The Acts of the apostles

Front matter

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THE

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ;

Preface

This volume is designed to be a companion to my Notes on the Gospels, and has been conducted on the same general principles with tliat work. It has, however, been my aim to make this work inde^ pendent of that, wholly avoiding such references to it as might embarrass a reader, or as would leave him, if not possessed of that work, without the information which any given passage might reqmre. To prevent perplexity, I have also, for the most part, quoted such other passages of Scripture as were requhed, instead of simply referring to them.

The reader will perceive that I have sometimes enriched my pages, not only with the sentiments, but also with the language, of other writers. When I found, in standard authors, thoughts and expressions just such as I should have been glad to have myself originated, or as appeared specially appropriate, it seemed to me I could not better consult for the benefit of my readers, than by transferring them to my pages. The sacred literature of past ages furnishes some of the brightest and most useful materials for Christian writers of the present age.

In writing on a book so eminently historical as the Acts of the Apostles, it is desirable to attain accuracy as to dates. This, however, has not yet been accomplished by all the efforts which learned men have directed to it. A difference of two or three, sometimes of more, years, exists in the calculations of different writers, without, however, in the least degree affecting the authority of the book, or impairing its practical value. Without pretending to minute accuracy, the dates which are here inserted in the upper margin of the pages may be considered the more probable ones. In the first Appendix, at the end of the volume, the opinions of several chronologers are given, in regard to the events of the apostle Paul's life.

The map which is prefixed to this volume is copied from Weiland's Bible Atlas, the German names being here expressed by the corre-

PREFACE.

spending English ones. The smallness of the scale on which it is constructed, makes it convenient for illustrating all the travels and voyages of the apostle Paul, which ai'e minutely detailed in the Acts. At the same time, it will be found useful in the study of chapters preceding the one, in which the sacred writer commences his account of the apostle's travels.

As so many proper names, both of persons and places, occur m this book, I have thought it would be an acceptable service to the reader to give, in an Appendix at the close of the volume, the pronunciation of such as might occasion difficulty.

The titles, or contents, of chapters are copied from the American Bible Society's edition.

With the hope that this product of many laborious, yet pleasant, hours, will be useful to the cause of religion, I commend it to the Christian public, and to the adorable Saviour, " whose I am, and whom I serve."

H.J.RIPLEY.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

The title of this book, Acts of the Apostles, sufficiently indicates its character, and the design of its author. It is a comprehensive account of transactions in which the apostles and other early preachers were engaged, subsequently to the death of Jesus, for defending and promoting the Christian religion. The wi'iter confines himself, however, mostly to the labors of Peter and Paul, devoting by far the larger part of the book to the latter apostle.

From the earliest times of Christianity, Luke has been acknowledged the author of this book. The writer's allusion (Acts 1 : 1) to his former work, the Gospel according to Luke, and the sunilarity between the two in respect to style, fully agree with the concurrent belief of ancient and of modern times in regard to its author. His Gospel he denominates his first, or former, treatise ; the Acts we may consider a second treatise, carrying forward the Christian history to PauFs first imprisonment in Rome. In some parts of the book, Luke writes as one personally acquainted with the events, and engaged in them. His knowledge of the other events which he relates, could be easily obtained from the apostle Paul, with whom he was in intimate familiarity, and from other sources of original information. Luke was a diligent investigator of facts pertaining to the Saviour and his religion. See Luke 1 : 1—4.

This book has a special value, as showing the early progress of the gospel amid both favorable and unfavorable circumstances, the manner in which inspired men sought to spread the Christian religion both among heathens and Jews, and the arrangements which were made in those early times, by the Saviour's authorized servants, for sustaining the gospel where it was introduced, and for conducting the affairs of chm-ches. Though sufficient information. is not given us on these points to gratify curiosity, yet enough is furnished to show us the primitive model, and thus to give us the pattern which we should endeavor to imitate.

1*

INTRODUCTORY RE^IARKS.

Two general divisions may be made of this book. The first comprises an accomit of the leading events from the ascension of Christ to the apostle Paul's conmnencing his apostolical journeys. This part includes the first twelve chapters, and is mainly occupied with events that occurred in Palestine or its vicinity. It relates the history of the church LQ Jemsalem : the martyrdom of Stephen, with the persecution that immediately followed, and the dispersion of the Chiistians, through Judea and Samaria, and beyond Palestine : the conversion of Said ; the introduction of the gospel among the GeutUes ; the majt^Tdom of the apostle James, and the rescue of Peter fi-om the A-iolent death which Herod the king had designed. The second di^ision commences with the thirteenth chapter, and relates the travels and labors of Paul and his associates for the spread of the gospel in Asia iVIinor and in Em*ope, and for promoting the purity and prosperity of the churches.

The whole book covers the space of time fi*om the year of our Lord 33 to about 65.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

CHAPTER t

1 Christ, preparing his apostles to the beholding of his ascension, gathereth them together into the mount Olivet, commandeth them to expect in Jerusalem the sending down of the Holy Ghost, promiseth after few days to send it ; by virtue whereof they should be witnesses unto him, even to the utmost parts of the earth. 9 After his ascension, they are warned by two angels to depart, and to set their minds upon his

CHAPTER 1. 1. The former treatise have I made

0 Theophilus. Luke, the author of this book, here alludes to the Gospel previously composed „by him and dedicated to Theophilus. See Luke

1 : 1 — 4. To the same distinguished friend he dedicates, in like manner, the history, on which we are now entering, of the labors of the apostles after the ascension of Christ. 1| Of ail that Jesus began to do and to teach ; or, as we may say, of what Jesus undertook to do and to teach. The idea is the same as if the writer had said, of ichat Jesus did and taught ; for what he bega.n he also completed. When the writer says he had given an account of all that Jesus did and taught, he must be understood as speaking in a familiar manner, and as meaning, not that he had related every particular that Jesus did and taught (for this would not be possible in so brief a compass as his Gospel ; see also John 21 : 25), but that he had related the chief, or most important things, and specially those which v/ere necessary to his design of giving a complete account of the life of Jesus, an account sufficiently full for proving him to be the Messiah, and for showing the nature of his doctrines. He had omitted nothsecond coming. 12 They accordingly return, and, giving themselves to prayer, choose Matthias apostle in the place of Judiis.

THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given coming which v/ould be necessary to gain a correct view of the life and character of Jesus.

2. Until the day in lohich he was taken up ; the day when he was received up into heaven, the day of his ascension. Compare v. 11. Luke, in the first two chapters of his Gospel, gave a brief account of the birth and childhood of Jesus. From the third chapter to the end, his Gospel related what Jesus did and taught from his entrance on his public work to his ascension. Thus Luke had given a complete view of Jesus' life on earth. Compare Luke 3 : 21. 24 : 51. 11 Jifter that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments. Jesus is represented in the Bible as having been abundantl}^ furnished with spiritual influences, or as acting by the special aid of the Holy Spirit. Hence he is said, in 10 : 38, to have been anointed with the Holy Spirit, and, in Luke 4:1, to have been full of tlie Holy Spirit ; and, in John 3 : 34, it is said, the Father giveth not the Spirit by measure, that is, in any limited degree, to him. Compare Is. 11 : 2. 61 ; 1. It was under this divine impulse that he instructed and commissioned his apostles. The giving of commandments to the apostles, here mentioned by the sacred writer, does not refer to any particu-

ACTS.

mandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen :

3 To whom also he showed lar injunctions, but to the instructions and commands which he had given them, as his apostles, appointed to spread the gospel and establish his church in the world. j| The apostles whom he had chosen. For the names of the twelve apostles, see Luke 6 : 13—16. JSIatt. 10 : 2—4

3. To whom also he showed himself alive; to Avhom he presented himself alive, and, by appearing before them, gave them the proper evidence that he was indeed alive. \\ After his passion. The word passion here means sufferings and refers to our Lord's having suffered death. H By many infallible proofs. Compare John 20 : 30. Jesus, after his resurrection, did many things, in the presence of his disciples, which proved him, beyond question, to be the very same person that had before been with them, and had been crucified and buried. See the acco\ints in the 20th and 21st chapters of John's Gospel, and in the 24th chapter of Luke's. Besides what he did and said after his resurrection, as showing him to be the same person, and to be pursuing the same object as before, his bodily presence was itself enough to produce conviction. For tlie apostles could not be deceived in regard to the person of Jesus. They had had an intimate and confiding acquaintance with him, and were familiar with his voice and looks. And now, after having been violently torn from them, put to death, and buried, he was again among them. He showed himself repeatedly to them, en various occasions, sometimes when only two or three were present, and sometimes when all the apostles were together. He conversed familiarly with them, and ate with them : and all this during forty days. How is it possible, if the person thus with them were not Jesus of Nazareth, — the identical person who had before been with them, — that not one of them himself alive after his passion, by many infalhble proofs, being seen of them fort^" days, and speaking

should have kno-R-n hmi to be a different person .' There was no room for mistake. The apostles had " many infbllible proofs " that Jesus did indeed present himself before them alive after his death. It is worthy of special remark, tliat the apostles tliemselres were slow of behef in regard to his resurrection. They were not credulous men, beheving without satisfactory evidence. But tlie evidence was so convincing, that even the most incredulous among them was compelled to acknowledge it ; and, in the strength of his conviction and the fervor of his affection, he could not refrain from exclaiming, "My Lord and my God." See John 20 : 24 — 28. \\ Being seen of them forty days. Compare 13 : 31. Jesus did not jlUow himself to be seen by tlie public indiscriminately after his resurrection, ^ut appeared only to his true foUowers. It was important that he should be seen by them, so that they might be witnesses of his resurrection, and that he might still farther instruct and encourage them, and thus prepare tliem for their work of vindicating- his cause and spreading the gospel. Compare 10 ; 40, 41. We are not informed that Jesus remained perpetually, during these forty days, with tlie disciples. Occasionally, at least, and perhaps frequently, for the space of forty days, he appeared to them, and staid a longer or a shorter time, as his purposes required. T^Tiile he was with ^em, however, he conducted in all ordinary respects as he had done before his death. He ate and drank with them. See 10 : 41. Where Jesus was between the intervals when he appeared to his disciples, we know not. He had all power in heaven and on earth, and there was no lack of ability to appear or to disappear, to be in one place or* in another, just as he chose. In all probability, his appearances were at irregular intervals, and, for the most part, without

CHAPTER I.

of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God :

4 And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from

previous notice. Compare John 20 : 19, 26. 21 : 1—14. II Speaking of the things 'pertaining to the kingdom of God. By the kingdom of God is liere meant the religion of Christ. This religion is called the kingdom, or, more properly, the reign, of God, because it establishes in men's hearts those just and righteous principles which accord with God's will, and thus fits them for the happiness which God has appointed for his true subjects. All who heartily embrace this religion choose God for their King, and consider themselves as his subjects. The Messiah's dispensation is, therefore, eminently the period of God's reigning among men. Compare Matt. 3 : 2. The apostles, who were to be their Lord's ambassadors and representatives, and the leaders of his people, needed further instruction } and, as it was his purpose to defer their becoming fully qualified for their work, by the extraordinary influences of the Spirit, until the day of Pentecost (2 : 1 — 4), he gave them, during the intervening time, instructions and encouragements adapted to their circumstances and prospects.

4. Being assembled together with them. As this was the Saviour's last interview with the disciples on earth (see V. 9), it was held, at least the latter part of it, on mount Olivet. Compare v. 12. From Luke 24 : 50, we learn that Jesus led out the disciples as far as to Bethany (that is, probably, to the boundaries of Bethany, not into the village itself), and took his final leave of them. Bethany was on the eastern side of Olivet, fifteen furlongs, or nearly two miles, from Jerusalem. John 11 : 18. It would seem that this interview was held partly in Jerusalem, and partly during the walk from Jerusalem to the spot of ascension. || Commanded them that they should not depart from, Jerusalem ; that they should not, for

Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized

the present, leave Jerusalem. This is the same command as is recorded in Luke 24 : 49, " Tarry ye in Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." It was the design of God to bestow on them special qualifications for their holy and arduous work. II Wait for the promise of the Father. God the Father had promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, by which the apostles of Jesus should be fully and finally qualified for their office. See John 15 : 26, 27. 16 : 13. Compare Luke 24 : 49. For the fulfilment of this promise, they were to wait in Jeru-alem. || Ye have heard of me. In our Lord's conversation with the disciples shortly before he was betrayed, he had assured them (John 15 : 26, 27. 16: 13) that the Holy Spirit would be imparted for completing their qualification to be his apostles.

5. For John, &c. ; that is, John the Baptist. Compare Matt. 3 : 11. || Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. The word baptize primarily signifies to immerse. And as a person who has been immersed in water has received it most copiously, this word is well used to express the idea of great abundance or plentifulness. Compare Matt. 20 : 22, 23, where tlie words baptize and baptism evidently convey the idea of overiohelm and overiohelming. To be baptized loith the Holy Spirit, then, means to receive the influences of the Holy Spirit in great abundance. The apostles were to be most plenteously endued with divine influence. The copious influences of the Spirit would qualify them for their office as apostles, by correcting all their erroneous views, and leading them into all Christian truth, by greatly promoting their piety and zeal, and by endowing them with miraculous powers. Thus they would be made fit guides of men in religion. || Not many days

ACTS.

with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

C When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,

hence. The promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as is related in the second chapter of the Acts. The Pentecost occurred fifty daj^s from the passover, which was the time when our Lord Avas crucified; and as his ascension occurred forty days (v. 3) after his resurrection, the promised effusion of the Holy Spirit took place about ten days from the time of this declaration.

6. mien they therefore icere come together; they asked of him. The same interview is here referred to, as is spoken of in the two preceding verses ; and the original might be more literally rendered, Those icho had come together asked of him. \\ Lord., wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? The word Israel here means the Jeioish nation. In common with other Jews, the disciples appear, before their Lord's crucifixion, to liave cherished the expectation that the Messiah would establish an earthly reign of great dignity and glory. Compare Matt. 20 : 21. After his resurrection, similar views appear to have been cherished by them for a time ; and it was in consequence of this expectation, tliat the question in this verse was proposed to our Lord. The disciples wished to know whether the time was now come in which he would assume royal power, and restore to tlie nation its former prosperity, giving it dominion, under his auspices, over all the nations of the earth. With this earthly view of the Messiah's reign, tliere was, doubtless, associated in their minds a partial view of its spiritual nature, as designed to establish triie religr-ion, and to bring over the nations to that religion. Their views of religion had also undergone a great change ; and they were far superior to their countrymen in valuable religious knowledge. They had not been connected so long with Jesus wholly in vain; nor were his sajing. Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ?

7 And he said unto them, It is

instructions without good effects on their minds, as well as hearts. Still, they were not yet wholly free from the erroneous impressions which their early education had made.

7. It is not for you to knoto the times or the scasojis, &c. AVithout aiming directly to remove their misapprehensions, and without answering their inquiry, Jesus presented to the disciples the thought, that it was properly no part of their concern to know the precise time, or the appointed opportunity, for a signal manifestation of the JSiessiah's authority. God had seen fit to reserve to himself such knowledge. It was their duty patiently to wait the developments of divine Providence, and to hold themselves ready to receive the extraordinary endowments which the Spirit would bestow. Events were just at hand, the Saviour knew, which would correct all the misconceptions of the disciples ; and he confidently trusted, in respect to their attaining correct views, to tlie efficacy of tlie Spirit's influences, which vrere soon to be imparted. Their views would then be corrected and enlarged. Light would beam, on their minds, and they would discover the utter needlessness of some inquiries which were now deeply interesting to them.

It appears from the ninth verse of this chapter, tJiat, at the close of the interview during which this conversation occurred, our Lord's ascension took place. The time when a very important manifestation of the Messiahship of Jesus was to be made, was only ten days distant. Forty days were already passed since his resurrection; and ten more would introduce the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would be shed forth.

Reflection. The remark of our Saviour to his inquisitive disciples conveys a salutary lesson to us all. When we feel desirous to pry into

CHAPTER L not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come

the counsels of God respecting the future, and to inquire at what time the millennial glory of the church will be ushered in, or when the end of the world will come, or the day of judgment break upon the world, let us check such unprofitable inquiries by remembering, that it is not for us to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath established by his own authority, and kept concealed in his own mind. Soldiers in active service are not expected to be inquiring into the times and seasons, when their general's plans are to be executed. Be it, rather, our solicitude to be always ready for our personal summons to the bar of God, and to be always living in such a manner that we shall contribute to the preparation of others, as well as of ourselves, to give up the final account with joy.

8. Ye shall receive power ; ye shall receive all needed ability for the office to which ye are called. Reference is had, as appears by the next clause, to the supernatural ability with which the apostles were to be endowed by the Holy Spirit. They would need special illumination and the extraordinary influences of the Spirit, so as to apprehend and explain the principles of the Messiah's religion, and to give miraculous evidence that the cause of Jesus enjoyed divine approval and assistance. |1 Jlfter that the Holy Ghost is come upon you ; or, the Holy Spirit being come on you. It was by the Holy Spirit's agency that the apostles were to be fully prepared for their office. Thus our Lord here expressed plainly what he had called, in the fourth verse, the promise of the Father. \\ In Jerusalem and in all Judea; in the metropolis of the nation, and through all the country of the Jews. || In Samaria. This was the central portion of Palestine ; but its inhabitants were not acknowlupon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part Of the earth.

edged as Jews. Between them, indeed, and the Jews, there existed deepseated hostility. See John 4:9. In our Lord's first commission to his apostles, he forbade them to " enter into any city of the Samaritans " (Matt. 10 : 5) ; for the time of his full manifestation as the Messiah and Saviour was not then arrived ; and during his lifetime he was specially sent to " the house of Israel." Matt. 15 : 24. He did, indeed, himself visit Sychar, a city of the Samaritans, and spent two days there. John 4 : 5, 43, But this was an exception to his ordinary practice. Now, however, that he was about ascending to heaven, and that the gospel was to be spread every where, the Samaritans, as well as the Jews, were to be blessed with it. And on account of the unfriendly feeling between the Jews and the Samaritans, a special direction was needed by the apostles concerning Samaria. Without this, some of them might have been in danger of cherishing the same spirit which was felt by James and John, when they said, in reference to a village of the Samaritans, " Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down out of heaven and consume them, as Elias did.?" See Luke 9: 51— 56. In the 8th chapter of Acts, vs. 9 — 25, we have an account of the gospel's being extensively preached among the Samaritans. II Unto the uttermost part of the earth. Still more widely were they directed to make known the Lord Jesus, as the appointed Saviour. Beyond the limits of Palestine, even to the ends of the earth, were they to spread the gospel. The language of the Saviour on this occasion is in interesting accordance with the language of the second psalm, v. 8, " I shall give thee the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Throughout the known world, wherever they could find, or make, an op-

ACTS.

9 And when be had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up : and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while the}' looked steadfastly towai-d heaven as be went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel ;

11 AVhich also said, Ye men of G^ablee, why stand ye gazing up

portunity, they were to bear their testimony respecting Jesus. The providence and the Spirit of God, accordingly, so directed them, that, in a few years after the Saviour's ascension, the gospel was extensively proclauned through the three quarters of the world then known.

9. He icas taken up ; into heaven. Compare Luke 24 : 51. |j And a cloud received him, Sec. He became enveloped and overshadowed, doubtless, by "a bright cloud, " like that which appeared~at the transfiguration of Jesus, as related in Matt. 17 : 5.

The forty days diiring which Jesus made communications to his disciples, were peculiarly important in preparing them for the copious outpourmg of the Holy Spirit, by which they became fully qualified for their work of bearing testunony for their Lord.

10. Tu:o men ; angels in human form. Angels frequently appeared in such a manner. See Matt. 2S : 2. Luke 24 : 4. \\ In white apparel. Angels appearing in human form, on other occasions, assumed such apparel. See Matt. 2.S : 3. John 20 : 12.

11. I'e men of Galilee. The apostles and the Christian company, generally, belonged to GalUee, the northem part of Palestine. Compare 2 : 7. Matt. 26 : 73. || Shall so come in like manner as ye hate seen him so into heaten. Jesus himself foretold, in Matt. 26 : 64, that he should hereafter come " in the clouds of heaven.'' And in Rev. 1 : 7, we read, " Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him."' He departed into heaven in a truly glorious manner : in due time he will appear again in his glory (Matt. 25 : 31) to judge the world.

into heaven ? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in bke manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12 Then returned they tmto Jei-usalem, from the mount called Ohvet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

13 And when they were come

Remark. In the language of Doddridge, " let us, with the apostles, look up after an ascending Saviour, and send our wishes and our souls to heaven, where he now is, and where he must remain till that important day in which he shall descend to the final judgment. In the mean time, may his cause and service be ever dear to us ! And while he is attending to our concerns in the world above, may we, with grateful and joyftil alacrity, pursue that which he graciously condescends to own as his interest here upon earth ! "

12. The mouni called Olivet ; the same as is elsewhere called "the mount of Olives." Matt. 21 : 1. 24 : 3. It was a high ridge, east of Jerusalem and parallel to the city. It ! was formerly planted with olive-trees. ■ From this mount Jesus ascended to heaven. Compare the note on v. 4. II Which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day' s journey. A sabbath day's jour- [ ney among the Jews, was about a mUe. ; The expression here used is not, howi ever, to be so strictly understood as i to mean a definite number of paces, I neither more nor less ; but, a short distance, such as, according to Jewish i custom, it was not considered wrong, 1 to go on the sabbath to attend worship at a synagogue. Different parts of mount Olivet were, of course, jnore j or^ess distant from Jerusalem. On j one side, the foot of the mountain was ; but five furlongs distant ; while Bethany, which lay on the opposite side, was j fi-fteen furlongs. See John 11 : 18. j 13. When they were come in; that is, into the city. || An upper room., I where abode both Peter and James., ' &c. ; an upper room of the house