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النشر الإلكتروني

II.

nature of it.

Joel, ii. 28:

15

II.

concerning him, "I knew the Lord CHAP.
to be with me always on my right
hand, that I might not be moved. Psalms-
Therefore my heart was glad, and xvi. 8—10,
my tongue rejoiced greatly; my 26
body also will rest in hope, that 27
thou wilt not leave me in the grave,
nor suffer thy holy one to see cor-
ruption. Thou hast made known 28
to me the ways of life; thou wilt
make me full of joy with thy coun-
tenance !" Brethen, I may tell you 29
plainly of the patriarch David, that
he both died, and was buried, and
his tomb is amongst us to this very

CHAP. stood up, and raised his voice, and said unto the people, "Ye Jews, and Peter ex- all who dwell in Jerusalem, conplains the sider this and hearken unto my words. These men are not drunken' as ye suppose, for it is but the 16 third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet, "In the last days; saith God, I will pour out my spirit upon 17 some of all flesh, and your sons, and your daughters will become like prophets, and your young men will see visions, and your old men 18 will dream dreams. And even on my man-servants, and on my maid-day. He therefore being a prophet, 30 servants, in those days will I pour and knowing God to have given out of my spirit, and they will be- him a solemn assurance that of the 19 come like prophets. And I will fruit of his loins he would place show wonders in the heaven above, successors on his throne; he fore- 31 and signs on the earth beneath, saw this, and spake concerning blood, and fire, and vapour of the resurrection of Christ, that he 20 smoke. The sun will be turned was not left in the grave, nor did into darkness, and the moon into his flesh see corruption. This 32 the appearance of blood, before very Christ, even Jesus, hath God the great and signal day of the restored to life, of which we are all 21 Lord come; and whoever shall witnesses. Therefore being exalt- 33 acknowldge the name of the Lord, ed at the right hand of God, and he will be preserved. having received the promise of the holy spirit from the Father, he hath poured it out, the very thing which ye now see and hear. For 34 David hath not ascended into the heavens, but saith himself, "Jehovah said unto my Lord. Sit thou 35 on my right hand until I have made thine enemies thy footstool." Wherefore let all the house of Is- 36 rael know assuredly that God hath made that Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

God to

Christ.

22

2

Ye men of Israel, hear these declaring words: Jesus of Nazareth proved that it was unto you to be a man from God sent agree- 3 ably to the by miracles, and wonders and promise of signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know; him, being delivered 23 up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye took, and when ye had mocked, slew by 24 the hands of ungodly men; him God hath raised up, having loosed the bands of death: because it was not possible, consistently with the tenor of prophecy, that he should 25 be holden by it. For David saith

what to do

Now when they heard this, they Directs the were pierced to the heart, and said people to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, "What must we do, bre

1 Nine o'clock in the morning. Luke reckons the hours in the Jewish manner, from six o'clock in the morning.

• Of the destruction of Jerusalem. Miracles are effects contrary to the settled constitution and course of things.

4 Wonders are miracles considered as
exciting admiration in those who are wit-
nesses of them.

5 Signs are miracles considered as a pro-
phetic or divine mission.
6 The Messiah.

CHAP. thren?" and Peter said unto them, I the temple: who seeing Peter and CHAP.

II.

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bers are

converted.

1

John about to go into the tem-
ple, asked alms of them. Then as 4
they both fastened their eyes upon
him, Peter said. "Look on us."
And he gave heed to them, expect- 5
ing to receive something from
them. But Peter said, Silver 6
and gold I have none; but what I
have, I give thee. In the name of

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Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye will receive the gift of the 39 holy spirit. For the promise belongeth to you and your children, and all your distant posterity, as many as the Lord our God shall 40 call unto himself." And with many other words he testified, and ex-Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up horted, saying, "Save yourselves and walk; and he took the man by 7 from this perverse generation." his right hand, and raised him up, 41 Then they who gladly received and immediately his feet and Great num-this exhortation were baptized; ancle-bones were strengthened, and 8 and about three thousand persons leaping up he stood, and walked were added on that day to the about, and went with them into 42 church. And they stedfastly con- the temple, walking and leaping, tinued in the doctrine of the apos- and praising God. And all the 9 tles, and in fellowship with the people saw him walking and prais43 apostles and each other, and in ing God; and they recollected that 10 breaking of bread, and in prayers. it was he, who used so sit for alms And fear came on every one, and at the Beautiful gate of the temple; many wonders and signs were done and they were filled with wonder 44 by the apostles. And all who be- and amazement at what had haplieved were together, and had all pened unto him. And as he held 11 45 things common; and many of Peter and John, all the people ran them sold their possessions, and together unto them in the porch substance, and distributed them to which is called Solomon's, much 46 all, as every one had need: and astonished. they continued meeting daily with And when Peter saw it, he said 12 one mind in the temple; and at to the people, "Ye men of Israel, by the home, breaking bread, partook of why wonder ye at this? And why powch he food with gladness and singleness look ye earnestly at us, as if by our had from 47 of heart, praising God, and hav-own power or ability we had made Jesus ing favour with all the people; and this man to walk? The God of the Lord added converts daily to the Abraham, and of Isaac, and of 13 church. Jacob, even the God of our fathers, hath glorified his servant Jesus, whom ye delivered up and rejected in the presence of Pilate, who had determined to release him; but ye re- 14 jected that righteous and holy man and desired a murderer, to be granted unto you, and killed the con- 15 ductor to life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are wit

CHAP.
III.

a lame

Man,

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the Peter heals hour of prayer, which was the ninth hour; and a certain man lame from his birth, was carried along 2 at the same time, who was placed daily at that door of the temple, which is called " Beautiful,' to ask alms of such as were going into

In joint partaking of food.
From the very beautiful Corinthian
brass of which it was made.

3 On the east of the temple, called Solo

mon's portico, or porch, on account of his
having made an addition on that side to the
area or flat surface of mount Moriah, on
which he built the original temple.

T

Christ.

III.

1

1

IV.

CHAP. nesses. And his name through Now while Peter and John were CHAP, faith therein, hath strengthened this speaking to the people, the priests, 16 man, whom ye see and know; and the captain of the temple, and Peter and that name, I say, and that faith the Sadducees came upon them, John are imprisoned therein hath given him this perfect being vexed at their teaching the soundness in the sight of you all. people, and declaring the resurrec17 But indeed, brethren, I know that tion from the dead in Jesus. And 3 ye acted as ye did, without consi-they laid hands on the apostles, and deration, as did also your rulers; put them in hold against the mor18 but God hath so fulfilled what row, as it was now evening; for 4 he formerly declared by the mouth many who had heard this doctrine of many of his prophets, that the believed it, and the number of Christ should suffer death. these men was about five thousand.

to repent

Deuter.

18, 19.

fore the

Now on the morrow, when the 5
rulers and elders, and scribes, in brought b
Jerusalem, were assembled, with Sanhedrim
Annas the high priest, and Caia-
phas, and John, and Alexander,
and as many as were of the race of
the high priest; they set Peter and 7
John in the midst, and asked,

name did ye this?" Then Peter, 8
filled with a holy spirit, said unto
them. "Ye rulers of the people,
and elders of Israel, if we are now 9
examined concerning the good deed
done to the infirm man, by what
means he hath been made well;
be it known to you, and to all the 10
people of Israel, that in the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
ye crucified, and whom God raised
from the dead, by him, I say, doth

19 "Repent ye therefore, and be He exhorts converted, that your sins may be the people blotted out, and that times of reand believe freshment may come unto you in Christ. from the presence of the Lord, 20 and he may send Jesus Christ, who is now beforchand preached 21 unto you; whom heaven must receive until those times of the restoration of all things, concerning" By what power, and in what which God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets from the first. 22 Now Moses said unto our fathers, "A prophet will the Lord your xviii. 15 God raise up for you, from among your brethren, as he raised me; obey him in all things that he shall 23 speak unto you.' And every one who will not listen to this prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from 2 Sam. vii. among the people. Yea, and most Isaiah, lii, of the prophets, Samuel, and the Jeremiah, rest, that have spoken unto you, man stand restored before you. xxxi. 34. have also foretold these days. Ye This Jesus is that stone which was 11 Daniel, are the sons of those prophecies, despised by you builders, but is Psalm, Zechariah and of that covenant, which God become the head of the corner. made with our fathers, saying unto And by no other is this restoration 12 Abraham, In thy race all the fa- to soundness produced, nor is milies of the earth shall be bless-there any other name under heaven, 26 ed,' God having appointed his ser- given among men, by which we vant Jesus for you, first sent him may be saved." for a blessing to you, by turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

16.

ix. 24.

xii. 10.

I

self.

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"His name," is the same as him

When all things shall be disposed, ordered, and settled in a perfect state, from

this

CXVI. 22

Now when they observed this and charg freedom of speech in Peter and not to John, and discovered them to be

their present imperfect one.

The persons primarily concerned in their accomplishment.

4 As a doctrine which Jesus taught.

speak any

more in

ly.

CHAP. unlearned and common men, they wondered; and they recollected the name that they had been with Jesus; and of Jesus. beholding the man that had been 14 restored, standing with them, they 15 had nothing to object. But when they had commanded them to withdraw out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, 16" What can we do with these men? for indeed that a public miracle hath been wrought by them is known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it; 17 but that this matter spread itself no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them that henceforth they speak to no man 18 in this name." So they called the apostles, and charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the 19 name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto 20 God, judge ye; for we cannot prevail upon ourselves not to declare 21 what we saw and heard." So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, not being able to punish them in any way, because of the people, who all glorified God because of what had 22 been done. For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of curing had been wrought.

ii,

IV.

and all things in them, who by the CHAP.
mouth of thy servant David hast
said, Why did nations tumul- Psalm
tuously conspire together, and the i. I.
people form vain designs? why did 26
kings of the earth, and rulers, com-
bine against the Lord, and against
his anointed?' for truly against thy 27
holy servant Jesus, whom thou
didst anoint, both Herod, and
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles,
and people of Israel, were gathered
together in this city, to do whatso- 28
ever thy hand, and thy counsel
had before appointed to be done.
Now therefore, Lord, look upon 29
these their threats, and grant unto
thy servants, that with all freedom
they may speak thy word, by ex- 30
erting thy power to heal, and by
the doing of signs and wonders,
through the name of thy holy ser-
vant Jesus."

2

make a

and use it

And when they had prayed, the 31 place was shaken in which they The dis were assembled, and they were all ciples filled with a holy spirit, and spake joint stock the word of God with freedom. of their And the multitude of those who be- property? lieved were of one heart, and of in common. one soul; nor did any of them say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. And the 33 apostles delivered with great powerof words, and miracles, the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord 23 Then the apostles, being thus at Jesus; and there was great favour Being dis- liberty, went away, and came to towards them all. Nor was any 34 hey betake their own friends, and reported one among them in want; for as hemselves all that the chief priests and the el-many as were possessors of lands prayer. ders had said unto them. And or houses sold them, and brought 24 upon hearing this, the company lifted up their voice with one mind unto God, and said: "Sovereign Master, thou God, the maker of the heaven, and the earth, and the sea,

missed

I Thy power and thy counsel, or thy powerful counsel.

So as to dispose of it in any other way than for the benefit of his fellow Christians.

the prices of the things which were
sold, and laid them down at the
apostles' feet; and the distribution 35
was made to every one according
as he had need. And Joses, sur- 36

3 This conduct shows at once the benevolence of the Christians, and their belief in the assurances of Christ respecting the destruction of Jerusalem.

IV.

CHAP.

V.

Ananias

upon all the church, and upon all CHAP. that heard these things.

V.

tles are ve

ry highly

CHAP. named Barnabas, by the apostles, (which means a son of comfort) a a Levite, a native of Cyprus, hav- Moreover, they were all with 12 37 ing land, sold it, and brought the one mind in Solomon's porch. The apos money and laid it at the feet of the And after this no one dared to apostles. join himself to them, but the esteemed But a certain man named Ana-people greatly esteemed them; and by the nias, with Sapphira his wife, sold believers in the Lord were conti- people, History of a possession, and kept back part of nually added more and more, mul-14 the price, his wife also being privy titudes of both men and women. to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the feet of the apos3 tles. Then Peter said, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to deceive the holy spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the 4 land? Whilst it remained, was it not thine own? and when sold, was not the money in thine own power? Why didst thou determine this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied unto men only, but unto God 5 also." Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and ex

and Sapphira.

1

pired; and great fear came upon 6 all that heard these things. Then the younger disciples arose, and wound him up in burial clothes, and carried him out and buried

7

him.

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, so that, 15 in every street, they brought forth the sick, and laid them on couches and beds, that even the shadow of Peter passing by might fall upon some of them. A multitude like- 16 wise out of the cities round about came to Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those that were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

by the

Then the high priest rose up, 17 and all those who were with him, but again (which was the sect of the Sad imprisoned ducees) and were filled with indig- rulers, nation, and laid hands on the apos- 18 tles, and put them in the common prison. But an angel of the Lord in 19 the night opened the prison-doors, and when he had brought them out, said, "Go, stand and speak in the 20 temple all these words of eternal life to the people." And upon hear- 21 ing this they went into the temple early in the morning, and taught.

And about three hours after, his wife also, not knowing what had happened, came in; and Peter 8 said unto her, "Tell me, did ye sell the land for no more?" And she said, "Indeed, for no more." 9 Then Peter said, "Why have ye agreed together to try the spirit of Then the high priest came, and and brought the Lord? Behold! the feet of those that were with him, and called before them, who have buried thy hus- together the council, and all the having band are at the door, and will elders of the children of Israel, and been mira 10 carry thee out." So she fell down sent to the prison that the apostles released. immediately at his feet, and ex-might be brought. But when the pired; and when the young men officers came, they found them not 22 came in, they found her dead, and in the prison, and going back, recarried her out and buried her with ported, saying, "We found in- 23 11 her husband. And great fear came deed the prison shut with all safety,

spirit.

2

That is, men possessing the holy people had of the power of the apostles. It

Insincerely.

3 So great was the opinion which the

is not said that any were cured by the sha-
dow of Peter falling upon them.

them, after

culously

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