Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Acts 13
Concise Complete
The mission of Paul and Barnabas. (1-3) Elymas the
sorcerer. (4-13) Paul's discourse at Antioch. (14-41) He preaches to the
Gentiles, and is persecuted by the Jews. (42-52)
Verses 1-3 What an
assemblage was here! In these names we see that the Lord raises up instruments
for his work, from various places and stations in life; and zeal for his glory
induces men to give up flattering connexions and prospects to promote his cause.
It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing
for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's
ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance,
to act for the glory of God the Father. They are separated to take pains, and
not to take state. A blessing upon Barnabas and Saul in their present
undertaking was sought for, and that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost in
their work. Whatever means are used, or rules observed, the Holy Ghost alone can
fit ministers for their important work, and call them to it.
Verses 4-13 Satan
is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from
being religious, for their example will influence many. Saul is here for the
first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Saul was his name as he was a
Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Under the direct
influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elymas his true character, but not in
passion. A fulness of deceit and mischief together, make a man indeed a child of
the devil. And those who are enemies to the doctrine of Jesus, are enemies to
all righteousness; for in it all righteousness is fulfilled. The ways of the
Lord Jesus are the only right ways to heaven and happiness. There are many who
not only wander from these ways themselves, but set others against these ways.
They commonly are so hardened, that they will not cease to do evil. The
proconsul was astonished at the force of the doctrine upon his own heart and
conscience, and at the power of God by which it was confirmed. The doctrine of
Christ astonishes; and the more we know of it, the more reason we shall see to
wonder at it. Those who put their hand to the plough and look back, are not fit
for the kingdom of God. Those who are not prepared to face opposition, and to
endure hardship, are not fitted for the work of the ministry.
Verses 14-31 When
we come together to worship God, we must do it, not only by prayer and praise,
but by the reading and hearing of the word of God. The bare reading of the
Scriptures in public assemblies is not enough; they should be expounded, and the
people exhorted out of them. This is helping people in doing that which is
necessary to make the word profitable, to apply it to themselves. Every thing is
touched upon in this sermon, which might best prevail with Jews to receive and
embrace Christ as the promised Messiah. And every view, however short or faint,
of the Lord's dealings with his church, reminds us of his mercy and
long-suffering, and of man's ingratitude and perverseness. Paul passes from
David to the Son of David, and shows that this Jesus is his promised Seed; a
Saviour to do that for them, which the judges of old could not do, to save them
from their sins, their worst enemies. When the apostles preached Christ as the
Saviour, they were so far from concealing his death, that they always preached
Christ crucified. Our complete separation from sin, is represented by our being
buried with Christ. But he rose again from the dead, and saw no corruption: this
was the great truth to be preached.
Verses 32-37 The
resurrection of Christ was the great proof of his being the Son of God. It was
not possible he should be held by death, because he was the Son of God, and
therefore had life in himself, which he could not lay down but with a design to
take it again. The sure mercies of David are that everlasting life, of which the
resurrection was a sure pledge; and the blessings of redemption in Christ are a
certain earnest, even in this world. David was a great blessing to the age
wherein he lived. We were not born for ourselves, but there are those living
around us, to whom we must study to be serviceable. Yet here is the difference;
Christ was to serve all generations. May we look to Him who is declared to be
the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead, that by faith in him we may
walk with God, and serve our generation according to his will; and when death
comes, may we fall asleep in him, with a joyful hope of a blessed resurrection.
Verses 38-41 Let
all that hear the gospel of Christ, know these two things: 1. That through this
Man, who died and rose again, is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Your
sins, though many and great, may be forgiven, and they may be so without any
injury to God's honour. 2. It is by Christ only that those who believe in him,
and none else, are justified from all things; from all the guilt and stain of
sin, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. The great
concern of convinced sinners is, to be justified, to be acquitted from all their
guilt, and accepted as righteous in God's sight, for if any is left charged upon
the sinner, he is undone. By Jesus Christ we obtain a complete justification;
for by him a complete atonement was made for sin. We are justified, not only by
him as our Judge but by him as the Lord our Righteousness. What the law could
not do for us, in that it was weak, the gospel of Christ does. This is the most
needful blessing, bringing in every other. The threatenings are warnings; what
we are told will come upon impenitent sinners, is designed to awaken us to
beware lest it come upon us. It ruins many, that they despise religion. Those
that will not wonder and be saved, shall wonder and perish.
Verses 42-52 The
Jews opposed the doctrine the apostles preached; and when they could find no
objection, they blasphemed Christ and his gospel. Commonly those who begin with
contradicting, end with blaspheming. But when adversaries of Christ's cause are
daring, its advocates should be the bolder. And while many judge themselves
unworthy of eternal life, others, who appear less likely, desire to hear more of
the glad tidings of salvation. This is according to what was foretold in the Old
Testament. What light, what power, what a treasure does this gospel bring with
it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises! Those came to
Christ whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call
effectual,
romans 8:30
. As many as were disposed to eternal life, as many as had concern about their
eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal life, believed in Christ, in
whom God has treasured up that life, and who is the only Way to it; and it was
the grace of God that wrought it in them. It is good to see honourable women
devout; the less they have to do in the world, the more they should do for their
own souls, and the souls of others: but it is sad, when, under colour of
devotion to God, they try to show hatred to Christ. And the more we relish the
comforts and encouragements we meet with in the power of godliness, and the
fuller our hearts are of them, the better prepared we are to face difficulties
in the profession of godliness.
Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
