Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles

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EXPOSITION

OP THE

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES :

Preface

he thinks, requires him to leave every thing to the sacred historian, who records faithfully what the Apostles of our Saviour taught and performed, while he endeavours humbly to act in a subordinate capacity, to remove such difficulties as occur in the human part, — the language or medium by which the Divine instruction is conveyed, — and to prevent any misunderstanding which might arise from dissimilarity of manners and customs of ancient times to our own, as well as to produce such historical facts as might throw light on the subject.

It was also thought desirable that facts of importance, about which doubts had occurred, should be examined and decided according to the most conclusive evidence. Thus it was desirable to ascertain, if possible, first, By whose agency was the Apostle Paul endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, and, secondly, At what time was Paul appointed an Apostle \ These are questions highly interesting. A satisfactory answer to the first determines another important point, — whether any other Christians, excepting the Apostles, possessed the power of communicating the gifts of the Spirit by imposition of hands. In relation to the second question, When was Paul created an Apostle \ the English reader could not be aware that from the original words ascribed to our Saviour, as addressed by him to Paul,

PREFACE.

V when lie appeared to him on the road to Damascus, it is evident that it was at this first supernatural interview that Paul was appointed to that dignified office. We know that the twelve were selected as Apostles by the Lord Jesus in person from his followers, who amounted to a number not less than five hundred. We learn, too, from the Apostle Paul's express authority, that he had seen the Lord Jesus, and first of all on the road to Damascus.

It was thought, too, that any additional information about the Apostles, which could be obtained from any other quarter, would be received as a gratifying appendage to the canonical Acts of the Apostles. Accordingly we have endeavoured to collect the most authentic, or at least most approved, account that has been preserved of the transactions ascribed to the Apostles after our Saviour's ascension, as well as the events supposed to have happened after the sacrecl history closes. The reader will thus, it is hoped, have a sufficient opportunity of determining the important question, Whether the writings of the primitive fathers, as far as Christian facts are concerned, ought to be received as genuine history, or as resting chiefly on tradition. For while all sincere Protestants, and all lovers of truth, must be always ready to admit with perfect confidence the truths of Christianity contained in the Scriptures, on the high and powerful evidence

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PREFACE.

on which these are supported, still they are prepared to doubt or reject whatever rests solely on tradition.

After selecting from Ecclesiastical History what appeared the most interesting statements respecting the Apostles, some remarks are added on the parting instructions of our Saviour, and of those Apostles who bequeathed admonitions to posterity. Next follow some observations on the plan and object of Christianity, and on the obstructions which men have raised to its salutary progress. The volume is then concluded with some remarks on the present state and future prospects of man.