Acts 5:42 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And daily in the temple, &c. The apostles were punished for preaching, and commanded strictly not to preach: yet they went on with their work with unabated zeal, and indefatigable diligence, omitting no opportunity of doing it. Observe, 1st, They preached daily, not only on sabbath days, or on Lord's days, but every day, as duly as the day came; not fearing lest they should either injure their health, or cloy their hearers. 2d, They preached both publicly in the temple, and privately in every house: in promiscuous assemblies, to which all resorted: and in the select assemblies of Christians, appointed for special ordinances. They did not think that either of these would excuse them from the other, knowing they were to preach the word in season and out of season. Though in the temple they were more exposed, and were under the eye of their enemies, yet they did not confine themselves to their little oratories in their own houses, but ventured into the post of danger: and though they had the liberty of the temple, a consecrated place, yet they made no difficulty of preaching in houses: in every house Even the poorest. 3d, We are also told what was the subject of their preaching; they preached Jesus Christ; they not only preached concerning him, but they preached him, exhibiting him to those that heard them, as their Prophet, Priest, and King; their Teacher, Mediator, Governor, and Judge; their Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption: they preached, not themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, as the one Saviour of lost sinners, making it their chief business to advance his honour and interest, and not their own. This was the preaching that gave most offence to the priests and rulers: they were willing they should preach any thing but Christ; but the apostles would not alter their subject to please them. Observe, reader, it ought to be the constant business of gospel ministers to preach Christ; Christ, and him crucified; Christ, and him glorified; Christ dying for us; Christ living in us; nothing besides this, or what is reducible to it.