The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 2

the two visits. The apostlea and elden. A.V., as in eh, -rif. 2, etc.; you for 111, A.V. This pl.iraee marks the constitution of the and T.R.; by my mow,th tits Gentila for iJI{ ~verning part of the Church of JernB&lem. Gentiks by my moti1Ji, A.V. Questioning. The addition in vers. 22 and 23 of "the It was a repetition of the 88llle scene the.t whole Church," and (acoording t.o the T.H.) took pl11.0e e.t Antioch. Peter, eto. It seems of" the bre!hren," sho~ the pa.rt the body to have been wise on Peter's pa.rt to allow the of the believers had in approving and meeting to exhaust itself by fruit] ess dispu- sanctioning ihe decisions of the elders. The tations before be rnse to speak. His rising, transaction mn.rks the position of the Chnroh with all the authority of his person o.nd nf Jerusalem as the metropolitan Churoh of position, oommanded immediate attention. CJJristendom. A good while ago j literally, from ancient Ver. 3.-TMy there/on ... pa,ssed for and days, or still more exactly, from the days of ... tky paaed, A.V.; both Phanicia for the beginning of the gospel (;,µ,pa.I upxa.la.1), Pheniee, A.V. Being brought on their way days 'belonging to the beginning (a.pxfi) of (..-poTreµc;,OevTes). The word ..-po..-,µ..-.,., ha.s the Church's existence, and do.ting far haok two distinct though allied meanings : one in Peter's own apostolic life. Nothing can is •· to conduct a person on his way," as in be more natural than this allusion to the oh. xx. 3S ; xxi. 5; the other is "to help a conversion of Cornelius, and the gift of the person on his way, by supplJing him with Holy Ghost to the Gentile inmates of hie all necessaiies for his journey," as in Rom. house, as related in oh. x. 44. :xv. 24; l Cor. xn. 6; 2 Cor. i. 16; Titus Ver. S.-Heart for hearts, A. V. (1<a.pa,o- iii. 13; S John 6. This last is the meaning 'Y",:,~T71s). Bare them witness; i.e. set the here. Being the messengers of the Church, mark of his approval upon them, vouched they travelled at the Church's expense. for their sincerity (see the use of the verb Both Phcenicia and Sa.m.a.ria. Their course µ.a.pn,pew in Luke iv. 22; John iii. 26; oh. "'ould be through Berytus, Tyre, Sidon, and vi 3 ; x. 22, etc.). Samaria.. Declaring the conversion of the Ver. 9.-He made no distinction for put Gentiles, There was an especial reason for no dffference, A..V. (comp. eh. x. 20, note); doing so, as it he.d a strong bee.ring upon cleansing for purifying, A.V. Thie is oxaotly the grea.t controversy a.bout to be decided at the doctrine of Ge.I. ii. 16 o.nd Rom, iii. 30, Jerusalem. with which compare also vor. 11. Ver. 4.-'l71e apollflee for of the apostles, A. V. ; the elden for elders, A. V. ; 'l'ehearsed Ver. 10.-'l7mt ye should put for to put, for dedared, A. V. T.t.ey were received of A..V. The Greek words cn.nnot be con- the Church, etc. Being themselves the strued as the A.V. takes them. It is not formal envovs of the Church of Antioch, a Greek construction to say ..-.,p,J.(,w Twa. they werP- formally receh-ed as such by the ..-o,,iv 1<an.ov, '' to tempt any one to do evil." Church of Jerusalem, headed by the apostles The infinitive bri0,wa., must be taken ger and elders. rundially, "by placing," or "putting," and Ver. 5.-Who for tDhich., A. V.; it u for the sense is-Why do you try God's patience that it was, A. V. ; ehwrge for command, A.. V. by your provocation in putting an un- T"nere rose U:!J, etc. As soon as Paul end bearable yoke upon tho necks of those who Barnabas had finished their recital of the believe? Or, "as if he had not power to conversion of fae heathen to whom they save by faith" (Chrysostom), hnd preached the gospel. certain Chri6tian Ver. 11.-We shall be saved th.,.ough. the Phari,ees wbo were at the meeting dis- graee, eto., for through th.e gr= . , . we shall turbed the joy of the brethren and the be 8(LDed, A. V.; Jesl/,8 for Jeau,a Ch.i-ist, A.V. unanimity of the assembly by getting up and T .R. ; in like manner for even, A. V, and 1111ying that all the Gentile oonverts " How full of power are these words ! 'fhe must be circumcised and keep the Law. same that Paul says at large in the Epistle Thill, of course, wonld Lave included Titus, to the Romans, the same i;a.ys Peter here " who was prc:sent with St. Paul (Ge.L ii 1, (Chryeost., 'Hom.,' :uxil.). 3). The Epist.le to the Galatians deals Ver. 12.-.And for then, A..V.; tl1.e1J directly e.nd forcibly with this question. hearkened for ga1Je au.dience, A.V.; 'l'e• Ver. €.-'l7ie elders for elders, A.V.; 1JJ6f't! hearsing what signs for decla1·ing what gath.ered for came, A. V.; t.o for for t.o, A.. V. mira,cles, .A. V. Kept Bilenoe ; marking the The question we.s too important, and, per- contrast between the noisy questionings and haps, the persons who advanced the ob- dbputings which •had preceded Pcter'1:1 jections too considerable, to allow of a speech, and the quiet orderly attention with decision to be taken on the spot. A. special which they now listened to Paul and Bo.r- meeting of the Church was ce.lled to con- nabas, telling them of the converliion of the sider the matter. Gentiles. It recalls Virgil's description of Ver. 7.-Quesflioning for d,uipu.ting, A.V., tile effect of the presence of a moo. of grave u, i.rt ver 2 ; l,rethen for men and lwetlw88, piety upon an excited crowd-  011. xv. 1-41.] THE AC1'8 OF THE APOSTLES. lJ