28 Acts He exhorts them to repent and be baptized. SECT. and all [your] 'other sins; and you not only mission of sins, and V. shall obtain the free and full remission of them ye shall receive the all, but also shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. gift of the Holy .38 Spirit, by which he will own the work of his 39 grace upon your hearts, and qualify you for serving that Lord whom you have crucified. For the promise of the Spirit is made, as you 39 For the prosee in the forecited passage from Joel, (ver. mise is unto you, and to your chil 17, 18) to you, and to your children, whom dren, and to all that God is ready to admit to the same privilege are afar off, even as with you; and not only so, but it extends to many as the Lord the remotest nations, to all that are afar off,a our God shall call. 40 4.1 as well as to them that are near, even to as many Thus Peter addressed himself to the multi- 40 And with many And the exhortation was not in vain; for 41 Then they that many were awakened and wrought upon by it. gladly received his The promise is to you, and to your children.] Considering that the gift of the Spirit, had been mentioned just before, it seems most natural to interpret this, as a reference to that passage in Joel, which had been so largely recited above, (verse 17, & seq.) where God promises the effusion of the Spirit on their sons and their daughters: And accordingly I have paraphrased the latter clause of this verse as referring to its extraordinary gifts; and the rather, as the sanctifying influence of the Spirit must already have been received, to prepare them for entering into the church by baptism. But, if the promise be interpreted as referring to a remoter clause, the forgiveness of their sins, this whole verse must be taken in a greater latitude, as referring to the encour agement which all future converts and their children had, to expect the benefits of the gos pel: In which view, I think it would much favour infant baptism, as many writers on the subject have largely shewn. To all that are afar off] Since Peter knew nothing as yet of the intended calling of the Gentiles, he could only mean by this, that the gospel should be preached to all the dispersed of Israel in distant nations: But the Spirit of God might have a farther view. Three thousand souls are added to the church. V. 29 word were baptized: They therefore who received his word with read- SECT. and the same day iness, were baptized: thereby taking upon them there were added un- the public profession of faith in Jesus as the to them about three thousand souls. Messiah: And there were added to the number Acts ii. 41 [of the disciples] that very day about three thousand souls. Nor was this only a transport of sudden passion, with which they were affected only for the present, with an impression that quickly wore off: but on the contrary, it pro42 And they con- duced the most solid and lasting effects. And 42 tinued steadfastly in notwithstanding all the apparent danger to which the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and they were exposed, they continued steadfast in in breaking of bread, their attendance on the word which the apostles and in prayers. preached, and resolutely adhered to their doc- as these primitive Christians did: Facts, of which we have no manner of convincing evidence, and which were probably intended to slur Christianity by an invidious comparison. (Elsner. Observ. Vol. I. p. 375, 376.) Compare Vol. II. Sect. 90, note ". doctrine.] This may intimate, on the one They continued steadfast in the apostles hand, that many efforts were made to shake fuller inquiry they found all things, as the their resolution; and on the other, that upon apostles had represented. There were added that very day temples, and sharing their goods in common, about three thousand souls.] It is commonly said, that all these were converted by one sermon. But it is probable, that, while Peter was preaching in the Syriac language, the other apostles were preaching at some small distance, much to the same purpose, in other languages; and it is not surely to be imagined, that none of them but Peter should be blessed as the means of converting any soul; not to insist upon it, that he himself might deliver several discourses this day to different auditories, when the concourse of people was so great, and their languages so various. It will not be improper to add, that gooienaar emphatically signifies to pass over to a body of men, as Bos, Raphelius, and Elsner have shewn; and that Elsner has shewn at large, in a very curious note on this clause, not only, (asGataker, Raphelius, and many others have) that souls often signifies persons in the Greek and Latin classics; but also, that Jamblicus in his Life of Pythagoras has exactly imitated this passage, in the account he gives of that philosopher's success in Italy, as proselyting two thousand by one discourse, engaging them to continue with him, frequently worshipping in the 8 In breaking of bread.] Though we have great reason to believe, that the eucharist was often celebrated among these primitive converts, perhaps much oftener than every Lord's day, yet I cannot see reason to conclude with Suicer, (Thesaur. Eccles. Vol. II. p. 105) Lightfoot, Pearson, and many others, that this phrase must here refer to it, since it may undoubtedly sig nify common meals, as Casaubon, Grotius, Wolfius, and several others have shewn; and in this sense the phrase is used, Luke xiv. 35, where it is plain the eucharist could not be intended. 30 They sell their possessions, and have all things in common. V. Acts SECT. ing, in the exercise of social prayer. And many 43 And fear came others who were not converted, when they took upon every soul: notice of this wonderful effect of the apostles and signs were done and many wonders 43 preaching, were mightily struck and impressed by the apostles. with the thought of it; so that a reverential fear and inward dread fell upon every soul, and spread itself over the whole city and neighbourhood, at the sight of so unexampled an event, which they apprehended might be the forerunner of some public calamity, on those who had slain that Jesus, of whom it was declared by his disciples, that it was ail effected by his power: And the consternation was farther increased, as many miracles and signs, which plainly shewed an extraordinary divine interposition, were wrought by the apostles in his name. 4.4 to And all that believed were together meeting 44 And all that as frequently as possible in the same place, and believed were such was their mutual affection and love to gether, and had al each other, that they had all things in common. things common. 45 And this generous principle went so far, that 45 And sold their they who had estates, or any other valuable possessions substance, sold their possessions and effects, and goods, and parted readily divided the price of them to all their brethren, as every one had particular necessity. and them to all men, as every man had need. even In the same place.] Dr. Whitby swallow up all Jewish property, would of pleads that, as they were at least three course dispose many more readily to sell thousand one hundred and twenty, they their lands. But the New Testament abounds could not be in the same place, and there- with passages, which plainly shew, this fore would understand it of communion in was never intended for a general practhe same action. He would rather render tice. None can reasonably imagine, that it, (as our translation does) they were to- the number of Christian converts, gether; and produces several places from the Septuagint to this purpose, as Ezra iv. 3; Psal. xlix. 2; Isa. lxvi. 17; Jer. vi. 12, &c. But, as it generally signifies an assembly in the same place, and many larger assemblies than of three or four thousand people are held, it seemed best to render it thus, only qualifying it as in the paraphrase, especially as en To aulo has plainly this sense, ver. 1. Had all things in common.] Peculiar reasons made this community of goods eligible at that time, not only as so many sojourners, who had come from other parts, would justly be desirous to continue at Jerusalem, much longer than they intended, when they came up to the feast, that they might get a thorough knowledge of the gospel, but as the prospect likewise of the Roman conquests, which according to Christ's known prediction were soon to then at Jerusalem, is to be accounted for by a desire to share in these divided goods For it is evident, that, as the portion each could have would be very small, so the hardships to be endured for a Christian profession would soon counterbalance such advantages and accordingly we find, the converts at Jerusalem were soon reduced to such necessitous circumstances, as to need relief by the contributions of their Gentile brethren. Candour would rather lead men to argue the incontestable evidence of the gospel, from its prevailing on the professors of it to part with their estates, to relieve persons, who, excepting the community of their faith, had no particular claim to their regards. If such instances were numerous, this argument is strengthened in proportion; and, if they be supposed few, the objection is proportionably weakened. one accord in the Converts are daily added to the Church. V. 31 Acts 46 And they, con- (Compare chap. iv. 34, 35.) And they contin- SECT. tinuing daily with ued resolutely and unanimously in the temple, at temple, and break the appointed hours of public worship every ing bread from day: And at other times they associated, as ii. 46 house to house, did frequently as they could, breaking bread from eat their meat with house to house, each family making entertaingladness and singleness of heart; ments for their brethren, especially for those who were sojourners in Jerusalem: And they partook of their common refreshment, with the greatest joy on the side of those that made the entertainments; and with disinterested simplicity of heart in those who received them; and on all sides with the sincerest sentiments of 47 Praising God, devotion and friendship. Such was the effect 47 and having favour the gospel had upon them, and in this manner with all the people. And the Lord add- they went on, praising God for the riches of ed to the church his grace to them, and having in the general daily such as should that favour and respect among all the people, be saved. which so amiable and benevolent a conduct would naturally secure. And the Lord Jesus IMPROVEMENT. FAITHFUL are the wounds of a friend; and far more beautiful than a jewel of gold, or an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover on an obedient ear. (Prov. xxvii. 6; xxv. 12.) Happy are they who feel such an holy compunction of soul as these penitents did! verse Salvation is come to their house, and though they sow in tears they 37 shall reap in joy. (Psal. cxxvi. 5.) What reason have we for thankfulness, that when we are crying out, What shall we do? the gospel gives us so ready an answer, and directs us to faith and repentance, as the sure way by which we may obtain the 38 remission of our sins, and at length rise to an inheritance among them that are sanetified. Let us rejoice, that the promise is to 39 us, and to our seed; and that the important blessings of it will run down from generation to generation. And let all the ardour of our souls be awakened to secure these blessings, and to be 40 saved from that ruin, in which we shall otherwise be involved with the crooked and perverse generation among which we live. Glorious effect of this convincing and excellent discourse, 41 when three thousand were in one day added to the church! three thousand, who not only expressed some present good impres 32 V. -- verse Reflections on the great success of the apostles preaching. SECT. Sións and resolutions, but continued steadfast in the religion they had embraced, and sacrificed all their worldly interests to it. How glorious an earnest of the future success of the gospel! How 42 great an encouragement to the apostles, in all the difficulties they were to encounter; and how convincing a proof to all ages of its truth! since all these proselytes were made upon the spot, where if it had been false, it is impossible it should have been believed by any one rational inquirer, how mean soever his capacity, or how low soever his rank in life had been. Let us reflect with pleasure on the happy change produced in the character and state of these converts: Bitter as the first 46 pangs of their convictions were, anguish soon yielded to delight: Pardon of sin, and the hope of glory added a relish before unknown to the supports of nature, the accommodations of life, and 47 the endearments of friendship. Whilst their hearts were opened in sentiments of gratitude to God, who had provided a laver for their crimson sins, which rendered them like wool and like snow; and to that Redeemer, who had saved them by that blood which 44 they had cruelly and impiously shed; they were so dilated in liberality and bounty; and they undoubtedly found a rich equiva45 lent for all the worldly possessions which they resigned, in that holy joy which sprang up in their souls, when the treasures of the gospel were opened to them, and dealt out with so generous a hand. 47 SECT. vi. So may the kingdom of Christ spread and flourish in the souls of men! So may that blessed time come, when through the operation of the same Spirit (for that Spirit is for ever the same), nations shall be born in a day. Let us not despair; the morning was glorious, and in the even tide it shall be light. (Zech. xiv. 7.) In the mean time, let us thankfully own whatever progress Christianity may be making among us, or others, though by slow degrees; and acknowledge, that it is the great Lord of the church who, by his secret but powerful influence adds unto its respective societies such as shall be saved. May the additions every where be numerous, and may the great Author of all good be more thankfully owned in them all. SECT. VI. Peter and John, quickly after the feast of Pentecost, cure a man who had been lame from his birth, at the temple gate, which occasions a great concourse of admiring spectators. Acts III. 1-11. ACTS III. 1. NOW while the church was in the flourishing state described above, an extraordiActs nary circumstance happened, which tended iii. 1 still more to increase its numbers and reputa |