Acts 1

 

 1 I have made the (1) former treatise, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to (a) (*) do and teach,

 

(1) A passing over from the history of the Gospel, that is, from the history of the sayings and doings of Christ, unto the acts of the Apostles.
(a) The acts of Jesus are the miracles and doings which shewed his Godhead, and his most perfect holiness and example of his doctrine.

(*) Whereby is meant Christ’s doctrine and his miracles declared for the confirmation of the same.

 

 2 Until the day that he was taken up, after that he through the holy Ghost, had given (*) commandments unto the (♣) Apostles, whom he had chosen.

 

(*) To preach the Gospel.

(♣) Who as they were called by God, so had they their consciences assured by his holy Spirit.

 

 3  (2) To whom also he presented himself alive after that he had suffered, by many (b) infallible tokens, being seen of them by the space of forty days, and speaking of those things which appertained to the (*) kingdom of God.

 

(2) Christ did not straightway ascend into heaven after his resurrection, because he would thoroughly prove his resurrection, and with his presence confirm his Apostles in the doctrine, which they had heard.
(b) He calleth those infallible tokens, which are otherwise turned necessary, now in that which Christ spake, and walked, and ate, and was felt of many, these are sure signs and tokens that he truly rose again.

(*) Whereby God reigneth in us.

 

 4  (*) And when he had (c) (♠) gathered them together, he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, (♣) which said he, ye have heard of me.

 

(*) Luke 24:49 .

(c) They were dispersed here and there, but he gathereth them together that they might altogether be witnesses of his resurrection.

(♠) Because they should be all witnesses of his ascension.

(♣) John 14:25; John 15:26; John 16:7 .   

 

 5  (*) For John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized (d) with the (♣) holy Ghost within these few days.

 

(*) Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26; Acts 2:2; Acts 11:16; Acts 19:4 .

(d) Either of the Father, or of me; so that either the Father or Christ is set here against John, as the holy Ghost is against the water, as things answerable the one to the other.

(♣) That is, with those spiritual graces which Jesus only giveth by his Spirit.

 

 6  (3) When they therefore were come together they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou (*) at this time (e) restore the kingdom to Israel?

 

(3) We must fight before we triumph; and we ought not curiously to search after those things, which God hath not revealed.

(*) This declareth man’s impatience who cannot abide quietly till God’s appointed time comes, but would have all things accomplished according to their affections, read Zechariah 3:14 .
(e) To the old and ancient state.

 

 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the (*) times, or the (f) seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power,

 

(*) For this passeth our capacity, and God reserveth it to himself.

(f) That is, the fit occasions that serve to doing of matters which the Lord hath appointed to bring things to pass in.

 

 8  (*) But ye shall receive power of the holy Ghost, when he shall come on you; and ye shall be (♣) witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the (♠) uttermost part of the earth.

 

(*) Acts 2:2 .

(♣) To stand in the face of the whole world which signifieth that they must enter into heaven by afflictions, and therefore must fight before they get the victory.

(♠) Hereby they might learn that the Messiah was not only for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles.

 

 9  (*) (4) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was (♣) taken up, for a cloud took him up out of their sight.

 

(*) Luke 24:51 .

(4) After that Christ had promised the full virtue of the holy Ghost, wherewith he would govern his Church, although he should be absent in body, he took up his body from us into the heavenly tabernacles, there to continue until the latter day of judgment, as the Angels witness.

(♣) Whereby they knew certainly whether he went.

 

 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went, behold, (*) two men stood by them in white apparel,

 

(*) Which were Angels in men’s form.

 

 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye (*) gazing into heaven? This Jesus which is taken up (g) from you into heaven, shall (♣) so come, as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

(*) And seeking him with carnal eyes.

(g) That is, out of your sight.

(♣) As the true redeemer to gather us unto him.

 

 12  ¶ Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount that is called the mount of Olives, which is near to Jerusalem, being from it a (*) Sabbath (h) day’s journey.

 

(*) Which was two miles, according to the Jews’ tradition, albeit it was not so appointed by the Scriptures.

(h) About two miles.

 

 13  (5) And when they were (i) come in, they went up into an upper chamber, where abode both Peter and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas James’ brother.

 

(5) Ecclesiastical assemblies to hear the word, and to make common prayer, were first instituted and kept in private houses by the Apostles.
(i) They went into the house, which the Church hath chosen at that time to be a receipt for the whole assembly.

 

 14 These all (k) continued with (l) one (*) accord in (m) (♣) prayer and supplication with the (n) (♠) women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his (o) brethren.

 

(k) The Greek word signified an invincible constancy, and steadiness.
(l) It is to good purpose, that this concord is mentioned; for those prayers are most acceptable to God which are made with agreeing minds and wills.

(*) A lively patron to learn how to dispose ourselves to receive the gifts of the holy Ghost.
(m) The disciples prayed for the sending of the holy Ghost, and also to be delivered from present dangers wherewith they were beset.

(♣) Partly to obtain the holy Ghost, and partly to be delivered from the present dangers.
(n) For it was behoovable to have the wives confirmed, who were afterward to be partakers of the dangers with their husbands.

(♠) Or, wives.
(o) With his kinsfolks.

 

 15  (6) And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said (now the number of (p) (*) names that were in one place were about a hundred and twenty.)

 

(6) Peter is made the mouth and interpreter of the whole company of the Apostles, either by secret revelation of the holy Ghost, or by express judgment of the Congregation.
(p) Because men are commonly billed and enrolled by their names.

(*) Or, men.

 

  16  (7) Ye men and brethren, this (♠) Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the (*) holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before of Judas, which was (♣) guide to them that took Jesus.

 

(7) Peter preventeth the offence that might be taken of the falling away of Judas the betrayer, shewing that all things which came unto him, were foretold by God.

(♠) The offense, which might have come by Judas’ fall, is hereby taken away because the Scripture had so forewarned.

(*) Psalm 41:9 .

(♣) John 13:18 .

 

 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained (*) fellowship in this ministration.

 

(*) Or, portion.

 

 18 He therefore hath (q) purchased a field with the (♣) reward of iniquity, and when (*) he had (r) thrown down himself headlong, he brast asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

 

(q) Luke considered not Judas his purpose, but that which followed of it, and so we used to say, that a man hath procured himself harm, not that his will and purpose was so, but in respect of that which followed.

(♣) Perpetual infamy is the reward of all such as by unlawfully gotten goods buy anything.

(*) Matthew 27:5 .
(r) The Greek words signify thus much, that Judas fell down flat and was rent in sunder in the midst, with a marvelous huge noise.

 

 19 And it is known unto all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in so much, that field is called in their own language, Aceldama, that is, The field of blood.

 

 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, (*) Let his habitation be void, and let no man dwell therein; (♣) also, Let another take his (s) (♠) charge.

 

(*) Psalm 68:26 .

(♣) Psalm 109:8 .

(s) His office and ministry. David wrote these words against Doeg the King's herdsman; And these words, Shepherd, Sheep, and Flock, are put over to the Church office and ministry, so that the Church and the offices thereof are called by these names.

(♠) Or, ministry.

 

 21  (8) Wherefore of these men which have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus was (t) (*) conversant among us,

 

(8) The Apostles deliberate upon nothing, but first they consult and take advisement by God's word; and again they do nothing that concerneth and is behoovable for the whole body of the Congregation, without making the Congregation privy unto it.
(t) Word for word, went in and out, which kind of speech betokeneth as much in the Hebrew tongue, as the exercising of a public and painful office, when they speak of such as are in any public office, Deuteronomy 31:2; 1 Chronicles 27:1 .

(*) Greek, went in and went out.

 

 22 Beginning from the baptism of John unto the day that he was taken up (u) from us, must one of them be made a witness with us of his (*) resurrection.

 

(u) From our company.

(*) In that he mentioned the principal article of our faith, he comprehendeth also the rest.

 

 23  (9) And they (x) presented two, Joseph called Barsabas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias.

 

(9) Apostles must be chosen immediately from God, and therefore after prayers, Matthias is chosen by lot, which is as it were God's own voice.
(x) Openly, and by the voices of all the whole company.

 

 24 And they prayed, saying, Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two (*) thou hast chosen,

 

(*) To the intent that he that should take in hand that excellent office of an Apostle, might be chosen by the authority of God.

 

 25 That he may take the (y) room of this ministration and Apostleship, from which Judas hath (z) gone astray, to go to his own place.

 

(y) That he may be fellow and partaker of this ministry.
(z) Departed from, or fallen from; And it is a Metaphor taken from the way; For callings are signified by the name of ways, with the Hebrews.

 

 26 Then they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was by a common consent counted with the eleven Apostles.

 

 

 

Steve

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