Acts 1

This refers unto the Gospel Wrote by this Evangelist: THe former trea ise have I made St. Luke, who was undoubtedly the pen-man of this Book; which bears Testimony unto, and confirms (if need were) that other., O Theophilus Esteemed the same name with Iedidiah, signifying beloved of God, or one that loved God: who he was, is not certain; some have taken the name appellatively. It is evident by the Epithete given unto him, Luke 1.3. that he was one of great Authority, having the same Title which Tertullus gives unto Festus, Acts 24.3. and the chief Captain unto Felix, Acts 23.26. Altho not many noble are called, 1 Cor. 1.26. yet God extends his grace unto some of all conditions., of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, This is the sum of the Gospel, viz. A History of the Life, Doctrine, and Death of our blessed Saviour; altho every particular word or deed of our Saviours, could not be expressed, Iohn 21. ult. yet the Evangelist was faithful in withholding nothing which was necessary for the Church to know; and leaving no room for unwritten Traditions.

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he That is, the day of his Ascension. This is a Translation from the former Book (his Gospel) unto this, showing how far he had proceeded in setting down the Doctrine of our Salvation. through the holy Ghost had Which words may be referred, either to the commandments he gave, or the choice he made of the Apostles; both being by the Holy Ghost. The Apostles had their Doctrine from God, and were appointed to publish it by God. Especially to publish the Gospel to the whole World, Matth. 28.19. And to continue at Ierusalem till the coming of the Holy Ghost, Luke 24.49. given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.

the Apostles, To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by eating, drinking, speaking, walking with them, nay showing them his very wounds, and permitting them to be touched. God suffering Thomas his infidelity to contribute to the strengthning of our Faith. many infallible proofs, being Not continually, but upon occasion as he pleased; it was so long from his Resurrection to his Ascension: and the same place in which God showed himself unto Moses in mount Sina. So long also he was pleased to stay with them, that he might more abundantly testifie the truth of his Humanity, and of his Resurrection. seen of them forty days, and Either his Kingdom in Heaven, the Church Triumphant, or his Kingdom on Earth, the Church Militant. What future bliss and happiness he was going to prepare; And what means they ought to use towards the obtaining of it. speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: i. e.

And By his order, or Conversing frequently with them, as those that Table together. being assembled together with them, commanded them that they Otherwise the Apostles would have abhor'd Ierusalem, as reaking afresh in the blood of our Lord: and there Christ chose to pour out his Spirit, that he might show forth his glory in the same place where he suffered Ignominy. There Christ would have his Apostles to abide, that they might be nigher to Mount Olivet, from whence he was to Ascend; as also that both his Ascension, and the coming of the Holy Ghost, might more publickly be manifest; and that that Prophecy Isaiah 2.3. might be fulfilled. should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the If my Father, Luke 24.49. That is, the holy Spirit promised by our Saviour in his Fathers name, Iohn 14.26. and may well be called the promise; without which all other promises would be of no value unto us. promise of the Father, which, says he, ye have heard of me.

For Matth. 3.11. Water being of a purifying Nature, plentiful, and easie to come by. John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the His Gifts and Graces, which were (as water on Baptized persons) largely bestowed upon them on the day of Pentecost. 1. That the Apostles and all others might be assured of the Doctrine of the Gospel. 2. That they might be enabled to fulfil their Ministry, and obey our Saviours commands left with them. It holy Ghost was but ten days after his Ascension; but our Saviour would not prefix a certain day, that they might watch every day., not many days hence.

Either the 120. mentioned ver 15. or the 500. mentioned 1 Cor. 15.6. That they might more readily obtain an Answer, they joyn in the Question: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him saying, Lord Which was taken away by the Romans, and by Herod; and they expected should be restored to them by the Messiah; understanding the Prophecy Dan. 7.27. to this purpose., wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And he said unto them Our Saviour blames their curiosity about such things as are not necessary to be known; and yet tho our Saviour does not in his Answer tell them what they desired to know, he tells them what is more expedient for them to know. The petition of wicked men, nay, of Devils (as when they crave to go into the Swine) is some time granted according to their will. But the prayer of the Disciples of Christ is answered to their best advantage, (tho it does not seem to agree to the matter of their desire.), It is not for you to know the How long any mercy shall be deferred; when it shall be given: times or the seasons, which the Who is, fons & origo Deitatis: to whom Christ, especially as Mediator, and in our stead, refers all things. Father has put in his own power.

But ye shall receive power Not till then, not of their own strength, but of Gods grace, as appeared by Peter's denying, and the others leaving of our Saviour, after that the holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be and that I am indeed the promised Messiah: my Doctrine, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension, which ye shall testifie to all the World by your Preaching, and holy living, working miracles. witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. P aces where your testimony shall be most opposed. These words are both a command, to tell the Apostles what they ought to do, and a prediction of what they should be enabled to do.

And Mark 16.19. Luke 24.51. As he did actually give up his life till all was fulfilled, so he did not leave the World till all was revealed by him, that was necessary for us: when he had spoken these things that they might be eye-witnesses, and most unexceptionable. while they beheld, he was Not by an external help of Angels, but by his own power, and the agility of his (now) glorious body. taken up, and a This, tho a true cloud, yet was a more than ordinarily glorious one; suitable to the Majesty of him that used it. cloud received him out of their sight.

And Christs ascent was the more leasurely, that he might delight their eyes and mind; but especially confirm their Faith the more. Behold, while they looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold Angels in the shape of men;, two men stood by them in which Angels ordinarily appeared in, to show they retained their native purity; as also to represent the joyfulness of the errand they were usually sent upon. white apparel;

The two Angels (in the form of men) before mentioned: Which also said That is, the Apostles who were of that Country., Ye men of Galilee, why They are rouz'd out of their extasie they were in, at that glorious sight; to learn what was so much to their and our advantage. stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall 1 Visibly. 2. In a cloud. 3. By his own Power. 4. With the like Majesty. 5 With the same Soul and Body. so come, in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Then returned they unto Jerusalem, from the mount called Oliver, which is from Jerusalem a About a mile or two, or such a space; as by Gods appointment was betwixt the Ark and the people, Iohn 3.4. sabbath-days journey.

And when they were To the City, and to the House: come in, they went up into an The same probably where they had kept the Passover, and partook of the Lords Supper: howsoever for its largeness, capable to receive so many. upper room, where abode both Peter As Elder, and first called to the Apostleship, is generally first named; and here especially his name first; and their names are repeated, to show, that tho they fall in forsaking of Christ, they did rise again in professing of him; and that notwithstanding their Apostacy, they were continued after their recovery, in their former Office and Dignity., 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.

These all continued With great resolution, notwithstanding all opposition and contradiction they met with: Prayer and Supplications for mercies they wanted, or preventing of the evils they feared. with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the Their Wives, or such women especially, as we read of Matth. 27.55, 56. women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren That is, his Relations and Kinswomen, which frequently in Scripture are called Brethren..

¶ And in those days Betwixt our Saviours Ascension and Pentecost. Peter stood up As generally spake for, and amongst the Apostles; but now especially, to express his zeal and faithfulness to our Saviour, whom he had so lately denied; he being also designed the Minister of the Circumcision, which place he began now to execute. in the midst of the disciples, and said, (Or persons about an hundred and twenty; probably, Christ had converted many men, but these might be either men of name or quality; or mean t of such as, ver. 21. had accompanied with Christ and his Apostles, and were design'd for the Ministry. the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty.)

Men and brethren An ordinary compellation; Speaker and Auditors were Hebrews of the Hebrews., this Scripture viz. Psal. 41.9. must needs be fulfilled: yet God's foreknowledg and prediction, excused not Iudas his sin: must needs have been fulfilled, which the holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was not only leading them in the way when they took our Saviour, but being director of their Counsels against him. This the Apostle premises to abate the offence that the horrible fall of Iudas might have occasioned. guide to them that took Jesus.

For he was numbred Being one of the twelve Apostles. with us, and had obtained, not as if Iudas was made an Apostle by lot, as Matthias afterwards; but by the Providence of God, by which every lot and casual matter is governed: and to show that the dignity did not befall him, or any of the other Apostles, because of their descent, (from Aaron) or from nature, or from any desert whatsoever, but merely from Gods good will and pleasure. part of this ministery Then the Apostles Office is Ministerial, and they were not Lords over Gods heritage..

Now this man purchased a field which Iudas might have agreed for at that price; and yet the chief Priests bought (as Matth. 27.7.) by a strange providence, leading of them to that purchase; howsoever eventually he bought it, as throwing back to them their money which payed for it, Matth 27 5. with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, It is said he hanged himself, which implying only his death by sufforation; whether he dyed out of horror of his fact, or laying violent hands on himself in such circumstances as may agree with this relation, it is not material to determine. he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. Purchased a field;

And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue The Syriack Language then in use after the Babylonish Captivity., Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood As bought with the price of Christ's blood, and sprinkled with his own blood..

For it is written in the book of psalms viz. Psal. 69.25. What there is in general spoken by David concerning his enemies, is here applyed, particularly to Iudas, who betrayed our Saviour; whose Type David was, as Doeg was of Iudas. His, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and His bishoprick Charge or Office, or Prefecture; as of a shepherd over his flock. let another take.

Wherefore of these men which have companied with us There were to be twelve Apostles in the Christian Church, to answer unto the twelve Patriarchs, and twelve Tribes in the Iewish Church; accompanied with us in ordinary conversation. all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out In discharge of his Ministry, and gathering of Disciples among us. among us.

Beginning from the baptism of John When Christ was Baptized by him, and by that Consecration began the Ministery, and publishing of the Gospel, (which the history of his Immaculate Conception did preface to.), unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a All other things being consummated in that, it being the most difficult to be believed; and therefore God was pleased to attest it by so many eye-witnesses. witness with us of his resurrection.

And they appointed two, Joseph Or Ioses, the same name called Barsabas in their common tongue; and called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus (probably for his integrity) amongst the Romans, who then ruled over them., and Matthias Some think the same with Nathaneel..

And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, which knowest The other Apo tles being chosen by God immediately, it was necessary that he who was to act in the same Office, should be chosen after the same manner. Knowest the hearts, which is Gods Prerogative only; all others may be, and often are mistaken by outward appearances. the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen,

That he may take part of this Ministery, Or every ones Station in the World, is ordered by the Providence of God, and their part or portion is assigned to them; and so the Apostleship was unto the Apostles. and Apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place Hell or Destruction, not intended by Iudas, but righteously by God appointed for him, whilest he was in the World, (especially after his betraying of our Saviour) he was an Usurper in it; and as bad as the World was, it was too good for him. That these words should be understood of Matthias's succeeding into the Apostleship of Iudas as into his own place, is the less probable, because as yet he was not chosen into it..

And they gave forth their lots The manner is not so certain, as necessary to be known; but the whole disposing of the lot being from the Lord, as Prov. 16. ult. they were thus as it were immediately chosen by God, and were Consecrated by Christ himself; no Apostle ordaining another, but all of them being called and ordained by Christ.; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbred with the eleven Apostles.