Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/58

52 preached, these words which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth." Note, The words of the gospel are the words of life; quickening words; they are spirit, and they are life; words whereby we may be saved; that is the same with this here, ch. 11. 14. The gospel is the word of this life; for it secures to us the privileges of our way as well as those of our home, and the promises of the life that now is as well as of that to come. And yet even spiritual and eternal life are brought so much to light in the gospel, that they may be called this life; for the word is nigh thee. Note, The gospel is concerning matters of life and death, and ministers must preach it, and people hear it accordingly. They must speak all the words of this life, and not conceal any for fear of offending, or in hope of ingratiating themselves with, their rulers. Christ's witnesses are sworn to speak the whole truth.

III. They went on with their work; (v. 21.) When they heard that; when they heard that it was the will of God that they should continue to preach in the temple, they returned to Solomon's porch there, v. 12.

1. It was a great satisfaction to them to have these fresh orders. Perhaps, they began to question whether, if they had their liberty, they should preach as publicly in the temple as they had done, because they had been bid, when they were persecuted in one city, to flee to another. But now that the angel ordered them to go preach in the temple, their way was plain, and they ventured without any difficulty, entered into the temple, and feared not the face of man. Note, If we may but be satisfied concerning our duty, our business is to keep close to that, and then we may cheerfully trust God with our safety.

2. They set themselves immediately to execute them, without dispute or delay. They entered into the temple early in the morning, (as soon as the gates were opened, and people began to come together there,) and taught them the gospel of the kingdom; and did not at all fear what man could do unto them. The case here was extraordinary, the whole treasure of the gospel is lodged in their hands; if they be silent now, the springs are shut up, and the whole work falls to the ground, and is made to cease; which is not the case of ordinary ministers, who therefore are not by this example bound to throw themselves into the mouth of danger; and yet when God gives opportunity of doing good, though we be under the restraint and terror of human powers, we should venture far, rather than let go such an opportunity.

IV. The High-Priest and his party went on with their prosecution, v. 21. They, suppposing they had the apostles sure enough, called the council together, a great and extraordinary council, for they summoned all the senate of the children of Israel. See here,

1. How they were prepared, and how big with expectation, to crush the gospel of Christ and the preachers of it, for they raised the whole posse. The last time they had the apostles in custody, they convened them only before a committee of those that were of the kindred of the High-Priest, who were obliged to act cautiously; but now, that they might proceed further and with more assurance, they called together, πᾶσαν τὴν γερουσίαν—all the eldership, that is, (says Dr. Lightfoot,) all the three courts or benches of judges in Jerusalem, not only the great Sanhedrim, consisting of seventy elders, but the other two judicatories that were erected one in the outer court gate of the temple, the other in the inner or beautiful gate, consisting of twenty-three judges each. So that if there were a full appearance, here were one hundred and sixteen judges. Thus God ordered it, that the confusion of the enemies might be more public, and the apostles' testimony against them, and that those might hear the gospel, who would not hear it otherwise than from the bar. Howbeit, the High-Priest meant not so, neither did his heart think so; but it was in his heart to rally all his forces against the apostles, and by a universal consent to cut them all off at once.

2. How they were disappointed, and had their faces filled with shame; He that sits in heaven, laughs at them, and so may we too, to see how gravely the court is set; and we may suppose the High-Priest makes a solemn speech to them, setting forth the occasion of their coming together; that a very dangerous faction was now lately raised at Jerusalem, by the preaching of the doctrine of Jesus, which it was needful, for the preservation of their church, (which never was in such danger as now,) speedily and effectually to suppress; that it was now in the power of their hands to do it, for he had the ringleaders of the faction now in the common prison, to be proceeded against, if they would but agree to it, with the utmost severity. An officer is, in order hereunto, dispatched immediately to fetch the prisoners to the bar. But see how they are baffled;

(1.) The officers come, and tell them that they are not to be found in the prison, v. 22, 23. The last time they were forthcoming, when they were called for, ch. 4. 7. But now they were gone, and the report which the officers make, is, "The prison-doors truly found we shut with all safety;" (nothing had been done to weaken them;) "the keepers had not been wanting to their duty; we found them standing without before the doors, and knowing nothing to the contrary, but that the prisoners were all safe: but when we went in, we found no man therein, none of the men we were sent to fetch." It is probable that they found the common prisoners there. Which way the angel fetched them, whether by some back way, or opening the door, and fastening it close again, (the keepers all the while asleep,) we are not told; however it was, they were gone. The Lord knows, though we do not, how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and how to loose those that are in bonds for his name's sake, and he will do it, as here, when he has occasion for them.

Now think how blank the court looked, when the. officers made this return upon their order; (v. 24.) When the High-Priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, heard those things, they were all at a plunge, and looked upon one another, doubting what this thing should be. They were extremely perplexed, were at their wit's-end, having never been so disappointed in all their lives, of a thing they were so sure of. It occasioned various speculations; some suggesting that they were conjured out of the prison, and made their escape by magic arts; others, that the keepers had played tricks with them, not knowing how many friends these prisoners had, that were so much the darlings of the people. Some feared that, having made such a wonderful escape, they would be the more followed; others, that though perhaps they had frightened them from Jerusalem, they should hear of them again in some part or other of the country, where they would do yet more mischief, and it would be yet more out of their power to stop the spreading of the infection; and now they begin to fear that instead of curing the ill, they have made it worse. Note, Those often distress and embarrass themselves, that think to distress and embarrass the cause of Christ.

(2.) Their doubt is, in part, determined; and yet their vexation is increased by another messenger, who brings them word that their prisoners are preaching in the temple; (v. 25.) "Behold, the men whom ye put in prison, and have sent for to your bar, are now hard by you here, standing in the temple,