25 en of it.* For David speaketh thus concerning him, I have seen the Lord always before me because he is on my right hand, I shall 26 not be moved. Therefore my heart rejoiceth, and my tongue is full of praise; moreover 27 also, my flesh shall rest in hope ;t because thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see 28 corruption. Thou hast revealed to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy 29 by thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me frely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre 30 is with us unto this day. But being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up 31 Christ to sit on his throne: Foreseeing this, he spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in the grave,¶ neither did his 32 flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God hath raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of * It was impossible that he should be overcome by death. ↑ See Psalm, xvi 8, 9. Not in the place of torment prepared for the wicked, certainly. For neither Christ nor David can be supposed to have been there for a moment. The word (hades) here translated hell, must mean the grave, or, the state of the dead; or the place, to which departed spirits go, before the resurrection and judgment. § See xiii. 35, 36. Declared, as with an oath. God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth 34 this, which ye now see and hear. For David 37 is not ascended into the heavens:† but he saith himself, Jehovah said unto my Lord, Sit thou at 35 my right hand, until I make thy foes thy foot36 stool. Therefore let all the house of Israel be assured, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.‡ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what 38 shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 39 Spirit. For the promise is unto you, 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 he testified¶ and exhorted, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation. * That is, raised to great power: It is said in Matthew, that all power was given to Christ. Where is he then? Is he in hades? Is there a place where departed spirits exist until the resurrection? If so, (and this seems to be implied by several passages of scripture) then it is a mistake "that they immediately pass into glory" after death. See 27th verse. That is, constituted him a spiritual prince, and given bim all power and authority in the church: and he is the Messiah whom the prophets foretold. This was professing faith in and allegiance to Christ, as the Messiah and Savior whom God had sent. The promise of miraculous gifts, or pardon, or both, 41 Then they who gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of 43 bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were 44 done by the apostles. And all who believed were together, and had all things common; 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all as every one had need. 46 And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their meat with gladness and 47 singleness of heart ;* praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.† CHAP. III. 1 NOW Peter and John went up together into the temple, at the hour of prayer, being 2 the ninth hour. And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them who 3 entered into the temple. Who, seeing Peter * Partook of their food with gratitude and temperance. The converts to Christianity were very numerous at this time. The people were convinced the apostles spake the truth, and were as isted by God. Three o'clock in she afternoon. and John about to go into the temple, asked 4 alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon 5 him, with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive 6 something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold I have none: but such as I have, I give thee In the name of Jesus Christ of 7 Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ancle-bones received 8 strength. And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and prais10 ing God and they knew that it was he who sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11 And as the lame man, who was healed, held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly wondering, 12 And when Peter saw it, he said unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why are ye surprised at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had 13 made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his child Jesus;* whom ye delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when 14 he was determined to let him go. But ye denied that holy and just Person, and desired * Same word in 26th verse, and 4th chap. 27, 30. 15 a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life,* whom God hath raised from 16 the dead; of which we are witnesses. And his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I know that ye did this through ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God had before declared by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of 20 the Lord, and he shall send Jesus Christ, who 21 before was preached unto you: Who must be received to heaven, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, from the 22 most remote ages. For Moses said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever 23 he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul which will not heart that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the 24 people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these 25 days. Ye are the children of the prophets, * Or Leader-see Heb. ii. 10. Captain of our salvation is synonymous. Who will not attend to and obey. |