have written and concluded, &c.; on the occasion of the council, as recorded Acts 15: [307]

      30. The doors were shut; the gates of the temple,--closed by those who had charge of them, from fear of the tumult.

      31. The chief captain. There was a tower near the temple, called the tower of Antonia, where a Roman military force was stationed, especially on all the public festal occasions of the Jews, to guard against public disturbances. The chief captain here mentioned was the commander of this guard. His name, as afterwards appears, was Claudius Lysias. The governor of Judea, whose name was Felix, resided at Cesarea.

      34. Into the castle; the castle or tower of Antonia.

      35. Stairs; leading up the rock on which the castle was built.

      37. Canst thou speak Greek? Paul probably asked the question in the Greek tongue, at which the chief captain was surprised, as it was a mark of cultivation and refinement to understand that language.

      38. That Egyptian. The Egyptian here referred to was, perhaps, one of those false Christs predicted by Jesus, in Mark 13:5, 6.

      40. License; liberty.--In the Hebrew tongue. Though he had spoken to the officer in Greek, he addressed the populace in the Hebrew, that being the language of the great mass of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. [308]

      2. The Hebrew tongue; which was their native tongue.

      3. At the feet of Gamaliel; under the instruction of Gamaliel.

      4. This way; those believing in this way; that is, the Christians.

      9. Heard not the voice; understood it not. That they did hear the sound, is stated in the original account of the transaction. (Acts 9:7.)

      12. According to the law; the Jewish law.

      14. That Just One; Jesus.

      16. Wash away thy sins. The water used in baptism has, of course, no actual efficacy in removing sin; and yet baptism is something more than a mere ceremony. Considered as an act by which the soul publicly acknowledges God, and becomes committed to his service, it has a powerful [309] influence in promoting inward purification.

      22. They gave him audience; they listened to him.--Unto this word; his speaking of the Gentiles as the objects of God's favorable regard.

      24. Examined by scourging; a common mode of extorting confessions in those days, though forbidden in the case of Roman citizens.

      28. This freedom; the privileges of Roman citizen.--Free-born; born in a city, Tarsus, upon which, perhaps, as a city, these privileges had been conferred; or else entitled to them personally through his parents.

      1. Earnestly beholding; looking around upon the assembly with an air of confidence and conscious innocence.

      2. Offended at so bold and decided an assertion of his innocence.

      3. Thou whited wall; thou hypocrite. Ananias did, in fact, afterwards come to a violent and miserable death, by the hands of assassins. [310]

      5. I wist not--that he was the high priest. He was not high priest officially, though he had held the office at a former period, and still retained the title. On this account it may have been that there was nothing in his dress, or in his situation in the assembly, to designate his rank.

      6. Of the hope, &c. Here was another artifice, (21:26;) for, although what Paul said was strictly true, as he had actually met with opposition on this account, still it was not this, but other and very different charges, (21:28. 22:22,) which had been the exciting cause of the present tumult; so that, at this time, such a statement was adapted to give a false impression. The conduct of Paul in this, and in the former case, has generally been approved,--the cases having been regarded as examples of commendable adroitness. But whether it was best to resort to these indirect measures, rather than to take the bold and perfectly honest course usually characteristic of him, ought not to be considered as settled simply by the fact that he did resort to them. We was liable to fall into error and sin in his conduct and measures, as well as all other inspired men. We observe that no permanent good resulted from the artifices in either case.

      8. No resurrection; no future existence.

      11. At Rome; thus implying that he was to be rescued from the danger which threatened him, and enabled to execute his purpose of going to Rome. (19:21.)

      12. Under a curse; under an oath. [311]

      15. And we, &c.; that is, they were to lay wait for him and assassinate him on the way.

      17. Thus Paul appealed to a military a man for protection, which, if granted, he knew must necessarily be military. His example is of no absolutely binding authority; but the case shows, at least, how he understood the gospel in respect to the right of human governments to exercise such powers, for the purposes of public and private protection.

      23. To Caesarea; in order to remove him effectually from the scene of danger. The foot-soldiers were only to accompany him a part of the way, until he should have reached a safe distance from the city.

      24. The governor; the governor of Judea, a successor of Pilate.

      27. Having understood that he was a Roman. Lysias misrepresented the facts in his own favor. He speaks as if his taking Paul was a rescue prompted by his zeal to protect the rights of a Roman citizen. By this means, he thought he should exhibit himself in a favorable light before the governor; whereas the fact was, that he arrested Paul as a criminal, and was going to put him to the torture, he accidentally learned that he was a Roman. (22:24-30.) [312]

      28. When I would have known; that is, in order that I might know.

      29. Of bonds; imprisonment.

      32. And returned; as the prisoner was now so far from the city as to be out of immediate danger.

      35. In Herod's judgment-hall; in a place of confinement connected with it. This hall was a celebrated public edifice erected by Herod.

      1. Descended; to Cesarea.--Orator, advocate. Tertullus, judging from his name, was a Roman: and he was employed probably on account of his acquaintance with the language and forms of procedure used at the Roman tribunals.

      2, 3. Contemporaneous history represents Felix as base and tyrannical, though efficient in his government. The obsequiousness of this orator's introduction contrasts strongly with the honest dignity of that of Paul. (v. 10.) [313]

      11. Twelve days. In carefully reckoning the days enumerated in the course of the narrative, from the time of Paul's arrival at Jerusalem, we make more than twelve, unless we consider the five mentioned 24:1 as commencing, not at the time of Paul's arrival at Cesarea, but at that of his apprehension by Lysias.

      12. This is in reply to the charge made by Tertullus. (v. 5.)

      17. After many years; after an absence of many years.

      18. Purified; engaged in the duties pertaining to ceremonial purification.

      19. Who ought, &c.; meaning the Jews from Asia who made the original charge.

      22. Having more perfect knowledge of that way. The connection of this expression with the other clauses of the verse is not apparent even in the original.

      23. To let him have liberty; that is, not to keep him in close confinement.--To minister--unto him; to attend upon him, and administer to his comfort.

      24. Drusilla; the daughter of Herod Agrippa. Felix had enticed her [314] away from her husband, who was still living, as is related by the historians of those times.

      26. Communed with; conversed with;--intimating to him, in these conversations, that he or his friends, by paying a sum of money, might secure his release.

      27. Into Felix's room; as his successor in the government.

      3. Laying wait; designing to employ men to lie in wait.

      10. I stand, &c.; meaning that, as a Roman citizen, be was entitled to trial before Roman tribunals.

      11. Unto them; unto the Jews.

      13. Agrippa; called in history Agrippa the younger, the son of the Herod Agrippa who put James to [315] death. (Acts 12:1, 2.) When his father died, he was too young to succeed him, and accordingly a succession of officers, called in this history governors, were sent from Rome to administer the affairs of Judea. Agrippa had now arrived at maturity, and had been invested with the government of some countries north of Judea. Bernice was Agrippa's sister, living with him, however, as his wife.

      19. Superstition; religion. The word here, as in Acts 17:22, is used in a good sense; as Felix, speaking to Agrippa, who was himself a Jew would not characterize the Jewish faith by an opprobrious term.

      21. Augustus--Cesar. Both these names were applied to the Roman emperors.

      23. With great pomp. This was in the same city where his father had incurred a miserable destruction as a punishment for pride.

      26. Wherefore I have brought him forth, &c. This was a false statement, made for effect on the assembly. The true reason for this second public [316] arraignment was to gratify Agrippa's curiosity and love of parade.

      3. I know thee to be expert, &c. Agrippa being himself a Jew.

      6. And am judged; am upon trial.--The hope of the promise, &c.; meaning the promise that a Messiah was to come. His belief that Jesus was the Messiah--that is, his belief in the realization of that hope--had been the true origin of the difficulty.

      7. Our twelve tribes. Such phraseology was still used to denote the Jewish nation, though ten of the tribes had long before been scattered and lost.

      11. Compelled; urged and pressed them.--To blaspheme; to abjure Christ.

      14. The pricks; the goads. [317]

      22. To small and great; to high and low.

      23. That should rise from the dead, and should show; that is, probably, whose resurrection should show.

      24. With a loud voice; in order that the whole assembly might hear the taunt.

      26. The king.--Agrippa.--Knoweth of these things; of the facts respecting the death and resurrection of Christ, and Paul's conversion.

      28. It is not probable that Agrippa was in earnest in this remark; for, even if a serious impression had been made upon his mind, he would not probably have expressed the interest which he felt, so abruptly on such an occasion. The supposition that he was not serious is confirmed by Paul's answer, which has the character of a serious reply to a jesting remark.

      29. Except these bonds; except being a prisoner,--bonds denoting, in this case, simply restraint, as it is not probable that he was actually bound. He was confined with chains at first, by Lysias, (21:33;) but when it appeared that he was a Roman citizen, they were removed. (22:29, 36.) [318]

      1. Augustus' band; a body of the Roman army,--this name being a title of distinction.

      2. Adramyttium; probably in Africa.--Asia; Asia Minor.--Aristarchus; a companion of Paul, who had come to Jerusalem with him. (19:29. 20:4.) He is alluded to afterwards, (Phil. 24,) as Paul's fellow-laborer at Rome; and also, on another occasion, (Col. 4:10,) as his fellow-prisoner.

      4. Under Cyprus; near its shore, so as to be under its shelter.

      6. Alexandria; in Egypt. There was an extensive commercial intercourse, in those days, between Egypt and Rome, as a great deal of grain from the valley of the Nile, was consumed in Rome. (See v. 38.)

      9. Much time was spent; their progress having been impeded by the contrary winds before alluded to.

      10. I perceive; I am convinced.--Of our lives; that is, that it will endanger our lives.

      12. Toward the south-west and north-west. This expression is obscure. The words south-west and north-west are, in the original, names of winds [319] not noted for violence. The general meaning of the phrase must be, that the opening of the harbor was towards those quarters of the heavens from which violent storms were not to be apprehended.

      15. In modern times, the position of greatest safety for a ship in a storm of moderate violence, is for it to lie nearly head to the gale, presenting, so to speak, its shoulder to the winds and waves. By a peculiar action of the wind upon a sail placed in a particular position, the ship is retained in this posture by the very force of the storm which it is resisting. When, however, the fury of the tempest passes beyond a certain point, this position of comparative safety must be abandoned. The mariner then allows the ship to be carried round by the wind, and she flies away before the tempest, entirely at its mercy. The language here used seems exactly adapted to describe these effects.

      16. Clauda; a small island south of Crete. Euroclydon was an easterly wind, so that they were driven westward.

      17. Undergirding; some measure adopted, in those days, to strengthen the ship, in order to enable her better to resist the straining produced by the sea.

      18. They lightened the ship,--by throwing overboard a part of the cargo.

      24. Hath given thee, &c. that is, for his sake all the others were to be saved.

      27. Adria; the Adriatic Sea.--Deemed that they drew near, &c.; by certain signs, familiar to seamen, such as the appearing of birds, or of floating plants, or a change in the color of the water. [320]

      33. Meat; food.--Having taken nothing; almost nothing,--nothing at all adequate to the demands of nature.

      39. They knew not the land. They ascertained afterwards that it was the island now called Malta.

      43. And commanded. It appears, from this and several former expressions, that Julius, and not the master [321] of the ship, was the commanding officer during the voyage.

      3. Out of the heat; driven out by the heat.

      4. A murderer. They of course considered all the prisoners as convicts; and this occurrence led them to suppose that Paul had been guilty of some peculiarly atrocious crime.

      7. The chief man of the island; probably a Roman magistrate stationed there.

      11. Whose sign was Castor and Pollux; that is, was ornamented with figures of Castor and Pollux, two demigods much celebrated in those days among seamen.

      12. Syracuse; a celebrated city on the Island of Sicily.

      13. Puteoli; on the coast of Italy.

      14. Where we found brethren. This shows how extensively the Christian religion had already been disseminated. [322]

      20. The hope of Israel. The Messiah was the hope of Israel. It was Paul's belief in Jesus as the Messiah which had awakened the hostility of the Jews.--This chain; the chain by which he was bound to the soldier who kept him, according to the custom of guarding such prisoners at Rome.

      22. This sect; the sect of Christians. [323]

      The history of the doings of the apostles here abruptly terminates, and it has been supposed by some, that Luke, who accompanied Paul to Rome at this time, wrote this history there, bringing the narrative down to the time when he wrote, and that the Theophilus whom he mentions in his introduction, was a Roman. The supposition that he was at Rome, or that he had Roman readers particularly in mind when writing, is somewhat confirmed by the minute allusions to the geography of the vicinity of the city, in the fifteenth verse of the last chapter. [324]

[AINT 254-324]