sup The apostles join in prayer. Acts. one accord i in prayer and plication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15 ¶ And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of the names j together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spakek before concerning Judas,which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now, this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and, falling headlong,m he burst asunder in the midst, & all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. i With one accord, unanimously, in perfect agreement. j Number of the names, the number of them. For these prophecies of David see Psalm xli. 9, and cix. 8. I Purchased a field, &c. i. e. a field was purchased with the money, for which Judas betrayed his Master. m Falling beadlong, &c. breaking from the place on which he hanged himself (Matt, xxvii. 5.) he burst asunder, &c. Matthias chosen, &r. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms,n Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein; and, His bishoprick let another take. 21 Wherefore, of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, & Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry & apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. CHAP. II. The apostles, filled with the Holy Ghost, speak divers languages. AND, when the day of Pentecosta was fully come, they n In Psalms Ixix. 25, & cix. 8. a Pentecost was an annual feast of the Jews, in commemoration of giv ing the law on mount Sinai, The apostles inspired. Chap. ii. were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them; 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, & began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed, and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, & Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, & strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our Peter's sermon. tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this ? 13 Others mocking, said, These men are full of new wine.b 14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.c 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;d 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days,e saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: b Full of new wine, or drunken. c Third hour, about nine in the forenoon-too early for excessive drinking. It may be observed, that the Jews divided the day from sunrise to sunset into twelve equal parts; so that at different seasons of the year, the hours were of different lengths; and would not exactly agree with our division of time. d Joel ii. 28-32. e Last days of the Jewish govern ment, and of God's peculiar favour to that people, as a nation; last days likewise denoted the times of the Messiah. 18 And on my servants, and on my hand-maidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; & they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above,f and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great & notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: upon f Wonders in heaven, &c. These doubtless mean the wonderful prodigies which, according to most credible historians, actually appeared before the destruction of Jerusalem, such as a flaming sword suspended in the air over the city; a fiery comet pointing down it for a whole year; a light shining upon the temple and the altar, as if it had been noon-day; the opening of the great gate of the temple without hands; a voice heard from the most holy place, when no one was in it, "Let us depart bence;" the admonition of one Jesus, son of Ananus, who for seven years went up and down the city crying, wo! wo! wo! the vision of contending armies in the air, terrible lightnings, thunders, and earthquakes, &c. which all considered as portending some dreadful calamity; these were indeed "wonders in heaven, and signs in the earth beneath." continued. 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption. g 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; g Neither wilt thou suffer the body of thine holy One to continue in the grave, till it is corrupted. Sermon ended. Chap.ii. Three thousand converted.. 31 He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens ;h but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have erucified, both Lord & Christ. 37 ¶ Now, when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,i and said unto Peter, & to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and b For David is not himself in the body ascended into heaven. Were pricked in their heart, were deeply affected with relenting and concern. to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify & exhort, saying,j Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart ;k 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. j Saying, save yourselves by embrac ing the religion of Jesus, from the ruin which will speedily come upon this depraved nation. k Singleness of beart, sincerity of heart, or without covetousness. A lame man cured. CHAP. III. Acts. Peter addresses the people, 2 And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ancle-bones received strength. 8 And he, leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking & praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. 12¶ And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, & of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, a when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I wotb that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. a Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. b I wot, I know. |