Acts 4

Acts 4:13

13.—that they were unlearned and ignorant men.] This was for three centuries the great objection brought against the professors of Christianity. But the fact of the early Apostles being for the most part unlearned and ignorant men is a great confirmation of the Christian faith, proving that it was not of human but of Divine original, and that, under the assistance of its Divine Author, the ignorant and unlearned became wise. Dr. Whitby.

Acts 4:21

21.—finding nothing how they might punish them.] Rather, “not finding how they might punish them;” that is, being at a loss to find out a manner in which they might punish them, because of the people. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 4:26

26.—and against his Christ.] “His anointed;” which is the meaning of the name Christ.

Acts 4:27

27.—against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed.] Against Thy holy Son and Servant Jesus, whom Thou hast sent to be the Messiah of the world. Dr. Hammond.

—with the Gentiles.] With the Roman soldiers. Dr. Whitby.

Acts 4:28

28. For to do whatsoever thy hand &c.] To perpetrate the death of Christ, and thus unintentionally to become the instruments of God’s gracious providence, who determined to give His only Son to die for all mankind. Dr. Hammond.

As St. Peter and St. Paul, by calling the Jews to repentance for this sin in crucifying the Lord of Life, shew that their sin was not the less, because they by it fulfilled the counsel of God’s holy will and kind intentions to mankind, so do they consequently shew that God’s foreknowledge of a thing future does not impair the liberty of men’s wills in the accomplishment of it. Dr. Whitby.

Acts 4:31

31.—they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.] Were endowed with special and eminent gifts of God’s Holy Spirit. Dr. Hammond.

The effusion of the Holy Spirit, which immediately followed the supernatural concussion of the house where the Apostles were assembled, gave full and perfect evidence of the Divine inspiration: “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” New powers of exertion were distributed to the Apostles, adequate

The unity and charity of the church. The sin and Amo DOMINI 33.

Acts 4:32

32.—that ought—which he possessed was his own.] That is, was his own only, or so much his own, as not to be at the service of other believers who stood in need of relief out of them. See chap. ii. 45. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 4:33

33.—with great power] Of words and of miracles. Abp. Newcome.

—and great grace was upon them all.] Meaning, that all the believers were in high esteem among the common people. See chap. ii. 47. Bp. Pearce. Or, that the grace of God was plentifully bestowed upon them, which appeared in the most perfect unity of sentiment, and unbounded affection and liberality towards each other. Bp. Mann.

Acts 4:35

35.—and distribution was made unto every man &c.] That is, to every man in the Christian society. Here, we should observe, was an occasion which interested men would have improved to their own advantage, by urging the continuance of this community of goods, as a duty, and cautiously reserving to themselves the management of the fund it supplied, as the most valuable appendage of their ministry; on the other hand, enthusiasts would have probably encouraged this neglect of temporal concerns with avidity, as suited to the fervour of religious zeal, which in their eyes would form the highest merit. Not so the Apostles: of this community of goods they took no advantage; they distributed to each as they had need; they reserved to themselves, if any thing, certainly no more than supplied the present necessaries of life, as appears from their subsequent and continued poverty; and even present

Acts 4:36

36.—Joses,—surnamed Barnabas,—The son of consolation.] Perhaps this name, considering the occasion on which it was imposed, was an honourable acknowledgment of his charity in selling his whole estate for the relief of the poor Christians, and on account of the consolation they received thereby. Nelson.

Barnabas was afterwards associated with St. Paul in the labours of the ministry, being the first who introduced him to the Apostles; and from his zeal and good conduct well deserved the praise here bestowed upon him. Dr. Stock.

—of the country of Cyprus.] An island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean sea, not far from the coast of Phenicia. Bp. Pearce.

We may observe, that the two Apostles of the Gentiles have Gentile countries for their native soil; St. Paul having been born in Cilicia, St. Barnabas in Cyprus. Dr. Lightfoot.

Acts 4:37

37. Having land.] According to the law mentioned at Numb. xviii. 20, &c. a Levite could have no inheritance in Israel; which only means, however, that the Levites, as a tribe, were not to have a share in the division of Canaan among the other tribes. It did not prevent a Levite from holding lands in Judea by purchase, or otherwise, or in foreign countries. Bp. Pearce.

—and laid it at the apostles’ feet.] Perhaps he was the first that did so; or his land was the most valuable; or, because he was a Levite, he is thus distinguished by name from the rest for what he did. Bp. Pearce.

Chap. V. ver. 2.—kept back part of the price, &c.] The foundation of Ananias’s crime was covetousness, and the effect of that covetousness was a distrust of that maintenance which he was to enjoy in common with the whole Church; and the actual crime which this covetous disposition put him upon committing, was a fraudulent attempt to deceive the Apostles and the Church, by endeavouring to procure a maintenance for himself at the publick expense, while at the same

Amo DOMINI 33.