And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. (24) And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: (25) Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? (26) The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. (27) For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (28) For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. (29) And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (30) By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
What a beautiful and lovely picture is here drawn, of the primitive Church! Reader! do observe the expression; their own company. Yes! The whole Church is One, and so the Great Head of the Church describes her, Song of Solomon 6:9. And contrast this, to the account given of Judas the traitor, whose fall is immediately followed with the consequence, that he might go to his own place, Acts 1:25
And I pray the Reader to notice the grace, which instantly appeared in this assembly of the faithful: the Lord the Spirit led their minds out in prayer. And what a Scriptural prayer it was? The Lord be praised, who caused it to be recorded, for the comfort and edification of the Church in all ages. Here is a double proof of the Almighty ministry of the Holy Ghost, in that He who guided David's pen to write, taught their tongues and hearts to speak. A plain proof that the same Almighty Lord presided over the Church in Old Testament days, as well as under the New Testament dispensation. And let not the Reader overlook, how uniformly those holy men of old, both in their prayers to the Lord, and their conversation with men, kept always in view, the Lord's purposes and decrees concerning the redemption by Jesus, Acts 10:38; Acts 10:38
And is not this prayer more immediately directed to the Person of the Holy Ghost, in his Office-character; and though (as all prayer are), offered up to the whole Persons of the Godhead, through the Mediator, yet with a special eye to the office-work of the Holy Ghost. Let it be remembered, that I do not decidedly say as much: I only ask the question. But, as we are told, that no prophecy came in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Peter 1:21 : and the Lord is here addressed as speaking those words by the mouth of his servant David; Psalms 2:1-2, it should seem, to have been immediately a prayer to the Holy Ghost. Moreover, the Apostles, in this prayer, particularly dwell upon the Person of the holy Child Jesus; and his being anointed: both which were the special acts of the Holy Ghost. See Luke 1:35 and Luke 4:18. And therefore, it was from God the Spirit, who, but a few days, before, had baptized them, and called them by ordination to their ministry, that they now looked for all suited supplies of grace, to give them boldness, and to seal their authority, by the confirmation of miracles. Whether I am correct or not in this opinion, certain it is, that to God the Holy Ghost the Apostles looked for the success of their labors. And it may serve to shew, how necessary it must be, in all the under pastors in the ministry of the Church, both to be satisfied that they have their commission from him; and to him to commit all their services.