Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/114

108 II. Because they were Gentiles inhabiting a place within the confines of the land of Israel, he refers them to what they themselves could not but know concerning the life and doctrine, the preaching and miracles, the death and sufferings of our Lord Jesus; for these were things the report of which spread into every corner of the nation, v. 37, &c. It facilitates the work of ministers, when they deal with such as have some knowledge of the things of God, to which they may appeal, and on which they may build.

1. They knew in general the word, that is, the gospel, ''which God sent to the children of Israel. That word, I say, ye know, v''. 37. Though the Gentiles were not admitted to hear it, (Christ and his disciples were not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,) yet they could not but hear of it, it was all the talk both of city and country. We are often told in the gospels, how the fame of Christ went into all parts of Canaan, when he was on earth, as afterward the fame of his gospel went into all parts of the world, Rom. 10. 18. That word, that divine word, that word of power and grace, you know. (1.) What the purport of this word was. God by it published the good tidings qf peace by Jesus Christ, so it should be read; . It is God himself that proclaims peace, who justly might have proclaimed war; he lets the world of mankind know that he is willing to be at peace with them through Jesus Christ; in him he was reconciling the world to himself. (2.) To whom it was sent; to the children of Israel, in the first place, the prime offer is made to them; this all their neighbours heard of, and were ready to envy them those advantages of the gospel, more than they ever envied them those of their law. Then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them, Ps. 126. 3.

2. They knew the several matters of fact relating to this word of the gospel sent to Israel.

(1.) They knew the baptism of repentance which John preached by way of introduction to it, and in which the gospel first began, Mark 1. 1. They knew what an extraordinary man John was, and what a direct tendency his preaching had to prepare the way of the Lord. They knew what great flocking there was to his baptism, what an interest he had, and what he did.

(2.) They knew that immediately after John's baptism the gospel of Christ, that word of peace, was published throughout all Judea, and that it took rise from Galilee. The twelve apostles, and seventy disciples, and our Master himself, published these glad tidings in all parts of the land; so that we may suppose there was not a town or village in all the land of Canaan, but had had the gospel preached in it.

(3.) They knew that Jesus of Nazareth, when he was here upon earth, went about doing good. They knew what a Benefactor he was to that nation, both to the souls and the bodies of men; how he made it his business to do good to all, and never did hurt to any. He was not idle, but still doing; not selfish, but doing good; did not confine himself to one place; nor wait till people came to him to seek his help; but he went to them, went about from place to place, and wherever he came he was doing good. Hereby he shewed that he was sent of God, who is good and doeth good; and therefore doeth good, because he is good: and who hereby left not himself without witness to the world, in that he did good, ch. 14. 17. And in this he hath set us an example of indefatigable industry in serving God and our generation; for therefore we came into the world, that we may do all the good we can in it; and therein, like Christ, we must always abide and abound.

(4.) They knew more particularly that he healed all that were oppressed of the devil, and helped them from under his oppressing power: by this it appeared not only that he was sent of God, as it was a kindness to men; but that he was sent to destroy the works of the devil; for thus he obtained many a victory over him.

(3.) They knew that the Jews put him to death; they slew him by hanging him on a tree. When Peter preached to the Jews, he said, whom ye slew; but now that he preached to the Gentiles, it is whom they slew; they to whom he had done and designed so much good.

All this they knew; but lest they should think it was only a report, and was magnified, as reports usually are, more than the truth; Peter, for himself and the rest of the apostles, attests it; (v. 39.) We are witnesses, eye-witnesses, of all things which he did; and ear-witnesses of the doctrine which he preached, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, in city and country.

3. They did know, or might know, by all this, that he had a commission from heaven to preach and act as he did. This he still harps upon in his discourse, and takes all occasions to hint it to them. Let them know,

(1.) That this Jesus is Lord of all; it comes in in a parenthesis, but is the principal proposition intended to be proved, that Jesus Christ, by whom peace is made between God and man, is Lord of all; not only as God over all blessed for evermore, but as Mediator, all power both in heaven and in earth is put into his hand, and all judgment committed to him. He is Lord of angels, they are all his humble servants. He is Lord of the powers of darkness, for he hath triumphed over them. He is King of nations, has a power over all flesh; he is King of saints, all the children of God are his scholars, his subjects, his soldiers.

(2.) That God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power, he was both authorized and enabled to do what he did by a divine anointing; whence he was called Christ—the Messiah—the Anointed One. The Holy Ghost descended upon him at his baptism, and he was full of power both in preaching and working miracles, which was the seal of a divine mission.

(3.) That God was with him, v. 38. His works were wrought in God; God not only sent him, but was present with him all along, owned him, stood by him, and carried him on in all his services and sufferings. Note, Those whom God anoints he will accompany; he will himself be with those to whom he has given his Spirit.

III. Because they had heard no more for certain concerning this Jesus, Peter declares to them his resurrection from the dead, and the proofs of it, that they might not think that when he was slain there was an end of him.

Probably, they had heard at Cesarea some talk of his being risen from the dead; but the talk of it was soon silenced by that vile suggestion of the Jews, that his disciples came by night and stole him away. And therefore Peter insists upon this as the main support of that word which preacheth peace by Jesus Christ.

1. The power by which he rose, is incontestably divine, (v. 40.) Him God raised up the third day; which not only disproved all the calumnies and accusations he was laid under by men, but effectually proved God's acceptance of the satisfaction he made for the sin of man by the blood of his cross. He did not break prison, but had a legal discharge. God raised him up.

2. The proofs of his resurrection were incontestably clear; for God ''shewed him openly. He gave him to be made manifest—'', to be visible, evidently so; so he appears, as that it