558 xi. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Their answer to the charge exhibited against them. SECT. fit and necessary to obey the almighty and ever blessed God, rather than men, be they ever so Acts great and powerful. We assuredly know, and V. 30. we testify it to you as we have been testifying it to the people, that the God of our fathers hanged on a tree. hath raised up Jesus his son, whom ye slew in the most infamous manner that ye could invent, hanging him crucified on a tree, as if he had been the meanest of slaves and the vilest of malefac31 tors: But this very person, notwithstanding all the outrage with which you treated him, hath God exalted at his own right hand [to be a Prince and Saviour to his people; to give repentance, or to send terms of peace and reconciliation by him, even unto Israel, by whom he hath been so ungratefully insulted and abused, and to bestow on those that shall repent the free and full remission of all their aggravated sins. 32 And we are appointed his witnesses of these things, how incredible soever they may appear to you things; and so is also and so is the Holy Spirit also, whom God hath gi- the Holy Ghost, whom ven not only to us the apostles, but also to many God hath given to others of them who submit themselves to his gothem that obey him. vernment, most evidently attesting the same, and proving how absolutely necessary it is for every one, great and small, to lay aside prejudice and opposition, and with humble penitence to believe in Jesus. 33 32 And we are his witnesses of these 33 When they heard that, they were took And the high-priest and the Sadducees, when they heard [this] courageous testimony and faith- cut to the heart, and ful remonstrance, were enraged beyond all measures of patience and of decency, so that they even grinded their teeth at them, like savage beasts that could gladly have devoured them; and with hearts full of rancour they imme d To give repentance unto Israel.] As repentance was not actually wrought in Isracl by the efficacious grace of Christ, I think it evident, that devas plavolay here significs to give place or room for repentance, just as the same phrase does in Josephus, (Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 8, [al. 6,] § 7,) where he says, that the Jews rising up at Cæsarea in a tumultuous manner, the wiser people among them went to intercede with the governor duvar pilavolay ini Tois mengalμvas, i. e. to publish a pardon to those who should lay down their arms; agreeable to the turn given to the expression in the paraphrase. e The Holy Spirit also, whom God hath given to them that submit, &c.] The testi diately mony arising from this miraculous com munication of the Spirit to Christians at that time, entirely removes the objection from Christ's not appearing in public after his resurrection: for, had there been any imposture, it had been easier of the two to have persuaded people at a distance, that he had so appeared to the Jewish rulers, or even to the multitude, and yet had been rejected, than that he had given his servants such extraordinary powers; since, had this assertion been false, every one might have been a witness to the falsehood of such a pretence, without the trouble and expence of a journey to Jerusalem, or any other distant place, f Gama them. The council consult how they may slay them. 559 xi. took counsel to slay diately consulted how they might put them all to SECT. death, either under pretence of blasphemy, or for sedition and rebellion against the supreme council of the State. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, maliel, a doctor of law, had in reputation a mong all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space, a Pharisee, named Ga 35 And said unto them, Yemen of Israel, take heed toyourselves, what ye intend to do, as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be Acts V. 33. But a certain celebrated Pharisee then in the 34 Sanhedrim, whose name was Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, who trained up a great number of young students in the most exact knowledge of it, and was in great esteem among all the people on account of his learning, wisdom, and piety, rose up; and as he purposed to speak his mind with great freedom on a very tender point, he commanded the apostles to be taken out for a little while. And then addressing himself to his 35 brethren, the other members of the court, he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, to whom divine Providence has committed the guardianship of this people, and the great care of their public affairs! I think it my duty, on this important occasion, seriously to advise you to take heed to yourselves, as to what you are about to do to these men. For you cannot but know, that several 36 remarkable occurrences have lately happened, some body, to whom which have awakened a great degree of public a expectation and regard; and it may not be improper to recollect some of them at this crisis. You particularly remember, that some time ago one Theudas arose, pretending himself to be some Gamaliel.] This was the elder of that name, a man of so great honour among them, that Onkelos, the author of the Targum, is said to have burnt seventy pound weight of perfumes at his funeral: Nay it is said, the honour of the law failed with him. If he were really, as he is reported to have been, the author of those Prayers against Christians, so long used in the Jewish synagogues, he must have lost that moderation of temper which he manifested here; perhaps exasperated at the growth of the new sect, and the testimony so boldly borne by the apostles. He was Paul's master; (Acts xxii. 3,) and no doubt he informed that headstrong youth for such be then was,) of what now passed, and of many other things, which rendered his sin in persecuting the Christians so much the more aggravated. See Wits. Meletem. cap. 1, § 13, p. 12, 13; and Mr. Biscoe, at Boyle's Lect. chap. iii. § 9, p. 77, 78. g One Theudas arose. se.] As the Theudas mentioned by Josephus, Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 5, [al. 2.] § 1,) under the character of a false prophet, (who drew a great number of people after him, with a promise of extraor dividing Jordan before them, but was de- 560 XI. Acts Gamaliel cites some former cases to appease their rage. joined themselves: 37 Atter this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the all, even as many as SECT. extraordinary person to whom a number of men, a number of men, amounting to about four hundred, adhered; who, about four hundred, notwithstanding this, was himself quickly slain who was s'ain, and all, V. 56. by the Roman forces, and all who hearkened to as many as obeyed him were scattered, and after all the boasting and brought to nought. him, were scattered, promises of their leader, came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean arose, in the days of the late enrolment, and endeavouring on the principles of sacred liberty to dissuade the Jews taxing, and drew away from owning the authority of the Romans in much people after him: that instance, he drew a multitude of people after he a so perished and him; and the consequence was, that he also him- obeyed him, were disself was quickly destroyed, and all who had heark- persed. 38 ened to him were dispersed. And therefore with 38 And now I say regard to the present affair I say unto you, and give it as my most serious and delib. rate advice them alone: For if this now in the present crisis, refrain from these men, counsel, or this work and let them alone to go on as they can, neither siding with them, nor violently opposing them; for if this counsel which they are taking, or this work which they have performed, be of men, if it be merely a human contrivance and deceit, which we are not capable of proving that it is, his history, though Josephus only mentions hAfter him] Bos has taken great pains it unto you, Refrain from these men, and let be casion the insurrection of both, I see no need of departing from the usual rendering of the preposition pla in this construction, which every body knows is generally used to signify after.— -To connect ila THOR with the preceding verse, (as some propose,) is quite unnatural in grammar, as well as disagreeable to fact. i Judas the Galilean arose.] Josephus's account of this Judas Gaulonites, as he is generally called, may be seen in the beginning of the xviiith Book of his Antiquities. k All who had hearkened to him were dispersed.] Mr. Lardner justly observes, this does not imply they were destroyed, and imagines, that though Gamaliel would not directly assert it, yet he insinuates, (agreeably to his principles, as a Pharisee,) that perhaps Judas the Galilean, as well as the apostles, might be actuated by some divine impulse, and that in one instance, as well as the other, the doctrine might survice, when the teachers were taken off. (See Lardner's Credibility, Part I. Book ii. chap. 1, § 3.) But the argument will be good on the common interpretation; and, as the word here used ditoxognisnoav, especially in this connection, most naturally implies a calamitous and disappointing dispersion, I apprchend, that, had it been intended in the sense my learned and much esteemed friend supposes, the present tense would rather have been used. to nought: throw it; les' haply ye against God. 561 Acts He advises them to act with caution, and to wait the issue. be of men, it will come it will soon sink and come to nothing of itself; SECT. some incident will arise to discredit it, and the whole interest of this Jesus will moulder away, as that of Theudas and of Judas did, which V.58. seemed to be much more strongly supported by 39 But if it be of human force. But, on the other hand, if it 39 God, ye connot over- be really the cause of God, which does not apbe found even to fight pear to me impossible, you cannot with all your power and policy dissolve it; but even though these particular instruments should be taken off, he will undoubtedly raise up others: And it will certainly become you in regard to your own safety to be particularly cautious, [and take heed lest you not only lose the benefit of any deliverance which may be intended for Israel, but also be yourselves found even fighters against the power and providence of almighty God; an undertaking, which must prove infinitely fatal to all, who are so rash and unhappy as to attempt it. 40 And to him they they had called the speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And, as the council were unable to elude the 40 agreed: And when force of what Gamaliel said, they yielded to him, apostles, and beaten acknowledging that his advice was safe and wise: them, they commanded And having called in the apostles, and ordered that they should not them to be scourged and beaten with rods in their presence, that in some measure they might vent their indignation, and might expose them to disgrace and shame, they strictly charged them, as they had done before, (chap. iv. 18) not to speak any more in the name of Jesus, if they would not incur yet severer punishment; and, having threatened them with what they must expect, if ever they were brought before them for the same crime again, they dismissed them for that time. 41 And they de pame. 41 Thus were the apostles sent away, and, far parted from the pre- from being terrified by all the cruel usage they sence of the council, had met with, or by the threatenings of their rejoicing that they were counted worthy adversaries, they departed from the presence of the to suffer shame for his Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were so honoured in the course of divine Providence, as to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ, and to be exposed to infamy for the sake of his venerable and sacred name, rightly judging, that a punishment of this kind, though generally shameful, became a glory to them; when borne in so excellent a cause, and for the sake of him, who, though so divinely great and so perfectly happy, had submitted not only to stripes, but to death for 42 And daily in the them. Instead therefore of obeying the order 42 temple, of 562 xi. Acts Reflections on the trial of the twelve apostles. SECT. of the rulers, they grew so much the more temple, and in every courageous and diligent in spreading the gospel. house they ceased not to teach and preach And every day, from morning to night, they Jesus Christ. V.42. ceased not to pursue this great work; but took all opportunities to preach in the temple, though within sight of the Sanhedrim,and among many of its chief members, who, being obliged by their office often to resort thither, must frequently see and hear them; and at other times, between the seasons of public worship, they were engaged privately from house to house; and on the whole, one way or another, it was their constant business to teach and to preach Jesus as the Messiah, and to proclaim with unspeakable pleasure the good news of life and salvation given to sinners by him: The Sanhedrim, in the mean time, by the special providence of God, suffering them to go on, and affecting to overlook them as beneath their notice, though still with a secret rancour, which at length broke out into the extremest violence. Ver. IMPROVEMENT. WHICH Shall we survey with the greater surprise, the continued 17, 18 courage of the apostles, or the continued malice of their persecutors? Again they seize them, again they imprison them; but how vainly do these feeble worms, amidst all the pride of dignity and power, oppose the counsels of Omnipotence! 19 The angel of the Lord opens the door of their prison, and leads forth his faithful servants to renewed liberty; An office which this celestial Spirit could not but perform with delight; as it was, no doubt, with unutterable pleasure that he gave them their errand, to go and publish with undaunted freedom and zeal the words of this life, of this gospel which enlivens dead souls, and points out the 20 road to an happy immortality. O that the folly of those who have heard it had never converted it into a savour of death! 21--26 Yet, behold, the council renewed the attack! The same madness which instigated the Jews to seize Jesus, when they had been struck to the ground by his miraculous power, (John xviii. 6.) animated these wretches to contrive the destruction of persons whom God himself had just before rescued from their hands; as they had formerly plotted that of Lazarus, (John xii. 10.) who had by a yet more astonishing wonder been recalled from the grave. To what fatal extravagancies will not prejudice hurry the mind? Against what convincing evidence will it not harden it?" 29 Ye shall, says our Lord, be brought before councils for my sake; and |