Acts 1

Acts 1:15-26

1. He reminds him of the former treatise which he had written for his edification and infraction, containing an account of all that Tefau began both to do and teach, laying the foundation of that Christian church on which they were to build, until the day in which he was taken up, continuing to infruct them in the nature of his kingdom, after that he, through the Holy Ghoft, which the Father gave without measure unto him, had given commandments unto the apollis whom he had chafen, commissioning them to preach his gospel, and, according to the plenitude of his power, enabling them for the arduous work. Note, They who teach, must do: a minister’s practice must be correspondent with his precepts.

2. He mentions some of those many infallible signs which Jefus gave of his resurrection. He shewed himself to his disciples alive, convinced them fully of the identity of his person, was seen of them several times, in different places, during the forty days that he continued on earth; eat, drank, and converted freely with them, instructing them in the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, informing them of the nature of his kingdom, the powers they should be endured with, the success of their ministry, and the glory which was prepared for them.

3. Chrift ordered them, at one of their solemn meetings, not to depart from Jerusalem, whether they had probably come from Galilee, after they had seen him on the mountain where he appointed them to meet him; but was for the propriety of the Father, which, faith he, you have heard of me, fully and confidently expecting that Spirit whom the ancient prophecies had received should be abundantly poured out in the days of the Messiah, and of whom he had so often spoken to them before his departure, as the Comforter that he would send unto them from the Father, to enable them for the glorious work which was before them. For John truly baptized with water, and that was all he pretended to do; but ye, according to his declarations, shall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft not many days hence, receiving such abundant measures of light, grace, wisdom, courage, and utterance, as effectually to carry them through every temptation, and make them successful in spreading the gospel, in distance of all opposition. Note, We must patiently wait, and then we shall affordly for the salvation of God.

1 Met. xxiv. 3 Met. xxiv. 5 Met. xxiv.

6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, ‘Lord, will thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7. And he said unto them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or the feafoos, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8. But ye shall receive + power, after that the Holy Ghoft is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10. And while they looked fledfastly towards heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jefus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

7. 6—11. The apostles had not yet quite dropped their apprehensions of the Messiah’s temporal kingdom, and the resurrection of Jesus probably flattered them with new hopes.

8. They put the question therefore to him, whether at this time he would restore again the kingdom to Israel, raising the Jewish people to the highest pitch of grandeur, and bringing all the kingdoms of the earth in subjection to them: so had it is to eradicate early prejudices. And even good men are apt to look for a church triumphant instead of a church militant upon earth: but, when the Spirit is poured out more abundantly, we shall learn to expect nothing here but reproach and the cross, and wait for another world to sit down in the kingdom.

9. Chrift checks their vain curiosity. And, as the Spirit, which should be given them, would shortly rectify their mistakes, he tells them it was not for them to know the times and feafoos when those great expected revolutions should be brought about, which the Father hath put in his own power, and which are secrets concealed in the divine mind. Note, (1.) Secret things belong unto God. Curiosity to be wise above what is written, is foolish as well as fruitless. (2.) The uncertainty in which it hath pleased God to leave us, concerning future events, is graciously ordered, to the intent we might be always prepared for that which God hath prepared for us.

10. He assures them, that, poor, illiterate, and despicable instruments as they appeared, they should be endowed with the most astonishing spiritual powers, through the mighty influence of the Holy Ghoft, which should come upon them, when, filled with zeal, courage, and wisdom, which none of their adventures could gainlay or refill, they should be witnesses unto him; asserting his character as the divine Messiah, bearing testimony to his resurrection, publishing the glad tidings of salvation

through his name, and confirming the truth of their words by the attestation of the most amazing miracles, beginning at Jerusalem, then going to the Samaritans, among whom before they had been with-held from preaching, and afterwards spreading the glorious gospel to the ends of the earth, not only among the dispersed Jews, but among the Gentiles also. Note, Gospel ministers must preach Jesus Christ, bearing witness to his grace and glory, and publishing to all, the free and full redemption which is obtained for lost sinners through his blood and righteousness.

4. When he had spoken these things, while they beheld, earnestly regarding him, and duly attentive to the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, he was taken up, and with eager looks they followed him, till a dead received him out of their glory and, amidst congratulating angels, he ascended to the throne of his glory. May I follow ther, Lord, with the eyes of faith now, and, when it shall please them, attend to behold they face to face.

5. An angelic vision appears to them, as they stood gazing towards heaven after their dear Lord, as he went up, willing to catch the last possible glimpse of him, and keeping still there eyes fixed on the place where he became invisible to them. Two celestial spirits in human forms, arrayed in white apparel, the emblem of their purity and grandeur, stood by them, and kindly addressed them, saying, Ye men of Galilee, who stand ye young up into heaven? as if ye ye yeeled unto I will and Mith to return quickly unto you; this same Jefus, which was delivered for your offences, and died on a tree, is now taken up from you to heaven, exalted to the mediatorial throne, as having been done redemption of his people, and is gone to ye pace a place for them; shall ye come in like manner, at the last day of his appearance and glory, in the clouds of heaven, attended by his angelic hold, as ye have seen him go into heaven. On that we may be ready to meet him in that great day! Oh that the expectation of it might be deep upon our minds continually!

6. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Oliver, which is from Jerusalem a tabbatic day’s journey. 13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper-room, where abode both Peter, 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. 14. Thele all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

7. 12—14. We have here,

8. The place from whence our Lord ascended, the mount Oliver, about a mile from Jerusalem. There his sufferings began, in the garden, and thence he entered into his glory as a triumphant conqueror, (Zed. xiv. 4.) in full view of that devoted city, for which judgment was now prepared.

9. The return of the disciples. They came back to the city according to their Master’s orders, and when they were come in, either into a private house, or, as some suppose, into the temple itself; see Lord xxiv. 55. they went into an upper-room, for greater secrecy. If this was in the temple, they might be accommodated by some priest or Levite, who was a hidden disciple, with a room there; or, if it was in the city, though they constantly attended the temple service, they met in private there, and spent their time, with no accord, in prayer and supplication for the coming of that Comforter who was promised. The eleven apostles are particularly mentioned, all of whom kept close together, with the women, who had approved their fidelity, love, and zeal, in a very distinguished manner, and Mary the mother of Jesus, concerning whom we hear no more mention over after; and his brethren, those of Christ’s kinsmen who now believed on him; see Matt. xiii. 53. with many others. Note, (1.) It is good for the disciples of Jesus to unite together: the world is closely leagued against them. They need therefore maintain the closest fellowship with each other. (2.) Prayer is the blessed and constant employment of God’s people; and especially in all feafoos of particular trial, when their faith and patience are called into exercise, they have need to redouble their supplications. (3.) Nothing can be denied to the united prayers of the faithful, who with one accord furround a throne of grace in the name of Jesus.

10. ¶ And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty) 16. Men and brethren, This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the holy Ghoft by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burll asunder in the midst, and

all his bowels gushed out. 19. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; infomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Acehama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20. For it is written in the book of Pfalms, Let his habitation be defolate, and let no man dwell therein; and his bishopick let another take. 21. Wherefore of these men which have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and not among us, 22. B-gunning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must not be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barabas, who was surnamed Jufus, and Matthias. 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knoweth the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen. 25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

At one of those solemn meetings, where about an hundred and twenty of the disciples were assembled, Peter, the zealous servant of his Lord, stood up in the midst of them; not affecting to the, as their master or superior, but proposing a matter to them as his equals. We have,

1. His speech. He addresses them as his friends, companions, and brethren in Christ; and having an important proposal to make to them, he reminds them of the fulfilment of the scripture, in the wickedness and miserable end of Judas the traitor, whose treachery the Holy Ghost having foreseen and forerold, it could not but come to pass, and none ought to be offended thereat. As an aggravation of his guilt, Peter observes,

(2.) The high dignity to which he was advanced. He was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry; and this but the more aggravated his sin and ruin. Note, Many are numbered with us who are not of us; but a name to him, whilst persons are really dead in trespasses and sins, will avail nothing.

(2.) His sin was treachery. He was guide to them that took Jesus; a ringleader in iniquity, as apostles usually prove.

(3.) His end was notorious. His money, the wages of unrighteousness, served only to buy a field to bury strangers; and driven by the devil and a despairing conscience, he went and hanged himself; when the rope, or the place on which he hung, giving way, he fell; and his belly burbling afonded, his bowels gushed out; a scarful cast of which great notice was deservedly taken; the fact being publicly known in Jerusalem, and resided abroad, infomuch that the people called the field purchased by this money, Acehama, or The field of blood, with respect to the innocent blood, of which it was the price; perpetuating thereby the infamy, not only of the traitor who sold his master, but of the rulers who tempted him to this atrocious deed.

(4.) He cites the Book of Pfalms, in which the prophecy relating to Judas was found. Let his habitation be defolate, and let no man dwell therein, Pfal. Ixix. 25. and his bishopric let another take, Pfal. cix. 8.

(5.) He proposes to them, according to this prophetic word, that the sacred college should be filled up, by the addition of one to their number, out of those who had approved themselves from the beginning faithful; and had been among the first who followed Jesus, and privy to all the transactions concerning him, from the time he was baptized at John in Jordan, till his ascension to glory; that he might with them be a witness of his resurrection, of that grand article of faith, as well as of all the other glorious things relative to Christ’s divine mission and character. Note, (1.) None should be admitted into the ministry, but such as for a season have proved their fidelity to Christ, in a course of holy walking with him. (2.) They who have known Christ, and the power of his resurrection in their souls, cannot but make him the subject of all their discourses.

2. The church approving the proposal, nominated two, Joseph and Matthias; and not knowing which to prefer, they applied to God, the searcher of hearts, by prayer for directions, that he would be pleased to shew them, which of these he had chosen to take part of that ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place, the dire abode prepared for fallen angels and rebellious sinners. Note, (1.) In our emergencies, we should never fail to look up to God for direction. (2.) Apostles from Christ necessarily plunge themselves into perdition and destruction.

3. Having commended the matter to God’s determination, they solemnly call lots; when the Lord, at whose disposal the lot is, Prov. xvi. 33. appointed Matthias, who was then conferred numbered with the eleven apostles.