Ver. 1. And when the day of Pentecost] This feast was instituted in remembrance of the law delivered to Moses in the mount, fifty days after their departure out of Egypt. Answerably whereunto the Holy Ghost (and God’s love thereby, Romans 5:5) is sent out and shed abroad the 50th day after that Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us, 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Ver. 2. As of a rushing mighty wind] Nescit tarda molimina gratia Spirltus Sancti, saith Ambrose. “The Spirit of God is a spirit of power,” 2 Timothy 1:7.
Ver. 3. Cloven tongues] Teaching them both ορθοτομειν, to divide the word aright, and also ορθοποδειν, as some will have it; their tongues being cloven, as their feet were into toes, teaching them too to foot it aright. Diodorus Siculus tells us of a certain island beyond Arabia, the inhabitants whereof have cloven tongues, so that therewith they can alter their speech at their pleasure, imitate the tunes of various birds, and (which is more strange) they can perfectly speak to two persons and to two purposes at once; to one with one part of their tongue and to another with the other part; Sed fides sit penes Authorem, believe it who will.
Ver. 4. As the Spirit gave them utterance] αποφθεγγεσθαι, to utter divine apothegms, grave and gracious sentences, or rather oracles; those Magnalia Dei, great things of God, Acts 2:11 Mirabilia legis, Great things of the law, Psalms 119:18. (2 Peter 1:21) Cedro digna et Cerite cera. Horat. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost] And so gifted for their offices and employments in the Church. The heathens tell us that Hesiod, being filled with a sudden inspiration by the Muses, became of a sordid neatherd a most skilful poet. And Cicero saith, no man ever grew famous sine aliquo afflatu divino, without some inbreathing from on high.
Ver. 5. And there were dwelling, &c.] Even in Jerusalem (for their ancient idolatries and latter unthankfulness) there be not to be found at this time a hundred households of the Jews. (Breerwood’s Inquiries.)
Ver. 6. Were confounded] Or troubled, transported, amazed, and amused, συνεχυθη, as Acts 2:7.
Ver. 7. Galileans]— crassoque sub aere nati. (Martial.)
Ver. 8. Every man in our our tongue] Cleopatra was so skilful in the Eastern tongues that she could readily answer the Ethiopian, Hebrew, Arabian, Syrian, Median, Parthian ambassadors that came unto her; turning and tuning her tongue with ease (as an instrument of many strings, saith Plutarch) to what dialect soever she listed. ωσπερ οργανον τι πολυχορδον
Ver. 9. Parthians and Medes, &c.] Those strangers of the dispersion, 1 Peter 1:1.
Ver. 10. Proselytes] Jethro was the first proselyte to the Jewish Church that we read of in Scripture.
Ver. 12. The wonderful works] The magnifical, majestical things of God; they praised him according to his excellent greatness, Psalms 150:2. What meaneth this?] Gr. “What will this be, or come to?” And here began their conversion. Let none “despise the day of small things,” Zechariah 4:10: God put little thoughts into Ahasuerus’s head, but for great purposes, Esther 6:1. The word falls often upon men’s ears, “as the sound of many waters” at first, working wonder only. Next “as the voice of thunder,” working fear also, as it did on these here, Acts 2:37. Lastly, as the harmony of harpers, filling the heart with peace and joy through believing, as one observeth from Revelation 14:1-5 τι αν θελοι τουτο ειναι
Ver. 13. Others mocking, said, These men, &c.] χλευαζοντες, contumeliously cavilling, as those epicures at Athens did, Acts 17:32. And that mocker, Doctor Morgan, who being set to examine Mr Philpot, martyr, asked him, How know you that you have the Spirit of God? Philpot answered, By the faith of Christ which is in me. Ah, by faith, do you so? (quoth Morgan). I think it is the spirit of the buttery, which your fellows have had that have been burned before you, who were drunk before they went to their death, and I think went drunk unto it. Philpot replied: It appeareth by your communication that you are better acquainted with the spirit of buttery than with the Spirit of God. Thou hast the spirit of illusion and sophistry, which is not able to countervail the Spirit of truth. And God, I tell thee, shall rain fire and brimstone upon such scorners of his word and blasphemers of his people as thou art, &c.
Ver. 14. But Peter standing up] (σταθεις, consistens.) Buckling close to them, and not suffering them to carry it away so; Constantem et praesentem Petri animum declarat. Beza.
Ver. 15. Seeing it is but the third hour] This was then an argument more than probable. Now men are grown such husbands, as that by that time they will return their stocks, and have their brains crowing before day.
Ver. 16. But this is that] Thus the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New.
Ver. 17. In the last days] God keeps his best till last. Not so the devil. I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh] The best thing upon the basest. Oh, wonderful goodness!
Ver. 18. And on mine handmaids] Souls have no sexes, Galatians 3:28.
Ver. 19. Wonders in heaven] See Joel 3:15 Mt 24:29 Mr 13:24 Lu 21:25.
Ver. 20. The sun shall be turned] He seems to set forth the great troubles of the world under the gospel.
Ver. 21. Shall be saved] Therefore to be able to pray is better than to be able to prophesy, Matthew 7:22.
Ver. 22. A man] From Adam, but not by Adam.
Ver. 23. And by wicked hands, &c.] Facinus vincire civem Romanum, It is a crime to bind a Roman citizen, saith the orator. It was much (may we say) for the Son of God to be bound, more to be beaten, most of all to be slain. Quid dicam in crucem tolli? Let me say what is destroyed in the cross. (Cicero in Ver.)
Ver. 24. It was not possible] For he was life essential, and therefore “swallowed up death in victory,” 1 Corinthians 15:54. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel of God] Quod dum devitatur impletur, saith Gregory. The wicked’s intense rage carries on God’s decree against their wills; for while they sit backward to his command, they row forward to his decree; dum sun cuique Deus fit dira libido.
Ver. 25. Be moved] Tossed as a ship by tempest.
Ver. 26. My tongue] Heb. “my glory.” With the tongue bless we God, James 3:9, which is the best way of ennobling it.
Ver. 27. My soul in hell] That is, my body in the grave. So Revelation 20:13. Death and hell, i.e. the grave, are cast into the burning lake. To the three degrees of our Saviour’s humiliation, are answerable the three degrees of his exaltation: to his death, his resurrection; to his burial, his ascension; to his abode a while in the grave, his sitting at the right hand of his heavenly Father.
Ver. 28. Thou hast made known] i.e. Thou givest me experience, or thou hast made me partaker of.
Ver. 29. His sepulchre is with us] Repaired, likely, when the city was rebuilt. See Matthew 23:29.
Ver. 30. Out of the fruit of his loins] That is, out of the Virgin Mary; the son of whose womb Christ was, being hewn without hands out of that mountain, Daniel 2:45.
Ver. 31. Neither his flesh] It was a pious error in those good women that embalmed his body to preserve it from corruption.
Ver. 32. Hath God raised up] Adam died, and we hear no more of him; but the second Adam rose and reigneth for ever.
Ver. 33. Exalted] [See Trapp on “Ac 2:27”]
Ver. 34. Is not ascended] viz. Bodily, and to sit at God’s right hand as King of the Church: that is Christ’s royalty.
Ver. 35. Thy footstool] They that will not bend shall break; Christ will fetch in his rebels, and set his feet of fine brass on the necks of them, Revelation 1:15.
Ver. 36. Lord and Christ] Messiah the Prince, Daniel 9:25.
Ver. 37. They were pricked] Punctually pricked and pierced (κατενυγησαν). They felt the nails wherewith they had crucified Christ sticki ng fast in their own hearts, as so many sharp daggers or stings of scorpions, 2 Corinthians 12:7. Sin is set forth by a word that signifieth the head of a bearded arrow sticking in the flesh (σκολοψ). After Socrates was put to death at Athens, Aristophanes rehearse d a tragedy of his concerning Palamedes, who had been executed by the Grecians long before, at the siege of Troy. In this tragedy were these verses, “Ye have slain, ye have slain of Greeks the very best, (All me) that never any did infest.” The people at the hearing of these lines were so moved that they presently fell upon the authors of Socrates’ death, and drew them forth to punishment. Oh, that we could be as nimble to apprehend and be avenged upon our sins, the cause of Christ’s death. Εκτανετε, εκτανετε αριστον των ‘Ελληνων, τον ανδιαν μηδενα βλαψαντα
Ver. 38. Peter said unto them, Repent] μετανοησατε. Hence then they had not yet repented, for all they were pricked at heart. Nay, Peter prescribes it for a remedy, which taxeth thei r folly that take the disease for the remedy, and are overly forward to minister comfort or ever men have sorrowed after God, and to a transmentation. The English are not sick soon enough, saith one, and they are well again too soon. It is true of their minds, as well as of their bodies, Currat ergo poenitentia, ne praecurrat sententia; and let our fasts be according to an old canon, which defines their continuance usque dum stellae in, caelo appareant, till stars be seen in the sky. It is not for men to scarf up their wounds till they are thoroughly searched, not to get out of the furnace of mortification till their hearts melt, as Josiah’s did, and fall asunder in their bosoms, like drops of water. Penitence and pain are words of one derivation, and very near of kin. Never was any wound cured without sensible pain: never any sin healed without soaking sorrow. Let none dream of a delicacy in the ways of God; nor hope for sound comfort, till they have thoroughly repented. The Hebrews, as they express sin and punishment by the same word, so do they repentance and comfort, םחנ.
Ver. 39. Even as many] The devil sweeps all (of maturity) that are not called, as out of the covenant.
Ver. 40. With many words did he testify] διεμαρτυρετο, in God’s name, for his sake, and by his authority, as Paul charged Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:14, and as Bradford spoke to his friend: I beseech you, I pray you, I desire you, I crave at your hands with all my very heart. I ask of you with hand, pen, tongue, and mind; in Christ, through Christ, for Christ; for his name, blood, mercy, power, and truth’s sake, that you admit no doubting of God’s final mercies toward you, howsoever you feel yourself.
Ver. 41. Were baptized] They gave up their names to Christ, and took his mark upon them.
Ver. 42. Doctrine and fellowship] So the Philippians, Philippians 1:5. [See Trapp on “Php 1:5”]
Ver. 43. Fear came upon] The enemies were overawed, and dared not moot or attempt against the Church.
Ver. 44. Were together] There is a special tie to constancy in the communion of saints and community of supplies. And had all things common] This was voluntary, not necessary. Non fuit praeceptum, sed susceptum, saith Piscator.
Ver. 45. And sold] So Tyre when once converted, Isaiah 23:17,18.
Ver. 46. Breaking bread] Friendly feeding together, and (after their love feasts) celebrating the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s day at least: whence it was anciently called Panis Hebdomadarius. That of George Tankerfield, a martyr in Queen Mary’s days, was singular and extraordinary. For when the hour drew on that he should suffer, he called for a pint of Malmsey and a loaf, that he might eat and drink that in remembrance of Christ’s death and passion, because he could not have it ministered unto him by others, in such manner as Christ commanded. And then he kneeled down, making his confession to the Lord, with all which were in the chamber with him. And after that he had prayed to the Lord, and had read the institution of the holy Supper by the Lord Jesus, out of the evangelists, and out of St Paul, he said: O Lord, thou knowest I do not this to derogate authority from any man, or in contempt of those which are thy ministers; but only because I cannot have it ministered according to thy word. And when he had so spoken, he received it with thanksgiving. Moris, erat convesci et convivari et celebrare caenam Dom. Tertul.
Ver. 47. Such as should be saved] Heirs of the kingdom, James 2:5. Heads destinated to the diadem, saith Tertullian.