all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men e John xix. 40. arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed fver. 3. Matt. together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 8 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 h And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. iv. 7. g ver. 5. hver. 5. ch. ii. 43: xix. 17. g • render, when they came in, found. And on them in the body, might perhaps have her, perhaps to her salutation: but more 9.] To try the omniscience of the them. .] Not that Peter heard the tread of the young men outside (they were probably barefooted), but it is an expression common in the poetical or lively description of the Hebrews, and indeed of all nations (see Isa. lii. 7; Nah. i. 15; Rom. x. 15); making the member whereby the person acts, the actor. I take the words to mean, that the time was just at hand for their return see James v. 9. The space of three hours was not too long: they would have to carry the corpse to the burying-ground at a considerable distance from the city, and when there, to dig a grave, and bury it. shall carry thee out] This word, spoken before her death, decisively proves that death to have been not a result merely of her detection, but a judicial infliction. 10.] when they came in: not implying that they immediately entered, but leaving room for some interval of time: see above. k 1ch. il. 43: 192 Cor. 4. xiv. 3: xix. 11. Rom. xv. xii. 12. Heb. k ch. iii. 11: Jix. 22: xii. 42 : xix. 38. m ch. ii. 47: iv. 21. 12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: m but the people magnified them. 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches," that at the least then Matt ix. 21: shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There P came also a multitude [rout] of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and Mark xvi. 17, them which were vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed every one. : xiv. 36. xix. 12. 18. John xiv. 12. 17 ps Then the high priest rose up, and all they that pch. iv. 1, 2, 0. P render, were coming. romit. 12-16.] PROGRESS OF THE FAITH; MIRACULOUS POWER, AND DIGNITY, OF THE APOSTLES. 12.] they were all, i. e. the Apostles only, not all the Christians. It does not follow from the word all referring to all the believers in ch. ii. 1 (see note there), that it necessarily refers to the same here also. The Apostles are the subject of the paragraph: and it is to set forth their unanimity and dignity that the description is given. They are represented as distinct from all others, believers and unbelievers (both which I take to be included under the term "the rest"): and the Jewish people itself magnified them. The further connexion see on ver. 14. Solomon's porch] See ch. iii. 11; John x. 23, note. 13.] the rest: i. e. all else, whether believers or not: none dared to join himself to, as being one of, or equal to, them: but (so far was this from being the case that) the very multitude magnified them. 14.] And (these clauses are not parenthetical, but continue the description of the dignity of the Apostles) the result of this was, that believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes of men and women. 15.] This verse now takes up afresh the main subject of vv. 12 and 13, the glorification of the apostolic office, insomuch that... It is connected not only with the multitude magnifying them, but also with ver. 12. into the streets] literally, down [the] streets, i. e. in the line of the streets. the shadow of Peter] As the greatest, in pre-eminence and spiritual energizing, of the Apostles. Now especially was fulfilled I render, the. 8 render, But. to him the promise of Matt. xvi. 18 (see 16.] 17-42.] IMPRISONMENT, MIRACULOUS LIBERATION, EXAMINATION BEFORE THE rch. xii. 7: xvi. 26. s John vi. 68: xvii. 3. 1 John v. 11. t ch. iv. 5, 6. S were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and q Luke xxi. 12. were filled with indignation, 18 9 and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing [a without] before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when [b the u Luke xxii. 4. high priest and] "the captain of the temple and the chief ch. iv. 1. C t literally, zeal; or jealousy. I render, an. Z render, in all security. being excited by the popularity of the 20.] all the words of this life, an unusual expression, seems to refer to the peculiar nature of the enmity shewn towards them by the Sadducees, for preaching the resurrection unto life: as if it were said, 'all the words of this LIFE,' which they call in question. Or perhaps the expression a literally, public custody. a omit. c render, priest. may import, that the religion of Jesus had If so, all the senate] Probably the elders, including perhaps some who were not members of the Sanhedrim: the wellknown foes of Jesus and his doctrine. priests heard these things, they doubted d of them, whereunto this would grow. 25 e Then came one and told them, [ saying,] Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they x Matt. xxi. 26. should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 saying, g Did not we straitly com- 5 ch. iv. 18. mand you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter a Matt. xxiii. and the [other] apostles answered and said, ' We ought to bch. iv. 19. d render, concerning. fomit. a zch. ii. 23, 36: iii. 15: vii. 52. 35: xxvii. 25. e render, And one came. 8 Many of our oldest authorities read, We straitly commanded &c., without a question. The expression, the senate of the children of Israel, common in the LXX, is perhaps translated from the form of words in which they were summoned. 24.] the priest, if genuine (and the varieties of reading seem to have arisen from the difficulty it has occasioned), must designate the High Priest; not that the word itself can bear the meaning (compare 1 Macc. xv. 1 and 2), but that the context points out the priest thus designated to be the High Priest. On the captain of the temple, see note ch. iv. 1. He appears to have been summoned to meet the Sanhedrim, perhaps as the offence had taken place within his jurisdiction. But he was probably one of the chief priests. These latter were the titular High Priests, partly those who had served the office, partly the presidents of the twenty-four courses, partly the kindred of the High Priest (see Matt. ii. 4). concerning them] i. e. 'concerning the Apostles,' the persons mentioned in ver. 22; not these words,' as would appear at first sight. where unto this would grow, i. e. to what this would come, is the correct translation of the original: not, as some have maintained, how this had come about?' nor, 'what was the meaning of this.' 26.] The clause, lest they should have been But you that ness of open allusion to the names or facts connected with Jesus and the spread of his doctrine may be traced in the words "this name," and "this man's blood," and is a strong mark of truth and circumstantiality. The High Priest will not name Jesus: Peter names and celebrates Him." Bengel. to bring this man's blood upon us] Not meaning that divine vengeance would come on them for the murder of Jesus; but with a stress on us-that the people would be incited to take vengeance on them, the Sanhedrim, for that murder. The preceding clause, "ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine," shews this to be their thought. Compare the pointed address of Peter to the Sanhedrim, ch. iv. 8-12, and the distinction between them and the people in iv. 21.-This being so, the resemblance between this expression and the imprecation of the people in Matt. xxvii. 25 must not be too closely pressed, though the coincidence is too striking to escape notice. 29.] Peter, by word of mouth; the Apostles, as a body, by assent, implied in his own utterance and their silence. There is no occasion to insert "other," as done in the A. V.-This defence of Peter divides itself into the propositions of an ordinary syllogism—(1) The statement of the general truth that we must obey God rather than men (2) The reduction of the present circumstances under that general truth, as being the work of the God of their Fathers-shewn in his having raised and glorified Jesus, for a definite purpose, to give, &c.—(3) The ech. iii. 13, 15: obey God rather than men. 30 The xxii. 14. d ch. x. 39: 20. Gal. raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and 31 e Him hath God exalted with his iii. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 24. e ch. ii. 33, 36. Phil. ii. 9. Heb. ii. 10: xii. 2. fch. iii. 15. g Matt. i. 21. h Luke xxiv. 47. ch. iii. 26: xii. 38. Eph. i. 7. Col. i. 14. i John xv. 26, 27. homit. God of our fathers hanged on a tree. right hand [h to be] fa Prince and a Saviour, h for to give repentance to k ch. ii. 4: x. 44. identification of themselves with the course of action marked out by the duty of obey ing God rather than men... in that they were bearing witness to God's work, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit given them as men obedient to God.-The whole is a perfect model of concise and ready eloquence, and of unanswerable logical coherence; and a notable fulfilment of the promise "it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak" (Matt. x. 19). We ought to obey] Much stronger than their former saying in ch. iv. 19, "whether it be right... to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye,”- -as their conduct, in persisting after prohibition, had been more marked and determined. That In was a mere listening to' the proposition then made to them; this a course of deliberate action, chosen and entered on. to obey God-opposed to the words your doctrine of the High Priest; and to his designation of our Lord as this man. the background, there would be the command of the angel, ver. 20: but it is not alleged the great duty of preaching the Gospel of Christ is kept on its highest grounds. 30. The God of our fathers] Thus binding on Christ and his work to the covenant whereof all present were partakers. ye, emphatic answering to the emphatic "upon us" of the High Priest. on a tree (or, beam of wood)] Compare the similar contrast in ch. iii. 14, 15. The manner of death is described thus barely and ignominiously, to waken compunction in the hearers, to whom the expression was well known as entailing curse and disgrace on the victim. 31.] with (not to) his right hand, as in ch. ii. 33, where see note. The great aim here, as there, is to set forth God as the DOER of all this. a Prince and a Saviour, not, 'to be a Prince and a Saviour:' but the words are the predicate of Himas a Prince and a Saviour. a Prince] as in ch. iii. 15, which see. Saviour] Jesus was to be King and Captain of Israel, and also their Saviour. The two and a 1 ch. ii. 37: vii. 54. i literally, words: offices, though inseparably connected in fact, had each its separate meaning in Peter's speech: a Prince-to whom you owe obedience -a Saviour, by whom you must be saved from your sins. for to give, in his Kingly prerogative; repentance and remission of sins, to lead to salvation by him as a Saviour.-The key to this part of the speech is Luke xxiv. 47-49, where we have, in our Lord's command to them, the same conjunction of repentance and remission of sins,—and immediately follows, as here, "ye are witnesses of these things," appointing them to that office which they were now discharging,-and, parallel with the mention of the Holy Ghost in our text, there follows there, "and behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you." By conjoining the Holy Ghost, as a witness, with themselves,-they claim and assert the promise of John xv. 26, 27: see also the apostolic letter of ch. xv. 28. When we remember how much of the apostolic testimony was given in writing, as well as by word of mouth, this declaration of Peter becomes an important element for judging of the nature of that testimony also. See a very similar conjunction, 1 John v. 9.They were God's witnesses, in the things which they had seen and heard as men: the Holy Ghost in them was God's Witness, in purifying and enlarging by His inspiration that their testimony to facts, and in unfolding, from (and as inseparable from) these witnessed facts,-the things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard. And in the Scripture THESE SAME TESTIMONIES are conjoined; that of the Apostles, holy men under the guidance and reminiscence of the Holy Spirit, faithfully and honestly reporting those things which fall under human observation: and that of God the Spirit Himself, testifying, through them, those loftier things which no human experience can assure, nor human imagination compass. 32. things] literally, words: meaning, histories, things expressed in words: see note on Luke i. 4. to them that obey him] He does |