The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (2) Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
The principal point which arrests my attention, in the opening of this Chapter, is, what the sacred writer hath here said, of the Lord Jesus having given his commandments to his Apostles, through the Holy Ghost. The Reader will recollect, that the history of the Church, at the Ascension of Christ, opens in a more immediate manner, with the ministry of God the Holy Ghost. The commandments of the Lord Jesus therefore were, to direct their minds to the expectation of the Lord the Spirit, in his coming. Some more visible, more open display of His Almighty presence and power, they were taught to look for. And not a foot were they to go out of Jerusalem, until this had been accomplished, Luke 24:49. I would pray the Reader, therefore, to open this Chapter with the expectation of these momentous things. I would entreat him to be on the lookout, at every step he takes. The subject connected with the ministry of God the Holy Ghost, in his Person, Godhead, and Covenant offices, can never be too thoroughly understood, neither too closely regarded May the Lord the Spirit be our Teacher!