Bible Commentaries

Chapter11

Prayer

Almighty God, we have come to the waters of life. In times that are gone we hewed out unto ourselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that could hold no water; but now we have come to the life-stream. May we drink thereof, and be glad with exceeding joy. Thou has made for us wells in the wilderness, and springing fountains in the desert. The river of God is full of water: may we now drink of that living stream that we may never thirst again. Give unto us this water with thine own hand; it will be to us the more precious for thy touch. Send us not away with a great fire of thirst in the heart; but quench our desire, and satisfy our yearning, and give us to know how good a thing it is to wait upon the living God. We bless thee that we need thee every day. Were we less we could do without thee the better; but being what we are we long for thee. Our rest is in thy peace; our security is in thine Almightiness; and our hope is in thy grace. Surely, if thou hast taught us to pray, thou wilt reply Dost thou make the eye without giving the light? and dost thou form the ear without supplying the wondrous air which plays upon it, and brings through it to the soul all tender messages and glorious gospels? Acts 4:1-30

1. And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple [the chief agents in our Lord's condemnation], and the Sadducees [the higher members of the priesthood], came upon them,

2. Being grieved [expressive of intensity of trouble and vexation] that they taught the people, and preached through [literally, preached in Jesus] Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold [in custody] unto the next day: for it was now eventide Acts 4:9-12 inclusive. He never was more eloquent. Whenever Peter spake suddenly, on great subjects, he spake the very heart of God. He once took Christ Himself by surprise in this matter. "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Challenged by the rulers of the Jews upon the occasion now before us, he made an answer equal in splendour to his earlier reply. How much he makes of Christ in the10th verse! We seem hardly to have heard the whole style and title of Jesus before. We have them here. We have called the Saviour "Jesus;" sometimes we have called him "Jesus Christ." By some short indication of this kind we have made reference to the Redeemer. But how seldom have we given Him His full style and title! Listen to Peter as he says—"Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him." There is no mistaking that address. The name, the address, the tragedy, the resurrection, and the "even by HIM," the last thrilling emphasis that crowded into itself the passion of the entire reference! What Christ do you preach? We have heard of the Christ of the painter—a figure tenderly coloured, set in wondrous lights and shades. We have stood before it, and sometimes we have thrilled in its presence, and felt the waters stealing into our eyes. But that Christ never saved the soul, it is only a creation of art. We have heard of the Christ of the poet. Christ has been spoken of in flowing rhyme and stately blank verse; but that Christ never came from the intellect into the depths of the heart, to save that heart in its deadliest remorse on account of sin. We must go back to the apostolic Christ if we have to realize apostolic conceptions and to win apostolic successes in the ministry. I will read the full style and title again—"Jesus" —"Jesus Christ"—"Jesus Christ of Nazareth"—"Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,"—"Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead." They could not say after that "To what Christ does he refer? Of what Jesus does he speak?"—the name, the place, the crucifixion, the resurrection: all Acts 4:11 and Acts 4:12, and Acts 4:16-17, and Acts 4:18? The apostles were THREATENED! They must not speak any more! There must be an end of this nuisance. Society is not to be disturbed by such propagandists. Peter, having heard the threatening, said unto them, "Whether it be RIGHT.".... That is the word that makes history! "Whether it be RIGHT." That is the word that thrills the ages! Whether it be RIGHT in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye? Ye are judges and learned men. Judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." And the Apostles having received this threatening, "went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them." What a talk they had; How they reminded one another of the occasion of the movement! And when the company had heard it all, "they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said...." They too became eloquent, sublime in speech: they quoted the second Psalm. "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Pentecost after Pentecost! Poor Church! Thou hast fallen upon empty times. They are but mean challenges that are addressed to us now. If we could be once more threatened with the prison and the stake, the rod of iron and the keen double-edged weapon, some of us might be heroes. At present we may be but common clay!

Chapter12

Prayer

Almighty God, we have heard that power belongeth unto thee, and we are afraid: we have also heard that mercy belongeth unto thee, and we are no longer under the bondage of fear. We come to thy mercy in Christ Jesus, and we have no dread, but an inspiring and indestructible joy. We are all prodigals. We come today from a far country, and we bring back nothing with us but hunger, and shame, and nakedness, and self-reproach. God be merciful unto us, sinners. Thy Church was built for sinners. We did not know thee until we sinned. Through our guilt thou dost cause to come the brightest revelations of thyself. Thou shalt yet make sin help heaven. Out of this root of poison thou wilt gather wondrous fruits of health. We know not how this thy great miracle will be wrought; but we know thou wilt make the wrath of man to praise thee; and the remainder thou wilt hold at arm's length. The Lord reigneth; the God of Salvation holds the universe in his grasp. Thou dost not delight in destruction, but in salvation: thy purpose is to abolish death and make the universe glad with spiritual life. In this confidence we always come near thee. Great waves of love rise in our hearts, and would find expression in fitting words; but they cannot. We are dumb before thee. Our very speech is but a mockery of our want. Our hymn, though it swell loudly and tremble with all pathos, cannot tell thee our praise. Thou hast made no speech, nor Acts 4:31-37

31. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken [pointing to the God of nature] where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul [ Jeremiah 32:29]: neither said any of them [the Greek is emphatic, and not one of them said] that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33. And with great power gave the apostles [there the Greek verb gave implies much more than the English word. It is constantly used for paying a debt, or rendering an account] witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold [we never hear that a similar fund was established except at Jerusalem],

35. And laid them down at the apostles" feet [when gifts or offerings are made to an eastern king or priest, they are not placed in his hands but at his feet]: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36. And Joses [Joseph], who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation) a Levite [he may have held lands from his marriage], and of the country of Cyprus [in the Eastern Mediterranean],

37. Having land [lit, a field] sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles" feet.