Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/47

Rh who glorified God for that which was done, and would have been ready (at least they thought so) to pull them out of their seats, if they had punished the apostles for doing it. As rulers by the ordinance of God are made a terror and restraint to wicked people, so people are sometimes by the providence of God made a terror and restraint to wicked rulers.

2. Because they could not contradict the miracle; For (v. 22.) the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. And therefore, (1.) The miracle was so much the greater; he having been lame from his mother's womb, ch. 3. 2. The older he grew, the more inveterate the disease was, and the more hardly cured. If those that are grown into years, and have been long accustomed to evil, are cured of their spiritual impotency to good, and thereby of their evil customs, the power of divine grace is therein so much the more magnified. (2.) The truth of it was so much the better attested; for the man being above forty years old, he was able, like the blind man whom Christ healed, when he was asked, to speak for himself, John 9. 21.

23. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25. Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30. By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders maybe done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

We hear no more at present of the chief priests, what they did when they had dismissed Peter and John, but are to attend those two witnesses. And here we have,

I. Their return to their brethren, the apostles and ministers, and perhaps some private christians; (v. 23.) Being let go, they went to their own company, who perhaps were at this time met together in pain for them, and praying for them; as ch. 12. 12. As soon as ever they were at liberty, they went to their old friends, and returned to their church-fellowship.

1. Though God had highly honoured them, in calling them out to be his witnesses, and enabling them to acquit themselves so well, yet they were not puffed up with the honour done them, nor thought themselves thereby exalted above their brethren, but went to their own company. No advancement in gifts or usefulness should make us think ourselves above either the duties or the privileges of the communion of saints.

2. Though their enemies had severely threatened them, and endeavoured to break their knot, and frighten them from the work they were jointly engaged in, yet they went to their own company, and feared not the wrath of their rulers. They might have had comfort, if, being let go, they had retired to their closets, and spent some time in devotion there. But they were men in a public station, and must seek not so much their own personal satisfaction, as the public good. Christ's followers do best in company, provided it be in their own company.

II. The account they gave them of what had passed; they reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them, adding, no doubt, what they were enabled by the grace of God to reply to them, and how their trial issued. They related it to them,

1. That they might know what to expect both from men and from God in the progress of their work; from ,men they might expect every thing that was terrifying, but from God every thing that was encouraging; men would do their utmost to run them down, but God would take effectual care to bear them up. Thus the brethren in the Lord would wax confident through their bonds, and their experiences, as Phil. 1. 14.

2. That they might have it recorded in the history of the church, for the benefit of posterity, particularly for the confirmation of our faith touching the resurrection of Christ. The silence of an adversary, in some cases, is next door to the consent and testimony of an adversary. These apostles told the chief priests to their faces, that God had raised up Jesus from the dead, and though they were a body of them together, they had not the confidence to deny it, but in the silliest and most sneaking manner imaginable, bid the apostles not tell any body of it.

3. That they might now join with them in prayers and praises; and by such a concert as this God would be the more glorified, and the church the more edified. We should therefore communicate to our brethren the providences of God that relate to us, and our experience of his presence with us, that they may assist us in our acknowledgment of God therein.

III. Their address to God upon this occasion; When they heard of the impotent malice of the priests, and the potent courage of the sufferers, they called their company together, and went to prayer; they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, v. 24. Not that it can be supposed that they all said the same words at the same time, (though it was possible they might, being all inspired by one and the same Spirit,) but one in the name of the rest lifted up his voice to God, and the rest joined with him, ὁμοθυμαδὸν—with one mind; (so the word signifies;) their hearts went along with him, and so though but one spake, they all prayed; one lifted up his voice, and, in concurrence with him, they all lifted up their hearts, which was, in effect, lifting up their voice to God; for thoughts are words to God. Moses cried unto God, when we find not a word said.

Now in this solemn address to God, we have,

1. Their adoration of God as the Creator of the world; (v. 24.) With one mind, and so, in effect, with one mouth, they glorified God, Rom. 15. 6. They said, "O Lord, thou art God, God alone; Δέσποτα, thou art our Master and sovereign Ruler," (so the word signifies,) "thou art God; God, and not man; God, and not the work of men's hands; the Creator of all, and not the creature of men's fancies. Thou art the God which hast made