Acts 1

1 The preface of Luke, whereby he joynes this his second Book unto his Gospel. 3 Christ converseth with his Apostles after his resurrection for fourty days. 4 Commandeth them in Jerusalem to wait for the sending of the Holy Ghost. 6 Answereth their question when he will set up the Kingdome of Israel. 9 Ascendeth unto heaven that they see it, 10 which two Angels testifie, who also foretell his coming again. 12 The Apostles return to Jerusalem, 13 continue with one accord in prayer with certain women, and with the mother of Christ. 15 Peter relates the prediction concening Judas and his end, 21 and exhorteth them to put another in his place: for which end two are propounded, 24 of whom after prayer, Mathias is chosen to be an Apostle by lot.

1. The first Book I have made, [Gr.the first speech, whereby he understands his Evangelical History. So that from thence as also from that which followeth it appears, that the Holy Evangelist Luke wrote this Book also] O Thoephilus, [of this Theophilus see the annotation on Luke 1:3.] of all that which Jesus began both to do and to teach.

2. Untill the day in which he was taken up, after that he by the holy Ghost, [This in the Greek text may be joined either to the words given commandments, or to the word chosen] had given commandments [namely, how they should preach the Gospel throughout the whole world, Matthew 28:19. Mark 16:19 and at Jerusalem wait for this sending of the Holy Ghost, Luke 24.v. 49.] to the Apostles which he had chosen. [namely, to the Apostolical office. See Mat. 10. V. 1. &c.]

3. To whom also after that he had suffered, he shewed himself alive, [Gr.proposed, or presented in many] with many certain evidences; [from whence it cleerly appeared , that he was truely risen from the dead with the same body: such as were his often appearing unto them, often speaking and eating with them, and their seeing his skars, Luke 24. John chapter 20.and 21.] being seen of them for fourty days, and speaking of the things which concern the Kingdome of God.

4. And when he was assembled with them, [Or when he had gathered (them) together] he commanded them that they should not part from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, [that is, the holy Ghost which the Father had by him promised that he would send unto them, Luke 24:48. John 14 v. 26.] which ye (said he) have heard of me.

5. For John indeed baptized with water, but he shall be baptized with the holy Ghost, [Gr.in the Holy Ghost, namely, which on the day of Pentecost I will abundantly power unto you as water. The same John the Baptist foretells also, Matthew 3:11.] not long after these daies. [Gr.not after many these daies, namely, ten daies after.]

6. They therefore which were come together, asked him saying, Lord, wilt thou in this time set up again the Kingdome [Namely, which the Prophets have foretold, shall be set up by the Messias, and they yet thought according to the common errour should be a wordly Kingdome] to Israel? [that is, to the people or prosterity of Israel.]

7. And he said unto them, it belongeth not unto you to know the times or opportunities, [namely, of the times in which God will execute that which he hath ordained and promised] which the Father hath put in his own power.

8. But ye shall receive the power of the holy Ghost, which shall come upon you; [Or ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost shall be come upon you] and yee shall be my witnesses, [Gr.he witnesses unto me, namely that I am the promised Messias and Saviour of the world] as well at Jerusalem as in all Judea and Samaria, and even unto the utmost (part) of the Earth.

9. And when he hath saith this, he was taken up, [That is , lifted up bodily, and invisibly from earth towards heaven, Mark 16:19.Heb.1.3.and chapter 8. 1.which is by Paul called the third heaven and paradise, 2 Cor. 12.V. 2, 4.] while they saw it, and a cloud took him away from their eyes. [Or took him up, and so away from their eyes.]

10. And as they held their eyes towards heaven as he went away, behold two man stood by them, [That is, two Angels in the shape of men. See Genesis 18:2.] in white cloathing. [so the Angels used to appear , thereby to shew the purity of their nature, and that they came to declare joyful things. See Matthew 28:3. Mark 16:5. John 21:12.]

11. Which also said ; Te men of Galilee [See Acts 2:7.] what stand ye and look ye towards heaven? This Jesus that is taken up from you unto heaven, shall so come [that is, in such manner, visibly, in a cloud, Mark 13:26. Luke 21:27. Revelation 1:7.] like as ye have seen him go away towards heaven.

12. Then they returned unto Jerusalem from the mount which is called the Olive- (mount,) [Gr. Olive-garden, namely, mountain. Of this mountain see Matthew 21:1.] which is nigh unto Jerusalem, lying [Gr.having] (from thence) a Sabbaths journey. [that is, as far as the Jews may go on a Sabbath day; for which it was forbidden to travel far; Exodus 16:29. which according to the opinion some was about seven furlongs. So that (each furlong being reckoned for one hundred twenty and five paces) it should be about a quarter of an hours going. And seeing it is said John 11:18.that Bethany from whence Christ ascended unto heaven, Luke 24:50.lying on this mountain, was fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem, so must this be understood of the beginning of the mount of Olives, on which Bethany lay yet somewhat further.]

13. And when they were come in, [Namely, not only into the City, but also into an house, which some think to have been the house of Mary, the Mother of John Mark, of whom we read Acts 12:12] they went up into the upper room, where they abode, (namely) Peter [of these Apostles see Matthew 10:20.] and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James (the son) of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas (the brother) of James. [this Judas was that sirnamed, to be distinguished from Judas Iscariot the Traitor, and so he also names himself in his Epistle, v. 1.and was otherwise sirnamed Lebbeus, Matthew 10:3.

14. These all were persevering [That is, powerfully, stedfastly, and patiently continuing] unanimously in prayer and supplication, with the women [namely, which had followed Christ into Galilee, and had served him Matthew 27:55, 56. Mark 15:40. Luke 23:55. John 19:25.and also with their wives, who had need to be strengthened, as being to be companions of the Travels of their husbands, 1 Cor. 9. 5.] and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. [that is, Nephews and Kinsmen, Matthew 12:46.as were James and Joses, Simon and Judas, the sons of Mary the sister of Christs Mother, Matthew 13:55.]

15. And in the same daies [That is, on one of those daies] Peter stood up in the Disciples, and spake; (now there was together, a company of about an hundred and twenty persons.) [Gr.names, that is, heads, or men which are numbered by their names. See Revelation 3:4.and 11.v. 13.]

16. Men, Brethren, this Scripture must be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David foretold concerning Judas, who was the leader of those that took Jesus.

17. For he was reckoned with us [Or numbred,] and had obtained the lot of this ministrey. [so the ministrey of the Apostleship is called, because the same is given by God, not of merit or worthiness, but according to his good pleasure, Acts 8:21.]

18. This (man) therefore procured [Namely, in as much as he gave the Jews occasion, that that field was bought by them, for that mony which was given to him for that treason, Matthew 27:6, 7. So that this may be understood not of Judas his intent, but of the event which followed thereupon] a field, [namely, the field of blood ver. 9.] by the reward [Gr.of the reward] of iniquity, [that is, of the unrighteous act of treason] and being fallen [Gr.become] headlong [seeing it is said, Matthew 27:5.that he was strangled, therefore the common opinion is, that he hanged himself with an halter, and that so he fell headlong or into the halter, and that the halter being broken he fell headlong and burst, and that so he powred out his bowels through the righteous judgement of God. See the like example in Achitophel, 2 Sam. 17. 23.] burst up in the midst, and all his bowels were powred out.

19. And it became known [Namely, that God had punished the traitor Judas with such a death] to all that dwell at Jerusalem; so that that field in their own tongue, which the Jews used after the Babilonish Caaptivity] is called Akeldama, that is, a field of blood.[namely because it was bought for the mony, for which the blood of Christ had been sold.]

20. For it is written in the Book of Psalmes, Let his habitation be waste, and let there be no man that may dwell in the same; [David as a type of Christ, in the 69 Psalm speaketh indeed in the general of his Enemies: yet seeing in the same Psalm it is also prophecyed of the sufferings of Christ, therefore the Apostle Peter applies it toJudas in particular, who was the betrayer of appliers it to Judas in particular, who was the betrayer of Christ] and [namely, it is again said in another place in the Book of Psalmes] let another take [David seemeth indeed in the 109 Psalm, to speak these words of Doeg, who was one of the chief Herds-men of King Saul, and had betrayed him with the Priests at Nob. But seeing that David was a type of Christ, therefore this was also fitly expounded by Peter, of Judas, who betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ] by Overseers office [howsoever the Greek word sometimes signifies all manner of Overseers offices, yet here it is taken specially for the Apostolical office of Judas which is so called, because the Ministers of the Gospel have oversight of the Church, Acts 20.v.28.]

21. It is needful therefore, that of the men which have conversed with us, [Or have assembled, namely, when we followed Christ; amongst whom without doubt the seventy Disciples also were] all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us, [that is, conversed familiarly with us, went up and down with us, and as our Lord and Master administred his office among us. An Heb. See Deuteronomy 31:2. Psalms 121:8. John 10:9.

22. Beginning from the Baptist of John, [That is, from the time that John began to teach and baptize: for then began the Ministry of the Gospel and shortly after Christ himself also began to administer his office] until the day in which he was taken up from us, one of the same become witness with us of his resurrection. [namely, and also of all other of Christs doctrine and deeds. But here mention is made only of his resurrection; because thereby he was powerfully shewed to be the Son of God and the true Messias, Acts 2:33. Romans 1:4.]

23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was sirnamed Justus, [This (man) in some Books is called Joses; and is held to have been a Brother of James the younger] and Mathias.

24. And they prayed and said, thou Lord [See the reason hereof in the annotation, on Galatians 1:1.] thou knower of the hearts of all, [that is, thou who knowest how they are disposed inwardly in the heart] shew of these two, one [namely, by the lot which was ordered by thee, Proverbs 16:33.] whom thou hast chosen.

25. To receive the Lot of this ministry and Apostleship [See v. 17.] from whence Judas is departed, [or gone away, ie. From whence Judas for his wickedness fell] that he might go away into his own place. [namely, which is by God according to his righteous judgement appointed for him, such and as are like him and is called the place of torment, Luke 16:28.]

26. And they cast their lots; [Gr.gave their lots; namely, Joseph’s and Matthias’s of whom one should be chosen by lot, that so his calling to the Apostleship might come as from God himself] and the lot fell upon Mathias; [see the like in the choosing of Saul to the Kingly office, 1 Samuel 10:20.] and he was with common consent chosen unto the eleven Apostles.[that is, they all approved and embraced this divine choice.]