Ver. 1. At the hour of prayer] The Jews had their stata precibus tempora, set hours of prayer. See Psalms 55:17 Da 6:10 Ac 10:3,30.
Ver. 2. To ask alms] This ought not to have been suffered, Deuteronomy 15:7,8 There might not be a beggar in Israel. But all was out of order, as it useth to be among a people nigh to destruction.
Ver. 3. Asked an alms] The Dutch beggars ask not, but look pitifully.
Ver. 4. Look on us] Together with this word there went forth a power, as Luke 5:17.
Ver. 5. Expecting] God was better to him than his expectation. God presseth kindness upon his suitors, and heapeth it upon them, as Naaman upon Gehazi, 2 Kings 5:22,23.
Ver. 6. Silver and gold have I none] The newelected pope, in his solemn Lateran procession, must take copper out of his chamberlain’s lap, and scatter it among the people, saying, Gold and silver have I none. Whenas Petrarch writeth that when Pope John XXII died, his heirs found in his treasury 250 tons of gold. And when Pope Boniface VIII was taken and plundered by Philip the Fair, king of France, there was more store of treasure carried out of his palace than all the kings of the earth could show again, saith the historian. Every pope hath the sign of the cross on his pantofle shining gloriously with pearls and precious stones, ut plenis faucibus crucem Christi derideat, saith mine author in derision of Christ’s cross. (Heidelfield.)
Ver. 7. His feet and ankle bones] “The Lord raiseth them that are crooked,” but (as a further favour, and far better than that former) “he loveth the righteous,” Psalms 146:8, as he did this cripple, whom he healed on the inside also.
Ver. 8. Into the temple] There to hang up his crutches, as it were. Walking and leaping] Weak Christians are commonly most affectionate, as this cripple when first cured leaped for joy.
Ver. 9. Praising God] Not the apostles. We may pay the messenger, but return thanks chiefly to the sender.
Ver. 10. And they knew] There could be therefore no collusion.
Ver. 11. Held Peter and John] Fearing perhaps lest, if he should lose them, he should lose his limbs again. So that demoniac, Mark 5:18.
Ver. 12. Why look ye] We are ready to pay our rent to a wrong landlord.
Ver. 13. Denied him] Crying out, We have no king but Caesar, John 19:15
Ver. 14. But ye denied] This he again beats upon, and drives home to the head.
Ver. 15. And killed] Wherein they were but our workmen, Zechariah 12:10.
Ver. 16. And his name] That is, Christ himself, as God’s name is often put for God’s self.
Ver. 17. I wot that through ignorance] Peter excuseth not their fact, but thus far forth mitigateth it, that it was not the sin against the Holy Ghost, which can never be forgiven. This must be carefully cautioned, and the weak informed that they despair not. This irremissible sin is wilful blaspheming of God, and the work of his Spirit, out of revenge, Hebrews 10:29; a will to crucify Christ again.
Ver. 18. By the mouth of all his prophets] All the prophets spake but with one mouth; such a sweet consent and happy harmony there is in all their writings, as if done by one only.
Ver. 19. Repent and be converted] The first word comprehendeth contrition and confession. The second, faith and reformation. The first, repentance for sin; the second, repentance from sin. Da poenitentiam, et postea indulgentiam, said dying Fulgentius.
Ver. 20. Preached unto you] Or handed to you, or put into your hands, προκεχειρισμενον.
Ver. 21. Whom the heavens must receive until, &c.] Note this against the Ubiquitaries, whose error was first broached by Gerson, about the time of the Council of Constance. Afterwards, defended at Paris by Jacobus Faber Stapulensis, A. D. 1524, who was therefore banished the next year out of France. (Scultet. Annul.) But Luther brought it into Germany, Brentins stickled for it, and Smidelinus obtruded it upon many, even against their wills; and was therefore called the apostle of the Ubiquity. The author of the Practice of Piety thus distinguisheth: Secundum esse naturale Christus non est ubique, secundum esse personale Christus est ubique, even the body of Christ. It was objected as a heresy against Thomas Man, martyr, that he had affirmed, That the Father of heaven was the altar, and the second person the sacrament: and that upon the Ascension Day, the sacrament ascended upon the altar, and there abideth still. But what an audacious heretic is he that writes of the “mortality of the soul,” to interpret this place thus, “The heavens must contain him,” that is, he “must be in the sun”; for he holds that there is no heaven till the resurrection. Until the times of restitution] This Plato hammered at in his great revolution; when, after many thousands of years, all things shall be again statu quo prius, as they were at first.
Ver. 22. Like unto me] 1. A man, as I am. 2. A prophet, and more than a prophet, the archprophet, to whom Moses must bow.
Ver. 23. Shall be destroyed] As it justly befell the refractory Jews; wrath came upon them to the uttermost, 1 Thessalonians 2:16.
Ver. 24. All the prophets] The prophet Isaiah especially, who speaks more like an evangelist than a prophet, and is therefore called the “evangelical prophet” (Jerome).
Ver. 25. Ye are the children] Here he comforts them, being now cast down.
Ver. 26. To bless you] Ephesians 1:3.