and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly re glory to that God who sent his Son for haps a general synopsis of it. The the benefit of just such guilty mortals, argument, which is distinctly reported, to call sinners to repentance. Matt. ix. was illustrated and enforced by many 13; 1 Tim. i. 15. Your children. other words, all tending to the same The prophet said sons and daughters. general result. ¶ Testify and exhort. The manifest object here, as in ver. 17, He testified the facts, or bore witness to 18, is to show that God is no respecter the resurrection of Jesus, the truth of of persons; but, regarding all men as the divine promises, and the faithfulness his children, he will bestow his bless- of Him who promised; and, by such ings impartially. He will see that, in arguments, exhorted the people to redue time, the enlightening, purifying, pentance of sin, and faith in the Lord and sanctifying influences of his Spirit Jesus Christ. Save yourselves, &c. shall be experienced by "all flesh," ver. "This expression here denotes, Pre17; that is, as this expression here de-serve yourselves from the influence, notes, by all his intelligent children. opinions, and fate of this generation." Afar off. This term is often applied Barnes. The salvation here indicated to the Gentiles. Probably Peter used has manifest reference to the calamity the words with reference to the Jews, denounced on the generation then livwho were scattered abroad through the ing. Matt. xxiii. 36; xxiv. 34. To world; for he did not yet understand avoid this impending destruction, it was that the Gentiles were to share in the necessary that disciples should separate spiritual blessings of God and the gift themselves from the unbelieving multiof the Holy Ghost. It needed a special tude, renounce their sins, and obey the manifestation of the divine will, to con- will of their Master. Untoward genvince him of this fact; and such a les-eration. Literally, crooked generation; son he received, which was effectual to metaphorically, perverse, iniquitous, convince him and his brethren also. depraved generation. "This age or See Acts x., xi. ¶ Even as many, &c. race of men, the Jews then living. The idea is, that every one who hears They were not to apprehend danger the gospel may feel an assurance that from them, from which they were to its blessings are provided for him, as deliver themselves; but they were to well as for others. It is designed to be apprehend danger from being with good tidings of great joy unto all people. them, uniting in their plans, designs, See note on Luke ii. 10. It has not and feelings. From the influence of suited the purpose of God thus to call their opinions, &c., they were to escape. all men at once. The gospel itself was That generation was signally corrupt not distinctly proclaimed on earth, until and wicked. See Matt. xxiii.; xii. 39; four thousand years after the creation; xvi. 4; Mark viii. 38. They had cruand, since that period, many have lived cified the Messiah; and they were for in regions where its sound has not been their sins soon to be destroyed."heard. But because, by the providence Barnes. To this calamitous destrucof God, so many have been destitute tion, which befell the Jewish nation of its peculiar blessings through life, when the cup of their iniquity became it by no means follows that he will leave full, frequent reference is made in the them destitute for ever. In his own New Testament; and sinners are eartime, and in his own way, he calls nestly exhorted to repent, and believers every individual, operates upon him by to remain steadfast in faith and virtue, a divine influence, saves him from sin, lest they should be involved in the comand makes him to know the truth and mon ruin. Preservation from this awrejoice in the God of his salvation. 1 ful calamity is often styled salvation. Tim. ii. 4. See notes on Matt. xxiv. 13; Mark xiii. 20. 40. With many other words, &c. Hence it appears that the whole discourse of Peter is not recorded, but only the more important parts, or per 41. Gladly received. Cheerfully and joyfully gave credit to the testimony of the apostle, and believed his declara ceived his word, were baptized: | 42 And they continued steadand the same day there were added fastly in the apostles' doctrine and unto them about three thousand fellowship, and in breaking of souls. bread, and in prayers. modern revivals; and in the beautiful picture which is here presented of the church, after this occasion, contrasted with the schisms and backslidings of churches at the present day, after what is called a revival, we behold the difference between the work of God and the violent and unnatural work of men, and of unwise men."-Livermore. tions. Were baptized. They made dissimilar. To speak of 'a Pentecostal public profession of their faith, and effusion of the Spirit,' is a mere figure were received into the new church, in of speech. The day of miracles is no a manner similar to that in which pros- more. We are to look now for the orelytes were admitted members of the dinary, but not for the extraordinary, Jewish church. It is the natural im- gifts of the Spirit upon the speaker. port of the language here used, that the The preacher is not now a Peter, with whole number of three thousand were an apostolic tongue of fire and authorbaptized on the day of Pentecost. The ity, but a man with only his natural manner of the baptism is not stated. It resources, so far as inspiration is con is certain, however, that Peter did not cerned. An audience is not prepared commence his address until after nine now, as was the audience then, by a o'clock in the morning. Besides the long course of events, to receive a strong argument which is recorded, he exhort- and decided impression in relation to ed the people" with many other words." the simple matter of fact of Jesus A large portion of the day must have being the Messiah. The solemn scenes been thus consumed. It seems improba- of the Pentecost, therefore, furnish no ble that, in the short time which remain- justification or encouragement to the ed, the twelve apostles could have bap-disorders and unhealthy excitements of tized three thousand persons, by immersion; and it may be reasonably concluded that the rite was administered in some other form. But, in whatever manner they were baptized, the main fact is sufficiently clear; namely, so mighty was the influence of the miracle performed upon the apostles, and the arguments used by them, that three thousand persons laid down the weapons of their rebellion, acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, and professed themselves his subjects by receiving baptism in his name. This effect is the more remarkable, when it is considered that the Jewish authorities were known to have denounced excommunication against all who should confess Jesus as the Messiah, John ix. 22, and had actually crucified him. None would venture to brave their indignation, unless they were fully persuaded and convinced of the truth. The hope of attaining honor or popularity may induce multitudes to profess what they do not believe. But no such motive could operate here. To profess Christianity in that day was to sacrifice popularity, and hazard the loss of earthly possessions and even of life. There were added. That is, to the company of believers. ¶ Souls. Persons. The following remarks deserve serious consideration:-"The custom of drawing inferences from the day of Pentecost to modern revivals, is wholly out of place. The cases are widely 42. Continued steadfastly. Or, with more exactness, constantly adhered to. They persevered in their Christian profession, and adhered, both in faith and practice, to the instructions of the apostles. There is no evidence that any of these were among the number whose love waxed cold, before the time of judgment. Matt. xxiv. 12. In the absence of such evidence, we may well understand this general declaration to imply that they remained steadfast in their adherence to Christianity, even until the end of life. Especially, when we take into the account the fact that their conversion was connected with a miracle,if not indeed miraculous in itself, we need not doubt that it was effectual and permanent. Apostles' doctrine. That is, the doctrine of Jesus, which his apostles preached. ¶ Fellowship. They felt that they had common interests, blessings, hopes, and causes for thankfulness to God; that they had a common Master, common duties, trials, and enjoyments; and that a common home was prepared for them in the mansions 43 And fear came upon every 44 And all that believed were soul and many wonders and signs together, and had all things comwere done by the apostles. mon; of their Father's house. Hence they ny wonders and signs, &c. See note felt a strong sympathy for each other, on ver. 22. Jesus had promised his and they remained attached to each disciples that such power should be other by an unbroken bond of fellow-imparted to them. Mark xvi. 17, 18. ship and union. ¶ In breaking of bread. And the exercise of this power was Bread was ordinarily baked by the probably one cause of the awe and Jews in thin cakes, which were broken, solemnity which rested on the minds instead of being cut, when placed be- of the people. fore the family or guests for food. 44. All that believed. That is, in the Hence the phrase breaking of bread great fact, announced by the apostles, was used to signify eating an ordinary that Jesus had truly risen and ascendmeal. The same phrase doubtless ed; and in the conclusion, so irresistisometimes denotes that peculiar parti- bly drawn from that fact, that he was cipation of food, styled the communion the true Messiah. T Were together. of the Lord's supper. Some have sup- This phrase probably does not indicate posed that this is its meaning here; that all these disciples were constantly others, that it indicates what were together in one room or one dwelling; styled agape, or love-feasts; and others, for this would be utterly impracticable, that common social entertainments are under the circumstances of the case. denoted. The question, perhaps, can- The meaning seems to be, that they not be decided with certainty. It were united in feeling and purpose; would seem, from what follows, that that a spirit of harmony prevailed the disciples were accustomed to take among them; that they felt themselves their ordinary food in large companies; associated in one band by the ties of and it is by no means improbable, that, Christian faith and love. And had all for a time at least, they literally adhered things common. This was one result to the direction referred to in 1 Cor. xi. of the spirit of perfect union and pure 24-26, and at every meal so remem- love, which prevailed among the discibered the Lord, as to convert it into a ples. It is now generally agreed among religion communion. In prayers. commentators, that this general exThis is a duty and privilege, which no pression is to be understood with some Christian will omit. Public, social, and limitation. It may be remarked, in the private prayers are all profitable to the outset, that all sober-minded Christians spirit which is heartily engaged in have agreed that the expression should them; but chiefly the latter, when be limited to the pecuniary interests of nothing is allowed to distract the atten- the disciples. Some fanatics and some tion from communion with the Father hypocrites have insisted that the disciof spirits. See notes on Matt. vi. 5-8. ples held literally all things in com43. And fear came, &c. The events mon,-possessions, families, and every of that day, and those which had been thing else; and have urged this as an recounted by the apostle, were fitted to apology and an example for their own produce a sensation of awe in the minds unrighteousness. But all good men of believers. The speaking in foreign unite in condemnation of such folly. languages by unlettered men, the bold- And, in regard to pecuniary affairs, it ness and energy of speech exhibited by may be doubted whether the passage is one who was not known to have ever to be understood in a strictly literal before addressed an assembly, the sense. From what follows in ver. 45, amazing effect of his address upon so it would seem that each one retained many minds, - all these must have con- the control of his property, but freely vinced unbelievers that some hitherto imparted what was necessary to the unknown power was displayed; and relief of others. A spirit of pure benthey could not be certain that it was not evolence and generosity was awakened, divine power. The natural effect would which induced them to contribute lib' be a sensation of awe and solemnity. erally of their worldly goods. Of the The account given by the historian is three thousand converts,doubtless many perfectly natural and life-like. ¶ Ma- were from a great distance, who re 45 And sold their possessions with one accord in the temple, and and goods, and parted them to all breaking bread from house to men, as every man had need. house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 46 And they, continuing daily mained in Jerusalem longer than they trate the meaning of ver. 44. Distribuhad designed; and the brethren in Je- tion was made to the necessitous; a rusalem supplied their wants, cheer-willingness existed to bestow assistance fully disposing of their possessions to if it was needed; and whether this were enable them to do so. Subsequently, it done by individuals, as here, or by the would seem, some of the brethren sur- apostles, Acts iv. 35, or by the deacons, rendered their goods to the apostles, to Acts vi. 3, it was done for the relief of be used for the common benefit of the the poor. But the evidence is not sufbrotherhood. Acts iv. 34-37. But, ficient to justify the conclusion that even then, it was a voluntary act, not believers generally renounced all perrequired by the apostles. This is at sonal control over their pecuniary least implied in Peter's address to affairs, and reduced themselves to a Ananias. Acts. v. 3, 4. Thus it was state of utter dependency on the daily with the apostles themselves, in our distributions for support. Saviour's day. They made common stock of their possessions: nevertheless, it is true that John retained his dwelling-house; for he took to his house the mother of Jesus, and there provided for her. But whatever may have been the practice for a short time, it is clear that an absolute community of goods was not required by our Lord or by his disciples; and, if such a com-ed little in comparison with pure spirmunity were established, it was soon itual worship: nevertheless they were abandoned. It is evident from the sub- willing to unite with their unbelieving sequent part of the history, that, even in brethren, in praising God for the many the apostolic age, believers retained per- blessings enjoyed in common, while sonal possession of their property. Acts they glorified his name for the special xviii. 3; xxviii. 30; 1 Cor. xvi. 2; Jas. blessing of which they had been made ii. 2. And all the exhortations to gen- partakers. Breaking bread from erosity, contained in the Epistles, pre-house to house. Or, at home, as the suppose individual possessions, and not a community of goods. 46. Continuing daily with one accord in the temple. It was the custom of Christians in the apostolic age, as it had been their Master's, to attend regularly upon the public worship of God, in the temple and in the synagogues. God had more fully revealed himself to them than heretofore, and had taught them that forms and ceremonies avail See marginal reading has it. They wor 45. Sold their possessions and goods. That is, as the two words used in the original denote, their real estates, such as houses and lands, and their personal estates, or movable property. The disciples not only bestowed such money and provisions as were on hand, but sold their property to procure means to assist them who were needy. The love of wealth was overpowered by the stronger love of their brethren; and they were ready to make any sacrifice for the advancement of the great cause which they had espoused. Such a state of mind was conducive to their Singleness of heart. The word aphsafety in the perilous hour which ap- elotes (apeλórns), here rendered sinproached, as well as accordant with gleness, does not elsewhere occur in the the spirit of the religion which they had New Testament. It denotes, literally, embraced. See note on Luke xvi. 1- soundness or completeness, and is ap12. Parted them to all, &c. Or, to plied to things having nothing superfluall the needy. This serves to illus-ous, and in which nothing is lacking. CHAPTER III. 47 Praising God, and having fa-| vour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily NOW Peter and John went up such as should be saved. Figuratively, it denotes simplicity of mind and manners, free from all craftiness or dissimulation. It may here have reference to the manner in which they exercised hospitality, sincerely and heartily, not ostentatiously. 47. Praising God. In the midst of their joy, they were not forgetful of Him who had bestowed the blessings in which they rejoiced. ¶ Having favor with all the people. We can scarcely understand this so literally as to include the scribes and rulers of the Jews. They had uniformly opposed the Master; and they immediately commenced opposing the disciples. Acts iv. 1-3. The meaning is, the mass of the people regarded them with favor. Church. That is, the body of believers. This word had not originally the technical sense now attached to it, but indicated a company of persons selected, or called out, whether large or small. See note on Matt. xvi. 18. In this case, it manifestly means the whole number who had been called out from Judaism into Christianity. together into the temple, at the for the last, Dr. Hammond urges this argument: "The rise of that interpretation in that place will be best taken from the admonition of St. Peter, ver. 40, in these words: Be ye saved from this crooked generation;' where the import of being saved is clearly getting out, escaping, flying from that great pertinacy and obduration of that age against all the miracles of Christ and his apostles, crucifying him, and resisting all the powerful methods of his workings; that is, not being saved eternally (for that would not be matter of exhortation, unless as that is a certain consequent of repentance and belief in Christ), but retracting the vicious course that they and others went on in," &c. Note on Luke xiii. 23. There can be no question that an escape from the terrible calamity which overwhelmed the Jews is often styled salvation; and such may be the allusion here. But perhaps the more direct reference is to a deliverance from the evil opinions and practices of the Jews, which drew down such an awful judgment. CHAPTER III. Daily. Continual accessions were made. It should be observed, that, in ver. 42-47, the historian describes the general state of the church for an inde- 1. The particular time when the events finite time after the day of Pentecost; occurred which are recorded in this at least, for several days. T Such as chapter is not specified. It appears should be saved. Rather, the saved, or from ver. 46 of the preceding chapter, such as were saved. "The Christians that the apostles and other disciples are so styled elsewhere. So 1 Cor. i. habitually resorted to the temple, that 18, To us the saved, Christ crucified is is, to the courts where the people were the power of God; and when the means accustomed to assemble, at the hours of salvation, or that grace of God which of prayer. See note on Matt. xxi. 12. brings salvation, was vouchsafed to It is also recorded in ver. 43 of the them, salvation is said to come, Luke same chapter, that "many wonders and xix. 9; Rom. xi. 11; or to be sent to signs were done by the apostles." As a them, Acts xxviii. 28."-Whitby. The specimen of those wonders, the historisalvation, here indicated, is understood an mentions a miracle of healing, which by some to mean deliverance from end- was performed on one of the days preless misery; by others, deliverance vious to the time when the apostles from ignorance and the power of sin; were obliged, by persecution, to abanand by others, security against the don the temple as a place of worship. temporal destruction about to befall Peter and John went up together, the unbelieving Jews. The first-named &c. It does not appear that any other opinion cannot be admitted, among of the apostles were in company with other reasons, because the apostle made them. Whether by accident or design, no reference to the danger of endless misery, in his discourse; the second is doubtless true to a certain extent; and they went, as their Lord directed when he sent them on their first mission, not alone, but two together. See notes on |