1 15 accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, (the number of the names together being about an hundred and 16 twenty,) and said, Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of David, spake before concerning Judas, who was guide 17 to them that took Jesus.* (For he was numbered with us, and had obtained a share in this 18 ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity: and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all 19 his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all those who dwell at Jerusalem: insomuch that field is called in their own language, Aceldama; that is to say, The field of blood.) 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein. And, his priestly office let another 21 take. Wherefore, of these men who have associated with us all the time that the Lord 22 Jesus went in and out among us, even from the baptism of John, unto the very day that he was taken up from us, one must be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, (who was surnamed Justus,) and Matthias. That is, this prophecy of David, who spake by the Holy Spirit. This refers to Ahithophel originally, and to Judas only by way of accommodation. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew which of 25 these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might 26 go to his own place. And they gave their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 1 CHAP. II. NOW when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one 2 place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues,† like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.‡ 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak other languages, as the 5 Spirit gave them utterance. And there were then residing at Jerusalem, devout Jews, from 6 every nation under heaven. Now when this Fifty days from the passover when Christ was crucified. + The appearance was that of tongues of fire divided, or separated as an emblem of their being enabled to speak languages which they had not studied. The Baptists insist, that to baptize necessarily signifies to plunge into water. Let us see: the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit; and how? The Holy Spirit descended and sat upon them; its symbol was the divided tongues, and these descended upon their heads. See also 33d verse, where Peter says it was shed, or poured forth upon them. See also x. 44. xi, 15. For a long time before this, many of the Jews had been dispersed through all parts of the known world. was reported abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own lan7 guage. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saving one to another, Behold, are 8 not all these who speak, Galileans ?* And how hear we every man in our own tongue, 9 wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and of Judea, and Cappadocia, of 10 Pontus, and Asia,† Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Lybia about Cyrene; and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes; 11 Cretes and Arabians; we do hear them speak in our languages the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in suspense, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others, scoffing, said, These men are full of new wine. 14 Then Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye who now reside at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken 15 to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of 16 the day, but this is that which was spoken by * Well they might be amazed and confounded. This was a most astonishing circumstance and it was impossible to account for it by any arts of jugglers. + Long before the time of Christ, the greater part of the Jewish nation had been carried captives into many distant countries. Their descendants were citizens of those countries; but came frequently to Jerusalem to worship. That is, 9 o'clock A.M. 17 the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall 18 dream dreams: and on my servants and on my hand-maidens I will pour out in those days. 19 of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy :* and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and 20 vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.t 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 22 Ye men of Israel, attend to these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye 23 yourselves also know him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands 24 have crucified and slain; whom God hath raised up, having loosed the bonds of death: because it was not possible that he should be hold *There shall be extraordinary communications of miracalous power, and to great numbers. + Referring, probably, to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the overthrow of the Jewish polity. Our Lord used singular language in 24th chapter of Matthew, describing these events. Our Lord also appealed to his miracles as proof of his being sent of God. Being given up, or put into your power, &e. 25 en of it.* For David speaketh thus concerning him, I have seen the Lord always before me: because he is on my right hand, I shall 26 not be moved. Therefore my heart rejoiceth, and my tongue is full of praise ; 27 also, my flesh shall rest in hope;t because thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave;‡ neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see Thou hast revealed to me the 28 corruption. moreover ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy 29 by thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me frely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre 30 is with us unto this day.§ But being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up 31 Christ to sit on his throne: Foreseeing this, he spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in the grave, neither did his 32 flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God hath raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of It was impossible that he should be overcome by death. + See Psalm, xvi 8, 9. Not in the place of torment prepared for the wicked, eertainly. For neither Christ nor David can be supposed to have been there for a noment. The word (hades) here translated hell, must mean the grave, or, the state of the dead; or the place, to which departed spirits go, before the resurrection and judgment. § See xiii. 35, 36. Declared, as with an oath. |
