《Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary – Acts (Vol. 1)》(Various Authors)
Commentator
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary, by Joseph Exell, William Jones, George Barlow, W. Frank Scott, and others, was published in 37 volumes as a sermon preparation and study resource. It is a commentary "written by preachers for preachers" and offers thousands of pages of:
· Detailed illustrations suitable for devotional study and preaching
· Extensive helps in application of Scripture for the listener and reader
· Suggestive and explanatory comments on verses
· Theological outlines of passages
· Expository notes
· Sketches and relevant quotes
· Brief critical notes on chapters
Although originally purposed as a minister's preparation tool, the Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary is also a fine personal study supplement.
00 Introduction
PART I
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN PALESTINE OR ITS PROGRESS FROM JERUSALEM TO ANTIOCH.—THE ACTS OF PETER
CHAPTERS 1-12
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTORY—PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH
1. The Two Treatises; or, the connection between the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke (Act ).
2. The Forty Days; or, the Interval between the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ (Act ).
3. The Taking Up of Jesus; or, the Exaltation of the Church's Head (Act ).
4. The Ten Days before Pentecost; or, Waiting for the Promise (Act ).
5. Completing the Apostleship; or, the Election of Matthias (Act ).
CHAPTER 2
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST EQUIPPED FOR ITS WORK—THE IMPLEMENTING OF THE PROMISE
1. The Baptism of Fire; or, the Descent of the Holy Ghost (Act ).
2. Excitement in Jerusalem; or, what the Multitude thought of the Phenomenon (Act ).
3. Peter's Sermon.—
1. The First Christian Apology; or, the Pentecostal Mystery explained (Act ).
4. Peter's Sermon.—
2. The Mystery of Pentecost traced up to Christ (Act ).
5. The First Converts; or, the First Fruits of the Gospel Harvest (Act ).
6. The Pentecostal Church; or, the Daily Life of Primitive Believers (Act ).
CHAPTER 3
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ENTERING ON ITS MISSION—THE FIRST APOSTOLIC MIRACLE
1. The Beautiful Gate of the Temple; or, the healing of a Lame Man (Act ).
2. Solomon's Porch; or, Peter's Second Sermon (Act ).
1. The Secret of the Miracle explained (Act ).
2. The People comforted and counselled (Act ).
CHAPTER 4
THE CHURCH'S FIRST CONFLICT WITH JUDAISM—OPPOSITION FROM THE SANHEDRIM
1. The Apostles (Peter and John) in Gaol; or, the First Taste of Persecution (Act ).
2. The Apostles before the Sanhedrim; or, the Sheep among Wolves (Act ).
3. The Apostles removed from Court; or, the Conspirators in Conclave (Act ).
4. The Apostles with their own Company; or, the Welcome of the First Confessors (Act ).
5. The Apostles and the First Christians; or, the Effect of the First Persecution (Act ).
CHAPTER 5
DANGERS BOTH WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE CHURCH—FALSE FRIENDS AND OPEN FOES
1. The Story of Ananias and Sapphira; or, Hypocrisy unveiled (Act ).
2. A Page from the Church's Life History; or, the Calm before a Storm (Act ).
3. Annas on the Move; or, the Bursting of the Storm (Act ).
4. Gamaliel and his Colleagues; or, a Friend at Court (Act ).
CHAPTER 6
DISSENSION IN THE CHURCH—THE RISE OF A NEW ORDER OF CHURCH OFFICIALS
1. The Church's first Strife allayed; or, the Institution of the Diaconate (Act ).
2. The Ministry of Stephen; or, the rising of a Bright Particular Star in the Church's Firmament (Act ).
CHAPTER 7
THE CHURCH BEGINS HER MARTYR ROLL—THE MURDER OF STEPHEN
1. The Apology of Stephen; or, a Vindication of Christianity (Act ).
2. The Progenitor of Israel; or, the History of Abraham (Act ).
3. The Last of the Patriarchs; or, Joseph a Type of Christ (Act ).
4. The Founder of the Nation; or, the Biography of Moses—in three chapters (Act ).
5. From Joshua to Jesus; or, the Downward Course of Israel (Act ).
6. The Martyrdom of Stephen; or, the First Taste of Blood (Act ).
CHAPTER 8
THE CHURCH PASSES BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF JUDÆA—MOVING TOWARDS THE GENTILES
1. The Fires of Persecution rekindled; or, Evil overruled for Good (Act ).
2. Philip the Deacon in Samaria; or, the Gospel spreading (Act ).
3. The Accession of Simon Magus; or, the Reception of a doubtful convert (Act ).
4. The Mission of Peter and John; or, the Confirmation of the Saints (Act ; Act 7:25?).
5. The Two Simons; or, the Detection of a Hypocrite (Act ).
6. The Conversion of the Eunuch; or, the Gospel carried into Ethiopia (Act ).
CHAPTER 9
PREPARATIONS FOR A GENTILE MISSION—THE CALLING OF A NEW APOSTLE
A. The Conversion of Saul.
1. The Miracle near Damascus; or, the Arrest of the Persecutor (Act ).
2. The Mission of Ananias; or, the Baptism of Saul (Act ).
3. Saul at Damascus; or, the Persecutor turned Preacher (Act ).
4. Saul's First Visit to Jerusalem; or, his Discipleship confirmed (Act ).
B. The Wanderings of Peter.
5. With the Saints at Lydda; or, the Healing of Eneas (Act ).
6. Among the Disciples at Joppa; or, the Raising of Dorcas (Act ).
CHAPTER 10
THE CHURCH'S DOOR OPENED FOR THE GENTILES—ACCESSION OF CONVERTS FROM HEATHENDOM
1. Cornelius's Vision; or, a Gentile Inquirer directed (Act ).
2. Peter's Trance; or, the Apostolic Agent instructed (Act ).
3. Cornelius's Messengers at Joppa; or, the Gentile Proselyte knocking for Admission (Act ).
4. Peter's Journey to Csarea; or, the Candidate's Examination (Act ).
5. Peter's Sermon to Cornelius; or, the Gospel preached to a Gentile (vers.34-43).
6. The Descent of the Spirit on Cornelius; or, a Gentile's Reception into the Church (Act ).
CHAPTER 11
THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM AND GENTILE CONVERTS—THE LIBERTY OF GRACE
1. Peter's Report to the Church at Jerusalem; or, the Admission of the Gentiles vindicated (Act ).
2. The Origin of the Church at Antioch; or, the Preparation of a Centre for the Gentile Mission (Act ).
CHAPTER 12
DIVINE INTERPOSITIONS ON THE CHURCH'S BEHALF—EXPERIENCES OF MERCY AND JUDGMENT
1. The Days of Unleavened Bread; or, the Persecution of the Church (Act ).
2. The Death of Herod; or, the Church's Persecutor Punished (Act ).
PART II
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AMONG THE GENTILES OR, ITS PROGRESS FROM ANTIOCH TO ROME—THE ACTS OF PAUL
CHAPTERS 13-28
CHAPTER 13
THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY (PAUL AND BARNABAS)—COMMENCED
1. Barnabas and Saul at Antioch; or, the Departure of the First Gentile Missionaries (Act ).
2. The Conversion of Sergius Paulus; or, the Gospel in Cyprus (Act ).
3. A Sabbath Day in Pisidian Antioch; or, Paul's Sermon in the Synagogue (Act ).
4. A Second Sabbath in Pisidian Antioch; or, the Gospel carried to the Gentiles (Act ).
CHAPTER 14
THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY (PAUL AND BARNABAS)—CONTINUED AND CONCLUDED
1. Paul and Barnabas at Iconium; or, continued Opposition from the Jews (Act ).
2. Paul and Barnabas at Lystra; or, the Gospel among Barbarians (Act ).
3. The Homeward Journey of Paul and Barnabas; or, Back to Antioch in Syria (Act ).
CRITICAL REMARKS
Act . Iconium.—Presently styled Konich. Situated south-east of Pisidian Antioch, and according to apocryphal legend the abode of the virgin martyr Thecla, who is said to have been at this time converted by Paul. Whether Iconium was a Lycaonian (Cicero, Strabo, pliny), Phrygian (Xenophon), or Pisidian (Ammianus Marcellinus) city is debated by modern writers (see "Homiletical Analysis"). Together.— κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ, as in Act 3:1, rather than at the same time (Holtzmann), or in the same manner (Wolf). So.—Not with such power, but with this result. The Greeks.—Having been in the synagogue these were most likely proselytes (compare Act 13:43), and therefore a different class from those mentioned in Act 11:20.
Act . But the unbelieving Jews.—Lit., but the Jews having disbelieved, when the others believed, stirred up the Gentiles, etc. Better, stirred up the souls of the Gentiles and made them evil affected. κακόω occurs in the New Testament only here. How the Jews incited the Gentiles is not told; but see Act 13:45-50; Act 18:5-9. Only two of the persecutions recorded in the Acts (Act 16:19; Act 19:23) proceeded from others than Jews. The Bezan text adds, "But the Lord gave peace quickly," which Professor Ramsay is disposed to accept as correct, in order to explain the "long time" of next verse.
Act .—The best authorities omit and between "gave testimony" and "granted." Spitta regards this verse as "a scrap from an independent and complete narrative" Ramsay, as "an early gloss similar to the many which have crept into the Bezan text."
Act . Divided.—The usual result of the gospel (see Joh 7:43; Joh 10:19; Act 23:7).
Act . An assault.—Should rather be an onset (R.V.), or better, "an impulse," or inclination towards such an onset (Meyer, Alford), a hostile agitation (Zöckler), since the words "they were ware of it" seem to imply that the assault had not been made. Besides, Paul was only once stoned (2Co 11:25), whereas had this evil intention been carried out he would have twice suffered that indignity (see Act 14:19).
Act . Lystra.—About six hours south-south-west from Iconium, at Khatyn Serai (Sir C. Wilson), "on a hill in the centre of a valley," "3,777 feet above the sea, and 427 above Iconium" (Ramsay). Derbe.—"The frontier city of the Roman province on the south-east" (Ramsay). The site uncertain, placed by some (Lewin, Conybeare and Howson, Farrar) twenty miles, by others (Sterrett) two miles distant from Lystra. Cities of Lycaonia.—Ptolemæus reckoned these as belonging to Isauria. "Lystra and Derbe were cities of Lycaonia Galatica—i.e., that part of Lycaonia which was attached to the province Galatia, while Iconium reckoned itself as a city of Phrygia, Galatia—i.e., the part of Phrygia which was attached to the province Galatia" (Ramsay).
Act . And there they preached the gospel.—Codex Bezœ adds: "And the whole multitude was moved at their teaching; and Paul and Barnabas abode in Lystra"; but this cannot be accepted as original (Ramsay).
Act . Sat.—No doubt in some public place begging like the lame man in Jerusalem (Act 3:1). Not "dwelt" (Kuinoel).
Act . Steadfastly beholding him.—Or, fastening his eyes upon him, as he did on Elymas (Act 13:9), and as Peter did upon the cripple at the Gate Beautiful (Act 3:4). Faith to be healed.—Or, faith to be saved—i.e., from his lameness, though the larger and higher meaning need not be excluded. He had, no doubt, been listening to Paul's preaching, and given indication by his countenance that he believed the gospel message.
Act . With a loud voice.—Speaking in a tone higher than that in which he had been preaching (compare Act 3:6). Stand upright on thy feet.—Christ's name not mentioned as by Peter (Act 3:6), because probably unnecessary. And he leaped (one act) and walked.—Baur) (Paul, his Life and Works, i. 95) finds in this miracle and that of the judgment on Elymas (Act 13:11 most undoubted tokens of an apologetic parallel with Peter who healed a lame man at the Gate Beautiful (Act 3:1-8) and encountered a sorcerer in Samaria (Act 8:9-24)—i.e., on first stepping out among the heathen. But as lame men and magicians were then plentiful, it is not surprising that both apostles should have met such characters; while, if both apostles were guided by the Holy Ghost, why should it be wonderful that He should lead Paul to work similar miracles with those of Peter? And more especially if (as Baur admits) such miracles were necessary to legitimate Paul's apostleship? The Holy Ghost, one would naturally reason, would be as likely as a second century writer to know what sort of works Paul should do to secure his recognition as a Christian apostle.
Act . The speech of Lycaonia.—Supposed by some to have been an Assyrian dialect (Jablonski), by others a corrupt form of Greek (Guhling), and by a third party a Galatian tongue, has completely disappeared, though Stephen of Byzantium, in the fifth century, reports it as then existing, and gives δέλβεια as Lycaonian for "a juniper" (Farrar, i. 381). For the chief cities of Lycaonia (Act 14:6) see "Homiletical Analysis." The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.—Compare Homer's Odyssey, xvii. 484: καὶ τε θεοὶ ξείνοισιν ἐοικότες ἀλλοδαποῖσιν, παντοῖοι τελέθοντες, ἐπιστρωφῶσι πόληας, etc. "And the gods, like to strangers from foreign lands, coming forth in all sorts of shapes, visit the cities, observing both the insolence and the order (or good behaviour) of men"; and Ovid's Metamorphosis, viii. 626: Jupiter huc, specie mortali cumque parente, venit Atlantiades positis caduciferalis. "Hither comes Jupiter in the form of a mortal, and with his parent comes herald Atlantiades (Mercury) his wings laid aside." Such conceptions were common in New Testament times (Harnack). See further on Act 14:11 "Hints."
Act . Barnabas was designated Jupiter or Zeus, probably because the older and more dignified in appearance. Paul Mercurius.—Or Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.—Lit., the leader of the discourse—i.e., because of his eloquence. "Paul is here the messenger of the Supreme God: he says in Gal 4:14, ‘Ye received me as a Messenger of God" (Ramsay).