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orders them to wait for the Spirit at Jerusalem.

with them, com

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4 And, being as- And, on the fortieth day after his resurrec- SECT. together tion, having assembled them together with pemanded them that culiar solemnity, he charged them not to depart they should not de-from Jerusalem directly, though he was now 14 part from Jerusa- to stay no longer with them, and they knew of lem, but wait for the no immediate business which they had there; promise of the Father, which, saith but ordered them to wait there for the accomhe, ye have heard plishment of that promise of the Father, to send the Spirit, which, [said he,]f you have so often, and so lately heard from me. (See John xiv. 26; 5 For John truly xv. 26; xvi. 7; and Luke xxiv. 49.) baptized with water; but ye shall be John indeed baptized with water only, when he baptized with the was sent to call men to repentance; but, as he Holy Ghost, not ma- then declared (Mat. iii. 11), there is a nobler ny days hence.

of me.

6 When they

For 5

baptism you may expect from me; and to pre-
pare and furnish you for the great work to
which I have commissioned you, of preaching
repentance and remission of sins in my name,
you shall be baptized with an abundant effusion
of the Holy Spirit, far beyond what you have
ever yet received: And this, I assure you,
shall be done within these few days; which
proved by the event to be but ten.

But now, as the appointed time was come for 6
therefore were come his returning to the Father, Jesus withdrew
together, they asked with his apostles from the city, and led them
out, as was observed before, unto the mount of
Olives, as far as to the boundaries of Bethany.
(See Luke xxiv. 50; Vol. II. note 2.) They
therefore being come together, full of expecta-
tion that he had brought them thither with a
view to some remarkable transaction, asked

Having assembled them together.] Though some considerable ancient as well as modern critics, and particularly Chrysostom, and Theophylact, understand the word Curanique as expressive of Christ's eating with his apostles during the forty days spoken of above; the Notes of Elsner, (Observ. Vol. I. p. 355) and Raphelius, (ex Xen. p. 146, et Herod. p. 320, & seq.) seem abundantly sufficient to justify the version here given.

where God had chosen to dwell, and where the most solemn ordinances of his worship were administered.

Said he.] These words, though omitted in the original, are plainly implied. Raphelius (ex Xen. p. 146, 147) has produced many examples of such a change in the person speaking in the best Greek writers. Many others occur in the sacred authors. Compare Luke v. 14; Acts xvii. 3; xxiii. 22; Gen. xxvi. 7; Deut. ii. 13. See also Psal. ii. 3, 6; and xci. 14. And I the rather mention it, as it may account for many prophecies of Christ in the Old Tes tament, where he is introduced as speaking on a sudden, in an abrupt manner; which is not so usual, especially in modern and

Not to depart from Jerusalem] This seems a plain intimation, that, after our Lord had met his disciples in Galilee, he appointed the apostles to meet him at Jerusalem, or perhaps accompanied them thither, and spent his last days on earth there; doing this last honour to the place, western Writers.

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He checks their curiosity about a temporal kingdom,

SECT. him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time break of him, saying, Lord the Roman yoke from our necks, and after all wilt thou at this this confusion restore the kingdom to the un- the kingdom to Istime restore again 1.6. grateful people of Israel, who have been thus rael? shamefully abusing and crucifying thee? Is the empire of the Messiah immediately to be erected? and wilt thou begin it from Jerusa lem; a place that, of all upon the face of the earth, seems to be the least worthy of such a distinguishing honour?

7 But he, waving a direct answer to this curi- 7 And he said
ous question, and leaving it to the Spirit, which unto them, It is not
for you to know the
was shortly to be given, to rectify the mistaken times or the seasons,
notions on which they proceeded in it, only which the Father
said to them, Cease your inquiries at present on hath put in his own
this head; since it is not convenient for you power.

now to know those times or seasons in which
many remarkable prophecies concerning my
kingdom shall be fulfilled: For the Father has
reserved them in his own power, under his own
direction and disposal, and hath not expressly
determined them in those predictions which
certify the events themselves. And he hath

taken this precaution, on purpose that the minds of his people might be kept in an humble, dependent, resigned frame: It will therefore be your wisdom always to cultivate such a temper, applying yourselves diligently to the duties of your office, and leaving all events to be determined by his infinite wisdom and goodness. 8 But for the present let it suffice you to be told, 8 But ye shall rethat ere long, though I say not exactly when, ceive power after that the Holy Ghost you shall receive an extraordinary power of the is come upon you; Holy Spirit coming upon you; and, in conse- and ye shall be witquence of that, shall be abundantly qualified to nesses unto me, both be my witnesses both in the city of Jerusalem, all Judea, and in Sa in Jerusalem, and in and in all the land of Judea; and not only so, but in Samaria too, though you have never yet

Restore the kingdom to Israel.] They intimates the shattered and weakened state, seem to have expected, that, when the in which Israel now was. And I cannot Spirit was in so extraordinary a manner but think, our Lord's answer may intimate, poured out, and the world, according to it should at length be restored, though not Christ's prediction (John xvi. 8), convinced immediately, or with all the circumstances of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, the they imagined; which concession seems whole nation of the Jews would own him the most satisfactory answer to Rabbi for the Messiah, and so not only shake off Isaac's objection against Christianity, from its subjection to the Romans, but itself his mistaken sense of these words. Chisrise to very extensive, and perhaps univer- suck Emunah, Part II. p. 59. sal dominion. The word αποκαθις αγείς

5

and having blessed them, ascends to heaven in their sight. maria, and unto the addressed yourselves to the Samaritans in any SECT.

earth.

Acts

uttermost part of the former mission (see Mat. x. 5, and compare i. Acts viii. 5, 14, 25), and even to the remotest parts of the earth; the barbarous nations of i.8 which you shall visit, with a success which shall gloriously illustrate my Father's promise, of giving me the heathen for mine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for my possession." (See Psal. ii. 8.)

9 And when he

And having said these things, he lifted up his 9 had spoken these hands and blessed them (Luke xxiv. 50); and things, while they while they beheld him with great earnestness, beheld,he was taken up, and a cloud re- and high expectation of some extraordinary ceived him out of event consequent on this solemn preparation, their sight.

toward heaven, as

he was lifted up from the ground in a miracu-
lous manner, and rose gradually higher and
higher, till at length a bright cloud, conducted
by the ministry of angels, who joyfully attend-
ed their returning Lord, received him out of
their sight, and they saw him no more.

10 And while they This marvellous event was so astonishing to 10 looked steadfastly the apostles, that they continued with their eyes he went up, behold, fixed the way that he was gone: And while they two men stood by were steadfastly looking up to heaven after him, them in white ap- as he went on in his triumphant ascent, behold, parel; two angels, in the form of men, in white and shining raiment, came and stood near them; 11 Which also Who also spake to them, and said, Ye men of 11 said, Ye men of Gal- Galilee, why do ye stand thus gazing up to heavilee, why stand ye gazing up into heav- en, with so much surprise and amazement? en? This same Je- This Jesus, who is now taken up from you into sus, which is taken heaven, is gone to that world from whence he up from you into heaven, and in which he is to make his final came, SO come, in like manan- abode: Nevertheless there will be a time, ner as ye have seen when he shall visit your earth once more, and him go into heaven. so come in a visible form, riding on a cloud as his triumphant chariot, and attended by angelic guards, in the same manner as you have now beheld him going into heaven: Depart therefore in peace, and pursue the interest of his kingdom, with a firm assurance that his cause shall prosper amidst all opposition, and that while you are engaged in the service of this ascended triumphant Lord, you can never be losers by your fidelity and your zeal.

shall

12 Then returned

VOL. 3.

Then were the hearts of the apostles filled 12 with joy by what they had seen and heard; and having worshipped their ascended Lord (Luke

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The apostles return from mount Olivet to Jerusalem. SECT. XXIV. 52), they returned to Jerusalem from the they unto Jerusalem, i. mount called Olivet, which is but a sabbathday's from the mount calljourney, or about a mile distant from Jerusa- from Jerusalem a ed Olivet, which is lem. And there they employed themselves sabbathday's jour in a daily course of public and private devo- ney. tion; rejoicing in what they had seen, and firmly believing some extraordinary event was at hand, whereby they should be more fully qualified for the great work assigned them; which, whatever the hazard of it might be, they were firmly determined to undertake and prosecute.

verse

IMPROVEMENT.

If we have ever seriously considered the contents of this ex1 cellent history on which we are now entering, we must surely see abundant reason to adore that gracious Providence which hath transmitted it to us, to confirm our faith, and animate our hope 2,9 in the gospel. The account of our Lord's ascension, with which it begins, relates to a fact of so great importance, that we may well bear the repetition of what we have read concerning it in the former history.

6

We see the apostles still dreaming of a temporal kingdom to be restored to Israel: So hard is it for the best of men to be entirely crucified to the world, even by the cross of Christ! (Gal. 7 vi. 24.) Our Lord does not set himself at large, to combatthat error; nor is it necessary that we should be eagerly solicitous on the like occasions, where mistakes do not affect men's characters, or their eternal state. Prudently does he direct them to wave the indulgence of their curiosity. Let us learn to moderate ours, and refer times and seasons to him who hath reserved them in his own power. Let a sense of the perfect wisdom and goodness of the Divine Being silence and compose us, amidst all the darkness which veils our prospects of futurity.

10

With the apostles let us 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 11 descend to the final judgment. Behold, he then cometh in the clouds, and every eye shall see him! (Rev. i. 7.) May we view him to our joy, and not to our terror and lift up our heads with

A sabbathday's journey from Jerusalem.] For the extent of a sabbathday's journey, see Vol. II. Luke xxiv. 52, note. The easiest manner of reconciling this text with Luke xxiv. 50, and John xi. 18, may be seen in the note on the former of those passages, Vol. II. sect. cciii. note. And it is with pleasure that I see it confirmed and illus

trated by the learned Mr. Biscoe, in his Sermons at Boyle's Lecture, p. 391-394. An elaborate and valuable work; by referring to which I shall have an opportunity of saving myself and the reader a great deal of trouble in these notes; for which therefore I gladly take this opportunity of making my acknowledgment to the worthy author.

The apostles and other disciples meet in an upper room.

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a serenity and cheerfulness, becoming those who see the approach SECT. of their complete redemption! (Luke xxi. 28.) 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 joyful alacrity, pursue that which he graciously condescends to own as his interest here on earth.

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i. 12

Acts

i. 13

AND when they NOW the apostles being returned from the SECT. mount of Olives to Jerusalem, immediate- ii. upper room, where ly after the ascension of Christ, (as was observabode both Peter,and ed in the conclusion of the former section James, and John, when they were entered [into the city] they presand Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bar. ently retired for devotion, and went up into an tholomew and Mat- upper room, where they usually held their thew, James the son assemblies. And as this was the place where of Alpheus, and Si- the apostles commonly abode, all the eleven Judas the brother of were there, both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [the son] of Alpheus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, or Jude, [the brother] of fames. But Judas the traitor was now dead, as was observed towards the close of the preceding history; (Vol. II. sect. cxciii.) and the vacancy occasioned by his death gave rise to that important business to which they quickly proceeded.

James.

14 These all con

b

These all unanimously persevered in prayer 14 tinued with one ac- and supplication, with great intenseness and cord in prayer and supplication, with ardour of soul, together with the pious women, and who were formerly mentioned as attending the

the women,

a Into an upper room.] I can see no suf. ficient room for saying, as many have done, that this was in the temple. (Compare noted, on Luke xxiv. 53, Vol. II.) Epiphanius says, it was on mount Sion, and that a Christian church was afterwards erected on the spot of ground on which it stood. (See Hammond in loc.) Perhaps they might the rather choose it, as giving Come advantage for looking to the temple.

But it is plain from many other passages, that upper rooms were often large, and fit for containing a considerable number of persons. (Compare Mark xiv. 15, and Acts xx. 8.) See Bos. Exercit. p. 64, & seq.

The brother of James.] The expression in the original is ambiguous, and may signify either son, or brother: But Jude himself expressly determines it, that he was his brother, in ver. 1, of his epistle.

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