The testimony of the witnesses; a devotional and homiletical exposition of the Acts of the Apostles

Front matter

Class IB p 3l ^qSl5'

Book -H^

Cop)TightN^.___

Preface

A comprehensive survey of the contents of the Acts of the Apostles would probably raise the question, Is not the title of the book a misnomer? It is not difficult to find some justification for calling it the Acts of Peter, John and Paul : but, where nine of the original twelve are mentioned by name but once, and in a general and collective way in but two or three other places, one can hardly accept the common title as the most fitting designation of the entire book. And we are glad to believe that the name is not inspired.

We may find a more appropriate name for the work, if we note the fact that Luke's plan seems to cover the teachings as well as the doings of these founders and propagators of the new faith. He evidently follows, in a general way, the program outlined by our Lord in the eighth verse of the first chapter, — "Ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." But an undeviating adherence to this scheme was not in his thought. And so we have the conversion of Paul in the second division, and the first Christian Council in the third. The introduction of these topics seems, at first sight, to interrupt the flow of the narrative; but they are soon seen to be essential to the completeness of the chronicle, and their place in the story could not be well improved. These were great events; but it was especially of vast moment to record not only what was done, but also what was said in connection with each of them.

And this is true of the entire history. The character and success of the work accomplished by the apostles have always been to Bible students of such absorbing interest as measurably to throw into the background the fact that the history may be also — and perhaps ought chiefly to be — regarded as a record of things said, — of things said with a particular end in view, — and said by certain men trained and qualified for the special purpose of saying them, and of so saying them as to lead men to believe them. And Luke's record is a record of this "Testimony of the Witnesses." To make

vii

PREFACE this record seems to have been Luke's chief concern. This apparent purpose may perhaps explain the fragmentary character of much of his chronicle, and make clear the fact that his mind, Divinely guided, was not so intent on the continuity of his story, as upon seizing salient points where he might couple Divine teachings with Divinely prepared events and peoples.

What the apostles were commissioned to say they were to say as witnesses. The resurrection of Christ was the great event they were to attest. "Him God raised up the third day, and gave Him to be made manifest not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead." They were not qualified to give testimony to this most stupendous fact in human history, unless they had seen the Lord alive after His death on the Cross and burial in Joseph's tomb. This qualification they all possessed, and therefore "with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." But manifestly one needs no special endowment of power simply to bear witness to a fact. And the fact of Christ's resurrection came to the multitudes with great power, because the witnesses were able, through their Divine endowment of power, to so connect the fact with the prophecies going before, and the swift following consequences, that none might fail to see that a new era was beginning in God's dealings with His people, and that a brighter day was dawning for Zion.

And so in the Acts we have the great fact of the resurrection of Christ solemnly and indubitably attested ; and this fact is shown to be so interlaced with the history of the Church, on the one hand, and with the coming triumphs of the Church, on the other, that, as that history plainly evidences the hand of God, so clearly is the future radiant with blessings for the new faith. We are interested in the history, and we rejoice in the promises to Zion. But we must never forget, — and certainly not in these days of scepticism as to the resurrection, — that the one thing established by apostolic testimony under runs the entire book of the Acts, and binds together into one solid mass the irrefutable witness of the primitive disciples to the truth of this fundamental tenet of our Christian faith. The things done have no meaning apart from the great and solemnly certified fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

viii

PREFACE

It is believed that a study of the Acts of the Apostles from this point of view will be found worth while. It will bring into fresh and vivid realization the fact, which many in our day seem willing to surrender, that Christ is indeed "risen from the dead." No less clearly, it is hoped, will this study show that the whole supernatural system of Christianity stands or falls with this fundamental fact so indubitably established by "The Testimony of the Witnesses."

A few words may not be out of place as to the character of this Exposition. It is not a critical commentary. The author has taken the text of the American Standard Revision as on the whole the best reproduction of the original, and has written with a view to help the plain Bible student in his devotional reading, and the young minister in his pulpit preparation. For the former, the analyses of the text, and the division of the comment into corresponding sections will, it is hoped, be found really helpful; and for the latter, these numbered sections may often suggest expository discourses, while the homiletical hints and sermon-outlines, (not intended for servile copying), may sometimes stimulate a tired brain, and provoke many lines of original thought. The outlines may, indeed, hurt the lazy minister, but can hardly fail to be helpful to the diligent student, indicating as they do the trend of thought of many master minds who have garnered on these holy fields.

These helps have been gathered in a painstaking examination of more than four thousand volumes of sermons met with in some of the largest libraries of the country, to the shelves of which free access was accorded the author by the efficient curators of these great literary treasures. This wide survey of sermonic literature reveals the fact that preachers have not found the Acts of the Apostles a fruitful field for texts and pulpit themes, compared with the Gospels and larger epistles: and the chapters chiefly drawn upon for this purpose are hardly more than a half-dozen, while the favorite text in each of them is not difficult of conjecture. It is confidently believed that the study of Luke's record, emphasizing the testimony rather than the history, will bring to light rich stores of homiletical material not commonly subsidized by the ministry of the Word.

The author has now finished the work which has been on his mind for well-nigh thirty years, and to which he has given diligent

ix

PREFACE study for five years since his enforced retirement through ill-health from the active pastorate. The completion of the Exposition so nearly synchronizes with the end of his fifty years in the blessed work of the Gospel Ministry that it seems likely to be the last loving service of a public nature which he can hope to render to the Lord, whose he is and whom he serves. To His gracious care and blessing it is humbly committed, as it now goes forth on its mission of helpfulness to those for whom it has been prepared.

O. A. Hills.

WOOSTER, O.,

November 25th, 1912.

X

SYLLABUS.

1. THE INTRODUCTION:— I :i-ii.

1. A Summary of Luke's Gospel, — i :i-5.

2. The Final Interview, — i :6-8.

3. The Ascension, — 1 19-1 1.

11. THE PREPARATION OF THE WITNESSES;— i :i2 2:13.

1. The Return to the Upper Room, and to Prayer, — 1:12-14.

2. Filling the Vacancy, — i : 15-26.

3. Endowing the Witnesses with Power, — 2:1-13.

DIVISION 1.

WITNESSES "IN JERUSALEM."— II : 14 VII :6o.

1. The Testimony of Peter, Aided by the Eleven; — ^2:14-47.

The Comprehensive and Convincing Character of This Testimony, — 2. : 14-36. (2) The Effect of Peter's Testimony,— 2 :37-47.

2. The Testimony of Peter and John, — 3:1 ^4:31.

(5) The United Prayer,— 4:23-31.

3. The Testimony of True and False Witnesses; — 4:32 5:16.

(1) The Self-Sacrificing Believers, — 4:32-37.

(2) The Self-Seeking Hypocrites,— 5 :i-ii.

(3) Works of Mercy and Healing, — 5:12-16.

4. The Testimony of the Prisoners; — 5:17-42.

5. The Testimony of Stephen; — 6:1 7:60.

(1) The Rise of the Proto-Martyr,— 6 :i-8.

(2) His Controversy with the Foreign Jews, — 6:9-15.

(3) His Defence before the Sanhedrin, — 7:1-60.

xi

DIVISION 11.

WITNESSES "IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA;"— VIII :i

XII :2S.

1. The Testimony of the Persecuted; — 8:1-4.

2. The Testimony of the Evangelists in Samaria; — 8:5-25.

3. The Testimony of Philip before the Eunuch; — 8:26-40.

4. A New Witness Called; — 9:1-30.

(1) The Heavenly Vision, — Vss. 1-9, *

(2) The Messenger's Ministry, — Vss. 10-19^. \

(3) Saul the Evangelist, — ^Vss. 196-30. f

5. The Testimony of Peter at Lydda and Joppa; — 9:31-43.

6. The Testimony of Peter before Cornelius; — 10:1-48.

(1) The Vision of Cornelius, — 10:1-8.

(2) The Vision of Peter, — 10:9-230.

(3) The Aleeting and Testimony, — 10:236-48.

7. The Testimony of Peter before the Circumcision; — 11:1-18.

8. The Testimony OF Barnabas; — 11:19-30.

9. The Testimony of Peter's Deliverance; — 12:1-25.

(1) Herod's Day of Power, — 12:1-19.

(2) Herod's Day of Doom, — 12:20-25.

DIVISION III.

WITNESSES "UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH."— XIII :i XXVIII :3i.

Part L — The Missionary Journeys, — 13:1 ^21:16.

I. The Testimony of Paul and Barnabas, — The First Missionary Journey ; — 13 :i 14 :28.

(1) The Missionary Commission, — 13:1-3.

(3) At Antioch in Pisidia, — 13:13-52.

(5) At Lystra and Derbe, — 14:8-210.

xii

2. The Testimony of the First Christian Council; — 15:1-35.

(2) The Deliberation, — 15:6-21.

3. The Testimony of Paul and Silas;— The Second Missionary

(a) The Praying Place, — 16:11-13.

(b) Lydia, the Seller of Purple, — 16:14-15.

(c) The Pythoness, — 16:16-22.

(4) At Thessalonica and Bercea, — 17:1-15.

(6) At Corinth, and the End of the Second Missionary Journey, — 18:1-22.

4. The Testimony of Paul and his Companions; — ^The Third Mis-

sionary Journey. — 18 :23 ^21 :i6.

(1) Phrygia and Galatia Revisited,— Vs. 18:23.

(3) The Awakening at Ephesus, — 19:1-20.

(4) "Diana of the Ephesians," — 19:21-41.

(5) Macedonia and Achaia Revisited, — ^20:1-3. ;

(6) The Return Journey, — 20:4 21:16.

(a) Incidents en route, — ^Vss. 4-16.

(&) Paul's Address at Miletus, — ^Vss. 17-38. {c) Miletus to Jerusalem, — ^Vss. 21 :i-i6.

Part II. — The Testimony of Paul the Prisoner; — 21:17 ^28:31

1. The Preliminary Events, — 21 : 17-40.

(1) The Fruitless Device, — ^21 : 17-30.

(2) The Apostle's Arrest, — ^21 :3i-40.

2. The Testimony on the Stairs, — ^22:1-22.

3. Before the Chief Captain, — ^22:23-29.

4. Paul's Last Testimony in Jerusalem, — ^22:30 ^23:35.

xiii

6. Before Festus, — 25:1-12.

8. While Journeying to Rome, — 27:1 ^28:16.

(4) The Stay in Malta,— 28 :i-io.

(5) The Arrival in Rome,— 28:11-16.

xiv

L THE INTRODUCTION; I I.

Section i. — A Summary of Lukes Gospel, — 1:1-5

I The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2 until the day in which He was received up, after that He had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom He had chosen : 3 to whom He also showed Himself alive after His passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God : 4 and, being assembled together with them, He charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said He, ye heard from me : 5 for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.

I. The general reference of the writer, vs. i. 2. The Lord's parting commands, vs. 2. 3. The many proofs of the Lord's resurrection, vs. 3. 4. The Saviour's final charge, vss. 4 and 5.

I. The general reference of the writer, — vs. i.

The Gospel according to Luke "traces the course of all things from the first" to the day of the Lord's ascension. It is a record of what "Jesus began both to do and to teach." The EvangeHst does not profess to tell us all that the Lord did and taught. He would say with John, "There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written." He mentions only the beginnings of the Lord's work and words.

It is worthy of note that Luke emphasizes the Lord's doing as well as His teaching. Many love to dwell upon His teaching, who have little to say of His doing, — especially of that culmination

I

I: I] THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES of His doing when for our sins He poured out His soul unto death.

The wonderful brevity of this summary is notable. A single line sums the entire Gospel, up to the forty days of our Lord's post-resurrection life, and especially up to the occurrences of the one crowning day of His earthly sojourn.

*

Verse i. Fruitful lessons may be drawn from comparatively unknown characters of the Scriptures. Theophilus, otherwise unknown in the primitive Church, is immortalized through his intimacy with Luke. A lover of God and Divine things, as his name implies, that name is had in everlasting remembrance in connection with two of the most wonderful books of the Bible. — Vs. i. The self-imposed limitations of the Divine Revelation. It might have told us much more. It chose to tell us only "the beginnings" of what Jesus did and said. This must ever be remembered, if we would rightly interpret what has been revealed. — Vs. i. There is an inseparable relation between our Lord's works and His word. We cannot hope to understand the one if we ignore the other. And the truth is universal; duty and doctrine can never be divorced. "If any man is willing to do he shall know," — ^John 7:17. — Vs. I. The really effective teacher must be also a doer. In this it is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord. — Vs. i. "Truth it is, that the manners of a good and godly teacher ought so to be framed that he speak first with his life, then with his tongue, otherwise he should differ nothing from a stage-player." — Calvin.

Vs. I. Doing and Teaching.

The preacher must be concerned I. About his manner of life among his fellow-men. II. About the character of his teaching.

III. This is the Divine order of his concern, — "Take heed (i) to thyself, and (2) to thy teaching." — I Tim. 4:16.

2. The Lord's parting commands, — vs. 2.

These commands came to the disciples ''through the Holy Spirit." A special Divine influence attended these post-resurrection revelations of our blessed Lord. He breathed on them, and said,

* It will be observed that the Homiletical Hints and Sermon Outlines follow immediately after the sections of the Exposition to which they severally pertain, being separated from the same by a line, as here, and further distinguished also by the smaller type in which the text and various analyses of the same appear. The outlines not otherwise credited are the author's own.

[1:2-3

''Receive ye the Holy Spirit." It was the enlightening Spirit who opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures.

These final commands to a few chosen men was a marked and distinguishing feature of the new dispensation. This is abundantly evident in the testimony of the witnesses, as Peter asserts in the home of the centurion, "Him God raised up the third day, and gave Him to be made manifest, not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead." The nature, necessity, scope and value of this human testimony to the fact of the resurrection of Christ are thus declared in unmistakable terms.

The apostles were themselves convinced of the resurrection, by many proofs; and now they are to go forth to convince their fellow-men of the certainty of this wondrous revelation.

Vs. 2. Christ Filled with the Spirit.

I. At His baptism.

II. At His temptation.

III. In His preaching.

IV. In His miracles.

V. In His sacrifice.

VI. In His instructions to His disciples — {Bonar, Rev. Dr. Horace).

3. The many proofs of the Lord's resurrection, — vs. j.

These "many proofs" had accumulated upon the minds of these chosen men with overwhelming power. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, — then to the women returning from the sepulchre, — then to Peter, then to Cleopas and his companion, — then to the ten, — then to the eleven, — then to the seven, — then to the more than five hundred brethren at once, — then to James, — and, last of all, to the apostolic company immediately before His ascension. *Tt was not one person but many who saw Him; — they saw Him not only separately but together, not only by night, but by day, — not at a distance but near, — not once but many times; — they not only saw Him, but touched Him, conversed with Him, ate with Him, and examined His person to satisfy their doubts." — (Paley).

And this is Luke's summary of it all, — ''He showed Himself alive after His passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days."

More conclusive than any and all other evidence that their risen Lord was actually before them must have been what He said to them, for He was frequently "speaking to them the things concerning the kingdom of God." Would we might know more fully what things these were which He had to say concerning the kingdom ! Doubtless His heart-stirring expositions of the teachings of Moses and the prophets, which He gave to the wondering Cleopas and his friend, must have been a part of His glorious revelation of the mysteries of His Messianic Kingdom. And, as they went forth to proclaim the truth which they had learned, they could say, ''We do not follow cunningly devised fables, when we make known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Vs. 3. The Evidence of Our Saviour's Resurrection.

I. His appearances to His disciples after His death and passion.

II. The proofs of the reality of His appearances.

III. The duration and continuance of His appearances to them.

IV. The subject matter of His discourse with them.

Archbishop Tillotson.

Vs. 3. The Two Stories about the Resurrection.

I. The body of Christ had been stolen. This we cannot believe, because

1. The grave was under the guard of soldiers.

2. It was the time of the Passover, with its full moon and thronging

multitudes.

3. There was no evidence of theft in the appearance of the grave.

4. The disciples could have had no motive for hiding the body of Jesus.

5. The evidence of the soldiers is absolutely untrustworth}^

6. The conduct of the Jewish rulers shows that the}^ did not believe

the story themselves.

II. The Lord had risen. This story we accept, because

1. A great many witnesses certify to its truth.

2. These witnesses met our Lord in a great variety of circumstances.

3. These witnesses were strangely incredulous.

4. Their testimony was not uniform indeed, but unanimous.

5. Their enemies could not answer the question, "What became of the

body?"

6. The witnesses staked everything upon the truth of their testimony.

7. The Descent of the Holy Spirit was the crowning evidence of the

Resurrection.

4. The Saviour's final charge, — vss. 4 and 5.

For this great and solemn mission to a lost world the apostles needed the special help of superhuman powers ; and for this help the Lord charges them to wait. They were to wait, not in Galilee, but in Jerusalem, — not in the wilderness, but in the city, — in the city the scene of His sufferings, the scene of the betrayal, of the denial, of the universal forsaking. Here amidst bitter, touching, tender memories they were to wait.

They were to await the promise of the Father. The Lord's reference to this promise must have carried them back to His loving words in the upper room. 'T will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth ; whom the world cannot receive : for it beholdeth Him not, neither knoweth Him : ye know Him ; for He abideth with you and shall be in you." "The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name. He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you." ''When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, He shall bear witness of Me." 'Tf I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you ; but if I go I will send Him unto you." — John 14:16-17 and 26, — 15-26 and 16:7.

It was the Father's promise to the Son. It did not therefore depend upon the fulfillment of any condition on the part of fallible man. The glorious promise of the Holy Spirit, in whose blessing they were to share, was a matter between the Father and the Son alone.

The apostles had probably been baptized of John unto repentance and remission of sin; now they are to be baptized with the Holy Spirit unto the high and holy service whereunto they were being called.

Verse 4. "Tarry at a promise till the Lord meets you there." — Moody.

Vs. 4. Waiting for the Promise.

I. In devout expectancy.

II. In earnest desire.

III. In united prayer.

IV. In seclusion from the world.

V. With one accord in one place — (Cousin^ Rev. William).

Vs. 5. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

L What is it?

II. Is it now attainable?

III. What are some of its consequences?

IV. What will secure it?

V. When may we look for it? — {HatHeld, Rev. Dr. E. F.)

Section 2. — The Final Interview, — 1:6-8

6 They, therefore, when they were come together, asked Him, saying, Lord, dost Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority. 8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you : and ye shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

I. The apostles' thoughts and questions about the kingdom, vs. 6. 2. The Lord's thought and words about the power and the witness, vss. / and 8.

I. The apostles' thoughts and questions about the kingdom — vs. 6.

The Lord had spoken to them many "things concerning the kingdom of God." The form of their question leads us to infer that in His horoscope of the future He had intimated the restoration and salvation of the covenant people of Israel.

But the apostles evidently misunderstood their Master. Their idea of the kingdom was one thing, His was another and very different. He therefore represses their unspiritual curiosity, and turns their minds away from useless speculations as to "times or

[1:7-8 seasons" to the more important and present concernments of their Hfe and work.

Many in the modern Church may well take this lesson to heart. We are not indeed forbidden to study all that has been revealed of Zion's future; and we have a right to animate our hopes by contemplating and seeking to understand the long line of glorious prophecies concerning the Church's welfare. But we may never rightly so give ourselves to fixing the times or seasons, and vain surmises as to things to come, as to neglect the great and pressing work of winning the world to Christ, and so hastening the Church's final triumph.

Vs. 6. The Longing for the Kingdom.

I. Israel's pathetic cry, as voiced by these disciples. II. The Church's perpetual longing.

III. The earnest prayer of all the saints, — "Lord, tarry not, but come."

2. The Lord's thought and words about the power and the witness, — vss. j and 8.

To the work and their part in it the Lord calls their special attention. They were to receive power through the coming on them of the Holy Spirit, and were to be the Lord's witnesses.

How shall we interpret this "coming upon them" of the Holy Spirit? The disciples had received the Holy Spirit before. We cannot doubt that (i) they had been the subjects of His saving renewal. The Lord had given them (2) the Spirit of illumination that they might understand the Scriptures. He had (3) breathed on them the Spirit of authority and power to bind the incorrigible and to absolve the penitent. And now (4) in a fuller sense they are to receive the Holy Spirit as a spirit of power and endowment for service in witnessing for their Divine Master.

And this witnessing, — does it differ from the witnessing with which our daily life makes us familiar? Not in any essential particular. Witnesses are not retailers of hearsay evidence. They must be able to say "We speak that we do know, and testify that which we have seen."

To us of to-day, as to the disciples of old, the Lord is saying,

*'Ye are my witnesses." They were called upon to attest preeminently the resurrection of Christ (2:22b, and 10:41), and all truths growing out of that fact. We are called upon to do the same. Not indeed with bodily eyes have we seen the Lord, yet can we truly swear that He is risen from the dead and reigns on high our sovereign and redeeming Lord.

The witnesses of old were to begin at Jerusalem. Thence the double story of the resurrection started. Here the falsity of the one could be best confuted; here the truth of the other could be made to shine forth. And from this beginning they were to go to their neighbors, — first the near, then the far. Like a conquering army they were to sweep the entire land.

Verses 7-8. "Authority" and "Power," — the latter is might, — the former is might with right. — Vss. 7-8. Unspiritnal curiosity would know the "times or seasons," the prepared and obedient shall "receive power." — Vss. 7-8. To "know" is man's way; to "receive" is the Lord's way.

Vs. 8. The Lord's Last Words.

I. He was on His way to a throne of power.

II. The disciples were themselves to receive power, in. That power was to come upon them through the Holy Spirit. IV. The abundant adequacy of the promise. "Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion."

Vs. 8. The Promise of Power.

I. The Power; what is it?

II. The Witnessing; what is it? in. The Coming of the Holy Spirit; what is it?

Vs. 8. We Are the Lord's Witnesses.

I. Our testimony must be truthful.

H. It must be direct, or experimental, not hearsay. HI. It must be consistent; life and speech must be in accord.

Vs. 7. All Futurities Are Under Fatherly Authority.

1. Do not be anxious about coming times.

II. Do not expect any new conditions of well-being in the future. HI. Expect the fulfillment of all the Divine Promises. IV. Cultivate the strongest love for the father. — {The Homilist.)

[1:8

Vs. 8. Witnesses for Jesus Christ.

I. Our Lord Himself, in His sacred Person, is the solemn truth, the glorious reality, to which His Servants are to bear their witness, n. How can we bear witness to a Person?

HI. In Jesus Christ God made use of this provision of His creative wisdom

to enter into communion with His creatures.

IV. Is there anything in our conduct, or our words, anything that we do,

or that we endure, that really bears witness before the eyes of our

fellow-men to the life and work of our ascended and invisible

Saviour? — (Canon Liddon.)

Vss. 1-8. The Uniqueness of Christ's Earthly Ministry. I. It was original and initiatory.

II. It was resumed in person after his death. — {The Homilist.)

Vss. 6-1 1. The Parting Promises of the Saviour.

I. The Promise, "Lo, I am with you always unto the end." II. The Promise of His return to judgment. — {S chleiermacher , F. E.)

Vss. 6-8. Christ's Last Words on Earth.

I. Words of correction.