16 Men G435 and brethren, G80 this G5026 scripture G1124 must G1163 needs have been fulfilled, G4137 which G3739 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 by G1223 the mouth G4750 of David G1138 spake before G4277 concerning G4012 Judas, G2455 which G3588 was G1096 guide G3595 to them that took G4815 Jesus. G2424
For it was not an enemy H341 that reproached H2778 me; then I could have borne H5375 it: neither was it he that hated H8130 me that did magnify H1431 himself against me; then I would have hid H5641 myself from him: But it was thou, a man H582 mine equal, H6187 my guide, H441 and mine acquaintance. H3045 We took sweet H4985 counsel H5475 together, H3162 and walked H1980 unto the house H1004 of God H430 in company. H7285 Let death H4194 seize H5377 H3451 upon them, and let them go down H3381 quick H2416 into hell: H7585 for wickedness H7451 is in their dwellings, H4033 and among H7130 them.
That G2443 the saying G3056 of Esaias G2268 the prophet G4396 might be fulfilled, G4137 which G3739 he spake, G2036 Lord, G2962 who G5101 hath believed G4100 our G2257 report? G189 and G2532 to whom G5101 hath the arm G1023 of the Lord G2962 been revealed? G601 Therefore G5124 G1223 they could G1410 not G3756 believe, G4100 because G3754 that Esaias G2268 said G2036 again, G3825 He hath blinded G5186 their G846 eyes, G3788 and G2532 hardened G4456 their G846 heart; G2588 that G3363 they should G1492 not G3363 see G1492 with their eyes, G3788 nor G2532 understand G3539 with their heart, G2588 and G2532 be converted, G1994 and G2532 I should heal G2390 them. G846
Wherefore G1352 (as G2531 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 saith, G3004 To day G4594 if G1437 ye will hear G191 his G846 voice, G5456 Harden G4645 not G3361 your G5216 hearts, G2588 as G5613 in G1722 the provocation, G3894 in G2596 the day G2250 of temptation G3986 in G1722 the wilderness: G2048
Who G3588 by G1223 the mouth G4750 of thy G4675 servant G3816 David G1138 hast said, G2036 Why G2444 did G5433 the heathen G1484 rage, G5433 and G2532 the people G2992 imagine G3191 vain things? G2756 The kings G935 of the earth G1093 stood up, G3936 and G2532 the rulers G758 were gathered G4863 together G1909 G846 against G2596 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 against G2596 his G846 Christ. G5547 For G1063 of G1909 a truth G225 against G1909 thy G4675 holy G40 child G3816 Jesus, G2424 whom G3739 thou hast anointed, G5548 both G5037 Herod, G2264 and G2532 Pontius G4194 Pilate, G4091 with G4862 the Gentiles, G1484 and G2532 the people G2992 of Israel, G2474 were gathered together, G4863 For to do G4160 whatsoever G3745 thy G4675 hand G5495 and G2532 thy G4675 counsel G1012 determined before G4309 to be done. G1096
Men G435 and brethren, G80 children G5207 of the stock G1085 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 whosoever among G1722 you G5213 feareth G5399 God, G2316 to you G5213 is G649 the word G3056 of this G5026 salvation G4991 sent. G649 For G1063 they that dwell G2730 at G1722 Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 their G846 rulers, G758 because they knew G50 him G5126 not, G50 nor yet G2532 the voices G5456 of the prophets G4396 which G3588 are read G314 G2596 every G3956 sabbath day, G4521 they have fulfilled G4137 them in condemning G2919 him. And G2532 though they found G2147 no G3367 cause G156 of death G2288 in him, yet desired they G154 Pilate G4091 that he G846 should be slain. G337 And G1161 when G5613 they had fulfilled G5055 all G537 that was written G1125 of G4012 him, G846 they took him down G2507 from G575 the tree, G3586 and laid G5087 him in G1519 a sepulchre. G3419
Men G435 and brethren, G80 let G2036 me G1832 freely G3326 G3954 speak G2036 unto G4314 you G5209 of G4012 the patriarch G3966 David, G1138 that G3754 he is G5053 both G2532 dead G5053 and G2532 buried, G2290 and G2532 his G846 sepulchre G3418 is G2076 with G1722 us G2254 unto G891 this G5026 day. G2250 Therefore G3767 being G5225 a prophet, G4396 and G2532 knowing G1492 that G3754 God G2316 had sworn G3660 with an oath G3727 to him, G846 that of G1537 the fruit G2590 of his G846 loins, G3751 according to G2596 the flesh, G4561 he would raise up G450 Christ G5547 to sit G2523 on G1909 his G846 throne; G2362 He seeing this before G4275 spake G2980 of G4012 the resurrection G386 of Christ, G5547 that G3754 his G846 soul G5590 was G2641 not G3756 left G2641 in G1519 hell, G86 neither G3761 his G846 flesh G4561 did see G1492 corruption. G1312
After G3326 this, G5124 Jesus G2424 knowing G1492 that G3754 all things G3956 were G5055 now G2235 accomplished, G5055 that G2443 the scripture G1124 might be fulfilled, G5048 saith, G3004 I thirst. G1372 Now G3767 there was set G2749 a vessel G4632 full G3324 of vinegar: G3690 and G1161 they filled G4130 a spunge G4699 with vinegar, G3690 and G2532 put it upon G4060 hyssop, G5301 and put G4374 it to his G846 mouth. G4750 When G3753 Jesus G2424 therefore G3767 had received G2983 the vinegar, G3690 he said, G2036 It is finished: G5055 and G2532 he bowed G2827 his head, G2776 and gave up G3860 the ghost. G4151
And G1161 Judas G2455 also, G2532 which G3588 betrayed G3860 him, G846 knew G1492 the place: G5117 for G3754 Jesus G2424 ofttimes G4178 resorted G4863 thither G1563 with G3326 his G846 disciples. G3101 Judas G2455 then, G3767 having received G2983 a band G4686 of men and G2532 officers G5257 from G1537 the chief priests G749 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 cometh G2064 thither G1563 with G3326 lanterns G5322 and G2532 torches G2985 and G2532 weapons. G3696 Jesus G2424 therefore, G3767 knowing G1492 all things G3956 that should come G2064 upon G1909 him, G846 went forth, G1831 and said G2036 unto them, G846 Whom G5101 seek ye? G2212 They answered G611 him, G846 Jesus G2424 of Nazareth. G3480 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto them, G846 I G1473 am G1510 he. And G1161 Judas G2455 also, G2532 which G3588 betrayed G3860 him, G846 stood G2476 with G3326 them. G846 As soon G5613 then G3767 as he had said G2036 unto them, G846 G3754 I G1473 am G1510 he, they went G565 backward, G1519 G3694 and G2532 fell G4098 to the ground. G5476 Then G3767 asked he G1905 them G846 again, G3825 Whom G5101 seek ye? G2212 And G1161 they said, G2036 Jesus G2424 of Nazareth. G3480 Jesus G2424 answered, G611 I have told G2036 you G5213 that G3754 I G1473 am G1510 he: if G1487 therefore G3767 ye seek G2212 me, G1691 let G863 these G5128 go their way: G5217
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 1
Commentary on Acts 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Ac 1:1-11. Introduction—Last Days of Our Lord upon Earth—His Ascension.
1, 2. former treatise—Luke's Gospel.
Theophilus—(See on Lu 1:3).
began to do and teach—a very important statement, dividing the work of Christ into two great branches: the one embracing His work on earth, the other His subsequent work from heaven; the one in His own Person, the other by His Spirit; the one the "beginning," the other the continuance of the same work; the one complete when He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, the other to continue till His second appearing; the one recorded in "The Gospels," the beginnings only of the other related in this book of "The Acts." "Hence the grand history of what Jesus did and taught does not conclude with His departure to the Father; but Luke now begins it in a higher strain; for all the subsequent labors of the apostles are just an exhibition of the ministry of the glorified Redeemer Himself because they were acting under His authority, and He was the principle that operated in them all" [Olshausen].
2. after that he, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments, &c.—referring to the charge recorded in Mt 28:18-20; Mr 16:15-18; Lu 24:44-49. It is worthy of notice that nowhere else are such communications of the risen Redeemer said to have been given "through the Holy Ghost." In general, this might have been said of all He uttered and all He did in His official character; for it was for this very end that God "gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him" (Joh 3:34). But after His resurrection, as if to signify the new relation in which He now stood to the Church, He signalized His first meeting with the assembled disciples by breathing on them (immediately after dispensing to them His peace) and saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (Joh 20:22) thus anticipating the donation of the Spirit from His hands (see on Joh 20:21, 22); and on the same principle His parting charges are here said to have been given "through the Holy Ghost," as if to mark that He was now all redolent with the Spirit; that what had been husbanded, during His suffering work, for His own necessary uses, had now been set free, was already overflowing from Himself to His disciples, and needed but His ascension and glorification to flow all forth. (See on Joh 7:39.)
3-5. showed himself alive—As the author is about to tell us that "the resurrection of the Lord Jesus" was the great burden of apostolic preaching, so the subject is here filly introduced by an allusion to the primary evidence on which that great fact rests, the repeated and undeniable manifestations of Himself in the body to the assembled disciples, who, instead of being predisposed to believe it, had to be overpowered by the resistless evidence of their own senses, and were slow of yielding even to this (Mr 16:14).
after his passion—or, suffering. This primary sense of the word "passion" has fallen into disuse; but it is nobly consecrated in the phraseology of the Church to express the Redeemer's final endurances.
seen of them forty days—This important specification of time occurs here only.
speaking of—rather "speaking."
the things pertaining to the kingdom of God—till now only in germ, but soon to take visible form; the earliest and the latest burden of His teaching on earth.
4. should not depart from Jerusalem—because the Spirit was to glorify the existing economy, by descending on the disciples at its metropolitan seat, and at the next of its great festivals after the ascension of the Church's Head; in order that "out of Zion might go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isa 2:3; and compare Lu 24:49).
5. ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence—ten days hence, as appears from Le 23:15, 16; but it was expressed thus indefinitely to exercise their faith.
6-8. wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?—Doubtless their carnal views of Messiah's kingdom had by this time been modified, though how far it is impossible to say. But, as they plainly looked for some restoration of the kingdom to Israel, so they are neither rebuked nor contradicted on this point.
7. It is not for you to know the times, &c.—implying not only that this was not the time, but that the question was irrelevant to their present business and future work.
8. receive power—See Lu 24:49.
and ye shall be witnesses unto me … in Jerusalem … in all Judea … and unto the uttermost part of the earth—This order of apostolic preaching and success supplies the proper key to the plan of the Acts, which relates first the progress of the Gospel "in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria" (the first through ninth chapters), and then "unto the uttermost part of the earth" (the tenth through twenty-eighth chapters).
9-11. while they beheld, he was taken up—See on Lu 24:50-53. Lest it should be thought He had disappeared when they were looking in some other direction, and so was only concluded to have gone up to heaven, it is here expressly said that "while they were looking He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." So Elijah, "If thou see me when I am taken from thee" (2Ki 2:10); "And Elisha saw it" (Ac 1:12). (See on Lu 9:32.)
10. while they looked steadfastly toward heaven—following Him with their eager eyes, in rapt amazement. Not, however, as a mere fact is this recorded, but as a part of that resistless evidence of their senses on which their whole subsequent testimony was to be borne.
two men in white apparel—angels in human form, as in Lu 24:4.
11. Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven, &c.—"as if your now glorified Head were gone from you never to return: He is coming again; not another, but 'this same Jesus'; and 'as ye have seen Him go, in the like manner shall He come'—as personally, as visibly, as gloriously; and let the joyful expectation of this coming swallow up the sorrow of that departure."
Ac 1:12-26. Return of the Eleven to Jerusalem—Proceedings in the Upper Room till Pentecost.
12-14. a sabbath day's journey—about two thousand cubits.
13. went up into an upper room—perhaps the same "large upper room" where with their Lord they had celebrated the last Passover and the first Supper (Lu 22:12).
where abode—not lodged, but had for their place of rendezvous.
Peter, &c.—(See on Mt 10:2-4).
14. continued with one accord—knit by a bond stronger than death.
in prayer and supplication—for the promised baptism, the need of which in their orphan state would be increasingly felt.
and Mary the mother of Jesus—distinguished from the other "women," but "so as to exclude the idea of her having any pre-eminence over the disciples. We find her with the rest in prayer to her glorified Son" [Webster and Wilkinson]. This is the last mention of her in the New Testament. The fable of the Assumption of the Virgin has no foundation even in tradition [Alford].
with his brethren—(See on Joh 7:3).
15-26. in those days—of expectant prayer, and probably towards the close of them, when the nature of their future work began more clearly to dawn upon them, and the Holy Ghost, already "breathed" on the Eleven (Joh 20:22), was stirring in Peter, who was to be the leading spirit of the infant community (Mt 16:19).
the number … about an hundred and twenty—Many, therefore, of the "five hundred brethren" who saw their risen Lord "at once" (1Co 15:6), must have remained in Galilee.
18. falling headlong, &c.—This information supplements, but by no means contradicts, what is said in Mt 27:5.
20. his bishopric—or "charge." The words are a combination of Ps 69:25 and Ps 109:8; in which the apostle discerns a greater than David, and a worse than Ahithophel and his fellow conspirators against David.
21. all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—in the close intimacies of a three years' public life.
22. Beginning from the baptism of John—by whom our Lord was not only Himself baptized, but first officially announced and introduced to his own disciples.
unto that same day when he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection—How clearly is the primary office of the apostles here expressed: (1) to testify, from personal observation, to the one great fact of "the resurrection of the Lord Jesus"; (2) to show how this glorified His whole previous life, of which they were constant observers, and established His divine claims.
23. they appointed—"put up" in nomination; meaning not the Eleven but the whole company, of whom Peter was the spokesman.
two—The choice would lie between a very few.
24. prayed and said, Thou, Lord, &c.—"The word 'Lord,' placed absolutely, denotes in the New Testament almost universally THE SON; and the words, 'Show whom Thou hast chosen,' are decisive. The apostles are just Christ's messengers: It is He that sends them, and of Him they bear witness. Here, therefore, we have the first example of a prayer offered to the exalted Redeemer; furnishing indirectly the strongest proof of His divinity" [Olshausen].
which knowest the hearts of all men—See Joh 2:24, 25; 21:15-17; Re 2:23.
25. that he might go to his own place—A euphemistic or softened expression of the awful future of the traitor, implying not only destined habitation but congenial element.
26. was numbered—"voted in" by general suffrage.
with the eleven apostles—completing the broken Twelve.