Ver. 1. Of all that Jesus began, &c.] If Hen. Stephanus could say of Laertius, that he wrote the lives of the philosophers aureo libello illo in that golden book of his; and (as another hath it) opere utilissimo, et auro contra non charo; how much better may the same be said of the holy evangelists setting forth the oracles and miracles of Christ and his apostles! If Julius Scaliger thought twelve verses in Lucan better than the whole German empire, what high thoughts ought we to have of these divine records! In the monastery at Ratisbon is a New Testament written all in letters of gold, saith Melancthon, who saw it. (Joh. Manl. loc. com.) Gold was not good enough for such a purpose. Vos. de Hist. Graec. ii. 13.
Ver. 2. Had given commandments] As the Church’s Lawgiver, Isaiah 33:22 1Co 11:23.
Ver. 3. Speaking of the things] Those that are leaving the world should leave wholesome counsel to those that survive them.
Ver. 4. Wait for the promise] And put it in suit by their daily prayers, Luke 11:13.
Ver. 5. Shall be baptized] See Matthew 3:11.
Ver. 6. Restore again] They dreamt of a distribation of honours and offices here on earth as in the days of David and Solomon.
Ver. 7. It is not for you] This key God carries under his own girdle.
Ver. 8. After that the Holy Ghost is come upon you] Montanus the heresiarch wickedly affirmed that, next unto the apostles, this Scripture was fulfilled upon him and his courtesan Philumena. (Beza in loc.) Prodigious blasphemy! And eiusdem farinae, a loaf of the same leaven it is, that the Turks believe that when Christ said that “although he departed, he would send the Comforter,” it was added in the text, “And that shall be Mahomet”; but that the Christians in malice toward them have razed it out. (Abbot’s Geog.)
Ver. 9. And a cloud] Look not therefore for revelations from heaven (saith Aretius), but search the Scriptures, for those are they that testify of Christ.
Ver. 10. Looked stedfastly] Or intently, ατενιζοντες: wistly, as taken with that sweet sight. [See Trapp on “Mt 28:7”]
Ver. 11. Shall so come] De tempore ne quire, not a word of the time when, in answer to that overly curious question, Acts 1:6. Solomon’s temple was finished in the year of the world 3000; whether Christ’s shall be consummated in 3000 more, I have not to say.
Ver. 12. From the mount] Near unto which he had been apprehended, viz. at Bethany, and from whence he had thus triumphantly ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, &c., Ephesians 4:8, and making an open show of his conquered enemies as a public spectacle of scorn and derision, εδειγματισεν, Colossians 2:15. In which respect, how well might this mount Olivet have received that name of Nicatorium, which Alexander the Great gave to a certain Mountain not far from Arbela, as a constant trophy of that famous victory that he there got over Darius, with whom he fought for the empire of the world. Νικατωριον προς. Strabo.
Ver. 13. They went into an upper room] As most remote from company, and so fittest for God’s service. In Madrid it is a custom, that except some composition be made, all the upper rooms of their dwellings belong to the king. (Heyl. Geog.) Let the spirits of our minds be reserved for God. υπερωον superior pars domus Spartanorum lingua. Eustath.
Ver. 14. With the women] Who might make masculine prayers, having eyes like the pools in Heshbon, Song of Solomon 7:4.
Ver. 15. The number of names] Nominum, id est, hominum, or of the chieftains that were fit to act in the election.
Ver. 16. Brethren] Not underlings, as Popish bishops, who must say Placet It is pleasing, to that which in the pope’s name is proposed to them.
Ver. 18. And all his bowels gushed out] Because h e had no bowels of compassion toward his Master, he burst in the midst with a huge crack (as the word ελακησε signifieth), by a singular judgment of God. So Foxford, chancellor to the bishop of London, a cruel persecutor in Henry VIII’s time, died suddenly in his chair; his belly being burst and his guts falling out before him. So Arius voiding out his bowels, sent his soul as a harbinger to the devil to provide room for his body. Papias (that ancient millenary, scholar to St John) tells us (In Traditionibus quas vocant Apostolicis), that Judas having hanged himself, the rope broke, and he lived some time after, and was crushed to death by the fall of a cart that was to pass by him; but this is a mere fiction of his, and it gives us cause to credit Eusebius, who saith that this Papias, though much reverenced for opinion of his holiness and learning, yet was homo ingenii pertenuis, a slender-witted man.
Ver. 19. In their proper tongue] i.e. In the Syriac tongue; for the Jews in the Babylonish captivity lost their language.
Ver. 20. In the book of Psalms] That common magazine of wholesome lessons, as Basil hath it. κοινον ταμειον αγαθων διδαγματων
Ver. 21. Wherefore of these] To make up the breach again; like as the crowned saints fill up the room in heaven of the apostate angels.
Ver. 22. Must one be ordained] To answer the ancient types.
Ver. 23. Joseph called Barsabas] The centurists think that this Joseph Barsabas was the same with that Joses called Barnabas afterwards by the apostles, Acts 4:36. This Joseph, seeing it was God’s mind not to make choice of him now to succeed Judas in the apostleship, was content with a lower condition; therefore afterwards God called him to that high and honourable office of an apostle.
Ver. 24. Which knowest the hearts] Thales Milesius, qui sapientissimus inter septem fuisse creditur, interrogatus num lateret Deos iniuste agens? respondit, Ne cogitans quidem. Thales being asked whether evil deeds are hidden from God? answered, No, nor evil thoughts either.
Ver. 25. Go to his own place] A place of his own providing; and that he had purchased with that wages of wickedness, Acts 1:18. Bellarmine tells us of a desperate advocate in the court of Rome, who being exhorted on his death bed to make his peace with God, made this speech to him; Lord, I have a word to say to thee, not for myself, but for my wife and children, Ego enim propero ad inferos, neque est ut aliquid pro me agas; for I am hasting to hell, neither is there anything that I would beg of thee in my own behalf. And this he spake, saith Bellarmine (who was by the while), as boldly and without fear, as if he had been but to take his journey only to some near neighbouring village.
Ver. 26. They gave forth their lot] Either into the bosom, Proverbs 16:23, or lap, or pot, or some other vessel in use for that purpose.