PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1
Arthur Charles Hervey [1808-1894] · 411,060 words · 462 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 121
Vor. 2.-The lclnsliip between rel(qion and charity. From the exegetical portion of the Commentary materials for the inlrorluction may be obtained. Such introduction ehould treat of the suffering poor in the East, showing how necessarily dependent they wore upon promiscuous charity. With their condition may be contra…
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St. Peter did not wait, for such signs in this object of the healing power. Two rel\Sons I!1ay help to explain the difference. St. Peter bad to show the faith which he and the other apostles hod in Christ. Signs of their faith were just then the important thing, rather than signs of the man's fa.itb. As our Lord act…
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Ver. 6.-Responsi'bility in the possession of power. Travellers tell us that one of the saddest things to be seen in Eastern countries is the crowding of be<>crars in the approaches to Mo_hammedan mosques, and at the gates of cities and 1:["e houses· many of them presenting the most painful and revolting pictureR of …
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which the Christiim system rested, and then gradul\lly unfold the various doctrines which were embodied in those facts, 'l'heir central, foundation fact was their Lord's resurrection. It even seems that, at first, the Resurrection stood out more prominently before the apostles' minds than the sacrifica.l death. The pre…
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Vera. 17, 18.-Man's ruling and God's overruling. St. Peter admits that the rejection of Christ was done through ignorance, but he does not allow that this is a sufficient excuse. Ignorance bas many degrees, and may arise from many causes. It may be wilful. It may be a consequence of cherished prejudices, and then it is…
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Ven. 19, 21.-Tima ~f refreshing and of restitution. These two words refer to the same time. "Without doubt the Apostle Peter, as well as e.11 the disciples, and the ~hole apo~tolic Church, regarded the coming of Christ as near at hand, but still alwe.ys as something future. This 'coming of Christ' is to be conceived…
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Vers. 22, 24.-Moses' witness to the (Jhrist. The first reference of Moses in the words used (Deut. xviii. 15) should be ca.refully noticed. The higher Messianic references of the Old Testament usually underlie an immediate relation to historical events or indi- viduals. ".As the words stand, taken with their context, t…
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Ver. 26.-C!hrist's missioo to the Jews. St. Peter bad been epeo.klng of our Lord's resurrection, and it is natural to connect the expression of the text, "having rai8ed up his Son Jeaus," ,~ith that resurrection. The idea, however, seems to be more general- God having provided, prepared, given, set forth. Matthew Henr…
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~nn of the high priest Ano.niae. He also the same Annas as is mentioned In Luke 111011tione the captnln of the temple(' Bell. Iii. 2 and John xviii. 13, o.nd ie <lescribed as J w I.,' vi. v. 8) o.t the time of the destruction "father-in-lBw to Cahphas." He is co.lied of the temple. There c11n be little doubt, by Jo~eph…
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good deed, i.e. t11e benefit done to the lame tion and mighty power of him whom the man, being the subject of e. criminal inquiry, rulers be was addressing had orucifte1l. RB e. tacit condemnation of the uurighteous- Boldness of speech, when combined with n<.>ss of such e. course. charity and moderation, is a most i…
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la llErr,rJ.,-11,, from which our English word and peoples who were concerned in the "deepot" comee. It menne "mnster, owner," crucifixion of the Lord Christ. In this city. in respect of slo.vee, and " 11, lord" or "king," This is omitted in the A.V. and T.R., but whose power over hie subjecte is simile.r to found i…
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and Bengel render it, in dependence upon A.V.; unto each • , • ae any one for unto ~" .,-.;;, and by ngns and wonders being dOM, every man , .. aa he, A.V., R cho.nge with- II.I! the conBequenoe of the stretching out of out an improvement. Laid thom at the the hand of J·e8ue. The other ways of oon- a)loetles' feet, …
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HOMILETIOS. Vere. 1-31.-Tlie first persecution, On observing the phenomena. attending the Introduction and spread of Christianity in the world, one which arre8ts our attention is the persecution which at different times its disciples have met with from the world. The Lord Jesus himself," the Author and Perfecter of ou…
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the marvello11s power which ~her llll.W in the poor fishermen of Galileo was hie power; and that he would come again m glory to reign as the Lord's Christ. Can we doubt that their slumbering conscience was aroused to a very troublesome activity, thu.t guilt awakened fear and alarm, and that most unwelcome anticipations…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vere. 1-21.-Truthfrom the tribunal. The principles which are illll8trated or sug- gested here are- I. THAT MEN IN TIIE HIGHEST RELIGIOUS POSITION HAY BE ALL WRONG IN THEIR THEOLOGY. The priests were grieved that the apostles taught the people that which we know to have been God's own tru…
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Vers. 19, 20.-.77ie simpler and the deeper truth. Here we have- L .A TRUTH WHICH rs PALPAllLE TO ALL-that when the Divine and the human are in conflict, the human must yield to the Divine. "Whether it be right •.. judge ye." The judgment required was one that any man could pronounce; the question may be answered by …
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Ver. 22.-Spiritual inflezi'biliey: a sermon to t11ose in the midst of ;life,,: The words of the text indicate that there was one fact which contributed "reatly to sustain the miraculous character of the healing act that had been wrought. "'we mi"ht inter- polate beLween this verse and the preceding-there could be no…
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assuredly go to their own company-will seek out those persons :md those things with ,vhicb they sympathize. ,\-·e can only do this (1) by implanting right principles, and (2) cultivating pure tastes. These, and these only, will lead the young, in the <lays when they net for themselves, to shun that which is wronu and t…
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ever from some form of interest. The temper of the truth-lover is ever for free speech and free thought. lie knows that the truth, being e. beam of Go<l, cannot be quenched !lnd is renccted with nil the more glory from the mists of error. Often men mean bJ ~• the truth" their own opinio~s :1nd I?re~udices: History show…
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apostles-this, in the state of popular feeling, could not be ventured on; to approve their conduct-this was conscience' dictate, but conscience was hero stifled by e. powerful conspiracy of interest; the misemble compromise remained-to discharge the pri110ners for fear of _the multit~de, to warn them against f~rther…
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III. PnAYEK THE INSTRUMENT OF WEAKNESS AND OF STRENGTH, Of weaknes., for it implies dependence; and were our wiMhes convertible iuto facts, there would be n" prayer. Some form of helplessness o.lone brings men to their knees. Yet it iA ~;.~ expression of strength; for strength in weakness is the very secret and heart o…
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the pouring of men's once private property at the apostles' feet, was the illustrious evidence of the conquest of the Princo of life over the human heart. As if to clench the argument, the special instance of Jose1ih's sale of his field is given. There ie art in this. One such definite fact suggests n multitude of o…
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This beginning of the Church's fight with false religion ar,d worldly pride throws great light along the ages, and teaches us many a lesson concerning Church history.-R. Vere. 6-12.-771e servants in the footsteps of their Lord. I. Compare the crncuM- BTANOEB of this testimony with those in which Jesus stood, f:•Jme of…
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the spiritunl interests of men, Other names in the Church, The priest hiding the Saviour; the ritual shutting out the truth; sectarianism dishonouring Christ; names of leaders and teachers made into t~mptations to spiritual pride, and mere herc>-worship substituted for simple-minded obedience to Christ's commandments, …
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mwselvea. The whole incident teaches the strength of the spiritual life; the method nr the Ohristian work; the glory of the believer's prospects. 'fhose that ha.ve been with Jesus shall sh11re his victories.-Il. Ver. 20.-The aggressiveness of the gospel: "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." T…
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V ers. 3G, 37.-.A great example of spiritual excellence. The intention of the writer is to set in contrast the work of the Spirit in Barnabas and the work of the devil in the hearts of Ananias a.nd Sapphira, as a.Isa to show to us the relation of character and life to one another; the bles~ing on those that obey the Sp…
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~lood in need of "' word from the !!;OVernor Porcius Festus of just thirty yeal'l!I l11ter, when he said to King AgrippR, in reference to Paul," For it seemeth to me unrel\sonablo to send a prisoner, and not withal signify the crimes !Rid against him" (eh, xxv. 27), The Sanhrdrim Rre guilty of this very unl'easonablene…
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marvelled" at the imperturbed flow of speech and rcsolnte wieldin" of arrumcnt which proceeded from two men who, as being "unlearned" and unprof":ssionr{J, men ou!Tht rnther to _have been. overawed in the presence of ~uch as themselves-as they thought. In the midst of their nmazoment, however, they either remembered th…
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1~1ightier. This method of securing a certainty and even facility of holJ upon tho vastest bulk of mankind, to disintegraoo it if one corrupt mass, or gradually to rodintegrate it, without recourse to flood or deluge or any physical force, invites most grateful and reverent study. The analogies of physical nature, more…
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under those condnions, sce.rcely be realized, The genn of the Church showed far otherwise. 'l'he highest type of Church life possible on earth may be confidently oe.lcule.ted on to show something very different. And till such difference become plain in any part of the Christian Church, it faintly indeed reflects the gl…
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it did, the word of Jesus himself about his own truth, previous to hie death and after his resurrection, and the conduct and directions of Jesus previous to his a6cension nnd to the day of Pentecost, amply prove it. But though it needs no proof, it may vory largely need enforcement. Probe.bly nothing so stays the ad…
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I. Tm:i: REAL NATURE OF TIIIB UNANIMITY BO NOVEL. It is of a. moral sort. It is not of an intellectual sort, nor irn:lceu of any other possibly more open to view, but leRs deep and far-reaching than this. "They were of one heart and one soul." They fell ono, wished, hoped, purpo8ctl, and sought, a.s though, instead of …
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Ver. 86-ch. v. 11.-71,e earUest of the tares, in the field of the Church, The age of the Church numbered as yet only its da'l's, The" good seed" had been sown in tbe field by "the Son of man" but a few hours, yet II the enemy . . . the devil,, bad found a 'prized opportunity to II sow tnres," and uses it not in vain…
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should visit that affront. Honce it comes that we do l,nsUnctively understand Peter'd inepired estimate of it-that it is a" lie unto the Holy Ghost . . . unto God," and a "tempting of the Spirit of the Lor<l." And in thus eetimatin"' the sin, ia. "the light of God's light," Peter remin<le ue of David, who, bowed ia. de…
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in the world to come" (Matt. xii. 32)? 3. It was e. redoubled witness. The second instance following so close on the :first e.nd in its eroact track made impressiveness itself yet more impressive, as the rapid redoubled peal of thunder st.rikes a tenfold terror into the heart. 4. The witness was timed with a precisi…
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Ver. 3.-Thefirst prisoners/or Ohrist. It appears that by this time tne movements of the apostles were beginning to be an object of serious concern to the religious authorities in Jerusalem. Probably the Sadducee party, which succeeded in securing our Lord's death, was still predominant in the great council ; this is in…
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pleaded. But on this particular oocasion the apostles had not even attacked the rabbinical system. IV. '£HE TEACHINGS OF TREBB PRISONERS ACTUALLY TENDED TO PRESERVE BOOIAL ORDER A.1''1> MAKE BETTER CITIZENS. Such is everywhere the natural results of the preaching of Christ and the teaching of Christianity. Loyalty …
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lions. And still it is as true as ever it was, that God makes Jesus Christ, for each soul's Rr.lvation o.nd lifo, the " tried Stone, the precious Comer-stone, the sure l!'oun<la- tion; o.nd he that bolieveth on him shall not be ashamed."-R. T. Ver. 12.-Tlie one saving Name. As one of the earliest preachings or t.he go…
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M.ved. Search the world over and the lt"'CS 0 throucrh there is no other • nnd yet one day to this Name "every knee shall bow, and every t~nguo confcss."-R: 'l', Ver. 13.-S(qns of 7,a_vfng been with ,Tesus. We should always keep the thought close to u~ that our spm_t and our word and our conduct, as the professed d…
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thnt in the worahip and prayer one voice led, fincli_ng expression for the common feeling, 11nd the rest of the company probably responded with II Amens" spoken aloud. From t.he exegetical portion of this Commentary th.a precise meanin"0 and allusion8 of the prayer lfl(IY be learned, '\Ve dwell on two things. I. MAN'S…
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St. Paul argues back, that "all things are" really "oura" in Christ (1 Oor. IU, 21-23).-R T, Ver. 33.-" Grrat grace." ThiR expression may refer to the measure of Divine favour resting upnn the early disciples; or to the favour which they found among men, who could not fail to see and admire the spirit of" self-sacri…
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EXPOSITION. filment of the promise, '' W1:osesnever sini, CHAPTER V. ye retain. they are retained" (John XL Ver. 1.-Ananias ('Avc,vfcu) In Neh. iii. 23). Ver. 4.-Did it not remain for was it not, 23 the Hebrew name il'ilJI. (God covers or A.V.; thy for thine ou,n, A.V.; how i3 it protects) is thus rend~red in the …
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fc~sing the friind bnd she been penite11t. the lntter, llloyer the former. The opinion The land (see note to .-er. I). that the whole body of Christiane is meaut Yer. 9.-But for tlien, A.V.; Oiey shall seems most probable, both from the use of carry for carry/, A.Y. To tempt the Spirit the words in eh. ii. 1 and fro…
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filled for t08r8 filled, A.V.: jealowy Cor Lord") stand in pa.rallel clansea. The R. V. indignati<m, A.V. The high priest rose up, inconsistently renders the first "Bn an~el," H wns high time for him and hie friends a.nd the eeconcl" the glory." In like rnBnnor the Sadduceea to be up and doing, if they ,Pwvh Kupfov (eh…
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Ver. 24.-The captain of the teniple for The guilty oonscienco winced at every word t1,e high priut and the captain, eto., A.V. which spake of Jesus Obrist o.s living. The and 'l'.R.; tDOrd~ for things, A.V.; taere high priest, too, would not so much as name much perpkud concerning them for doiwted the no.me of Josue…
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Ver. 83.- But they, when tliey Tieard tTils, order of the A. V. ; are alJout to do for mtend for wlien tliey l1eard toot, tliey, A.V.; were to do, A.V. minded for toole oounsel, A.V. a.nd T.R. ,Ver. 36.-Girnng himeelf out for boaw!ing (ifJo6Jo.ovTo for l{JouJo.,6owro, oe oleo eh. xv, himself, A.V.; rli•persed for sc…
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contradiction between the two historians Gfll17.1Mt1 booauee Galilee W8II the seat of his shows that no oertain ty oe.n without further 0 insurreotion (Josephus,• Ant.,' :a:viii. i. 1 and light be arrived at. B ut it may be observed 6; also • Bell. J ud.,' ii. viii. 1 : xvii. 8). He that it iB quite impOSBible to s…
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HOMILETICS. Vere, 1-11.-Thefirst hypocrisy, Hitherto all had been bright and beautiful in the new-born Church of God, Brotherly love, disinterested kindness to one another, heroic courage in the face of danger, unhesitating devotion to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, and an unflinching profession of faith in his…
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pC'ning, end whicl1, whenever they do happen, do injury to the cnuse of Christ. ,ve may learn in this melancholy example how the love of money, or tho love of the pmise of men, or II grC'edy 11ppetite of applause, or an ungodly emulation of the f11me of other men! or the hab(t of think)ng of appe11rances more than of r…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-10.-.A. fatal forgeifulne.~!. There are several truths which this saJ incident suggests to us. We may view them thus- I. THAT A NEW ENTERPRISE 111AY SURVIVE A VERY DAMAGING BLOW. It was a ,cry serious misfortune to the new Church that two of its members should commit a sin worthy …
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e.nd Sapphire made a mistake which was simply ruinous. They overlooked the fact that the Holy Spirit of God was in close connection with his Church, and was acting through his servants. Thay forgot that when they were trying to deceive inspired men they were acting falsely in the face of the Divine Inspirer, so that …
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effect which might he.ve been anticipated; it a.roused the intense hostility or the enemies of the Lorcl, and their bitter opposition found vent in a speedy arrest and imprisonment of the apostles (vers. 17, 18). But man's adversity was God's oppor- tunity, and we he.ve- J. DIVINE INTERPOSITION, (Ver. 19.) How vain al…
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Vers. 33--42.-0ur attitude towards God. There are three attitudes it is possible for us to assume towards our Maker and Saviour. 'l'hey are those of- I. HosTILITY. We may " be found even to fight against God." It is, indeed, as new as it is old for men to contend with God and to oppose themselves to those ends for whi…
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one great 'fencher, almighty Saviour, Divine Friend, and right(ul Lord of the human eoul. 2. Suffering for him. The apostles endured suffering and shame for his Name; thoy did so gladly, rejoicingly. We may be "counted worthy" to do the same. Many thousands of mon, in heaven or on earth, have had this high honour (Matt…
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Vers. 12-16.-Tlie heal,ing personality of (Jhrisfs servant.,. I. THEY ARE VEIDOLES OF DIVTh.: POWER. The lips and the hands are consecrated to the service of doing good. Here especially the hands. Jt is a beautiful organ, the human hand, and may stand in Christian thought as the very symbol of beneficence. Signs and w…
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Zeal ls blundering, thinks that force is a remedy for moral feebleness, believes that truth and spirit can be put down. II. 'fBEm VIOLENCE DIVINELY REBUKED. The angel of the Lord comes a.~ an emis- sary of freedom, for the Word of God cannot be bound. And freedom means new scope for duty. God does not give liberty to …
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none. (1) The root of conrnge, energy, moml influence, and command liee in conscience, or obedience to God. (2) \\.here men combine against conscience and conspire against truth, they undermine the foundations of authority and prepare their own ruin.-J. Vers. 34-42.-Power and weakness. I. INNOCENCE AN OBJECT OF HATE T…
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faithfully endured, prepares for new effort, goads to perseverance, and eo defeats the persecutor by the very means of his own wcapons.-J. Vere. 1-6.-The death of ..4.naniaa. Raphael's cartoon manifastly founded, not on the simple narrative of Acts, but on the corrupt Church's falsification of it. The apostles represe…
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of repcnte.nce, while the appeal was made, not on the ground of terror, for she knew nothing, bnt on the ground of simple trnth-Tell me the truth. 2. Of the spirit of di~cernmeut and, in the Name of the Lord, of prediction, Had not Peter uuder supcr- naturnl impulse foreseen the death of the woman, he would not have…
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Vers. 17-42.-Seconrl persecution of the <Jhurch. Notice: 1. It was the result or marvellous success. We must expect such oppo9ition when God gives us po\ver among the people. The proud and formal have no liking for that which can be set in contrast with their own inefficiency. 2. It proceeded from the sect of the Saddu…
747 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.