Christ. As Moses brought Israel out of literal Egypt, so Christ brings us out of spiritual Egypt, whereof the Egyptian bondage was a figure. 3. By his stock and original, from which according to the flesh he sprang; I will raise him up from among thy brethren. Christ honoured the nation of the Jews, and the tribe of Judah, with his nativity. Thus this great Prophet is described. Note, 2. A strict injunction to hear and obey this great Prophet; hear him only, hear him universally. The word him, is to be understood exclusively, him and none but him; that is, in the same manner that we hear him, him for his own authority's sake, his ministers for his sake, as speaking from him, and in his name; and we must hear him universally, in all things,-every command is to be obeyed, none to be disputed; be the duty commanded never so difficult, and the sin forbidden never so tempting. Note, 3. A severe commination: The soul that will not hear shall be cut off. That is, God will severely revenge himself upon the stubborn and disobedient. Learn hence, 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is constituted and appointed by God to be the great prophet and teacher of his church. He reveals the will of God perfectly, powerfully, persuasively, plainly, and infallibly. Learn, 2. That it is the duty of all to hear and obey the voice of this great Prophet, and this under the penalty of eternal destruction : Every soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people. 24. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. That is, "All the prophets from Moses to Samuel, and particularly Isaiah the evangelical prophet, did foretell the coming and kingdom of the Messias, the special mercies to them that believe on him, and the destruction of those that reject him." Where note, That Samuel is mentioned as the first prophet between them, because he was the first prophet after Moses that wrote his prophecy, and first erected the schools of the prophets.-Learn hence, That Christ was the sum of the law as well as the substance of the gospel; all the legal sacrifices pointed at him, all the prophets prophesied of him, and received their completion in him. He was Abel's Sacrifice, Isaac's Ram, Isaiah's Emmanuel, Daniel's Holy One, Zechariahs' Branch, and Malachi's Angel. 25. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed, Still observe, How sweetly St. Peter invites and encourages these murderers of Christ to repentance: the worst of men must neither be driven to despair, nor be too hastily despaired of. He tells them they were the posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with whom God first entered into covenant, and consequently they were children of the covenant, and also children of the prophets; that is the people to whom God primarily and chiefly sent the prophets. So great were the prerogatives of the Jews, that they are called the children of the prophets, children of the promise, children of the covenant, children of the kingdom. But the higher a people are exalted by spiritual privileges, the lower they fall if they miscarry. 26 Unto you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Here note, 1. That the offer of Jesus Christ and eternal salvation by him, was first made to the people of the Jews, because they were the children of the covenant; that is, the only people in visible communion with God throughout the whole world. Note, 2. The benefit offered; God's Son is raised up; that is, either, 1.Authorized, consecrated, and appointed to be a Saviour; or, 2. Raised from the grave. You crucified him with wicked hands: but behold the divine clemency! He is first offered to you his crucifiers; God has sent his Son in the preaching of the gospel first to you; and this not to take vengeance on you, but to bless you. He being the great Highpriest, blesses authoritatively and effectually; and the blessing he dispenses is not a temporal blessing, as you expected, a pompous Messiah, a secular kingdom, but spiritual, in turning souls from sin to God; he offers to bless you by turning every one of you from your iniquities. Learn hence, 1. That it is Christ's proper work to turn sinners from their iniquities. O! that we would all sub serve Christ in that great work! He is the principal agent; let us be subordinate instruments, by practising holiness ourselves, and promoting holiness in others. Learn, 2. That to be turned by Christ from our iniquities, is the greatest blessing we can receive from him; because 'tis a spiritual blessing, a fundamental blessing, a comprehensive blessing, an endearing blessing, an everlasting blessing. CHAP. IV. The foregoing chapter gave us an account of a miraculous cure wrought by the apostles upon a cripple that was lame from his birth. This chap ter acquaints us how exceedingly the governors both in church and state were offended and enraged thereat, to such a degree, that they imprison the apostles, and raise a persecution against the church: which yet God over-ruled for his own glory, and his church's increase, This infant gospel church in the time of the apostles, being like unto the infant Jewish church in Egypt in the days of Moses: the more the church was molested, the more she multiplied; the more they were oppressed, the more they increased. AN ND as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2. Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day for it was now even-tide. 4 How beit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. : Observe here, 1. How the apostles' preaching to, and instructing the people, stirs up the devil's rage, and brings upon themselves a severe persecution, Well might Luther say, Quid est Evangelium prædicare; nisi in nos furorem Diaboli derivare ? "At the preaching of the gospel the gates of Satan's prison fly open, and the walls of his kingdom are shaken; he finds himself in danger of losing his principality." No wonder then that he raises all the powers of hell, and stirs up all his instruments on earth, to stop the mouths of the preachers of the gospel. Observe, 2. The persons by whom, and the cause for which, this persecution was now stirred up against the apostles; namely, the Jewish priests, the Gentile captain, and the sottish Sadducees: As they spake, the captain of the temple, the priests and Sadducees, came upon them. These were distinct persons, and they were differently distasted; The captain, who was placed with a band of soldiers near the temple to guard it was offended for fear of a tumult, from such a vast appearance of people as came to see the recovered cripple. The priests were offended, because the apostles being private men, went about publicly to teach and instruct the people, not considering the extraordinary call which the apostles had. The Sadducees were displeased, because they preached the resurrection from the dead, a doctrine which they denied; and because they preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead, that is through the power and efficacy of Jesus; asserting Christ to be both the efficient and also the exemplary cause of the resurrection; and inferring from Christ's resurrection, that all his followers should arise with him, and be like unto him. Observe, 3. How far God suffered these persecutors and this persecution to proceed: They laid hands upon them; and put them in hold. How easily might this band of soldiers have taken away the lives as well as imprisoned the bodies of the apostles! But God restrained them, and led on the apostles to but young pupils in Christ's school, there their sufferings gradually; they were yet fore they shall not have trials beyond their strength. God will not call his servants to a martyr's fire till he has first endued them with a martyr's faith; for this reason God suffered not the storm of persecution to break forth with overmuch violence upon 4. What was the event of that violence this new planted church at first. Observe, which was now offered to the apostles: God overruled it for his church's advantage, and a wonderful increase by a new addition of five thousand souls more added to it. O! wonderful draught of fishes at the second casting out of the gospel-net! These fishermen, Peter and John, now became by the help of the Holy Spirit fishers of men, according to their Master's prediction, Matt. iv. 19. Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Many which heard the word believed, and the number of them was about five thousand, ver. 4. This infant church flourished the more by the frownings of men upon her. Plures efficimur, quoties metimur ab illis. Tertul. Like a green meadow, which, the oftener it is mowed, springs the faster, and becomes the thicker." 5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and el ders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high-priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high-priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom crucified, whom God raised ye from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Here observe, 1. What a combined force did unite and join together, of rulers, elders, scribes, high-priests, high-priests' kindred, and who not! They all, though of different interests, yet hold together as one to extinguish and put out the light of the gospel, as soon as it began to shine forth. Need we wonder that the devil struggled so hard at the dawning of the Reformation to blow out the light of the gospel; when we consider what opposition he discovered against the first plantation and propagation of the gospel? As Herod would have strangled Christ in his cradle, so would the high-priests have stifled christianity in its infancy: They all gathered together at Jerusalem. Sad! that a message of such glad tidings as the gospel, should meet with so bad entertainment. Observe, 2. How the apostles are here arraigned and questioned, By what name and authority; that is, By what power or virtue, they had done this? Some think, they suspected the apostles to have wrought by the black art, being assisted by the devil. But did not this miracle give a sufficient convincing light, to demonstrate that it was heaven-born, and showed evidently that it was wrought by a superna tural and divine power?-Cursed men! who accounted it a credit for themselves to do evil, make it a crime for the apostles their asking, by what power? when the to do good! Was there any reason for thing itself proclaimed it to be done by the power of God? Observe, 3. The bold and resolute answer of St. Peter to the foregoing malicious and ridiculous question. Where note, 1. His holy courage. 2. The cause of it, He was filled with the Holy find a full bench, not of justices, but of Ghost. In the fifth and sixth verses, we professed enemies, enough to have dashed "Thou ten prisoners at the bar out of countenance. But behold the ingenuous and holy boldness of a good christian in a good cause. St. Peter, who formerly, when full of himself, was baffled by a damsel, and frighted into a denial of Christ by a silly wench; now being filled with the Holy Ghost, silences and confounds his most potent and malicious accusers. Lord! how wofully weak are we when we rely on our own strength! but how able to do all things, when Christ strengthens us! “In te stas et non stas, says St. Austin." art sure to come down when thou standest on thine own legs; but shalt be mightily upheld and carried on, when supported and conducted by God's hand." Observe, 4. A singular instance of the apostles' boldness; namely, in preaching Jesus Christ to them that had imprisoned them. Be it known unto you, that this Jesus, whom ye crucified, is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, and is become the head of the corner; neither is there salvation in any other, &c. Where note, 1. The title given to the rulers of the Jewish church, builders; so they were by office, and here are called so, to remind them of their duty, namely, to increase, strengthen, and beautify the building, the church of God; not to demolish, weaken, or deface it. Note, 2. The contempt which these builders cast upon Christ the chief corner-stone; they refused him and set him at nought, according to the prophecy, Psal. cxviii. 22. which was a prophecy of the rejection of the Messiah, though the Jews would not so understand it; for they dreamt of such a pompous Messias coming, according to their hearts' desire, that it should be incredible that any Jews should ever reject or despise him. Note, 3. The title given to Christ, the corner-stone ; so called, because he supports and sustains the whole building; and as the corner stone is equally necessary for both sides of the building, which are united to it, and borne up by it, in like manner both Jew and Gentile are united in Christ, and saved by him. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Observe here, 1. A positive assertion, that there is no salvation but by Christ; or, that besides, or without him, there is no possibility of salvation, either for Jew or Gentile: both those under the Old Testament had, and we under the New Testament have, one and the same common Saviour. Observe, 2. The ground and reason of this confident assertion, That there is no salvation but by Christ; namely, Because there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved. That is, no other person designed or appointed by God, to be the author of redemption to, and procurer of salvation for, a lost and miserable world, but only Christ. Take we good heed then, that we do not reject or set him at nought, for in rejecting of Christ, we reject the wisdom of God, the authority of God, the love of God, yea, the salvation of God 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred themselves, among 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Observe here, 1. How convincing the boldness of the apostles was, together with the undeniable evidence of the miracle wrought by them: When the counsel observed both, they marvelled, the apostles all languages; and the cripple born lame, being unlearned men, yet able to speak now able to leap and walk. These men were convinced, but not converted; silenced, but not satisfied; they marvelled but not believed; they were full of admiration, but far from faith. The evidence of the fact, with the courage of the apostles, stopped their mouths at present, but did not cure their hard hearts. Observe, 2. At what a nonplus the counsel was to know what to do with the apostles: they confess the miracle, but consult upon ways and means how to conceal it; and at last conclude upon threatening them, That for the time to come they speak no more in the name of Jesus; that is, not to preach in his name, nor work miracles by a power and authority derived pretendedly from him. But the apostles soon let them understand, that they esteemed not the threatenings of the counsel, nor looked upon them as any excuse for the forbearing of their duty; as appeareth by the next words. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Observe here the prudence and integrity of the apostles in referring it back to the judgment of their very adversaries, whether it was reasonable to obey their command, when they charged them to preach no more in the name of the Lord Jesus. As if the apostles had said, "We have received a command from God to preach, Go teach all nations, Matt. xxviii. 19. and we have received a command from you not to preach now we leave it with you able to obey God or you?" It is a strong whether it be fittest and most reasonjudgment and conscience, against whom we way of conviction, to refer a matter to their make opposition. Learn, That when the commands of God's vicegerents run counter to the commands of God himself, God is to be obeyed, and not man. 25 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people : for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed, 23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is ; Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Here observe, 1. That notwithstanding this rational plea which the apostles used, the council added further threatenings, and so dismissed them, because of the people, who looked upon the miracle with admiration, and glorified God for working it by the apostles' hands. Where note, That it was not the sense of sin, nor any apprehensions of God's displeasure that influenced the council to set the apostles at liberty; 615 but either the fear or favour of the people. Thus God made the people a restraint to the rulers' rage. Observe, 2. That the apostles, thus dismissed, went immediately to their own company, (that is, to the hun dred and twenty mentioned, chap. i. 15.) and acquainted them both with their danthem for sufferings, and encourage them to ger and deliverance, the better to prepare hope for the like support under them. Observe, 3. What use the church makes thereof; they hearing how their enemies lay in wait to persecute and destroy them, apply Thence learn, That it is the church's duty, themselves to God by fervent prayer. when enemies combine together to do mischief, to give themselves much unto prayer. Thus did the church here, and the like, chap. xii. Observe, 4. The prayer itself which they jointly put up at the throne of grace, with one heart and spirit. And here note, 1. They began their prayer with invocation, and reverent compellation, suitable omnipotency in creating and governing of to their present sufferings; adoring God's the world. Lord! thou art God, who hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that is therein. Whence learn, That the power and wisdom of God in creating and governing the world, doth afford singular support and comfort under the that made all things by his power, will sense of present or future sufferings. He overrule all things by his providence for his own glory and his church's good. Note, 2. The apostles used scripture language and expressions in their prayer: they allude to Psalm ii. and acknowledge that against the Messias, which was foretold long all that enraged malice of men and devils ago by the prophet David, was now come to pass for both the Jewish counsel and the Roman governors had combined together against Christ, and in opposing him had opposed the Father that sent him. Of a truth, against the holy child Jesus are they gathered together, to do what thy hand and thy counsel had determined before to be done. Where we see, 1. That all the sufferings of Christ were foreordained and determined by God the Father; God from all eternity decreed that Christ should die a sacrifice for sin. 2. That this decree of God did not necessitate the Jews to sin; but they acted freely and voluntarily according to the wicked determinations of their own wills. God foreced or compelled them to it. He oversaw and permitted it, but no ways influen |