18 and God, what things before He had declared through the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ should suffer, He did thus fulfil;
`Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to come, that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'
and according to the custom of Paul, he went in unto them, and for three sabbaths he was reasoning with them from the Writings, opening and alleging, `That the Christ it behoved to suffer, and to rise again out of the dead, and that this is the Christ -- Jesus whom I proclaim to you.'
concerning which salvation seek out and search out did prophets who concerning the grace toward you did prophecy, searching in regard to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them was manifesting, testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory after these,
for I delivered to you first, what also I did receive, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Writings, and that he was buried, and that he hath risen on the third day, according to the Writings,
Who hath given credence to that which we heard? And the arm of Jehovah, On whom hath it been revealed? Yea, he cometh up as a tender plant before Him, And as a root out of a dry land, He hath no form, nor honour, when we observe him, Nor appearance, when we desire him. He is despised, and left of men, A man of pains, and acquainted with sickness, And as one hiding the face from us, He is despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains -- he hath carried them, And we -- we have esteemed him plagued, Smitten of God, and afflicted. And he is pierced for our transgressions, Bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement of our peace `is' on him, And by his bruise there is healing to us. All of us like sheep have wandered, Each to his own way we have turned, And Jehovah hath caused to meet on him, The punishment of us all. It hath been exacted, and he hath answered, And he openeth not his mouth, As a lamb to the slaughter he is brought, And as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, And he openeth not his mouth. By restraint and by judgment he hath been taken, And of his generation who doth meditate, That he hath been cut off from the land of the living? By the transgression of My people he is plagued, And it appointeth with the wicked his grave, And with the rich `are' his high places, Because he hath done no violence, Nor `is' deceit in his mouth. And Jehovah hath delighted to bruise him, He hath made him sick, If his soul doth make an offering for guilt, He seeth seed -- he prolongeth days, And the pleasure of Jehovah in his hand doth prosper. Of the labour of his soul he seeth -- he is satisfied, Through his knowledge give righteousness Doth the righteous one, My servant, to many, And their iniquities he doth bear. Therefore I give a portion to him among the many, And with the mighty he apportioneth spoil, Because that he exposed to death his soul, And with transgressors he was numbered, And he the sin of many hath borne, And for transgressors he intercedeth.
To the Overseer. -- `On the Lilies,' by David. Save me, O God, for come have waters unto the soul. I have sunk in deep mire, And there is no standing, I have come into the depths of the waters, And a flood hath overflown me. I have been wearied with my calling, Burnt hath been my throat, Consumed have been mine eyes, waiting for my God. Those hating me without cause Have been more than the hairs of my head, Mighty have been my destroyers, My lying enemies, That which I took not away -- I bring back. O God, Thou -- Thou hast known Concerning my overturn, And my desolations from Thee have not been hid. Let not those waiting on Thee be ashamed because of me, O Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, Let not those seeking Thee Blush because of me, O God of Israel. For because of Thee I have borne reproach, Shame hath covered my face. A stranger I have been to my brother, And a foreigner to sons of my mother. For zeal for Thy house hath consumed me, And the reproaches of Thy reproachers Have fallen upon me. And I weep in the fasting of my soul, And it is for a reproach to me. And I make my clothing sackcloth, And I am to them for a simile. Those sitting at the gate meditate concerning me, And those drinking strong drink, Play on instruments. And I -- my prayer `is' to Thee, O Jehovah, A time of good pleasure, O God, In the abundance of Thy kindness, Answer me in the truth of Thy salvation. Deliver me from the mire, and let me not sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of waters. Let not a flood of waters overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up, Nor let the pit shut her mouth upon me. Answer me, O Jehovah, for good `is' Thy kindness, According to the abundance Of Thy mercies turn Thou unto me, And hide not Thy face from Thy servant, For I am in distress -- haste, answer me. Be near unto my soul -- redeem it, Because of mine enemies ransom me. Thou -- Thou hast known my reproach, And my shame, and my blushing, Before Thee `are' all mine adversaries. Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am sick, And I look for a bemoaner, and there is none, And for comforters, and I have found none. And they give for my food gall, And for my thirst cause me to drink vinegar. Their table before them is for a snare, And for a recompence -- for a trap. Darkened are their eyes from seeing, And their loins continually shake Thou. Pour upon them Thine indignation, And the fierceness of Thine anger doth seize them. Their tower is desolated, In their tents there is no dweller. For they have pursued him Thou hast smitten, And recount of the pain of Thy pierced ones. Give punishment for their iniquity, And they enter not into Thy righteousness. They are blotted out of the book of life, And with the righteous are not written. And I `am' afflicted and pained, Thy salvation, O God, doth set me on high. I praise the name of God with a song, And I magnify Him with thanksgiving, And it is better to Jehovah than an ox, A bullock -- horned -- hoofed. The humble have seen -- they rejoice, Ye who seek God -- and your heart liveth. For Jehovah hearkeneth unto the needy, And His bound ones He hath not despised. The heavens and earth do praise Him, Seas, and every moving thing in them. For God doth save Zion, And doth build the cities of Judah, And they have dwelt there, and possess it. And the seed of His servants inherit it, And those loving His name dwell in it!
To the Overseer, on `The Hind of the Morning.' -- A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation, The words of my roaring? My God, I call by day, and Thou answerest not, And by night, and there is no silence to me. And Thou `art' holy, Sitting -- the Praise of Israel. In Thee did our fathers trust -- they trusted, And Thou dost deliver them. Unto Thee they cried, and were delivered, In Thee they trusted, and were not ashamed. And I `am' a worm, and no man, A reproach of man, and despised of the people. All beholding me do mock at me, They make free with the lip -- shake the head, `Roll unto Jehovah, He doth deliver him, He doth deliver him, for he delighted in him.' For thou `art' He bringing me forth from the womb, Causing me to trust, On the breasts of my mother. On Thee I have been cast from the womb, From the belly of my mother Thou `art' my God. Be not far from me, For adversity is near, for there is no helper. Many bulls have surrounded me, Mighty ones of Bashan have compassed me, They have opened against me their mouth, A lion tearing and roaring. As waters I have been poured out, And separated themselves have all my bones, My heart hath been like wax, It is melted in the midst of my bowels. Dried up as an earthen vessel is my power, And my tongue is cleaving to my jaws. And to the dust of death thou appointest me, For surrounded me have dogs, A company of evil doers have compassed me, Piercing my hands and my feet. I count all my bones -- they look expectingly, They look upon me, They apportion my garments to themselves, And for my clothing they cause a lot to fall. And Thou, O Jehovah, be not far off, O my strength, to help me haste. Deliver from the sword my soul, From the paw of a dog mine only one. Save me from the mouth of a lion: -- And -- from the horns of the high places Thou hast answered me! I declare Thy name to my brethren, In the midst of the assembly I praise Thee. Ye who fear Jehovah, praise ye Him, All the seed of Jacob, honour ye Him, And be afraid of Him, all ye seed of Israel. For He hath not despised, nor abominated, The affliction of the afflicted, Nor hath He hidden His face from him, And in his crying unto Him He heareth. Of Thee my praise `is' in the great assembly. My vows I complete before His fearers. The humble do eat and are satisfied, Praise Jehovah do those seeking Him, Your heart doth live for ever. Remember and return unto Jehovah, Do all ends of the earth, And before Thee bow themselves, Do all families of the nations, For to Jehovah `is' the kingdom, And He is ruling among nations. And the fat ones of earth have eaten, And they bow themselves, Before Him bow do all going down to dust, And he `who' hath not revived his soul. A seed doth serve Him, It is declared of the Lord to the generation.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 3
Commentary on Acts 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
In this chapter we have a miracle and a sermon: the miracle wrought to make way for the sermon, to confirm the doctrine that was to be preached, and to make way for it into the minds of the people; and then the sermon to explain the miracle, and to sow the ground which by it was broken up.
Act 3:1-11
We were told in general (ch. 2:43) that many signs and wonders were done by the apostles, which are not written in this book; but here we have one given us for an instance. As they wrought miracles, not upon every body as every body had occasion for them, but as the Holy Spirit gave direction, so as to answer the end of their commission; so all the miracles they did work are not written in this book, but such only are recorded as the Holy Ghost thought fit, to answer the end of this sacred history.
Peter and John had each of them a brother among the twelve, with whom they were coupled when they were sent out; yet now they seem to be knit together more closely than either of them to his brother, for the bond of friendship is sometimes stronger than that of relation: there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Peter and John seem to have had a peculiar intimacy after Christ's resurrection more than before, Jn. 20:2. The reason of which (if I may have liberty to conjecture) might be this, that John, a disciple made up of love, was more compassionate to Peter upon his fall and repentance, and more tender of him in his bitter weeping for his sin, than any other of the apostles were, and more solicitous to restore him in the spirit of meekness, which made him very dear to Peter ever after; and it was good evidence of Peter's acceptance with God, upon his repentance, that Christ's favourite was made his bosom friend. David prayed, after his fall, Let those that fear thee turn unto me, Ps. 119:79.
Act 3:12-26
We have here the sermon which Peter preached after he had cured the lame man. When Peter saw it.