Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/105

Rh always with them; but is is well if those that are poor find that the charitable they have always with them. We must make a good use of the lights that yet a little while are with us, because they will not be always with us, will not be long with us: and when they are gone, we shall think what they did when they were with us. It should seem, the widows wept before Peter, as an inducement to him, if he could do any thing, to have compassion on them and help them, and restore one to them that used to have compassion on them. When charitable people are dead, there is no praying them to life again; but when they are sick, that piece of gratitude is owing them, to pray for their recovery, that, if it be the will of God, those may be spared to live, who can ill be spared to die.

IV. The manner how she was raised to life.

1. Privately; she was laid in the upper room, where they used to have their public meetings, and, it should seem, there was great crowding about the dead body, in expectation of what would be done; but Peter put them all forth, all the weeping widows, all but some few relations of the family, or perhaps the heads of the church, to join with him in prayer; as Christ did, Matt. 9. 25. Thus Peter declined every thing that looked like vainglory and ostentation; they came to see, but he did not come to be seen. He put them all forth, that he might with the more freedom pour out his soul before God in prayer upon this occasion, and not be disturbed with their noisy and clamourous lamentations.

2. By prayer; in his healing Eneas there was an implicit prayer, but in this greater work he addressed himself to God by solemn prayer, as Christ when he raised Lazarus: but Christ's prayer was with the authority of a Son, who quickens whom he will; Peter's, with the submission of a servant, who is under direction, and therefore he kneeled down and prayed.

3. By the word, a quickening word, a word which is spirit and life; he turned to the body, which intimates that when he prayed he turned from it; lest the sight of it should discourage his faith, he looked another way, to teach us, like Abraham, against hope, to believe in hope, and overlook the difficulties that lie in the way, not considering the body as now dead, lest he should stagger at the promise, Rom. 4. 19, 20. But when he had prayed, he turned to the body, and spake in his Master's name, and according to his example, "Tabitha, arise; return to life again." Power went along with this word, and she came to life, opened her eyes which death had closed. Thus in the raising of dead souls to spiritual life, the first sign of life is the opening of the eyes of the mind, ch. 26. 18. When she saw Peter, she sat up, to shew that she was really and truly alive; and (v. 41.) he gave her his hand and lift her up; not as if she laboured under any remaining weakness; but thus he would as it were welcome her to life again, and give her the right hand of fellowship among the living, from whom she had been cut off. And lastly, he called the saints and widows, who were all in sorrow for her death, and presented her alive to them, to their great comfort; particularly of the widows, who laid her death much to heart, (v. 41.) to them he presented her, as Elijah, (1 Kings 17. 23.) and Elisha, (2 Kings 4. 36.) and Christ, (Luke 7. 15) presented the dead sons alive to their mothers. The greatest joy and satisfaction are expressed by life from the dead.

V. The good effect of this miracle.

1. Many were by it convinced of the truth of the gospel, that it was from heaven, and not of men, and believed in the Lord, v. 42. The thing was known throughout all Joppa; it would be in every body's mouth quickly, and it being a town of seafaring men, the notice of it would be the sooner carried from thence to other countries; and though some never minded it, many were wrought upon by it. This was the end of miracles, to confirm a divine revelation.

2. Peter was hereby induced to continue some time in this city, v. 43. Finding that a door of opportunity was opened for him there, he tarried there many days, till he was sent thence, and sent for from thence upon business to another place. He tarried not in the house of Tabitha, though she was rich, lest he should seem to seek his own glory; but he took up his lodgings with one Simon a tanner, an ordinary tradesman, which is an instance of his condescension and humility: and hereby he has taught us not to mind high things, but to condescend to them of low estate, Rom. 12. 16. And though Peter might seem to be buried in obscurity here in the house of a poor tanner by the sea-side, yet hence God fetched him to a noble piece Of service in the next chapter; for those that humble themselves shall be exalted.

CHAP. X. It is a turn very new and remarkable, which the story of this chapter gives to the Acts of the apostles; hitherto, both at Jerusalem and every where else where the ministers of Christ came, they preached the gospel only to the Jews, or those Greeks that were circumcised and proselyted to the Jews' religion; but now, Lo, we turn to the Gentiles; and to them the door of faith is here opened: good news indeed to us sinners of the Gentiles. The apostle Peter is the man that is first employed to admit uncircumcised Gentiles into, the christian church; and Cornelius, a Roman centurion or colonel, is the first that with his family and friends is so admitted. Now here we are told, I. How Cornelius was directed by a vision to send for Peter, and did send for him accordingly, v. 1..8. II. How Peter was directed by a vision to go to Cornelius, though he was a Gentile, without making any scruple of it; and did go accordingly, v. 9..23. III. The happy interview between Peter and Cornelius at Cesarea, v. 24..33. IV. The sermon Peter preached in the house of Cornelius to him and to his friends, v. 34..43. V. The baptizing of Cornelius and his friends with the Holy Ghost first, and then with water, v. 44..48.

HERE was a certain man in Cesarea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3. He saw in a vision evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord ? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea-side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8. And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

The bringing of the gospel to the Gentiles, and the bringing of them who had been strangers and