Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/59

Rh under your nose, and in defiance of you, teaching the people." Prisoners, that have broken prison, abscond, for fear of being retaken: but these prisoners, that here made their escape, dare to shew their faces even there where their persecutors have the greatest influence. Now this confounded them more than any thing. Common malefactors may have art enough to break prison; but they are uncommon ones, that have courage enough to avow it when they have done.

26. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the High-Priest asked them, 28. Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took council to slay them. 34. Then stood there one up in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35. And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36. For before these days stood up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

We are not told what it was that the apostles preached to the people; no doubt, it was, according to the direction of the angel, the words of this life; but what passed between them and the council, we have here an account of; for in their sufferings there appeared more of a divine power and energy than even in their preaching. Now here we have,

I. The seizing of the apostles a second time. We may think, if God designed this, "Why were they rescued from their first imprisonment?" But that was designed to humble the pride, and check the fury, of their persecutors; and now he would shew that they were discharged; not because they feared a trial, for they were ready to surrender themselves, and make their appearance before the greatest of their enemies.

1. They brought them without violence, with all the respect and tenderness that could be: did not pull them out of the pulpit, nor bind them, or drag them along, but accosted them respectfully. One would think they had reason to do so, in reverence to the temple, that holy place, and for fear of the apostles, lest they should strike them, as they did Ananias, or call for fire from heaven upon them, as Elias did; but all that restrained their violence, was, their fear of the people, who had such a veneration for the apostles, that they would stone them if they offered them any abuse.

2. Yet they brought them to those who, they knew, were violent against them, and were resolved to take violent courses with them; (v. 27.) They brought them, to set them before the council, as delinquents. Thus the powers that should have been a terror to evil works and workers, became so to the good.

II. Their examination; being brought before this august assembly, the High-Priest, as the mouth of the court, told them what it was they had to lay to their charge, v. 28.

1. That they had disobeyed the commands of authority, and would not submit to the injunctions and prohibitions given them; (v. 28.) "Did not we, by virtue of our authority, straitly charge and command you, upon pain of our highest displeasure, that you should not teach in this name? But you have disobeyed our commands, and go on to preach not only without our licence, but against our express order." Thus they who make void the commandments of God, are commonly very strict in binding on their own commandments, and insisting upon their own power; Did not we command you? Yes, they did; but did not Peter at the same time tell them, that God's authority was superior to their's, and his commands must take place of their's? And they had forgotten that.

2. That they spread false doctrine among the people, or at least a singular doctrine, which was not allowed by the Jewish church, nor agreed with what was delivered from Moses's chair; "Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and thereby have disturbed the public peace, and drawn people from the public establishment." Some take this for a haughty scornful word; "This silly senseless doctrine of your's, that is not worth taking notice of, you have made such a noise with, that even Jerusalem, the great and holy city, is become full of it, and it is all the talk of the town." They are angry that men, whom they looked upon as despicable, should make themselves thus considerable.

3. That they had a malicious design against the government, and aimed to stir up the people against it, by representing it as wicked and tyrannical, and that had made itself justly odious both to God and